Christmas 2012

Christmas Eve at Meme & Pepe's and what do you know? Those little magic elves dropped by to leave a gift for the girls on the back door. Smart elves, they are. The girls were so excited to see the presents and their new Christmas PJs.  

 Pepe reading the note from Santa's Elves.  Time to hurry to bed, for Santa is on his way!

 Meme reading one last Christmas Eve story

Santa was a generous man this year!

 The before picture....

 They are up!  Let the chaos begin

 Rudoph Chapstick!  Does it get any better than this?

 Dad got a donut maker from the girls.  Who is more excited?  The girls,of course.

 Makena checking out the castle Santa brought.

A Rapunzel Doll from Meme and Pepe!

 Family Picture.  Poor Wyatt, he looks so thrilled.

Maddy's Holiday Show

Maddy's preschool put on a Christmas Show for friends and family.  It was one of the cutest things I'd seen, with many songs, dancing and a the Story of Christmas.   Madelyn even said her lines, which was pretty impressive.  

All the kids singing Rudolph

Maddy saying her lines.

 Picture with Aunt Nancy and Meme

She love having her picture taken.

 Snacks and Treats after the show.   Little Sis loved this part the most.

Holiday Fun

I will admit its March 7th and I'm doing some very overdue blog posts.  I keep this blog more as a scrapbook for the girls, but lately I've been a bit slow about keeping it updates.  

The Holidays were quite fun this year.  Its nice to have the girls just a bit older,which makes things a bit easier in some ways.   We took both girls to the Garden D' Lights in Bellevue.   Its perfect since its close by and a short tour.  Just enough for the girls to love and not get those little hands too chilly.

Madelyn protesting pictures.  Family pics continue to be a big challenge.

Maddy and I made a favorite recipe of mine, Cream Cheese Fold Over cookies.    I remember making these a few times with my mom and and loved them as a kid.   My mom didn't really love baking, so getting her in the kitchen to do cookies was special.   I loved these cookies as their really like pie crust dough with cream cheese and then jam in the middle.   Yummy.    As you can see Maddy loved baking with me and the mess tells of our success.

The end result was delicious.   These cookies always taste better if you let them cool and refrigerate them overnight.   They didn't look as perfect as I hoped, but end tasted pretty delicious. 

And it wouldn't be the Holidays if we didn't decorate some sugar cookies with our friends.  Molly and Tate were in on our fun. 

I had an appointment with Makena and had to drop Maddy off at a local childcare one day.  What luck when we walked in and found out it was Gingerbread House day!    This is her masterpiece.  What a fantastic idea and even better than it was done somewhere else instead of home!!  :)

Tree

Its that time of year.  I guess I am not quite ready for it and dragging my heals.   I still feel like I'm catching up from vacation and Thanksgiving.   Not ready to drag out the Christmas decor and go crazy.   However,  Madelyn is and was asking when we were going to get a tree.

Sunday we went out to get the tree.  I confess, there is a part of me which is ready for a plastic fake tree, stored in the attic each year, brought out and set up with lights already on it.  Doesn't that sound perfect and so easy?   The other part of me feels the need to participate in the annual trek to the U-Cut Tree Farm and keep up the tradition.   

The tradition usually includes kids going nuts,  a grumbly Dad who likes it and then the reality sets in and doesn't like it,  an indecisive mom who keeps looking for the perfect tree,  and four sets of very dirty boots which mucks up the car.   Included is usually one or two tantrums, maybe a fight between parents, and four hungry people by the end.    Tell me why we do this again?

This year, it seem to go much better.   We had some of the elements listed above, but less arguing, tantrums and otherwise grumpiness.    The indecisiveness continued with me and finally I gave in for just about any tree in the name of getting the heck out of there.  I was freezing, which is an excellent motivator. 

We got the tree home and it was a wee bit too big.  After lofting a good foot off the top, it fits.   Its a bit odd shaped, with a gaping hole on one side.   I guess we don't have the perfect tree this year.  This year we have an off-kilter holey tree, which is much loved by my girls.    I'm pretty sure that is all that counts. 

Decorating it was another story.   We lost several ornaments due to 2 sets of hands which just couldn't contain their excitement.   By the 5th or 6th, I didn't even feel sad....just reached for the vacuum.   One less ornament to put away in a month.



I'm still in debate on putting up some garland or something else on it.   I have visions of a certain crazy 2 year old grabbing the garland like a dog leash and pulling with all her might, resulting in Christmas Tree disaster.  

Big Girl

No more gates.  No more cribs.  And hopefully soon no more diapers.    Makena is a becoming a Big Girl.   A couple months ago we took the last of the gates down in our house.   How freeing it is to not have baby gates all around your house.  Suddenly your home seems so open and spacious. 

A couple months ago we took a trip up to a friends cabin.  Makena had a heckuva a time getting her to sleep as she was so unsure of sleeping in a bed.  After trying for over 2+ hours to get her to sleep, we gave up.  In one crazy parent moment, we packed up and came home.  As soon as we got in the car and drove 2 minutes down the road, Makena was asleep.   We made the decision the next day to move Makena out of her crib and into a Big Girl bed.   We really wanted to transition her before our big trip to Hawaii.  Better to deal with screaming and fussing at home, than the first night after a long plane ride.   

And Makena loves her new Big Girl room.  She is all about it and being just like Big Sister.   The first night we had a bit of whining and nerves and a few wake ups.  After that, no problems and no more crib.   Whewww.   I am happy to say we have two girls who are pretty dang good sleepers. Ms. Makena crawls in her bed for nap time and bed time happily and doesn't try to come out of her room.  Its amazing.  I'm thankful for this as other aspects of their personalities aren't so easy.  Ha!  
It is a bit sad to say goodbye to the baby stage, but the light at the end of this tunnel is bright.  Having two wonderful girls who are getting older and becoming more independent is just a wee bit easier.

Now onto potty training.  Maybe she'll potty train herself.  Or maybe I can let Madelyn try to potty train her....while I'm away on a girls weekend and Dad's in charge.    Hmmm...I'm thinking this could be a good idea.

Big Island - Part 2

What a fantastic trip we had to the Big Island.     The warm Hawaiian breezes,  yummy eats, ocean to play in, wonderful resort which made it so easy with two little kids.   It was really wonderful!   We had our difficult parenting moments almost every day, as the behavior from the girls got worse as the week went on.  I am not sure what that was all about.   Still even on some hellish moments of girls fighting, rolling around on the ground at a local Hawaiian Farmers Market......still we are in HAWAII!!!    Granted, I am sure we left some really fine impressions with the locals who always seem to be staring at us as my girls were screaming, and throwing tantrums in public.    But hey, whose kids are perfect all the time?  Not mine.  And now the people of the Big Island are all too familiar with them. 

Sunset at A' Bay.   Maddy sticking her feet in very nervously.

Dad and Makena playing at the Kids Pool.

The girls loved playing in the pools each day.  We got both of them in the ocean a few times with smiles.  Maddy was a bit more nervous about the ocean, but definitely wanted to try it.  Makena went without hesitation.    Initially they had issues with sand on their feet in and in their shoes, but by the end of the trip they got over it.

More pool fun.

Playing Hide and Seek at a playground we found

Lots of gorgeous flowers, which I enjoyed so much.  
But had no time to photograph any more than this lovely Hibiscus.

All decorated for Christmas already

Two cute girls giving big hugs in their new Hawaiian dresses

Hula Show.  Maddy loved this and was so mesmerized by it.

 We took in a couple Hula Shows at a nearby shopping village.   I was surprised at how much Madelyn liked it.   The first time she saw the Hula Dancers she was immediately mesmerized.  She couldn't get close enough and just loved it.  We ended up staying for the whole show.  It ran late, so Michael took Makena back since she was melting down for bedtime.   Madelyn and I walked back to the condo after the show.   She loved every minute of it.  The walk back to the condo wasn't too long, but very dark.  At one point some car headlights lit up the sidewalk only to reveal way too many cockroaches all over the path.   Most definitely something I didn't need to see.  I decided the dark was just fine.

Looking back at the resort area in A' Bay, from a boat tour we took.
One of four volcanoes on the Big Island, in the background.

Dolphins!!  

 The last day we took a short glass-bottom boat ride from our beach.   It was free for the girls, and so convenient for us.   I didn't expect to see much but a few fish.    We got very lucky and came upon a large pod of dolphins playing nearby.  They were all around the boat, jumping and playing.   How lucky is that?   A couple even swam underneath the boat and up front hear the bow.  It was amazing!

More Dolphins...not sharks.

Michael took off one morning and went diving for a 1/2 day.   Lucky guy with a very nice wife, eh?   He had a great time with much to see.  We both would take turns and snorkel out front in A'Bay, home to many turtles.    So wonderful to be snorkeling along and come upon a big Turtle underneath you! 

Playing in the kid pool with a new friend, making a volcano!

Mama Love

 It was a great trip for traveling with two girls ages 2 and 4 years old.   The flight back was much easier.  Many kids on board and much more understanding crowd.  No grumpy old men around me.  The girls did really well on the flight back and Makena even took a nap.  It was wonderful, but not too anxious to get on a plane with the girls anytime soon.  However, next trip I believe will be to see a certain mouse.... in California.   I'm sure that hint is not hard to figure out.

First ER Trip

We had our first trip to the ER with Madelyn on the Big Island.   After a rather epic day of horrible behavior, it ended with Madelyn burning her hand on the radiant stove in the condo.     I was cooking her some pasta and had stepped to the sink to rinse it off.   She was behind me and put her hand on the stove, as it was black in color and didn't look hot.  The danger of radiant stoves is this exact feature.  Once you turn the power off, they turn black, but the surface is still very hot.   The burn didn't set in immediately and took a couple minutes.   She started screaming that something hurt her on a chair in the condo.  I looked at the wound and was confused as it looked like a burn but since I hadn't seen her at the stove, I had no idea what happened.




Stickers help heal any wound.  Its a well known fact among 4 year olds.

The screaming grew louder and more out of control.  By now, Michael and I were piecing together what must have happened.    We calmed Madelyn down with lollipops and a cold water to soak her hand in, and she finally admitted that she had touched the stove.   Four fingertips were white with blisters and her thumb was the worst with a huge blister across the side of her thumb joint.  Michael ran to the store for band-aids and first aid stuff.   I sat in the condo, realizing we probably needed to get it checked out.    We looked up the nearest ER and loaded Maddy in the car with her hand in a cold water bucket.   Of course this all happened at bedtime, so I took Maddy up to Waimea to get it checked out.    The Big Island is exactly that... Big.  30 minutes later we arrived in the upcountry and the small community hospital.    They were so friendly and helpful, and got us right in.  She stood out in the waiting room as all the locals stared at the haole (white) girl with her hand in a bucket of cold water.   

2nd Degree burn, but not too bad.  The doctor and nurse just gave us advice on how to care of it and plenty of bandage supplies.    We probably didn't need to go up, but it calmed me down and it gave Maddy a reason to sit in one place and soak her hand in cold water.    After we got back to the condo, I tenderly bandaged it up and finally the day was over.  



Moments before she dug at some rocks and popped that big blister on her 4th finger.

The last day of our trip, we let Maddy go swimming.  The ER Doctor had said not to, but I met a Pediatrician in our resort complex who said she really thought she'd be okay.    And she was...until after swimming and her hand was all wet, she accidentally popped one of the major blisters.   YIKES!! If the screaming from the burn wasn't bad, the sound coming out of Maddy when that blister popped was heard through the entire resort area.  

I am happy to report that her fingers are just about healed up.   No bill from the hospital yet, we'll see if the smile is still on my face when that shows up in the mail.

Big Island - Part 1

We look like were moving.  
2 suitcases, 1 rolling duffel bag, 1 stroller, 4 carry-on bags, 2 car seats,
and 2 munchkins, 1 tired and exhausted mom.

 A picture from day one, fresh off the plane, worn out and tired, but so excited to be in Hawaii!!     We are more than halfway through our vacation and the time if flying by too fast. 



Girls who are not suppose to be in the hot tub. 

We are staying in the Waikoloa Resort area at one of the condos.  Its fantastic as it has close proximity to the beach, pool nearby and a kids pool with sandy beach.   No waves, less worry, perfect for little kids.     The area is gorgeous and we are thrilled with the accommodations.    Just what Mom and Dad had in mind.   Lots of other kids to play with as well, helps keep our girls happy.


Kick Kick Kick

The girls are having a great time playing at the pool each day.  The run back and forth between the pool and the kids pool; and can't get enough.    The beach is a short walk away and in late afternoons Turtles are usually resting up on the beach.    They both still have a hard time with the sand complaining off and on about sand on their feet.    At the same time they seem to love coming down and checking stuff out.  
 

Turtle, one of many seen thus far

Path between resort condo/hotels; near our beach area, great for spotting turtles.

Hapuna Beach

 We took a drive up the road to Hapuna Beach.   We had some initial crying but once they found out how fun it was to dig in the sand, they were all over it.   Both of them went into the ocean with us and loved it.   I was amazed that Maddy wanted to go on the Boogie Board with me.  She has never been about the water and always a bit nervous.  I love the water, ocean, snorkeling, diving...I love it all.   I try to be patient with her and understanding, no pressure.  I was in shock that she wanted to go back in the ocean for more boogie-boarding with Mom!!   Success.   I heard her say "I love the ocean".   Now, we just need to teach a few safety rules and continue with those swimming lessons.

"Say Cheese"

Ask the girls to pose for a picture and this is what you get.  Actually first you get a whole bunch of games, goofing off,  and other annoying behavior and then...just maybe they'll pose together.  But to get them both smiling in a photo - NO WAY!    So this is as close as it gets.   All cleaned up and showered off, ready to go home.