A Week In Kauai

Soon after Father's Day we left on a week long trip to our favorite Hawaiian island, Kauai. Josh and I had been there for our honeymoon thirteen years ago and vowed we would be back. We originally wanted to go for our 10th anniversary, life had other plans but we got to go this summer! We were glad to have taken the boys - all things considered it went really well! (the all things considered part is being a bit anxious how the toddler was going to do with plane riding/sleeping/time difference!) We had such a good time. We sat and tried to figure out what jobs we would all do in order to live there someday! Above anything else, if the boys were asked what their favorite part was - without a doubt, the BEACH.

Our trip in categories...

Sights

Beach

Luau and Plantation

 Not too many pictures at the luau as we got caught in downpours a few times!

Condo Fun

 Childrens shallow pool

 All the beach/outdoor supplies we could want

Bring us back to beautiful sunrises 

Vow Renewal

We had this in mind for our 10th wedding anniversary and it was fun to have some Hawaiian words and traditions mixed in with it.

Plant Life

Food

 Poke - I miss fresh fish!

 Ever have a snow cone as big as your head? 

 Pineapple martini

The juiciest pineapple

Our first red eye as a family went better than I imagined (despite delays and such too). The adjustment back to our time also wasn't bad - I was pleased that Preston settled right back to routine for the most part. 

We went to the beach just about everyday we were there. Such water kids. We're happy to be continuing to build memories for the kids to remember!

First Half Summatime

Already we have surpassed June into July - halfway through Summer! Actually, probably just past halfway since school will begin back up in about 2.5 weeks now. It has been what we thought - blink and you miss a lot! It has been a lot of fun so far.

We began with a few play dates at our house. Nate had his friend over and we had a pizza and pool party.

The boys went with daddy to a special kind of Cub Scout camp - their last time to go together before Nathan separates into a different group. They were away for three nights and rode horses, fished, did archery...basically spent four days outside up in northern AZ.

Nathan took a babysitting class. Bless his heart, the only guy in the room. I have begun letting him "babysit" off and on for short periods of time during Preston's nap. He's a very responsible guy, it has gone pretty well.

Nate also began a weekly magic class. At the end of July they will have a magic show.

The following week both the boys went to Vacation Bible School in the morning.

In the afternoons that week, Aaron went to a cooking class.

We had a low key Father's Day - we went to daddy's favorite restaurant for breakfast but otherwise had a hang out kind of day. Pretty good reason probably - two days later we left for Hawaii!

21 Month Comparison

Just because I like to see how the boys looked at the same age! ;) 

Answers : A- Nathan, B- Aaron, C - Preston 

Aaron Turned 7!

Only just a little over a week ago did Aaron turn 7. The actual day I got bagels for breakfast, we just had lunch at home and he wanted to order pizza for dinner. He got some gifts that day so he spent the day just wanting to play with them, and a movie around dinner time. Pretty low key!

The end of April we had a birthday party for him - so glad he was well this year for it. 

The kids jumped in a bounce house for a bit, did a science experiment and we had kids bring water guns for a little shootout (turns out not all the kids liked that idea). Aaron isn't much into cake so we decided on sno cones - it was perfect since it had begun to get warm out. He had a lot of fun with his friends and family. 

Now, some Aaron facts....

--One smart cookie. Is in accelerated Reading and Math. Scores so high especially on the Reading. Both kids like to read books when they go to bed, and I think they sometimes read for up to an hour.

--Social butterfly. Always talking about his friends at school and Cub Scouts.

--Enjoying Cub Scouts! This is his first "official" year. He has sort of tagged along past years with Nathan but now is truly allowed to fully partake. Only outside school activity. 

---Still is his Mama's Boy. The only one I think. Out of nowhere he likes to draw me pictures and notes. Rather, I should say he is my Cuddle Bug. 

--He has stayed pretty committed to enjoying art and cars! Now add to it Legos. 

--Wears his little heart on his sleeve. Very quick to get emotional. 

--Good luck seeing the floor in his room. He's very opposite his older brother in that way. Night and day. 

--Pickiest and bird eater out of the brothers. I'm glad he continues to grow okay because a lot of days I worry about what seems to be lack thereof appetite. 

--Has his first loose tooth! It has been loose a while and doesn't show signs of falling out anytime too soon. 

--Prefers to play outdoors! As usual. 

That about sums up my guy - my little middles is getting so old!

Spring

Kind of hard to recall Spring Break...other than to remember we were here, and soon after wards was Easter so it felt like there was no school all month!

Right around Easter Nathan had his First Communion! As opposed to when I was younger, I think it is left up to the parents when kids get their First Communion now. We've actually been asked about it the last few years but only decided Nathan was ready this year. 

Right before Easter I had a girls weekend in Sedona with my sister-in-law from New Mexico- it was heavenly! We stayed at a boutique type hotel that served breakfast, sat in the hot tub, hiked, ate out, enjoyed casual drinks and chatter...basically a mom's dream weekend.

I haven't been away on my own, without kids and such for a while so it was really relaxing. Good company doesn't hurt, either ! ;)

New Journey

The last few months I have still been busy trying to expand my writing possibilities. I've had a few opportunities but none of them have come to be. It has been a bit bumming, but I always try to come to the realization that I don't get those opportunities for a reason.

This past week, the reason came. While I still write for a local magazine and the East Valley Mom's Blog, I will be training for another kind of job - a sleep consultant. I have talked on here in the past about having used a sleep consultant to sleep train some of our kids (Aaron, Preston). I'm pretty familiar with methods and realized it too, could be a somewhat flexible job that I could do from home (continuing to be with Preston but yet earning a little on the side has been my focus as of late). Also, I think it would be good for me to have more purpose outside motherhood. Motherhood, while an important role, has been my only role for so long that I've been starting to yearn for more.

So, I was pleased that Preston's sleep consultant was looking to expand her business, and even nicer that she was willing for me to get trained first. I will have to complete a certification class. My main focus will be conducting workshops (that take place on my side of town) as well as in-home packages (if they take place on my side of town). I will also get some email/phone packages that clients choose. I'm excited, but a little nervous too. I'm hoping with my past experience I will catch on quick. I'm looking forward to helping other families the way sleep consultants have helped us! Oh and also learning in the process as I imagine I will continue to need advice as well ;)

I hope to be up and running in the next several weeks!

Boys Update!

Can't believe we're nearing the end of the school year! These guys have grown (mentally, literally!) Take a look :

Nate is finishing 4th grade. Next year he is hoping to play percussion in band.

The big news on the school front is that we will be moving schools - since Nathan started preschool we have gone to the same school, Hancock. It wasn't our home school but was still close and we have had good experiences there. The last several months, the boys have been talking about going to our home school that is in our development (mostly, they hope, so they can ride their bikes and walk to school). I have also wanted a bit of this change, as I have been checking out the school for a bit and have noticed all of the fun and different things they do that our current one does not. We've also   heard just as many good things about the school, so we don't feel like we're downgrading. One of the other benefits we discovered about moving was that both elementary schools will feed into the same junior high, so they should know more kids. It's still a bittersweet change. It's always kind of scary changing routine and then being around a lot of new people! I went to the school' s last PTO meeting and gave an on the spot nomination speech to be part of the board next year. It was an easy way to keep in the know and also go into the year with some mom friends!

Will write more about Aaron in another post! He just had his birthday and thankfully this year, a birthday party. No sickness this year!

Preston is a very big boy now. He definitely looks two! He is very tall and sturdy. More words. Just had his first dentist visit and has his first molar coming in! Becoming more independent by the day, too. He's starting to play some on his own. But, much like a toddler he is into EVERYTHING. Taking things down, wiping tables clean. It's no wonder this mama is tired on the daily. He has the terrible two tantrums.

We are gearing up for a busier Summer. In fact, perhaps our busiest Summer yet. I don't know that we have ever (with the kids) taken a big Summer vacation before but we are this year. The boys are enrolled in a few classes and camps. The boys are also going to a Cub Scout camp with daddy. In a way, I'm kind of looking forward to it being pretty busy!

18 Month Comparison

I guess technically Preston doesn't turn 18 months until next month, but here are some early shots of how the brothers compare to each other !

The more I look at these, the more I think they're all the same person!
A- Preston
B- Nathan
C- Aaron

Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan!

Ten years. Ten years ago I started this blog when our first son was born. I just can't believe he is TEN! Double digits. I still remember so many baby memories (as you maybe especially do with the first, experiencing parenthood for the first time?) He hated the car. I just prayed I could get through the Starbucks drive thru. I remember inhaling food like all of the time, trying to get something in my stomach before he would start to fuss. 

Now this guy is in 4th grade, is very responsible, follows rules to a T (thank goodness, such a relief), enjoys traveling, wants to be an airline pilot when he grows up so he's fascinated with learning about airplanes right now. He enjoys reading chapter books (currently he is reading the Diary of Wimpy Kid books), still likes to play outside and play with his brothers! He's very good at telling me or watching to be sure Preston isn't getting into trouble. (Generally he's good at watching both of his brothers in that regard!) He has been on the Honor Roll at school all year long. Still enjoys kid food the most :p He is up to my shoulders now in height! I pretty much treasure any hugs or snuggles he gives me because they are fewer and far between nowadays. He doesn't like to smile for pictures, or really have his pictures taken much anymore. Ugh. In general, I can just tell he's moving more towards being a tween! :( I can't even believe I just said that. He was a toddler just like his young brother only a minute ago I swear. 

For his birthday, Nathan wanted to get family and friends together to golf. We had a little party the day before his actual birthday.

 With his friends Riley, Mons and Ben

The actual day of his birthday he asked for donuts for breakfast. He wanted to attend Sunday School yet that day because he knew it would be kind of a bonus day - he would get something for his birthday AND Valentine's Day. After that, he used some money he got and bought something for himself at Target. He proceeded to play with it that afternoon for a while before going on a bike ride. That evening, we went out to his favorite pizzeria for dinner. The boys played some more and he ordered something online using more of his money, and that was pretty much the day! 

Happy 10th Birthday, Nathan!