Enthralled

This morning I walked into LD's room to get little sleeping beauty up in time to take HS to school. For the past few weeks, she has chatted merrily in her crib and we know that she's ready to embrace the world. This morning, no chatting was heard. So, I braced for waking up a princess in her slumber. That can sometimes go the wrong way really fast. Much to my surprise, when I cracked open the door, there she was. Enthralled. Captivated. Silently entranced. With her belly button.

Yes, a monumental finding has occured. A "hole" in her abdomen. "What in the world is this for?" she seemed to say as she stared into its abyss. "Belly button." I said to her in slow motion. We've been working on her identifying her nose, mouth, head, and ears. Little did I even give a thought to that little opening in her buddaha belly. She's discovered it. All on her own. I'm so proud! I got her up, changed her diaper and kept saying, "belly button" as she continued to be enthralled. As we came downstairs to HS, I announced her discovery.

Now, when she hears "belly button" she looks down at her belly and still has a very peplexed look why there would be an opening right there, but hey, she can now identify, when asked, her nose, mouth, feet, and...belly button. We're on a roll!

Grow What You Know

I have a habit. It's one that began years and years ago when I was younger than HS. I adore watching people and discovering what makes them tick. Why are some people so happy? Why are some complacent? Why do some show such aggression and hate towards others? A degree in Human Relations with an emphasis on counseling has only further thrown me into the discovery of what makes people so unique. Since I'm not in a councilor's role yet (I will be...you can bank on that!)my husband, my children, my family and friends, and those I meet or watch when I'm out and about are my subjects to study.

I have watched my children and husband this week and done a lot of reflection on how they are all doing with their lives. In the back of all this wondering, I've been able to get an introspection into my own life at this moment. Well, low and behold, I flipped the calendar page on Saturday morning and I was staring at just what I had been thinking about all week:

Grow What You Know

Hmmm.... "Here's What I [feel I] Know" in random order:

1. Birds singing on my fence reminds me of home. Sometimes I can sit with my coffee, close my eyes, and be transported into a meadow nestled high in the Rocky Mountains where my Grandpa sits and chats in his folding chair and my sister and I create our imaginary worlds and the wind rustles the leaves and brings the sounds of the forest and my beloved birds' songs to my ears.

2. HS is a reader. Gone are the days of him struggling to sound out the basics. Now he is reading Chapter books with gusto and enjoying reading to us a bedtime story.

3. Happiness in one's job is key. I've watched over the years HH really love what he does. A twinkle in his eye forms now just at the mention of a disturbance in Asia. He's in his place. He's happy...even with less than six hours of sleep a night.

4. Getting exercise can make the worst day better...especially when you can plug yourself into dance music and take your frustration out on a plastic step.

5. Giggles from LD is God's way of saying, "Your welcome." After all my tears and aggravation that I didn't think I'd ever have another little one, I still get shivers of happiness each time LD giggles...He thought of us and was pleased.

6. Adventure. One word that is key to our lifestyle. The days that there is nothing on the calendar are days that HS focuses on creating something for us to do. For that, I'm thankful.

7. Pride is found from within and fueled by the interest of others. I've watched over the weeks as LD went from crawling, to walking, to now trying to "run." She glances in our direction for that smile and clap that we give each time she shows us what more she can do.

8. Education is a family affair. HS has a pile of homework every night. Sometimes I feel like I'm back in school. He gets frustrated that he sees and hears everyone outside playing and he still is faced with Math facts, but when he has us sitting with him at the kitchen table, the task seems less daunting.

9. Creativity is cultivated. Over the past week, HS and LD have been interested in showing off their talents. For HS, he adores reading and building new things with Legos or Lincoln logs. He can create towns, buildings, space stations, and outposts. There is always a story he is telling...it just takes us sitting down with him to have the story told. Music is LD's passion right now (if a 15 1/2 month old can have a passion). When she hears music, she moves her arms, sways her hips, and loves to dance with HH or me. If I allow myself to glance ahead, I see her being the finest ballerina or Irish stepper that the world has seen as I dance with her and watch her smiles of glee.

10. I love my family. Each day they teach me something more about them and conversely, about myself. I am not a very patient woman sometimes. I am emotional. I am addicted to working hard at what I do. Thankfully, my family shares some of those traits and equalizes what we don't share.

There you go. I'm 34 and still growing. Who knows, maybe when I'm 95 I'll have grown what I know so well that a forest will have developed in my brain. I can only say that if my children learn anything from me, it will be to take what they know and cultivate it. Fertilize it so it grows deeper. Share their talents with others. Be inspired by other's creativity and talent. Use their fondness for people as a springboard into avenues that interest them....our ability to relate to others will sometimes be the most rewarding and most successful moments that life will provide. And always, always yearn to know more.

Magnificent 7th Birthday

In the theme of the Magnificent 7, I created, planned, struggled, and stewed to provide HS with the ultimate rodeo themed birthday. Cowpokes came from the neighboring ranches and participated in a great party celebrating a fellow cowboy's birthday.

Barrel racing, calf roping, branding, bronc riding, and a hoedown rounded out the party. HS enjoyed it and loved demonstrating his love of the wild west. From the pictures, I'd say the other kids enjoyed, too! Yeeeee-hawwww!

Pinewood Derby

Today was a day that HS has been waiting for for weeks. Plans had been carried out, a car had taken form from a block of pinewood, and voila...it is derby night! The pack had a great time cheering on all the cars and marveling at the creativity that comes from young minds. HS's car took 2nd in a great many of his den races, but wasn't fast enough to make it into the all rounds. He did come out of the derby evening proudly holding his certificate for "best use of decals" and a nice blue ribbon showing that he had participated in his first ever Pinewood Derby. Way to go, Tiger!

One Armed Paper Hangers

There is a saying. It is one that I've heard in my life since I can remember hearing voices. The saying popped into conversation whenever we found that life was going a little too fast or things were being done quickly because there was another project looming on the horizon...well, over the past few days, I'll officially say that this saying is in use and so us. "We are busier than one armed paper hangers." HH's parents are visiting and with just a week to enjoy the island with them we have been going nonstop with time to spare running in the yard before I'm back to planning HS's "Magnificent 7 Rodeo" party for Saturday.


Yesterday we enjoyed crystal clear waters while listening to tales of that dark day in 1941 that brought the entire United States to their feet in a rally to war and "remember Pearl Harbor." We enjoyed the boat tour with very knowledgeable sailors who pointed out famous landmarks and even shared insights into where we could go for lunch (a great spot right at the marina near the bridge....killer views...superb food...tradwinds blowing...paradise....). What they didn't do is prepare us for just how moving the experience would be. Although I have gone twice before, the water was so calm and clear that the outline of the Arizona could clearly be seen. Oil droplets may be seen sporadically, but the constant motion of the water carries it away long before the reality of what is occurring sets in. Well, our visit was very different from the past.

The outline of the ship beckoned you to believe that those men who lay entombed where taken care of. Fish frolicked among the hard steel while petals thrown in to remember those brave men floated by immersed in oil as if to show that they would be strong and carry on the memory of those sailors. It was different on this visit. Tears were not shed. A sense of peace and "we are fine" seemed to dance in the air. I returned back to the boat with a sense of time being finite, but even with death, comes rebirth...be it on the waves that lap the shore, the fish that swim around what is unnatural, or the slow progression of oil. Life continues.



Today we thought that we would be heading out to share the North Shore experience. I had packed a picnic, towels, sunscreen, and chairs. We were ready. Chinaman's hat stood out in the water like an old friend. I knew that the island would be there. I was pretty positive that HH's parents would enjoy the amazing sheers of the Kooalu mountains. What I didn't bank on was a back-up plan for the one way to get to the North Shore from Kaneohe being closed due to some unknown reason. So, like anyone does when faced with a dilemma, we flew by the seat of our pants and said, "hmmmm....what to do...what to do...we get HS by two...."

We set our course for a botanical garden (I've written about it before) nestled in the Koolau mountains and then headed to Bellow's to enjoy the picnic and frolicking in the sand and surf. After picking up HS from school, we headed back to the hale and enjoyed some time running around the yard, swinging (LD's 1st time!), and eating dinner and sipping wine on the lanai as the sun dipped below the Waianae Mountains. I believe, and hope that all here would attest, that the day was a good one, despite the glitch in plans.



So we are on to tomorrow...a day that my calendar says is the 1st day of Spring. I guess that's true for those of you on the mainland. For us, it hopefully be a day that the North Shore will be conquered, a ribbon in a derby will be won, and dreams of great days in Hawaii will appear in our snores as six busy paper hangers sleep peacefully in their beds.

Hau`oli Lā Hānau

I'm trying to wrap my head around something. A birthday. An age. Could it possibly be true that my darlin' baby boy is 7 today?!?! It just doesn't seem possible that seven years ago I was holding him in my arms staring into his deep blue eyes never imagining that a blink of my eyes would lead me to him being....




three and into adventures on the densha in Nippon, playing with "potty" cars (matchbox cars that you earned each time you went to the potty...boy were you trained quickly!!!) and enjoying our days together as mommy and son in a foreign land never dreaming that in another blink of my proud eyes that I would be staring at a...





five year old bundle of kindergartner energy. Karate days, playdates, and suddenly legos were the world and matchbox cars were passe. How could I ever have thought that the day would come that I now blink my eyes and that same eager little boy with his toddler chubby cheeks now look back at me with...







the proud chin and bone structure of an energetic, smart, and talented seven year old boy who still adores cuddling with his mommy while running to play a game of war with his buddies and enjoys hiking, camping, and adventuring. Who now wears a uniform (his first of many I am sure!) with pride to den meetings and recites a pledge to his country and law to his pack (a glimpse of what I am sure is to come when/if he joins the military). I refuse to blink now. I am so very proud of the bundle of joy that I held seven years ago. I don't want him to grow to quickly. Oh let me enjoy the boy that he is before I blink again. He's the glorious, the wonderful, magnificent...seven!




Hau`oli Lā Hānau, my darlin' son. I love you more today than I ever thought was possible for one heart to hold those seven years ago I first held you in my arms and felt the love only a mom could appreciate. Enjoy your special day.

Beannachtaí na Féile Páraic oraibh!

The Wearin' O' the Green

Today is the day fer the wearin' o' the green.

Today is the day when the little people are seen.

Today is St. Patrick's Day, so if ye'r Irish me lad,

Join the celebratin' fer the grandest time ta' be had!

Ya' put yer hand up in the air, the other hand on your hip.

Ya' tap yer toe, ya' tap yer heel, ya' bounce yer knee a wee bit.

Ya' prance 'n dance around the room, n' circle one two three.

The saints be praised, I must admit, ya' all look Irish ta' me!

Beannachtaí na Féile Páraic oraibh!
St. Patrick's Day blessing upon you and yours!

Those mischevious leprechauns have been all through our house sprinkling Irish cheer wherever they went. We began our day with green water in our toliet, green milk and cereal, green orange juice, and loads of little shamrocks all over the floor upstairs downstairs. HS had groovy shamrock necklaces awaiting him along with shamrock sunglasses that he wore to school. LD enjoyed trying to pick up as many shamrocks as she could and put them into her purse busily squealing and laughing as she went.

We are all wearing green and sent HS off to school to enjoy a "day of green" complete with potato soup and homemade Irish soda bread (compliments of his mommy!) for his class St. Paddy's day festivities. Irish music has been playing jigs and pub tunes all day and LD has been dancing and twirling her best Irish jigs her chubby legs can muster. The corned beef and cabbage are filling the air with a delightful smell taunting us with the flavors to come for our dinner this evenin'. It is a day of jigs, squeals, tricks, and fun. It just goes to show that even in paradise, we're feeling the luck of the Irish!

Omedetou Gozaimasu

I am now a very proud mommy of a 10th Kyu...




and the proud wife of an 11th Kyu!



All I can think of to write about how I feel about their dedication to Karate is...



KIAI!

Aloha, e komo mai!

We stood at the airport this afternoon as two excited kids, one thrilled HH and one estatic tour guide wife awaiting the arrival of HH's parents. Holding leis, and a very creative Aloha! poster created by HS, we were ready to have the fun begin. As HS spotted them coming down the escalator, he let out a loud whoop! and Aloha! as he jumped up and down and clicked his heels together. The time since we last saw them has in many ways been quick, but with the changes that both children have gone through over the past six months, it seems like an eternity. After many hugs and shouts of glee, we headed to the baggage claim and to our cat bus.

They've arrived. Safe and sound. Ready to explore the island. We are now enjoying our second set of guests to our island hale.
A-loooo-ha!

Karate Nerves

It is official. The two men in my life have worked their bums off learning new kata, sparring techniques, and memorized countless dojo precepts and it all came down to this. The test. Cue taiko drums beating a hard and fast beat.

HS took his belt test today for orange and HH took his for yellow. After a grueling two hours of showing their skill and knowledge via kata and sparring they are waiting now. After a very arduous and stressful "mommy cheerleader" two hours of praying hard to God with white knuckles crossed trying desperately to send good vibes while watching them test, I now wait.

The waiting game is harder than the test. Will their hardwork and discipline over the past three months pay off?

My feeling...they'll be seeing their achievements rewarded new belts on Monday!

Creative Space

This picture evokes envy. Jealousy. Lustful thoughts. Yes, when I close my eyes, sometimes I envision a room of my own. A place that is all mine. Labeled, perfectly organized, and oh, so me. If I let myself dream of my perfect space, it would be very much like this one. Only maybe with my love of folk art thrown in with greens and Burgundy. It would be my space to enjoy laughter with my kids, moments of solitude enjoying my music and stamping with a glass of wine on the side of the table, or chatting with friends as we create till our hearts are content.

Deep in the recesses of my mind I can remember times of scrapbooking, crafting, or just dreaming about creating while HS took his naps. I found that time to be not only therapeutic, but also a way to keep my mind active. It's a kin to the way I feel about this blog. LD naps; I blog. LD naps; I clean the house and then blog. It's my one little glimmer of what I used to be. Educated. Creative.

Don't get your britches all out of shape on this post. I love being a mom. I thank God for my kids...I worked hard to get them and suffered a lot of heartache between them. So, that's not what this blog is about. It is about reclaiming a creative outlet while LD naps.

So. I've scoured all 1700 square feet of this house in search of the perfect crafting spot. It has taken me since we moved in to discover that secret little space for me to claim. Well, I will search no more. It was a Eureka! moment.

The bedroom? Nope. That's where we sleep...can't imagine trying to pound my brads into my paper while HH slept (if a itty bit book light disturbs him then I can only imagine what my hammering would do). The storage closet (although this worked very well in Monterey, this storage closet has been claimed by toys). If I can't find a space for my dinky amount of craft paper, embellishments, and stamps then I can only imagine the headache of relocating toys! The garage. Big no. I refuse to scrap and try to avoid making friends with anything brown with antennas...not to mention things that make webs and bite.
Laundry room? Hmmmmm....empty wall, large sink space that I never use, plenty of shelving opportunities, outlet for light, privacy and solitude, yep. There you go. A craft space in the laundry room. Eureka!!!!

The baskets in the above picture are already holding the kids art supplies, play dough, and workbooks. I'm going to add to the baskets and organize my stamps by theme. Next to the washer/dryer will be a bookshelf and paper caddy.

This sink will be the perfect workspace. Placing a heavy piece of plywood over the sink and hanging a curtain to hide the sink will make the area look planned. Peg board will help control those hard to store but oh so necessary items. Hanging baskets from the peg board will bring in my desire for a little folk/country. Adding more shelves and adding a few decorative touches and a work light will complete the area.

I feel like at any moment the doorbell may ring and one of the creative teams from TLC will be here to help me. I wish. It's a daunting task. Now when I open the laundry room door I can vision my craft space. I can almost smell the ink and see the scraps of paper in a cute little trash bin. The glass jars would line the desk with pencils, colored pencils, and scissors just ready to assist in a project. Baskets holding stamps and embellishments hold inspirations while peg board helps display those hard to stow items. I'm ready. It's in my brain. Now I'm onto the executing stage. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. Get ready for a space transformation! Any ideas? Come on over! It's always more fun to transform with friends.

Twinkle Little Star

It's coming to an end. It is a week that HS has been waiting for since that precious paper with the big twinkling star came home in August.

Flash back to the first week of school in August. We are driving home from his second day of 1st grade:

"Mommy! Mommy!" he cried out from the backseat, "you have to check the bag today and quick. There's something very special in there that you can't lose! It's the paper with the star..."

I will forever remember the glow on his cheeks and the twinkle in his eye as he introduced me on that early day in August to how the "1A Star of the Week" works.

"You get to bring stuff in...every day. No one else can be line leader! Only the star!!! There's a special place in the hallway just for the star to hang a poster with pictures and stuff!!! Treasure bin is everyday...even if you get a yellow! Can you believe that? WOW!!! I can't wait for me to be a star!!!" he busily chatted as I tried desperately to scan the list for his name.

Found it. HS's Star week would be March 2-6.

From that point on, every couple of weeks, HS would ponder when it would be his special week. The week of all weeks. The big Kahuna of school days. His star week. As February began, the countdown to his star week also began. We prepared his poster, thought about what treat he wanted to take in, and brainstormed show-n-tell items. The anticipation grew. Finally, the day before his star week was to begin, we turned off his lights, said goodnight, and heard, "I'm the star. All week long! I will be like my stars in this room...I'll glow brightly. It's finally my week to shine." Sleeping that night was more than likely wrapped around all his excitement.

This week has indeed been his week to shine and it has been exciting. From taking in his poster on Monday, to picking a little green guy out of the treasure bin, to carrying in special cupcakes in ice-cream cones on Friday. He's enjoyed it all.

He took in his Ben-10 watch to showcase his interest in Ben-10 on Monday, Tuesday he thought his karate kid would be just the thing to showoff his love of Karate, I was his show-n-tell on Wednesday reading one of his favorite books 'Where are You Going? To see my Friend!', and various Lego creations Thursday and Friday.

By the time I picked him up on Friday afternoon he was grinning from ear to ear. The entire way home he babbled about his cupcakes, "The kids really liked those!!! They thought it was real ice-cream!" and his poster, "Even the principal stopped to read it, mommy!"


I guess in the end of this week that he set out and accomplished twinkling like the brightest star he could for the 1A Star Student of the Week. Now the wait begins for next year's special week.

Seeing Red

Oh I am so happy right now that I am seeing red.

That color of the rainbow that makes my blood begin to boil. A color that evokes romance. Love. Devotion. Madness.

Today as I entered through the sacred doors with signs hanging from the ceiling in a brilliant array of red an angelic choir began singing songs of praise in my head that Target had decided Hawaii was worthy. Worthy of red. That bull's eye claiming the epicenter of all that is good in retail world.

Bye-bye days of dreaming of a world of Tarje. Welcome reality! The doors are open. The shelves are stocked with wonderful treasures that only can be found in the magical world of Target.

Hallelujah! I located pacie clips for LD that I had so dearly wanted more of, leather booties that needed to be replaced for LD, croc clips of the transformers for HS, a great wrought iron wine rack for the counter, and more that I loved but didn't want to purchase right now.

In 10 minutes I can now enjoy moments in that mystical world of holiday decor, home accents, and children's toys and scrap booking joys.

Red. I'm seeing red. It's wrapped the island in it's gentle embrace. The doors beckon. The bull's eye welcomes. Heaven in a store. Now maybe I can take the quotes off of "paradise" for good.

Busy as a Bee

Bzzz...bzzzz...bzzzzzzzz....

LD has been very, very busy over the past month. As she rapidly approaches her 15 month, she has been entertaining us with loads of activity.

Loves: purses, shoes, books, one little cat toy she is determined to carry around until Kendo plays with her, ice cream, grapes, cheese, and pacie (her pacifier).

Hates: being out of sight of the "mother ship" i.e. me, sitting in mass, being left inside if you need to go outside for anything, big brother getting out of the car, her carseat.

Favorite Activities: pulling out books from her shelf, playing with dressy Bessie, riding on Olivia Octopus, helping unload the dishwasher, helping with the laundry (who knew taking out clean clothes could be so much fun!) and walking...everywhere and anywhere!

Sleeping Habits: loves to sleep in whenever she can, one morning nap, one afternoon nap, and ready to hit the sack by 7!

Milestones: began walking around Feb. 8th, two bottom teeth and one adorable gummy grin!

Favorite Words: Mommy (comes out as a very forceful "Mom-me-eee!"), More (mo-ra), eat (eee), mine (me-eee), daddy (da-deee), go, ball, and brother (uth-er-a)

She is a busy little girl who is constantly buzzing around the house, yard, playground, and further into our hearts.

My Daily Creed

Let me be a little kinder,
Let me be a little blinder
To the faults of those about me;
Let me praise a little more.
Let me be, when I am weary,
Just a little bit more cheery;
Let me serve a little better
those that I am striving for.

Let me be a little braver
When temptation bids me waver;
Let me strive a little harder to be all
that I should be.
Let me be a little meeker
With the brother that is weaker,
Let me think more of my neighbour
And a little less of me.

How do I even begin to write this post? I've witnessed a lot of goodness coming from my kids over the past couple of weeks. Maybe it is because this week we entered the season of lent and I'm focusing in on things that I can do to become a better person. I know one thing. My kids have a lot of what I should strive to be.

I found the poem above while surfing scrapbook pages today. It certainly struck a cord on how I should be approaching the next 40 days. If HS and can share something so precious as his Valentine lollipop with LD, then I should be able to change a little too. Hurray for new credos.

Lucky Little Leprechaun

Leprechaun, leprechaun, fly across the sea
And fetch an emerald shamrock for you and me.
Do not bring a nettle or a thistle for a joke,
But bring an Irish shamrock, for we are Irish folk.
And you and I, my leprechaun, will wear the shamrock gay,
And match it with and Irish smile upon St. Patrick's Day!

Imagine my surprise when I set out to decorate the house in honor of St. Patrick's day and all I could find were some window clings and two flags. Oh my. This just wouldn't do for an Irish clan in paradise. So, I set out to find some crafts that the kids could do to transform our house into a festive St. Paddy's day atmosphere.

Idea #1 now is proudly displayed on our front door welcoming all who enter a warm hearted Leprechaun's luck. HS did a great job cutting, gluing, and creating. Although dreading it while we were doing the activity (he wanted to be outside playing with his friends), a little perserverance and quickly switched his tune when the first friend showed up to play.

Pride then overtook him. "Did you see my leprechaun? He's a Lucky little bloke!" he said as they bounded up the stairs to play.

Hmmmm...guess idea #2 will be saved for another day.