A memorable way to end spring break

Me and shirlyn ended our trip in Utah and decided our best try and getting a military hop back was to drive to california to travis afb. It is outside of fair field California and by Sacramento sort of it is like 40 minutes away from Sacramento. Shirlyn was awesome at finding a car rental that would do a one way from utah to california. She picked up the van for us and we were off for the long drive back to california. The kids did great in the car. we were doing really well on time so we decided in Reno to let the kdis get out at chuck e cheese and play around. Thank goodness we did because as we started up donnors pass it started snowing and they told us there was a big crash at the top and they were only letting locals through. So we turned around went back to the town of Reno and found a hotel. We were both so glad that we let the kids get out at chuck e cheese or we would have been in the snowy mess in the mountains.

LOVE TO BED JUMP

When I checked into a hotel there was a couple on front of me who said that they were on the mountain and were forced to turn around because of the snow. They were making cars turn around and have chains put on if you had them. They said that a semi in front of them was Jack knifing. Crazy stuff. So Tuesday we woke up with a new outlook there was a flight from Travis to hickam Hawaii that had 73 seats. We were sure we would get on so we made our way to the store to get hains since all the highway reports said that f you were going into Donner pass you needed chains. We set out and of course since we had bought chains and listened to reports it was sunny skies in the mountains. We did see alot of snow though. It was taller then the car and some road signs.

one more long ride in the car

donnors pass

so much snow

We made it to Travis and thought we were for sure gettinng on the flight. Well needless to say we didnt. There was a delay from a few days ago so there were a lot of people trying to get out so we headed to the hotel were he already had a two night reservation. The next day we were trying to decide what to do. Travis didn't have anything good out for a few days and the hotel didn't have any rooms available for the weekend. There was a lady we meet at travis that told us about a military fare site for tickets so we got some for the next day out of Sacramento. We decided to make the most of it we took the kids to the jelly belly factory and hit up some outlet malls. The jelly belly was fun to go and see. The kids had fun sampling flavors like booger,bark and canned dog food. My personal favorite were the chocolate dip ones. The chocolate orange ones were delicious.

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Thanks shilryn for asking me to do the mac flights with you. It was a great spring break and it was a great week spent with you getting back. It was a great "girls trip with kids."

Fun on spring break

While we were in utah I really didnt have anything big and specific to do except shop, find a love of raspberry diet coke, eat at cafe rio, hang out with the family, have the kids play with there cousins, go to st george, go to disney on ice, and just relax. It was a great ten days. There was alot of laughing, eating, and just having fun

Disney on Ice

luke and landon loved playing star wars lego

the boys playing games

silly dawson

brooklyn at my parents new condo in st george

the girl cousins

laughed alot

Sprinng Break 2011

The gang

My friend shirlyn wanted to go to Utah for her brothers wedding which happened to fall over our spring break. Her husband deven is in Washington D.C. right now and she wanted to go to the wedding She asked if I wanted to take a mac flight( a free military flight on there cargo planes). I had done it before and didn't really mind it so I said sure I am always up for a trip. We really lucked out and got on one that went all the way to salt lake city Utah. When you fly the mac flight or space a or taking a hop. It is all the same thing. There are 6 different categories. Since we were traveling with out our spouse/sponsor then we were category 5. There were only 25 seats and we were a party of 7. We were very nervous and I think we both lost sleep for about 2 nights. usually the chances aren't good if there aren't alot of seats. We were thrilled when we were the only ones that when they said who is gong to salt lake city we shouted as loud as we could we are. we got a few stares. I guess salt lake city isn't a hip place to go. There were two other girls that came on the flight. So total there were9 of us on the plane. It was so cool. It was one of the greatest airplane rides. The kids laid down and slept therefore I was able to lay down and sleep. The kids could run and walk around. Me and shirlyn just talked as the kids were walking and running around. The crew was very fun with the kids. This plane was a re-fueling plane. They were re-fueling four f-15 through out the flight. The first time they re-fueled that asked if Landon wanted to go see it. He was the only one awake. So I took him to the back of the plane, went down a few steps, and laid on a single person mattress with the open air only a few feet away and a big asuare door that was open that we could see the f-15 fly up to the plane we were in get refuel up and then fly off. Really the coolest thing ever.

the F-15 flying up to the plane

almost to our plane

It only took 5 1/2 hours to get to salt lake from Hawaii. We landed at the air national guard base. It is around he airport. When we landed and as we were waiting for our families to pick us up the kids thought the snow on the ground was the coolest thing ever.

Our plane

who has snow for spring break?

Ft Meade maryland

Well it is official orders have been written and signed. We will be leaving the great state of Hawaii and moving to Maryland fort Meade. We are very excited, nervous, scared,anxious, all sorts of emotions going on right now. I am ready for the change. I am really looking forward to the history out there, the things that we can show the kids out there that we don't have in Hawaii, meeting up with old friends that are out there, ready for David to not have to be on a submarine, ready to get a fresh start with out him coming and going, and many more opportunities that hawaii us out there. I will deeply miss our friends and our support system. Our friends out here are our family. As of now we are leaving the first week of may and will be in Utah for about 40 days then David will leave and head out to Maryland and set up with housing. Then the end of June me and the kids will fly out to Maryland. It will be a great journey.

Great Aloha Run 2011 1 hour 28 min 43 seconds

The Great aloha run is a run n Honolulu that is 8.15 miles. I have always wanted to do it but never have. It is every year on presidents day. This year there was 27,000 entries. I was one of them. I signed up back in January. I thought if I am going to do this I really want to do this. My friend shirlyn gave me a training schedule and I was set. I used to fun about a mile and think I was going to die so I really wanted to give this a try. When I did my long runs Saturday it was neat to see me go farther then I thought and to see my time. The first time I did 6 miles I was so proud of myself. It was very empowering for me to set a goal and work hard it. I could tell when I was pushing myself and not really pushing myself. sometimes I would hate when the alarm when off since during the week I would get up so I would have enough time to run and shower before we had to leave the house at 7:30 for school drop offs. I stuck with it and I am very proud of myself.


February 21 2011 came and I got up at 3:30 to eat breakfast and get ready to go. There was a group of us that was doing it together. Laura was the driver and she came and got me and chantell(she was visiting from out of town. She used to live in Hawaii I have known her since the day we moved here). We wen and picked up Tricia and shirlyn and we were off. Of course we were stuck in traffic for way to long but it was just us girls so we didn't mind talking the morning away. We parked at the stadium were the race ended, got on a bus that took us to the start, had a bathroom break, heard the race start and we were off. We started together but we are at different levels so we had the meeting spot at the end.


The finish line is inside the stadium so u run through a tunnel then end in the stadium.. As I crossed the finish line and was being headed to were we were suppose to be I heard a cute little voice yell mommy! I look up to see Brooklyn waving her hands frantically and shaking some flowers they had for me. Then I saw David, Landon, and Dawson. Talk about a proud moment.


I am so lucky to have David he was so supportive of me the whole time. I took my phone with me and I told him I was going to call him but not talk to him when I entered the stadium so he would know I was in the stadium. I was a sweaty mess and I had my phone tucked into my tank top and I was nervous the battery was going t get wet so I happened to be holding it at this time and about mile 6 when I needed a good boost I got a text from David that said Go Amanda. Just what I needed.

I am proud of myself for working at a goal and seeing the hard work pay off. I had 3 different times in my head that I wanted to finish in. When I crossed the finish the line clock said 1 hour 40 min 22 sec. I was kind of upset because I felt that I was working so much harder then that but I felt like I really pushed harder then that. Then today I checked my email and there was an email that said I could check my time. So I entered my race number and it said 1 hour 28 min 43 sec. I totally forgot to factor in I didn't start at the start line right when it started. I started about 7:15. I was so excited since my time I wanted was less them 1 hour 30 min. I was so happy and so proud of myself.

It was a neat experience all around. To see how I was running from when I started to the race day was awesome to see how I was gaining more endurance. i will never forget finishing and hearing Brooklyn's little voice saying mommy and looking up and seeing David and the kids all waving and with smiles. I will also never forget and cherish the time I had with my friends in the morning I have made such great friends here I get sad to think about leaving them soon. We were all there for each other and stayed until we all finished. It was just a really bet experience and I am so glad that I can say I did it!!

The finish line

laura, tricia, chantell me, shirlyn

we only had hone cameras at the begining so we had to get a good sweaty pic at the end

showing off our legs

Leslie comes to town

My sister leslie came to visit for a week. It was so much fun to have her here. we did alot of laughing, drinking diet coke, soaking up the beach in the sun, laying out by the pool, pedicures, outlet shopping,fire pit on the beach, grilling at the Hale koa and the fireworks,shaved ice from the north shore,getting all caught up on days of our lives( I am a little addicted again thanks leslie), the swap meet, and we had so much fun. Thanks for coming out leslie it was totally wicked and sure do love ya

submarine leaving Hicam Beach

smores on the beach

best buddies

Dawson in his own world waiting for the fire pit

The beach we went to to do the fire pit and smores had so many turtles. You could easily walk out to them. I was tryig to get a picture with le and the turtle in that you could see, If you look close enough you can see a turtle shell.

It was fun to have leslie here and I am totaly lame and didnt even get a pic of me and her. I guess we were having to much fun playing.

Party Time for Dawson

Dawons party was fun. super cheap, and my sister leslie was here to celebrate with us. For his birthday we had his party at the burger king playplace on base You seriously cant beat them setting up, 10 kids meals, and the cake or $50.00. The kids just played and had a fun time.

birthday boy

excited for presents

the guests

MMMMM Birthday cake