Whirlwind November

November has been a crazy month! I've been working like a madwoman - I have the flat butt to prove it - lots of editing at the computer and TONS of sessions. So grateful for it all. Have put on a little weight this month and I'm really anxious to start working on that and committing more time for my own health - this "rush rush" mentality is not good for me.

I've been trying to take breaks from working at my desk to snuggle the kids on the couch, hang outside, ect.

Squashy, the giant squash. He was a good horse for a couple days.

Kai is obsessed with our new shovel. He loves to dig in the back yard to look for bugs. He's ready for school and I was trying to herd them when I found him in the backyard - his happy place. The whole backyard is covered in such pretty greens I can't bring myself to cut it yet. It looks straight out of a fairy book.

I was asked by UH Maui to come speak to students about photography as a career option. That was pretty cool! About 10 students showed up and had all kinds of questions for me. Tons of fun.

So with all this business, we hadn't made it to the beach in a while. Sunday we went out to Baby Beach, Lahaina - one of our favorite spots for some much needed beach time!

That salt water was just what we needed!!

Earlier this year I had a client hire me for a photo shoot in Kona for a family reunion. They paid for my airfare, but I thought it would be fun to bring the whole family along as the kids have never been to the Big Island. I should have booked a longer stay - we were there for less than 48 hours - but they still had tons of fun.

We took Mokulele Airlines, a little puddle jumper of a plane. Kai was VERY afraid at first and then he loved it. Ryenne and Cruz were champs all the way.

Sugar in Upcountry/Central Maui

Peter's hotel is right down there!

Ryenne has expressed interest in being an airplane pilot and it was very cool that one of our pilots was a woman! Ry got to meet her and get a picture with her. She told Ryenne that it's a really awesome job.

By the time we got the car and got to our hotel in Waikoloa, it was dark already and the kids were hungry. So we did what any family without a chain restaurant does - we went to Macaroni Grill! haha - everyone slept good and we were up the next day to go to Hapuna Beach to play. After the change in scenery, Kai regressed and I should have expected it. You can see he has his hands in his mouth. When this happens, he is having regression issues and it's best to let him adjust to his surroundings.

Took him about 30 minutes by himself to realize he was okay and he joined us in playing.

I wish I had brought our underwater housing because the water was crystal clear! Peter got a couple cute shots of the kids so I'll have to get those from him. While I was doing my photo shoot that evening, he and the kids got to play on the beach until it was dark.

Next time I think we'll try Hilo side so we can go to the volcano. I am really excited to share the other islands with the kids. Our next trip will be to Oahu in May for Aunty Jean's graduation from UH.

The flight back to Maui left at 6:30am and we were up at 4:30 to get everyone up and out to the airport. The kids were troopers and we dropped them off at school when we got back to Maui.

Oh funny story... this is so MAUI. Peter's car needed a safety and two new front tires. He was calling around for prices and he called Goodyear and said he'd bring the car in on Friday since we were leaving for Kona. They said, "Oh! Why don't you just bring in the car, we'll take you to the airport, and you don't have to pay airport parking." So that's what we did! And they came at 7am and picked us up too! How island style is that... pretty awesome.

We had a great Thanksgiving this morning with Uncle Koa and Aunty Kau'i - we went to a brunch at Maui Tropical Plantation. Peter is off to work as is Koa so it was perfect timing. I'm in a food coma and will be heading to Napili in just a bit.

Happy Turkey Day all!

Back Yard Wonderland

We've lived in our house for a month! I promise I won't write this every month (probably at a year!) but it's pretty cool to think how much we feel at home here from the very first day.

The kids are settled into their routines (and let me stress how important routines are!). I feel good knowing that I can tell the kids to go play outside and can feel safe with them playing in our yard. We had some rain recently and the entire backyard is green. I was cooking some really awesome beef stew yesterday and the kids were driving me nuts. So I told them to get the shovel and go play in the backyard. They decided to hunt for beetles and I could hear all the giggles going on. I decided to sneak down for some pictures of them being kids. I want them to remember these moments - of playing outside together as the magic light filters through the clouds. Then coming inside to some homemade food and bubble baths.

This is the magic light that is in our backyard. It's so beautiful!

Doctor's Orders

Last Wednesday was an epic trip to the doctors office for the family. Our Kaiser medical kicked in on the 1st (thank goodness!) so me, Ryenne, and Kai piled in for our annuals.

I have to say, Dr. Williams at Kaiser in the Peds office is fantastic. She listened to me about Kai and recommended he not receive shots (wouldn't have let him anyway but it was nice to know the doc agreed with me!). Kai is a small boy but growing just as he should - no surprises there.

Ryenne had blood tests and her cholesterol is borderline high. Dr. Williams talked to Ry about including more veggies in her diet (she always flat out refuses when I cook) and so since Dr. Williams said "Doctors Orders!" Ry has been FANTASTIC about eating her greens! She has even been eating a side salad with each meal (aside from breakfast) AND came a took a swig of my green juice. She proudly exclaims, "Doctors Orders!" I am so proud of her!

Now that we're getting settled in, I am playing around with cooking again. I kind of lost the desire to cook while I was stressing out and now that things have calmed, I'm back at it in the kitchen. Still miss my gas stove. But... lots of yummy things have been made - shortribs, meatloaf packed with veggies, even got the kids to eat pad thai with salads for dinner last night.

I'm trying to change my habit of asking the kids, "Should we have this or this?" and instead just making what I want to make. If they're hungry, they'll eat it. Kind of excited that this new mentality gives me more freedom and the kids will have to taste more things.

I'm reading the book The Honest Life by Jessica Alba - totally enjoying it. That "Honest" true to you lifestyle is just the way I strive to live. So lots of things in the book I'm just nodding my head YES!

Green Juice Mustasche

The Power of Gratitude

When we moved in, we had no screens on any of the windows. The old frames were all under the house and we knew that we wanted to do the screens justice with the age of the house. We saved, knowing that screens were one of the best gifts we could have for Christmas because Kai has already been stung by a bee that flew into the house, along with moths, geckos, and flies.

We finally had the money saved and our dear friend, Billy, who owns Aloha Screen Doors gave us a really fantastic deal to re-do the original screens. He delivered them today and he and Peter put them up all the way around the house.

Not only that.... but in yesterdays mail was a surprise house-warming gift from someone I love dearly (don't know if she wants to be named publicly) who just saved our Christmas.

So I'm feeling pretty overjoyed and overpowered with gratitude and thankfulness!!

The Electritater

Oh Cruz.... you're so adorable. We don't have screens on any windows yet so when he's playing he drops cars outside. I went out to get his car and this adorable face was looking back at me.

He really wants to go to preschool but I need a couple months to level out our spending (ie: get screens up, buy Christmas gifts, ect) and then I'll be able to enroll him.

When I'm at the computer for too long, he said, "Mommy I wanna nuggle you in your bed." which means he wants snuggles and tickles. Today while I was tickling him he held out his finger and said, "I'm the Electritater" and proceeded to zap me with his finger. It was hilarious!

Pizza Date

We took the kids out to breakfast this morning with Peter and of course I took NO pictures - bad mama. Been working all day on putting away boxes and trying to organize. Peter put up the new toilet paper holder and helped with boxes then headed to work. Before I knew it, it was 5pm and the kids were hungry. I was tired. So decided to take a walk downtown for Pizza. The place was really good and the owner was so nice. Kids had a ball. The sky was on fire on the walk back. Totally diggin this "urban" setting.

Halloween 2013

Halloween was fun!!!

It started on Wednesday when Uncle Nico and Aunty Abra picked up Ryenne to take her to see Ghostbusters at the Iao Theater. She had SO MUCH FUN and said she wasn't even scared. She is getting so big!

Halloween day Ry and Kai got to wear their costumes to school - they thought that was so fun. It's been early release all week (1pm) so after school they were very antsy to go out trick or treating.

Like last year, we decided to go to the mall because it's safe, they don't have to hold our hands too much, and there were a lot of stores participating this year.

Ry was an angel, both of the boys were power rangers, I was princess Ariel on her wedding day, and Peter was a Mama's Fish House valet (LOL).

The wig was SO MUCH FUN.

Making it even more fun, our friends Noah, Dominic and Luke came with us (Noah was also a valet) and we went store to store. Then we all had dinner at Ruby's.

Yesterday was Peter's 38th birthday. It was low-key and so nice he was off. Marissa and Eugene came down for Wailuku 1st Friday with us and we ate yummy food and got to hang out. Hard to believe he's 38, huh? Dude doesn't age!

Pumpkin Patch

It's pumpkin patch time all over the US and Maui is no different. Kula Country Farms transforms themselves into the biggest patch on the island (aside from the grocery store!). We had been wanting to take the kids but with the move the timing wasn't right. So of course we go on the last weekend and it was crazy! Two police officers helping traffic and parking all the way past Rice Park. The kids were actually not being very good listeners but we braved the crowd anyway and scored a couple cute pumpkins for our pumpkins.

Afternoon Bike Ride

This was hanging at the entrance to the Pukalani Pool. The kids just started their next round of swimming lessons. Ry and Kai are doing great - Cruz not so much.

Nothing like the feeling of finder killer turquoise shades for $12 at the gas station right after your other cheapies break!

The boys have wood that they haul out to the street every day to make a ramp. This is our little street. Cruz totally huli'd right after this.

Riding down Vineyard on a Saturday afternoon.

This is a really cool side road that has a loop. It's perfect for riding bikes and walking the dogs.

We went out right at sunset - the light was gorgeous.

We are right above Happy Valley. It's super voggy right now.

The back part of the loop.

Ready, Set, Go!!!

There are so many old buildings and homes around here. It would be really fun to document them, especially because many are in really severe disrepair and won't be around much longer. One building down the street as the entire back-side missing and you can see all the various rooms exposed. It's interesting to think that these were areas that people lived and somehow just let it go... 

Let the healing begin...

I had a really wonderful conversation with my mom yesterday. My body has taken a beating with the move and the stress involved with our last housing situation. I haven't addressed it much here because I was still living in Makawao.

Our issues really stem back toward the Spring and it only got worse through the summer. To the point that I was nervous playing outside with the kids, felt like I was walking on eggshells, and even felt my conversations were being overheard. In essence, the place that was supposed to be my refuge was actually more of a prison and I had to serve my time to get out. I think I bottled up every feeling that I had and it manifested in hand and eye tremors, additional migraines, and speech issues over the last few months. I will be going to get a physical next month - just to make sure I'm all good - but now as I put each item away in my new house I'm feeling more and more the release that I needed. This is OUR space. This is my sanctuary.

I need to let go of the poison that was surrounding me. I think it was even more then I realized because I have been an emotional mess. I'm having a hard time sorting through it and I think I need to make an appointment for an infrared sauna time at Spa Luna because I need to sweat out the toxins that have built up over the last few months.

It all came to a head yesterday - October 25 - the day I turned in the keys. I shut the door to the house, put both hands and arms on the door frame, thanked the house for the last 2 years, said a prayer for the next family - and I said goodbye to the house Emi came up to yell at me screaming that I am never welcome back. Tears streaming down my face I said I cannot talk to her, walked to my car, and drove away. It's amazing to me how emotions can physically alter the body. Tremors, shaking, crying.... I feel like they've been daily occurrences lately. I wish I wasn't so sensitive to the way that others' feel about me. I have always been stricken with that need to please all around me. I need to work on that because I need to make sure that I am ok first before I can help anyone else. Talk about a life lesson!

Our Wailuku house was just tented and is now termite free. I can find a home for all of our things and organize. I wish I was a little more OCD about organization and cleaning.

Going to make myself some coffee, eat a little lunch, and then take the monkeys to swimming lessons.

Let the healing begin... let my soul release the hurt and fear inside.

And... we're in Wailuku!

Oh my gosh it's been a crazy few days.

Early in the week Peter and I cleared out old carpeting and Peter laid out the new vinyl planks. They are the best looking vinyl planks I ever seen - I am SO STOKED with them. They look so much like real wood! Monday through Weds we've been down in Wailuku every morning working and cleaning. The house was SO DIRTY. I actually haven't cleared the lower kitchen cabinets yet because they're so nasty. Anyway... 

Our lease in Makawao ends on 10/31 but our landlady wanted us out ASAP and honestly, I want to move on quickly as well. I couldn't wait another week for Peter to be off so we scheduled the move for Thurs/Fri. Thursday we cleared out as much as we possibly could - ghetto moving with all our stuff in rubbish bags - then on Friday Island Movers came for the big stuff.

Now let me just write a little bit about Island Movers. We used them in 2008 when we moved to Texas and they made that move quite easy on us. Hired them again just to move the big stuff for this time and they were so awesome. They finished in half the time estimated and the final bill was less than half quoted. We tipped our guys and the supervisor of the three called me and left me the sweetest message that he was going to use the money to buy something for his son and he was short just that amount but now he could go buy it. Man oh man that made my day!!

Friday was the kids last day at Makawao El and we picked them up and brought them to the new house for some good old fashioned camping in the house. Seriously... just like camping with a roof. Saturday we headed back up to Makawao to clear out the rest of the kitchen, pantry, and small stuff. Marissa and Eugene watched the kids while Pat, Peter, and me went back and forth. Now did I mention that I also had photo shoots on Thurs, Fri, AND Sat. Holy bananas was that crazy!

Saturday right as I was leaving the beach I stepped on a bee and my foot promptly swelled up to football size - Benadryl didn't help. So today - Sunday - I was supposed to go to Makawao to clean but I just couldn't. Instead, I hauled in rubbish bag by rubbish bag and put away most of the kitchen items and pantry items. It's amazing to find out how much you have when you move. Things are hidden everywhere!

I also have to mention that Peter was amazing on this move. We have moved a lot. And every time (except this one) he has been a whiny pill (true story - he'll admit it). This move he's been like superman. Especially with my swollen foot - he asked me today everything he could do before going to work. Maybe it's cause this is our last move?

And now the house... we are in love. Aside from having barely any electrical outlets (computer is on an extension chord as I type) and those that do work can only have one device on (don't even try to listen to the radio and turn on the light!) - we are really enjoying all the character of the house. The big pantry, the back room (which I've learned was the sewing room originally), the old doors, classic windows, awesome yard... and the kids have pretty much taken over the street riding bikes. I am sure all the oldies in the neighborhood are just rolling their eyes. So far we've met many of the neighbors. Aside from the couple homes that have kids, most have been here a long time. One old woman walks everywhere and she definitely has some dementia because she introduces herself just about every day. Another right next to us lives alone in an adorable house and said she moved there in 1945 after she was married and she had a dress shop in the garage. She now does origami and said her name is Tomiko but insisted I call her Helen. She invited us in and gave me origami to give to the kids - said she hopes we never move cause she likes to hear the kids play.

Ironically, next door to us is a vacant plantation house - and this is a funny story because maybe a year ago it was for sale. I remember I even emailed the MLS listing to my mom saying, "Oh if only!" and I pinned it to my Pinterest board. And now here we are.... in the house next door and it's ours! Isn't that just a bit of destiny or what?

So all is good. Glad I got the cooking supplies in today because takeout is expensive. Nothing like feeling you're hemorrhaging money! Thankful the first mortgage payment isn't until December 1 so I can put some money into the electrical repairs that are needed now (more like yesterday) - shout out to my Pops for helping with that too. Also wanted everyone to know that I do realize electrical is important. Also went out and bought the 10 year lithium smoke detectors too!

Oh and the INTERNET! OH MY GOSH. There is life changing internet in Wailuku. It took me nearly 6 hours to upload a photo session in Makawao. 15 minutes in Wailuku! Game changer! 

Sorry no pictures in this post. My desk is barely set up - everything is in one of the bags/boxes laying around here. They'll come soon!

Here we go...

Three little monkeys on the front stoop

Silly kids!

Lots of glue on the top of the vinyl we found in the dining room area. We are thinking of cleaning it up really nice and leaving it.

Original flooring in the living room. Painted the traditional "Baldwin Brown" that most plantation homes had. I was told that Mrs. Baldwin was in charge of choosing paint colors and she chose brown and red for most homes.

Here we are right after carpet demo.

Met our neighbor across the street - he's lived there for 20 years. Another neighbor across the street has three kids, ages 7, 5, and 2! And another neighbor at the end of the street has an 8 year old little girl. The kids are stoked!

I'm sure there will be a lot of projects that come up and my head is spinning with ideas but we'll take it one project at a time as we can afford it. It will be nice to save for a project and then pay cash to accomplish it. I did order some new kitchen cabinets for the lower cabinets. They'll be here in about 12 weeks and I came in $1,000 under budget! WooHoo!