Hello, my name is Chris (or Lallie) and I am a Move-aholic

So yeah, as if we hadn't had enough dumpster diving for boxes, wrasling memory foam mattresses, and losing hardware to piece together our poor furniture, we moved AGAIN.  We are not asking for any sympathy from anyone as this was completely self-imposed chaos.  We found a really great house with more room inside and out, closer to the clinic, more privacy, cooler elevation, and hopefully cheaper in the long run with more energy-efficient appliances.  We lost our ocean view and daily sunsets, but gained so much more.  We also lost grumpy neighbors who don't like to hear our children play- bummer dude!  We moved a little over a week ago and are now mostly settled and are hopeful that this will be our last move here in Hawaii.  This has been the focus of our time and energy for the last month or so- sorry we haven't posted in awhile.  We have had waves of loneliness recently really missing home and all who reside there and really looking forward to our "lineup" of guests coming soon.  We love to share this paradise with any volunteers who brave to trek across 3,000 miles of Pacific Ocean on a cramped airplane that serves warm water and stale peanuts. 
Let's see... what's new??  I had the best Father's Day really EVER.  My family took me to the Hilton in Waikaloa and we spent the weekend frolicking in the pools and pretending that we were tourists on a dream Hawaiian vacation:)  Odd, really.  I got the best gift ever- a framed stack of everyone's hands out of colored paper with mine behind them all--Priceless.  I am so blessed to have such an incredible family.  I feel so much closer as a family since we've been on the far side of the sea as we have been forced to rely completely on God and ourselves to succeed, which I'll tell you right now is not easy but very rewarding. The boys have really become best buds overall- not to say they are little angels or anything- but we are making great progress.  Lallie is ramping up with a new curriculum "My Father's World" for home schooling within the next couple of weeks and our new home has the perfect place for school.
Clay had his 7th birthday!! We were able to ride a submarine out into the bay and saw lots of fish, eels, and 3 shipwrecks which were quite cool.  Fourth of July was great full of parades, face painting, cotton candy, and of course fireworks!  First time we've seen fireworks over the ocean- really spectacular!
Work is going really well overall- the best job I have ever had as a PA.  I've had a few "interesting" interactions with the locals over the past couple of months which keep me on my toes and sometimes makes me wonder if I should carry bear spray with me or something. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't learn something new and that is part of the reason I became a PA to begin with. I do feel like I am making a difference here regardless of how long we end up staying. 
A hike 3/4 of the way to Captain Cook- Best snorkeling in all of Hawaii

Princess Evie and her servant at a horse ranch

Dude... I'm like a king yo!

Intense cow roping action

Waipio Valley - didn't make it down this time

Evie the frog

At the Hilton- having a blast!

Looks like fun- but quite painful actually...

Oliver in the pool with a sandy bottom- weird!

Doesn't get any better than this!!!

Random Rhino Riding


The boys hit this slide about 1,546 times...

FINALLY- apple bananas are ready- I am an addict

So is she monkey lady girl

Time for Clay's Atlantis Adventure



Note the depth gauge on the top of the picture!

There something about hacking open a coconut with a machete- home grown in our new yard!!

Our new yard complete with playground and tree house- the boys are in heaven...

Fourth of July balloon animals

Spelunking on the Fourth

Our new home!!

A quick midday date for our 13th anniversary!

Haircut day- yes...those are Mohawks...

Evie loved her little butterfly

Clay got to crack open an oyster to find a pearl

Big Boy O

Lowe's kids workshop- really fun 

Every boy's dream- Swiss Family Russells


The Gecko Whisperer- complete with poop

Future Rodeo Queen 
Well- October, first part of November and December are wide open for vacancy at the Russell B&B and all who can fly are welcome to come.  We will take care of you like you were one of the many Geckos living in our house.  We just ask that you don't poop all over the walls- its really hard to clean up!


Love you all, Keep in Touch-


Chris, Lallie, Logan, Oliver, Clay, & of course, Evie Jane

Comments

  1. warperJuly 9, 2012 at 7:42 AM

    Hi all
    Loving the pictures, and happy that your move
    is a done deal.
    Looking forward to our visit, I know that it will b e wonderful with Krisit and Eric there.

    Love, blessings and prayers

    Gpak and Yvon

    ReplyDelete

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