You may be surprised that I've been here since Friday afternoon and haven't been to the beach yet. But I've been dealing with barfing boys and lots of snot and yuckies. It's been quite a weekend. Tonight I went out for my first photo session back home - a surprise engagement.
I waited on DT Fleming Beach for them to arrive and pretended I was photographing surfers. Then I turned and got him dropping to one knee and proposing and my heart was probably beating just as quickly as his. It was really extraordinary to be a part of that moment. So special. And the sand felt awesome on my feet. And it was just so incredibly beautiful I felt like dropping to my knees and thanking God or whoever else is up there for allowing me to follow my dreams. It was such an incredible moment for me.
DT Fleming Beach waiting for my couple to arrive
Ryenne is finally coming out of her cold. She got to go out with Papa tonight. She was so proud that she got to go by herself.
Big girl Ryenne and Papa Eugene
I'm hoping the boys are feeling better tomorrow as Grandmama and Pops are coming out to the West Side. I would love for everyone to be ready for the beach tomorrow!
I don't know if I've ever mentioned Maui Mondays on my personal blog, but essentially it's a project that I love doing and I put it on hold while I dealt with the move.
Every week I take a picture of Maui - of our adventures, something beautiful, anything really. And I email it out once a week on Monday morning. It's just a little way to make Mondays nice.
If you haven't signed up, do it now! It's free. :) SIGN UP HERE.
This morning me and Ryenne headed to Makawao to see our house. We met with the owner, Emi, and talked story a while. It was so refreshing to meet her and hear her introduce herself to Ryenne as "Auntie Emi" - that is so Hawaii. I missed that.
We went to check out the house and the current tenants are moving out. They are extremely messy people. The house is in serious need of cleaning. Ryenne was quite disgusted. I could see past it all to the beautiful house that it is. It should be ready on 12/2 and sparkly clean. So excited. I can't figure out which bedroom to claim as ours. All three bedrooms are quite small but light and bright. There's also a wonderful cross breeze through the house.
The dining room with the living room through the arch
The kitchen - the counters are butcher block - really pretty!
There's a really beautiful lanai in the front and gardening space. The baseboards and crown moulding through the entire home are really, really gorgeous. I can't wait to start decorating for Christmas. I can just see lots of baking going on in the kitchen. And it's just a short walk from school. I also found out a high school classmate lives right next door and has a little boy Kai's age. SWEET!
After visiting the house, I took Ry to Maui Child Toys & Books on Makawao Ave to pick out a special toy for her Mommy & Me date. We then went and had lunch at Cafe O'Lei and shared a brownie sundae. I think she had a great day with her Mama!
We are home! After two days of traveling, cranky kids, being peed on, being thrown up on, ect... we made it.
Thank goodness my Pops traveled with us. Made it so much easier for me. We also had a really helpful staff on both Alaska and Hawaiian Air so that also made it easier.
Upon arrival Kai got off the plane yelling, "YES! We are home!" which was absolutely adorable. Ryenne was an incredible helper and Cruz was just a sick little boy. He is still getting over a yucky, phlegmy cold. Poor little dude.
When we got to Marissa and Eugene's house they had a Thanksgiving feast waiting for us. It was so good as we were all hungry and tired.
Today we headed to Pickle's house where we had another beautiful Thanksgiving. Grandmama is visiting which made it even more special. Uncle Jeff, Miles, Nico, Abra, Pops, Tyler and Keenan were all there. The kids had a ball. They played badminton, football, and did some fishing. By the time dinner was done though they were totally pooped and cranky. They came back to Napili and just crashed.
Tomorrow we head to Makawao to see our house and meet our landlady. I am SO EXCITED. Pictures coming tomorrow!
I wish I was a more crafty person. I am inspired by others' crafts and projects and love browsing Pinterest looking at them. But I'm just not very crafty myself.
But I saw these adorable angel ornaments at Target and thought they'd be the perfect teacher gifts for the kids to give their teachers as a thank you for being their school angels. I bought paints and paper and the kiddos got to paint to their hearts content. I wrote a special note on the back of each teacher's painting and tied the angel on with raffia.
Last night we invited our Texas 'Ohana - our closest friends - to our last big Texas dinner. We went to the Salt Lick in Driftwood and dined on ono kine Texas BBQ. They gave us the banquet section and the kids had a blast running around like hooligans.
It was so nice having these kiddos all together. They've been friends since we moved here and have become more like family. We left the Salt Lick with full bellies and full hearts. It was a wonderful evening.
Over the next couple days I'll be packing everything up for mailing. I think my computer is going tomorrow... Tomorrow is also the last day of school for the kiddos. It's all happening!
Ryenne brought home her class stuffed animal, Franklina, the weekend we were doing the big moving. It was stressful but added an element of fun. I love this image of her laughing!
The last Saturday Donut Day at 2309 Wilma Rudolph!
Cruz is a huge climber now!
On 11/8 our container was picked up. It's now leaving Pflugerville, TX and will be on it's way to San Diego and then Maui!
On Sunday we drove down to Wimberley to go to our babysitter, Hannah's school function. Since we don't have a big car, Peter had to ride in the back.
Ry got her face painted
Cruz likes my morning shakes. He looks like a little Spaniard, doesn't he?
I took this on my way to a photo shoot. When we moved to Texas I was in awe of the "mini castles" and the suburban neighborhoods. Now I can't stand them! Funny how that changes...
Old building in San Marcos, TX
Mommy/Daddy date in San Marcos while the kids were at school. We went Christmas shopping!
On Tuesday we (finally) closed on the house. We are no longer home owners! WooHoo! The kids liked the fountain at the title company.
This little snake was outside yesterday. Poor Kai flipped out!!!
After a very chilly morning, it was beautiful for playing outside at
Pops' house. Cruz had just gone down for a nap and the older two could
play with the wagon and the "motorcycle". Love how Kai can rock the pink
and purple "motorcycle".
Wilma Rudolph House is totally clean and lovely and ready for her new owners. We're all at Pops house. It's been a little crazy, but fun. The kids have really been wonderful.
We were supposed to close today, but since our buyers are doing a VA loan and tomorrow is Veterans Day, the office was so busy it couldn't be completed today. So now we close on Monday.
It was a beautiful afternoon. We played outside. The pups are having a great time with Meesie and she is with them, too. All is well!
Our internet was down for 3 days but it's back up and running (thank goodness!) Amazing how little can get done when I don't have access to the net!
You hear me say it every year, but I'm saying it again: I hate the time changes that happen twice a year. Once again the kids were up early - 5:30am to be exact. I was still exhausted from packing up the master bedroom yesterday.
Thankfully, a drop in day was available at the preschool so I took the boys today and powered out all the furniture in the house. I did a lot of Goodwill runs and rubbish runs. The only thing left to tackle is getting the food out of the fridge and pantry and bringing it to my dad's house and cleaning out the garage and bringing my dads tools back to him.
I got frustrated today because Peter really sucks at moving. I had to yell at him a few times and I was really upset. But I took a deep breathe and told myself that everything I'm doing I'm doing for ME because I WANT TO and it doesn't matter what he does or doesn't do because I can make it happen myself. So I gave myself a break and said to myself, "I'm going to check my email right now and there's going to be a new photography booking." And I checked and sure enough there was one for December 5. So that put a big smile on my face.
Then Peter told me that the job he applied for at the Four Seasons Maui wasn't available anymore because the original person who had quit decided to come back to work. Bummer. So the search is still on.
And then after moving big furniture myself and busting my butt it was time to get the boys. Once the kids were home it really got crazy. Nobody would listen to anything and it was all around chaos. I looked at my dirty, empty house and realized that this part of our lives is REALLY coming to an end. Pretty soon we'll be saying goodbye to that house forever. It kinda tripped me out.
And then I got the best news of the day... we got the sweet plantation house in Makawao!!! Out of all of those people she chose our family to take care of her beautiful house. And I really do feel like it's a privilege. I am SO EXCITED. This is going to be such an amazing place for us.
I celebrated with a cheeseburger and a milk stout beer. I'm sitting in Pops' quiet house. It was a crazy day, but it was a great day.
Just got an email from owner of the plantation house in Makawao we're trying to rent. She let me know that out of 40 applicants, she's narrowed it down to 3 potential families and we're one of those families.
Still sending positive thoughts out to the Universe that we'll get picked!
Almost there. I pretty much have just one more room to pack - the Master bedroom. Bed, two nightstands, and the big dresser. And the dining room table. The plan is for all the kitchen plates and silverware to go inside the big dresser drawers. Then we have a massive trip to the Good Will and we're all packed up. Wow.
Little boy, when you speak
I can't help but kiss your cheeks
I love the way you grab my hands
And tell me all about your plans
Rocket high, comets fly
You and I could take a ride
And fly away to Neverland
And give our best to Peter Pan
When you reach for the stars
Don't forget who you are
And please don't turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass
Story's read, prayer is said
Close your eyes sleepyhead
While angels linger in your dreams
And hold you in their feathered wings
Just like you, I was small
Not that long ago at all
I wish you all the happiness
That God gives freely if you ask
When you reach for the stars
Don't forget who you are
And please don't turn around and grow up way too fast
See the sand in my grasp
From the first to the last
Every grain becomes a memory of the past
Oh, life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass
Life's an hourglass
Mahalo's to my cousin, Alison, for emailing me this artist. LOVE IT!!
Thank you to everyone who has emailed asking if we got that sweet house in Makawao. We are still in the running. I actually spoke to the owner today and she was so nice... she misplaced my rental application though so I re-faxed it to her. We had a nice chat and I think we're going to get the house. I am super duper hoping we do because cruising on Craigslist there are a lot of really dumpy rentals out there on Maui. We are talking DUMPY! So now that she has our application again and can verify Peter's employment I am hoping we'll hear from her soon. I would loooooove to spend Christmas in that house!
I've been a packing FIEND. And I love to purge. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE purging. It's my favorite thing about moving. It's strange and funny to come across things and wonder, "Why in the world did I keep this?" and then donate it so it can be someone elses treasure.
I have also really enjoyed coming across boxes that were never unpacked when we moved in here in the first place. I guess since when our stuff was delivered and just "dropped off" I tucked boxes away to completely forget about them. Some of them are such treasures. I found a wood block that Koa carved for me for Christmas that says, "Best Sister Ever". Such a treasure. That one is coming out of it's box! I guess maybe deep down I knew this wasn't our permanent home? I also never hung my Gracie lights. My Gracie lights are so special. Before we sold our condo in Napili I had my dad take them down as I couldn't bare to part with them. So they'll be held until it comes time to put them up again.
We're expecting our first freeze tonight! Gonna dress everyone warm and have the heater on tonight. Tomorrow all the dressers get loaded into the container.
Halloween was pretty bad this year. Not nearly as many kids as last year, so I have a big bucket of candy leftover. I think I'll end up dumping it. I have no will power against these things! Ryenne was Ariel the Little Mermaid, Kai was Spiderman, and Cruz was an apple. But he got upset and ripped the apple off his onesie. We're at a tough spot with Kai Boy... he still needs a nap, but it's hard to get him to take one. So by dinnertime he's just a whiny puddle. This was my Halloween. Whiny puddle boy!
Yesterday was Peter's birthday and we spent the morning loading up lots of big things. We still have the chest of drawers, office, dining table, and our big bed to load. And kitchen things. But we got the big hutch and the living room credenza in. The living room is starting to look more empty!
I volunteered to read in Ryenne's class yesterday as well. I didn't tell her that I was coming. So when I walked into the classroom her eyes lit up! She ran over and gave me a giant hug. The classroom was in total chaos. Her teacher was having the kids clean up all the day's messes (it was toward the end of the day). Once everything was put away, I read the kids Leonardo the Terrible Monster, which is about a monster who tries to be scary but then decides it's better to be a great friend instead. After I was done reading, the teacher sat in front of the class and gave out scoldings for everyone being naughty. She said, "I know you all didn't go to bed on time last night because it was Halloween. And I know you probably had a lot of candy. I don't want to have another day like it was today." and then she went on to say that only two students behaved. First she called up a little boy and he got a sticker in his sticker book. And then she called up Ryenne. Her little face just lit up - she was so proud that I was there to see her recognized by her teacher. I was SO PROUD OF HER.
When we got home we got ready to drive to San Marcos where we heard there was a new Hawaiian restaurant. It's actually a lunch trailer in a cute little trailer park with picnic tables. So we got ono Hawaiian grinds for Peter's birthday. It was a great time.
Today the boys are playing with boxes. I've packed a few more things. It's hard to load with the boys around so since they'll be in school tomorrow I'm hoping to get a lot more done. Cruz thinks boxes are the coolest toys ever!
