My Ian

Another few things that Ian like to say that I must write down otherwise I'll forget.

I was sorting out the laundry and noticed Ian was in the bathroom going through a lot of toilet paper, wiping at his nose.
Me: Ian, it might help better if you blow into the tissue instead of just wiping.
Ian: No, it won't help.  Its not snot its just a lot of goo.

Sorry if that's gross, but for me it was funny that he calls his drippy nose goo.

Last night he did one of his words that just makes me want to hug him so tight and tell him to never grow up and stay little forever.

I put in a movie for him in my bedroom that he wanted to watch.  I needed to go shower, Isabel was playing elsewhere, and Shaun was fixing something so it was just Ian.

Ian: Mommy, will you stay and watch the movie with me so I won't be a lonely?

For some reason he says A Lonely, not alone.  He separates it and adds the ly.  It is the most adorablest thing that he says, with a sweet sad voice.  So precious.

Its Beginning to Feel A Lot Like Christmas..

Ian and I are in the car driving home.

Ian: "Mom, I want to listen to Jib Jab".
I figured with my hearing impairment I might I have heard him wrong, but sure enough, that was exactly what he said.
Interpretation: "Mom, I want to listen to Feliz Navidad".

The kids love watching and listening to the Christmas Jib Jab videos with their faces on the dancers.  Then the day before, Feliz Navidad came on the radio and sure enough the kids started swinging and dancing exactly like how the dancers do on the Jib Jab video.  Loved it.

My 32nd Birthday

This year for my birthday Shaun wanted to take me on a Shark Tour at North Shore.  Only time available was an 0600 slot (that's 6am for non-military personnel).  So we dropped the kids off with some good friends of ours to stay the night, and set the alarm for 0415 so we can be there at 0530.  Of course I was a bit out of sorts when we woke up and was definitely not able to eat much, but I did mange a piece of toast and peaches.  And just so you know I did prepare myself with Dramamine an hour before so that it is coursing through my bloodstream in plenty of time for the boat ride. 

We arrived just in time and boarded the boat with just a touch of light in the sky.  Shaun and I sat at the front of the boat since there was no where else for us to sit and soon discovered that we were going to get quite wet before we even got in the water.  The waves were huge that morning and causing us to dip up and down like a roller coaster.  We were being splashed on and rained on.  3 miles out we finally made it to the buoy for the boat to anchor to. 

I kept asking Shaun "didn't you tell me that morning time was the best time to see sharks because the water is really calm in the morning?".  The waves were still causing the boat to lurch up and down, and was starting to feel a bit nauseous by now.  Shaun and I got up and looked over the side of the boat, and there they were.  Big, huge, multiple wild sharks swimming around.  Crazy!  Alas, seeing the water rising up at me and dropping so suddenly was the last straw.  Heave, ho!  I lost it.  On the same side that the shark tank was on. 

Whoops.  Felt a little better though, for like a split second, and then made it to the other side of the boat before I lost it again.  This happened repeatedly, for the entire time we were on the boat.  I would slowly make my way to the end of the boat, and kept telling myself "if I could just get in the water I'll be fine".  At one point I saw Shaun step to the side and did a little heave, ho himself.  I thought he drank a whole bunch of water and then spewed it out to make it look like he was throwing up just to make me feel better that I wasn't the only one, but.. I was wrong.  He was really sick himself, but luck guy felt better after only one session of throwing up. 

Slowly I got myself ready to go by making my way to the tank which was ready for me to get in. As I'm trying to pull my mask on I told Shaun "I don't feel so good" and pretty much collapsed.  Shaun and the Captain picked me up and laid me down on a padded bench to rest and recover till we were back on land.

Later on, Shaun told me that I wasn't the only one with a sensitive stomach.  Pretty much the whole tour group was out for the count.

I was so excited!  I couldn't wait to see the sharks.  Oh, well.

Undercover from all the water coming down on us on the trip out to the sharks.  Unbeknownst to me Shaun was already feeling a bit sick. Can you tell?



Love this guy!




This was when I started to get really sick.  Blah!  I hate throwing up.



We capped off the day with a movie and seafood dinner.

Ordered delicious snow crabs, and not so good steak combo.  I even got a free birthday dessert that was yummy.

Thank you, Shaun, for yet another unforgettable birthday.

Ian Turned 4

My sweet little Ian turned four August 6th.  We already had this big Pirate Party for him on the Mainland so we did this quiet family birthday event on the actual day.  He asked to go to Chuck E Cheese so off we went.  Cheese pizza and rootbeer was his request, but he didn't eat or drink any of it till afterwards when we were in the car.  He kept running around and doing all the games, he was too busy to think about eating.  On the way home I picked up these gourmet cupcakes at Safeway, and I have to say WOW!  They were good.  Really good.  Ian had a small bite off the top and he was good (sadly I finished it for him later).

Happy Birthday my sweet wonderful Ian.  You make me smile every morning when you wake me up with your "its morning time" routine.  I love that you let me hug and kisses you all I want, and you hug me so tight back.  I love how easy it is to make you smile, and laugh.  I love how kind you are to everyone, especially your sister.  I love everything about you.  Don't grow up too fast?  I want you to stay my little boy forever.

Back to School for my 1st Grader

My sweet little Isabel started school Monday!  In 1st grade!  She is so grown up, and pretty, and adorable, and I'm not just saying that because I'm her mom.

Finally Home!

After a two month long vacation in Washington and Utah I am finally home and can start the blogging again.  I'm seriously cringing at the idea of going through my 400+ pictures and videos that I took, and organizing it all for the blog.
 "I..., I will triumph"
Meg Ryan, in ________ . (who can guess what movie?)

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

And a thank you to all you Military soldiers for sacrificing yourself for our country.

Mahalo!!

Memorial Day was spent at the Grandparent Elton's house with lots of cousins running around.  It was a fabulous, beautiful day.  It couldn't have been better.  Except if Shaun was there with us.

First order of the day was to go for a swim with the Bug King handing out nectar for all the little ones.

After a quick rinse our kids were treated to a spa service by grandpa Bill.  Totally awesome style.

There were lots of bikes riding back and forth.

Once the kids worked up a good appetite Grandma Chelle had a wonderful BBQ feast ready for us.  Hotdogs, Hamburgers, potato salad, fruit salad with lemon whip cream, a variety of chips, and rootbeer/cream soda.

The bubble machine was a huge hit.  The kids played with that thing forever!

Obie eating the bubbles is probably the Mann way to do things.

Gathering wood for the fire pit so we can roast those marshmallows.

Totally Posers.

All 10 grand kids, and happy as can be with Grandma Chelle's brownies.

The newest edition to our Elton Family, little Miss Hazel.  Only 4 weeks old.  So precious.  So wish I have another one.

Gorgeous!

Marshmallow Monster!

Peter started this new "tradition" of spinning the kids on the tire swing with his own flair to it.  Then he caps it off with a magic show.  Totally cool.