a thousand words

hawaii :: the reveal

{note: I don't ever want to forget our recent trip to Hawaii.  So, I'm going to try to blog as much of it as I can.  I WILL forget otherwise.  You may want to tune out for a bit while I go into "vacation recap" mode!}

There always seems to be one project that I leave to finish on Christmas Eve.  As much as I thrive on organizing the gifts & checking off the holiday to do list in September, the Christmas Eve project remains.  This past year it was figuring out a way to tell the kids, "We're going to Hawaii!"  I stayed up late crafting and editing.  I actually enjoyed it.  It's a lot of fun surprising the kids.  

After all the other gifts had been opened on December 25, 2010, one red envelope remained perched on the tree.  It read:

To: Berk, Stella & Charlotte

Love: Mom & Dad

The kids went on a rhyming scavenger hunt from tree to piano to washing machine to shower to guest bedroom & finally to the family room.  They found green and red cupcake wrapper leis hanging in the shower & a DVD in the guest bedroom.  They rushed around the house with big smiles on their faces.

By the time we got to watching the DVD, they said they knew what was up.  Seeing this just confirmed the fun to be had!

  

when bad things happen to good people

When coming home from vacation, I always meet a harsh reality.  Coming home from paradise (aka Hawaii) is extra harsh.  Coming home to this is extra super duper harsh!

Backing up to Tuesday the 15th...

At 5:30am Morgan wakes up for the day and showers.  Discovers there is no hot water. Uh oh.  

By 9:30am our leaky (yet only 5 year old) water heater is being completely replaced.  

By 12:30pm the water mitigation company is at the house testing for moisture.  

By 1:30pm the wood floors in the kitchen are being torn up.  I tear up just a tad.  

At 1:35pm the kids arrive home from school, we toss our bags in the car and head to the airport.  Yes, we left for Hawaii in the middle of all the chaos!!  

By 5:30pm we are on an airplane flying over the pacific, my nose in a book.  

This was quite the stressful vacation send off!  The upside?  We were all on a beach while dryers blew through the house and garage 24 hours a day for 3 days straight.  The downside?  My Dad is right... a house IS a pit into which you toss all your time and money!  Water can be such a destructive and expensive thing.

Morgan's keeping me laughing through this little bump.  We joke about it, saying "Why, oh why do bad things happen to good people?"   Major sarcasm helps keep perspective sometimes.  

 

valentine greetings

I remember the feeling of my 3rd grade valentine mailbox stuffed full.  I'd walk from Fox Meadow School to my home across the street.  The box was heavy with treasures and the prospect of that boy I thought was cute giving me a card.  When I got home I'd sort through all the candy and cards, giddy with excitement.  Hold up-- does this mean that there may be girls that think Berk is cute??   Ack!!    

Last night the kids sat at the playroom table to address, stuff, & tape lollipops to these valentine cards (a big thanks to stacey for her mad illustrator skillz).  As they addressed cards to Rileys & Haylas, Diegos & Antonios, their excitement was also palpable.  

Holidays are even more fun watching the kids than being a kid.

Happy Valentines Day!

 

12of12: February

{click image to enlarge}

01. As much as I can't live without my iphone, I also can't get away from a paper list.  Getting packed for a 24 hour trip to Las Vegas.

02. Stella reads to Charlotte in this spot every morning.  Really, no exaggeration.  They were extra happy for this Saturday morning when Stella wasn't rushed off to school.

03. Road trip!  Stella, Isaac and I head to Las Vegas up I-15.  The trip had dual purposes:  Attend niece Annie's baptism and drop Isaac off with Grandma for the week (sob).

04. Isaac getting his wiggles out in Barstow while I top off with gas and fill up the cup.

05. am/pm has the best ice around.  Where else can you choose cube or pellet?  Soda's not the norm, but road trips without a husband call for caffeine.

06.  The day via iphone.  Berk, Charlotte & Dad stay home for those two basketball games.

07. The Waite family needed a photo update.  Stephanie (pregnant with her 6th child) has been named Nevada's Young Mother of the year!  

08.  We took advantage of some Vegas connections and got a great deal on Stella's very first violin.  She starts suzuki lessons in March.

09.  Harris women I adore.  Lesli, Nan & Steph.  After the baptism, I dragged them out in fading light to snap a photo together.  

10.  Cousin wii time!  Just Dance is a hit.

11.  After obsessing over it for 3 days,  Stella give Nan her valentine.  On it she drew a picture of one of her favorite things-- painting & art lessons with her Grandma.

12.  The Waite's enormous wall calendar (that I try not to envy).  I wish I had a spot in my home for one like it.

 

I was really looking forward to another 12 of 12 day!  This project is a lot of fun for me.  I knew the day would be different since we were on the road.   The trip to Las Vegas to see family is done often and is pretty normal around here.  I'm glad I had the excuse to capture it!

It's been less than 12 hours and I am missing my isaac already though...

 

xxo

p.s. if you tried it this month, let me know!

bits of love

We have very very few valentine decorations around here, but it's fun to have little bits of love that scattered throughout the house.  Maybe it's the pink or the uncluttered feel?  Either way I like it!

{stella found these love note mailboxes from a few years back and immediately filled them with valentines.  time to make stella one and put that flag up!}

{charlotte's hand painted pot is a perfect kitchen addition}

{the kids valentines for their classes on display}

{my favorite of all.  a hailey o. creation!}

xo!

fresh

Something about kids fresh from the shower or tub makes them irresistible.   Especially when they give you looks like this:

{isaac @ 16 months/my new desktop background}

These days, Isaac will not allow me to shower without trying to get in.  Instead of listening to him scream at the glass door, 80% of the time I just let him in.  He is so happy in that warm water and I can actually condition my hair or shave my legs!  

This little man wants to be with me at all times.  It's quite a contrast from Berk who is showing more and more independence every day.  At 9 years old I can feel him pulling away from me, thinking for himself more & depending on me less and less.  I am not quite sure what to make of that yet.  It's a new phase in my path as a mom.  All I know for now is that I have quite the contrast with my two boys.

ok, back to the beautiful light...

xxo

 

recent obsessions

Isaac:  The garbage truck.  Tuesday mornings we get to watch from the windows as the CR&R truck makes its way past the side of our house and through our cul de sac. The little man sits quietly(!) entranced for a good 5 minutes.  

Charlotte: Swimming lessons.  She started this week and can't stop asking when she gets to go again.  In the middle of the 1st lesson she proclaimed, "This is great and SO MUCH FUUUUUN!!!"  Her 4 year old enthusiasm is fantastic.

Stella:  Counting down the days until we go to Hawaii!  13.  (ok, ok, I may have the same obsession!)  The trip was a big part of the kids' Christmas, so we've been counting since then.

Berk:  Basketball.  He complains because his team doesn't practice daily.  Their 3rd grade team is currently in first place.

Dad:  Basketball.  Lakers, Gators (Berk's team) & Jimmer Fredette.    

Me: Warming up with a homemade vanilla steamer.  

If you like milk, try one...  

Warm milk on stove (or 90 seconds in the microwave).  Add a splash of vanilla and a spoonful of honey.  Foam up with a handheld whipper.  Delicious!

What are you loving this winter?

xxo.