Dazzling Diciembre

We celebrated Tommy's 27th! Although we were working during our entire break, I made sure we celebrated Tommy's birthday right this year. We enjoyed our celebratory McDonald's breakfast sandwiches and a sushi dinner @ Bonzai in Haleiwa. (We highly recommend the Gnarly Marley roll & the Bonzai roll). 

This is my idea of a Merry Christmas. For the first time in like 100 years Coke changed their iconic red cans in an effort to promote their Arctic Home campaign. They actually received tons of flak, which resulted in a re-release of the same design...in red. 

We celebrated our last Christmas in Laie...for now at least. We had to document the decor that adorns the McKay building.

Unfortunately we didn't get our own tree this year (unless you count the one Tommy made--see the first photo), so we made sure stop by BYU-Hawaii's very own Christmas tree. This tree receives a lot of attention as it is the main event of Laie's annual Christmas tree lighting celebration. 

It wouldn't be Christmas without the Curtis inspired brunch. Arguably Tommy's Reason for the Season...

One of my Reasons for the Season is Tommy's Christmas Break Beard!!

Tommy has other photos we need to share. Photos that document his birthday, more Christmas, him surfing...and even some Thanksgiving. Hopefully we will post those soon.

********Journal Below********

School starts tomorrow, January 9, 2012. This will be our last semester as undergrads...98 days and we'll be home. My feelings can only be described as bittersweet. I am excited to finish my degree but I am less excited about leaving this beautiful island. I have left it once before, after completing a semester here as a visiting student back in 2005. Yes, 2005, 7 years ago and I still don't have my bachelor's. Back then I couldn't wait to get off this rock, but once I was home I longed for the beautiful sandy beaches of the North Shore. Now, I know what to expect and I know I am going to miss Laie so much more than I ever did before. We spent our second year of marriage here, being the poorest we've ever been, being the busiest we've ever been, but mostly being the happiest we've ever been--cheesy! We've both grown so much, learned so much, forged incredible friendships, and so on. It seems like only yesterday Tommy started our journey here and now it's already coming to a close, the beginning of the end. 

I am constantly caught up in a whirlwind of emotions about it, we're so anxious to move home, looking forward to medical school, buying a car, finding a place to live, finding jobs, but all at the expense of leaving paradise. Change is good, in fact it's the only thing that's constant, but I always fear the unknowns, the "What if?'s" and "How is this all going to work out?'s" in my life. Once we arrive in Arizona our chips will be up in the air, but then, as usual, they will fall exactly where they should and we'll grow accustomed to a new routine, a new budget, a new life, a beginning of a new chapter. 

It will be so nice living back on mainland. I find myself getting excited about it at times. Being near family & friends will be a treat in and of itself, just to pick up where we left off again. How can one semester or 98 days seem so short and so long at the same time?

Da Big Island

Keawaeli Bay

Dinner with Jason & Jena

Volcano

Sunset at the Mauna Kea

Fresh Guava

Loving Life with my Coke on the Rocks.

Fall 2011

Fall is officially in full swing here at BYU-Hawaii as Tommy and I started last Wednesday. We are only three days in and completely swamped with homework, papers, quizzes and tests. The first week always seems to be the hardest. I'm fighting to keep it straight in my head, which assignments are do and when, which teachers prefer certain formats, etc. Eventually, it all becomes routine and a lot more manageable. Being a senior is a lot harder than I would've expected. I am taking five of my major classes and they all seem just as demanding as the next.  

We took advantage of our 10-day break to catch up on some surfing. We try to get out at least once a day, if the waves allow. It took me a while to regain the hang of it, but I am back and better than ever. I finally rode a wave all the way into the shore! Catching waves left and right, Tommy swears I caught more waves than him yesterday. It's come to the point where my body just knows what to do and I can stop over-thinking how and when to stand up. As I closed my eyes for bed last night, all I could see were the waves rolling in at Castles as if I were re-living our surf that day. I've managed to talk Tommy into going out for dawn patrol, surfing is such a great work out. Let's face it, we'd rather do that than go running. Also, there is nothing like being inches away from sea turtles as they come up for air. At times I forget there is a whole world below me full of reef and sea creatures. It's fun to see the turtles catch a wave or two...

We also celebrated our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY over the break! We always seem to catch a lucky break as all of our celebration days fall while school is out. We enjoyed a much needed day off, surfing at Castles, watching shows in the middle of the afternoon, grabbing a bite at Haleiwa Eats, and enjoying an Acai Smoothie from Angel's. We enjoyed our time together and reflected on our past year while living in Hawaii and the fact that we hardly celebrated our FIRST ANNIVERSARY after we arrived. We are also counting our trip to the Big Island in October as our real anniversary celebration. Can't wait...