rainy season...

what had planned to be a beach day was a "glow in the dark mini golf" day.  it was so much fun!  and i always love to see the waterfalls in the mountains!

a make up beach day!

sweet boy...

warming up...

sweet husband.  and the mokes in the background!

it's the rainy season.  and it's getting colder here.  i know, you don't feel bad for us, as it barely breaks 80* anymore...  but it's fun to have "seasons", even here!!!  just frustrating when it cuts in to our beach days!!!

breakfast burritos...

he had been laying here for awhile as i cut out fabric.  i couldn't find him, and finally, heard him moving.  sweet boy!  he was awake the whole time!

love how he takes pics... he backs up in to position...

stealing my breakfast burrito!

and now stealing auntie byssas.  but, seriously, what better way to watch a surf competition on the north shore of oahu than with a breakfast burrito (or two) in hand????

sweet girl got to lead the pledge the other day at school.  i love their morning ceremony- the pledge and the national anthem.  it's precious!!!

shaggy hair...

his self portrait...  

before...

after.  a much needed haircut!

my brother surprised me for a quick weekend visit.  there have been few times in my life that i have been more surprised!  and i loved it.  it was such a special time!  (my family has a thing with surprises...)

sweet girl and her soccer trophy.  she told me that soccer wasn't her god (referencing church the week before... was quite proud!).  and that she enjoyed it but was all set on that!

sweet boy... if only we would put him in bed!  

kid loves his dd....

and his auntie byssa...

on sunday night, we were about to sit down to dinner and my mom got a call.  her brother had been in a car accident.  he didn't make it.  in less than 2 hours, my mom and sister were at the airport, getting on a plane.  to say it was miraculous would be an understatement.  it was awesome to see God working, even in the details of an airplane!

and i am heartbroken.  that my uncle is gone.  that my cousin lost his dad so quickly.  that my mom (and uncle) lost their brother.  that, as hard as i tried, and as many GREAT offers as i had, i couldn't make it work to get home.  when my parents house is FULL, to the max, of family there now.  and i can't be.  

david asked me the other night, amidst my tears, if i wished he had another job where we could be home for times like this.  i told him, as i always have in the past, there is very little he says no to for me. i have been at MOST of the things i want to or can be at.  it is only the emergencies that i miss...  i can't get home to visit someone in the hospital or take a meal.  i have missed funerals (and several weddings) because it just doesn't work.  as hard as i want it to.  and i hate that.

but, i would never trade our life.  first of all, God put us in this life, in this place, for a reason.  He didn't make a mistake to have me in hawaii right now.  and to have it so hard to get home.  He didn't make a mistake in my husband's career choice.  and for those days that i miss, i wouldn't trade the others we have here.  even when i don't see the purpose or plan.  

doesn't change that i would want to be there.  and it made me think.  and continue to live the life God gave me... and not want something else.  

and, my biggest take home from the week was HOW THANKFUL i am for eternal salvation... that i am not at all unsure about what will happen to me when i die.  nor am i about uncle dan.  what a blessed assurance!  (and if you are unsure- talk to me!!!)  i can't imagine facing death and wondering.  

it's a good job...

did i mention that we are having another boy?  what???  

a beautiful rainbow.  will so miss these when we leave!  (look closely, it's almost a double!)

soccer...  and a cute man coaching!!!

reading with auntie byssa...

don't interrupt a busy man.  he had to take a work call during dinner....

oh, excuse us.  he wasn't done with his paper yet!!

life is good today...

this kid.  poor thing will struggle when we leave this island!

so, it dawned on me this week, that i am a "mother of boys".  i always thought that was reserved for someone who didn't have daughters.  and i had james, so i just thought, "i have a son".  and then chris- my mentality changed to "i have a girl and two boys".  but, i wasn't a "mother of boys".  and i would read these articles to "mothers of boys", and think of my friends who have 3 or more boys, and no girls.  

and i have even been telling people i will have a girl and THREE BOYS.  and it still didn't dawn on me that i am, in fact, a MOTHER OF BOYS.  (let me clarify.  that definition still applies to me with only one or two boys.  even though there is a girl in the mix.  i get that now!)

i was STUNNED when the cupcake was blue.  i was convinced that it was a girl.  not unhappy, mind you.  just so surprised!  

smiles...

smiling with my boy.  

looking cool, dude!

chris tucked me in for a nap...

big boy...

oops... lost his pants!  that's how we roll in hawaii!

larry boy- at his school party!

nora's school party...  she makes a cute mummy.

the buzz lightyears.  

with her buddy...

the gaggle...

trying to update with all the pics recently.  chris is growing and talking so much more!  it's such a fun age.  in a weekend, he added so many new words. (strawberry being one of them!)  and he REALLY. GETS. IT.  whatever you are telling him.  it's such a fun age!  (also, a frustrating age...  cause he's still not quite two, and sometimes STILL can't tell me what he wants......)

life in october.

dinner one night when daddy was gone.  and i had a coupon!

my lalaloopsy

my dalmatian!

a cute boy...

a normal day.

there is a daddy under there.  can you find him?

taking pictures.  

skypine... and loving his boy!

pumpkin patch... take 2...

kid and his "cool dudes".

if he weren't so handsome!

helping a brother out...

sometimes, they DO love each other!

i LOVE his face!!!!!!!

his class...  he's in the middle back...

actually PICKING his pumpkin... so fun!

carrying his pumpkin.  what a big boy!!!  

there's been a lot going on in the haile household.  and in the midst of all of it, i continue to be SO. OVERWHELMINGLY. THANKFUL. for the 'ohana hui that we have.  we have amazing blood family.  and then we have amazing 'ohana hui- the family that you have because they choose you.  and you choose them.  and they have changed over the years, usually depending on where we are.  but they would take my kids (or me) at the drop of the hat.  and i am so thankful for that.

i am also so thankful for the assurance that comes with faith.