Bitmap's Mumblings

bmp @ 2008-12-11T14:22:00

2008-12-11T22:21:43Z

Hey folks! All of you know I've moved over to Facebook, but I thought I'd make a courtesy post here. I didn't mind posting when I put new pictures up, but then I made my Flickr account friends-only so it seemed rather rude to link you to a site that you couldn't see :) Anyhow, what I'm saying is that 1) If you have a Flickr or Yahoo account, let me know and I'll add you as a Flickr contact and 2) As if I ever posted a lot here, now I'm posting even less. I occassionally put up a status update (at least more regularly than I blog here) on my Facebook so feel free to find me there (I think all of you already have, but, again, just in case I'll write something here).

I'll still keep this active, of course, (mostly for posting on other people's blogs!) so you can still reach me via LJ if you need to.

bmp @ 2008-08-11T08:43:00

2008-08-11T18:43:37Z

IMG_4295
Originally uploaded by bitmap78

For our anniversary we continued the tradition of eating at the highest-ranked restaurant in our area before moving. In this case, it was Halekulani's La Mer. We went all out and I even had my hair/makeup done for the first time ever (despite all the proms/homecomings/navy balls we've been to!). It was good fun, although I preferred the Woodlands back in South Carolina :)

bmp @ 2008-08-01T09:02:00

2008-08-01T19:02:44Z

Added a few new pics to Flickr -- These are from my cellphone over the last few months. Clicky Clicky Clicky

bmp @ 2008-07-28T07:49:00

2008-07-28T17:49:37Z

http://icanhascheezburger.com/?p=78215

bmp @ 2008-07-26T20:07:00

2008-07-27T06:06:17Z

New pics up at Flickr These are from our last day at Tiny Tots, a county park program where 1 to 3 year olds get together once a week and play, do crafts, read stories, etc. C & D really loved it and came to be quite fond of their teacher, Aunty Sandy.

bmp @ 2008-07-25T20:18:00

2008-07-26T06:17:57Z

I love lolcats: http://icanhascheezburger.com/?p=81496

bmp @ 2008-07-24T15:10:00

2008-07-25T01:10:21Z

http://www.lerman.biz/pics/Gallery62.html Music from unlikely sources.

bmp @ 2008-07-24T15:06:00

2008-07-25T01:06:37Z

Well I just figured out that I can feed my LJ posts to my Facebook page. Not that I use Facebook any more than Livejournal, but it's a better clearinghouse of information about me :) I'm considering using LJ to post links to things that amuse me. Currently I only send cute/interesting/weird things to Aaron which makes this a rather boring blog. I love being married to my best friend, but it sucks for the rest of you who are curious about the goings on at the ABCD house, heh. Maybe I'll also figure out a way to clue you all in when my Flickr is updated (the only thing I actually do update!).

IMG_4064

2008-05-06T06:50:49Z

IMG_4064
Originally uploaded by bitmap78

C & D fighting over daddy's lap :) Didn't take long!

bmp @ 2008-05-01T21:00:00

2008-05-02T06:59:36Z

Just realized that LJ might do something like cancel your account if you don't post w/in 6 months :) No worries, fair readers! For the mighty Aaron returns TOMORROW! And hopefully that will mean the return of normalcy and the ability to spend my computer time on something other than emailing him, hehe.

I have been excellent at keeping up my Flickr page, so if you've missed me, you can browse there for stuff the kids & I have been doing. And check back in a few days when I have Aaron's homecoming pics up. Clicky Clicky

bmp @ 2007-11-19T14:57:00

2007-11-20T00:57:13Z

I really was kidding about waiting two months to post again, but the joke's on me cause that's what happened :) See, Aaron was deployed for two months, was home for the last two months, and is back out for six-plus months. So, while he was home I did nothing but spend time with him :)

Rather making a string of really long picture heavy posts, I'll just point you to my flickr page here

Some of the things we did were go to the Big Island
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602220741831/

Have Birthdays
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602220741831/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602598174546/

Go Hiking
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602435386262/

See an Air Show
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602435457498/

Go to a Pumpkin Patch
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602601066805/

And do some Trick-or-Treating
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157602820335814/

Then it was time for Aaron to leave again :(
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bitmap78/sets/72157603128162215/

bmp @ 2007-09-23T20:31:00

2007-09-24T06:31:23Z

Saturday was the Aloha State Equestrian Games near here. We went mostly just as a diversion to get us out of the house while waiting for daddy to get home, but it was still pretty neat.

Here's one of the competitors taking a jump:

And doesn't every stable have a kitty? This one liked C & D:

The funny thing about these stables is that they're on the grounds of a decomissioned base. The base had an airstrip and evidently needed bunkers to hide planes from aerial photography-- These bunkers are now the stables! These are some well-protected horses, I tell you what!

bmp @ 2007-09-11T14:03:00

2007-09-12T00:02:59Z

And one last picture and I'm all caught up! Well, at least until the next time I don't post for two months, heh.

D posing for a fashing mag at the local playground :)

bmp @ 2007-09-11T13:56:00

2007-09-11T23:56:15Z

One more posting from Nichole's visit!

Here we are at the Waikiki Aquarium. Again, it's not very large, but it's a great diversion for little kids (big kids can just get snorkeling gear!!)

The kids watched "an informative video" with rapt attention.

Nemo fishies!

C recognizes Dory :)

Watching the big fish and sharks

Getting to hold hermit crabs (they tickle!)

We walked out in perfect time to see the Hawaiian Monk Seal show and feeding. This guy sees his trainer coming and is bellowing quite loudly!

Evidently getting a squashed penny was the highlight of C's day!

bmp @ 2007-09-11T13:39:00

2007-09-11T23:39:26Z

A couple times when Nichole was here, we went shopping.

Here the kids are all cramming into one of the car rides at the Waikele Premium Outlets:

Of course everyone wanted to steer, even D :)

Another time at the Milillani Town Center we just happened to be there the day it was celebrating it's 20th anniversary. There were local bands and hula dancers, people in costumes handing out candy, and free balloon animals! In the picture are a butterfly, a black tree frog, and Lightning McQueen.

bmp @ 2007-09-11T13:25:00

2007-09-11T23:25:54Z

Still working on my massive effort to get caught up. I apologize for drowning you all in pictures, but once I get going I might as well do it all in one fell swoop!

One day when we knew Nichole would not be leaving, we decided to hit the zoo. Always a big hit with the kiddos even if the Honolulu Zoo is nothing spectacular (but at only $4 per person, nothing to sneeze at either!).

I'll start with various animal pics:

Before you even walk in you can hear these Gibbons. I took a short video to record their noise that I might get around to uploading someday...

Nichole got this fantastic shot of a Gibbon way up on a pole.

"Okay, now I think it would work best if we have the two tallest stand to either side. Maybe back a little so I can get your heads in the frame. Okay, good, now smile!"

Rino closeup

Time for a siesta!

I can just picture this meerkat saying "dahhhhling"

"Me Llama"

Flamingos (and one imposter)

Orangutan

Orangutan coming to see us (see how I segued into pictures of people?)

C says "hey! that's my shirt!"

D pointing and exclaiming at the big furry animals.

C and a warthog

All four kids. (Nichole and I both took several pictures of this scene and not a one came out with all of them looking at us!)

D eventually conked out. I just love how she got "comfortable" before taking her nap :)

Unfortunately there were no fish going by at this moment, but C is watching massive Koi swim around this tank in the children's zoo.

Phew! That was a good chunk of pics down. Not too many more and I"ll be all caught up :)

bmp @ 2007-09-11T10:18:00

2007-09-11T20:18:45Z

In august, one of Bree's friends ended up staying with us for a week and a half while waiting for a Space Available flight back to her home in Japan. Unfortunately, she was not able to get on any flights and ended up having to buy tickets :( But we did get to know each other and our kids had a blast playing with each other.

Here are some pictures from a trip to the park. I wanted to get a picture of C climbing the ladder to send to Aaron (who was deployed at the time). C is getting so much braver!

This is the resulting picture.

D, on the other hand, is almost TOO brave :)

Brianna taking D down the slide

C and Brianna fencing :)

We also spent quite a bit of time at the Space-A (AMC) terminal. Luckily, it's a comfortable place with this awesome kiddie play toy, complete with airplane suspended 15 feet above the ground. To my amazement, C (with a little help from the other kids) climbed up into it:

bmp @ 2007-09-11T09:56:00

2007-09-11T19:56:53Z

Here's some miscellaneous pics from Washington.

This is our hometown, Waterville, Washington

Same place as above, just different direction.

Aaron fixed everybody's computers while we were there, including this poor, poor, ancient thing.

Aunt B wearing my dad's old sailor uniform (circa 1950s)

C with Uncle J2

C with Uncle G

And lastly, at the airport waiting to go home.

bmp @ 2007-09-10T10:25:00

2007-09-10T20:25:30Z

A few days later we took a shorter hike (so we could bring the kids) up to Silver Falls.

The main falls

Family shot at the falls. C never once rode in the backpack carrier, he was so excited to walk the whole way.

Closeup of C

Local wildlife

C amused himself by tossing rocks into the water at any given opportunity :)

At the other side of the falls, you can walk under them (but only a fool would, it's a hefty drop!)

Other side of the falls.

some of the lower falls

bmp @ 2007-09-10T10:09:00

2007-09-10T20:09:20Z

On July 14th for my Birthday we went to La Fuente's in Wenatchee. OH WOW, I had forgotten what good Mexican food tastes like :) And yes, I got a big sombrero and a poloroid photo taken because it was my birthday :)

bmp @ 2007-09-10T09:58:00

2007-09-10T19:58:51Z

*embarrased cough* And now for the pictures taken two months ago!

On July 12th, all the siblings and their pa went on a marathon 22 mile day hike up in the Enchantments. With 180 photos to choose from, here are just a few I pulled out.

The hikers starting out (hint: Aaron's the tallest)

One of the glacier lakes

Swimming in one of the glacier lakes!! EEYIKES!

Aunty A.

Remnants of the glaicer

A unique trail of stones

One of the many little "enchantments" along the way

Ditto

Above the tree line. Gorgeous stark landscape.

Trees again. Well, sort of :)

A great view

Erm... the trail seems to be underwater...

Finally! Back at the van! Only 3 hours after dark....

bmp @ 2007-07-06T16:36:00

2007-07-07T02:36:12Z

We didn't do anything terribly exciting for the 4th. There are many big shows on Oahu, but we knew the little kiddos couldn't handle them so we just did small fireworks in our backyard.

Here is C tossing some snap-its:

Everyone had front row seats to this fireworks show!

Various fireworks:

The Pyrotechnicians:

bmp @ 2007-07-06T16:28:00

2007-07-07T02:28:58Z

Our last day with the G's we drove around the southeast edge of the island, ate lunch in Kailua, hit the Pali Lookout, and then back to Pearl Harbor to see the USS Arizona.

First stop: the blowhole. Incredibly it was not crowded at all and the blowhole was spouting:

The G's with D. Can you tell they love being grandparents?

We ate at Boots & Kimo's, "Home of the original macadamia nut pancake sauce", which serves breakfast until 2 pm each day.

Squeezed into the tiny restaurant:

I was too busy eating to take a picture of the fabulous, fabulous food. Igglis and I had the mac nut pancakes, A had the Eggs Benedict, and Beel had an "Eggplant parmesan omelet" just to see if they would make it. ;)

Then it was off to the Pali Lookout. I've been there a time or two when it wasn't very windy, but this day was fantastic!!
Hair shots:

Igglis holds on for dear life:

And finally, the USS Arizona. Beel remembers his dad having to leave because of Pearl Harbor so this was especially poignant for him.

This is a shot of oil leaking from the Arizona ("tears of those on eternal patrol") with the USS Missouri in the background. This is the start and the end of our conflict with Japan; the Japanese officially surrendered on the deck of the Missouri.

Various Boy Scout troops often visit and leave flowers:

Beel and Igglis read the names:

The interior of the memorial:

Family photo as we leave the memorial:

bmp @ 2007-07-06T15:54:00

2007-07-07T01:54:38Z

Then on Wednesday (June 27), Igglis and I hit the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. I've been wanting to go there since we arrived in Hawaii but just never got the chance. Bargains galore and Hawaiiana everywhere! Igglis got gifts for all 11 or so grandkids and I picked up some Hawaiian quilt pillowcases and a housewarming gift for a friend back on the mainland.

Igglis gaping at the miles of clothes:

For the evening, we went to the Hale Koa Luau, along with some other friends of ours. The show's a little cheesy but you do get to try Hawaiian foods (everyone shout Hooray for POI!) and see polynesian dancing.

The food:

Beel eating the food:

A couple shots of the firedancer:

bmp @ 2007-07-06T15:45:00

2007-07-07T01:45:29Z

So yikes, I've got a lot of posting to do before we head to Washington for a couple weeks! Most of the pics are from Dr. & Mrs. G's visit (they were here for the ASEE convention and we got to hijack them for a couple days).

On Sunday (June 24-- see? I'm behind!) we just brought them up to the house to chat and catch up. But first we had to stop for lunch at Genki Sushi for the experience :)

The conveyer belt loaded with nummys:

Then we just hung out at the house. Beel and I of course had our cameras out, hence the next couple of shots:

Cozying up on our couch: