Bula, Fiji!

Well, it's taken me a while to get this post-up. We've been taking our sweet time making ourselves at home at Uncle Darren and Auntie Sandra's. We had a lovely time on our lovely mini-holiday in Fiji. 13 hours of (almost) heaven.

Waiting for our flight in LAX

We arrived at 4:20 AM on Friday and it was ALREADY boiling hot and SO humid.
It took us a while to get our luggage and check it for storage, so by the time we finally made it out to the taxi it was around 7 AM. We took the taxi to the Marina and just looked around the shops as they slowly opened one-by-one. One of the first things we did was buy water. And then this happened.

After we'd had our fill of walking around we hopped in a yellow bus and stopped at the Hilton resort right next to the marina.

Don't mind us... just crashing a 5 star resort.

Wouldn't mind living here!

I like him.

Downtown Nadi was SKETCHY to say the least. An old man offered to direct us to the "Real Fiji Market" where we would be able to see lots of things being handmade and experience the culture. It sounded alright so we let him show us. He uhhh took us to a back alley and up some stairs to a small room where we were promptly asked to remove our bags and shoes and leave them by the door while they did a welcome dance for us. Needless to say, we made our excuses and escaped quickly. After that we decided to play it safe and head back to the resort to wait out until it was time to leave.
The rest of our stay was pretty uneventful. Apart from Kadon finding his favorite ice cream at the airport.

Tip Top :)

 And finally, our view taking-off for Melbourne

 

Love to you all. Hope you're doing well! Write us emails at: hatch.anne.e@gmail.com

We'd love to hear from you.

Love, KadAnne

So many Pictures!

We have done so many fun things since the last post that the amount of pictures in this one is going to overwhelm you. I'm half proud/half ashamed at how well we're documenting this trip. I promise we're taking time to have as much fun as it looks like we are.
So, anyway....
Friday Kaleigh and Zealand took us to the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. Kaleigh got her flirt on and got us in for free ;) so it was double-magical.

On Saturday we took off at 8 AM and headed to San Fran with Megan. We spent most of the day at Pier 39. It was HEAVENLY!
                                                                                                        

This was my favorite sea lion. Mostly because he
didn't bother everyone and kept to himself,
unlike most of them.

Me and Megan!

 We went to that arcade from Princess Diaries where Julie Andrews arm wrestles the machine... does anyone else remember that?! It was like a dream come true!

                                   ...except for this... NIGHTMARE come true. Lemme tell ya.

He dominated all of us! Jules made it look so easy!!!!

 Christine, Stephi, Kaleigh, and her lover, Kyle, met us in the afternoon and helped us adventure. Someone else has the pictures of those escapades, but I am sure they'll surface at some point.

This one's for you, Mom!

Almost done, I promise. Just wanted to share pictures from our trip to see Uncle Dave's famous Redwood trees. He took us to see them this evening. It was a lovely walk. You should definitely check them out.

It was so dusty inside this tree. It looks like it's dirt-snowing.

 Well, that about sums-up our crazy week. Still having fun, still hanging in there. Hope you're all safe and happy, happy, happy.

Love,
KadAnne.

Here We Go!

Well, we've officially begun our year of travel! We drove out to Cali with my parents and spent two days in Disneyland with them. Obviously, we had lots of fun :)

 Kadon LOVED that ice-cream. Pretty sure he was just desperately trying to compensate for the Dole Whip being unavailable.

My cute parents.

And then waiting for our shuttle.
Won't be booking with this company again!
The driver was CRAZY!

  Today Grandma and Grandpa took us to Santa Cruz for ice cream (YUM)...

(a closer look at that AWESOME wallpaper)

  to walk the pier...

AND to see the gorgeous Monarch Butterflies! That was my favorite, so far.

I finally got to meet Peter, Zealand and Steph (Kadon's cousins... still looking forward to meeting a few more) today and enjoyed listening to everyone catch-up. Such a fun family! Also got to see Auntie Mo, Megan, and Kaleigh which is always a blast :) Having so much fun and absolutely loving the beautiful California weather! Missing our family and friends.

Love, KadAnne.

...When my hand's in your hand...

Dear Kadon,

I just wanted to tell you that I love you.

Sometimes I take for granted that two years ago I would have cut off my leg to have someone to hold hands with, write notes to, be frustrated at, and get me flowers. Kadon. Seriously. You're the best.

Thank-you for making me feel loved. For ALWAYS being attracted to me... even when I'm not attractive. For putting me first. For wanting my family to like you (mission accomplished). For being more needy than you realize. For wanting me around. For making me laugh when I want to punch you. For being there for me even though you don't understand me all the time. For letting me be myself. For encouraging me to be better. For laughing at me when I fall... in a weird, twisted way. For listening to me. For being my friend.

There are so many wonderful things that all add up to you. Your thinning hair ;). Your fake, yet adorable, smile you put on in pictures. Your devil-child grin you can't hide when you're doing something you know you shouldn't or will really tick me off. Your ever-growing need to go shopping (comes in handy). Your terrible sense of humor. The way you push yourself to be better every single day. You are so good at everything and that helps me when I feel like I'm not good at anything (you have enough talent for the both of us).

I love being married to you, coming home to you. Looking forward to seeing you, even though I just left for work.

This is what I've always wanted. I wanted this life with you. All of it. The not-so-fun stuff, too. The other day you told me that neither of us was living our fairytale. I AM. Things are hard... a lot of the time. I'm impatient and not always kind. I'm stubborn and inappropriate. Whether or not I'm perfect, I am living my fairytale because I'm with you. Through thick and through thin. Rough and smooth. Rich and poor. Time and eternity.
It just doesn't get any more fairytale than that.

...When you like yourself...

...So count your blessings.

Here are some of mine:

-Kadon... In SO many ways

-Sunshine

-Family

-Wind in my hair

-A car

-Food

-The ability to laugh

-My job, which I'm not always thrilled with, but provides so much support and purpose

-My co-workers

-Missions

-The gospel

-Growing-up

-Self-control

-Forgiveness

-Repentance

-The atonement

-Corinthians 4:17-18

"This too shall Pass"

  

...Even when you think you aren't...

Sometimes you need someone to tell you you're grand. Sometimes that person has to be you.

Sometimes I feel like I can't do "it".

Then I remember, I can.

Not because I'm special.

Not because I've got "something no one else has".

But because I have a knowledge of God's love for me,

And that love overcomes

ALL.