Cap-i-tan Lynch, of the SS Minow

The idea was put into my head to get my pontoon boating license, so I went online, watched the videos and took the online test.

After passing the multiple choice online test, which you couldn’t fail if you tried because if you selected the wrong answer it told you so and let you guess until you got it right, I scheduled my “driving” test.

I needed some moral support, so I dragged asked my Aloha Blonde Wing Woman to tag along. Did I mention we had to be at the Marine Corps Base Marina at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, which meant we needed to be up at 7 a.m. and be out the door at 8 a.m. on a weekend?

Yupp, she is a true friend.

Anyhoo, I was obvs. freaking out about this “driving,” test because I felt the knowledge I possessed was not adequate enough to operate a vessel. Not to mention, this would be the first time I had driven a boat in forever.

To make a long story short, I passed the driving part and got my pontoon boating license. However, my confidence level is a wee bit low. I only drove the boat straight for a few minutes because everyone needed to have a turn.

My biggest fear is the anchoring. I can follow directions on how to get to the sandbar and avoid the reefs, but what if I anchor wrong? What if it gets stuck, or worse yet, the anchor comes loose and the boat drifts away?

I think if I get enough practice, but even that scares me because the people on my boat will be trusting me to get them out and back safely, I’ll gain more confidence in boating.

Needless to say I better be able to muster up some confidence because I rented a boat for my girl friends birthday this weekend and again for when my parents come for a visit :\

Coffee Group

We had our first “coffee” with our new battalion commanders today. She is super nice and gorgeous to boot! I am convinced the higher up in rank an officer/soldier gets, the more attractive his or her spouse becomes.

Maybe there is hope for me yet =)

I have been to several “coffees,” but I have yet to attend one that actually serves coffee! I mean, the name of the gathering implies coffee will be served for crying out loud. They should just change the name to social gathering to avoid further confusion.

Stacey put together a rather nice salad bar tablescape, and even though she wasn’t 100 percent satisfied with her spread, I thought it was awesome and so pretty!

She laid a burlap cloth over some overturned bowls to give her spread some height and movement and she filled different sized bowls with various salad accoutrements. To keep with the island theme, she used white starfish to fill in any gaps.

Only Stacey could make a salad bar fancy =)

Since she has twin girls, this gathering was kid friendly, but it was more like baby friendly because all lil ones were roughly the same age, under 12 months. Oddly enough, all the bambinos had blue eyes!

Work Hard, Play Harder

My Aloha Blonde Wing Woman and I have our Hale Koa Fun Friday down to a science.

Don’t judge us.

Nothing is more rejuvenating than sun, sand and an umbrella drink (or a Corona with lime) after a hellacious work week. Working for the Army and working for the Mouse take a lot out of ya.

Again, don’t judge us.

The weather seemed a lil iffy as we made our way into town, but once we arrived pool and ocean side the weather was perfect.

We have the sunburns to prove it!

This was by far the most glorious Hale Koa Fun Friday to date.

My BFF is getting married!

Congrats Casey and Tim! I cannot wait to plan this wedding!

How he asked her. So clever!

The "she said yes" after picture!

Love them!

Congrats guys!

Birthday Party Time!

What’s better than one birthday party? Two, of course!

I fought my exhaustion hard last night and I got a great night’s sleep and was ready for a full day of birthday party pandemonium.

Grandpa Hoffmann threw the first birthday (it was a Mickey Mouse theme!) and he served up BBQ pulled pork, homemade slaw and baked beans and of course CAKE!

Chase was born the year the Cardinal's won the World Series and his birthday fell on opening day.

Party hat fail.

The Borland clan drove all the way from Fort Leonard for the festivities and it was the first time I have seen them since they left Hawaii in May AND it was my first time meeting Charlie!

Charlie and Chase are buddies and they spent some time getting reacquainted and playing. Both boys are such cutie-pa-tooties!

After a failed attempt at a cake smash, Chase DID NOT like getting his hands dirty, Who’d a thunk it!?, it was time to open presents.

Started off pretty good.

Wait for it...

What is this!?

It's my party and i'll cry if I want too!

Chase pretty much hit the jack pot and there would be more to come at his grandmas house the next day.

Like a good friend, Charlie gave the toys a quality control once over =)

Yupp, this one is a keeper Chase.

Once the rest of the party guests went home, we (the Hoffmann’s and the Borland’s) stayed up until 2 a.m. catching up, swaping stories and of course solving the world’s problems over cake and libations.

Just 20 more years lil fella!

Man I haven’t laughed like this since the gang was all together last Easter!

Look who is 1!

Happy FIRST birthday Chase Mark Hoffmann! 

I cannot believe a year ago today I held you just three hours after you came into this world.

Man, time flies!

In honor of my Godson’s first birthday I made the journey across the Pacific to Belleville, Illinois. The trip was a two-pher. I got to see him, his parents and I got to reconnect with the Borland’s and meet their lil man, Charlie.

Emily and Steph were "Partners in "Pregnancy," with Emily being a trimester behind. Her son, Charlie, turns one in July.

Meet me in Saint Louis

In honor of my Godson’s first birthday, I made like arduous journey across the Pacific and two time zones.

After getting up at 6 a.m. and working a full day in Hawaii, I boarded a plan at 6:30 p.m. for the fist leg of my journey. With six/seven hours behind me, a short hour and a half plan ride from Dallas, Texas to Saint Louis, Mo. was all that stood between me and the Hoffmann family.

I don’t know if I was still shaken up from my white knuckled, turbulent flights or just plain tired, it took me several moments to realize the three figures excitedly waving in my direction were my friends. 

My lil guy got so big!

Chase started walking at around 10 and a half months, and although his mother sent me tons of video evidence that he was in fact a bi-ped, I had to see it with my own four eyes.

He may have only take a dozen steps before I plucked him up and covered in him smooches! The last time I saw his sweet face he was just four months old.

Wiping the sleep from my eyes, we made our way to the car where I was greeted by an old friend: McDonald’s Sweet Tea! In true Stephanie fashion, I had the drink but she threw my straw away! I knew this weekend was going to be one for the record books for sure.

The ride from the airport in Missouri to Jerad’s dad house in Illinois was quick. We made a pit stop to unload my stuff before meeting Steph’s dad and sister at a restaurant called Lotawata Creek Southern Grill. The portions here are huge, they made my inner fat girl blush. The portions are so big, they buy more than 5,000, 9 x 9 Styrofoam containers each week.

Since fried ravioli originated in Missouri, we ordered some for the table, and an order of creamcheese stuffed mushrooms. My Weight Watchers tracking was already shot.

Full from the apps, I decided to play it safe and order a salad from the “lunch menu.” Welp, when that sucker made its way to the table, my eyes bugged out of their sockets.

This was the LUNCH size portion. I don’t event want to know what the dinner portion looks like. Sadly, I hardly made a dent in it.

Full to our britches (note I am in the mid west) we ventured over to Toys R Us so Chase could pick out his birthday present. I made him a photo album, a year in review, and shipped it to his grandma’s house, but what kid wants a book for their birthday? He helped me pick out his elephant ball popper.

Belly’s still full and birthday gifts in tow, we headed back to Jerad’s dad house to unload and change. Steph had me hit the ground running and after a quick outfit change, we were on our way to Eckerts, which I dubbed the Whole Foods of Illinois.

The Country Store’s shelves are lined with old-time country favorites like apple butter, honey, jams and preserves, fresh baked goods, bread mixes, coffee blends, specialty teas and other gourmet goodies.

How fun are these "RedNek" wine glasses?! They are mason jars attached to a pedastle. Clever and very practical because they have a lid!

While we were moseying around and trying some samples, our noses caught wift of something delicious. This would be our lucky day. The store was having a wine and pizza pairing class and they had some extra seats!

We signed our selves up and noshed on pizza, got our wine learn on (Steph started feeling it after the second of five wines) and we even got to make/assemble our own pizza.

Caramelized onions, toasted walnuts, sun dried tomatoes, rosemary, blue cheese and balsamic vinegar. It was so so good!

Stuffed, Steph and I (I had to drive hehe) decided to try our lady luck at the Casino Queen, home to the loosest slots in town. This is where Steph used to work before she met Jared. Sadly, lady luck wasn’t on either of our sides and our machines of choice were not putting out. Steph broke even and I lost $15.

I can't believe how much stuff we crammed into my first day!

Hoppy Easter

Easter

Time is really flying over here in Hawaii and Easter nearly escaped me. Instead of hosting a big Easter like I did last year before our “group” headed its separate ways, I got invited to an Easter brunch.

With Chris shipping to the Pohakalua Training Area, or PTA, on the Big Island the next day and having to orchestrate a vehicle convoy that morning, leaving me solo, I took my friend up on her offer went to church (I know, I know I am a “revolving door” church goer”) with her and her baby girl Halle Mae.

Okay I’ll admit it, I really wanted to wear my dress =)

After an interesting service, we pretty much sat outside and read hymns and songs off a projection screen, we headed over to her neighbors house, who I had met a few days before at the Ford Island 10k. She has a six month old baby girl, Jasmine, and her hubby is deployed with the 25^th Combat Aviation Brigade. With Jess’s hubby on a humanitarian mission in the Phillipines, Jackie’s hubby downrange and mine on his way out the door, we are three “single” ladies.

The brunch spread was simple but yummy. I brought PW’s Knock you Naked Brownies, Jess made cheesy potatoes and bacon (gotta have some kinda pork on Easter), and our hostess Jackie made two yummy quiches.

We snacked on fruit salad, deviled eggs and mimosa’s — It was after noon =) —and I gushed over the babes in their Easter attire.

Ford Island 10k

Finishers 2012.

Instead of taking advantage of the weekend and sleeping in, Chris and I were up and out of the house by 5:30 a.m. and enroute to Ford Island for the 15^th Annual Ford Island 10k.

We ran this last year, and it was my first attempt at a 10k. 

Chris and I before the race circa 2011.

With two under my belt, I was more confident in my running abilities this time around.

My goal was to run the entire race without stopping. Mission accomplished! Even though my left foot fell asleep at mile two, I don’t know how that is possible, I ran through the pins and needles and it finally woke up at mile four.

I crossed the finish line at one hour and 15 minutes, much improved from my first effort at one hour, 45 minutes.

After a 6.2 mile work out, we met Jess and her baby girl Halle, along with her friend Jackie and her baby girl, Jasmine, for a well deserved pancake breakfast.