A little slow...

Vintage pink roses in a Coca Cola cup. I picked these out of the yard - I love them.

Just got back from a really awesome night... Crystal is here. I don't know if I've ever mentioned her on the blog. But she's a HUGE part of my childhood. Such a giant influence on who I am. I haven't seen her in YEARS. She lived with us for a while throughout my life, but the most recent is in Kuau Cove when we lived next door to Mama's Fish House.

She took us out to dinner there tonight. It was amazing reminiscing and reconnecting. Such an incredible evening! 

Me and Pickle Boy. He looked all dapper dressed up.

Crystal and Nico

Me and Crystal

The waiter's picture wasn't in focus so we took this one ourselves. :)

Kai got to bring home is Chinese Lantern from preschool. It's hanging in the playroom. He was so proud of it. It's adorable!

The view out the window from Kai's school. Every morning they choose someone to have a job, and the "weather person" goes to the window and tells the kids what the weather is like outside.

Haven't posted nearly enough. These kiddos keep me so busy - and it's been a crazy photography week (which keeps me away from posting a bit).

It's been a really, really wonderful week though. Got some great phone snaps of things going on over here.

My love note from Ryenne *swoon*

Our Kula Onion that we need to plant

Ry modeling her outfit that my dear friend Susan sent. Thank you Susan for sending that awesome box of clothes for the monkeys and a gift card for a date night! I can't wait to use it! - now I'm wishing I had moved the darn vacuum out of this picture!

Me and happy boy Cruzito. He's such a smily little dude!

Kai on his way to preschool on Tuesday. He likes to wear his shoes on the wrong feet and his pants on backwards. He is talking very "matter of fact" lately. He says, "It's cool Mom!" and he says "1 + 2 = 1." and when I correct him, he looks at me like I'm crazy. 

Why do I cry?

Today we were cruising through Upcountry with sugarcane on both sides of the road. We were jamming to good music when I heard Ryenne's little voice from the back seat, "Mommy? Mommy? You know when it was my 5th birthday? Why did you cry?"

I can't believe she even remembered that.

Truth is, I cry on every birthday. She asked me to explain to her.

I told her that I cry on her birthday (and the boys') because I am happy and I am sad all at one time. "I cry because I'm sad that you're getting further and further away from being a tiny baby. Because even though you'll always be my baby, it's getting harder and harder to pick you up. I cry because I'm happy at what a beautiful girl you're turning into - how smart and sweet and caring. And it's my job as your mommy to make sure you grow up into a thoughtful, caring, loving person. And with each birthday, you get closer to being a grown up. It's a sad and happy thing all at the same time for mommy. Do you understand?"

"No, now turn up the music." she says. And there I was crying in the front seat.

Lovely & Crazy

There is construction going on on the Pali - the ocean road from Central Maui to West Maui. I had a photo shoot at Baby Beach, but we got stuck in the traffic. There was no way I was going to make it to Napili to drop off the kids and make it back to Lahaina in time.

I called my clients very embarrassed to ask to bring the kids along. They were a young family and said it would be just fine. I told the kids that I needed them to behave and not to go too deep into the water. I was nervous about Cruz because he just runs in without any thoughts at all.

When we got to the beach, Kai stripped naked faster than I could tell him not to and was a little brown blur darting about in his birthday suit. Cruz got frustrated trying to get naked and instead just jumped in the water with his shoes on. And Ryenne was swimming away before I even took off my slippers.

The photo shoot was a little chaotic but lots of fun. I kept an eye on the kiddos while maintaining some kind of professionalism (I hope).

The sunset was UNREAL. It was absolutely gorgeous. It just went on and on. I had to snap some of the kiddos even though I was there to photograph my clients.

Cruz running around in purple water

The three... Ry is off in the distance, Kai is nekkid, and Cruz is closest.

The incredible sunset. Believe it or not, this wasn't edited for color.

Shave Ice!

We took the kids on an Ululani's date over the weekend. It was such a fun treat. Ululani's has a punch card if you buy 10 shave ice you get one free. And our card was full so Peter got the giant one for free! Pretty awesome!

Cruz got his own and ate almost all of it!

Daddy's giant shave ice!

Ry and her rainbow straw

Kai is all about eating!

Better

Kai Boy is better today. Drinking and eating food again. And giving lots of "Nuggles". Thanks Peter for catching this shot of me and my Big Boy!

How could I forget?

Some of the biggest news of the weekend...

Cruz asked to go Poopy in the potty and then DID! :)

Interesting Weekend

This weekend was full of ups and downs. We were all excited to head to the West Side to meet Jadelyn, Pat and Lisa's new daughter. Ryenne, Kai, and Cruz were so excited to meet their cousin. Kai has already declared that he will always protect her. Pretty adorable.

Friday night Kai got pretty sick. Up all night throwing up and liquid poops. I think he might have gotten sick from a box of raisins but I'm not sure. I was exhausted. Poor Kai Boy!

Saturday he did much better. I did a newborn shoot for Jadelyn and had an afternoon photo shoot. Then at night Kai woke up sick again and I was up all night with him again. It is so hard to see him sick. He is the tiniest little boy. I tried to keep him hydrated with coconut water, coconut milk, water, and anything else I could get into him. It all mostly came out. :( He looks like a little skeleton right now. Like one of those ads for a third world country with the starving children. I had to have him in a diaper today - which he hated - because he couldn't control his bowels. It was hard to see him like that - because the diaper is loose on him and tight on Cruz. Fingers crossed that he'll do better tonight. I'm at a loss for what else I can do - shoot me an email if you have any ideas dagupionohana@gmail.com

Speaking of health... I have been in a rut lately. A sugar and carb induced rut. A horrible cycle of yucky. I admitted to myself that I'm an addict. I have an addiction to carbs and sugar and I have to have it and then feel like crap after I do. I did so well all year until I got back to Austin and then I was stressed and ate all the wrong things. It's been a hard cycle to break.

So a few days ago I read about a Paleo method of eating (think paleolithic) eating as our ancestors did long before we started eating grains of any kind. It inrigued me. High in meats, veggies, fats, seeds, some nuts, and some fruit. And some yogurt is ok too. I decided to give it a go. Started last night with an amazing spag sauce over shredded zucchini "noodles". All day today I stayed away from carbs - which is hard at my in-laws house - and I have to say I feel AMAZING. So full of energy and not carbed out. Looking forward to more tomorrow. Especially now that we've found a really awesome farm with amazing veggies and papayas. So I guess I'll write about it a bit and check in with how it's going. I'm sure I'll have moments when I just have to give in to that dang pancake or artisan bread - as a treat - but for now I'm just telling myself that I'm allergic. And according to the spare tire around my belly, I AM allergic.

I was going to stick around at my in-laws to watch the Grammy's. Especially after the passing of Whitney Houston yesterday - another famous person gone too soon. I really wanted to see that tribute and my Bruno Mars (didn't know I had a giant crush, didja?). But the kids were restless and nobody was home so I took them back to Makawao and we danced and ate dinner together. It was nice. Peter is going to try to find me a recording of the Grammy's so we can watch together tomorrow. If Kai is feeling better we're taking the kids out to dinner tomorrow night to celebrate Valentines Day as a family.

Overall it was a crazy, interesting weekend. I hope this week everyone is back to their healthful selves.

Cruzer Boy

Cruz needed a post all to himself. He is growing SO FAST. Faster than I can even believe. I am in denial that he's turning 2 next month!

He loves playing peekaboo. He loves hiding in blankets. He is so giggly. He loves to flirt. He is such a handsome little dude.

And unlike Kai, he is totally a Daddy's Boy.

Peter and Cruz have an incredibly close connection. I think because Cruz is the first of our babies that Peter really gave his 100% attention to. And it's a beautiful thing for me to watch these two together.

A little nose smush before Peter headed to work.

Chin kissing

Smell my feet, Daddy!!

Hugs before Daddy left for work

Today we're going to decorate Valentines Boxes while Peter is at work. Should be a fun, messy project!

Lovely

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!

Me and a little Monkey

GRRRRRR

What a day.

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.

Nana

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!

The Boys

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.

The Community Pool

This weekend was like a dream weekend.

Yesterday was beach day. The community pool as we call it. It couldn't have been more perfect!

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.

Playing ketchup

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. :)

Happy 2012 - Looking Back...

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!