Hawaii

We managed to escape to Hawaii for 2 weeks in late April. It was super relaxing and actually a vacation, thanks to bringing our dear friend and old babysitter Samantha for the 2nd week. We ate out, played hard, enjoyed the sun and the water.

Zach really liked the USS Missouri at Pearl Harbor. Probably the most mind-boggling thing that happened was after visiting the USS Missouri, we were getting lunch and some yahoo comes barging into Ryan while he's getting mustard for his burger so he spills it all over. Ryan was shocked and was like "What the heck?" and turned around and it was a coworker from the Fire Department. It was hilarious - they were also headed to Maui so we wound up having dinner with them one night. Ryan worked with Fernando his first year in the department. What are the chances?!

I managed to read 3 books which felt like a pretty big accomplishment! We were on Oahu for 5 nights at the Marriott Ko'Olina which was really nice. Then we went to Wailea (Maui) for 2 nights and then 7 nights at the Westin Villas. Fortunately this trip we saved the best place for last - they resort was AMAZING. It is why people buy timeshares - although we didn't . . . I'll have more pictures from the Pirate Pool which Zach adored. He also was able to do the waterslide with a little help from mom or dad.

Waiting at the airport to head home . . . we watched one mom and probably 6 year old daughter actually MISS their flight to Los Angeles and then to Boston. They ran up to the gate after the doors were closed and after they had been paged several times. It blew me away because I felt sorry for the daughter that they missed it but thought regarding the Mom, "How the heck do you not get to your gate way ahead of time when you are going home???" (They had already checked in too...)

Hanging at the beach at the Westin . . . some friends from Bainbridge were staying there also, so we got to hang out for a couple days - their 5 year old was a hit for Zach. I asked him what he was going to miss about Hawaii once and he said "Justin" but I reminded him Justin lives here.

Zach hanging out with Sam - a teeny tiny sunburn, but it looks worse than it was. The kids both did great with sunscreen. He ate so much food on our trip . . . it was hard work playing in the pool and the beach. It was nice to have Natalie nap every day because it forced us to have a little down time for Zach.


Kids sitting on our windowsill in Ka'anapali. Natalie really turned blonde on this trip!


Kids at the beach at Wailea - in front of the Grand Wailea. The sand was so fine, it wouldn't come out of Natalie's bathing suit . . . it still is in there.


Wailea - just had to show the bathing suit.

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Natalie - curly hair . . . she LOVES the beach and the sand!


Hotel in Wailea - a quieter place (Diamond Resort) but clearly a nice view. We were only there 2 nights. Kids liked the Turtle mosaic in the pool.


Natalie in her bikini - holy moly mom just couldn't quite get enough of the girl bathing suits!


Zach getting ready to go swimming in Oahu


Jumping on the bed in my Turtle swimsuit.


In front of the waterfall at our Oahu hotel. Clearly this was our one bad weather day - as per Zach's sweatshirt. It was our second day there but after that it was pretty nice the rest of the trip.

We were ready to come home but truly not until that last day. So next time maybe 12 days, but seriously, when the kids take 3 days to the time change, the thought of only going for a week makes me crazy. So we won't go as often, but we'll go for longer. Thank goodness for my parents taking our dogs for the entire time . . . but it is better than leaving the kids with them i think!

Close to finished product

These guys are crazy hard workers . . . they are so close to being done it's amazing. I didn't have the ability to conceptualize what we planned to do when we originally talked about what it could look like, but it really came together great! I just knew that whatever we did was going to look better than it did previously.

It has completely transformed our yard. And I love that it has only been 3 days worth of work. We still need to finish the rock wall around the 3rd planter area and we'll re-grade the driveway, but truly amazing.


The view from my kitchen window (well standing in the yard in front of it).


The view from our driveway looking upon our house.

Landscaping Mania

We cleared in October . . . let it sit and Thursday got an estimate for work to be done. They started Friday morning at 6:45 a.m.


Zach has been enthralled, Natalie signing "tractor"



Progress is swift - especially with the big tractor. For someone who doesn't like to make decisions, I've been forced to just figure it out because the guys are here.


More to come . . . just wanted to post some pics!

Sounders FC Excitement

Natalie (20 months) and Ryan, throwing the ball for Mitchell (Natalie's favorite thing in the world right now). "Throw, ball, Mitchell" is heard when she wakes up, when she talks to Ryan on the phone, when Ryan walks in the door.

Ryan bought season tickets to the Sounders FC. I didn't play soccer and have probably have had Offsides explained to me a dozen times by Ryan, but i have had so much fun at the 2 games we have been to so far. Their season is perfect because there is only 1-2 games/month. We have great seats by the North Goal so we get to see a lot of action. While I was in the bathroom, the guy behind Ryan caught a ball that was kicked in disgust by the goalie into the stands. Of course, I was curious what happened and why Ryan didn't have it . . . oh well. Maybe next time.

Seattle is seriously on board - thanks to losing the Soncis to Oklahoma, and a not-so decent football and baseball team.


And I have to say, I love the gear - I love the green of the jerseys, it's so vibrant in an otherwise cold and dreary "spring." And it was awfully cute watching dad and daughter out there in their 'matching shirts.'

No More Training Wheels

Zach has been riding a bike with training wheels since Natalie was born. Today he took the "big boy leap" and we took off the training wheels. Our almost 5 year old neighbor has a bigger bike with no training wheels and his buddy Jobe also just started to ride without training wheels. My $150 oil change at WalMart yielded a Balance Buddy to help us out. He was so eager to take off the training wheels, but then was really nervous so didn't want to ride. So I went back to working in the yard and then after about an hour, he decided he was ready to try. After 15 minutes of instruction from Ryan, he really was doing it by himself. The starting and stopping is the harder part but it was so exciting.



Meanwhile, Natalie, who is on her second round of antibiotics after developing 2 ear infections while on the first antibiotic, was out there having a blast.


Runny nose and all, she was stomping through the puddles like a pure toddler.

We are so happy to see March arrive. We have not been a healthy house for the ENTIRE month of February. UGH! HAPPY MARCH EVERYONE!

My $150 Oil Change

As promised, here is Natalie's picture from this morning. Mind you this is MUCH better than it looked yesterday. My poor baby girl. She is gagging on the antibiotics to the point that I can't hide them any longer in the yogurt. She's not biting. So after a call to the doctor's office, we have a new antibiotic and eyedrops. Unfortunately, I also have to take Natalie back in tomorrow to have her eye checked again. Cautious is good, I appreciate that. Doctor's office 3 times in 5 days, not good.

So, I needed to run a few errands today. I was all prepped to take Natalie and leave Zach home with Ryan but when Ii told her to say goodbye to Dad, she got the saddest look either one of us have seen and started crying. We tried a second time and same response. So Ryan asked if she wanted to stay home, which she was super excited about. I left before she could change her mind. You know it's bad when going to Walmart by myself sounds good. So I needed an oil change and thought it would be perfect timing because I had no kids and could get in and out and get a few things. When I asked how long I expected to wait, I had no clue that each car takes 20 minutes and I was #3. UGH. So I marched in not wanting to spend much money, but pleased to have time to shop without anyone asking me anything or asking to buy something or throwing something on the ground.


I came away with many things I needed: new shaving cream for the kids when we are in the shower, new black socks to replace some of the ones I have with holes in them, a Valentine's Day card for Ryan, Mini-muffin paper liners, Wheat Germ and Flaxseed Germ to put in "yet-to-be-made" mini-muffins, frosting, an orange peeler, a new yoga mat that is hopefully a bit thicker than the one i have now, new sippy cups for Natalie because the sock monster is stealing them, a Seahawks hat for Zach, new toothbrush for Zach. But the best one of all was the Batman pajamas I got him. He thanked me probably like 10 times. They also have a cape, which was so exciting that he was thrilled to have his picture taken. Too bad my $30 oil change wound up costing me $120.

"Mommy, can you take a picture of my cape too!"

Don't you get to rest on the 7th day???

So i've been a tad behind on posting. First on Super Bowl Sunday, Ryan was battling some stomach virus and was quarantined to the bedroom during our Super Bowl Party. He's a pretty decent sick guy so it wasn't so hard on me. But then last Wednesday (8 days ago) I made it to Yoga, then came home and was getting ready for bed when Zach woke up throwing up around 10 p.m. It seemed like every time he lay down, he would gag and then hurl. I wound up trying to sleep on the couch with him, but after an hour or two, we gave up, got in the shower at 12:45 a.m. because we both were so stinky, then tried his room - which is the exact reason that boy has a queen size bed. That was the first time I've ever been up ALL night. We would sleep for like 20-30 minutes and then wake to his gagging and puking. YUCK. It probably equaled 12 loads of laundry. The next morning he sat on the couch from 7:30 until 2 without getting up. Poor guy. The fever came on, the poor kid didn't eat for like 3 days so now his clothes don't fit. I dragged him to Grandma & Grandpa's house on Saturday because I had a work meeting - much to his dismay "Mommy, I don't want to get in the car, I want to stay home!" Sunday - still low grade fever and coughing and now pink eye. Monday, Natalie joined in on the fun with a really runny nose and pink eye. Tuesday I trekked to the doctor with both kiddos. Zach had a double ear infection. Natalie's ears were fine, but we took a wait and see approach with the eyes.

Zach cleared up and went to school today. Natalie went back to the doctor with really red, swollen eyes - the look in the doctor's eyes was like "Oh, crap, that is bad." She woke up this morning and after nap and couldn't open her eyes because they were so crusted over with gunk. She's now on antibiotics as well, so i'm hoping she'll start rebounding tomorrow. However, giving her the antibiotics is like getting the puppy to use a kitty litter box - next to impossible. But I have Mommy resolve and I will win this battle because it is day 8 and I'm not getting any work done and I'm tired. Ryan of course is back to work today, but it doesn't really matter anyway, because Natalie only wants Mommy since she feels so cruddy. Yesterday she said "Eyes, hurt." Poor peanut. If her eye still is yucky in the morning, i'll post a picture.

On another note - those of you that know me have heard from me that I'm psychic and probably have blown it off. So with all the facebook goings on and reconnecting with old friends - last week I started looking for some friends from La Jolla Elementary School but came up empty. Then today, seriously out of the blue, i got an email from one of my best friends, Danny Robbins. He wasn't on Facebook, he just happened to track me down. Now that my friends, is more than just random. I haven't been in contact since - well - i can't even remember the last time. Weird, eh?