The Flu

The last time I was this sick was in December when we were moving into our house and Peter wasn't here yet.

This time around, all five of us got the flu. Not the stomach flu, but it was something awful. Peter had to call in sick to work for three days. This wasn't the "family time" we had envisioned for the summer.

But in the midst of feeling awful, having crazy body aches, and intense headaches while barely being able to breathe, I can say that I am thankful for a few things.

1) I'm thankful for Peter. Because we were both feeling awful and totally teamed up to get through this with the kiddos.
2) Cold medicine. For which children fell asleep and in turn we could actually get some sleep.
3) Snuggles. Because I got to hold each child and really "see" them. Take in each little feature on their face, stroke their hair, comfort, and love on each one.
4) Raw shea butter, which has been slathered all over my poor, raw nose.

Sick kiddos on the sofa bed. We had to tie Cruz's bangs up because he was rubbing snot all over his hair.

Ryenne and I made these pom-poms for their room.

Today we actually went outside on the porch to start a summer gardening project. We're going to track the growth of our seeds. We have two kinds of kale, sugar snap peas, and tomatoes. Our recycling goes out on the porch and since we've been sick, haven't taken it to the recycling center so it's kinda piled up.

Them. Snotty noses and all.

Kai is smiling today!! We discovered Hazelnut milk at Mana Foods. It's amazing. Adding it to our almond milk, coconut milk repertoire. No more dairy milk.

Sweet Cruz passed out on my bed.

Hopefully tomorrow we'll be closer to feeling 100%. The big kids were supposed to start gymnastics this week - bummed they couldn't go.

On a positive note, discovered my favorite meat place, US Wellness Meats, stocks beef cheek. Do you know what this means????? I can make barbacoa! I can't find barbacoa ANYWHERE on Maui. So once the tastebuds can taste again some barbacoa tacos are in order.

Friday and Saturday and Sunday

Friday was the graduation and Aloha Party at Kai's preschool.

It was absolutely adorable. Here is a video of one of the songs that kids sung by Frank DeLima - "Small Opihi"

Kai is in the front toward the right wearing brown shorts, a white shirt, and a yellow hat. "Please don't eat me... I just one small opihi..." super catchy.

Sitting on stage playing with his shorts.

Then he got a little "diploma" since he was in the graduating 4 year old class - even though he'll be back next year for the 4 year old class again.

All over the auditorium they had little drawings that the kids had made and "passports" in folders. The teachers wrote down exactly what the kids said. Here's Kai's:

Little dude needs to learn his birthday! haha It's October 1st! 

Saturday was a full day. I had a wedding in the afternoon but took the morning to clean the kids room and the play room. Both rooms were a disaster that I had been avoiding. DONE! Two GIANT bags of toys and outgrown clothes (Ryenne) went to Savers.

Cruz and Ryenne in the cleaned Play room!

Kai showing off his bed.

Now it's Sunday and Kai, Cruz, and Peter have caught the flu from Papa and Landon. I got a migraine today so it was just "lovely" (insert sarcasm). It's been rainy and cold in Makawao all day - kinda perfect for taking out the sofabed and lounging on pillows in the blankets.

Last day of school

The last day of school... remember what that felt like? I remember being so excited to sleep in.

First, a look back at Ry at her first day of kindergarten last year in Austin:

First day of kindergarten last August 

And here she is this morning - her last day as a Kindergartener.

A confident reader! (don't mind the curtain rods in the background... hehe)

Ry and Kai on their last day of school

Here are the boys on their first day of school last September.

Kai knows how to show shaka! His last day of preschool

Kai Boy and his teacher, Miss Lynn

Ryenne's Kindergarten Class

Ry loves her teacher, Mr. Costa

Ry had a very rough day today. She really enjoyed having Mr. Costa as her teacher. He really is extraordinary with all these youngsters. He will be retiring from being a full time teacher and will be a substitute teacher next year. Ryenne cried all the way home. In just a couple short months I'll have a first grader!

Seabury Craft Fair

A couple weeks ago Seabury had their annual craft fair. Seabury is a very prestigious school on Maui and their craft fair is a huge event.

That particular day, I had two weddings in the morning and I jetted back to Makawao with Ryenne so that I could photograph Auntie Emi's booth and take Ry to see the horses.

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS day. Emi was totally glowing - her booth looked fantastic. Ry got to model some hats for customers.

Hugging the mini horses in the petting area

$6 per minute horse ride (she was mad I didn't have enough for 2 minutes)

The end of her minute ride

Beautiful upcountry Maui

Snagged this shot of Nana with Jadelyn in Napili... so cute!

Outside with Kai

While Ry was in school and Cruz was resting, me and Kai headed outside to check out some butterflies.

For the past month, these strange plants had appeared all over our garden. The leaves were too pretty to be a weed, so I let them grow with no idea what they were. One of them is getting really tall. This morning it had little buds on it and I was excited to see what would happen. When Kai and I went outside, it had bloomed! The plants all over the garden are Gladiolus!!

Kai was in an extra smiley mood while we checked out a white butterfly that was fluttering around.

And then we spotted THIS GUY!!!

And here is Kai cautiously checking him out...

We went to pick up Ry from school. Tomorrow is the last day. Looking forward to taking these monkeys to the beach more often!

Kai and regression updates

Kai waiting for Emmy dog to come kiss him

It's so hard when you think you have something under control - and then you don't.

Ever since our food poisoning episode last week, Kai has been having issues with regression. And it's presenting itself in two ways.

I knew something was happening when he started drooling and shoving his hands in his mouth. This was sign #1 for me when he was younger that something was up. It's starting to subside, but this is really was triggered me to kick it into gear with helping him detox.

The other thing he's doing, and this is really normal, is he loses it when he's tired. Like his brain shuts off and he just FREAKS OUT in the biggest tantrums ever. And it's usually over practically nothing. Sometimes he'll shove his hands in his mouth and make himself vomit during this tantrum. Over the weekend, Peter's brother Patrick really helped me out during a big tantrum (THANK YOU PATRICK). I'm finding that the best way to get through this is redirection. He had a tantrum on the front porch (I think about putting on slippers) and I picked him up and sat him on our chest freezer while he was freaking out and said calmly, "Hey Kai. Can you look at my eyes? What color are they?" and he stopped and looked at me and his face completely changed. It was wild. And we started having a conversation about eyes as if the tantrum never even happened.

Now this other thing he's doing is new to me and it scares me and I'm not sure what to do about it. Sometimes his face will morph into a Kai I don't know and he says really mean things. He will walk right up to me and say things like, "Mommy I hate you." or he'll tell Ry or Cruz, "I want to smash your face against a wall." and he's very serious and dark. I'm not sure what to do about this because normally he's a very loving, super mommy's boy type of kid. I don't like this mean spirited person that has started coming out.

So what am I doing? Well... I'm really trying to watch his diet a lot. He is a huge fruit and carb eater, but I have him on some really wholesome bread instead of cereal and I've started giving him some whey protein in his chocolate almond milk to help with the lack of protein in his diet. He just doesn't like meat. I've been putting all the kids to bed earlier so they can get a good amount of rest. None of us are eating much dairy anymore... just a bit of cheese here and there. I think these things are helping.

If anyone reading has any ideas, please send 'em over. He is getting better - improving every single day - I just didn't realize I'd be facing some of these issues with him again. It just goes to show how sensitive our bodies can be.

And while I'm on the subject, a big huge thank you to Peter. The old Peter would have been frustrated with Kai and pinched and spanked during a tantrum. The new Peter has been so incredibly patient toward Kai's needs and so helpful. I love you babe!

Star Student of the Month!!!

Ryenne was Star Student of the Month for Kindergarten!! Way to go baby girl! I asked her what she wanted for her special dinner and she said STEAK! So Steak it is!!!

Found a little gem

Found this image of Peter and had to laugh at how similar Kai Boy looks to him. I wish Peter were smiling more in his picture! They even have the same shirt on!!!

Take me to the beach!

A mid-week food poisoning episode shut us down for a couple days.  I got super behind on work and me and the kids were just feeling awful. We couldn't wait for the weekend! Kai Boy is having the most effects... he is regressing which kills me. He is drooling and shoving his hands in his mouth, especially when he's tired. I am trying to fill him with really good nutrition and hoping that this will pass quickly.

Friday Peter and I decided to try to do our workout together. We parked the car right next to our Crossfit workout area and put on a movie and the kids did great. It was really nice to get to workout with him!

Press 55 pounds

We headed to Napili for the weekend. Peter worked an overnight shift on Friday night and then was off on Saturday. We left the kids with Grandma and Papa and hit up Costco. It was kinda funny that our grocery store trip sans kids turned into a date. It was so nice to cruise with Peter without fighting kids in the car.

Sunday Peter started a management training program at the Westin. I think it lasts for a bit. His manager saw that the hotel was getting very slow and hours were going to be cut, so he asked Peter to interview for this program. Basically it's guaranteed hours while the hotel is slow. THANK YOU WESTIN! Peter is 8am to 4pm this week and dressed up all dapper in Aloha shirts and slacks with nice shoes. Handsome! At the end of this program, I have a feeling they are going to ask him to consider a management position. They are short on managers - and initially this would be a pay-cut, but it would be guaranteed hours. We'll see how this pans out.

While Peter was working, I needed to get my butt to the beach. I needed some salt air therapy. Kai Boy opted to head to a party with Grandma and Papa so I took Ry and Cruz to Napili Bay.

I love this image of my nekkid little man.

I ask for a smile and this is what I get... hahahaha

Digging in the sand.

It was actually kinda a stormy day, we got rained on a couple of times, but the kids didn't mind at all. We dug some holes, played in the pools, and jumped over waves.

I am loving how the kids know this beach so well. It's like their "home beach". I know they'll have so many memories of this special place, like I have so many memories of playing in Kuau Cove.

After beach time we rested a little and then picked up Peter from work and picked up Kai from the party in Lahaina and went and had shave ice in Lahaina. Ry wanted rainbow and Kai insisted that every color be some form of orange in his. Cruz shared a giant one with me and Peter. It was so good. We left the West Side as the sun was setting. It was a beautiful weekend!

Tears

On Monday I had a late night out shooting a portrait session on the West side. Didn't get home until dark and was pooped. I came in the door and the kids all jumped on me and needed only mommy to do certain things for them.

I sat on the couch to catch my breath and put things away when Ryenne brought me a beautiful journal covered in handmade paper with elephants on it.

Inside was a note from Peter - handwritten and heartfelt - along with drawings from each of the kids. This book starts a new household tradition. I am so excited to see what is written in this book over the coming years. It brought me to tears.

Classic

Garden Magic

Our garden takes on a really, really amazing light in the evening. Love this big girl!!

I shouldn't have even logged into Facebook today.

Peter worked an overnight shift last night and another one tonight. It's hardly a family day. I felt pangs of jealousy as I saw friends on Facebook post pictures of their cards and flowers and "spa day" gifts and breakfast in bed delivered by smiling husbands and kids. I watched my mother in law and Pat's girlfriend receive cards and flowers. I felt sad that my one thing related to Mother's Day was a text message from my husband saying, "Happy Mother's Day".

I had planted the seed a few weeks ago that the thing I wanted more than anything was a blank journal to start a new tradition. A tradition where there would never be any guesses as to what to get mommy for any holidays. All I want is a note or a picture from my kids in this book, whenever they feel like doing so, so that years from now I have a place to reflect upon their little notes, songs, and pictures. My dream is to have volumes of these books. I was really hoping to receive one today. But it just didn't happen.

I actually asked Ryenne why she didn't draw me a picture or make a card and her reply was, "Mom, if you wanted a card you should have bought yourself one." *sigh*... I kind of felt like this was turning into quite the shitty day.

Today I have delt with screaming children, had sand thrown in my face, delt with pushing and fights, and also heard those words that I'm fortunate enough to hear everyday - "I love you".

And though I was briefly sucked into the world of things and had pangs of jealousy over things that other moms received today, I sit and realize that I am extremely fortunate. Every day is a gift and I am honored to call these little crazy people my Littles. The truth is, I am gifted every single day.

Eye Color

Lunch today!!

Whenever the song, "Brown Eyed Girl" comes on, I think about how my mom always sang me that song and we'd sing the "sha-la-la-la" part together. Even on my original drivers license, it said my eyes were brown. And they've always had a green undertone to them, but the older I get, the less brown they are. And now to a point that the brown is almost completely gone and my eyes are nothing but green (which I am not complaining about by the way!). Has anyone else out there had their eye color change completely?

Princess

Peter took the boys and the dog to Napili yesterday so I could workout and get some work done (good man).

Last night as the sun was setting, I took Ry outside for a photo shoot. We were thinking of using these as her 6 year old shots (we're a month early) but I don't know if I can hold onto them for that long.

And she was stoked she got to wear makeup. It was so fun putting it on her.

Without further ado... a sneak peek at my beautiful, smart Princess!

Wearing a hat by Emi Azeka

Sunday Beach Day

My three babies and nephew at the beach

Ryenne loves to swim!

Kai doesn't have fears of the water anymore - yay!

Cruz adores the beach

SPLASH!

I love this shot of her!!

Ryenne and Landon bodyboarding a wave

Pat and Jadelyn. It was Jade's first time to the beach!

Lens had water on it... sorry. Cruz getting buried by Uncle Pat

He liked being buried. Wish I had noticed the water on the lens!