Zac is back!

Yesterday Zac and the rest of the USS Louisville crew returned from their 6 week "trip". Several of the families met at Hickam to watch the boat pull into the channel...then we "chased" them around to the pier at Pearl Harbor. 

After waiting on the HOT hot HOT pier for a couple of hours (and I did get a little sunburned), we finally got to take our sailors home. Zac and I grabbed some dinner at Wahoo's, then came home to catch up on some tv that he had missed, go through mail, check e-mail, etc...and THIS is what happened...

Yep, that's right - he was out before 8pm - typical day back after being underway for a while. 

So glad he is home,

RAWE

"Your room look like Oklahoma explode!"

THIS is what happens to the living room when Zac has been gone for 6 weeks. :)

Once, while on a cruise, my room attendant (from the Philippines) said to me "Your room look like

Oklahoma explode!" Today's state of my living room reminded me of this hilarious quote. But, now you

 can really see what happens when Zac isn't here to *kindly ask me to put up my mess. I just leave it EVERYWHERE! But can't you feel the creative energy here? And yes, I did put everything away tonight. (And I have the pack 'n play for babysitting Mason - and I was watching a documentary on Pearl Harbor on the History Channel.)

And this made my day - it is a tape measure - disguised as an owl! Teal surprised me and sent it to me to use in my quilting. Isn't it sooo cute?? THANK YOU TEAL!

Until next time; me ke aloha,

RAWE

THE Shopping Cart Cover

The other day I finished a really fun project that I have been working on. I have been seeing shopping cart covers all over - in stores, in other peoples' carts and online - and decided to make one. I used Michael Miller Fabrics and a McCall's pattern, which I tweaked a little in order to skip some steps and omit features I didn't really think were necessary. :) So, here it is! Mason was my model in the last two pics - even though the cover is really girly. (And he is still learning to sit up on his own, so I helped him out.) The cover is reversible, has an inner pocket, a rear pocket for toys and the whole thing folds into the rear pocket. Enjoy!

As you can see, the print mesmerized Mason!

Me ke aloha,

RAWE

Carter Johnstone Hamm

Meet Carter Johnstone Hamm! 

Proud parents Mary and Reed Hamm went in for their scheduled c-section this morning, and at about 10:15 a.m. in Round Rock, TX, Carter was born! He weighed 8lbs 7oz and was 21.5 inches long! Happy birthday baby Carter! We love you! I can not wait until I get to hold and play with you this fall (NOT soon enough). Carter has a beautiful older sister, Kaylie, who I'm sure he will terrorize later in life. :) Isn't that what all little brothers do? And, I'm betting he will be at LEAST 6'5" tall one day. He'll be caught up to Aunty Rebekah's height in probably 6 years. ;) Congratulations Zorn and Hamm families!

Lieutenant Zachary Elliott

CONGRATULATIONS to ZAC! Today he became a Lieutenant. I, as well as so many others, are so extremely proud of him!! 

Me ke aloha,

RAWE

PS - stay tuned for tomorrow's post...Baby Hamm will have arrived, and we will finally know if it's a he or a she! WEEEeeee!!!

Mary Alice's trip to Oahu!

For the past week and 2 days, Mary Alice was in Honolulu with me! We had SUCH an amazingly fun time while she was here. Here is a brief run down of where we were each day!

Sat. p.m.: MA arrived, and we had pupus and drinks with Steve, Marisol, Joe and Anna at Indigo, then hit the hay since we were both tired.

Sun.: Blow Hole and Sandy beach until we were rained out (just heavy sprinkling), fabric shopping to make shams for MA's bed, a late lunch at Wahoo's, Punchbowl National Cemetery then home to make the shams.

Mon.: Breakfast at a friend's house and Lanikai Beach all afternoon. 

Tues.: Hiked Diamond Head, explored Waikiki hotels, lunch at Cheeseburger Waikiki, Taco Tuesday at Dave & Busters and fro yo at Menchie's. 

Wed.: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet for souvenirs and dinner with the ladies at my house.

Thurs.: USS Arizona, lunch at Dixie Grill, Turtle Beach on the north shore, and Ehukai beach - where we luckily avoided being eaten by waves.

Fri.: Polynesian Cultural Center and our first luau ever!

Sat.: Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, and an 8 year old friend's birthday party followed by dinner at Duke's Waikiki.

Sun.: Swap meet (again) for other souvenirs, brunch at Haliewa Joe's, back to Ehukai beach for some body boarding and more sun. 

Mon.: Beach time at Ala Moana beach park, lunch at Kau 'Aina and packing up MA's stuff. :(

I am so sad that time passed so quickly while she was here. But, we had sooo much fun. 

I love my sister!

For the rest of the pictures, CLICK HERE!

Me ke aloha,

RAWE

Zac's sub is going to be on OPRAH this Thursday!

ALOHA! 

It is with extreme pleasure that I announce that Zac's submarine, the USS Louisville, will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show THIS Thursday, May 21st!!! :)

The title of the show is "Where in the Skype Are You?", and was taped week before last, when Oprah skyped in to talk to the boat (first ever sub to do so). On the B roll footage, if they show the extra shots, Zac is sitting in the ward room (officer's office/dining room/etc) reading a book. :) So, set your DVRs, check your local listings and gather around your televisions Thursday and look for Zac and his fellow submariners!!!

Please forward on to anyone else that may be interested!!

Today Mary Alice and I went to breakfast at a friend's house with some of the wives from the boat, and spent the afternoon on Lanikai beach. Melissa and baby Mason even spent most of the afternoon with us! We all then came back to our house, ordered pizza and watched some Monday evening television.

So excited for the USS Louisville,

Rebekah