Prince Kuhio Day

Today was Prince Kuhio Day. I love Prince Kuhio Day! All the kids get it off and it gives you the chance to stop and contemplate Hawaii and its landscape and history. We moseyed over to Bishop Museum to celebrate. : )




Some of us got semi-bored and some of us got in some good celebrating. : )


While we were there we got to see some real lava.

And enteract with a volcano.



And try and make one ourselves.



And ... ride some snails. : ) -In real life these snails are as big as my fist!



We just got in the Hawaiian-earth part of the museum before we needed to go. But Ava was a happy camper.

And we all had a pretty great holiday. : )

Kung Fu

This past week and a half my brother, Ivan, came out for Spring Break. (I love having visitors!! -- P.S. Come visit us!!) While he was here we picked up a movie he's been telling us we'd love, Kung Fu Panda. ---And we totally love it!! It's our new favorite movie!! (Actually, I'm kind of surprised at the kids. This is action packed and they've loved it yet when we've watched stuff like Sleeping Beauty and even WallE some parts freaked them out!!)




So one of the days he was here we went down to the beach to get some sun and a little surfing in.





While we were there the kids busted out their newly acquired Kung Fu moves in the waves. : )

And on the sand.

And spent a lot of time just playing in the water.










Ava got in a nap and then decided she wanted in on the action.





I think the whole concept of sand is still very intriguing to her. : )

(OK so here's a little mini martial arts lesson from days long past: Not that Ava's conciously trying out her Kung Fu moves but if she were her move would be the Scholar (left hand) over the Warrior (right fist) and the lesson would be to think before acting. Hmmm.....something to ponder.... It's the best move in my arsenal against my chocolate nemesis......but I have to let you know... it doesn't always work!!!)



Meanwhile my brother Ive

got in a little wave time.

Ive went home yesterday. It's a bummer. I love having him come visit!! He's just plain awesome. : ) I guess 'hanging out will have to wait.' Until he comes back, we'll just have to practice our Kung Fu moves the best we can!! : )

The Plaque

So, this morning I discovered something. Something "terrible, just terrible!!"






Was it a bottle with year old milk in it?? No.

Was it a year old DIAPER?? No.

Was it super thick mud tracked all over the carpet?? No.

No, it was none of these things but still it yeilded up feelings that dwarfed feelings of finding year old gross stuff or tons of mud in the house. It was a little wooden piece to James' train stuff. On it was scrawled ...

. . .

. . .





. . .




















D'oh!! And I was working so hard!! And doing my best!! What little words! Doesn't the author of the tiny words understand and comprehend all the thousands of diapers I've changed, meals I've made, messes I've cleaned, clothes I've changed, baths, walks, worries, worries, worries, sleepless nights, more worries, and years devoted to trying to bring up a single...no, wait THREE growing children!!


Oh!! The disappointment of it all!!


So, I guess that's it. I am officially a bad mom. (!!!)



Actually, what REALLY happened was this morning Brad and I were talking and I happened to look down and notice "the plaque" and picked it up. Brad and I both chuckled. James must have put down his feelings after a trip to his room.

Yet!! Even though we laughed over it I still felt a twinge of failure...sometimes being a mom is tough. Popularity is sometimes not a given. HOWEVER, as I sit here contemplating my popularity with the potty trained population at my house I DO have to remember all the pictures, cards, hearts, and hugs I get. And remember that I am loved and thought of, and shown love in many sweet ways. Appartently, just not all the time!!! : )

OK. More of the "rest of the story":

The kids were picking up their toys later on and I picked up "the plaque" again and to James asked, "What's this?"

With a semi-embarrassed smile he reached out and took it and said, "Oh, that's something I wrote a long time ago."

Me: "Oh, what happened when you wrote it?"

James: "I had to go to my room."

First Tooth

Today Ava's first tooth popped up!! She's been doing some slobbering and has been a little fussy at times. But it's here!! We all did a victory dance in the kitchen, and James and Ashley were so incredulous and tickled at the new arrival!! There is a bit of me that is a tiny bit sad... she'll never be this little...and her gummy smile ... I LOVE her gummy smile.... I guess I wish she would stay little a little longer. It seems like babyhood for Ava is cruising by so quickly!! But it IS SO FUN, too!! : ) --My tiny girl!! -- She has sprouted her first tooth!!

Surfs Up

This week my brothers Dave

and Ezra
came to visit. I love when it when my brothers come to visit. Our kids hound them to play, read stories, tell stories, goof around, and watch them. --And they do! James said, "I love my uncles. I love ALL my uncles!!"

I'm so glad they came out!!

And because they are STILL my LITTLE brothers I think I can still give them a hard time and start rumbles!! Well, OK just one rumble! --Ezzy thinks he's stronger than me. : ) What do you think? : ) Maybe a little?? : ) (Ezzy's the only one, like in the world, I can start rumbles with!! : ) We were never a family that hurt or beat each other up so maybe that's why I feel the need to start rumbles now!! Actually, it's just fun!! )

--Time zipped by and we had such a great time. While they were here we stayed up super late just talking, laughing, watching hilarious video clips, and just hanging out.

They spent a lot of time at the beach, too. We've had Ivan's surf board here and it was a perfect fit for Ezra.

And Ezra is quite the surfer!

He tried to teach me and I was SO nervous! --But I figured since Dave could watch Ava and Ashley I might as well try it out a little!! --Nevermind, my ill fitting swim skirt!! So, it's a little tight these days. ; )



We've been here for YEARS now, had this board in our garage, and this is my first attempt at surfing!!!



I felt slightly like sharkbait and like I'd get pounded, so I just paddled in the waves for my first go-around. : ) But it was really fun!! It's like being a kid and FINALLY jumping off the high dive!! There's this rush and exhileration that make you want to do it again - and I only stayed in the small waves!! : )

Ashley got her wave and board time in too!! --Just on the beach. There's a plus for being 4 and out of school in Hawaii.

I LOVE my brothers!! I hope they'll come again, soon!!

The Roaming Reptile II

K. So, the gecko showed up and wasn't gone after all! But my Little Son, found and caught it!!! I'm so proud of him!!! We took it outside and let go in the grass. Yahooooo!!!

Shells and Sand

Yesterday, in the late afternoon, we went down to the beach. We needed to collect 100 sea shells for James' 100 Days of Kindergarten project.

In the beginning we didn't get many collected.





And for the first little while Ava slept.




But after a bit she woke up and wanted to bust out of her "bucket", so we got her out and set her on the sand.



This was her first time experiencing sand...




and we were all excited to watch her...




and curious to see if...


she'd eat the sand!!! D'oh!!!




Other than that it was a great adventure. She really enjoyed the beach (we all did!) : ) -- and we did collect all those shells!!