livin' the HI life: grateful for L1 ward camp

Monday, July 15, 2013

grateful for L1 ward camp

*this is small kine late for this one, but it's been crazy 'round these parts. so don't hate...appreciate...the fact that i'm getting a post out on this is a feat in itself. =)

every year during the 4th of july week, my home ward holds a week-long campout...at the beach. yes, we realize that it's not really camping, and yes, we realize that we can simply cross the street to go home to use the toilet, but the entire ward loves it! and we don't care.

since I'm at work during the day, I miss out on most of the daytime activities but I try to make sure that we take part in the nighttime events. they usually consist of talent shows, lots of food, games, and just having a non-stop laugh fest all night. but once the main event of the night is done we don't stop there, oh no. our talented ward members use their abilities to teach whoever is interested how to perform the lost art of hawaiian night fishing ("paipai") or you can go crabbing with all the little ones who can't go to sleep with all the ruckus happening all around, or you can mosey on to the main tent and show off your killer dance moves while the live DJ spins all night long. cause it don't stop...and we won't stop!

L1 talent show...blurry because it was so packed and I had to squeeze myself into a tight spot and move quick to get a pic!

my mom and brother's family pulls out all the stops for ward camp, going to Costco the week before making sure that there's enough grub to last the whole family (and anyone else that happens to walk past the tent with a little room in their tummy) an entire week!

after I get off work and pick up the kids, we'd walk across the street to the camp...because there's absolutely NO parking left! folks that aren't even in our ward will come by and hangout. because it's THAT MUCH FUN.

now that ward camp is over and done, and i'm missing all the fun with my ward family, I'm reminded to be grateful. I'm grateful for a ward that I grew up with, and truly feel like they're my family. I feel like I could call anyone in the ward and count on them to be there for me. I'm thankful for priceless memories of swimming, eating, playing, and more swimming, eating, and playing during ward camp as a child & teenager and knowing that I had an amazing time during that week every year. and I'm grateful to be raising my children in the same wonderful environment of good times and good fun with great people that I love.

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some stuff...

for those of you who may not know much about our family...this one's for you:

1. where are you from?

brandon grew up in kahuku, while i grew up just a few minutes away in laie.

2. so you must have known each other growing up, right?

not quite. although we grew up in adjoining towns, we had no idea that the other even existed! brandon graduated from kahuku high school in 1995, while i graduated from kamehameha in 1999. the only thing we had in common during those days was that my older brother, tane, was brandon's classmate. how funny is that?

3. when did you get married?

we were married & sealed for time and all eternity in the laie, hawaii temple on november 3, 2005.

4. where do you work?

brandon works at the polynesian cultural center and has worked there since june 2005. he is a musician for the canoe show, ali'i luau, and night show.

i work at brigham young university-hawaii as a financial aid supervisor and have been in that department since january 2005. i help students find money to fund their college education.

5. how many children do you have?

three, and they are definitely a handful! our children are the lights of our lives and we are trying to take things one day at a time. but we hope to give them a playmate or two in the future...ya never know!

6. who cares for them while you are at work?

my mother in law watches nahe & linohao in kahuku. and ahonui attends laie elementary school.

7. what do you do in your free time?

if i could wish for more of something, it would have to be that - free time! brandon enjoys getting in his gym-time and practicing his guitar. i love to cook and read...and weirdly enough, cleaning our place actually relaxes me.

8. favorites?

tv shows:

brandon is a non-stop learner. he likes watching the discovery, history, and national geographic channels...but if the UFC is on - forget the rest - he'll be watching the fight.

i am such a girl when it comes to tv. my all-time favorites are "friends" and "seinfeld", although thanks to netflix, i have recently found an addiction to the "gilmore girls". i also LOVE the food network. too bad i can't cook like those peeps...

movies:

ocean's eleven, mean girls, pursuit of happyness, the notebook, count of monte cristo...the usual chick flick classics...brandon's favorite movie is black hawk down. but i think anything with action and/or comedy is cool with him. hehehe.

music:

brandon loves hawaiian, r&b, soul, and jazz music. i'm into almost anything that soothes me, like sade, stevie wonder, miles davis, 'ol school slow jamz & 90's rap. don't hate.

9. plans of moving?

nope. i have never been happier here in laie, hawaii and i'm sure brandon feels the same. if we could stay here for the rest of our lives, i'd be a lucky duck. who wouldn't want to raise their children in the same place they grew up?

i may add or update this information on us from time to time depending on the demand. but if you have any other pressing questions that you would like to know - hollaback!