travel along, singing this song...

I guess I don't blog much when I am with the people I usually blog for.

Last week Diana commented on how diligent Hawaii bloggers seem to be and we figured it's likely due to the fact that many of us are trying to stay connected to those we love across the pacific.

I know that's how it is for me anyway.

I like it alright. I'll keep it up for a while I'm sure.

Today my dad told me he was tired of looking at the same old post. So "Hi dad! Here's a new post!" (I guess I'll leave the room now and tell you myself.)

We had two wonderful weeks in wonderful Utah with wonderful friends and family. It's a crime that we don't live there since nearly all of our very best friends and so much dear family live there all of a sudden.

I'm glad we decided to come over early for a very faith building memorial service to honor my Grandpa Hawkins. I love my cousins so much and singing True to the Faith and Love at Home with all of them at the funeral made the loooong flight with Asher worthwhile (Ambrose was on the flight too but he did great. Good job boy.)

Utah nights were late and full of deep and silly Palmerisms, early mornings were reserved for slathering on the thickest moisturizer I could find, early afternoons were full to the brim with M&Ms and ice cream at Grandma Hills house, followed by summer fun with loved ones (of the Palmer, Jones, Winget, Shumway, Tutor, or Phillips variety), sprinkle in another visit or two with some awesome Hill cousins at Cousin Jon's 30th, Tim Robertson, and Grandma Olson and you have the recipe for a great two weeks in Utah.

And that grand bff reunion at the Palmers with Becca, Bitty, Melissa, Abby, Diana, Ashley, Darcie and us and all that belong to us. Big time highlight that made me pinch myself a couple of times.

Oh and don't forget our magical session at Yan Photography in her killer studio. Oh my modern. I loved every second and frankly wanted to live there.

Well, I can hear Thomas being sassy about blogging in the next room so I will end this now so I can do something really nice for him to make him feel guilty. heh heh

On to Newport Beach!

dear diana/melissa/brittany... oh and echo and me too,

In the grand tradition of sewing procrastination I had every intention of getting a little somethin somethin together for your little one before I left for the mainland.

I even cut out four sets of little Huck Finn pants the night before I found out about Grandpa Hawkins passing see:

Four pant fronts and four pant backs all pinned together... ready for action for four little boys: Shiloh, Mel's soon-to-be babe, Asher and Gideon (for when he got back... happy late birthday!)...

and Britt, I was gonna do a cute little baby girl dress. My first ever.

I even told Thomas about a picture I would take of them all hanging on the clothesline together when I was done looking all old fash and whatnot (Darcie and Martin are you seething over my hijacking of your phrase yet?)...

but now I am leaving a week early so guess what?

You get to look forward to receiving a package in the mail come late August!!!

So exciting right.

Ok, off to sign my Fall contract for the TWO classes I am teaching this Fall (!!!!), return the boys library books, and then hand-out candy to everyone around us as we board a plane bound for family!

Aloha Oe,

Stephanie

our change of plans (to honor a great man)

Well my sweet Grandpa Hawkins finally passed on this morning after years of several ailments and missing my grandmother. He was 89 and was blessed by my uncle and cousin right before he passed on and did so peacefully.

The funeral is this Saturday in Provo so Ambrose, Asher and I will leave Thursday afternoon and Thomas will join us for our regularly scheduled mainland trip about a week later.

I am sad because he was truly a wonderful person and I will miss him dearly, but mostly just very relieved that he won't be in so much pain anymore and that he can finally reunite with my grandma after six and half years of separation.

He was a courageous Marine who was at Pearl Harbor when it was bombed, he was an example to our whole family as he served an honorable mission with my grandmother when I was little, he managed the Church ranch in Florida for many years, he helped too many people to count, he always said, "Sure glad to see this pretty girl" and gave me a scruffy Grandpa Hawkins kiss each time I saw him (even if it was at the end of a 10 hour drive to see him when I sure didn't feel too pretty until he said it), he raised a large, happy, successful family in righteousness and now he has endured to the end (just like I remember him teaching me about in FHE when I was little) and completed his mission here on earth.

When I think about the greeting he must be enjoying this very minute I want to shout for joy and throw away every part of me that is lazy, sinful, and petty because we all have a lot to look forward to if we do this life right and there isn't a moment to lose.

Of course, to that I know Grandpa Hawkins would wink at me and say with that sly grin, "You'll get old too... if you live long enough!"

To one of the last true cowboys: thank you so much for your lifelong example! Thanks for the tall tale bedtime stories, for not getting mad when I misplaced your tough guy cowboy boots in the basement when I was nine, for teaching me to ride a horse and for always making me feel loved. I will miss you tremendously. I love you.

have you noticed he's taking pictures again?

And they are really amazing if you ask me. Go T-Rob. If it weren't for your photography... this blog would all iPhone or just probably imageless. Your pictures make me want to post something. Thankssssssssss.

ladies of the society! I give you our tea flavor organizer.

Let's post another one of these gems shall we? I've got some free evenings this week since Thomas will be camping with scouts, then photographing with a friend, then drumming with the band...etc. so I'm hoping these super crafty profiles will get me all geared up to get some sewing done before our trip! I've got a bunch of new babies to meet and I sure would like to give them something handmade before I smoother them with kisses. Woot!

1. Name: Sheila Rich

(image stolen from her facebook -heh heh)

2. Favorite type of sewing project: Easy ones. ha! but really, home decor or accessories- like toys, hair accessories, etc. I'm not that talented for a lot of "fashion" sewing projects

3. City you currently reside in: Kaaawa, HI

4. Hometown: Honolulu, HI

5. Family stats: One girl who is almost 2 , and one boy on the way (June 26 to be exact)... (yeah, that's how behind I am in posting these. She had her precious baby boy already and he is so cute!)

(stole this picture from her blog. ps- has anyone ever looked so good after just giving birth? my goodness woman.)

6. Machine you sew with: Nothing special. It gets the job done. I got it as a Christmas gift a few years ago. The brand is Brother.

7. Picture of the project you are currently working on: sorry, I don't have one. I need to start one.

8. Picture of a finished project you are happy with: (Even REALLY happy with. We'll take that too.) I don't have too many. This is the latest- a quiet book for my daughter.

I'll always be really happy with my first "fashion" sewing project: a pillowcase dress for our little girl, even though the hem is crooked along with other flaws- it makes me happy when she wears it. I can't find a photo for it right now though.

9. Do you have an etsy site? yes, nothing to do with sewing though. What is it? Party Accessories Picture examples:




10. What fabric are you currently drooling over?: anything from this page

11. Sewing project you would most like to attempt but are admittedly frightened of or just need to learn more about: making a nice swimming suit.

12. Favorite online crafty blog that you draw a lot of inspiration from: thelongthread.com, purlbee.com, made (dana-made-it.com/ ), blog.craftzine.com, and sewmamasew, amongst others.

13. What sewing purchase are you saving your precious pennies for?: anything from here again

14. Online tutorial you plan to attempt: this lovely clutch

15. When and how did you learn to sew?: I am still learning but it started by watching my mother while growing up and picking it up from there -nowadays I usually have her guiding me on the phone as I go through a project. ha! I thought it was so old fashioned and uncool to sew or to wear something homemade when I was younger, but now I wish I would have paid more attention when she made things. I guess I started really sewing about 4 years ago when I got married. I was inspired to make some window curtains to replace the old ones we were given in good 'ol TVA.

16. Your biggest sewing disaster story: I'm not sure about the biggest, but the most reoccurring story is: getting the fabric, the pattern and everything cut out... then having it just sit there unstitched and unfinished. I think I have three girls dresses all cut out and ready to go. I just get intimidated.

17. Favorite sewing book: Don't have any, but ones I would like are: Martha Stewart's Encyclopedia of Sewing and Fabric Crafts, Heather Ross'- Weekend Sewing,



18. Sewing hero you look up to: my mother

19. Anything else that would be interesting or funny or lame or sa-weeeeet to share with all your society pals: umm... whenever I sit down to sew (or start any other project) I like to have a stash of M&M's and almonds in a bowl kept nearby. They keep me happy.

20. If you could nominate yourself for an officer in this most prestigious society- what would your title be?: hhmmm, maybe the TEA-FLAVOR-ORGANIZER as part of this "My Cup of Tea Sewing Society". bahaa.

this was my favorite part of the zoo

And, of course, seeing the Whettens too! (We love you guys.)

ladies of the society! I give you our Representative Twice-a-year Seamstress!

Wow, I've been doing a seriously bad job of getting these up here lately. Thanks to all you cool peeps who sent them in- I will do better! Expect at least one a week from here on out. Scouts honor.

1. Name: Robin Mikolyski


2. Favorite type of sewing project: practical things, currently quilts

3. City you currently reside in: Laie, Hawaii

4. Hometown: Keaau, Hawaii (Big Island)

5. Family stats: Husband Scott, one 9-month-old boy Kadin, and another boy due in September

6. Machine you sew with: a very basic Brother (VX-1120 given to me by my mom)

7. Project you are currently working on: a baby quilt for a friend.
Here's an example of what it will look like when done:


8. Picture of a finished project you are happy with: (Even REALLY happy with. We'll take that too.) I re-did the cushion covers of a rocking chair/glider a friend gave us and it came out pretty well!
Before:
After:


9. Do you have an etsy site? Nope, not that good!

10. What fabric are you currently drooling over?: none

11. Sewing project you would most like to attempt but are admittedly frightened of or just need to learn more about: nothing at the moment

12. Favorite online crafty blog that you draw a lot of inspiration from: haven't found one yet

13. What sewing purchase are you saving your precious pennies for?: a sturdier sewing table and chair

14. Online tutorial you plan to attempt: Wow, I'm such a sewing slacker! Don't have one

15. When and how did you learn to sew?: My mom helped me sew a dress when I was 12 (using a pattern). I wore it for a couple of years 'till I outgrew it!

16. Your biggest sewing disaster story (picture if you have would be entertaining): The year I got married, the quilt I made for our queen-size bed without factoring in any overhang. I only measured the top of the bed! So it's more like a bedspread. Someday I'll make a new one that fits properly!


17. Favorite sewing book: again, none!

18. Sewing hero you look up to: Doris Nilson, resident of Laie, is teaching me to quilt. She's amazing!

19. Anything else that would be interesting or funny or lame or sa-weeeeet to share with all your society pals: I guess I'm not as passionate about sewing as I could be, but now that I have a sewing room, it makes it a lot easier to have the motivation to make things. I'm really a practical rather than creative seamstress, so I only think of things to make when a need arises! I don't have a fabric stash. I don't buy fabric "just because I like it". I've only ever bought material after I think of the project!

20. If you could nominate yourself for an officer in this most prestigious society- what would your title be?: Um, Representative Twice-a-year Seamstress?

oh Bakersfield

There are certain things that remind me of home.

And I'm not talking about my true home, which has been, and forever will always be right here on my happy little island.

But the place I grew up. Bakersfield, California.

The place I couldn't wait to get out of.

The place I always felt like a fish out of water in.

The place where a lot of great things happened for me and a lot of things I hate thinking about too.

I don't know why I get so embarrassed when I think about my growing up years. I think we all went through the painfully awkward stuff and so I am not unique or alone in that, but I still cringe when I see pictures of some old boyfriend online or when an old VHS of a play I was in resurfaces, or when I think about how much I let things get to me in High School and how alone I let myself feel when I had good friends all along.

So our hometowns are like big, heavy leather trunks tucked away in the attic of our memory, storing all the past anxieties, disappointments, learning experiences, and triumphs too.

But so much time has passed since I have actually lived there that I find myself wishing to be there and I think that is because

Kimball and Betty Hawkins, my own sweet parents, live there.

And my sisters family.

And my old haunts and hangouts.

And a few treasured friends.

And my childhood home.

And all that good Mexican food and Barbecue.

And so we are excited! And even made a paper-chain.

And in 14 days this current mother of two, wife, Hawaiian heart and soul, homemaker, English teacher, lap swimmer, crafty version of me will visit Las Vegas, Utah, Newport Beach, and yes, Bakersfield, California and I'll run my fingers over my homecoming queen crown, and watch the old obnoxious drama nerd VHS tapes, and swim in my parents pool without a care again and avoid some people as best I can while catching a glimpse of the old haunts and hopefully reconnect with some dear friends as well.

I'm looking forward to it.

"To love would be an awfully big adventure." — J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

My two Peter Pans:


One doesn't want to potty train and the other has no interest in walking. They refuse to grow up and I have decided to stop worrying and just enjoy.

"So come with me, where dreams are born, and time is never planned. Just think of happy things, and your heart will fly on wings, forever, in Never Never Land!"
— J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan)

america the beautiful

I don't like the right or the left and hate the word "moderate".

I don't spend a lot of time or energy debating this or that.

I don't follow all the crisis this week and I didn't last week either.

But I DO love America!

She is beautiful and we are free from sea to shining sea.

help get the word out oahu moms!

Got this email tonight: (sorry the format copied over a bit crazy)
Aloha friends!
We are holding a series of information meetings to discuss starting a
charter school. We have already submitted our "Letter of Intent", and
are in the process of writing our "Detailed Implementation Plan" (DIP).
We will be gathering input and looking for members to serve on
committees and the interim local school board (ILSB). We will be
presenting our vision and ideas, discussing fundraising and grant ideas,
facilities, etc.
There are several options to attend:
Wednesday, July 7th at 10am at the Gunstock Ranch Pavilion in Laie, Hawaii
Wednesday, July 7th at 2pm online at
http://www.elluminate.com/trial/p.go?pk=PvSs3WAV8WrSxOEI (please visit
before hand to make sure you have all necessary plug-ins)
Thursday, July 8th at 6pm at the Gunstock Ranch Pavilion in Laie, Hawaii
We hope that you will attend one of the three above sessions to hear our
plans and to share your ideas! This is a statewide endeavor so please
forward this to all that may be interested! We will continue to hold
meetings. Please visit our website at
http://hawaiiala.weebly.com/index.html for more information including
the schedule of meetings.

Ambrose doesn't even start school for two more years, but I have been hoping for this sort of thing for a while! It's nice to have more options and I will definitely be making an effort to attend one of the meetings to find out more information.

team boo

Today we had good news to share back and forth and I paused after hanging up to enjoy it. The glow you feel when you're moving forward is exciting and even more rewarding when you can feel genuine joy for the ones you love as well.

We work well together. Tonight was a great night celebrating our little one's potty achievements and believe me it's a big deal that you can only understand when you also have a headstrong toddler to train.

Here's to more good nights and days. Working together. Staying positive. Optimism yields the most effective growth and unspoken understanding and teamwork too.

It helps that we are eternally invested in this progression too. Interestingly enough there is something freeing about that type of security.

Hardworking, modern, helpful, silly, intelligent, and true-to-yourself honey.

Glad you are mine.

apron

June has come and gone lovies and the apron project turned into one of those things in the back of my mind. Nearly every time I would hang with a sewing friend there would be guilty talk of how no one had sewed a thing yet, but fully intended to, and I found myself in the same boat so I couldn't offer too much encouragement.

Yesterday my good buddy Echo texted me asking when the apron party was and I thought immediately of my cut-out and abandoned project sitting in my sewing cabinet.

So I whipped the bottom half together in under an hour last night (go me!)


And the hasty construction shows. And there is no top part.

And it just might stay that way.

But I like it.

But here's the thing. I'm not a teacher (well, not YOUR teacher anyway) and this is not homework... so...

Sew one if you want!

Don't if you don't want!

Email me a picture if you want!

Don't if you don't want!

Come to my apron party at the end of the summer (sometime toward the end of August after I get home from vacation)!

Don't come if you can't!

Cause remember: we're cool like that.

now the day is over