Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

Love,

Elizabeth & Beatrice

Lane Thomas LiaBraaten

Congratulations to my cousin Erika and her husband Brent on the birth of their son Lane Thomas. Lane was born at 1:58 this afternoon and he joins big sister Brynn. He is quite a big guy, weighing in at exactly 10 lbs and 22 3/4 inches long. Both Erika and Lane are healthy and doing well. I am very excited that we are adding another baby to our extended family.

Unpacked

I am really happy to say that our things made it safely to our new house in Hawaii. They arrived at the beginning of the week. The movers put the furniture together for the most part and then left everything else out of the boxes. I have spent the last few days organizing the house, putting things away, and finding new places to store everything we have. I am really excited because tonight I finished up with the house. I still have a lot of pictures to hang and then a few things to organize more thoroughly later. I also need to go out to the garage and sort of figure out what is there and where it can go. But, it feels great to have our house pretty much all set up and ready to live in. I am excited to get Beatrice over here (very soon!) and to have Doug home before I know it. I will most pictures as soon as I can get some good ones of the house.

Hotel Stay

My super-long 12 day stay at the Kale Koa is ending. It has been fun but I am ready to get out of the hotel and finally be at my house. I don't move in to my place until Friday but in the meantime I am going to be staying with the Berger's. I have gone to church with Laurelyn the last two Sundays and really enjoyed it a lot. This past Sunday I met Gill and the rest of the family at Sunday dinner. They are all very nice and welcoming. I am looking forward to staying a few nights with them and finally getting my key Friday! It will be exciting to get into my place!

Hawaii

Well, I made it to Hawaii yesterday! I had a wonderful flight on Hawaiian airlines and arrived safely and on time in Honolulu. Joy greeted me at the airport with a lei which is so beautiful. Very first we drove over to the navy base to have my orders stamped saying my date of arrival. After that we made it over to pick up my car which was very quick and easy! I drove to my hotel which is the Hale Koa. Joy and I had dinner together in one of the restaurants in the hotel before we drove out to pass by the house I had a showing scheduled for.

This morning I got up early and Joy and I drove out to see her house (on the windward side of the island) before driving back to Ewa Beach for my house showing. The house is gorgeous inside and I decided to go for it! It is really pretty and the price is great so I signed a lease today. I am really excited that things are going so smoothly. I need to get my car checked out and registered in Hawaii, arrange for my things to be moved into my house (which I get on October 15th), and then get Beatrice over here and the whole move will be pretty much over with. I am so happy I have a house lined up and can't wait for Doug to get here to enjoy it with me.

Headed to Hawaii

Wish me luck! I am currently at the airport (using the wonderful free internet - thanks PDX!) waiting to board my flight to Hawaii. Today has gone smoothly so far. My two large suitcases (47 and 66 lbs) were checked free thanks to the military. My flight arrives in Honolulu a little after 1:00 today and I have a few things I have to do at that point. But, after some business I should be able to enjoy my evening in HAWAII! I am really excited - nervous too - but mostly just excited to get over there and see what everything is like. Tomorrow morning I have an appointment to see a house and hopefully that goes great. I will update more when I get the chance.