she's five years old...

not this one... he's still three, but snuggling his dd!

they both got shoulder rides...

more shoulder rides.  and that cool tree!

still walking back...

chatting with the peacock...

with a sweet friend at her birthday party this week...

we had a bunch of, mostly, neighborhood kids together for a pool/princess/tea party.

hanging out on the sidelines.  jamey wanted me to get in, so i did... and then he didn't swim with me!  i am in the water...

chatting with my dear friend!

she's five.  it's unbelievable!

he was the life of the party!

all the girls...

all the boys...

the birthday girl!

with her brother....  (he wanted to be in EVERY picture!)

with her k-girl!

with d...

with our neighbors!  (girls got little rosies, boys got superhero masks!)

with the three r girls!  (do you see jamey trying to sneak in behind nora??)

all the keiki!!!

she's five years old.  how did she get so big?  she is such a sweet girl.  starting kindergarten in a week.  somewhat reading.  so sweet.  she loves Jesus.  and i couldn't want anything more than that for my girl. she has such a sweet heart.  she (usually) can look to the interest of others.  and does a good job of it.  she loves to play with her friends.  she is overwhelmingly fearless.  she loves to jump.  and play.  and swim.  she LOVES to get tossed around by the waves in the ocean.  

yesterday, when she went out with her swim teacher, she kept asking to go out further and to the bigger waves.  i LOVE that about her.  i love her spirit.  i don't ever want that to change.  i love that she KNOWS what she wants.  that she is independent.  and so amazingly smart.  she wants to do everything.  experience everything.  and not miss out on anything.  (not sure at all who she gets that from!!  :)  )

she is such a help.  and so big.  she takes care of her brothers.  and i am really going to miss her when she is in school.  she loves to teach the boys.  she will be such a good mom someday.  she loves it.  she is allergic to gluten.  and when i forget something for her to eat, she just smiles and shrugs at me.  she usually asks if she can have it at home, but will eat what she can.  she doesn't throw a fit or complain.  

and she eats pretty healthy.  she LOVES fish.  and fruit.  and green smoothies.  and greek yogurt.  with only strawberries in it.  (not flavored... plain...)  i am so proud of that.  that she wants to be healthy!  i never want her to struggle the way i have!  she loves to play.  man, i am lucky to have her.  

birthday weekend...

at the beach on saturday...

sweet baby boy...

watching the waves...

he's just too cute!!!  (maybe it's just me!)

she was loving waiting for the waves to come crash on her!

byssa surfing...

nora enjoyed watching her!

ripping it!

then nora got out there to try out her new board!

trying to catch a wave!

falling off....  she loved it.  and kept telling her teacher to take her out further.  

with her birthday lei...

blowing out her candles!

loving my birthday girl... she's five years old!

puppy on his head...

a fun birthday weekend...

the falls...

getting ready to go...

kids were quite excited!

playing in the foliage!

shoulder ride!

those guys...

waimea valley...  in case you were wondering, three episodes of "lost" were filmed here...

getting ready to go in!

aren't they beautiful!

more pics...

my view...

time with the beeb...

it's a 3/4 mile walk up to the falls.  easy with botanical gardens on either side.  and, you can push the stroller the whole way!  it was SO MUCH FUN to swim in them!  (outside of my comfort zone... i like to see my feet...)

today was a good day.  i missed my hubby.  but a good day.  we got up and nora got a birthday present.   daddy really wanted her to have a surf board.  so i bought her one.  and we used it.  nora and byssa got a surf lesson from nora's swim teacher.  it was a BEAUTIFUL morning at the beach.

we came home, showered, etc, and then went out for nora's birthday.  nora got her ears pierced.  she was so brave!!!  i had prepped her several times.  how it would be a big poke in both ears and hurt.  and then we would have to clean it every day.  and that would hurt.  she just got the second shot of her life last week, so she had something to compare it to.  several times, we had that convo.  and she still wanted it.  she even told me that she might cry, but she wanted it done!

so, we went.  she picked out the earrings she wanted.  and she got it done.  she didn't make a peep.  just sat there.  i gave her a sucker after.  and hugged her.  and she burst into tears.  it was so heart breaking.  i asked her if she was sad that she got them.  nope... she LOVED having them.  and use was so brave through it all.  she didn't cry long, and now is LOVING them.  she was even so good as i cleaned them tonight!

then, we got the kids school shoes.  they are so cute!  nora has hot pink toms.  and james got some sperrys.  goodness, are they cute!  we had dinner at wahoo's, and then some dairy queen, cause jamey had been asking.  in all, a fun day.  currently, we are watching gymnastics on tv... and nora is enjoying it.  she has been cheering for michael phelps all day.  so fun!  

mac nut p.2

no joke... he said to me, "see mom, i'm not falling in!"  sweet thing!

snuggling the boy.  telling the other kids to come take a pic!  story of my life...

seriously?  (we did get a good one... eventually!)

another good one...

just walking...

you mean i have to stand next to HER?

i'll just scoot on down so i don't have to...

the turtle in the background...  it's kaneohe bay marine corps air station...