Phone Purge

Can I brag for a moment and say that I *love* that even in November and December, we can head down to the beach and hang out for a day in the warm air and warm water? We truly are so very spoiled being here! A few Saturdays ago we headed to Carlsbad Beach for a couple hours before doing our chores for the day. It was a great decision!

Honu

Sean hasn't cut his hair since March. One day I was getting all prepped and ready for church and Sean came in and borrowed my mousse and scrunching spray. I had to take a selfie with our matching curls. Haha. His hair is out of control! But then again...mine is too :)

Thanksgiving was really low-key for us this year. This was our first real holiday away from family and doing a traditional Thanksgiving dinner sounded like a lot of work. So instead, we opted for shrimp stuffed portobellos, steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, pumpkin bars, and no bake cookies. It was a lot less work and better suited toward our palates. We all were very happy with our decision!

This was a rare day that we had Sean for the entire day without him doing any school or studying. We spent the entire day playing games, eating food, hanging out, and having fun. Although we really missed family over Thanksgiving, we sure did make the most of it with our own little family of 6!

This picture was taken from my driveway. The lighting, the rainbow, the foliage...It was perfect!

I am extremely blessed that my favorite view so far on the Island is the one from my driveway. Look at those albizia trees!

Sean and  I left the kids home for about 15 minutes on their own (during Maverick's nap) and went for a walk. There is a barn across the street from us that we've been admiring from afar. We recently learned that the lot was empty and for sale, and the agent selling the property said he wouldn't mind if we went and checked it out. So we did! The lighting was incredible. The out buildings are all so old and dilapidated. I got some really cool pictures just with my phone! Next time I'll have to grab the big camera.

The sunset from my bedroom window.

Brayden got to march in the Christmas parade as a boy scout. I don't even think you can see him in this picture but I wanted to post a picture so we'd remember he did it! He got to march with Brigham and Truman Adams...his friends here. He had so much fun, and can't wait to do it (with Asher!) next year!

Brad and Lorraine are coming for Christmas! Asher is so excited that he made a paper chain. He wanted me to make sure I got a picture of him posing in front of the Christmas tree to send to them. He was pretty excited! (And yes, I realize my children never wear shirts, and sometimes not even shorts.)

We were grocery shopping and the boys were being really grabby and loud. Sean lined the older three up and talked to them about the importance of being respectful in public (We've had this conversation a thousand times) and Mavi sidled up to them and joined in the lineup. I sure do love these boys that are my life!

The ward Christmas party was a hoot. Hawaiians know how to party. Three of the four boys lined up to meet Santa and Asher eventually decided he would do it too.

As I've mentioned, Mavi doesn't speak, really at all. He starts speech next month! Woohoo! Anyway, he is highly intelligent but just not very vocal. He was crying and acting like he was hurting but I couldn't tell where. So I went and grabbed a bandaid and told him to put it where he hurts. He put it right on his side. For a minute I thought it might be his appendix, but it turned out to be nothing. I have no clue why he was so uncomfortable, and I'm glad it turned into nothing...I just wanted to remember this moment of communication with my 2.5 year old! (He is lying in popcorn as we had a movie night and the boys don't know how to not eat like pigs.)

Everett wrote his and Mavi's names for the first time ever!

We decided to make sugar cookies after school one day. We don't have any cookie cutters so we used a cup for most of them, then they used butter knives to create their own.

Sean is studying for finals and after studying for 14 hours yesterday, he was beat. During the 2nd and 3rd hours of church today, he went and slung his hammock up in a banyan tree and took a nap. He sure is in his element here!

Hawaii Adventures

We have had some exciting things happen since I blogged last.  We obtained 5 sheep, one butchered and four alive. We have eaten the butchered sheep a couple times and loved it, three of the live sheep escaped the neighbors fence that clearly wasn't tall enough, and the youngest died.

Then shortly after that, one of Sean's classmates called saying he was out trapping pigs and there was a piglet caught in the trap. He asked if we wanted to bring it home and raise it and of course, Sean said yes. He built a little cage for her with materials found in the mac nut barn, and we named her Desayuno, or Uno for short. She was really little...possibly not weaned from her mother, and we knew we were taking a chance with her. Only four days later, we went out to check on her and she hadn't made it through the night. We don't know anything about raising pigs, so maybe we should have bottle fed her, or given her shots, or kept her warmer at night as it's been getting pretty cold...but we assumed that since she was wild, she wouldn't really need any of that stuff. Oops.

Needless to say, we haven't had very much luck with livestock yet. Maybe someday our luck will change!

Tomorrow marks the beginning of finals week. Sean has 6 finals in 5 days. He had his last class on Thursday, but I haven't really seen him this past week at all. He has been studying like a mad man. He was studying for 14 hours straight yesterday. I really admire his tenacity and determination on getting good grades. Let's just hope it pays off! He got home at 4:30 this morning from campus, and on his drive home he saw several shootings stars. So when he got home, I wrapped up in a blanket and went out into the yard and watched the show. I think I saw 10 shooting stars in as many  minutes. The stars on this island are unlike anything I have ever witnessed. I am in complete awe each time I stop and appreciate them.

The Geminid Meteor Shower was supposed to be in full force tonight (but I'm not sure which time zone) so I did ask Sean if he'd take a few hours tonight and drive up the mountain a ways with us so we could watch the show up at 5,000 feet instead of 1,200 where we live.

We packed a picnic dinner then drove up Saddle Road. We watched the sun set, watched the sky change, then watched the stars start appearing. They were twinkling so brightly, and the kids were amazed at how many they were. It was fun pointing out what few constellations we know, and waiting for a shootings star. Unfortunately, we didn't see any! Last night's show was way more spectacular! I was bummed that the kids didn't get to see them, but I'm sure we'll have another opporotunity!

On our drive home, we sang Christmas carols and really just enjoyed being together as a family. We stopped at Waiakea Uka Park on our drive home and let the kids play on the playground in the pitch black while we watched for stars again. We actually did see a couple shooting stars, including one that lasted about 4 seconds! It was incredible.

I hope the kids appreciate that we go out and do things like this. I sometimes feel like they take being in Hawaii for granted, but hope they'll appreciate it when they're older anyway!

I just really don't want to get complacent about being here. I want to live it up and experience as much culture, nature, and moments as we can while we're here.

Now, for pictures from tonight!

Ohia flower

Asher playing with his light saber.

Picnic! Brayden is hiding under the blue blanket, and Mavi had missed his nap so was asleep in the car.

Shining a light on Brayden during this long-exposure shot. I *really* need to learn how to use my camera to do cool things with it!

Kaumana Caves

Veteran's Day meant a day in the middle of the week with Sean home instead of at school. We decided to take advantage! I ran a 3 miles in the direction of Kaumana Caves, then Sean and the boys picked me up on our way. We met up with Brigham and Truman (the boys friends here) and had them come with us. It was fun to have them tagging along!

Kaumana Caves are here in Hilo only about 15 minutes from our house. The lava tube was created from lava flow from Mauna Loa in 1881. It was dark and wet, but it was so cool

Despite head lamps and long sleeves, Mavi wasn't digging it. We only made it about 100 yards in before he was done, so him and I turned around and waited at the top for the crew. Sean took the boys all in and they had so much fun exploring. There were times when there was a small creek running along the bottom, then it would disappear, only to resurface a bit later. There was water dripping on us from the tree roots that had grown through the top of the tube, and there were so many different types of rocks and textures. Nature is so cool!

Descending the stairs into the skylight of the cave

Looking back out the skylight.

Tree roots hanging through the top of the tube.

Mavi waiting for his brothers to come back

We were playing with the headlamp and he spontaneously turned and kissed me. I got my camera ready in case he did it again, and he did! I sure do love this boy!

After we were done at the caves, we had a little bit of daylight left so we rushed home, grabbed our swimming gear and headed to the beach. We are so incredibly blessed to live where we live, and I hope we never take it for granted!

We are so very grateful for the Veterans that have served our country. We are grateful for their sacrifice, and the sacrifices of their families. We are so blessed to live in a country where freedom is ours, and we recognize that this didn't come free.

Girls Weekend in Oahu!

Through a small twist of fate, I was able to spend 48 hours in Oahu with some of my girlfriends from Oregon. Sean was amazing and supported me in going Friday afternoon through Sunday night so I could meet up with Heather, Brittany, Stephanie and (later joined by) Erika.  At one point several years ago, we were all in the same ward but it's been awhile since that. Heather had a timeshare she had scheduled but her husband got deployed so wasn't able to join. She invited us instead, and all of us were able to come!

Most of the girls were there Friday through Wednesday or Thursday, but I was so grateful to get the time I got with them. We fit so much in!

Snorkeling, swimming, hot-tubbing, running, shopping, stopping at a delicious fruit stand, Polynesian Cultural Center, delicious food, Pearl Harbor (minus visiting the Arizona), relaxing on white sand beaches, etc. etc. etc. It was really the perfect getaway, and I am so grateful I was able to spend time with these incredible women!

Front row seats!

We drove past the temple after the PCC and even though we couldn't get close, it was still great to see!

Stephanie, Me, Heather, Brittany, and Erika, all wearing our kimonos that Heather brought us! She definitely spoiled us!

Heather is a Personal Color Analyst. I didn't know what this meant until this trip, but she has a process of figuring out what "season" you are, and which colors look best against your skin. This knowledge makes shopping for clothing, makeup, jewelry, etc. way easier, and it ensures that you are always looking your best! This picture is unedited, but look how blue my eyes are because I'm wearing my colors. I'm a "bright spring." How cool is this? I had so much fun, and for the first time ever bought and wore lipstick and I actually like the way it looks. Who'da thunk? 

While I was in Oahu, my sister, Heather gave birth to her second child, a daughter. She's beautiful, and perfect. Heather is THE SuperWoman, and my heart hurts that I have to wait so long to hold this little angel!

Eloise Magdelena Isaacson (nickname: Lou)

November 6, 2015 • 10:18pm

8 lbs 12.5 oz • 20.5 inches