Christmas with the Family

James, Joseph, and Joey watching some television.

Nana and Great Nana

 

Uncle Aaron and Aunt Amanda playing around in the snow.

Here's Poppy playing with his new camera.

Enjoying the Season

One thing that does make me sad about living in Hawaii is that we don't get to see different seasons.  It's usually mid-80's with trade winds year round.  In the "winter" months, it may get down to the low 70's with rain.  In the summer it may get as hot as the low 90's.  Here in Minnesota, the winters are almost always white.  Here are Joey and Joseph enjoying the best of the season!

Snow Day

I'd really like to be a student or teacher in Minnesota about now.  The snow was SO abundant that there were hardly any schools that were open!  Today was actually quite warm; it was about 20 degrees!  Of course now it is about 6 degrees but we're not outside now.  Here are pictures of Daddy and Joseph putting their warm clothes on.

Joseph was a little (okay a LOT) apprehensive about this white, cold substance that was everywhere.  He didn't want to walk on it, touch it, kick it, or even look at it!  When we got the sled out, however, it was a different story!  He really wanted to "drive" the sled.  We went up and down the driveway and it was a ton of fun!

Cookies Galore

Nana and Great Nana made cookies for Joseph to decorate.  He had a great time!  He loves the red and green glitter the most.  He watched them being pushed out through the spritz machine and thought they looked like play-doh!  Hopefully he won't try to eat the play-doh at school!

My Peeps

I'd just like to give a shout out to my KMS peeps!  I love you always, Catalina, Brenda, and Roy!  I don't know how you folks put up with me!  We went to the Hawaii Plantation Villages in Waipahu.  I'm always stressed out when I organize field trips.  Last time there wasn't enough room on the buses for all of the kids... my fault.  This time out bus driver couldn't get the the museum because of blocked roads.  Next time, who knows...

Update on the Peas

The peas are lookin' really nice!  I'm excited about having them for dinner!  Too bad we've left them all alone to go to Minnesota.  I thought I'd show them here before they die so I have evidence that they, at one time, were alive!

Lucky Us

We went to visit Santa Claus at the Navy Exchange before our flight out to Minnesota.  I didn't know what to expect since we haven't ever seen him in real life.  Joseph wasn't too afraid.  He actually sat next to him and told him that he wanted an airplane.  It was so cute I had to fight back the tears!  I feel so fortunate that we can afford to buy Joseph presents for Christmas.  It makes me think about other families who aren't as lucky.

Chuck E. Cheese

Last night we surprised Joseph with a trip to Chuck E. Cheeses.  He had a great time!  Every time we go he is able to do something new!  Last time we were here he didn't have the coordination to play this game and now he does!  He can also now play skiball without having to walk up the lane first.

Cookies-R-Us

Joseph always talks about Ian (of course) and Nadine from school!  It was really great to have them over for a cookie decorating party.  We made 2 batches of cookie dough and 3 batches of icing.  The kids mostly played outside but when Nadine sat down, the boys followed.

The beautiful Nadine and her Papa at our cookie party.
Joseph is running to see the picture that I took even before I've taken it!
Nadine likes to ice the cookies with red frosting!
Ian headed right for the icing knife!  He took a big lick of it before mom could notice.
Nadine likes sprinkles!
Amber is better at decorating cookies than I am!
These were mine before Joseph decided to "improve" them with a whole bottle of red sugar sprinkles.
A masterpiece, Nadine!

Christmas Cookie Monster

We had such a great time planting peas, I asked my big helper to help me make some Christmas cookies!  Don't worry, I totally supervised the food processor part. 

No-Bama?

Here is Joseph looking between the two trees thinking, "Hmmm... Which one should we take home?"

Here I am at the Craft Fair at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall as part of the Flute Society of Hawaii.  It's been about 10 years since the Flute Society was founded.  I remember that we played at Kahala Mall and the entire time I was concerned about someone from school seeing me play with all these little kids.  This time I couldn't care less and it was actually really fun! Playing next to my former teacher.... not so fun.  I forgot how completely amazing she is!  No wonder she was my role model for so long!  As the years progress, the distance of our age difference closes in at each passing of certain critical events.  Graduation from college, marriage, children, beginning of careers, passing of parents... It feels as though we've always been friends.  

Here Joseph is planting his peas.  We visit them every day watering them and talking to them.  I wonder if this will make it difficult to eat them.  

Punahou Marching band has been chosen, out of a pool of applicants numbering over 1,300, to participate in the Inaugural Parade after President Elect Obama gets sworn in.  We'll see if Taryn and I get to go!  I'm so elated at the prospect I could simply fall over myself!

My Father, the Hero

2008 ~ Mililani Band Fest

Yes, it's been a while (about a week) since I've last posted. The main reason is because intersession has ended and I've been trying to get back in the swing of things at work. It's been an interesting process. All I have to say is that I completely, 100% L-O-V-E my team! I don't think that I'll ever be this lucky again! Usually there is one person that I want to strangle but this year my team makes me gush with love and happiness!

Color guard is FINALLY over and it's a relief. I'll miss these girls (+2 guys) a lot but I'll be happy reclaiming my Saturdays. At the last tournament (Mililani Band Festival) I was standing at the back of the stadium watching them perform and I felt a sudden jolt of pain... not a pain of loss (the end of a season) but a pain of FIRE radiating form the area between my crotch and my thigh. I grabbed the affected area of my jeans and squeezed and mashed in case it was something horrible like an ant. Then, I'd remembered my senior year in high school the night before prom when I was sleeping and I suddenly felt a similar jolt of pain. I had a dream that I was on fire. I woke up, turned the light on and searched my abdomen for a clue. There is was... as though Edward himself (think Twilight) had sucked blood out of my midsection, a vampire-like bite. I called urgently to my father for help. He came in and for an hour and a half (approximately 12:00-1:30am) he searched furiously for the offending insect. It was hidden cleverly between the mattress and box spring but MY dad had found it. He was my hero. We hit it again and again but it still managed to travel with alarming quickness. I remember cutting it in half and watching to the ends wriggle in desperate panic until it finally died. In any case, when I got home from the tournament I took my jeans off and sure enough there was a juicy centipede mashed up in the fabric. The entire next week I alternated sleeping with a bag of peas and a "Foodsaver" preserved bag of frozen pork between my legs to keep the swelling and pain away. The affected area, once the size of a quarter, had increased to the size of a dollar bill. I went to see a doctor where he prescribed some great medicine and after a single dose it has all but gone away! The miracle of drugs, I tell ya!

This was so hilarious! Joseph wanted his father to read a book to him. Unfortunately, it was a musical book where you had to sing along with the tune. It was so funny to hear Joe "singing" and trying to keep up with the melody. I probably couldn't have done any better but it was just SO funny! Joseph couldn't tell the difference, anyway. He loved it!

The "Incredible" Guard

Last night was our first marching band competition.  Stupidly, I waited until the very last minute to add the bling to the two guy's shirts.  I broke 2 needles in the process!  It was an event-filled evening.  It was nice to see all the other bands perform.

Count the pins! 

 

Hefty, Kat, Kyle, Ali, & Chelsea

Daisy, Woori, Lili, & Kelly

Julie, Katie, & Nick

Taryn and I with the Incredible Punahou Color Guard.

A Zoo-per Time!

Today we went to the Honolulu Zoo.  I'd been hearing some great things about it lately and it's been a few months since we've been there.  Here's why it wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be: First, it was a H-O-T day!  I found myself in the shade, drinking cold water, fanning myself and still dripping with sweat.  Second, Joseph was kind of restless.  We had already been to our swim lesson earlier so he was a tad on the tired side.  Initially, he was excited to see everything but as soon as we caught a glimpse of it he was like, "Okay!  Vroooom, vrooooom (his way of pretending he's driving a car instead of sitting in a stroller)  Let's go Daddy! What's next?" Third, the animals were all on strike or something!  Joe and I snickered thinking about how the Zoo could actually not have any animals and be watching us looking for tigers and rhinos laughing to themselves, "Oh, those trusting fools!"  In the end, I suppose it was a great day because we got to do something a little different and spend time together.  Joseph was a little sad that there wasn't any school today, however.  I assured him that tomorrow, we would certainly be going to school!  That cheered him up.

The only animal that wasn't on strike- The giraffes!  

We may have been spent more time at the playground than the entire Zoo altogether!  He does love a good slide, though.  There were SO many kids!  I was like, "C'mon people!  Get out and vote or something!"  It felt like everyone and their dentist's family was there!
Joseph asked me to hand the coins to him as he was feeding the meter.  As I handed him the last nickel, he looked over at me, smiled, and said, "You my special helper, ya mommy!?"  Poor thing was almost completely smooshed when I collapsed in hearty laughter and pulled him tight to my chest.  Moments like these are just priceless!  I really have no idea how I got SO lucky!  I'm scared to have another child because I don't know how I could possibly have two angels!  I feel like he's one in a ooga-mega-gazillion.  What if the next one were... normal?  How terribly disappointing!  Hopefully, I'd love it just the same, though.

After the Zoo, we HAD to cool off with some shave ice!  Yummy!  We went to Waiola Shave Ice store.  I have been going there since I was a little baby.  I think I've decided that Matsumoto's better.  The mochi balls are not sweet enough and the syrup is a little watered down.  :(  It was still very refreshing.

He's not Thomas

Here's Joseph in our front yard/cemetery.  He chose his costume about 6 months ago.  It came with a hat but Joseph didn't want to wear it.  
Can you believe this display!?  One house we went to had a PHOTO BOOTH!  Yes!  We were allowed to sit in the booth and take 4 pictures and the sheet came out instantly!  Isn't that crazy?  We need to work on our decoration for next year.  Show 'em that we can hold our own.
Here are our pumpkins.  Joseph wanted them to BOTH be happy.  I asked him if he wanted a scary one, mean one, sad one or a happy one and he chose the latter!  Such a positive kid.  My pumpkin is the one on the left, Joe's is on the right.  I think his came out SO great!  He's very artistic!  Mine is kind of primitive.
Here's Joseph with Grandma.  We had such a great time around the 'hood.  Everyone knew who he was!  They said, "Hi Thomas" and he replied, "I'm not Thomas, I'm Joseph!"  He's such a cutie pie.