Larry & Barbara Stremikis visit CHARLESTON !

Our very dear friends Larry and Barbara Stremikis visited us here in Chas. two weekends ago from Charlottesville, VA..Larry plays softball with an Over 50 crew and they travel all over playing in competitive tournaments...Not a bad way to retire !Larry, John and I used to all work together for United Airlines in Honolulu, Hawaii many, many years ago..We've kept in touch since then and they usually come into town once or twice a year for softball..Every year we go watch a game, then head out to grab a bite to eat..This year was no different, we cheered Larry and his team on at Gahagan fields, then headed to S'ville Sticky Fingers for some ribs...Delicious !!! Larry's team has come to know us as the crazy Hawaiians who come out every year to cheer them on...We always have such a great time together !! Barbara Stemikis is a new author just having published a new book called "March Misfit." It's available on line and I will post a blog soon with the website...It's a MUST read according to John and I have not had the pleasure yet to sit down and read it but I will soon..
Thank you Larry and Barbara for a wonderful time, we look forward every year to your visit !!! Nothing better now than root beer in a frosted glass according to Josh !!

A snooze for the Josh man !!

As you might know Josh gets up at the crack of dawn (so do John and I)to get ready for his bus pick up at 0600am...he then has a 1.5 hour bus ride to Ashley Ridge High School normally 30 mins away...He then has a full day of school followed by a 45 min. bus ride back home...When he gets home he's pretty wiped out and will usually take a nap...He first calls John and I to say he's home, then he's supposed to let Chessie outside...Dylan came home one day to find Josh passed out right after he had called us...Pretty funny !! Dylan even texted him and the vibration still didn't wake him up..hahaha..

Dylan the Model !!

Dylan was very lucky to spend Spring Break in Stuart, Florida with the L'Amoreaux family and while they were there Aunt Bonnie took some pictures of them in a photo shoot.. The pictures came out great as you can see and we want to Thank everyone very much for taking care of Dylan for a week...He is pretty cute !!

Devin & Nick Photo Shoot !!

Devin, Dylan's best friend and his brother Nick were also photo subjects of Aunt Bonnie. As you can see they are also naturals to the camera and very handsome as well..

Channel 2 News- Reality of Race !

For those of you who didn't get my email about our picture shot on Channel 2 news here is the link to the segment...It's a segment on families titled " Reality of Race. " It's about families all different colors, blends, ethnic backgrounds etc. and how more families are becoming this way through adoption..It's a long 5 min. segment but very heartwarming...The Hagerman ohana is the second family picture to roll and it's a nice long shot...It was fun, Thanks to Julie and Megan for thinking of us Hagerman's...I honestly have been waiting for someone to call me and ask us if Josh and Dylan were adopted !! hahaha...
Here's the link..

http://www2.counton2.com/cbd/news/local/article/reality_of_race_growing_number_of_lowcountry_families_adopt_outside_their_r/131888/

Got Buddy Soccer ? ?

Buddy Soccer was created many years ago by Coach Craig Brady and we have been very lucky to have been involved with it for the last 7 yrs.. Special kids from the Summerville, North Charleston areas come to play soccer for an hour and the Coach has recruited many "buddies" to come and help..These are usually teenagers who play soccer, either having siblings with special needs or just having warm hearts in helping these kids..They come in all sizes, tiny or huge like Josh, and all have one main objective, to have FUN !! It's a kodak moment when Josh makes a goal, he raises his arms up in victory, looks right over at Mom and then ask's " can we go to Dairy Queen after the game? " A true Josh moment !!

Biggest Buddy of ALL !!

Dylan loves to help with Josh's "Buddy Soccer" team every Sunday and is always there rain or shine unless he is away with his club team. I think Dylan enjoys it more than everyone and all the kids just love him ! He is an inspiration and to all the other buddies who come out to help, we Thank you so much..We all know the wonderful feeling it gives you by being out there with these kids, all the parents experience it too on the sidelines...Tim who is pictured above just loves to play soccer..He is always trying to get Dylan to come over to help him with his game...Our resident cheerleader April pictured above with Dylan is his biggest FAN !! She squeals with delight when she sees him and everyone knows that when the ball gets to April that everyone must STOP until she kicks the ball...She kicks, she cheers, parents go crazy and the game continues on !! It is such a heartwarming hour of watching these special kids enjoy their special time..Thank you to Coach Brady and his family who unconditionally dedicate their Sunday's to our kids enjoyment !! Mahalo nui loa !!

First Turkey of the Season !!

Well, it's official, after being stumped by the turkeys so far this season, Dylan has now gotten the first turkey !! Even after going away for spring break and John staying at home diligently trying to get Tom Turkey, Dylan comes back and gets him. Of course John always puts Dylan in the BEST spot, so it was only a matter of time !
Congrats Dylan on this beautiful turkey and congrats to John for having Dylan as his son...hahaha...

Shortest Hagerman ? ?

Well, it's official !! I am now the " shortest " Hagerman of this family if you don't count Chessie our 4 legged daughter...But being as slim as Chessie is and if you stretch her four legs as far as they can go she might even be taller than me too...Time sure flies by fast, I remember when my boys were still hugging my legs and now your lucky if you get them to hug you at all !! hahaha...For those of you with little ones, savor every moment because they grow up fast...take lots of pictures and enjoy the hugs and kisses !!!! It's a long and winding road for sure !

Hagerman Ohana 2010 !!

We finally got a ohana picture of the Hagerman's !!! Last one was 2 yrs. ago when our neighbor took our Xmas picture..The next 2 years we didn't want to bother anyone so I took pics of the boys and Dylan took pics of John and I...Then we get them side by side on a Xmas card, I know it sounds cheesy but it works..We got pushed into getting a family picture sooner than later because hopefully it will be featured on a Channel 2 news family type segment next week Thurs ...Thanks to Megan and Julie for thinking of us !! We think the world of you !! Mahalo !!

Thank YOU Dr. Dungan !!!

Dylan was helping John who has torn apart his BMW in hopes of updating every moving part on it..He decided to hit a part of the car and something flew into Dylan's right eye which he immediately rubbed..After many flushes and a hot shower there was still something in there...I immediately called Dr. Dungan who graciously met us at the office to check his eye..He pulled out the biggest piece of metal he had ever taken out of someones eye !! Thank goodness I insisted on calling the Dr. A few scratches on his eye but he should be OK..They have the 3 biggest soccer games of the season coming up on Fri and next week Tues/Fri. so he needs to SEE !! Antibiotics for a week and he should be all better...New rule..." Always wear safety glasses !! " Thanks Dr. Dungan for being there for us !!!

Dylan's Homecoming !!

Dylan was extremely fortunate to go on Spring Break vacation with our very dear friends Duane and Chris Lamoreaux. Their son Devin is Dylan's best friend and they had a great time. They went to Stuart, Florida to see some of Chris's family and then spent a day at the Islands of Adventure theme park. Thank you to our dear friends who took Dylan on their great adventure and this is the shirt that Dylan brought back to his brother Josh...He was so excited and proud and put it on right away !!

Hagerman Wedding in Greenville South Carolina

John's nephew CJ got married to a lovely lady named Amy in Oct. 2009. The wedding was high atop a hill in Greenville SC and it was spectacular..It was like being in heaven. We wish them lots of love, happiness and babies...Here are a few photos from that wonderful event !!

Snow in South Carolina ? ?

Something happened in Charleston South Carolina on 2-12-10 that hasn't happened in a very long time !! It snowed !!The weather forecasted for snow and by golly it snowed !! Even though we lived in Utah for 7 years and had lots of snow, it was still fun to see it here in SC...We got about 4 inches, threw snowballs, made snowmen and John and Dylan went out four wheeling !!

Aloha Oe, Until we meet again !!

The last few pictures show the beauty of the island of Oahu..It is where I grew up and lived most of my life...All my family still lives there and I hope to get home one day again to live in paradise! There's something about the island people, it's called the " Aloha Spirit " that makes it such a wonderful place to live...So until we meet again, A hui o makou !!

Shave Ice is the BEST !!

Whenever you in Hawaii you MUST try the shave ice !! It's called snow cones everywhere else but in Hawaii it's called shave ice...The best place to taste it is in Haleiwa at the North Shore at a Mom and Pop store called Matsumotos !! It will also broke da mouth !! The best is with vanilla ice cream on the bottom with rainbow flavoring...On this trip I did not get to Matsumotos but had a delicious shave ice in Waimanalo...So good !!

Tropical plants in Hawaii

My Dad has some great plants in his front yard. This plant is radiant in color and the green one is the ti leaf plant..This is what the hula dancers wear when they have that green leaf skirt on. Before you make it into a skirt you have to take a large part of the core off so it's not hard and it will twirl around when you dance..I used to make lots of ti leaf skirts and its an art !

Mandarin Kahala Hotel Honolulu Hawaii

These next few pictures are taken at the Mandarin Kahala Hotel where I grew up working feeding the dolphins..It was a GREAT first job and I loved being known as the " dolphin girl " there.. Talk about coincidental, I was able to meet my special friend Brooke who lives here in SC but was there for her best friends wedding the next day..We were able to meet and have a few "volcano's" and what a treat that was !! Talk about ono !! We had the best time and I love Brooke so much !! It was like old times as I literally grew up at this hotel !!