lunch bunch...

a lunch date with my hubby...

and his girl... 

she's a natural in front of the camera...

having fun!

and the boy...

such cute kids!!!

we had conferences today, and then daddy took us to lunch.  nora excels at reading... no shocker there! and is having a great time in class.  it was fun to hear all the good things about her.  while we were conferring, the kids were playing in the classroom.  james took daddy's cover, put it on, grabbed the pointer and started "teaching".  so cute...

we have had a busy week.  just being.  (and sewing... more on that later!)  catching up on life.  hanging out with old friends.  making new ones.  making a mess of the house.  cleaning it up.  folding six loads of laundry.  and putting them all away.  

legos and easter...

building his new lego sets...

daddy was excited to get home and build, too!

think daddy had the most fun!

it was a bright easter morning...

happy Easter!  HE is risen.  indeed!!

back to waimea...

sweet baby boy.  he is growing up way to fast!

on his daddy's shoulders...

my navigators...

loving on his daddy!!!

swimming back from the falls..

i had never been out the falls.  i always ended up on boy duty.  and one boy doesn't get in (he's too young) and one doesn't go out the falls when he does!

love this man!  i promise, i am wearing clothes!  and a towel.  just fyi!

we had a great visit with the grandparents.  and now it's back to normal life.  i went on a field trip with nora today, and then we had NOTHING to do all afternoon.  it was really nice.  the kids played.  and i cleaned up the house.  and we just hung out. 

swimming... and anchors.

i mean, who doesn't love seeing an f-22 fly overhead!  

my boy and me at swim.  don't we look cute in our matching shades?  (note, he dropped and broke said shades... his, not mine... right after pic!)

the kids, playing on the anchor...

getting some attention.  maybe not the kind he wanted!

my little walker.  

watching the tide.

my girl and me.  i showed her the pic and said, "aren't we the cutest girls".  she turned to me and gave me a lecture on pride and humility.  oops!!!  good job, girl!  it IS the heart i am concerned with.... and you have a good one!!!

at an easter egg hunt.  he didn't want to pose for the pic.  

trying to pose the kids... note, chris is lunging out of the pic.  he DID. NOT. want to be involved.

i love hebrews 6:19.  we have this hope as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul.  i am so thankful for my hope in the LORD.  i was listening to the radio this morning and heard the two (hawaiian) djs talking about this week.  and easter.  (and it was so fun to hear "brah" and "braddah" thrown in to the conversation.  don't think i have ever heard that biblically before!)  

but, they were talking about the magnitude of what Jesus did for us.  and that when He was on trial in front of two different audiences, He held his tongue.  He didn't try to make His case or PROVE that He was God.  (other than put the one soldier's ear back on...  again, amazing!)  so often, i want everyone to know what i meant to say.  or my point of view.  or why i have been wronged.  and yet, the humility that we see in Christ is amazing.  

Jesus could have put a stop to His death at any point.  but He CHOSE not to.  for ME.  this is something i have heard for 31 years.  and yet, it struck me as so fresh this morning.  (maybe it was hearing Jesus referred to as "brah"...)  i am thankful that He loved me enough.

and in the midst of a whole lot of craziness going on in the world...  the song that came on the radio next was "on Christ the solid rock i stand, all other ground is sinking sand..."  

"i dare not trust the sweetest frame but wholly lean on Jesus' name"  

"my hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness".  

a little out of order, but the last line brings me back to the point.  i have this HOPE.  and for that, despite anything else that goes on, i am so thankful.  HE is my hope.

underwater...

doing a somersault...

and a backflip!

smiles!

daddy and his shaka!

dolphin rides!

swimming...

we had a bunch of fun at the pool the other day during swim lessons.  thankfully, this pool was BARELY saved from sequestration... or total shutdown!  i love seeing nora be an absolute fish in the water.  and it's been amazing watching james get so comfortable in the water.

four years old...

four year old birthday.  a pirate party.

lining up for "pin the eye patch on the pirate..."

decor....

sweet james.  in lieu of a bandana... a russian navy hat, bought in vladivostock

what do you do when your pirate BEACH party is rained out.  in hawaii?

turn your garage into a party... and make a cheesy looking pirate and cut out some eye patches!

sweet girl!

trying to hit the (i just bought it at target cause our beach party turned into a plan b party in the garage) pinata!

girl hitting it!

mmm...

blowing out the candles!

sweet pirate!

all the kids... filling their bags!

the pirates!!!  arghhhh

highlight for them?  the eye patch and pirate map (i printed out a map and gave stickers in their "goodie bag".)  they spent so long entertaining themselves with a "pirate hunt"!

opening presents!

the loot!

wait!!!

buddies!

sweet baby james!

gosh.  this kid.  gets me.  EVERY. BLESSED. TIME!  i love his eyes.  don't tell the others!  

brothers!

buddies!!!

we had a great birthday party.  we planned to have it at the beach.  because we live in hawaii.  why wouldn't that work.  so, i let the guest list get big!  cause we were going to be at the beach!

and, it rained.  like in noah's day.  it rained, and rained, and didn't stop.  on the way to church, i figured we would see how it looked coming back over the mountains.  it didn't look promising.  i talked to our meteorologist neighbor.  he told me it didn't look promising.  

so, i ran to target and got a pinata while everyone else picked up the house and garage.  and said neighbor's wife borrowed a canopy from another friend.  and we set up shop outside.  

the party was a huge hit.  the kids had a blast.  and it reminded me of all the parties my mom had growing up.  i can't remember a big, outside party she had planned that it DIDN'T rain!  but they were always the best.  and james felt loved.  his best buddies were there.  and we had fun!  it was really fun to watch them.  and to be reminded that they didn't need big bounce houses or beaches or entertainment to entertain themselves.  

and it was good for me.  to feel so loved by friends who offered to help when the day turned.  and to have such great help here!  (wonderful in laws and hubby)  and to get to be around such good friends all afternoon.  cause let's face it... sometimes the birthday parties are a little about the parents, too! 

four years.  

james.

you are such a joy in my life.  you are a middle child, and you.  want.  attention.!!!

you fiercely love your lovey puppy.  and super heroes.  and your sister.

i think you love your brother, too!

oh, and veggie tales.

and, i love that you still love to hug and kiss me.  a lot!

you are a clown.  and serious.  and smart.  

i am so excited to see what you will do in life!!  it's going to be good.  and big!  

you are hesitant at some things.  like the water.  you would only go in ankle deep, where others jumped right in.  but you eventually warmed up to it.  and are becoming a great swimmer.

i love that you do things at your own pace.  and not anyone elses'.  don't ever lose that!

i am proud of you.  so proud!