happenings

Noah has been cracking us up daily with his little comments. Josh, in particular, wanted to make sure this one made the blog. On Friday, we were in the Costco parking lot (a typical family date night activity) and I was telling Josh where the new exit was (when I think someone is not seeing what I need them to see I tend to repeat myself louder and faster) Noah pipes up from his car seat, "Mom, Daddy knows how to drive." Josh could not have been more proud to have his buddy backing him up.

Saturday was a glorious spring day. We spent the morning washing cars, cleaning out the garage. A neighbor friend asked Noah to play at his house and to our surprise he answered, "no thanks, I want to stay with my mommy and daddy." Really, he chose work with the family over friends on his own. Josh and I glanced over at each other with big grins. I know those choices will have to made more and more as time goes on, I hope in years to come the answer will sometimes be the same.


Our sweet, mobile Clara was also part of the family work day. Unfortunately, she was just walking on the sidewalk and fell right on her face. She scraped her nose pretty good. This was her first big ouchy that has everyone asking "what happened?" Just a little reminder how easy the bumps and scraps can happen even when your just happily walking along in life. A few new developmental updates: clara jane's added clapping and high fives, and a new word (of sorts) dawh,dawh for doggies.

Which leads me to my last anecdote. I have had more than my share of Marley and Me moments the past week. We are dog sitting for my brother while they are in California for the week. (Trev got in a major accident while there...we love you, and are taking good care of roanin for you.) Roanin is a playful, energetic beagle and still a puppy. I was never good at chasing (not boys, not dreams) and now certainly not dogs. I have been out-run, out-smarted, and out-sized trying to get our little guest out of the house, toys out of his mouth etc. At one point after barricading with chairs, having Noah/Clara/Scout herding him, as I played the wrangler he still managed to bust through. I was so whipped I just laid on the floor and laughed, which led to kids copying mommy and Roanin himself seemed to chuckle at our pathetic attempts. I now know their (Trev,Cody,Tuck,Sadey's) fitness secret.

noah's prayer

During Noah's night prayers he did one of his fast ones "please bless mom..amen" I whisper a little prompt to also say what he is thankful for and he continues "thank you for my red helicopter from Aunt Beck, thank you for (pause) what fire truck did Jesus give me? (answers himself) I think it was the big one. Thank you for my big fire engine."

hawaii 2009

aloha!
Hawaii was such a special trip for the family. Like any vacation it was not with out its ups and downs. Yet, already looking back on it, the happy moments are what's remembered. The kids did great on the flight. A couple on the plane waited until we were deboarding to say we had the most delightful, well behaved children they have ever flown with. These are words I never would have expected to hear, way to go kiddos!

The first night we arrived there was the most beautiful sunset. Noah, who on our last ocean vacation didn't get in the water, jumped right in the first time. Six months makes a big difference with kids and the beach just outside our hotel had a wave barrier which was perfect for them.

Day 1: travel, settle in, Waikiki beach

Day 2: Beach, Pearl Harbor, Beach (Josh rented a surf board for the week so he went out in the mornings and Noah and I tried a little during the day.)

Day 3: North Shore, Polynesian Cultural Center

Day 4: rain, Pali look out, Pizza in Waillea

Day 5: North Shore (watching surf spots, maszumoto's shave ice, mommy sick)

Day 6: (clara and mommy really sick...Sunday so we rested in the hotel all the day...Josh upgraded the room to family suite so we were not in a 10x10 with sick germs...good man)

Day 7: beach, beach, beach (daddy threw out his back...again...surfboard returned)

Day 8: Yummy breakfast, St. Patty's Day parade, pack, go home.

I called home well into the trip to talk to mom for advice with being so sick and dad answered. I asked him how in the world they traveled with all us kids (6) when were little and without a pause he said, "You'd have to ask mom". I need to say a big thanks for taking us on so many adventures as a family, because being on the reverse side I recognize the effort it takes as the parent. My memory from my first time to Hawaii when I was about Noah's age was eating fruit loops, so we made sure Noah had that experience as well. Josh and I both agreed the best moments of the trip were playing with the family on the beach. Noah got a souvenir ukulele, which he just loved, he took it out in the ocean and played songs about the helicopters flying over head. The other tourists couldn't get enough of him and were sneaking pictures right and left. Clara had no hesitation digging, crawling, in the sand and water. Noah's already been asking, "Can we go to Hawaii tomorrow?"