Blackout!

September 8, 2011

After I picked up Anuhea from school, we witnessed a hit & run between a truck and 2 teens on bicycles! I knew it was going to happen just before it happened, because I saw the 2 boys riding down the hill and I saw that the truck was going to be there at the same time. Unfortunately, there was nothing we could do to stop it.

We were so shocked and awed by the boy flying off his bicycle that we didn't even get the license plate number on the truck. The boy in front actually ran into the truck. The boy behind ran into the first boy & had a little more time to try and stop. We stopped to see if the boys needed help. The second boy asked if we had gotten the license plate number. I was disappointed to say that we hadn't, and I know he was too. He asked if we'd go after the truck to get the information. We agreed, but by the time we got to the stop sign, the truck was nowhere in sight. We drove around on some of the streets around the area, but there were too many places the driver could have gone. We couldn't find the truck.

After searching for the truck, we drove back to the accident scene. The paramedics and police officers were already there. We couldn't believe that the boys had already started smoking! I guess the accident wasn't bad enough so that they could think about smoking. We drove by to tell the boys we hadn't found the truck, and one of them told a police officer we had witnessed the accident. The officer asked a few questions, but nothing major, so I drove off. I had to turn around because the street had a dead end. On the way back down, the officer stopped us and asked more questions. What horrible luck to be driving by at that time! We didn't want to witness something like that.

Later in the afternoon, the children had finished their homework and we were all sitting around talking to one another. Suddenly, the lights went off. I thought maybe we had too many things running and somehow shorted the power. I went outside to the electric box, and switched a couple of the switches off and on, but nothing changed. We wondered whether it was just our power that went out or the whole street. Finally, I called our neighbor to find out if they had power. He said the whole city was out! We couldn't believe it. Fortunately, it was still early enough that it wasn't dark yet. We could still see, but I was worried about how hot it might get.

We didn't have to worry too much. We just wondered what was happening. Jason came home later after classes were cancelled at the university, but traffic was horrible with all of the traffic lights out. We were fortunate that we had recently bought battery-operated candles from Costco. We could use the candles as we walked around the house, because we didn't have to worry about the melting wax dripping. For dinner we decided to take the easy route and ate chips & salsa. I didn't want to open the refrigerator or freezer unnecessarily. Thankfully, we didn't, because the power didn't come back on until sometime in the middle of the night.

The girls were excited to spend a little time outside building a fire in the fire pit, and roasting marshmallows. Finally, with nothing else to do (since there was no light or other electronics use), we all decided to go to bed--early.

Injury on Labor Day

September 5, 2011

Happy Labor Day! Although there was no school, I had quite a harrowing experience. We just spent the day at home; however, Anuhea and I went grocery shopping not long before dinner. We were just about finished and had stopped at Vons, the last store. When Anuhea and I got to the van, I put the groceries in on my side and Anuhea got in. Then I closed the sliding passenger door and somehow didn't have my hand out completely. I slammed my left pointer finger in the door! ...and when I say slammed, I mean slammed. We don't have a new van that you can push a button and it closes the door automatically and slowly. We have an old van that you have to pull the sliding door closed. I gasped aloud, somehow thought to open the door and got my finger out. I put my forehead on the car while trying not to scream aloud. Anuhea didn't know what had happened, but realized something was wrong. She came out of the car, and when I could talk, I told her what had happened. My finger was starting to bleed a lot and I didn't think I could drive home just yet. We went back into Vons, went to the Customer Service desk, and asked for a Band-Aid. The poor worker had to clean my finger and put the Band-Aid on for me. I couldn't look at it, and was starting to feel light-headed. He was a good sport though. Thankfully, there's a Starbucks inside of Vons. Anuhea and I sat down for a little while. She got me some water from the Starbucks, and I sipped it until I felt like I could stand and then drive.

Now, when we go to Vons and Anuhea is with me, she doesn't want me to park in the same spot where the slamming occurred. She thinks it's a bad luck spot.

Here's a gruesome picture of my finger the morning after I had had medicine and a Band-Aid on it.

Pandas at San Diego Zoo

August 27, 2011

There was a special exhibit of pandas at the San Diego Zoo. We went in the evening to see the pandas and watch the "parade" (which turned out to be not that big a deal). We enjoyed the pandas even though it was a small exhibit.

We saw the Takin on the way to the pandas.

Red panda--looked so fluffy & cute!


The children watched a performance in the eating area before the Panda Trek.

Safari Park fun

August 25, 2011

We're only minutes away from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park so we bought membership and try to visit often. Leiohu and I go there most, because we're home during the day. Leiohu LOVES seeing all the animals and playing at the small playground they have.

This is a stone lion at the playground that Leiohu tries to climb.

Leiohu loves pretending to drive this jeep--and any other pretend vehicle she comes across.

At certain times and in certain areas, park employees bring out a different animal and share facts about the animals in general and the specific animal they have. This one was a cheetah that used to be part of the "Cheetah Run" that the park has in the late afternoon.

The gorilla habitat has a handful of gorillas hanging around. We love going there because of baby Monroe who is growing so quickly. I couldn't get a good picture of him, so I have a picture of the sign below. He was born in June 2011!

This giant pelican is amazing! It doesn't do much, but it's neat to come around the corner and see this huge bird either swimming to or sunning & drying its wings on its favorite rock.

Back to school

August 16, 2011

Anuhea was supposed to begin school on August 15th, but we couldn't get her registered earlier because of many factors. Therefore, she and I went to the high school on August 16th to meet with the counselor. Anuhea chose all of her classes with the help of the counselor, we were able to get fees paid, and she started school right away (around 3rd period, maybe?). She was fine with being in a new school, but worried about lunch time--who to eat with. Anuhea made friends and has adjusted quickly.

August 21, 2011

Seminary! We went to the Stake Center the night before Seminary and the Stake leaders introduced the Seminary program. Then we split into groups to meet the high schoolers' teachers. In our building, the teens are divided by grade. There is a Freshman class, Sophomore class, and so on. Anuhea's teacher is Sister Brenda Knowlton. She seems very nice and like she'll be a great Seminary teacher. Good luck to Anuhea to wake up EARLY every school day! (And good luck to Jason who will be driving Anuhea.) Fortunately, the church building is right next to the high school so the students walk over to school together, and we don't have to worry about transporting Anuhea from Seminary to school.

August 22, 2011

Nalani & Hokulani had a week longer than Anuhea to play, etc. before they started school. Lucky kids. :) Nalani is in middle school and Hokulani is in elementary school. Our house is very conveniently located so that the children can walk to & from school!

Welcome Home!

August 8, 2011

We're officially living in California! We flew across the country and our realtor had the keys to our house for us. We were so excited to get into our new home! I've posted this picture before, but here is the front of our house. We live in Escondido, not far from the I-15 freeway and the Westfield North County Mall.

Call or send us an email and we'll give you our new address. We'd love to have you visit! (Hint, hint, Mom & Dad!)

We have a hammock in our backyard that we sometimes go outside to enjoy. It's so relaxing that we can even fall asleep in it, just like Leiohu has done in this picture.

With all the frustration of not getting our things delivered on time, we were blessed to have help from the members of church in the San Pasqual Ward. They let us borrow mattresses, bedding, and brought in food too. Yay for a global church family!