Daddy Daughter Ball and Dylan hits 20 pounds

Gracie had been waiting for this day for over a month. Her school sent home a paper saying there was a daddy daughter ball. She asked Deven if he would go with her and of course he said yes. Then of course there was "so much preparation." We had to find the perfect dress, after all this was "A BAll" She wanted to curl her hair and couldn't wait to put her dress on. I think they both look wonderful. We decided to make this whole day her day so we let her pick what to do in the morning. She picked Ko'Olina Beach. So we agreed. We went early so we could get parking. Gracie tried snorkeling, and was practicing her swimming. It was a great day.
Gracie all ready for the ball
Gracie thought we should take some pictures of just daddy as well. What can I say a "Natural GQ" I think he is pretty handsome.
They are ready. So I sent them on there way. Dylan and I were going to have a mommy son outing as well. I was going to take him shopping. Good thing he is still little. I don't think he will fight me on this one.
So our little guy just isn't so little anymore. I had his WCC this past week and at 7 mths he weighed in at 20 lbs. and is just over 27 inches long. This puts him in the 75%. Deven and I can't help but call him our "little BIG BUDA" He is so chunky and we love it. This is him passed out after a tough day at the beach.
Today was a day of discovery for him. We let him play in the sand. He would pick it up and just look at it and then he would rub his feet in it. He played for a long time.
Taking a break from the water
Our little "BIG BUDA" We love the chunk!!!! He really is a happy baby, but a mamma's boy. We always get comments on how happy he is, but he doesn't like to be left with other people. He keeps a close eye on me. He has to make sure I am paying attention to him at all times. He always wants me to talk to him and doesn't like it when I leave the room.

A Week of Dress Up

Well this will be a bit of a random blog. We have been keeping busy. We seem to cram so much into our weekends which usually makes them crazy... but at the same time we have been having a lot of fun. The other morning I was putting clothes away upstairs and asked Gracie to watch Dylan. When I came down stairs I found him all dressed up and Gracie was showing him what he looked like in her mirror. He didn't seem to mind in fact he loves it when Gracie plays with him. He gets so excited when we go to the bus to pick her up. He kicks his feet and smiles and laughs as she walks off the bus. He loves it when she comes up to him and says hi. She can get him to laugh so hard. I had left this crown on the table. Deven and I went to a couples only Halloween party. (meaning we all ditched the kids) I went as a "drama queen" and Deven went as a caveman. I didn't take my camera so I will try to get copies. But it was tons of fun. The next day we spent Halloween afternoon at Hickham Beach. We rented paddle boards and let Gracie play with her friends all afternoon. It was such a relaxing afternoon and the perfect beach day. I took my camera but left it in the car and was too lazy to go get it out. It was too bad because I missed a lot of great photo opps. Halloween night we did a little bit of neighborhood trick or treating and then headed over to the church for the ward trunk or treat. Of course the kids came out loaded with candy. Gracie wanted to be a witch this year so we decided it would be fun to let Dylan be a black cat. I thought they both looked pretty darn cute.
Gracie dressing up her little brother.
Our "little witch and black cat" getting ready to go trick or treating. Gracie was so excited.

Another one of our new favorite things to do is to go to the beach and have smores. Deven and I bought a fire bowl and have had so much fun with it. We head up to the beach in the evening we usually get some take out and then watch the sun set. We then get the fire bowl going and enjoy some yummy smores. This night we also enjoyed some "spooky" Halloween stories. Some of the "boys" and even some of the kids went for a little night swim. I am still a little spooked about that part, but may be one of these times I will get brave.

A Nice Way to End a Week

We decided to go and meet Deven down at Tripler after work on Friday. We knew there would be traffic on the way home so we thought it might be fun to head to Hickham Beach and watch the sun set. Plus Deven was dying to try Dylan out in his new float ring "it use to be Gracie's we found it when we were cleaning out our garage." So we got some dinner, picked up Deven and drove over to the beach. It was perfect hardly anyone was there, the water was calm, and amazingly pretty warm. If you know me I don't like to get in the water after the sun has gone down because I get too cold. But I decided even I could handle it. Dylan did really well. We weren't sure if he loved it but he didn't cry he just floated and took it all in. He didn't like the feel of the sand on his feet. Every time his feet would touch the sand he would pull them up and grunt. We thought it was funny so we kept letting his feet touch. Gracie worked on her swimming and Deven and I found a turtle there to chase for a while. It was such a nice way to end the usual crazy weeks. Of course I made Deven take me to target after since we were down by one. He loves me so he reluctantly agreed.
Dylan not quite sure what to think.
Gracie swimming.
We love the sunsets here and can never get enough of them. We snuggled in our towels and waited till it got completely dark. Deven was messing around with the camera trying to capture the sun set. On a little "Dylan Note" He is growing up way to fast. He got his first tooth in. He is so proud of it he can't stop playing with it with his tongue. The other bottom one is coming so here's to another week of crazy nights. Poor little guy.

Gracie's Award

I posted these pictures in a different order than I wanted to but it will still work. This past week at school Gracie got nominated for the Good Citizen Award for the month of September. We were so proud of her. Each kindergarten class nominates a 1 boy and 1 girl each month. They have a cute little assembly for them and then they present them with an award and a tag they can put on their back pack. Gracie was so excited. Also if you look close at her pictures you might notice she has something sparkling in her ears. That is right Gracie got her ears pierced. I just want everyone to know it was her idea. Deven and I have always told her whenever she wanted to she could get them pierced. Well she was scared to do it so we didn't think it would happen until she was at least in middle school. But Saturday morning out of the blue she asked if she could get them pierced. Of course I said do you really want to and she said yes. I said well I don't know if we can do it today, but may be next week after your assembly. But she kept begging. Deven was going surfing with a friend but I didn't feel like the beach that day so I was going to take the kids to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. I thought about it and decided I would make it Gracie's day and we would go get her ears pierced first. She was so nervous and I told her she didn't have to do it, but she said she wanted to. Then she asked if it was ok if she cried. I said yes, but I said Gracie we can wait you don't have to. She was so brave she cried some nervous tears but did it. She can't stop looking in the mirror and she wants to wear her hair up everyday so her earrings will show. I asked her what made her change her mind. I have a feeling the age of doing what your friends do is starting. She said another girl in her class had her ears pierced so she wanted to do it. Just a quick Dylan update, that is of course why I posted a picture of him. At five months he weighed in at 17lbs 14 oz. and was 27 " long. He is in the 88% for weight and the 94% for height. He truly is our chunky monkey.
Gracie receiving her award.


Gracie with a new little sparkle in her ears. Way to go Gracie.

A Little Vacation

Some how these past few weeks have felt CRAZY!!! I thought I would have so much time once Gracie started school, but I realize how fast the days are going by. Deven has been busy busy busy as usual. It was fun to have Labor Day Off with him. We headed over to Bellows Beach for some boogie boarding. It was a lot of fun. I got stung by a Man of War (jelly fish). It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be, but my leg burned for about 1/2 hour. That night we had dinner with some friends in the ward. It was fun to hang out with the Broach's. This past weekend was a whirlwind. As usual we had way to much going on, but it was all worth it. On Friday night we went to the North Shore with some friends. I guess you could say it was kind of a goodbye night for our neighbor and good friends the Prestcotts. I can't believe the time has come for them to go. The crazy thing is they will hopefully be back here before we move. It was so nice to order Tia food, watch the sun set, let the kids roast marshmallows, and then hunt for crabs. (Of course Gracie was freaking out, she isn't a big fan of crabs). The next morning we had a primary activity day. This is one we put a lot of time into. We sent all the kids on missions. It turned out really nice. After that the kids and I headed up to Turtle Bay to meet Deven. He had a radiology retreat up there and it gave us the opportunity to go spend the night. I know we live in paradise, but for that night it was wonderful. Our hotel room over looked the ocean. We swam in the pool, spent time on the beach. Enjoyed a nice dinner down on the beach, they set a table up for us on the sand. We got to put the kids to bed and then Deven and I stayed up way to late out on the balcony talking and enjoying the sound of the ocean. It was a much needed get away. Now it is back to reality and as Monday came and went I would give anything for just one more relaxing day. Oh well, life is still great.
This is our view from our balcony.
Gracie was having way to much fun out there. She was begging to stay another night, but all good things must come to an end.
Down at the beach on Turtle Bay
Deven and Dylan just a chillin (LOL).
Me and the kids getting ready to head down to dinner.
Up on the North Shore, roasting marshmallows.
The boys passed out, temporarily that is. Poor Deven he gets so tired he can fall asleep anywhere.
The boys again enjoying the sun set.
Hey what can I say, we start them early at our house.
Gracie and some of the kids playing in the waves.
This was out at Bellows beach, Gracie is getting quite good on the boogie board.

Kids, kids, kids....

Well there is nothing too exciting to report lately. I just can't believe how busy I feel. I thought I would have so much time once Gracie started school, but the days just seem to fly by. I just thought I would post a quick update on our life. Gracie has always had quite the imagination, but lately we can't seem to tell what is the truth and what is a "story." She says she just loves to trick people but she can be quite convincing. We found a 6" long centipede in the house the other day, it freaked me out, of course I saved it to show Gracie, I thought she would like to see it. Well she decided she was going to tell all of her school friends she got bit by it. She found an old mosquito bite on her leg and was telling everyone she got bit. Well she even told her friend Cordon's mom that she got bit by it. Chantell was convinced. She said "wow Gracie, that must have really hurt." Gracie looked right at her and without hesitation said "yeah it did". I found this all out as I was talking to Chantell the next day. I said no she never got bit by a centipede. She tells me all sorts of stories about things that happen at school. She even told her Aunt Shirece that she was shopping at Costco on Sunday and that I couldn't talk to her because I was checking out. I finally have to say to her well can you show me who that is cause I should probably talk to them. At first she will say "well you don't know them, or they don't live by us." I have to keep pushing it and then she will finally say. OK mom I just made that up it didn't happen. Deven and I decided it was time for the story of the boy who cried wolf. Did it help, I guess we will see this week huh. Gracie has also learned to throw away whatever she doesn't eat in her lunch at school before she comes home. I always like to look in her lunch box to see what she was eating and not eating before she started to eat all the treats at home. Well she got smart and decided she was just going to throw away whatever she didn't eat so she didn't have to tell me what she ate or didn't. I swear we are going to have to put a GPS tracker on this one. We love you Gracie, you keep life interesting.

Dylan is just getting so big. Look at those chunky cheeks. You should see his thighs. If you remember Gracie as a baby he has caught up. He is just as chunky. He is a pretty happy little guy. He loves lots and lots of attention. I even put him in a front pack when I am cleaning so I can get a few things done sometimes. He hates to be left alone. He would love to be talked to and held all day long if he could. Sometimes I get overwhelmed when I get nothing done, but how can I resist those big chubby cheeks and that smile. Gracie is turning into such a big helper. Last Friday there was no school and Gracie woke up early as usual. Dylan was up as well, but was just going back to sleep. I lay ed him down in his bouncer and asked Gracie if she would keep an eye on him while he slept. I told her she could watch a cartoon and to just come wake me up when he woke back up. About 1/2 hour later I heard him downstairs and I just lay ed in bed listening. I kept thinking for sure Gracie would be up to get me, she is usually there with the first peep he makes. So I finally decided I had better get up and head downstairs. When I got down there Gracie was bouncing him and trying to keep him quiet. I couldn't believe it. I said thank you Gracie that is so nice of you to try to keep him quiet so I could sleep. She got a really big smile on her face, but it was the mischievous smile. I looked over at the table and Gracie had gotten into the pudding. She hadn't had time to clean up the mess and so she was trying to keep him quiet until she could throw away the evidence and wipe off the table. Hey I guess you take what you can get right. I got a nice morning nap.

Gracie Starts School !!!

Well it's official, Gracie has started school. After a long anticipated summer and even a long week of orientation her first official day started today. This means she got to ride the bus for the first time. Of course I was the embarrassing mom taking as many pictures as I could. Gracie was OK with it because her friends mom's were there as well taking pictures. We woke up early so she could catch the bus at 6:50 a.m. (early I know). But it was easy to wake up this morning she was so excited. She goes to Wheeler Elementary. They have to wear t-shirt uniforms Monday through Thursday and then Friday is Aloha Friday so they can wear whatever they want. Gracie had a half day on Wednesday and she had a ton of fun, but they didn't get to ride the bus. I was so excited for her, I know she is ready for school and she will do well.
Gracie getting on the bus for the first time.
Gracie sitting by one of her friends on the bus. (Yes I asked if I could take a picture, the bus driver let me)
The bus drops them off at school about 7;15, but they can not go into their classrooms until 7:50. Here all the schools have doors that open to the outside, there are no halls like I was use to. So they offer them breakfast before school starts. We decided this was a good thing it gives her something to do while waiting for school to start. Plus we don't have to worry about eating before school. So yes on the first day I followed the bus to school just to make sure she knew what to do when she got off the bus, and to help her figure out where to go and get breakfast. I am glad I went. They said there would be people there to help, but there was not enough help for all the kids that were there.
Now it's time for school to start so it's off to her classroom, where Mrs. Scott is her teacher. I won't see her again until 2:30 p.m. It is a long day for the kids, but I think she will enjoy it.
This is Gracie on her half day of school. That is one of her many "fancy" Wheeler Elementary" T-shirts. At least it makes picking out clothes easy.

Gracie with her lunch box. She has decided to take a lunch some days and some days eat at school. We look ahead and see what she will and what she won't eat so we know when to send a lunch and when she can eat there.