Monday, October 24, 2011

Another Birthday

Look at the blaze!  Only one more year in his twenties.

Pumpkin Patch

I was surprised to find out there are pumpkin patches here!  We get to continue our family tradition.  The only differences is we wear shorts and flip flops when we pick our pumpkins here.



I'm lucky I got this picture.  He kept calling the pumpkin a ball and throwing them.

baby pumpkin


Great use of a double stroller.

Maci's first experience with Shave Ice.

Brain Freeze

The day isn't over until someone is crying.

Shark's Cove

This past Columbus Day we went to Shark's Cove we a few other families.  This was our first time out there and we really enjoyed it.  You can only go in the summer months when the surf is low on the North Shore.  It starts to pick up some time in October and the cove is under water.  It was a bit tricky maneuvering out over the rocks but we had a blast.  








Maci's 7 month pictures + some

I love my job and using my kids as subjects!








Saturday, October 8, 2011

How to Keep Up

I don't know how this happens.  How do I get so behind on blogging?  This is technically our Family Journal so I really do want to keep up with everything that's going on, but there is SO much going on!  I remember the days I laughed at people who carried around planners and palm pilots.  Now, I would be lost without the calendar on my phone and our huge family calendar by our front door.  What are we going to do when all of our kids are old enough to be in activities?

Jacob is in 1st Grade with Ms. Kinoshita.  We had a little bit of a rocky start but we have found our groove.  Jacob is now in the accelerated reading and math programs.  Jacob is also learning about social behaviors.  Unfortunately girls start the "popularity contests" at a very young age.  Jacob has learned the hard way that it is better just to steer clear of such girls.  Jacob has also gotten his very own first pair of glasses.  He looks even more like Brandon now, if that's possible.

Zoe has started Joy School (a pre-K program).  Six Moms from church have gotten together to have school in our homes.  We all take turns teaching and rotating houses.  Zoe looks forward to Mondays and Wednesdays every week.  The first week we had school at our house, the kids got to finger paint with chocolate pudding.  It was so fun watching all the kids (Peyton included) making a huge mess!  Wednesday is Zoe's favorite day of the week.  She has started dance class.  Watching how excited she gets and how much fun she has in class has made me look forward to Wednesdays as well.

Peyton is busy...always.  He isn't 2 years old yet and is wearing 3T clothing.  Within these last few weeks, Peyton's vocabulary grown leaps and bounds.  It is nice that we are able to communicate to a certain extent.  The grunts and crying was making me want to pull my hair out.  One of Peyton's most favorite things is going to the pool.  Zoe may not like putting her face in the water but Peyton has no problem with it.  As soon as his floaties are on he launches himself into the pool, swims to the latter and does it again...and again...and again.  He would jump off the diving board if we let him.

Maci is the sweetest little baby girl.  I can't get enough of her chubby legs and snorting laugh.  Maci is a scholar of yoga.  She holds a plank position longer than I can!  Today I saw her get her knees under her and rock back and forth.  Is it bad that I want to push her back down?  I'm not ready for that stage!  Maci has started eating baby food and loves it.  She has been the easiest so far with all of the different flavors.  She didn't even make a face with the green beans!

This past month I have been in a boot camp and really focused on loosing some post pregnancies (yes that is plural) weight.  I have been pregnant or postpartum for 6 years but now I am ready to have my body back.  This month I lost 8.4 pounds and 6.75 inches!  I also won the biggest loser in our class which got me a free month of boot camp!  I'm so excited.  I also have a new obsession that is perfect for living here in Hawaii.  I have learned to surf and have my own board now.  We have a surf group in Relief Society that meets every Thursday morning.  This group is such a blessing and I am so grateful to the Sisters who go.  They have all taught me so much.  Brandon is also learning how to surf.  He likes it just as much as I do but doesn't have the opportunity to go as often as I do.  Brandon has started playing racket ball with some guys every week and has found his new obsession.  Our upcoming date night is dedicated to us playing racket ball.

My friend Brooke made this beautiful cake for my birthday.

Birthday flowers from Dad and June.

First day of school

He has gotten really good at riding his scooter and is finally showing interest in his bike!
He keeps going until he goes to sleep or gets stuck.

Eats like a champ!

First Day of Joy School

She was so excited about this back pack that she sang about all through Target.  She stopped strangers so they could see her Princess Backpack.

So proud of loosing a tooth.  He says, "I'm getting big now."

She had to hug herself to contain the excitement.

Don't you just want to squish her?  So stinkin' CUTE!

Bunco 80s night at our house.

Seriously!