I love blogging...

I love it more than doing laundry
more than doing dishes
more than scrubbing a tub
more than unpacking after our Utah trip
more than preparing for a New Year's Eve party that I am hosting tomorrow and don't quite feel like getting ready for.

So instead of doing all those things that need to get done before our friends show up tomorrow I am here blogging about nothing.

Blog funeral services :-(

Yes I have wanted to declare this blog officially dead and have been successful at pretending that I ever gave life to it...or was it Spencer? I say he is responsible for it, but he won't own it and so I am left feeling guilty for yet another thing that I wish I didn't feel guilty about.
So here we go again...a toast for a second chance at this blog thing. We are starting a new year hopeful, but I refuse to make any promises!

Joaquin and Kohl share a room...and more

So last week we finally moved Joaquin to Kohl's room. Soon after I put Joaquin in his crib he started crying for no good reason. Kohl quickly objected to his cry saying, "There is no crying in my room! Mom, Joaquin in crying too loud.... take him... he wants to go back to your room."
They have happily shared a room for over a week now and Kohl, who sleeps like a rock, still loves him:-) I did offer Kohl to sleep in the yard.

Another one...Kohl can you take the garbage out?
K: Why do I have to? I don't want to?
Me: I made food for you this morning. I did the dishes after you ate. I help you with your bath every night. I do things for you so you need to do things to help me.
K: OK

So now when he objects to anything I say, "I help you, you help me" and that solves it.

oh no, the rite of passage question... Sat. Oct. 11 at 11:13am
K: Mom, is Santa Claus real?
M: What do you think Kohl?
he sounds really worried...
K: Yes (pauses for a minute...giggles)
No
That is where it ended. Thankfully Nana totally pretended it didn't even happen. She fixed her eyes on me the entire time and refused to get into the argument. I am sure the issue will revisit soon.

Caption Contest!!!

I don't know what to call this...all I can do is laugh.

Pearl Harbor

On Friday we were fortunate to have a VIP tour of the USS Missouri. We got to see lots of interesting things and the kids got to sample a few.


A little small...and there were even tighter arrangements.

This was in the Captain's Living area. Now the Captain had quite the suite and no one was allowed to come up to his floor unless invited by him. You can see what an honor it was for Nana to sit in his chair. She is clearly rising to the occasion.

At the beach in Waikiki...what could go wrong?

Spencer had a meeting and left us by the beach to have some fun.

Let's just say that the kids had fun.

They had so much fun they got hungry...

I am tired of having fun! Are you going to feed me some hot food? With her classic "do you hear me?" face.
This turned out to be the worst day I had in Hawaii.

As I mentioned, Spencer had some meetings one evening and so he thought it would be a good idea to find a nice beach in Waikiki, spend a few hours together and then leave me and the kids there while he went to his meetings. He'd be back in a couple hours...seemed like a good plan right? Well, the fun lasted for about 45 minutes after he left and I just figured I had to hold it together for a bit longer until he got back. It was torture!!! The kids didn't care to swim because I wasn't swimming, so they played in the grass for some time and then it started raining. That was the beginning of the end.

Meanwhile, Spencer thought we were all having a "blast" and because I didn't pick up the phone (my phone was dead (classic Irene right?)) he decided to run a few errands. Dead phone, no cash and all I wanted to do was call to tell him how miserable I was and to come pick me up...RIGHT NOW...PICK ME UP NOW!!

We waited...and waited...and waited...hanging out with the homeless...in the rain...in Waikiki.

Rain stops, kids are tired and hungry and of course they ask me for food. I told them I didn't have anything to pay with so Kohl turns and pointing says, "Look, they are getting food, see?" Apparently there was a line formed in front of a van that was feeding the homeless. It was hard to know what was going on because the line was mostly tourists, too cheap to pay for a meal.
The menu was pasta, split-pea soup, and ciabatta bread and the kids would NOT stop asking me go there. I didn't let them line up, but I did let them grab a bun from the table. They wouldn't stop asking!!...so embarrassing!!!! Stealing left-overs from the homeless. Wish I had a picture to show you, but clearly Joaquin was hanging around my neck and I was too..."upset"... to take a picture.

Hawaii!!

My little man! How I love this little guy. He is finally keeping all his food down and it shows. Check out the cheeks.

Joaquin will smile to anyone these days. He started at around 5 weeks and that little smile is now turning into giggles...sweet little giggles.




Begging...always begging with those two little hands. How could I ever say no?






A tattoo? It is the only way to blend in with the islanders. She got a few of those at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Kohl only wanted one. I wanted him to get a long one on his face to look like a mean warrior and he gave me a look that said, "you must be crazy." That was a bit too much to ask for from Mr. Neat. He cracks me up.

Newport 08'

When Nana isn't carrying her famous 'bag" full of her little people, animals, rocks, etc...she is doing this...being crazy! I like how this picture captures some of her personality and energy.

Looking for crabs.

Kohl and Atticus are so cute when they get together. I'll never forget "the haunted kitchen" and the giggles that followed. How we wish we had the Cutris as neighbors.

Is this boy cute or what? Can't get enough of him.

Don't ask me when we will start banning two-piece swimming suits...
I love this polka-dot bottom!

I wish they were always this loving:-)

Some more of Joaquin and the kids.

The kids absolutely love the pool and are out there 2-3 times daily.

A few more of Q

I was playing around with a different lens and got some fun pics of Kohl and Arianna.

Joaquin is born...pics for now.

A long awaited moment.

He was NOT happy when the nurses took him away from Mama.

Papa and the kids

Baby Q sleeping peacefully