Firstly, I have uploaded a new video of Baby Lucy on the VIDEOS page. go check it out.

Secondly... I am 99% DONE with my Christmas Shopping. I am absolutely finished with the kids presents... I bought them mostly all on Amazon and they should be flying over the Pacific Ocean as I write this - I LOVE Internet shopping. So easy and convenient. I do pretty much anything to avoid the stores this time of year. Too crowded and too crazy! 

Speaking of shopping... I have the HARDEST husband to buy for. He doesn't collect anything , he doesn't really have a certain sports team he loves. He doesn't carry a wallet or wear a tie. (easy gifts) He doesn't read.(well, he can read but doesn't read for fun is what I meant to say)  He doesn't like board games or puzzles. He is also very picky about food so I can't enroll him in the "dessert of the month club" or even the "steak of the month club" or even the prestigious "Domestic and International Beer of the Month club" because we really don't drink much. We are too exhausted after living our normal everyday lives, an alcoholic beverage just puts us to sleep.

He did tell me two things he wants, that I just find very boring and not-at-all exciting to buy-- a Dremel Tool. (yawn) and a Pressure Washer (double yawn.) Really??  SO I may just have to buy him one of THOSE, no matter how boring I might find them. I am afraid to get him the pressure washer because I will never see him, he'll be off pressure washing something...

Today Lucy took her maiden voyage in the BOB stroller-


See how EXCITED she is??



She was the best little Jogger baby and didn't make a single peep for the 7 miles that we went. She slept a little in the reclined position and then I fixed her seat so she could enjoy the view of the world whistling by.  I was unsure of how she would be , this being her FIRST JOG! But she was great. She can't wait to do it again next weekend!

The big kids each got an E-Mail from Santa this morning- seems like Santa and his elves are really embracing technology- he even has a computer program to help him make his way to Hawaii and everywhere else he needs to go this Christmas! He knew all about the kids and if they are being NAUGHTY or NICE. HE even sent his little elf CANDY to come and watch them during the day, and then Candy returns to the North Pole at night to give Santa the real scoop on how the kids act!





 

Chris has finished up all the outdoor Christmas lights and our house looks really Blinged out and amazing. I wanted to buy a pre-lit Palm tree at Target to put in our front room , but I couldn't justify spending $150 on it.  Tomorrow both Joey and Sophia are receiving awards at the Student of the Quarter assembly. It is at 1:30pm and I am going to try REALLY hard to go and not to forget this time!!!

Today was our 3rd annual Thanksgiving day Hike! Last year we did the Aiea loop- which is very fun, but at 5 miles was a little long for baby Lucy. Instead we opted for the Mikiki Loop Trail- which is about 3 miles. It is at the Hawaii Nature center- and is very beautiful.  Before we left I had Joey take a picture of me and Chris- because I realize we don't have many pictures of the two of us together.

Here is a picture of Chris with the kids on the hike:


The hike took us about 3 hours- It was about 3  miles and Vangie walked the whole thing by herself. This was Lucy's 2nd hike- she slept for part of it and then woke up to enjoy the view. We had such a good time talking, looking at the beautiful surroundings and reminiscing about past Thanksgivings!

Our favorite Thanksgiving memory by FAR- is from 2004. Sophia was just born 10 weeks prior. We were living in Rhode Island at the time and wanted to fly back home to Michigan to see my family. We left on the Wednesday before thanksgiving and the PLAN was to fly from Boston to Detroit, to Grand Rapids, MI, where my parents would pick us up. Unfortunately there was a HUGE blizzard all over the North East. Our flight out of Boston was delayed- there we were, me and Chris and Joey- who was 18 months old and baby Sophia. Finally we got on a flight to Detroit- but getting to Grand Rapids would not happen until the NEXT DAY! Thankfully my mom and Dad drove to Detroit to get us. Normally the drive from Edmore to Detroit is about 3.5 hours- but since it was a total BLIZZARD outside it took DOUBLE THAT! PLUS my Dad was having health issues and could not drive- and my Mom had just had her gallbladder out and had a very hard time recovering from the surgery and was in a LOT Of pain and should NOT have been driving. I was just glad that after out 12 hour flight nightmare they were there to pick us up! It was such horrible weather out- freezing cold, snow and wind. So who drove us home? Why CHRIS did! The guy who grew up in Orlando, FL and had never driven in the snow at all! I don't know HOW we made it home- but we did, it took us HOURS but we got home sometime in the early morning hours. 

I will alwasy treasure the memoires of spending the holidays with my Mom- cooking, baking.... just being together and drinking copious amounts of coffee! We always had such a good time. I know that many new memories will be made in the future- not with my Mom, unfortunately... but with other family and friends.

 
At the moment Chris is putting up or Christmas Decorations. It is very peaceful because the Sophia and Vangie are NAPPING and Joey is playing outside with his friends. It is like Lucy is an only child!

Here is a picture of me with my "only child..."

As for our decorations, we are doing our INDOOR decorations today and our OUTDOOR decorations probably the day after Thanksgiving.  At the moment we are having some technical difficulties with our Christmas tree- some lights are working and some are not. It is one of those "pre-lit" trees... maybe it's time to get a NEW tree. OR, a giant lit palm tree that I saw at Target.....  I bought a bunch of Yankee candles in holiday scents. The "Mistletoe" scent  reminds me of my mom- it was what she always had burning during the holidays. I am so grateful that we were able to live in Michigan for a few years when the kids were tiny and spent the Holidays with her.

Saturday Joey had his last flag football game. He learned so much this season and had SUCH a good time- and an amazing coach. After the game the coach passed out medals to each of the boys. Joey wore his all day and even fell asleep with it on.....

I have added a New VIDEO on the videos page! Now on to our featured post:

Before little Lucy was born I bought a NEW diaper bag. I thought I would treat myself to a new look since my old diaper bag was 4 years old and a little used and abused. This NEW diaper bag, in one world... sucks.  I searched for DAYS on the Internet, looking for the perfect bag, I read all the reviews and am very disappointed. First, I have had it now for about 2.5 months and one of the shoulder straps is broken. PLUS I can NEVER find anything in this bag- things go in and are seemingly ATE by the bag. My phone will be ringing and i will have to take EVERYTHING out to find the phone- my keys are always going missing- it drives me NUTS!. The bag has too many pockets and is too floppy and I HATE IT.  The other day I got so sick of it that I emptied the bag out and moved  into my 4 year old Coach Diaper bag- which besides being a little worn looking is still perfect.   
 
What was IN my Diaper Bag??
9 pens ( I was wondering where they all went!!)
3 pencils
4 separate pads of paper
2 baby blankets
small calendar
Wallet (which I can never find when I need it!!!)
nail clippers
various hair ties, barrette and head bands
4 lip glosses
baby outfit
burp cloth
4 diapers and wipes
35$ in loose change
an AA battery
Comb for the babies hair
2 "silly Bandz"
a packet of salt ( I LOVE salt )
gum, suckers, fruit snacks, protein bar and fruit-by-the-foot

not to mention lots of trash! No wonder I couldn't find anything.

Today was sort of a big deal! Chris finished up something that has been taken him a little more than a year!  Today Chris got his "Dolphins" pinned!

What IS a Dolphin Pin? Well, according to Wikipedia:

The Submarine Warfare Insignia (usually known as "dolphins" or "fish") is a uniform breast pin worn by enlisted men and officers of the United States Navy to indicate that they are qualified in submarines. The Submarine Warfare Insignia is considered one of the Navy's three major warfare pins along with the Surface Warfare Badge and the Naval Aviator Badge. To earn the right to wear the pin, prospective submariners complete an extensive qualification process that lasts about one year (for both enlisted and officers, though the two programs differ significantly) and covers virtually all of the submarine's systems.


Vangie and I got to be there and I was the one to pin it on his uniform.


I am so proud of him. Now he is a FULLY QUALIFIED submarine officer! Congratulations, Chris!

Yesterday was a busy day. Lucy had her 2 month checkup. 2 MONTHS!! She is getting so big. She weighed over 12 pounds and is in the 95% for weight and 95% for length- she is so long!

The Dr. LOVED little lucy. I had her in just her diaper on the exam table and the Dr. came to examine her. Lucy started "talking" to the Dr.- she coo's and makes all sorts of "talking" noises when she is in the mood. The Dr. was amazed that she was talking like that so early- and how interactive she was with everyone- making eye contact and conversation! The Dr. Also LOVED Lucy's little red painted toenails!

Joey has a school project that I have been helping him with. We needed to make a DIORAMA of the rain-forest and it's4 layers. Which are, in case you didn't know- EMERGENT, CANOPY, UNDERSTORY and FOREST FLOOR.  We had to pick an animal who lives in each one, and also make a "puppet" that will DELIVER the oral presentation.  Here are some pics of our Diorama and Puppet-

Joey had a football game on Saturday.
Here he is with a couple of team mates watching the game.

Today we went to Babies-R-us and bought Lucy a special chair to sit in- She likes it a lot- check out her red painted toenails.


Chris actually had today off from work- He got to snuggle with Luce.
 She loves it when her Daddy holds her.

Doesn't Chris look like he is about 18 years old in this picture??? I find this annoying because I am going to need a lot of plastic surgery to stay looking as young as he does! 

Today the kids are off from school because it is Veterans Day. A Day to honor our troops! (which I have to admit I totally forgot about until yesterday after school Joey said "Mommy, we don't have school tomorrow" to which I responded "What?? Your joking right.... oh yeah....."

Chris is on Duty so I won't see him until tomorrow night. But you know what? That is part of the JOB. I am just glad her is not deployed like so many of our troops, thousands of miles away  from their families. I am grateful that FOR NOW He comes home most nights.  (to dutifully unload the dishwasher and play with the kids at night, and "fly" them into their beds....


I have a friend who's husband is deployed on a submarine and has yet to meet his 8 week old son! ...Everytime I think of that I flash back 7 years ago when  Joey was 8 weeks old before Chris came home from his Deployment aboard the USS Harry Truman.... Its part of living this life. And I am so proud of my husband and ALL the troops out there serving our country!  I wouldn't change our life for anything.

So today will be filled with me keeping the kids busy so they don't bicker. I swear if I hear "I'm telling on you!!!" ONE MORE TIME!!!  Thankfully I have a Jewelry Party at 10am... and kids are welcome. Its at our neighbors house so I know the kids will have a fun time and I will get some much needed adult conversation.

Earlier this week Sophia made taco salad! Of course I helped her with the harder parts like browing the meat and cutting the tomatoes.





















It was a very delicious dinner

Joey and Sophia also got their school pictures back-





































Don't they look so cute? Here are also the pictures I ordered of Lucy and Vangie to hang up on our wall:







































And those are all of my beautiful babies!

Somehow the week has flown by without me posting very much!  I found out Monday after picking the kids up from school that they did not have school on Tuesday- because of Election Day. So Tuesday I took them to the Park for a picnic lunch.


They all LOVE eating Lunch at the Park. They played for a couple hours and then we went home. Once home we made Thank You cards for all our WONDERFUL grandparents who sent the kids yummy awesome Halloween packages in the mail (which I will be mailing out today.)  The kids LOVE, \love, love to do "crafts". I have a cabinet full of construction paper, glue, sparkles, stickers, stapler, scissors, etc. etc. They made the cards and Sophia made everyone "candy corn hats".... even baby Lucy!



































I have to admitt that Having the kids home all day making messes on Tuesday turned my week upside down.



I love having them home, but I literally follow them from one mess to another, picking up... and telling THEM to clean up after themselves! When ever Chris and I are overwhelmed by the mess or by someone's crying fit or the kids fighting we look at each other and say "One day were gonna miss this! Our house will be clean and we will be wishing we could go back to the madness!" SO.... we are enjoying the ride.

The rest of the week flew by and now it's HAPPY FRIDAY to EVERYONE!

Yesterday was HALLOWEEN all across America (yes, they have it in Hawaii too!) The kids have been looking forward to this day for WEEKS!!!

We started getting ready around 5pm. I forced them to eat a sensible dinner before the implosion of candy began. And THEN I realized that we forgot to do HOMEWORK! And here is was SUNDAY NIGHT!!! Luckily all Joey had to do was read a book.... so I helped him to pick out one... I have to HELP him because if I don't he will pick out the easiest, shortest pre-school book on the shelves... and NOT a book suitable for a 2nd grader who is an Advanced Reader!!!

Sophia's homework takes a bit more effort. She had to write a paragraph with 8 sentences... something she does twice a week, but she needs help spelling words and thinking of sentences. This can be annoying when I am running around with 100 things to do... to constantly here "Mommy.... how do you spell this word? Mommy!! How do you spell that word? Mommy.... I can't think of another sentence...." Thankfully Chris was home to help so we pulled through.  

Something else fitting for HaLoWeEn Happened yesterday while we were doing Sophia's homework.... we noticed our FIRST CENTIPEDE!!!! gross!!!

All 7 inches of it was just chill'in on the back patio.. Just seeing it made my SKIN CRAWL!! Chris grabbed a can of bug spray (while I grabbed the camcorder!) and sprayed it to blind it... because really bug spray will do NOTHING to a centipede... those things are TOUGH and resilient!

And THEN as it was squirming away towards a hasty retreat the grabbed the shovel and CHOPPED IT IN HALF. Whew!!! I am glad that it's DEAD but now I am so paranoid about seeing another!!! They are very poisonous and getting bit by one has been likened to getting SHOT... by a gun.... it's THAT painful!!!! My friends daughter actually had one crawl in her hair while she was sleeping at hight and bite her hand.... resulting in a trip to the Emergency Room. 

Soon after all the centipede excitment we were ready to go TRICK-OR-TREATING. I have a VIDEO of the kids on the VIDEO page all ready to go..... check it OUT!!!



Doesn't Lucy look like she is wondering what the Hell is going on??? I went with Chris and the kids around the neighborhood.... I put out a huge bowl of candy on the front porch with instructions "Please take One piece only! Thanks."   I am not sure if the one piece rule was followed or not.

When we got back 90 min later the bowl was empty.... but there were LOTS (like HUNDREDS) of kids waling the streets. We saw some GREAT costumes.... some adults were dressed up really cool too. I told Chris maybe Next year we could dress up. ( I say this every year....) 



Chris, being a typical man wanted to walk around the WHOLE neighborhood and hit as many houses as humanly possible. The kids were starting to get tired after an Hour.... by 90 min they were begging to go home. Chris still wanted to do one more block.... Sophia was the only one who went with him.. So Sophia and Chris continued on while the rest of us raised the white flag and went home to consume candy.



So that's it.... another Halloween in the books! And it was a good one. Now it's time to start looking forward to ThankGiving!!! Time is flying by and I am trying to grab hold of it and make it slow down.... every day I look at my kids and they are growing up so fast.