Multitasking

Makena is brushing her teeth & singing at the same time. Talent at it's finest. That is totally my DNA- Miss Multi-Tasker

It has been forevvvvver since i posted

I used to be so much better at this... urgh- ok. compiling some updates right now. :)

July 4th 2009

http://mkai22.zenfolio.com/waittslake/slideshow

Independence Day 2009

Sum Sum Summer time fun.

So here we are at the end of June. How has the time gone by so quickly? I've been busy being creative. LOVE IT! I have a constant struggle with my drive. It isn't that I'm not driven to do things, the problem is what do I really have passion for? Well the reality is that I have experienced many different careers. Not that I'm all over the road, but b/c I've lived all over the U.S. I have spent time surrounded by a variety of people and jobs. That said my current and never ending struggle is between healthcare & creativity. I'm someone who LOVES helping people. I'm really a people person. I talk, relate, understand etc... with people of varying walks of life. I can find a common ground in many discussions. But in being a Marketing Manager at my last position I realized what I've known all my life-- my passion is in Photography, Design, Music and all things creative. So how do I utilize my creativity while helping/relating to people. I can't explain the feeling I get when I walk into a hospital. It's a powerful drive. I don't want to leave, I want to help. Like I said - I can't explain it. But then I get behind my camera and see things differently, composing, creating.... I'm taking this time to sit down, and get back to me. Focus on the most important things.  While I'm staying home w/ Makena this summer- she is actually gone quite a bit giving me an opportunity to focus on me & finding myself again. 

This summer my parents are taking Makena Mondays & Tuesdays. I pick her back up on Wednesdays then her dad takes her Wed nights. Every other weekend she is still w/ her dad & alternating Saturdays she spends the night playing w/ my friend Bridget's daughter Morrigan. 

Makena will also be leaving w/ her dad for two weeks beginning July 25-Aug 7! When she gets back it looks like she might be going camping w/ my parents possibly. That said- we have a busy summer. I hope to pick up a new camera (point/shoot) this afternoon since my camera isn't holding a charge anymore :(

I'm very blessed to have the support of my friends and family. 

Really? Noooo... really?

OMG- Has it REALLY been over a month since I've updated this thing? CRAZY! Sooo.... I Facebook, occasionally MySpace & Twitter regularly.... but can't seem to keep up on the blog. What is an unemployed girl to do? I mean really?

Soooo, here we are- June 12th already. Makena will be 8yrs old in 7 more days and believe me... she's counting! School ends on the 19th as well and she will be very very excited for summer. LOTS of fun stuff planned this summer. Hoping to finalize some of it this weekend.

I can't believe that she will be going into 2nd grade! how did that happen so quickly?!?!

This week has been exceptionally fun! I have spent quite a bit of time w/ my friend Michelle (who is was laid off from her job 2 months ago). We have been going to the gym, laying by the pool, jet skiing & shopping this week alone! lol. It's nice to have a partner in crime for sure.

I pretty much suck

So I've been terrible at updating photos and writing about our oh so very exciting live s here. Soooo- that said- it's ridiculously windy out right now. I see you're at the edge of your seat huh? Nahhh it's very windy. Makena is doing fantastic as always. Actually tonight our home had two little screaming excited 7 yr old girls. Makena had a little friend over b/c her mom was going out of town and dad works early in the morning so she stayed here. They are currently sleeping in a fort! I can hardly wait to help clean it up (sense my sarcasm??) Anyhow I cooked them a super healthy meal at the McDonald's drive-thru. Decisions decisions while I try to order cause it's not like we've ever been there before right? What else-- OH! My friend Kacee just got back from working on a cruise ship in Hawaii-- missed her crazy butt. She fell for this boy who she is currently toting around the pacific northwest with her until her next contract starts in a couple weeks. So we have some fun planned while she's around. Speaking of fun- we had a 2:30am photoshoot after the crub the other day--- here are some pics.

Went down to Portland area this last weekend. That was fun minus too much fun haha. 

Been busy hoping that my regular day job continues on the path that it's going at least starting with a good month. The economy is pretty bad so lets hope we can pull through this :)

aight- back to work for 15 then off to rest my princess head.

visit to the coast

From the mouth of Makena

She heard the word sexy on the radio...."daddy i know what that means from the big girl shows mommy watches"...."it's something gross"

i know posting this could make me sound like a bad mom. i'm posting it anyways, b/c I know I'm not and you can hear the word sexy, penis, whore or otherwise on any radio show as it is. beyond that--- i remember my mom watching days of our lives while i was growing up. talk about terrible! haha.

Regarding the MB Game "Perfection"

From the mouth of Makena:

"When the timer goes off it's like a mini heart attack!" hahahaha followed by *giggles*

More of Miss Makena and her nomination for an Oscar!!

Go Fish!!

It was a great weekend at the Kamaka-Stoural household! Let's see... how much fun did we have?! Oh... for starters Friday night we enjoyed home cooked pizza from PIZZA HUT!! haha. Stayed up and watched tv then on Saturday we cleaned and played Go Fish. Makena was a huge help with cleaning her own bedroom. Gus, however was not very helpful. He peed on the floor. He was sent to the dungeon. He's been quiet since the crying stopped (jk). LOTS of cleaning and organizing this weekend. Sunday was a loungy day. I napped half of it away and used the second half messing around w/ photos & editing. Here's to a great week ahead!

checkin in... keeping busy. the usual. i'll try to post pics soon.

From the mouth of Makena

"Mommy, Grandma says that girls toot and boys fart"

hahaha!

Baby Jake Preview Photos

Miss Manners

i love how makena walked by the dog and said 'excuse me' haha. cause the dog was in the way! haha.

Friday the 13th-

So, last night Makena and I finished up her Valentine's day cards- she wanted to use the one that said 'LOVE' by sending it to her friend Ryan ♥ awwww. so- super cute :)

Then her very wiggly tooth in the front was practically falling out so I pulled it for her. It was great! I've never actually pulled one of her teeth so this was an experience and I got it on video (posted below). The toothfairy came after Makena wrote a note - "Dear Toothfairy, I didn't tell anyone about the last note you left me. Do you actually have wings? What does your kingdom look like?"

VERY Cute!!

The toothfairy wrote back "Dear Makena, yes I do have wings- they are white with sparkles. My kingdom is bright pink, purple and blue. Thank you for the tooth. See you soon. Love The Tooth Fairy"

She was so- excited to wake up this morning to $2 and the note! Thank goodness I had some money I found in the laundry!


As for everything else- just settling back in after being in Vegas. I have worked the last 14 days straight every day. I'm soooo glad to have the next three days off. I could really use a break. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day- so Makena and I are going to get pedicures together and have lunch after my photoshoot in the morning. Then in the afternoon she was invited to hang with friends and then off to her dads.

I have plans for my very first 'real' valentine's day- but not sure what we're doing. it's a bit of a surprise - so we'll see :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. I'm trying to keep this updated more frequently :)

much love & aloha. xo

pulling makena's tooth!

Ready to go home already

I've been in Vegas for about 8 days... but who is counting!? Ohhh I AM! I am sooo ready to go home already. UGHhhh- Well, I was here for fun, and that I had. However I was mostly here for work this time. So the fun was on a 'focus on work' level. Boooo- not nearly as much fun- but good to get away none-the-less. I've eaten and eaten and stuffed my face. I'm done and over it--- Vegas for Christmas, Vegas a month later... I'm Vegas'd out for a little bit. I really want to spend some time at home, going snowboarding and saving up for Hawaii. I'd really like to take advantage of some of the great airfare deals they have going on right now.

more later

Makena reading

Paper Flowers

We had a busy weekend. Saturday we went to a birthday party for my best friend Dave's daughter, Tyler. So we spent the morning at C.E. Cheese. I spent the afternoon organizing Makena's bedroom and gutting it out. It was due for a really good cleaning. Here are some pictures of Makena making paper flowers from the paper flower kit I picked up for her.

Life Stuff!

Things I have done are bold.

1. Started your own blog - A couple years ago
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii - April 2008
5. Watched a meteor shower - Summer 2008
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - August 2008
8. Climbed a mountain - what's considered a mountain? this is subjective
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo - does the shower count?
11. Bungee jumped - never!
12. Visited Paris - HIGH on the list of things to do!
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch -
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - count the times...
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - tomatoes never turn out right
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train - I want to do this!
21. Had a pillow fight - recently
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - too often
24. Built a snow fort - as a child
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping -this would be fun too
27. Run a Marathon - how about a 5k?! lol
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice - things to do....
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise --things to do...
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person--things to do...
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language - does pig latin count?
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied - money makes things easier but i've experienced it is far from creating happiness.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person --things to do...
39. Gone rock climbing - to do in 2009
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke - as a drunk
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - as a child
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - after high school
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight to do in 2009
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted - As a child
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - i dream of this!!!!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling April 2008
52. Kissed in the rain - at some point
53. Played in the mud - as a child
54. Gone to a drive-in theater - love the drive in!
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China - things to do!
57. Started a business - 2002
58. Taken a martial arts class - want to try kickboxing
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen - to do in 2009
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies - as a child
62. Gone whale watching - love this!
63. Got flowers for no reason :)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma - to do in 2009
65. Gone sky diving - to do in 2009
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check - oh gees-- it's been a longgg time!
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt - never finished :(
73. Stood in Times Square - 1999
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job-not that I can remember!!
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle - one of the scariest moments ever!
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book - how about had a photograph published in a book!?
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper-2005
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating-prepared ... not killed - unless we caught a fish?
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous -1998
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee 2003
100. Read an entire book in one day Many, many, many times.