The Playground

Mommy Solutions

2010-10-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

So Journey was very upset, you see, because the gun his daddy had made for him had a loose barrel and needed a new screw to fasten it more firmly to the wood...

But mommy couldn't do it properly, and so she gave him a very masculine

"Mommy Solution"

For some reason he doesn't want to show his brothers his gun anymore

Journey being Adorable!

2010-08-07T13:18:00.000-07:00

Journey & Cypress

Our trip to HIlo for Theodore

2010-05-31T19:43:00.000-07:00

Journey is stuck! Being eaten alive by a Banyan tree.

this is Theodore

In Daddy's Shoes

2009-09-14T13:12:00.001-07:00

Must be the berries

2009-09-02T19:23:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful little native Hawaiian bird that flew into our window and got all disoriented. It allowed us to hold it in our hands (camera died before I got a photo of that unfortunately) and place it in this potted tree till it recovered and flew off.
This has been happening a lot lately and sometimes the birds don't make it.
I have a feeling that it may have something to do with this new dark purple berry that I've been seeing amongst the usual forest of weeds that ever-threatens to engulf our house and cottages.
It smells good and tastes good but I think the birds are getting drunk off of them.

In case you haven't noticed: Animal Bites!

2009-09-01T10:40:00.000-07:00

Photos from our trip to the Hilo zoo.

This was so funny! The bird squawked loudly just as I was taking the picture and really REALLY scared Rose!

Don't you just gotta love how they stick their fingers in there anyhow?

Namaste - the white tiger

He either got into the tiger's cage or we must be in the Primates Section.

better late than never...

2009-08-31T12:13:00.001-07:00

This is what happens to kids of artists on the fourth of July....

Christian is 8 years old!

2009-08-30T18:35:00.000-07:00

Christian had his 8th birthday on August 26th.
Dad got him that skateboard & he spray painted the bottom & arranged the stickers himself... red & blue; his two favorite colors
(he's definitely the all American boy)

life is a highway...

2009-06-15T20:10:00.000-07:00

Authentic Genuine Boltons

2009-06-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Gigi Thompson

Wanna Home School?

2009-06-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

Makaio is Six!

2009-05-31T13:53:00.000-07:00

It has pretty much been his birthday month- not just day!

He has had several parties, presents, & special treatment all on account of this blessed event that he has been looking forward and talking about since January.

I hope he realizes that the parties are ending now- boy will he be disappointed.

Wet n Wild Weekend

2009-05-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

We spent the weekend, for the most part, totally or partially submerged.

At the Mauna Lani, Keahou, Hilton, & Kiholo.

Spring Fest At Holualoa Elementary School

2009-05-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

SOOOO CUTE!!

The Boys did hula and chats at school for the Spring Festival.

Mine are the really, really, really white kids that stick out like blinding lights in the crowds. ;)

HAPPY BOYS DAY!!!

2009-05-06T13:42:00.000-07:00

Journey's new friend

2009-04-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

A boy and his bug!

Helping Daddy in the Garden

2009-04-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

The good little shoveler!

Check more garden pics in the Kitchen.

Sometimes your kids embarass you...

2009-04-13T12:57:00.000-07:00

... in church!

It is Easter Sunday and Pastor Bruce calls up the keiki for the children's message (a tradtion in my church where the kids sit at the pastor's feet and get a short prelude to the adults' sermon before being sent off to Sunday school).

He asks the children "So what is Easter all about? Is it about Easter Egg Hunts?"
All the good little boys and girls cry out "Nooooooo!" .... all, except for one...

my Christian.

He instead blares out above all the other voices "Yeah-hanh! It IS about Easter egg hunts- MY MOMMY told me so!"

In one swift flash of sound the eyes of everyone in the building are on me as my cheeks pulse with a scarlet flush.

And if that wasn't horrid enough, Pastor Bruce has to release the kids speaking out over the congregation: "I don't know what some of you have been telling your children, but there is a theology 101 class starting up in two weeks..."

UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

That little stinker! Especially since the night before we went over IN DETAIL what Easter is all about and why we were celebrating... I specifically explained that Easter eggs had NOTHING to do with it! What a creep!

Too Funny!

2009-04-11T12:25:00.000-07:00

You know you are a bellydancer when...
so the old joke goes but it gets really comical when your 5 year old is watching the coffee maker brew and starts bopping his head to the perculating bubbles and says "Mommy! Mommy! This sounds like Beladi Mwoosik!!! Aw you gone bellydance?"

I almost hit my head on the FLOOR! Wow- a little smarty, that one!
Calling the rhythm by name! oooo- that is when you know the obsession has gone out of control, the sickness is spreading to the children! eep!

tidepool brothers

2009-04-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

Christian & Journey- practicing for the big waves.

Rambling on the beach...

2009-04-07T12:52:00.000-07:00

Leilita & Leila (born at night) = our trucks!

If you want to know where we are, look no further than the license plate on that KIA in the background... yes, it says "PINES"

Taking over Mama's easel

2009-04-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

Geez- step away from the easel for just a moment & look what happens!

Makaio's Zoo

2009-03-24T20:30:00.001-07:00

That jungle above Makaio's bed is the zoo he has been bringing home from school.

There is an animal that starts with every letter of the alphabet (... and just as many pin holes in the wall)hehehe

I don't know how they can sleep with all those beasts in there!

(or perhaps, on second thought, the boys just fit right in)

You take the boy out of the Surf...

2009-03-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

...but you can't take the Surf out of the boy!

(Matt made a pond in the front yard to catch extra water for our plants... the boys have decided it is their own private swimming pool)

BELIEVE IT!

2009-02-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

I know that I have seen many an eye roll in rampant disbelief when I brag about how my 4 yr old makes dear old mom her morning coffee- so for all of you still in doubt...

check out what is going on in my kitchen!

Journey's 4th Birthday- goodbye Goo!

2009-02-03T16:01:00.001-08:00

New cowboy boots, complete with hat, belt, spurs, & weapons.

Gardening gloves for pulling weeds and avoiding "poke-ys".

And a pinata full of mini video games, candy, "muddy putty", and dinosaurs.

He is no longer "Journey" or "goo" now that he isn't a baby anymore...

He has changed his name to "whale".

when I thought it was torture...

2009-01-27T13:11:00.000-08:00

Makaio came home from school with this...

*splashing to the floor in a big puddle goes my heart*

Torturing the Kids... a.k.a. Walking to the Bus Stop

2009-01-26T01:58:00.000-08:00

When we head out for our morning walk to the bus stop it is still dark outside and I have to convince the children that it is in fact morning time- which takes quite a bit of persuasion.

We like to feed our sheep on the way- he likes to come and greet us. He was never very friendly before... then he lost his harem and now he is very affectionate- poor lonely guy. We take our dog, Hoku, along. She loves to come and she whines somthing awful when the kids leave on the bus. She puts on quite the show of distress and all the kids on the bus laugh.
There are some beautiful things to see along the way but it is too dark to really see through the camera. I love this giant rock that the roots of a Banyan tree are growing around and embracing.

Sometimes we grab a snack from the neighbors' fallem fruit on the side of the road.

They complain the whole time that it is too far and too long and too hard. But I think it will build endurance and good health for them- so I am making them do it... with me because I feel like I need the walk to strengthen my lungs and sweat out bad stuff.

One day they'll thank me when they get to be old men who can say

"I had to walk a mile to the bus stop every day when I was a kid"

(They will probably add "through the snow" like all the other old-timers do)

The Conditional Love of Journey

2009-01-15T12:37:00.001-08:00

"Momma, I love you... but not when you do bad things."
"Bad things? Like what? What bad things do I do?"
"When you do bad things to me."
"What are the bad things I do to you?"
"Like... when you throw me into the trash can."
"But I don't EVER throw you into trashcans."
"I know... and that's why I love you!"

Metalmouth Makaio

2009-01-15T12:15:00.000-08:00

"Look at my metal teeth!"

Poor Makaio had to travel to Oahu on Tuesday. He had to leave Kona at 9:15am and take a taxi to the dentist's office. Where we again had to wait and wait and wait till the dentist told us that the cavity was too deep to repair and it would need to be removed. He extracted the tooth and put metal caps on the two top and bottom teeth that also showed beginning signs of decay and placed a "spacer" in the gap so that the new adult tooth could grow up straight.

Poor guy just 5 years old but he has been thoroughly inspired to brush very well these days- and give his brothers lots of encouragment to follow suit- so that is one good result.

We didn't home till 6pm at night.

That's ALOT of traveling for one hour long dental procedure.

Makaio's revelation

2009-01-14T14:51:00.000-08:00

"Momma, MOmma?"
"yes, Makaio?"
"Are we here... NOW?"
After a pause of thought, "Yes, we are here now."
"I KNEW IT!"

A really weird way to Climb a Tree...

2009-01-02T14:10:00.001-08:00

Usually little boys, start up the trunk and into the branches to climb a tree. But no, not my boys...

New Year's Day

2009-01-02T14:00:00.001-08:00

New Year's Eve

2009-01-02T13:56:00.001-08:00

On New Year's eve we camped at Makalawena and discovered Journey's inner Pyro.

Christmas Toys

2008-12-26T19:42:00.001-08:00

Daddy very impressively got out the saw and koa wood, Christmas morning, and made some really cool wooden toys for the kids. A rubberband shooting gun and a hero's sword for our little warriors. (there was another sword but Makaio broke it immediately before I got the chance to take a photo).

Winter Solstice

2008-12-24T17:23:00.001-08:00

Christian made this very nice Christmas card at school. Sorry I couldn't change the orientation before posting. (it's a christmas tree with two very cute elves below wrapping presents... and it's snowing- not that he has a clue what snow is! lol)

This card was made by Makaio who is also obsessed with snow, snowflakes, and snowmen.... he just doesn't have a clue!

Then we went to the WInter Solstice Festival and the boys rode ponies... well the pirate spiderman boy (Journey and Makaio did- Christian is too cool for pony rides now) *sigh*

Christmas is coming...

2008-12-19T17:17:00.000-08:00

As I woke up Christian today his first sleepy words that came out before his eyes even opened were...
"6 more days!"

Hmmmm.... don't remind me! Yes, so much still to do and today is the last day of school! How to get it all done with not one but THREE little guys contributing to the usual chaos?

Actually I am looking forward to having my little guys around next week. This will be my first Christmas without my parents and receiving a package from them in the mail today, with gifts to put under the tree and money to buy kids presents from them... made me miss them. My mother in law won't be here either, nor Matt's brothers and theirs. It is going to be a merry LITTLE Christmas this year, but an intimate holiday will be fun (just different).

Today was the Christmas musical of Holualoa School. Santa was there with grass skirt and lei- just as he should be for a Hawaiian Mele Kalikimaka! Christian's class sang Mele Kalikimaka and Makaio sang Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (dressed appropriately)...

*sigh* PEACE ON EARTH!!! (pictured below)