Another beach day!

The little league team that Lad is coaching this season had a bye this Saturday. So, they decided to hit the beach. We had a great time at Waimanalo Beach with lots of friends and food. Super fun and it was a beautiful day! The highlight of the day? The really big sand crab they found on the beach! (Poor thing! Never had a chance against a bunch of Pirates...aarrghhh!)

Pinewood Derby 2010

This year, Dallen's Pinewood Derby fell on May 26th. Happy Birthday to me! and Grandma! So, we spent our birthday night at the chapel cheering the boys on for their annual Pinewood Derby for Cub Scouts. Dallen made a Perry the Platypus-esque design for his car. He was a little bummed that it didn't go as fast as he'd wanted. We talked about it when he was feeling a bit down - we talked about what he could learn from this experience, what he could learn from his fellow cubs, and what he would do with his car differently next time around. He said he felt better after we talked it out - we decided that his summer project would be to get a couple of car kits and try out something different and work on it with Daddy and Grandpa over his break. We'll hit the Aloha Council shop soon! Great job Dallen!

Haircuts

I took the boys to get haircuts today. Much needed ones.

Dallen's hair grows so fast and the longer it is, the bushier it gets. Plus, he hates to actually brush his hair so he prefers it short. Less maintenance. Austen was looking like Justin Bieber so we needed to get him his semi-annual cut. Brennen got a cut just for the lollipop that goes along with sitting in the chair. (but really his hair was getting long too)

We usually get Dallen's hair short and spikey but since haircuts are starting to get super expensive x 3, I thought I'd get the other two cut in a similar way and hope it lasts for, at least, a few months. This is the shortest it has ever been for Austen and Brennen. Wow! What a difference! When Brennen finished, the first thing he noticed was that he had 2 bruises on his forehead ("when I ran into the wall" he explained). Bruises that were not visible when he had bangs.

So, what do you think?

Austen is 6!

Austen turned 6 years old on May 14, 2010. He was born on a Friday at Queen's Hospital and has been a headache joy ever since. He was kind of jaundice at the beginning so he had a tingey yellow hue for about a month. He was my smallest baby coming to us at 6 lbs 3 oz then pretty much bumbucha'd up quite quickly. He was not the greatest of sleepers for a good portion of his life. Early on, he got attached to his 2 small pillows with the star pillowcases. He still sleeps with them but isn't as vehemently attached as he once was. He has loved Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends since he was two. Only now, as he reached 6 years old, he is starting to discover other toys and has let me put his trains away. Although, he was adamant that he wanted a Thomas cake for his birthday. I tried to steer him to Iron Man or Bakugan but he is still a Thomas guy through and through.

This year, his birthday fell on a Friday - a furlough Friday to be exact. I thought he might have wanted to go on the Atlantis submarine again but he really wanted to go to the waterpark. So, I coerced asked Daddy to take the boys to Wet and Wild to fulfill Austen's birthday wish. He did. Yay Daddy! Austen got to spend the day at the waterpark and then, he opened some presents before heading to a Primary activity at church. He had a very fun time at the activity then had a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday sung to him by the throng of friends at church. He got to share his delicious, albeit very frosting-ey, Thomas cake with his friends.



Austen is our most compassionate child. He is the most thoughtful. He is the most helpful. He is also the most charming. So much so that we think he'll be the one to get married first (you lucky girl you- please take him off my hands!) and will also be the one to take care of us when we're old. (We hope because we think he's our best option right now!)

Just the other day I was doing my toes and he really wanted to take the nailpolish off for me. I had a flashforward and thought about what it might be like if our roles are reversed. Even though I'm in the thick of it now, I know that he (and the others) will grow up too fast. I asked him, "will you take care of Mommy when I get old?" He was concentrating on the nail polish removal at the time so he just told me, "Okay." Knowing Austen, he will take care of his family including his brothers and sister, as seriously and intensely as he does everything else. It's part of his charm.

Work first, then play

Today was our statewide LDS Helping Hands Service Project. Our ward went to Ala Moana Beach Park to do some clean-up. Lad was off-island broadcasting the State Baseball Championships. Austen was with my parents and went to help at the Waipio Regional Park. He said that he picked up bottles for recycling, raked leaves and picked up rubbish. He's a good helper so I wasn't too worried about him. So, that left Dallen, Brennen, Chyler and me to help at Ala Moana.

We walked the park from the Magic Island end of the park to the boat harbor and back. My back! My legs! I realized today that I am really out of shape, but I'm not that motivated to do anything to change that. Sad, I know. But, it was a great morning and worth it when you're able to teach your kids about being of service. It was also great to have a chance to do service with them. We had fun. Brennen, almost immediately, said he was tired and that he wanted to go home. But, he walked and he picked a few things up here and there. Chyler absolutely LOVED the notion of picking through the dirt and leaves. She's a dirt lover through and through. I realized today that Dallen is growing up. He walked and picked up rubbish...mostly without grumbling! I was very impressed. About halfway down, we were all getting tired so he told me, "Mommy, hurry up...the other people are hogging the trash!!" Maybe it was the heat but that remark cracked me up. We got held up at the banyan trees as everyone tried to find a great swinging vine. It was a great experience.

After we got home, I promised them that I would set up our old waterslide. It's been stored for so long and what better use of our new backyard! They had a blast! It was an important lesson learned today that when we work hard, then we play hard too!

May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii

I remember when all schools had May Day programs. Well, none for Alvah Scott again this year. But, Alphabetland had their annual May Day program at the Pearl City Cultural Auditorium today. Brennen's 3-year-old class was doing the Hawaiian Hokey Pokey. Umm...Bren was on the stage, I think he may have turned around once but at least he looked cute! He was also an excellent sitter while watching the other classes perform! Yay Bren!