Happy Thanksgiving with the Taylors!

We are very thankful for good friends, and we are fortunate that paths keep crossing to bring them here to Hawaii! Now four As are here (Angel, April, Angela and me) within just a few miles of each other. That is trouble!

Here we are “warming” Josh and Angela’s new home in Kailua, just a 15 minute walk from us! Angie’s mom (Peggy) is on the left – she is visiting for two weeks. They are still unpacking (they just moved in less than a week ago!). Ben really enjoys little Rachel (sitting to Angie’s right) – this is the little baby for whom a surprise shower was thrown last year when Sam, Ben and I scooted up to WA in October.

So, having not been able to make San Diego for the big party there, I have been gradually trying  to recover from my space-a addiction. I am slowly unpacking bags, shedding a few tears as I do so. It took me two days just to unpack my bag, then move on to the boys’ bags. I didn’t pack much – only 30 pounds for all of us – but I took my time putting things away and actually kept out enough cold-weather stuff pre-packed so I can just “jet” any time if island fever overcomes me as it nearly did this time. We didn’t wake up early enough for a roll call to Travis then Alaska this morning and everything else is going to West Pac (Japan, Korea, etc.) so we’re staying put for now. I still have my toiletries bag hanging up, ready to go, and Ben’s carry-on full of toys and blankets is still packed and ready. So all I need is an hour to gear up. Less time than packing for camping! Next year is shaping up to be a heavy-travel year again with another reunion and a wedding planned, and several trips for Dave to places we’d like to crash-land (Tahoe and D.C. – but don’t tell him!). So I am working on being grateful to be grounded and I look forward to more craziness next year to get my ya-yas out.

Between space-a roller coaster rides we took a bunch of hikes on new trails and enjoyed being together. …aloha…