Oh what a lovely weekend we had. Peter did work, but we took advantage of the daytime.
I have to say that I really look forward to Friday nights. It's a new routine and I love it. Fridays after school, we all head to Napili. The kids faces light up as they realize they are about to be spoiled by their grandparents. And Peter and my faces light up as we realize that we get a morning to sleep in!
On Saturday we headed to Napili Bay. There were big waves and as usual my three were fearless.
Ryenne and Kai racing in the water
Little Girl wouldn't stay still!
Cruz is such a water baby!
This was right before he charged the wave, huli'd, and I had to rescue him.
Cousins
Cruz the nekkid water baby!
Landon
On Sunday we went to Baby Beach in Lahaina with dear friends. The water was flat as a lake and a mama and baby whale played right off the reef. The Mama whale was showing the baby how to breach. It was AMAZING. Wish I had my camera for it. Everyone on the beach was clapping. Ryenne loved it!
It was such a perfect weekend. Everyone had a nice layer of salt and golden to their skin. Looking forward to more weekends like this!
My mom and Peter and I discussed our pup, Dexter today. Dexter is going to be 10 this year. We fear that he won't make the flight to Hawaii well. This KILLS me. I miss that dog so much. And what's worse, when I left Austin I thought he was flying with Emmy and I told him, "See ya in a couple weeks, Dex!" not knowing that I won't see him again for a long time. We decided that it's better for him to stay in Reno with my mom where he can be pet 75% of the day on my Grammie's lap, romp around with dog friends, and have a fully enclosed backyard to play in. It's better for him, but it still hurts because I selfishly want my dog. But I know this is the right decision for his happiness and well being and I know that he's being loved on more than the attention that I can give him right now. So "a hui hou" my sweet Dexter Boy. Until we meet again!! I love you so much. You have been the best dog I have EVER had.
In other GRRRRRR news.... when I first moved to Austin I sold a gift certificate to this guy for his sister to use that Christmas for Holiday Photos. I reminded her to use it and she didn't. Then the next year I told her I'd extend the certificate for her to use. And she didn't use it. Then she called right after Cruz was born and she didn't like the days I offered her. Then I didn't hear from her again until today - in 2012 - and she was shocked that I wouldn't refund the money. Now she's writing all kinds of negative reviews all over the internet. For me this is really hard because I am one of those people who does care about what people think of me. I try to do right in everything I do. It's been a lifelong struggle to understand that I can't please everyone all of the time. And I want people to like me - I really do! So it just hurts that this woman is going online to slam my business and my business practices. But I think she just sounds kind of silly because she says, "How was I supposed to know you moved?" when I advertised it for 7 months on facebook, my blog, and website. I guess she just never really valued my work anyway. But it still hurts to know that someone out there has a bad taste in their mouth. GRRRR.
Last weekend was Lisa's baby shower. We are all so excited to have another little girl in our lives - woohoo! I'll have a new niece very soon!
I snagged these pictures of Ry and Cruz with Nana - their Great Grandma. Not the best quality, but I love each of these. Nana is such an incredible woman.
Today after Peter left for work I took the kids out on an "adventure". We headed to Kula where we met a beekeeper and bought raw honey. Then we discovered a farmers market off the beaten path and bought onions, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, mushrooms, and papaya all for $14!
With Ry away at school five days a week, it gives me a lot of time with these little boys. Cruz is such a water baby. When we went to Sprecks Baby Beach over the weekend, he just flung his whole body in without a care in the world. It was low tide and he waded in until he was neck deep and was happy as can be. It made me so nervous! No pictures of that since me and Peter were right there in case he went under.
He LOVES bath time. He got these little bowls with holes in the bottom and he likes the water to flow all over him.
He has taught himself how to float!! He lays down in the tub with the water all around his face and floats on his back. He even holds his breath. This little dude is going to thrive in the water - my little fishy!
Kai has been so sad since leaving preschool - he begs me to leave him in Ry's class in the morning. I had to find a way to get him back to school. A photographer friend recommended a church preschool not too far from us. We went and checked it out and he had his first day on Tuesday! He was so flippin happy. The 3's class was full so they put him in the 4's class and the teacher said he did great.
He is such a social, funny little boy. His comments crack me up all the time. He loves to wear his shoes on the wrong feet and when I mention it to him he says, "Because it's cool like that mom. It's just cool, ok?" and I crack up every time.
Me and Ry have always played the "I Love You" game where we say I love you more, and then she says, "No I love you more!" and it goes back and forth. Well Kai has now gotten in on this game. And after we exchange back and forth a few times, he says, "Mom, how about we just love each other a whole lot, ok?". I love that.
Poor blog has been so lonely! Time to share all that's been going on!
We visited Uncle Nico on Christmas Eve. He had hand made mango wood blocks for the kids. They are AMAZING.The kids adore them.
Our first Christmas back home was very, very simple. Actually, even though it was a sparse Christmas, I could have done without the balance bikes. Once the kids saw the kitchen they didn't want to open anything else.
We are enjoying our safe street for riding bikes. I try to get the kids outside riding and running around every afternoon.
Even though he's getting so big, he still curls up like a little baby. I am just trying to hold onto that for as long as I can.
These pineapple fields are just down a little bit from my house. Everytime I drive by, I just love looking at them and the valley below. I am often asked why I chose to live Upcountry when all my work is either on the West Side or in Kihei. Well, I definitely knew I didn't want to live in Kihei. It's a desert and I need rain. The West Side is so expensive. And I honestly don't mind the drive Upcountry. It is so insanely beautiful that I just consider it a total privilege to be able to live here and see it EVERY DAY.
Family trip to Napili Bay.
Some cool sea animals. A purple Wana and a baby Opihi. Opihi are the limpets on the rocks.
Peter took me out on a breakfast date last week to Mala in Lahaina. This was our view from the table. It was so beautiful.
On the way home from town yesterday, I pulled over at the pineapple fields and snapped this with my phone.
Here's a little update on what everyone is up to:
PETER - Peter is working his butt off. For whatever reason, the Four Seasons didn't help with a transfer (which is really hard to understand) but I am so incredibly thankful to the Westin Maui for rehiring him. He was rehired as a casual employee (no benefits) as a bell-valet (his old job). He pulled full time hours during Christmas and then it got slow so he has been helping out in accounting all week. I have enjoyed the Monday - Friday routine. They actually might have a position opening so I'm encouraging him - the set schedule would be so awesome! Peter has been playing with the kiddos and we've been enjoying beach time together.
MARIAH - I've been trying to be everything to everyone and there are not enough hours in the day. I have been enjoying walking with the kids to the school every morning and trying to get our house in order (there are still boxes and stuff to deal with). Been enjoying the time with the boys and just tripping out on how fast everyone is growing. ADORE beach time. I have to figure out how we can go even more. Just trying to find a balance between business and home.
RYENNE - She is so smart and so sweet. She has adapted incredibly well to her new class and has made two friends. One is a little boy named Iokepa and she says they hold hands on the playground (you shoulda seen Peter's face when I told him that!). She is a little fish at the beach - completely fearless. She is such a great helper. Her reading is coming along so nicely. She loves to read and is so proud of herself when she finishes the readers she's sent home with. This video is long and you don't have to watch the whole thing, but she wanted me to video her reading a book. (if you're getting this via email you have to click on the blog link to view the videos)
KAI - Kai Boy is speaking so clearly and is so smart. He asks daily why he can't go to Ryenne's school. So on the recommendation of a friend I checked out a preschool not far from us. It's adorable. He is going to start two days next week. There is no room in the 3's class so they're putting him in the 4's class. I know he's going to do great. I had to laugh because normally schools have a shoe requirement. This one requires all shoes to come off before you enter. So Hawaii :) He is nervous and excited. He is super snuggly and his imagination is incredible. He loves to sing and dance too. Here is a video of him singing and "playing" the ukulele.
CRUZ -This little man is growing like crazy. He is getting so, so big and all of a sudden he is repeating everything! His first word accomplishment was saying Ry Ry, and now he can also say Kai and Emmy. He LOVES to talk and he's all about his cars and trucks and trains. Anything with wheels actually. Like his sister he's totally fearless at the beach. He's like a little fish boy. He has graduated to a toddler bed as he was climbing out of his crib so it wasn't safe for him anymore. He is totally entering his terrible two's and starting to test boundaries. He knows that Kai is very sensitive so he walks up and punches or bites him - this is a big challenge for us right now. Here is a video of Cruz talking (the audio isn't quite synced right for some reason)
We are just loving being back home on Maui. Everytime I think, "Wow, this is SO EXPENSIVE!" all I have to do is look outside to understand why. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't say "THANK YOU" to the Universe for bringing us back home.
When I tell Ryenne I'm trying to catch up on work, she says it's ketchup :)
I was very blessed to have a really successful holiday season. But aside from the actual shoots, there is so much back-end work that I have to do that I have put all my own pictures and projects on the side. I haven't been super happy saying "NO" to fun things to the kids because I need to sit at the desk and edit. So I decided that I need to free up some of my time. I can't do EVERYTHING. So I'm sending sessions out for editing. I think I've found a wonderful company and I've sent out 4 sessions. I think this is going to change my entire workflow. And I won't have to play ketchup as much. :)
I remember saying goodbye to 2010 and it doesn't feel like it was very long ago. I remember thinking, "2011 has to be a better year..." and it was.
I think 2011 will be the year that I grew up. The year that I discovered my worth, my meaning, my love, my hopes, and my dreams.
I am so grateful for everything that happened to me in 2011. But mostly I'm thankful for the way that my marriage strengthened and Peter and I rediscovered each other and what we want for our family.
I'm thankful for the way my business grew in 2011. It took a mindset change in order for it to soar, and I'm so excited for 2012 to be my most successful year yet.
Though I am missing my parents something fierce, I am so thankful that Ry, Kai, and Cruz will get to grow up with the plethora of aunties, uncles, and their grandparents on Maui. The family support has been so incredible and such a blessing.
Happy New Year to you all. Whether you're part of my family, my dear friends, or just some readers stopping by. I love you all!
