sweet kids...

we like la croix in our house.  sparkling water.  my kids drink it like crazy!  

sweet boy.  he bumps me and i say "ow".  he will immediately say "sorry mommy".  but, when he intentionally does something wrong, he WON'T apologize!  so, this was a time out when he wouldn't apologize to james.  i also took the loveys after i took the picture.  realized it wasn't much of a punishment this way.  he's so cute, though!  

it's not feeling quite like Christmas yet.  today was much cooler... in the high 70's...

i found this website (pnp i think?) where santa sends the kids an email message saying their name, other info you put in, and whether they are on the naughty or nice list.  he was anxiously awaiting to hear if he was on the nice list!!!  (i think he was nervous!!!)

also found him just reading to himself while i was getting lunch ready.  

snuggling with my sweet hubby on the couch!  enjoying these moments right now!

it's been a fun and busy week at our house.  the kids were done with school early wednesday morning, and we packed the rest of the week.  they were good sports about it, and it's been a busy month of december.  we have had a sitter almost every other day.  for dentist appointments, fillings, tours of homes, dates with my husband, Christmas parties, etc.  (that's what happens when your husband is gone for the first two weeks, and you also have stuff planned!)

after spending so much money this month on babysitting, david asked if we could get another sitter this week to go on a date (alone- which in spite of all the babysitters, we hadn't gone out JUST US yet this month!), and see "the hobbit" (i know, totally selfless of him!!!)  i found a sitter and we had such a good night.  we tried this cute little cafe that could almost remind me of a panera, and just enjoyed being together!

at one point, i commented how nice it was that he was always excited about going out with me, even though it costs a lot!  he said it was not a matter of cost...  he loves the time with me!  i love that he loves to be with me!!!  

this week!!!

pushing sissy... with phone in his mouth!  (she also couldn't be disturbed from  her phone call!)

pouting in bed.  but he's so cute doing it!

snugs with dad...

our craft at mops today!

watching football with dad!

our Christmas party for d's ship.  which was such a fun night... until i got the call that j had been throwing up and we should probably come home.  

but, i have the best babysitter ever.  and she moves in january.  i could cry!  she unloaded, put away and reloaded my dishwasher.  cleaned up all the throw up.  did the pukey laundry.  and made my baby boy feel better!  man, i can't pay her enough!

snowing in hawaii...

out for a cake pop.

sledding... cause who needs snow?

at the mall, watching the snow!

so much fun.

baby boy was less than impressed!

she loved it!

sibling love!

elfie.  and his craziest pose yet.

we had our own version of a winter storm today... it was thundering and pouring down rain.  super fun for a lazy day (the boys were feeling under the weather, so we stayed home while daddy and nora went to church!)

note to self...  sundays are BY FAR the craziest day at target in hawaii.  especially when it's raining and there's nothing else to do!  

a photo sesh...

we got family pics done at the beach last weekend...  it's our favorite side of the island.  i love the mokes in the background.  i love the sand over there.  i love the color of the water...

and our friend donated all the proceeds from pictures to another military family that is adopting.  so very cool!  (she recently adopted a 9 year old girl, and they are adopting her friend!)

we LOVE the pics...  it very adequately shows our family right now.  nora poses.  james is a goof.  chris was teething.  no one is ever looking at the camera at the same time.  but i LOVE them!

sweet girl...

the fam.  love the expressions!

nora, posing.  i am being choked.  c is grimacing.  d... trying to smile, i think??

someone told me they loved this one... c just looking back at the camera!

my baby and his expression!  

he loves his shoulder rides!!!

my goof ball...  having fun in the sand!

love my girl.

kissing baby brandon.

couldn't be left out...

kissing my best friend!

because.

just because.  i love his grin in this one!!!  it's fun to get him REALLY smiling!!!

more.

the baby shot...

running some more.  

the kids.

i love him so much!

for some reason, this makes my heart melt...

trying to make a sad boy happy!

more of the fam...

love!

baby....

just us... kids were running like crazy!

i keep thinking i am going to write more in my posts.  and i don't.  i am tired by the time i sit down.  and try to decide what to write.  i intentionally don't write the bad things, or the frustrating things.  i don't want my kids to look back some day and think i hated this time of life!  because i don't!  

but, i am tired.  and i can blame the baby.  or the three kids.  but i am tired.  and that's all there is to it!  and i keep thinking that life will slow down.  and have to realize that this is the new normal (and WILL get busier!).  and be more intentional when i WANT things slower.  less activities.  more saying "no".  (i like to be busy and to do things...  it's hard for me!)

i DO SO love these days.  the kids are so much fun.  chris is saying more and more every day.  he's amazing.  i love getting to be with him each day.  james LOVES school.  i LOVE that.  he is now begging to stay longer.  this the kid who cried last year!  and nora...  she's the oldest.  she's a girl.  she's a lot like me.  

and that scares me a bit!  i see things in her that i do, and want better for her!  

and it's a busy time in david's life.  he's been gone a lot.  which makes saying "no" to outside things more important... we need good family time!  

getting comfy...

he just pulled up his chair to have a snack.  

a little bit of breakfast...

Christmas!

Christmas... kids decorated the tree.  it was so fun!

she got new boots.  kind of obsessed with them!