How Fast They Grow

In the past few weeks Jesse has graduated from the swing to the "Bumbo" chair and the exersaucer. He has gotten such great control of his hands and rolls all around the floor playing with toys. He tries to grab anything in our hands when we are holding him. And at 5 months, he has been in 6 to 9 month clothes for a few weeks. Still refuses a bottle even after trying multiple days this week (and still no pacifier). The picky eater has gotten even pickier in that he will not eat store bought baby food. I started him on homemade stuff and that is the only way he will eat it now. Can you believe it?! But oh the dimples make up for everything.

And this little princess turns 3 in October. At 3, she is still way below her peers in weight and height so we were super amazed today when she begged us to pull Asher's tricycle out of the shed, plopped on, and peddled away. Asher got this tricycle for his 3rd birthday and it still took him about 4 months after that to get the hang of it. Anna can barely reach the peddles and now speeds around the parking lot happy to not have to run next to the older kids riding their bikes anymore.

Boston in the Fall

I am now back in Hawaii after 8 wonderful days in Massachusetts and a 13 hour traveling day with a 5 month old (not much fun, but worth the 8 wonderful days I did get!). Jesse and I had such a great time visiting our old stomping grounds. The only disappointment was the "fall" weather..it was about 70 to 75 degrees. I was hoping for some colder weather! I know, you can call me crazy if you would like. We got to do all the New England things we were hoping for-apple picking, a picnic in Maine, fish and chips, warm clam chowder, see some leaves changing, a jog in cold morning weather, pinachle, and rejuvenating with dear friends. I felt like I was "home" and never left. I can't believe it has been almost a year! Everyone was so sad Joel was unable to go, but he did great with the kids in my absence. I caught a cold at the end of my trip and am now sniffling, jetlagged with a 5 month old getting up at 2am ready to go, 2 kids fighting for my attention (plus a husband), and an empty fridge. As I said before, it was all worth it! New England is home to us, but it feels good to come home to my family...wherever they are is my true home, even if the land feels foreign. God has a plan and I will serve where He has placed us, continue to be thankful for the blessings we had and still have in New England and Hawaii, and look foward to many more.


Jesse and I enjoying mums and pumpkins.

The girls getting ready for apple picking: Wendy, Me, Morgan, and Sandra.

Nubble lighthouse in York, ME - my favorite place on earth! We had a lovely picnic here. If Jesse wasn't with me, I would have sat here with a good book all day.

OK girls, don't kill me because I posted this picture! I just have to point out one of the reasons for my trip - there aren't many people in life who we can truely be ourselves with. It is such a beautiful gift.

one last question...what do you call the things we are wearing on our heads???

The Big Surprise

Aloha from Massachusetts!! Yes, I am in Massachusetts and believe I just pulled off the biggest surprise I have ever planned. I have been yearning to come here, have a break from regular life, and refresh with my dear girlfriends so my wonderful husband (and the husbands of my 3 girlfriends here) helped me plan a trip only just 3 weeks ago. Jesse and I flew overnight for 12 hours to see faces that I will forever remember. My 3 friends Wendy, Morgan, and Sandra were getting together for a dinner (arranged by sneaky husbands) having no clue that a 4th would be joining them. There was a lot of crying, hugging, and laughs-it was wonderful. Together, the 4 of us have been newlyweds and from there went through 10 pregnancies, 7 moves, game days, disappointments, tears, trials of motherhood, and many many laughs. We have been having a great time together this week. We went apple picking, had a picnic at Nubble Lighthouse in Maine (my favorite place on earth), and I have seen some leaves changing while enjoying a few days in jeans and a sweatshirt. I am so thankful for this moment. Here is a picture of the 4 of us at the surprise dinner. Joel is holding down the fort in Hawaii (thank you Joel-you are my hero!).

Pics for last blog

The Yellow Jackets

Asher is finally old enough to start playing sports-YEY-and is playing on a soccer team that named themselves the Yellow Jackets (the jersey color will tell you why). Joel is so excited to have a kid in sports that he volunteered to be the coach. He is doing a great job. 4 year olds playing soccer are adorable-it is like a little bee hive following the ball around. Well, Asher might just be the stray bee because he is usually off in la-la land or break dancing on the field. Last week was our 1st game and Asher had a really hard time. He fell on the ground and cried whenever another kid took the ball from him or blocked him. He didn't understand why everyone wanted "his" ball. We spent the whole week teaching him about not giving up, cheering on his buddies, and having fun. He must of soaked up something because he did so much better today. He had SO much fun even though he still wasn't entirely into the game. He doesn't really watch the ball or try to get it-he just runs around happy doing his own thing, dancing all over, and when the ball happens to come to him-BONUS! One time it was at his feet and all the kids were kind of waiting for him to do something and he didn't even see the ball. He finally saw it, had the look on his face like it was Christmas morning, and almost scored a goal. He was so proud. We just hope he continues to have fun (and we would like him to stay on his feet too!). Asher asked Joel today if he could still call him Dad even though he was "coach"-it was cute. We hope Joel continues to have fun too! Anna is the official mascot (and even gets to wear a yellow jersey). She is great at cheering for all the boys and giving them high fives. And when they break, she runs on with her ball to get some playing time in.


Go Yellow Jackets!

The boys getting direction on which goal to run too.

Woo Hoo-Asher got the ball!! This picture makes him look like a pro.

Anna scoring a goal!

Always Summer

Asher said to me today, "Mommy, is summer over?"

"Well Asher, summer is over in the rest of the world across the ocean but it is always summer in Hawaii."

"So it won't snow in Hawaii?"

"No, Asher, it will never snow here."

"Well, it snowed at my old house...my blue house."

"Yes, Asher it did. Our blue house is across the ocean in Boston where it does snow."

"Well, Mommy, I want to go back to Boston and see snow again."

Oh, Asher, me too!!! Actually, I mainly want to wear jeans and a sweatshirt, plant mums, see the leaves changing as fall rolls in, go for a jog in the cool weather, and go apple picking! I didn't really even think about it being "fall" until Asher asked that question. I am still trying to figure out whether or not I should put up my "fall" decorations. Even though it may be tacky, I think I might. I know, I know...I am in Hawaii so how can I complain. We hope to never take our days here for granted and the beauty that surrounds us. But a word to those in Boston...never take your days there for granted and the beauty that surrounds you.

Cereal and Sweet Potatoes

Jesse started rice cereal last week in attempt to get him to sleep through the night (he still wakes up once at 4am). It has been quite an adventure. Before I explain that statement, you have to know that Jesse (my "purist") absolutely refuses a bottle or binkie. Yes, we have tried every different bottle type, nipple flow, and binkie types. He will not take anything! As for rice cereal, he would not eat it if it was mixed with water, apple juice, or formula...it HAD to mixed with breast milk and then he gobbled it right down. Geesh, how picky can a 4 month old be?! I am not sure what this points to in his future. However, yesterday we mixed the cereal with sweet potatoes. Yes, we have a winner!! He loves sweet potatoes and we will be trying pears in a few days. Alas, we still have the 4am wakings. Some day...


Jesse gobbling down his sweet potatoes

Anna and Asher with their playdough creations. And yes, they did this by themselves!! The next time however, we got elephants with bird wings and a giraffe tail.

Mamma Mia!

This past weekend, Joel and I were able to go on a spontaneous date. I have been dying to see Mamma Mia, so even though it is a chick flick-Joel agreed to go see it. The only version left in the theaters in the sing-along version. OK, we weren't sure what that meant so we asked. It was the normal version just with words on the bottom so you could sing-along. That kind of scared us, but really, the movie has been out all summer...there couldn't be that many people in the theater. Well, the theater was PACKED!! and EVERYONE, yes everyone, in the theater sang there little hearts out. It was unbelievable. I have never experienced anything like it. When the song "Dancing Queen" came on I seriously thought everyone was going to start dancing around the theater. It was a very fun and hilarious movie so it really didn't effect the setting. and I have always wished life worked like it does in a musical...that I would start singing a song and all of a sudden everyone around me would start dancing down the street and we would all just know the right moves. I guess this will be the closest I come to that dream! It was quite an experience. We still really enjoyed our night out.