Annual New Year's update

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy 2009! 2008 was a busy year for us. Actually, it was a pretty ordinary year until about June when the movers showed up at our house and packed everything we owned into wood crates. We left San Diego only a few days after H finished kindergarten and headed off on almost a month of traveling before setting foot in Honolulu, Hawaii in mid-July. Here are a few of the highlights from our year…
In May, B finally had the opportunity to visit the Embry-Riddle campus in Daytona Beach, FL when she walked across the stage and accepted her Master’s Degree. It was a moment she’ll never forget! We also got to visit lots of family in south Georgia and relax a little. H learned how to kneeboard on Uncle R’s boat, and the kids even got to sit in a real fire truck at Meme and Grandaddy’s. C’s favorite part was riding on and driving (with Daddy’s help of course) Grandaddy’s tractor. It was a great trip!
In June, we flew to Alabama to visit Grandma and Papa, B’s parents. We drove all over the state to see lots of old friends and even went up to Indiana for our B's family reunion. It was wonderful to see and meet so many from her family. We also went to the Creation Museum in Cincinnati (awesome – check it out!) and to A Day Out with Thomas where we rode on a train pulled by Thomas!
Then in July we flew to Hawaii with three kids and two cats, and spent the next 11 days in 3 hotels (actually we couldn’t count if we wanted to the number of different places we stayed during the year!). Thankfully we moved into housing on day 12 and finally had a bed to sleep on about 2 weeks later when those same wood crates showed up at our new driveway (unfortunately many things didn’t look the same as they did when they were packed in San Diego)! D began his new job at the Chapel. Five months later his job keeps him very busy, but he gets to be home most nights to tuck the kids in bed. Such a blessing compared to the few nights he was home in 2007!
So then in September, our “baby” S turned two! She blows us away with her silly jokes and laughter. Her favorite thing to do is balance on Daddy’s hands as he lifts her high in the air (I can’t believe I don’t have a picture of this!). She seems to love the look of shock and fear on people’s faces. About the time she turned two, we discovered that we were having two more! An 8 week ultrasound confirmed what my friend Stacy already knew – we were having twins (she has twins too)! Talk about shock! Now at 26 weeks, we know they are fraternal boys and both are growing well. We’ve also learned that God is serious when He says He will bless you beyond all that you can ask or imagine! Now we just have to decide on names!
The next couple of months were spent trying to find a fit here in Hawaii, finish unpacking, homeschool H and try to make it through the day without a migraine or vomiting – all which proved to be challenging! H loves homeschooling, and it really has been a blessing to us. Sure, some days are harder than others, but I love the relationships that have developed between the kids as well as getting to spend quality time with her myself. The years are slipping by so fast. Sometimes I think if I blink she’ll be headed off to college.
We just finished December. C turned 4 and looks like such a big boy now. It’s funny to watch him turning into a small version of D – complete with scrapes from jumping off things and his sense of humor. B’s parents as well as her sister and brother-in-law came for a visit too. We did so much around the island, but by far the favorites were the kids’ presents from Aunt H and Uncle P. Aunt H took H on a dolphin encounter, and P took C for a helicopter ride! They both are still talking about it!
We had been planning a trip back to San Diego (H desperately wants to go snowboarding!) in January, but the doctor put an end to B’s overseas travel. We don’t have too many plans for next year. The twins will probably arrive around the beginning of April (hopefully no sooner or no later!) and traveling with 3 kids and 2 babies just sounds overwhelming now. I’m sure we’ll get the hang of it before too long! And while we don’t have much room, we do have a sofa sleeper (as well as the floor and sleeping bags!) and would welcome any of you for a visit. We wish you all a wonderful new year!

January 08 - Building a fort

H snowboarding at Big Bear in January

H and C camping with Daddy in April

Spring pics by our friend Susie - we miss you Susie!

B's graduation in May

C and D riding a tractor at Meme and Grandaddy's in May

A Day out with Thomas in June

4 generations taken at our family reunion in June (left to right - B's Grandpa with S, B's Dad with C, and B with H)

Twins at 25 weeks

The boys are looking good! I'm now 26 weeks (these pics are from last week). Besides the fact that both were breech at the ultrasound, they are growing well. Baby A is measuring just over 2 lbs and Baby B is just under 2 lbs. Actually Baby B is measuring where he should be and A is just an overachiever! Please pray with us that these boys will turn head down. If they are breech and a c-section is required they will most likely make their appearance earlier than if they wait on their own timing.

It's hard to tell from all the arms, legs, umbilical cords, and the membrane separating the two, but it looks like you can see Baby B's face in this last picture with Baby A. Just out from A's nose and mouth it looks like another face staring straight at you. Drs said the next ultrasound won't be near as clear since it's starting to get crowded in there. Starting to get crowded?! It's felt crowded to me for weeks!

Just for fun!

I heard this song before and thought it was pretty funny. D came across it last week and I thought I'd post it for other moms to enjoy too!

Christmas morning pics

Our yearly tradition of the kids under the tree in their Christmas pajamas. S loved being a candy cane, C's had trucks carrying Christmas trees, and H's said "I love presents."

Christmas pics, finally!

OK, so I don't know where the days go! How is it mid January already?! It almost seems silly to post some Christmas pics now, but I know that family would like to see them even if it is a few weeks after the fact. Just before Christmas H and C were in a Christmas play at the Chapel. H was an angel and C was a shepherd. They both loved it! We tried to get some pics of the kids dressed up. H enjoyed "modeling," C tolerated it, and S refused to sit still. Our Christmas was pretty relaxed this year. Family had left already and it was just the 5 of us Christmas morning. It took the kids about 5 minutes to tear through all of their presents and stockings (although S took longer and played with each thing for a few minutes before moving on to the next present). We had dinner at our friends J, M and R's house and played Risk until way too late in the night (although everything is late when your kids normally go to bed at 7:30!). We really had a good day!
Telling Santa what they want for Christmas. Too bad we didn't do this more than 4 days before Christmas! At least we have ideas for birthdays now.

C is on the far right. D dedicated the little baby who played Jesus at last week's service.

S being silly while I tried to take her picture.

Family in town

About a week after C's birthday, my sister, her husband and my parents came into town. We did so many things around the island I'm probably lucky I didn't go into preterm labor! But by far, the most favorite things of the two oldest were their Christmas presents from Aunt H and Uncle P. Aunt H took H on a dolphin encounter at Sea Life Park! She loved it! But she wouldn't kiss the dolphin; she just tickled him instead.

C's present was one on one time with Uncle P on a helicopter ride! He thought that was absolutely the coolest thing he's ever done in his whole life! I thought he might be nervous or frightened by the loud noise, but no. He smiled from the time he got in the car to go until about 2 hrs after they got home! They even got to ride in the front with the pilot, but C says he wasn't allowed to touch any buttons! Probably a good thing! We'll have pics of his ride soon.

Let's see, we also took the Admiral's Tour of Pearl Harbor, visited the Pacific Aviation Museum, USS Missouri, drove around the island and stopped at the North Shore (we even saw a sea turtle and a sea lion relaxing on the beach!), visited the Dole Pineapple Plantation, and of course opened Christmas presents. I'd dare say the trip to the North Shore proved to be the most fun for the kids. It rained most of the week they were all here which was just pretty much a bummer (the beaches weren't the prettiest). The kids all ran around the beach at the North Shore, dug in the sand, D opened a coconut (but it was rotten!) and climbed trees, chased tiny sand crabs, and I stood around with the camera!

My parents on the Pearl Harbor tour. One of the kids took this pic.

D and S found something in the grass. She is such a tomboy!

It looks like I might have 4 kids plus two on the way :)

I love this pic of S. She was running nonstop. I just happened to catch the shot as she looked back over her shoulder!

All in all it was a busy but fun week with family!

C turns 4!

December's over already?! We had such a busy month, and it went by way too fast. I have so many things that I want to post, so there will be a few new posts. The beginning of the month was C's 4th birthday. We just had a few friends over and rented a bouncy house. I'll tell you, that was probably one of his best (and cheapest bdays)! I never knew those things were so cheap to rent.

C decided on a Superman theme. The cake Daddy

and I made was a big hit!

He loved the red frosting. Oddly enough, he chose

a cupcake rather than cut up the cake.

He got some great toys, including a new light up John Deere tractor and some new cars.

Even S got in of the fun of frosting, but she chose blue (obviously!).

C's party was actually about a week before his birthday. So on his actual birthday, we gave him a present from us and his presents from Grandma and Papa. He loved putt-putt golf this summer so we got him his own Par 3 course! He also got an ambulance and Wall-E leapster game.