Birthday Pictures

 Conference weekend, we knocked off something that's been on the "to do" list since January: take birthday shots.  We went to the public golf course in Kalaheo where they also have a charming Japanese garden.  The kids flashed smile after smile, paid immediately by jelly bean.

 A vacationer took this picture for us so we didn't "go home without a single family picture in Hawaii."  Very nice, and we couldn't believe a tourist (who didn't know to hold the button down halfway before taking the shot) snapped all four of us without some major hitch!

 My favorite Zachary shot:

 This reminds me of the pose from Zachary in our Christmas card a few years back.  Laughing hard, so happy.  (Jelly bean, jelly bean.)

 Brady insisted on taking these pictures, although I figured it was a waste of time.  They are some of my favorites.

 Kate's silly face:

 Zac heard Cory and Kristen talked about his famous tree poses, and now he wants to take pictures on trees all the time.  Hilarious pose, and not quite the "classic Zac pose" he intended.

Easter

 Zachary is in this phase where everything is "my favoritest thing in the whole wide world!"  I made a new lemon cake the other night, and heard about it all day long.  Maybe he's learned that constant compliments will earn him a second piece, or some other strategy, but I prefer to believe that he's just a grateful kid.

Easter was his "favorite day in the world."

Easter came the weekend of our move--which meant that the religious picture books we ordered late didn't make it to our new address and we ended up making a quick run to town for bubbles and play dough the night before.

I love holidays, and while I agree with commentary that holidays can get out of control, I still believe in making them fun.  The excitement of my kids the night before Easter rivaled Christmas and that was adorable.  It was contagious--so much so that we were happy to set it all up wayyy after midnight (and after unpacking all but a few of our
boxes!).

 Brady snuck out early in the am to set out the loose stuff.  Not sure what the pest situation is in our new neighborhood, but we didn't need to invite a crowd.

 The kids were giggly and ecstatic, and the volume level from their squeals ("KATE!!!  I FOUND ONE OF YOUR EGGS!!!") was a little nuts. 

  Kate is all girl and wanted to check out her dress before anything else.

 We snapped a few, relatively unsuccessful shots of the kids before rushing to church.  Brady was speaking for the meeting and I was playing a piano solo, so we needed to get there early.

That night, we (over) cooked a ham in our new oven and met up (late) with the 5 other families at the Hadleys.  We blamed it on moving.  Moving is SO HARD.

 It is my perception that holidays are celebrated before the actual day and never, ever after it.  Well, good think I'm only trying to please a 5 yo and 2 yo, because they didn't care one bit that we decorated eggs on Monday and talked about Jesus and the resurrection that night. 

 Zachary wanted a picture with every single egg.

 This picture showcases my gray and blue linoleum floor, as well as the red/pink egg that crashed and brought about a few tears from my children.

 "Mom, this egg is bleeding!"

  You know all those fancy eggs people make and post on pinterest?  Yeah, me neither.

 This is a random picture of Kate during a nap.  The first week in this house, she struggled to get used to the new surroundings and slept badly.  I think I took this picture after a frustrating morning of non-stop fussiness.  How can I stay annoyed long while looking at that sweet face?

This house is a change!  It is up on a hillside adjacent to a busy road.  Our kids are in no danger from the road (the house is up too high), and they are able to play in the cul-da-sac, which is the major plus.  However, we hear every single noise and there is a lot of it.  We also have the "chicken highway."  Apparently, chickens and roosters also have a morning and evening commute to work, and they make it through our backyard. Our view includes power lines, storage units, a tiny general store, and oh, some canopy trees.  There is a (fenced) pit bull next door.  I saw an enormous boar nearby on my way home today.  The only thing we're missing is a neighborhood goat.  We livin local style, ya?

It is good to write this post a couple weeks after moving in, though.  The noise is no longer unbearable and I've stopped cringing every time I walk through the door.  Old house smell has all but disappeared thanks to Glade Plug-ins.  I'm almost used to doing all the dishes by hand.  I've learned that as funky as our flooring is, it's also awesome because it doesn't show a crumb--sweeping it one time a day is adequate!!  This place is starting to feel like home.  Our neighbors are friendly, our kids love their new rooms with their mirrored closet doors, there are other kids for them to play with, and Poipu--with all it's beach, park, and sunshine--is only 10 minutes away.  There is even some fabulous running from our house.  It works great, and best of all, we don't have to move in 12 weeks!

Kate Turns 2

 Every time my children hit a birthday, I want to exclaim, "How did this happen???"  I promise I love that they are growing up, but really, baby girl, how did this happen?

This post is all things Kate, but I do have to say that Zachary was more excited about decorating for her birthday, wrapping her presents, making her cards, and picking out her present than he was for even his own birthday.  That charmed me.

Kate's birthday, like Zac's, fell right in the middle of our move.  That worked out nicely, because all her other toys, books, and puzzles were taped up in boxes and stashed in the ohana.  We probably could have wrapped up the Salvation Army pile of toys in the garage, and she would have been thrilled. 

For her special day, I took her out to lunch and to the park in the morning.  As soon as Zachary was home from school, we made her birthday cupcakes, rode bikes, and waited for Daddy to get home so she (er, Zachary) could finally open her presents.  She wanted to sing "Happy Birthday" all day long, and went in and out of her bedroom dozens of times just so she could walk through the dangling streamers. 

 Hello Kitty and Elmo--two powerful characters for toddlers.

 Her big surprise was a kitchen.  I've wanted to get one for Zachary to play with, too, and so far, this present is a slam dunk.  The two of them go "grocery shopping" for play food scattered all over the living room, and then cook and make me eat their creations all afternoon.

 The best part is the phone.  I love listening to their one-sided conversations that seem so real.

 The Atkins and Clarks joined us at the spa to celebrate with cake and ice cream. 

 In the last six months, Kate has exploded with a new found sense of independence.  She doesn't need me to hold her on my hip for hours a day, she hates it when I help her into her car seat, and she especially loves to walk down steps without help.  She tries to change her own diapers and dress herself.  She puts bows in her hair and brushes her teeth every morning.  Understand, this does not mean she does these things well--we wait around for ages while she gets in her car seat and puts on her own shoes, she constantly falls, she's had poop on her hands after changing her own bum, and her pants are most often on backwards if in fact she gets them on all the way.  But I love that she is trying.

 Kate sings.  She makes up her own songs, she sings songs from nursery, and she sings along with the radio--even if it is the first time she's heard the song.  Her tiny voice makes my insides mushy. 

Kate's favorite place is the park.  Yes, she loves the beach and she will tolerate playing in the sand and sometimes the water for hours, but nothing lights her up like hanging from the monkey bars and climbing up to the slides.  She asks every morning to go to the park with her little friends.

This little gal still loves to eat.  She will try most things, although her new thing is to chew, chew, chew, and then spit it out.  She loves to get her own straws, cups, plates, and utensils, and she loves her green smoothie with dinner.

When Kate runs, it looks like her feet barely leave the ground.  She's getting faster, but it is hysterical to watch how her knees bend only the slightest bit.  On the other hand, she puts on her helmet, hops on a bike and zips down our relatively steep driveway without the slightest hesitation.

She is so friendly.  How do you not love a baby that says, "Hi!" in a squeaky voice to everyone she sees, blows kisses, and shows off her shirt, bow, and crocs to anyone who will stop long enough to listen?

Katers gets away with things.  That's what happens when you are child #2.

Kate loves Zachary.  She teases him like crazy, but wakes up from her nap elated that it is time to "go get ZAC!!!"  

I feel like every day, I'm a little more grateful for my kids and that I get to stay with them, read to them, play with them, and love them.  Happy Birthday, you little ham.