Give your dad an extra hug for me...

The Kid will be making her calls later when the hour is more appropriate and the date matches.  We have a covert plan between us to surprise The Guy as well.

And I miss my dad.

Not a year goes by that I don't choke up a little because some part of me forgets and I get this urge to call him and tell him all about everything and wish him Happy Father's Day.  It's been a hard day for me to get on board with for years now.  I am actually choking up a bit right now as I am typing this.  Father's Day always falls right before the anniversary of his passing, so it's like a double sting.

I don't even have a picture to put up here of us together.  I have only two pictures total, and in one I was only four months old.

Be sure to give yours a call if you can.  A hug would be better if you are able.  Take pictures and share them.

And, Happy Father's Day, Daddy.  I miss you so much.

Hand Fasted and Heart Joined

Happy Anniversary, Love!

Seven Years Ago Today...

the universe saw fit to bless me w/ the greatest thing that I have ever known.

Seven years ago today, Jason and VBFitU stayed w/ me, dropped their lives, and joined me as my life changed forever.

Seven years ago today I learned what love really is at the hands of people who supported me, and in the eyes of the most perfect person I have even laid eyes upon.

Seven years ago today my mother help my hand and cried tears of joy w/ me, and whispered reassurances that I was going to be just fine.

Seven years ago today I stepped forward on a new journey and never looked back w/ regret.  So thankful was I that this was my choice, to embrace wholeheartedly.

Thank you, Kid, for making the last seven years the best I have known so far.

*This was meant to be much longer, but somehow the files w/ my baby pictures has been corrupted.  :(  Luckily I still have some of the hospital pictures, b/c those are entirely irreplaceable.  Thanks, Jason, for preserving that for me.

Spring has Sprung!

(All Photos are clickable for embiggenment and yoinking privileges, w/ proper credits given, natch.)

You can certainly tell when Spring has come to South Korea, b/c all of the gorgeous fruit trees are in bloom.  W/ the Seoul Cherry Blossom Festival right around the corner it is no surprise to me to see all of the gorgeous cherry trees in their full glory.  These are similar to the ones that my grandma has always grown in her yard (only happier, since they haven't had to battle my grandfather and his snowblower...LOL!).

We had to run errands up on the base today (and some clandestine activities, so thanks to our friend, Brandon, for occupying The Kid for us), so we had lots of opportunity for some pictures.  It really turns an Army base into a much happier place to run amok.  They are incredibly fragrant, especially the trees w/ the large cream colored flowers, which smell like cinnamon (we don't know what they are yet).

My favorite part is when the breeze blows through them making it appear as if there is a soft blush snow falling everywhere.  Kid even tried to catch the "flakes" as they swirled around her.  It is a big change from Hawai'i, having distinct seasonal markers like blossoming trees, rather than where things are always in bloom (which is gorgeous, but makes for high pollen all the time).  There was always some brightly colored "snow", from the crimson and orchid colored blooms.

Another thing that I didn't realize I missed was the smell of blooming lilac, another thing my grandmother always has in her yard.  I hate artificially scented lilac things, but the real thing is so pleasing to my nose (kind of like plumeria, which stinks in its artificial form, but the real thing is amazingly sweet and refreshing).

Hope that you are having a beautiful Spring!  For some of you, I hope it warms up (no more ice storms!)

OYD Cooks!

Cooking w/ kids!

I love doing things that get kids in the kitchen and helping out.  Kitchen independence is a great skill for all children that can carry them into adulthood.  Both of my parents and all of my grandparents were excellent cooks, and they had their own ways of teaching me things that made me love cooking today.

When I was The Kid's age and my parents were still married my favorite Friday night ritual (much like BSR's) was making homemade pizza together.  We used to make our own dough, grate our own cheese and make everything from scratch.  Afterward my Daddy and I would pop corn in our air popper (I so need to get one of these) and we would watch Star Wars together (go fig, huh!).

When I was a little older and one of my dad's sisters used to watch us on the weekends my cousin and I got to make English Muffin Pizzas for dinner.  This was a faster way of keeping the same tradition to me.  I have also found that it is a pleaser when entertaining children (or hosting Brotherhood events) b/c everyone gets to choose their favorite toppings and create their own masterpieces.  So, w/o further ado:

English Muffin Pizzas

You will need:

Pre split English Muffins, 1-2 per person.  The good kind w/ the nooks and crannies in them.

1 block Mozzarella cheese, grated (which is a fun food prep activity for young helpers).

1 can pizza sauce, or you can make your own.

An assortment of toppings, including pepperoni, fresh pineapple, cooked bacon, fresh mushrooms (sliced), and anything else you can think of.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F.

Spread sauce over each half of the English Muffin, and top any way you see fit.  

Bake on a pizza stone (or other pizza pan) for 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly browned.

Allow to cool for younger mouths.  You can also substitute pre-made crusts (like Boboli) for larger versions or older crowds.

We had a lot of fun making these w/ the girls today, so I hope you enjoy them too!

Then and Now

When we picked up The Kid from school today I was watching the children play, and noticed how tiny the Kindergarten kids seemed.  I just couldn't wrap my head around The Kid having ever been that small.  I know she hasn't always been this big, but I just had to dig up the photographic evidence.

This is The Kid on her first day of Kindergarten a year ago:

You will note the baby teeth and the chubby hands and cheeks...the last remains of her toddler years.

And here she is, the first day of First Grade:

Look at all of those permanent teeth (and she has what those who love me call my "Madonna Gap")!  Maybe it's just me, but I just can not get over the difference only a year makes.

But to go even further back, here are two from when we first moved to Hawai'i:

Just a few days b/f her fourth birthday.

And w/ Wei, Z, The Guy, and our buddy Andrew outside the Koa Pancake House for her 4th Birthday Breakfast (I am pretty sure that is Z's only T-shirt)!

*Sigh*

The years just fly by.

Malama Pono!