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!!!

and then...

picture taking.  right before james fell.  thankfully not all the way in.  and it's the best i could get the three of them to do.  

they had to draw a flag for soccer.  nora did hers.  then, she did james'.  such a good sister, doing her brother's homework already!

she loves her baby brother.  and he loves her!!!

sweet siblings.  

reading.  not sure why her eyes are closed.  but she's reading.  and loves it.  she always has a book!  i am so proud of her!

soccer...

running and playing.  i love that this pic is totally blurry.  and they are all running.  and screaming.  and yelling.  it's so cute!

getting ready for soccer camp....

watching the uss port royal play the hms daring (a british ship in port this week...)

nora and her british soccer coach. 

the last day and getting their awards...

you would think this was during soccer camp week.  but it's not...  he's just been so cranky and getting up between 4:58-5:30 am every morning, that i have started making him nap.  today he even asked for one!!!  he starts out in his bed, moves to here, then i move him back to bed...  so he can actually sleep!

sweet baby.  showing off his daddy's hat!

we had soccer camp last week.  the weekend before, james told me he was going to be sick all week so he couldn't go.  but he ended up loving it!  i was so proud of him...  and nora too, just loved it.  i was proud of her.