1st load of stuff is on the way

On Friday we packed up our first load of stuff to go to colorado. When the military moves you they let you send a bunch of stuff by air to get there faster, and then the rest of the big furniture and everything goes later.

Goodbye Stuff....see you in Colorado

ahhhh....the cart. Nova's favorite toy in the whole wide world

sooooo cute!

daddy and nova playing rough before bed

we love nova's "split tooth" on the bottom

Nova's mischevious look

As you may know, Nova LOVES to pick up heavy things. Here she has two tupperware containers full of coins (they were indeed HEAVY!). She found this ice-pack wrap thing of cris, and was wearing it like a weight belt.

the ice-pack wrap thing also worked nicely as a hat

We have had a super weekend with the girls. Nova had a breakthrough with her sand issues, and on saturday she actually had FUN at the beach! So, nova is finally learning to be a beach baby 10 days before we move to the mountains!

Last night of call and Beachtime fun

Last night the 6 senior residents took call together for the very last time (at least as residents!) We had an aboslutely fantastic night. We got to do a few deliveries, a couple of c/sections, and lots of food and fun. Fortunately it was a pretty slow night, so we got to enjoy the time together. The senior residents with the Colonel. Dr. Salminen was my attending for my very first c/s 4 long years ago! He has taught many many residents and is a fantastic teacher.

With one of our very favorite labor and delivery nurses, Diane

Another one of our favorite attendings, Dr. Boyle

Auntie Saioa with baby nova

Juneau and Nova playing with the Vacuum Extractors - future OB/GYNs?

The Seniors - do we look ready to graduate or what?

We also have been spending a LOT of time at the beach the last couple of weeks. This is a dream come true for Juneau, but rather nightmareish for her less adventurous sister. Nova DESPISES sand. she hates everything about sand. she hates when she has to stand or sit on the sand, and even when sand just touches anywhere on her body. I thought after spending so much time at the beach this month she would get over it, especially since we haven't really been catering to her demands in regard to the issue. but she still screams her head off. We got an little floaty , and she tolerated sitting in that on the sand, as long as she wasn't actually touching the sand. ridiculous. Anyway, aside from that little issue, we have been having a great few weeks. Tomorrow the packing and shipping begins, then next week we check into a hotel. Fun times are ahead! Juneau wiped out after a long day at the beach

Every girl's worst nightmare

Nova happy on her float (on the cement, mind you)

Nova Unhappy on the sand

Nova tolerating the sand, as long as her skin didn't touch it.

our very very dear friends, Tracy and Jeremy

Juneau thought she was a big girl when these girls were playing with her in the water

Jbug LOVES the beach

mama and J

First Annual Vietnam Picnic

Hawaii International Child hosted the First Annual Vietnam Picnic. Of course the Stickley family was in attendance! Many of the kids are from Tam Ky, the same as Juneau. there are also a few from Thanh Hoa. There is one little boy that is Juneau's age that came home the month before Juneau did. His name is Van, and we usually see his family at the HIC functions. Van was there again. he is super sweet and cute. He is on left of juneau in the group pic. Our VN coordinator sent us these adorable group photos, which I love:)

Our most recent visitors

We had an AWESOME week with our company last week! My super cool Aunt Cheryl (affectionately known as Nutkie, nutkin, squirrel, fluffy squirrel, squirrel nut) came to hawaii, and brought along with her my youngest brother, Drew. Drew is in school in New England, and we rarely get to see him, so it was a real treat to get to have him in Hawaii for over a week! The girls adored nutkin (they called her "pop-pop" due to the neverending supply of lollipops she kept on hand) and they loved their Uncle "Dew".


I had to work most of the days they were here, but they certainly kept themselves entertained exploring the island, floating around in the ocean, eating Shave Ice, and, of course sitting in traffic :)

Here are some pictures of their visit: Nova actually enjoying the water!

see, she really loved it!

Juneau can never get enough of the water

Uncle Drew with the girls

We visited the USS Arizona on Memorial Day

The fam checked out the Polynesian Cultural Center, and came home with Tribal Tattoos

The Best part of Nova's Day - her Bottle

Matsumoto's, the Best Shave Ice in the world!

i love this pic of Drew and JBug chillin' out in their sunglasses

one year ago

on this exact date, at almost this exact time, one year ago, i opened my email and found the I600 approving us to travel to vietnam to get Juneau! After all of our adoption ups and downs, our lost referral, the pending country closure, and the fears that we would never, ever, get Juneau home, the day finally came when i was positive that she would be our girl forever.

i have so many incredibly special days to remember about Juneau's adoption: our referral day, our giving & recieving date, and the first day i held juneau. each of them have special meaning. And one year ago today meant that we officially, finally, were going to bring home our baby girl.

one year ago today our prayers were answered.

"one more"

I guess the adventure of the regular slide wore off, because cris and the girls have come up with a new, better way to go down the slide in the living room.

The new and improved slide technique involves tupperware containers and a hint of danger. The girls love it. Ready and Waiting for dad to send them down the slide

Juneau getting ready to slide


Nova loving her turn

Lots of laughing!!!

And of course "One More"

we are still here!

just busy!

We had an AWESOME visit with my aunt cheryl, and my youngest brother, Drew. They came to Hawaii for just over a week, and we all had a blast.

We are trying to prepare for our big move. We leave Hawaii on June 25th. They are packing us up starting June 12. There is so much to be done, and at the same time we have some sort of party/event every weekend day from now until we leave. it is mass craziness right now.

anyway, i am at work, and it's rather busy now, so i can't write a lot, but i do have some ridiculously adorable pictures of J and N enjoying the pool yesterday. Even Nova, who is afraid of literally everything (including the giant stone statue at the Bishop Museum) had a blast.

so stay tuned! we'll try to get some posts up this week!