Redeployment Ceremony

Last Thursday Will's brigade had their redeployment ceremony; this ceremony marks the end of a year long deployment and is the official beginning of block leave. Block leave is an Army wide tradition were soldiers usually receive about a month of leave before deployments and afterwards (or extensive training). It is the perfect opportunity for single soldiers to go back to the mainland and see their family; luckily Will's parents (and Momo/ Doug) are coming here! We are so excited to show them the island. Will, Harps, and I also have some island hopping adventures planned.... Can't wait. The ceremony was perfect... short and beautiful weather. The MWR (which stands for Morale Welfare and Recreation) had a party afterwards with bounce houses, food, etc.. perfect for all the kids!

(Harps was not happy at this point!)

xoxo,
allie

Uncle Dex's Visit!

We have been all over the island with Uncle Dex exploring, hiking, surfing, and tanning (ha, well the Caff brothers have been attempting to work on their tans...). Harps has also been pretty smitten with another playmate. Dex taught her how to drive her cars up and down the hallway... He is very patient with her and I know she will really miss him!

We spent a day at the Ko Olina Lagoons and down in Waikiki; both beaches are located on the South Shores and right now have much tamer, baby friendly waves. The couple of times we went to the North Shore (close to our house!) the water was closed unless you were a pro surfer... We aren't quite at that level yet.. but give us a couple of months... 

Dex and Will also got in some good quality time together. They went hiking, in attempt to see some whales, and out to Pearl Harbor together. 

and, of course, Harps and Dex had some time to "game"...

Thanks for coming to visit Dex. We are all so happy we got to spend a week with you!!!

xoxo,

allie

Where did we go?

I honestly feel like I have been buried under a rock for the last couple of the days... Our house caught the flu... Harps, of course, started throwing up and eventually it spread to the rest of us. We had some fun plans that were cancelled. So instead we spent the weekend snuggling, lysoling, and getting ready for Uncle Dex's arrival. Uncle Dex got here this afternoon and we are hoping that the flu is a thing of the past and he doens't catch it!! Anyway, here are some random pics of the week.. I will have to "back" post later.

Not the best picture but every girl needs elmo slippers when they are sick! 

Daddy decided Harps need some outside time (despite being sick)..
so she helped clean the cars! 

Needless to say, it was a highlight of her weekend! 

Lots and lots and lots of baths with the stomach bug!

Okay.. we did venture out to the park. Crazy right? 

ANDDD Uncle Dex is here! We will be posting plenty more 

pictures of our fun adventures this week!!

xoxo,

allie

Cold Front

I know, I know.. the post title is board-line laughable. Cold front in Hawaii... practically an oxymoron. Everyday during the last week we have been waking up to 50 degree weather; I am sure some of you are laughing at such an idea.. but to us "Hawaiian" it feels cold! Our temperatures are usually between 75-85 degrees so the 20 degree shift is cold. I am also fully convinced people acclimate to their regions and consequential temperatures... I went to college in Wisconsin (freezing winters!) and was pregnant during the summer in Alabama (soo hot), yet your internal clock just adjust! Obviously our homes in Hawaii only have Air Conditioning, because heat is very unnecessary, but it does get a bit brisk during the "winter" months.  They have been putting signs up all over post "Please do not heat your house with your oven". Ha. Anyway, we have been wearing pants and sweaters and loving every moment of it.

I love this picture... This perfectly captures our Harper lady. She is always on the move.

Drummer Girl at Music Class. 

and I had to share this picture of the gas lines on post! Of course Hawaii is very expensive.. Anyway, the gas is a bit cheaper on post and consequently it is always busy. The other day we waited 30 minutes to get Gas... crazy! 

xoxo,

allie