It's A New Year!

It's a new year and we as a family are looking forward to the adventures that are ahead of us during our 2009 journey! We have been so abundantly blessed throughout this last year. It has taken us from the cold of Alaska to the warmth of our beloved islands of Hawaii. It is so good to be home...as brief as this stay may be. We love being near our family and friends.

It has been quite different being here with teenagers opposed to being here when the girls were just babies. New schools, new friends, new experiences! So here is an update on all the members of our Ohana:
Our brave soldier Dad is in Iraq right now...but returns soon! We are counting down the days and the minutes til he is with us again. We are so proud of him and all that he does for us and for our country. He is awaiting his school date as he will be leaving to Sgt. Major Academy late in the summer. This is it...the last promotion! Finally, the goal we've been working towards for the last 20 years. He will graduate this final school as a Sgt. Major as well as having completed his Bachelors Degree. Super proud of my sweet husband! We are really blessed to have him as our daddy... we think he is pretty cool!
Mom (me) sold the dance studio to my dear friend Holly Fullmer. Dance Dynamics is in good hands and is coming up on their competition season. We wish them lots of good luck and good wishes! Wish I could be there to watch! I miss dancing, teaching and owning my own business, however; I am looking forward to new adventures. I am currently a stay at home mom...so much harder than going to work! This is real work, but I am loving every minute of it. I am enjoying the opportunity to be there for my daughters and support them in their new hobbies other than dance which includes everything from hitting the beautiful beaches of Hawaii to paddling, camping and volleyball. Mitch took me on an amazing trip to Maui before he left to Iraq. It was so romantic and fun. We are hoping to take the girls to the Big Island when Dad gets back to see the volcanoes. Moving to Hawaii is has given me a much needed break and although I have to put more thought into budgeting, it is worth the sacrifices to be with the girls. Speaking of the girls...

Alexis Hokulani Auna:
Is getting prepared for college. She is a brilliant writer, which is her favorite pastime, and excited to get on with her adult life! She turned 19 last November, and after being out of the mainland USA for 3 1/2 years, she is looking forward to our next move in July. We are excited to see where her next steps in life will lead her. She did great on her ACT scores in January, and we are so proud of her and the consistent good choices she makes in her life. She will most likely be attending Western Missouri this fall. She team teaches Sunbeams with me in our fun ward Primary. We do love our little sunbeams!

Aylia DeCambra Auna is now officially 18 and all grown up. She is taking extra classes to finish her credit requirements and will be graduating this May from Leilehua High School. She is so much fun to be around, with her very bubbly personality she adds laughter to our home every day. She hasn't yet decided where she wants to go to school after graduation, so we are very interested in what her life choices will bring and where it will lead her. She is a beautiful young lady inside and out, and we are so proud of her as well.

Aislinn Keakuinawahineliiliiona'ehulani Auna:
Turns 17 this summer and is an active Jr. at Leilehua High School. Excels in athletics and dance. She is still dancing hula with her high school halau and is learning all she can about her Hawaiian heritage. Truly loves Hawaii and everything about it...she is finally home here in the islands. I don't think she will ever leave! She signs her contract this month with the top modeling agency here in Hawaii. She is looking forward to this new hobby and perhaps some fun work.

Ashleigh Kahealani Auna:
Just turned 14 the other day. Our beautiful baby is also signing a modeling contract this week. Wow...where does the time go?! She is excelling in her academics at Wheeler Middle School and keeping up with her sisters on the ocean front! She loves the beach and the water and was the first one off the rock at Waimea! Fearless in her approach to life, this spirited daughter of ours keeps us on our toes. A beautiful dancer, she may be the only one that continues studying dance. She loves her puppy and continuously teaches him new tricks!

Tama:
Our American Bulldog... we call him the Taminator! Loves us with all his little heart but loves to eat our clothes, our headphones, our socks, our blankets, our books, our bags and our towels even more. He is so smart and full of energy. Headstrong like the rest of us, he is determined to do whatever his little brain comes up with! We love him dearly as he is the only boy in our house and our protector for the time being. I think he really misses his dad too... he is way outnumbered.

...And there you have it..the latest news in our lives. It's a pretty ordinary life we lead, for the moment anyway, so I will enjoy it while I can. If any of you feel the need to just get away...we would love to share our paradise with you! Come and enjoy Hawaii local style! Until our next update...Aloha