back to school... birthday!

love from last summer...

batting practice last summer...

swimming last summer...

dd and sarah.

loving the beib last summer...

it's my brother's birthday.  and since i remembered, before a blog post, i thought i would give a shout out.  i have spent more time in my adult life with my brother.  well, longer stretches.  by default, and because of circumstances.  he was available and helped me move out to hawaii.  he was home both the summers i lived at home.  he spent six weeks here after his missions trip last summer.  and i am so thankful.  he is such a blessing in my life (so are you, byssa and coco... don't get jealous!).  i am so thankful for the way he loves my kids, and for the way that, so many times, he's been a good, manly example in their lives when their daddy was gone.  (and he is even when daddy is around)  

i am probably most like my brother.  and i am so proud of him.  he took a huge risk and just started his first "grown up" job in california.  i am so amazingly proud of his move and his job and his life.  it's so fun to watch him grow up.  and to see his choice in future wife.  just love her!  

happy birthday, dd!  we love you so much!!

little girl, blowing out her birthday waffle.  she told me she had to have a candle in her waffle.  LOVE that she loves to celebrate as much as i do!

her birthday present from great grandpa... a day long art class!

her birthday macaroon!  

birthday pizza with friends...

haha... reposted from facebook...  regarding our tropical storm last week that amounted to pretty much nothing for oahu!

first popsicle.  loving it!  

her art project.  a mosaic terracotta pot.  she loved it!

his new lego.  cause he was such a help...

filling up our last week of summer... pool then fro yo!

mmm...  yummy!  (and yes, i got him his own!  mommy doesn't share!!

it's like two posts in one...  it's back to school day!  i can't believe summer is over, and i have a first grader and a pre-k-er.  j told me tonight that it's okay, because it's a short time!  i told him he was going to grow up and leave me, when he asked while i was still sad.  he told me:  i have to.  it's what the husbands do.  but i will still live next door to you.  he's a good kid!!!

a week of life...

hanging out with friends...

organizing his "stuff".  including his "pho".  (his phone...)

sitting in his spot...

sitting in his spot.  in the middle of the kitchen.  but he looks so cute!!!  and, he picked out this outfit!!

spending her time with Jesus.  she kept asking me to spell words.  she was writing out a prayer for her friends' grandpa, that he would believe in Jesus.  love seeing when the good in my life shines through!  (and not just her yelling at her "kids" and telling them to hurry up, or that she's "too busy".)

corn dogs!  yay for gluten free corn dogs!!!

man, i keep thinking i am going to get better at this blogging thing.  i have been doing it for over six years now!  it should be easy... routine, even!  but, these three kids have a way of taking over...  and they sure are fun!  school starts on monday... we can't wait!!!

we had orientation on friday.  i had asked the sitter to come on friday from 7:30-11.  i woke up to one puking kid.  and at 7:40 when she still wasn't here, i started to wonder.  and realized, i never clarified that i meant AM.  so, i called a friend who so willingly took my kid.  and took the other two, puking one included, to school.  kept him away from others, but we had some paperwork we had to fill out!!  winning!

what happens when...

you give a 6 year old the camera...  she had fun taking pics!  these were some of the best...

love.  and those eyes!

green lantern unders to match his green lantern shirt.  

sissy and friend!

girls.

nora.  my sweet 6 year old.  and the birthday shirt she picked out.  a popular, local surf company here.  He greater than i.  from john 3:30...  He (God) must become greater, I must become less...  

today, i took her to an art camp for the day.  and left her there for 6 hours.  (well, she's still there!)  and we are supposed to get a tropical storm (maybe depression?) this afternoon.  so, we are stocked up on batteries and water.  and could probably survive on the food in the fridge!

but, as i dropped her off, she started crying.  she didn't want to leave me.  it was so sad!  and SO. NOT. LIKE. her!  the teacher saw and took nora to be her helper, and she was smiling when i left.  but, it makes this momma anxious!  it's all i can do to NOT call and check on her.  but i also know that she will be absolutely loving it!  

can't wait to see what she made!  and her all about her fabulous day!  and then, hunker down for a tropical storm!  (i mean, who doesn't love a cozy day...)

a mermaid party

nora's octopus cake... complete with "sea weed"...

more "sea weed"...

the gang's all here...

chris playing in the shower with his favorite miss carley!

singing... and blowing out the lighter (cause the candles wouldn't light...)

cupcakes and friends...

playing...

friends.

we are so blessed.  we had several of nora's friends at her birthday party today.  it was so much fun.  it was an eclectic group (friends from all areas of her life), but they had a blast.  and fun to see her feel so loved.

i was super excited about this mermaid theme... and then realized everyone else is doing it right now!  but she loved it!  i mean, who doesn't love a neon pink octopus cake!  

i walked away feeling so loved for her.  so thankful for the ohana that we have here...  and those far away who have helped celebrate!!

reading...

he just backs that thing up right in to your lap and plops down so you read to him...

snuggling with this boy.  who woke up this morning and told me he was going to be nice to his brother today.  it lasted about 10 minutes...

we played wii earlier this week when c was sleeping and nora was gone.  we had a blast!  and he's pretty good...

we also played legos.  he told me this was my girl's weapon.  i can do a lot of damage with a spray bottle!

he was telling elmo "goodnight".  he's become obsessed with elmo.  "eh" as he says!

new earrings for my girl!

black beans.  nom nom nom...

it's been a fun start to the week.  d came home for lunch and then super early yesterday.  a little early again today.  

i had a baby "sprinkle" (not a shower) at my house last night.  some fun girl time!

i have rejoiced with some friends this week.  and mourned with others.  and spent a lot of time on the phone...  doing both of those, and making "work" calls for the school's auction, soliciting donations.  or trying to.  

our b friends are back and we have been spending a lot of time together.  the kids love it... and so do the moms!!

i was rocking c before nap today, and he fell asleep in my arms.  i am cherishing these moments, as he is getting so big!!!  d had the big kids at gymnastics tonight and i was playing with him.  reading, playing trains, tickling.  it was so much fun!  and then, rocking him again to put him to bed.  and he was so much fun playing with me...  giving me his paci, then taking it back.  taking his paci out and giving me kisses.  

i was thinking about kate and the new prince today.  she made a comment about how this must be what all new parents feel like.  which got me thinking... i really have no idea what she feels like.  i can look at my kids and only imagine what they will do, who they will grow up to be.  everyone in the entire world is watching this new boy.  and he will grow up to be the future king of england.  i mean... wow!

which got me thinking further...  so often, i think, i get it when they say "and mary treasured up all these things in her heart".  i want to treasure all these things in my heart.  or the song "mary, did you know?".  how much did she know?  did she treasure those things because she really KNEW what was coming?  i mean, she knew that her baby boy was God, but did she know all that would entail?  it gives me such a new and profound perspective on that.  

and on that note... i am off to snuggle the big kids.  

wrap up...

jamey's team

nora getting her award...

nora...  with her award and her girls!

nora's team.  

i love my kids.  this was one of those weekends where (mostly) we had fun.  and i made the time to have fun with them.  it was a busy weekend, but filled with sleepovers and meetings and mommy time and picnics in the park.  and lots of talks about God.  their understanding is so much fun to listen to...  that God is all powerful.  that He has a plan.  it's so much fun to see that the stuff i say is taking root in their little minds.  

tonight's picnic was one of those summer nights.  at the playground, kids playing until well past dark.  (good thing mommy didn't realize what time it was!!)  hide and seek.  freeze tag.  it was idyllic.  and my kids are worn out!!  here's hoping they sleep in past 4:58!  (that's been j's new wake up time...  TRYING to reset his internal clock!!)

futbol...

my little futbol player!

he looks so cute!  (so not what he'll want to hear in 10 years, i am sure!)

so proud of his first soccer camp!

end of the day round up.  nora is in blue and pick in the middle line.

nora kicking a goal!

she was so proud of herself!

dribbling...

more of that...

and goal kicking by james...

he did such a good job!

more...

and more...

more of nora!

and she's down!

back up...

kicking!

she scores!

we had soccer camp two weeks ago.  and then, i kept forgetting to get my camera out of the car.  the kids did such a great job at soccer camp!!  nora got the "inspire" award on the first day, and we were so proud.  james had told me he would be sick all week and not able to go, but he ended up loving it!  i was so glad.  they both played hard and were exhausted at the end of the hour.  

plus, it gave me an hour to go for a run, and then watch them play!  so much fun for all!!!

i am excited to see what they do in the future with soccer.  since, when i played and they asked me to pass the ball to the person next to me, i picked up the ball and handed it to them!  (see blog post on feeling like a failure!)  anyway...  they HAVE to be better than me, at least!!!