Leap Frog with Grandpa Rick

Finn with too much time on his hands...

This is what happens when Finn disappears for 10 min and is quiet...

Neelah on a mission

Finn on the bike

Eric's spare time....

Yet another prize from the ocean...

New happenings in our house!

This is the bike Finn got for Christmas, he has ridden it about 3 times total since then. It has been down in our basement collecting dust. Today I got sick of all the toys all over the house and started moving all of them down to what I have dubbed as the playroom. Then the bike came upstairs and into the garage. Finn desperately wanted to go outside and I told him that I would only go outside with him if he rode his new bike. I know, I am such a loving kind parent! He agreed but kept saying, "I'm sure it is too big!"

I got him on the bike and after about 3 trips around our circle, he got the hang of it and asked the neighbor boy to come out and ride bikes with him. It was a pretty big accomplishment considering my son who doesn't like to venture out of his comfort zone.
Neelah on the other hand is quite the quick learner. She has started walking behind this cart that I bought forever ago for Finn. We set it to the slowest setting and she is OFF! Today she walked the length of the hallway and I am so excited for her to learn! Milestones of our children are the BEST!!!

Random pics

My son the arteest drew this picture of a "chick" for Easter. I love it!
We had so many pictures of Finn cuddling with Maile when he was this age, now it is Neelah's turn. I love it. She would be able to do more cuddling if only Finn wouldn't torture her so much that she runs and hides! He loves to wrestle with her and chase her all over the house!

Neelah...

Our son won't get dirty, let alone stand in the sand at the beach, but Neelah doesn't mind!


Love the AM hairdo's!

I love that I have a girl who I can put bows in her hair!

today,

Today has been one of the few days where I think to myself, "Can I honestly do this without Eric?!" I hate to post something like this because I don't want Eric to feel badly about him being gone but I just need an outlet. I am still supportive and so very proud of what my husband is doing for our country and us all.

I actually screamed at Finn today. Screamed. In retrospect, I know he doesn't understand why I am screaming. And then when I banished him to his room for quiet time so I could put Neelah to bed, he didn't understand that what he heard were sobs not laughter. He kept calling to me from the next room, "why are you laughing Mommy?" More sobs from me.

I don't know how I am going to do this with another child. Sometimes I feel like a prisoner as a mother. I hate to admit that but I can't deny it. I love the quote by President Gordon B Hinkley about how our children "are the jewels of our lives." I repeat this to myself on almost an hourly basis some days, some days just once or twice. I know this to be true. I know that I am blessed with these choice spirits but nevertheless, I can't help feeling like I am drowning. Don't get me wrong, today was just a REALLY BAD DAY. Most days are totally manageable. I just miss my best friend and companion, the one who really knows me and who I can count on to understand why I want to set my head on fire.

Here we were walking the grounds of the Hilton Hotel. It is right next to our hotel but the grounds are way cooler for the kiddies. There are all sorts of animals etc around, penguins, flamingos, parrots and turtles. Finn wasn't feeling well and was whiny and rubbing his eyes and therefore got sunscreen in them. Poor guy! He wasn't very interested in the sights that day.
That night, we went to the pool to try to exhaust the kids before bed. The pool in the evening is the best idea. It is so relaxing and I don't have to worry about getting burned!!
Finn loved pushing Neelah around in her little boat. She really loves when Finn plays with her.
fun with daddy!
Back to the Hilton...These pictures are all out of order.
We were all ready for a nap that day.

This was by far the funniest moment of the entire trip. Poor Finn had some bowel issues while traveling and had an accident in his pants at the playground. Eric was disgusted with me cause I was laughing hysterically at him trying to clean up the mess. We had to go directly to the store and buy Finn some new shorts and underwear and while we were driving there, he kept asking where his pants were??? hilarious!!
This tree is named Gus. Not by me or Finn but by the hotel staff. Finn loved it.
Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. Me, John Cox, Nicole and Chris Vensko, Chris' Dad, Mom, (Finn although you can't see him cause he layed down the entire meal) and Eric. No, we didn't forget Neelah, she was sitting where the photographer was standing.

This is a random statue in Waikiki. I have always wanted to stop and take a photo op here but we never did while living in Hawaii. Thanks Eric for showing us where the statue's nostril is.

While in Hawaii, Eric and I celebrated our 5th Wedding anniversary. I can't believe it has only been 5 years...it seems like I have been with Eric forever. I love him so much and love the family we have made.

Hawaii 2008

together again at last...

Neelah took to Eric like he was gone for a day, not a month and a half.

She was showing Dad how she does "peek-a-boo"

Here was our view from the Hale Koa hotel. It was a "partial" ocean view as you can see. The only problem is that when you stepped out on the balcony, all you could hear was the whirring of the hotels air conditioning unit. That is okay, we didn't pay for a view-we paid for beach front.

Too bad Finn wouldn't step foot on he beach. And I mean WOULDN'T STEP FOOT ON THE BEACH!! He threw the biggest fit whenever we went near the ocean. He was terrified of the ocean...I don't know why? It was a great trip and great to see Eric.

a big day for Neelah

Today has been a good day. Neelah sported her first pony tail today! How darling is she! When I am at work and miss my kids, I just have to look at pictures like this and I remember how blessed I am and that they will be there tomorrow when I wake up.

Yesterday Finn said the funniest and most precious thing. I was crocheting and he came up and asked me what I was doing.

Me: I am making a baby blanket for my friend who is going to have a baby.

Finn: What about our baby?

Me: Well, our baby is a girl and this blanket is for a boy.

Finn: But I want a baby boy, I want to be a BROTHER!

Me: Well, you are still a brother, but our baby is a girl.

Finn: (thinking) Well, maybe we could go to church and ask Jesus for a boy!

Me: (laughing to myself) Maybe next time...(if there is a next time!)

I LOVE MY KIDS!

Laziness!

I know, I am SO LAZY and haven't posted pics from Hawaii. I did however feel bad for not posting at all so I thought I would give you an eyefull of what WWF looks like in our front room. I promise I will update soon!

Sunshine in my day of storms...

So I know that some of you are anxiously awaiting Hawaii photos but I promise, they will come. For now I will write about my darling little Finn. I spent the last 2 days of our Hawaii va-cay sick as a dog and then on Wednesday morning when we got home I went straight to bed and didn't wake up till 10:30am Thursday morning. Seriously. The rest of the day was spent doing as little as possible and when Neelah went down for her nap, Finn got to watch a Thomas the Tank movie and I went back to bed. After Finn's movie was over, he came into my room and asked if he could cuddle with me. CUDDLE WITH ME PEOPLE!! He crawled into my bed and played with my hair until I fell back asleep. An hour later he tapped me on the shoulder and said, "I'm hungry Mommy" and so I took my angel of a son up to eat some ridiculously nutritious Ramen Noodles. It was all I could muster up folks!

I am the most blessed woman I know to have been blessed with these 2 choice spirits. I thank Heavenly Father each day for moments like this with my kids, after all, they make all the screaming and arguing well worth while!

Fun with the Pollocks!

So while here in Hawaii, we met up with some of our favorite friends, the Pollock family! They came down to our hotel in Waikiki and we spent the day at the pool and ate a picnic dinner. Finn and Kalai were born one week apart and Kerilyn and I enjoyed being prego together. Finn and Kalai had so much fun together this week. We are so thankful that she was around to teach Finn the scare-d-cat that the swimming pool was FUN! The day before we weren't able to get him into the pool. What a crazy kid. By the end of the afternoon with Kalai, they were jumping into the pool and splashing everyone within a 4 foot range.

So if you are reading this and there are no pictures...don't fret. I will get them up soon. I am having technical difficulties with the hotel internet service.

later... so I finally got some of the pictures to upload but they are mini-me's!! Deal with it until I can fix it. :)