Lessons, Animals, and Day Trips

Haven't written on this forever and so I figure it's time for an update...

Sarah has really been enjoying her Ballet classes and made a little friend in her class. They were cracking up and really trying to make each other laugh. The teacher was really good at regaining the girls attention and she is so patient with them. Her class is so small, it started off as 4 girls but last week there was 3. It's kind of nice that it's small, seems more personal that way.

Julia will be starting her Swim Lessons on Wednesday! She's been asking for months so I know she will enjoy them.

The girls have been catching Geckos lately. It's all the rage at their school. We try to encourage them to let the Geckos go after catching but they really want to make friends with these Geckos. So as a result they end up losing tails; I'm pretty sure the tails grow back but I'm sure the lizards appreciate having them just the same. It's a lost cause at this point but a cute hobby of theirs.

I've been trying to do more things with the girls during the weekend. We've noticed the longer they are cooped up in the house the more we drive each other crazy. So last weekend we went to the Zoo and the Aquarium. We've got a family pass to the Zoo so we really should be going more often. They love the goats usually because you can go in the pen with them but this time we went the Goats were ramming each other and chasing after people. Julia was chasing after the Goats trying to pet them while they were ramming each other. I chickened out and made the girls get out of there.

The Aquarium was very cool. Julia seemed more psyched about it this time then the last few. Each of the girls were given a radio where you push the numbers for each tank while you are walking through and then it gives an explanation of the animals. The girls really loved that. They are still working on numbers but they got the hang of it as we were going through.

Sarah had found a coral fossil a few months back so she brought it for people at the aquarium to look at. They didn't know much about it and asked us to come during the week when the experts are there. They also said that maybe they could use it for display there; Sarah was really excited about that. Julia was mostly excited about holding the hermit crab because this time she wasn't scared since she's been finding them on the beach.

They loved going out and making a day of it but their only complaint is that they wanted to go to the beach. So that's the plan for this weekend.

Broken Camera :(

So almost as I got my new nifty Video Camera my regular camera fell on the cement ground. Now when I turn it on it asks me to turn it off. I will miss that camera because I got it right before Julia was born to document the kids growing up. I guess this just means that I really have to use this video camera. I used it at the beach when we stayed at Bellows the other day and I got Sarah's first wipe out in the water and Julia catching a moth. It was really funny because as soon as Sarah got out of the water she was freaking out and not because she got caught in the undertow but because she lost her goggles! Dad found them so all was well but she said she didn't mind going under the wave and that she wanted to do it again!

Christmas

 

Merry Christmas/Holidays! We've had some great time off of work and school. The girls have been very good this year and the adults have been as well!
So far we've had our friend Audre come for a few wonderful days! It was so fun adventuring together; Dann, Audre, & I went on a nice nature walk around Koko Crater while the girls were still in school. We saw Sarah as Mary in her Christmas Play, we went to a cute little beach near Waimanalo with the girls, and the last day she was here we went to Hanauma Bay to snorkel. It was Sarah's first time snorkeling and she did a great job. My parents babysat one night while Audre was here so we all went out to eat, got stuffed, and tipsy. Allways fun with friends;had a few nights at home wine drinking (Pineapple Wine is good),snacking, and watching classics like Bad Santa and Community. We were so happy to have Audre here and wish that we could have kept her! The girls kept trying to convince her to stay for a few more days.
Since then we've been trying to get things in order for the New Year; organized the kitchen, got laundry to a reasonable amount, and straightened out the girls room. My Uncle Jonathan came on Wednesday and we got to see him yesterday morning for breakfast. We opened presents and enjoyed some cereal and fruit until it was time to go home and make some delicious green beans with Cherry Vinaigrette. It's a very simple dish that went well with all the yummy things my Grandma cooked up for dinner. Then we got ready for Santa; once we finished baking brownies (saving those for dinner tonight), watched Charlie Brown's Christmas, The Grinch, and Dann read Twas The Night Before Christmas the girls were ready to sleep. Dann and I opened up 1 present from eachother each, stuffed the stockings; we put beeswax, lavender play clay, stamp markers, stickers, coral, and Dann's super cool idea for a coupon for Sarah's dancing lessons and Julia's swimming lessons. After Santa came we watched some more Community and once we were t.v.d out and I was ready to sleep like nothing else Dann said I had to get up because there was something urgent. I figured it was more preparation for Christmas but it turned out that Mom and Dad had gotten me a video camera! This video camera will definitely get some use and if the next time you me with it pointed at your face don't be surprised! The girls of course had a great morning opening all their goodies; they love all of their presents and one more great present is that Mom on Dann's side will be here in the New Year and are looking very much forward to her stay!
Merry Christmas & OR Happy Holidays!

Have a Happy New Year!!!

Sarah has changed so much in just these past months. She doesn't have tantrums any more! That is such a huge milestone for her and our family. She thinks things through and she tries to reason with Julia (who is in full swing tantrum these days). At least we know there is an end to it! We definitely owe this pleasant change to Waldorf; she expresses herself so well now in every way and she's really becoming such a big girl.

last weekend and this 4 day weekend

The girls had a great time trick-or-treating. Most of the fun came from the getting ready part. They loved getting their hair colored; Julia had chosen red but the color came out looking bright orange and Sarah got pink. We ended up walking around my grandparent's neighborhood with my grandpa. It was weird because there would be a row of about 3 or more houses closed before we would get to a house with a light on. We might end up making rounds at one of the more kid-populated neighborhoods next year. No one came to our house because of the dreaded steep ridge and lightening fast cars that are known to plow into trees or walls. We did have fun decorating the front of the house with pumpkins, spiderwebs, and our funny little skeleton man. The girls were allowed to keep 9 pieces of candy each and of course I ended up gorging on much of the rest. Dann convinced me to finally let him dump it out.
This weekend will be busy; dad and I have a few closings coming up! One of them is for a family friend so we're helping her move out this weekend and wrap up all the loose ends. Today mom and I spent some time with her while the girls spent some time with my grandma and grandpa. When Dann picked the girls up after work Julia was helping Grandpa wash the car and Sarah was pulling oranges from their tree. Dann kept the girls busy and they also watched It's Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs; he says it's a pretty funny movie. Sarah planted a seed from her orange once Mom and I got home and then the girls were both ready for some swinging/twisting. Once we all ate; the girls bathed and after playing 20 questions 20 times and playing the guess what I'm drawing on your back game they were sort of settled. They got one story and wanted more but I was beat so I called Dann in for back-up for the final tuck-in.

Fall Break

It's almost over! We definitely needed the break. Although it's been a little difficult because I've been taking over for my dad since he has been gone. We've had some fun though; art classes of course, a visit to grandma and grandpas', got hair coloring for halloween, a play date, painted pumpkins, and tomorrow we are going to Sea Life Park! We haven't done that in forever so it should be fun. The girls are excited for Halloween; Sarah is dressing up as a rainbow princess with pink hair and Julia is dressing up as a cat with red hair. Pictures will definitely be posted.

Crazy Keiki

The girls went to their first Waldorf playdate at someone elses house. They had a great time, drove the girl's older brother and his friends crazy, and other things that girls do. When I got there to pick them up they were playing dress up; it's so cute!
Then I stopped by the office with them but will never bring them there again. Julia thinks it's hilarious to run away from me when we're in public places, so unless I can focus full and complete attention on her I don't feel safe bring her with me. She is one crazy keiki.