leaving.

the mural in nora's bedroom that i had to scrub off the wall.  it's the grinch.  don't know why?

found a homework book in her backpack at the hotel.  it provided HOURS of entertainment!

a $300 mil super yacht parked in honolulu... pretty cool!

saying goodbye to our house.  

little man ready for vacation!

we spent HOURS in the pool!  and the slides.  and WORE our kids out!

the slide... those are james' feet sticking up.

friday night fireworks!

yay!  except for chris.  he buried his head in my neck and SHOOK.  

the view.  for the week.

slide!

my "perch".  all week.  i could see all the slides from here and the kids loved it!

at breakfast...  playing the square game.  you know, where you draw lines and make squares?

doing a word search!  

after a marathon of travel, and trying to get adjusted to the time change (we still aren't quite), we have been busy seeing people.  getting new drivers' licenses.  getting a new car.  getting the other car registered.  and sleeping.  and seeing friends.  pics to come on all that!

oh, and watching the world cup!

moving and shaking...

finding a place to nap among all the boxes.  

c slept in the midst of all the loud noise!  

loving daddy...

and in the bathroom the next day.

they told me they were bored.  i made them do wall sits!

not me, mommy!

family wall sit time!

how he wanted to sleep the next day!

well... we are in ohio.  after a long day and night of travel.  and two delayed flights.  and david and i each getting thrown up on (by the same kid).  and little sleep.  and buying a new car when we got here!  (we have crossed to the dark side- a minivan...)

in all, it was a really good flight, but it was LONG.  i won't miss that about not living in hawaii.  

but, i am sad to be gone.

coming home...

this boy- trying to catch him smiling!

one last trip to target..  with all four kids!  

(i hate this cart, but it fits everyone... james held the stuff, brandon took up the back!)

we saw rainbows EVERYWHERE our last week!

james stayed home with me the first day of the move.  chris and nora played at friends' houses.  he was so much fun.  and helped me with daddy's sign!

brothers don't shake hands...

coming home.  (fyi- c is hiding behind me!)

didn't take him long to love on his daddy...

it was a whirlwind week- with the packers and daddy coming home and moving out of our house and being on "vacation" in waikiki and getting on a plane tomorrow.  oh, and sick kids and a sick husband.  praying i can hold out....

neighborhood party...

bounce house...  how many kids can we fit?

james.

boys.

nora.

sweet.

more j.

looking good.

all the kids!

saying good bye.

the moms.

i have been blessed (we all have) with some great friends in our neighborhood.  we had a fun party after school let out to say goodbye.  

we are all moved out of our house.  we are currently living in a hotel before our flights.  it was a crazy week of packing out, but it's done.  (i don't highly recommend having your husband come back mid-pack out from a deployment.  it's chaos!)

but, we are good.  other than d being sick.  and enjoying our hotel.  so much so that our kids are asking for naps and bed!  nothing like wearing them out!

also, here's some pics from d's homecoming...

school's out for the summer!

nora had some girl friends over.. 

for spa and dance party

being 2nd graders.  (how do i have a SECOND grader?)

and james had a sleep over at his friend's house.

they had a blast, too!

there has been a rainbow every day this week.  

making me miss it even more.  just the anticipation of moving.

snuggling with our friend!!

getting every last drop of that brownie!

starting to smile!!!  and copy what i do.  and wave?  maybe?

i braved it and took them all to the store for the first time.  can you even see b (or his carseat) back there?  i have boycotted these carts until now.  you should see people get out of your way driving this thing!

as i speak, there is a gecko and cockroach in my kitchen.  i am hoping one takes care of the other.  making me not quite so sad that we are leaving!  (hawaii problems, i know!)  

the movers come in the morning.  i am finishing up the last bits to get ready for them.  

and then we get to pick up daddy this week!!  yay for that!!  looking forward to seeing him (and having another set of hands, voice of reason, disciplinarian!)  

well, i am done procrastinating.