School updates...

Last week I had parent-teacher conferences for both of the older two. Thankfully the teachers worked together and scheduled one right after the other. Makes my life just a little easier. 

E's was first and we went how well she does with what and what she could work on. She is right on track, even excelling in reading but more importantly to me, at least, her teacher (who is seriously amazing) told me how kind and helpful she is. How she is constantly aware of anyone who may need help in any way and always willing to help. She showed me a page they had done on responsibility. They had to draw and write (or try to write) something that they thought should be their responsibility. E wrote that if someone fell she should help them up. The teacher was amazed, as was I. At this age they should be responsible for putting their things away or keeping up with their library books but she has such a kind heart that she thought beyond herself! Maybe that means I'm doing something right.  ;) 

Immediately after we went to D's conference. I already sort of knew what to expect as I've had way too many conversations with his teacher this year. But the news was all good. He is especially good in math, with is so great. And does well, although he sometimes has to be reminded to focus. But that is all fine. What I didn't expect was how impressed she was with his personality traits. She said how kind and helpful he is and how he has such good perseverance skills. "No matter how many times I ask him to correct something he never gets discouraged or complains!" Wow. She even said that I've "done a good job with him." And it never hurts to hear things like that as a parent. 

Overall I am so happy with their reports. They are both right on track or excelling and so kind and helpful. (Too bad they forget about that with each other some. Hehe) I'm one proud mommy. 

And they both lost a tooth this week. That makes 11 between the two of them in the lady year. Our poor tooth fairy is going to be broke. 

Things are going well and they are settled into a routine. It won't be long before we are officially halfway though this school year. Time is flying.... 

Busy, busy...Halloween.

It seems like we have been going nonstop for the last few weeks. I'm looking forward to Halloween being over so I can breathe and start to prepare for the rest of the holidays (and D's 7th birthday) that are all coming too quickly. Just this week we have three Halloween events and that number would be higher had I not decided we were already too booked. 

I'm really excited about the kids costumes, since I made them all. I had intended to make R's and mine as well but just didn't have time. D's costume is Clark Kent. It's fun for him because he is superman is desguise (sort of) and easy for me. Plus I didn't have to spend $30 on a cheap superman costume that so many other boys will be wearing and it will only last few times of him wearing it before the seams start to unravel. He will have a superman "suit" (t-shirt) under a white button-down and slacks so when he pulls his shirt open "BAM". It's a bird, it's a plane.... You get the idea. 

E is going as Aurdry Hepburn a la Breakfast at Tiffany's. You know, classic little black dress with pearls and a tiara. Easy enough, except will. I made her a black tutu. She had been trying desperately to say "Audrey Hepburn." I showed her a picture so she sort of gets the look but still doesn't know who she is. Guess that's one perk of having kids that are still young enough to wear what I say. Ha. She is just excited to wear a tutu and tiara. I don't think she cares about anything else. 

Little miss B is going as a scarecrow. I took a few ideas of tutu scarecrows from Pinterest and ran with it. I'm going to paint her face (as best I can, since I'm sure she will want to "help"). Her dress is a tutu made of autumn colors with a daisy (couldn't find a sunflower) and burlap straps. I think I'm most excited about hers. Oh, and I bought one of those tiny hats that are connect to a headband and well, let's just says the burlap and hot glue got the best of it. :) I hope I find time to take some really cute pictures of them and by just catch a few shots while they are running around loaded with sugar. 

A few people have sent the kids Halloween cards. It means a lot to me, but for them it's so exciting every time. I'm glad that they find joy in something so simple. 

Thank you....all of you. For loving my kids and being so good to them. 

Time for a change...

I decided recently that I want to take this blog in just slightly a different direction.  With our families so far away I thought I should use this as a way for our loved ones to keep up with our lives here in Oahu. I'll update about the kids goingson at school, our adventures here in the island, and all the cool things we get to experience. So, if you want to know more about what we are up to, stick around. :) 

It's been a while...

I can't believe it's been so long since I last blogged about my kiddos. Given all that has gone on in the last year it should be no surprise, but it's still not really an excuse. 

Nearly 5 months ago we packed up and moved from North Carolina to HAWAII! Yep. Paradise. It's amazing I tell ya. With all of that transition, which included nearly two months of living out of a suitcase, wayyyyy too much hotel food, and three different schools (and four teachers), we are finally settled. (Actually, I still don't really feel settled. Probably because I know this is temporary).  

D is now 6 (and a half) and went from kindergarten in NC to first grade here (after much pushing from mama bear). Tomorrow is his last day of first grade which means I will officially have a second grader!! Ahhh! How is that possible?!? 

E was in pre-k back on the mainland. (Yes, get to use words and phrases like that now. Hehe) but there is not a public pre-k system here which means she has been at home with me every day this whole second half of the year. O.O. She starts K in the fall and as much as I love spending time with her I am ready to have her in school exercising her mind. I've got to give kudos to all the teachers out there. Keeping her mind occupied is so much work, especially since she is a little smarty pants. I wish she would have been able to go straight into K here without waiting. 

B is 2! Yep. Not a baby anymore, but a walking (and running and climbing) and talking two year old. Who is potty trained. Woo hoo! ;) And who is so temperamental. You know. Typical two year old can-go-from-happy-to-tantrum-at-a-seconds-notice-without-provocation.  Yep. Two year old. But she is so smart and adorable. So it kinda makes up for it. But her daddy. Oh Lord. She has him so wrapped around her finger. And he spoils her so much. 

As a family we have taken up hiking an snorkeling. Seeing as school is basically over, block leave is coming up and we are in Hawaii, why not?! Right?! We have the whole summer to enjoy and explore this beautiful place and hopefully learn a few things along the way. 

Here is a recent picture of all the kiddos while hiking the Kolekole Pass. 

Don't mess with me

B has had a cold for several days now, and because of that has been temperamental. That's great right?!? Considering she is not quite 8 months old. So, I changed her diaper, which set her off enough on its own, and then we lay down on the bed so she could nurse. She was pretty mad that I was laying next to R and started to act up and fuss. Which is strange because she loves her daddy. Some days more than me I think. Anyways, so she starts to nurse, as wanting nothing to do with her daddy who at this point is trying to console her from behind me. She fusses and pushes his hand away. After a minute or two I notice that she is trying to push my hand away, but as she opens her eyes she notices that it is my hand after all and stops. She then looks down and notices that R's hand is resting on my hip and she let loose. She started screaming and pushing him away, and wailing as loud as she could. She honestly wanted nothing to do with him. He then began trying to persuade her to let him old her, or rub her back or anything all while she wailed like she knew nothing of him and wanted nothing of him. It didn't last that long though, I calmed her down and she finally decided that he was okay, but it was so out of character for her that we still don't know what provoked it. Guess we'll never know.

Are you smarter than a 5 year old?!

Apparently, D thinks that I'm not, smarter than him that is. We got home last night from a trip to Georgia and as I was tucking him into bed he asked to watch the DVD player that is in the car. I, of course, told him no, but offered it up as a bribe for nap time today.Well, in the usual manner of my children, that was the first thing he asked about when he woke up. And after several more attempts to persuade me, he finally changed tactics. It went something like this: "Mom, can u make me lunch?" (At this point its 8 something in the morning) "No", "Is it lunch time or breakfast time?" "Breakfast" "Umm, I think it's brunch" I guess, he figured that as long as he had eaten "lunch" that he would be allowed to have rest time with a movie. Unfortunately for him, his conning skills are limited. Maybe when you're six, buddy...

Elena, Elena, let down your hair??

I'm really starting to think that my little future damsel-in-distress has convinced herself that she is Rapunzel. She asks for wigs. She begs me to straighten her hair so that it will look longer (which I almost never do). She will sit for an hour brushing her hair. I mean seriously this girl is so silly. A few times while I have been brushing her hair she has even acted out parts of the movie saying "Oh, Mother, why can't I leave me tower" and if I don't respond the way she wants she will insist until I play along. "Rapunzel, you can never leave this tower again!!"

I never thought I would let my daughters be "princesses." You know....that child who thinks they are so beautiful and so much better than everyone else, and thinks things should be handed to them on a silver platter...make that gold. I remember talking to Rosvin during his first deployment to Iraq after we found out she was a girl. We both agreed that we did not want her to be that way. To think that she was better than everyone, that she was the little princess and that Dorian was just her brother. But my little diva has other plans. And I don't think I have encouraged that behavior. I let her pretend anything thing she wants and enjoy what she wants, but I have never told her that she was the princess. But she is turning into a royal pain. <<Pun intended. LOL Now don't get me wrong, she can be the sweetest little girl, but boy is she strong willed. I cannot even imagine how she is going to be when she is older. Hopefully she puts her princess attitude to good use and at the same time doesn't give me too much trouble. That's likely, right?!