SNOW!

No, we are not in our house yet. It has been a while since we have updated the blog, so here it goes!! Check out the red stain Shannon has been putting on the house, we are excited about the color.

It has been rainy and cooold in Volcano, as evidenced by Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea...Look at all that snow. Last year there was only a slight dusting. This year the snow has been there since November, but these last few weeks really dumped it on.

It is incredible to see the mountains emerge because often it is so rainy and cloudy either here or around the mountains you can't see them. This morning is, was, beautiful and clear.

The rain has been crazy the last few weeks. Last weekend it rained over 30 inches in 5 days..talk about non-stop pouring. The University and all the schools were closed on this side of the island, roads were wiped out, it was a mess. I have a hard time sleeping when it rains that hard.

Now it is beautiful and sunny, hopefully it will stay that way and we can get some work done on the house! Well, Shannon anyway. I have a full semester now with a practicum and working. Shannon is also getting her dive plans in order to start collecting data.

The house...oh, it is a long, long process at this point. We have been in a waiting period, 7 weeks for the building department to give us our refined plans, then 3 weeks for a plumbing permit, and now..who knows. The drywall has been piled up in the house since December and we are ready to get moving. Here is the tile Shannon put down in the bathroom in the meantime. Shannon is standing where tile will go for the wood stove. Fun times, we are energized(tryint to be anyway) and ready to put energy back into the home, as soon as the inspector gives us the green light! Keep your fingers crossed.

We had a great time visiting family for the holidays, here are pictures with us and our neices, so sweet! Shannon's mom is planning a trip out in April, hopefully we will have our house finished! We also have two groups of friends coming soon!! Maybe they can help with the drywall..haha.