Thursday, December 31, 2009

Christmas 2009

Christmas has come and gone. So quickly this year!

Let's look back and enjoy the happenings!


It was a great Christmas this year. The boys are just getting old enough to really share in the festive spirit and excitement of the season.

We had an extra good one this year... Daddy was home!


The tree was decorated by all hands.


The cookies were made.



We settled down for a very silent night.



Joey was the first up on Christmas morning.


Presents are always fun, but....


It's hard to compete with the self-powered Thomas Santa set up under the tree!


The dinosaurs were set loose and attacked everyone's toes...


Cabins were built...


and toys tinkered with.



We had a wonderful Christmas, and thank you to all our loved ones who once again showered up in their generosity and good taste! (you know who you are!)

Looking forward to 2010 ->
Jimmy will start Kindergarten!
Jimmy will turn 5, Joey will turn 3!
Joey will finish potty training (he's almost there! Yea!)
Visitors are coming!
Jeff will be gone for the majority of the year.
I will continue working at the Railroad and Curves.
I foresee many trains... and at least one venture off island...

2010 will be 52 weeks of Awesome!

Best wishes to all of you, have a safe and happy new year!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Time to do the Christmas thing

The day after Thanksgiving, I pulled out the boxes. Those magical boxes full of all things shiny and Christmas-ey. Joey was on it before I got the lid off all the way... this kid LOVES Christmas!
From that moment on for the next week, everytime I got even close to the door he would pipe up, "Christmas tree? Mama go get Christmas tree?" He was relentless!
And seriously, with cute like this, I'm surprised I lasted as long as I did with out a tree...
I mean, seriously, look at this face!


We did get a tree at Target this year and Joey was in heaven wandering around the tree display.
Ours came home and was set up, but we had to wait for Daddy to come home and put the lights on it before the decorating could start.


While we waited, we decorated the banister.


Put our elf Owen on the shelf.


Set up the creche... wait there's something wrong here.....










That's better!



We played hooky from school and headed to see the big man.
Jimmy was excited to see Santa this year. Joey took one look and ran up for a big hug shouting , "Hi Grandpa!"


THen we went for a ride on the train set up in the other side of the mall.


Mama! Mama! Look! It's the OR&L!!!


They waited very patiently so they could ride together.


Great fun was had by all!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Elfant

Meet the newest stuffies in the house.
These are the resident pair from the thundering herd that just passed through...
One for each boy...



Joey loves his "Elfant" I think it will be for Joey what Pneumonia is for Jimmy. I am very happy that Joey's favorite lovie is something I made for them. Elfant has already gone with Joey on many adventures and Joey makes sure to give him a hug and kiss before the cuddle in for the night...


Jimmy likes his, too, and has named it "Cookie".

Thursday, November 26, 2009

So many things on the list this year!

I have so much to be thankful for! Our whole family has been and continues to .
be smiled upon.

I am thankful for leaf art.


I am thankful for kitties and quilts.


I am thankful for quiet times in the house.


I am thankful for a beautiful place to live.


I am thankful for sandy belly buttons.


I am thankful for happy and healthy boys.


I am thankful for thoughtful boys, even when I have to translate...

"I am thankful for everything in the whole world! Especially boats that take me across the sea;trains that take me around the world;airplanes that brought me to Hawaii;the car that takes me to the grocery store; Flash that takes me to the park; the bike stroller that takes me there, too; the submarine that brings Daddy Home."


I am thankful for good food to eat!


I am thankful for handprint turkeys.


I am thankful for finished Christmas presents!


Happy Thanksgiving!

Saturday, October 31, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Time to get the spooks and ghoulies ready for the Trick -Or -Treating.

Melodie picked a place on the lanai to hang out and watch the visitors.

Jimmy let me paint his face.

Joey had claws on his hands.

And on his feet!

I loved the spikes on his tail and his wings!


Jimmy enjoyed being a tiger-kitty.

Big boys ready to go out together this year!

They left with empty buckets...


and returned with full ones that promptly got dumped and sorted...

Have to pick out the favorites first!


Sorry for the tilt on this... I have to remember I can't rotate videos...

Enjoy the cuteness!

Friday, October 09, 2009

A honu world



While Daddy was on leave and Jimmy was in school, we took the opportunity to take Joey to the beach.

C'mon Daddy! Let's GO!

We always take plenty of chip breaks in our swim time...

Most of you know about Mama recently finding some gray hairs on her head. I'm sure none of them have anything to do with this child who barrels juggernaut-style into waves as big as himself.


Daddy holds on tight!




Given that this trip was about a week after the full moon, there were jellyfish near shore... and where there's jellyfish, there's turtles.
There were five or six swimming around within feet of the boys...
If you go back and watch the video again, keep your eyes on the top left corner near the middle of the video and you'll spot a turtle coming up for a breather.

You may have to click on the picture to see it well, but there is a turtle at the boys' 11 o'clock.


Here is one just popping up for air, then it dove down and cruised under the oncoming surfboard.


This big guy was doing some surfing of his own.

The crazy thing about the turtles is that if you are in the water, you can't see them until you are almost right on top of them, and if you are on shore you can see them clear as day!
A good time was had by all.