GIRLIE UPDATE: Magic Mike

Oh yeah!  Lady's night!  My friend Barb from the public library and I finally planned a movie night and saw the chick flick of the summer.  We were pleased with the naked bodies and dancing.  It brought back memories of Lureen and my college Chippendale's outings. Did you know I was friends with a couple male strippers back in the day?  Barb and I were not happy with the girl they picked to be Mike's love interest.  Come on!  I could have done without the drug scenes but perhaps they were trying to be real.  A fun night.  Just wished my Titas were with us!  I rated it 3 of 5 stars.

GIRLIE UPDATE: Skyfall trailer

It's Bond, James Bond!

ADOPTION QUEST: Fostering stories

I was reminded today that Children Services policy is to always work toward children reunification with their families -- one of my fears going through this process.  As I mentioned before, I would be so heart-broken if we get placed and attached to a child that gets taken away.

But hearing all the stories of children being removed from homes for various reasons needing help, I think I can convince my mind and heart that perhaps Aaron and I could take in a child who just needs a place to sleep for a few nights.  Especially with the holidays coming up, no child should be stranded.  I also have to convince myself that work will not be #1 priority anymore too.

We have first-aid and CPR training in two weeks then the home study process kicks in!  Got all the preliminary paperwork handed to us.  Fun.  How do YOU feel about fingerprinting?

BOOK CLUB READS: Fifty Shades of Grey

So my BFF book club was wondering what the hype was about Fifty Shades of Grey.  It's been doing really well on the best sellers list but it's not the typical kind of books they read -- romance!  I was the lucky one to get a hold of a copy first and decided to read it and let them know if it was worth it or not.

Conclusion - It is not a romance... it's erotica!  An easy read but the style of writing had bold print throughout the book.  Steamy content meant I couldn't read it during my breaks at work.  It took me a week to finish because I was busy at work and classes.  I plan to read the next two in hopes for that happy ending ever after.  I didn't get it at the end of Grey.  I rated it 3 of 5 stars. 

ADOPTION QUEST: Race vs. Culture

This class was all about culture. I thought it would be easy breezy because hey, I'm from Hawaii!  What I realized is that I may have been exposed to many cultures because I'm from Hawaii, but there are so many other cultures that I have yet to know!  I was humbled and enlightened.

GIRLIE UPDATE: Chasing Mavericks trailer

Finally, a Butler flick!

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Blog temporarily in maintenance

I didn't know I had a limit but apparently I used all my data space while downloading my vacation pictures!  Phooey!  Will probably have to resize and re-download the pictures in order to make space for the rest of them.  Sorry I'm taking long to share my vacation with you!!

[Update 7/29/12 -- making progress!! Downloaded all pictures from Maui!!  Got Lanai pictures to go!]

ADOPTION QUEST: A nursery

We are finally getting serious and started tackling the junk in our second bedroom, aka the office / Khyla's room / the blue room, to prepare our house for a baby room.  We decided to keep the desk and move the double bed and Aaron's wardrobe in this room so we can convert the third bedroom, aka the guest bedroom / the green room, to a child's room with a crib and the single bed.  This is all in preparation for our home study process that follows our classes.

No one needs to see the mess we've created over the years!  But we won't have a throw-in/junk room anymore!  If we can't get rid of everything I'm thinking we'll need a storage unit.  I feel sorry that Aaron has to lug stuff up and down the attic all the time and we still don't have enough room.  Aaron and I are adamant about using our garage for our cars!

Hopefully we won't get lost in all the old paperwork in the office!

ADOPTION QUEST: Parenting class

We turned in our application to adopt tonight!  I feel so committed now!

So this session is my favorite one so far.  I tell you, everyone who has a baby -- naturally or by adoption -- should be able to take this class!  It was parenting 101!  I started taking notes to try and keep myself up during the 3-hour session but soon after I could barely keep up taking notes of all the tips Pat was giving to us.  She had a lot of experiences dealing and managing behaviors with infants, toddlers and teenagers and all using positive reinforcement or consequences.  It made so much sense!  And apparently we will have a great support system in place for us as well as the foster child.

Oddly all this talk of trying to teach a child to grow and go through typical mischief with positive reinforcements, and hopeful become a well disciplined, independent person with some small respect for their parents made me excited to adopt and have a child already!  Aaron and I are so happy we are getting these sessions -- we feel like we won the lottery!

ADOPTION QUEST: Tough but insightful classes

This was our first Saturday classes which meant we had two sessions in one long day.  We had another instructor today.  Jane dealt with the topics of De-escalation and sexual abuse.  It was tough and emotional but I think I came out with some tips I could use to diffuse stressful situations in my own life and home, as well as a awful understanding about sex abuse.  Honestly I had no experience to draw on with that touchy subject, and thank heavens! 

So now I'm thinking the rest of the classes should be a piece of cake, right?  We'll see!

GIRLIE UPDATE: Brave

I was itching to see a movie and had a chance to do so today.  As expected the story was cute.  I liked it because it's about a strong willed girl who learns a lesson of family and love.  The graphics were awesome and of course, the Scottish accent made me think of the Butler.  And Merida's beautiful red hair made me think if my college student Monica, who happens to be cute, strong willed and a kick-ass too!

I rated it 4 of 5 stars.

ADOPTION QUEST: Our first class

Well we were scheduled to attend session 4 on Tuesday night but our flight delay from Hawaii foiled our plans.  Now we have 3 sessions to make-up!

But we were early to our first official class tonight!  I like our instructor Pat and her style of training.  Session 5 was about attachment and separation issues that occur with children placement, and Pat shared a lot of situations that have happened and why the agency would want us to be positive through a stressful process.  It's funny how you start thinking of how one grows up and all the factors that made my parents strict and the outcome of who I became.  It also makes you think of how one would like to raise their kids based on past experiences.  There's a lot that I would do the same as my parents; a lot I would not!  The 3-hour session went by in a snap!

HAWAII 2012: OGG-CLE Day 15 Home Hot Home!

We were delayed in San Francisco a couple of hours but we convinced the agent to give us free vouchers for our lunch.  Unfortunately that meant we were arriving too late for our first fostering class.  

We were so glad to finally be home!  We walked out to a heat wave.  Yuck!

Look who was waiting for us at home!  Do laundry or snuggle?

HAWAII 2012: Maui Evening 14 Aloha Hawaii!

OK the ferry ride was rough.  I was so queasy.  It didn't help that Viola came to pick up on time and drove us around the mountains along the coast to the other side of the island before I could recover from the boat ride.  By the time we got to Zippy's I wasn't hungry.  That NEVER happens!  Aaron and Viola ate dinner and I took my order to the airport.  After going through baggage customs and check-in, and security (which totaled at total of 9 minutes) we sat out in the warm breeze.  I felt so much better!

I was a happy girl after eating my hamburger steak and macaroni salad plate.  Our flight was at 9 p.m. so Aaron and I got to buy some gifts and relax before our 6-hour flight.  Guess where our seats were?

Aaron's still on vacation.

 I'm so happy we got comfy chairs to sleep in.

I told Aaron we were getting food in first-class.  I thought we were getting breakfast but we lucked out with a full dinner.  And alcohol.  I opted for ginger ale all the way.

Goodbye Hawaii!  I love you and will miss you a lot!

HAWAII 2012: Lanai Day 14 Aloha Lanai!

 

My tears started as soon as we got home from lunch.  I couldn't help it.  Tita, Ho'e and Khyla took us down to the pier to catch the afternoon ferry.

 

HAWAII 2012: Lanai Day 14 Last supper at Da Grindz

 

Khyla and I sharing a bowl of ahi poke

 Tita finally got her chicken and waffles

 Aaron's teri beef plate was ono

My last saimin for awhile

Deep fried ice cream for dessert!

HAWAII 2012: Lanai Evening 13 Softball

The boys and girls had softball practice today.  

Half of the team showed up late.

 

Look at their form!

Poochie brought her puppy Malulani to practice

They finally played a game when the sun started going down.

HAWAII 2012: Executive putt-putt at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele

 What? There's more to do?

 Playing some putt-putt -- we are mimicking Khyla's form

Help Mom!  Get me out of here!  Aunty's acting funny

HAWAII 2012: Lanai Day 13 Brunch buffet at the Four Seasons Lodge at Koele

 

What can beat a morning of shooting?  A local food buffet at the Lodge, of course!

 

 

 

 Shots of papaya and kiwi smoothies

Check out my loco moco!

 

Time to feed the koi

 

We were so blessed with perfect warm sunny weather

HAWAII 2012: Lanai Day 13 Clay shooting at Lanai Pines

The day has come for Aaron and I to try our hand at clay shooting!  My first time ever to shoot a gun.  I'm afraid!

I took this picture of Aaron because we have yucca plants like this in our front yard. Will ours get this big?  I hope not!

The Three Amigos

I hit my mark dead on on my first try!  With my eyes closed!

It was downhill from then

Khyla missing her peeps

The "hole" that we couldn't hit the "ducks"

 

 

The signature "hole" -- it had two fly in the air and two rolling along the ground below

 

 Aaron was our sharp shooter of the day

We all had fun!  Would I do it again?  What do you think?