Hawaii: Oahu (Honolulu)

Evan and Jaden both blogged about their adventures in South Dakota, so I’ll take the opportunity the next several posts to share about Nathan’s and my adventures in Hawaii! First stop: Honolulu on the island of Oahu.

We arrived early afternoon and had 24 hours before we boarded our cruise ship—so we decided to make the most of it. Of course that meant immediate beach-time!! 

         Waikiki Beach                 Diamond Head in Background

It was Friday night on Waikiki Beach, so we were lucky to enjoy the sunset prior to watching the fireworks on the beach. 

The time change was in favor of adventurous travelers! We were up really early and ready to find our first trailhead: Manoa Falls. A cab drove us out of the Honolulu area and dropped us off at the start of the trail. We appeared to be the first on the trail that morning. I had read a little online about the trail, and the word ‘muddy’ was repeatedly stated…..at first I thought, nahhh this isn’t that bad……

Then as I was clinging to bamboo trees, I realized what everyone was talking about! There was a hose at the end to rinse our shoes off, but yes, I did leave my shoes in Hawaii!

Clearly, the mud was so worth the breathtaking view at the end: My first Hawaiian Waterfall! Manoa Falls cascades150 feet down to a crystal clear pool.

Near the waterfall was the barely visible trailhead to Aihualama Trail. At first I told Nathan to ‘oh just go ahead and I’ll wait for you here’……(Yes, these big rocks were the start of the trail!)

I was so glad I decided to follow. The trail was quite a fun adventure through Bamboo Forests and near amazing banyan trees. 

If we would have had all day, the trail does connect with miles of other trails, but we had to turn around and get back to the hotel, shower off all the mud, and make our way to the cruise ship! I had wanted to do 3 things in Hawaii: see a waterfall, hike through a bamboo forest, and lay on the beach. 24 hours later---mission completed!

To complete my Oahu pictures: Jump ahead 7 days-- When our ship ported in Honolulu on our final day, Nathan and I spent the hours before our flight left visiting Pear Harbor. Here are some photos of the sobering experience on the grounds of Pear Harbor’s memorials, museums and exhibits.

 

Jaden's Fun on the Farm with Grandma and Grandpa!

Sneaky.  That’s my mom.  I knew something was up when Mom put Evan and me in the car early one morning.  E and I watched videos, sang, slept and ate.  Then we stopped at a gas station.  Both of us had a diaper change and then oh, my, what a surprise!  Grandma Pam and Grandpa Al were there.  We got to play in some rocks and run on the cement.  Evan tried to get away, but Grandma was faster.  Then we were put back in the car.  There were good byes but wait--that’s not Mom driving my car.   Grandpa was driving my car!!  My car; but no Mom.  Sneaky.  

 After a long ride we stopped at this building and boy did we run.  Someone said, “Say hi to Aunt Laurie.”  I really didn’t care because there were long hallways and offices and many places to hide.  Some of Laurie’s co-workers are important people, but I didn’t care because they had books and balls and fun things in their offices.

After an additional two-hour ride we were finally in a house that looked familiar and some toys I saw before.  After pizza, a bath, a few stories we were in bed.  I woke at 5:30am just to have grandma to myself and it worked. 

Then the car was packed again and we were off to Grandma Linda’s.  I sure wish these people could make up their minds.  I heard something about Grandma Pam going to Steamboat Springs with Laurie.  At least I get to keep my car.

On Monday, Grandma Pam picked us up. That night Ethan from Illinois too was next door and came over to play.  I was more interested in the riding lawn mower the guy in another house was using, and Evan wanted to climb the steps of the people behind Grandma.  Yes, we did fight over the car just like we do at Miss Lauren’s.

Tuesday we finally got to go to the farm.  Grandpa made a farm for us in the basement, but this was the real one with cows, tractors, cats and dogs. I was glad Mom sent farm clothes and boots because I discovered how much fun a fresh cow pie can be!  It’s really just like mud.  We got to drive the 4-wheeler, see the cows, the bulls, and drive the tractor.

On Wednesday, Grandma and Grandpa went to a funeral and Heidi and Kerry came to stay with us.  They were fun!! It was chilly, but we went to the zoo after our naps.  They sure have a lot of quack quacks there.  We really liked the chickens.  There was a merry go round at the zoo that was so fun, and we even held on all by our selves. Later that afternoon Kerry’s daughter Abby came to play.  She had painted toenails and liked playing in our tent. 

Reinforcements showed up on Thursday.  Aunt Laurie let us do stuff I don’t think Grandma was always happy about.  She also gave us vanilla wafers for snacks.  I like her. One day she was in charge, and she let us play in the garage.  Yes, mouse traps are toys!  She bought us this Strider bike, but I would rather ride on the trike or the car.  I know I will use the strider at my house. 

We went to the farm again--a bit warmer than the last time.  Boy I like that tractor!  I threw a fit when Evan was driving---so Grandpa gave me a second ride and I got to go with him and move some hay.  I think Dad needs one of these in Illinois. We also got to feed the bulls and the cats. I like all the stuff at the farm and hope someday Grandpa will let me drive the tractor myself. 

When Grandpa was home--we would go to the basement door and whine.  Worked every time.  I like the big barn and fence in the basement.  Sometimes I would just sit in the fence.  Sometimes I moved all the tractors to the tent. We could jump off the couch and always Grandpa would catch us. On rainy days, we went to the mall that had a new play area.  We were the only ones there, even though Evan ran to the jewelry store, it was fun.

Wait---another early morning--car is packed and we are strapped in.  Here we go---we are still in our car.   I don’t like car rides, but Grandma sings with us--so it is not so bad.  Another McDonalds.  I really got Grandma - she changed me, put me down and I went to the corner of the bathroom--you guessed it--I stooped and grunted.  Now Grandma was talking about it raining outside and needing to get a new diaper---I just laughed.

After a long, too long of a car ride we started slowing down. We drove into a garage.  Hey, I know this place; I wonder if Mom and Dad are here---yup there she is!!! And around the corner, there is Dad and all of my toys.  It is a good feeling to be back to ‘Normal’!

A Big thank you and 'Happy Birthday' to guest writer: My mom, "Grandma Pam!" 

Adventures with Grandma Linda!

Grandma Pam loaded us into the car and said we were going for a ride, next thing we know we arrived in Volga where Grandma Linda was waiting for us. We thought maybe this is where we would find daddy and mommy, so we ran back and looked in the bedroom they stay in, but they were not there. We were so sad, but Grandma Linda took us to the living room where she keeps the toys. Guess what, there were some new toys and three new balls, so we started playing. Second-cousin Philip, Uncle Kyle, Aunt Rachel and new cousin Elliot all came over to play and eat pizza.

We love pizza so we stuffed our mouths. Grandma was not happy when I started throwing my food on the floor. That was my first boot camp lesson. When I was done eating, I was put on the floor with a bowl and Kyle and Rachel had me pick up the food I had thrown on the floor. I could not believe they were making me do this, but they were serious so I got the job done. All too soon it was bedtime, although don’t tell mom- it was an hour later than when we usually go to bed! Jaden slept in Grandma’s room, and I slept in daddy’s room. Jaden decided to get up at midnight, but Grandma talked him into going back to sleep.  But he showed her – and was up at 6:00 AM!

 

Another cool, rainy day, so all we could do was look out the glass doors. Grandma has a lot of quack quacks (birds) in her yard. Someone left the bathroom door open, so we picked up some Tupperware and thought the toilet would be a good place to throw them. Wonder why Grandma was not real happy with us? After our naps, we went to Brookings to pick up Aunt Rachel and went to the Children’s Museum.  Wow, what a place. Grandma forgot her camera – now how could she do that!? We loved pushing those green grocery carts. We hooked vegetables to this high thing and watched the vegetables go to the top and drop.   Then we gathered eggs.  Soon Jaden found the climbing thing, so off he and Phil went.  Jaden loved it, but poor Phil was a bit big to get around some of the corners.

Then Jaden heard something – water – really?  Yes, you should have seen all the water!  Phil and Jaden spent a long time in the water room. When Grandma came to get Jaden, he was soaked, but did not care!  I did not want anything to do with the water, so Aunt Rachel and I found the music room til it was time to leave.

What is the bright object outside? – the sun – really!?  Phil came out and helped Grandma get us to church.  Jaden did not even make it through the second hymn before Grandma took him out. I was a good boy and stayed in church the whole time. After our naps, Grandma got out these harnesses with a monkey back pack and put them on us.   We did not mind at all despite the fact that daddy told Grandma we are not dogs. We went for a walk.

Afterwards, we went for a stroller ride (Marcia came over and she pushed our stroller) and Grandma pushed cousin Elliot.

When we got back, Grandma said she was too tired to cook, so we got to eat at McDonalds (again, maybe something we shouldn’t tell mom!). Jaden, loved dipping those French fries into the ketchup. I loved my apples.  Afterwards we got to play at the park, and by the time we got home, we went right to sleep.

 

 

We were kind to Grandma and slept in until 7 AM Monday. We ate a good breakfast and then Grandma read books to us. We tried to pronounce the words she was saying. Then Grandma Pam came and off we went to Watertown for the week.

Thanks, Grandma Linda, for a fun time!

Preparing for South Dakota Bootcamp!

As the boys prepare for South Dakota Bootcamp, here’s a schedule for Grandma Linda, Grandpa Pam and Grandpa Al. The boys do pretty well sticking to Miss Lauren’s schedule at day care, but they have minds of their own, too!

Jaden will likely wake up first, if it’s before 6am, I give him some milk, change his diaper, and put him back to bed---he will likely cry. Try to leave him and he may/should/hopefully go back to sleep. Leaving a book within his reach helps him too. Evan is less predicable as he could wake up at 6am if he hears Jaden, or wake at 7, and if you’re lucky, 8am. They can have some cereal in the morning. As we are eating, Jaden usually sits and watches cartoons with his dry cereal.

Between 8-10am they usually eat. Typical foods include: yogurt, applesauce, lightly toasted bread, waffles (plain), muffins, fruit of any kind. You can put dry cereal on their tray as you prepare food or clean up. DO not be surprised if Evan throws food on the floor---Jaden does this when he is full; Evan does this for attention! At any time, please discipline as necessary. 

If it’s nice outside, morning is a good time to play outside. For sunscreen: the ‘stick’ makes it easy to put on the face, ‘spray’ for their scalp, and ‘lotion’ for arms/legs. I know, they are high maintenance.

Between 11:30-12:15 they typically eat lunch. It totally depends on their moods as to what they will eat! They seem to like mac n cheese, pizza, grilled cheese, cheese sandwich. They will eat most meats in small pieces……pasta marina sauce/BBQ sauce/or ketchup with the meat helps if they aren’t eating it. We grilled out and they loved baked beans! Canned carrots are their favorite veggie and they can easily split 1 can in a sitting. If you plan to give fruits at meal time. Give them at the end, or they will only want more and eat nothing else. Also, If they aren’t eating the figner foods/bite sized pieces on their trays, try using a metal fork and put a piece on it for them and give them the fork---then they should eat better because it’s more fun for them…..more work for you!

After lunch, change their diaper and to make it easy-just give them about 4-5 ounces of milk in a bottle and put them in their respective pac-n-plays with the lights out and sound machine. They should fall asleep for about a 2.5 hour nap.

When they make up- they can have a snack. For snacks: any fruits, any of the breakfast items above, gold fish crackers, veggies, graham crackers, etc.

Special Occasion: Ice Cream treats!

Playtime! They will continue to push their boundaries! They are sneaky, and quick! If they are doing something they shouldn’t be---diverting their attention should help. Also during fussy time, DVDs or Mickey Mouse online should help. They love Mickey!

Supper- same advice as lunch. Depending on snack time in the afternoon---they likely will get hungry by 5:30 or 6. They can have water in sippy cups at meals. Only thing they can’t have it Peanut Butter (and I would just stay away from eggs with Jaden).

At 7:30pm (7:15 if fussy) give them about 7-8 ounces of milk in bottle. They can drink this while playing/watching DVD. You can change them into PJs. After the milk, brush their teeth. You can put about a fraction of a pea-size dot of the toddler toothpaste on their yellow toothbrushes. You will have to do the initial brush, then they love to try and eventually chew the brush. Tonight Evan was a Drama King after I took the brush away. Then put them in their pac n plays. Nate typically sings the ABC’s and Jeasus Loves Me. Jaden gets his blanket and Evan his lamb. 

They likely will cry, but just for a bit. Evan tends to be up til after 9 whereas Jaden should cuddle with his blanket and fall asleep soon.

Now, go to bed yourself!! I do not practice what I preach, but I would highly recommend it. Jaden will be up early! If one happens to wake during the night---change diaper if needed. Evan seems to talk in his sleep, so you may just let him go. Jaden will scream-cry. If it’s like 4am, I’d give him some milk and leave him alone. I got in a pattern of trying to rock him but then he wouldn’t let me put him back down without waking up, so then we spent days basically waking up at 4…….now I just give him milk and close the door!!

You will have so much fun…..oh, and don’t forget to take pictures!!! Text/call anytime. Miss you all!!

And a final HUGE THANK YOU!!!!!

I know, I know.......'Mom, we've got this!!'

Fun Run!

Who knows if the boys will be avid runners like Aunt Laurie who is completing her 40^th state this weekend in her venture to run a marathon in all 50 states; however, they did complete their first 200-meter dash! Well, dash is a word used loosely with 1-year-olds. They definitely dash in places they shouldn’t--- like when I take one of them out of the shopping cart, and off they go. Or when we walk on the sidewalk and they spot the dog across the street they want to run and pet. 

Stay in the yard, boys!

But on the track, Evan did a little more meandering than dashing---about ¾ of the way he heard the up-beat music and stopped to dance- bouncing his head up and down: he definitely enjoyed the journey to the finish line.

Jaden and Nathan run ahead from Evan and I.

There were a lot of people at the start, so I was a little worried we would end up carrying them the 200-meters to the finish!

Mason, from daycare, also ran. The three boys did great and made it the whole way. This is my attempt to get a photo afterwards! And a great view of Evan’s bite mark on Jaden’s cheek. 

Martha or Mary?

I received an email today from Nathan. It was a reply to an email I sent him the end of March with his statement: “List completed!” I looked below, and saw the laundry-list of dates I had sent him regarding evening and weekend times I needed him- or a sitter- to watch the boys in April through graduation last Saturday. On the heels of finishing my small group book “Balance that Works When Life Doesn’t” by Susie Larson, I reflected on her writing and this past school year. (And yes, for those following and remember I posted many months ago about this book, we did take an entire school year to read one book :) ) 

The school year does have a natural ebb-and-flow, you can guess where April falls! But along with the business of work, there’s Mr. Evan and Mr. Jaden to worry about. With the warm weather they are non-stop on the go, all day and evening. This past month Evan got his first scraped knee, Jaden climbs on things that are way too high, and of course, when out of the stroller-they both go in opposite directions. We won’t even start about trying to keep a house clean with twin 1-yr-olds!

Squeezable fruit.....that's spill-proof, right?!

The last chapter of the book reflected about a passage from Luke 10 that I remember my dad referring to often growing up and even in recent years to me Thanksgiving weekend! 

          “Mary and Martha welcomed Jesus into their home. Both wanted to be near Him, both wanted to serve Him. Martha hurried to and fro, stressing about the food when the Source of all life was sitting in her living room. Mary, on the other hand, sat at Jesus’ feet and soaked in everything He had to say. Martha complained to Jesus and asked Him to talk to Mary. And this was His reply: “My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it – and I won’t take it away from her.”’

When thinking about balance, I see that this passage doesn’t just refer to me being ‘Martha’ when we have company over, but me letting go of some of the ‘details’ of motherhood……i.e. stop looking at overly-organized pins on Pinterest! The boys get into everything, they don’t know how not to spill, and I promised I wasn’t going to write about Jaden’s new shoes that after just the 5 short minutes I let him play in the yard, the shoes and Jaden were covered in mud! 

The boys running out their energy at a stop during our last trip back to SD.

Believe it or not, the boys loved playing with blocks within this gate while Nathan and I planted our garden. 

And yes, looks like I have a details boy on my hands.......

But do all those details matter? Should I worry about them? No. But it’s easier to write than to do. I think, ironically, it really does take Balance. Finding that fine line of worrying enough for the safety of my boys, but yet, letting them have fun exploring and learning. And as I look at the dishes in the sink, I think I’m going to practice the chapter on Rest and go to bed!