Lonely Blog

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.