Dolphins, dolphins and more dolphins......

Oh yeah and penguins, sea lions, fish and turtles. We spent yesterday at the Sea Life Park which is about 30 minutes from Waikiki. It is over past Hanauma Bay and the drive was beautiful watching the waves crash into the rocks. Sean wanted me to take this time to swim with the dolphins for my birthday. As we got closer to it he told me that the boys should do it too. I was thrilled about this since Hunter had seen me looking at it and started to cry when I told him that I was the only one to do it. When I called to set up the appointment they informed me that each child under the age of 8 has to have an adult accompany them in the water. So it now became a family event!

Right before we got in with Kaleo

I set up our time for 9:30am because the park opens to the public at 10:30am. Once we got all set up with life vests we headed down to the water with our group and instructor. We got in the water along the edge of the pool and got introduced to our dolphin Kaleo. He is a 37 year old male dolphin and she explained that in the wild they only usually live to be 30 but in captivity they can live to be 50. Kaleo was very sweet and we got to touch his back and belly and they are so soft. This was my dream come true! Then we each got a turn letting him kiss our cheeks, then we got to kiss him and then he jumped up out of the water and danced with us. Sean was holding Hunter and I was holding Brayden. Hunter was so excited the last few days about the idea of touching and kissing a dolphin and Brayden wasn't too sure about it. Well Brayden surprised me and was smiling the biggest smile and was so giddy about this whole thing. He was so excited to touch the dolphin and I was so happy that this turned out to be so delightful for all of us.

The best part was the fact that we got there so early and we got to do the dolphin encounter and we had enough time to shower and change before all the shows. We then went to watch the sea lion show which was hilarious, from there we went to have lunch then went to see the afternoon dolphin show that was absolutely amazing. For me these are the most beautiful agile mammals in the sea and they put on a great show! From there we went to the play pirate ship so the kids could get some energy out and then we went in to look at our pictures and video. We decided to buy just the video since it showed everything. They did edit the tape and we were laughing because they edited Hunter throwing a fit when he first got in the water because he couldn't touch :) As parents we wished they would have left it in so we could show it when he gets older. Sean is an incredible dad and husband and he bought some turtle food (broccoli and lettuce) while I had my back turned and out we went to go feed the turtles. The kids got the biggest kick out of this because they came swimming over so fast. Then we checked out the penguins and made our way over for another show at this big tank. We got a show with the penguins, sea lions and dolphins and it was a great way to end our day. On the way out we stopped by the touch tank and got to feel some star fish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers that were different than we have at home. They also had a 7 month old turtle that we got to watch swimming around.

I am so thankful that I got to have this experience with my family!!

My 33rd Birthday

So it's been a few days since I posted and I can say that we made it to the North Shore this weekend with Sean. We had quite the adventure that Sean is sick of me telling people but I find it amusing.

We headed out Saturday morning with the car packed with snacks and all our beach stuff. We drove for a little while and got to one of the beaches and we walked out and it was breathtaking. Very different from Waikiki beach. The sand was different consistency and there were a lot of rocks in the water. The best part was that the turtles loved the rocks and were out swimming around everywhere. The boys had a blast getting buried in the sand. Then they got the great idea to bury mom in the sand and Sean took a picture. I am a little claustrophobic so I wouldn't let them bury me up to my neck but Brayden was down for that. Then Sean decided to go into the water to try and catch one of the turtles and he realized once he was already in that he had the car keys in his pocket.

Well we are driving a 2012 Jetta and they have these wonderful smart keys. But they don't do well in water. So we had to dry the keys out in the sunshine which didn't take too long but we were ready to move on to another beach. Every time Sean would put the key in, the car would start and then die and it would say that there was no key. Finally it said that the key needed a new battery. Now of course it's not a typical battery it was one of those flat round specialty batteries and Sean and I looked at each other with knowing looks. So out of the car we went with reapplied sunscreen and off on our adventure. We started down this bike/walking path in the direction that everyone was going because we had no idea where we were. Long story short the kids did awesome on our 3 mile adventure into the town of Wailua where we found a Long's drugstore. Then we rode the bus back to the car and we continued along our journey.

We stopped at some more beaches (I held onto the keys) and we saw such amazing sights. Huge waves that didn't look that big until you saw a surfer in them, waves crashing into the rocks, we climbed out on some of the rocks and saw beautiful tropical fish swimming in the pools. It was a fun day with all my boys and I was so happy to see my husband relax and act like he was on vacation. The best part is that we will have our little family adventure to always laugh about together!

So during our drive we passed the Dole plantation and I took the boys back to that on Monday. First on Monday we went and tried out some lagoons over by the Disney resort and had a fun time playing in the water and having lunch. Then we went to the Dole plantation and took the train ride and learned about all the history of Dole. We saw how pineapples grow, saw bananas growing on the trees, saw mango trees, cacao bushes, sugar cane, breadfruit trees and lots more I don't remember off the top of my head. Then we headed inside to have some Dole pineapple soft serve ice cream. On our way in we got to sample some fresh pineapple and my oh my that was the BEST pineapple I have ever had! The part that cracked me up is when Brayden ate his banana today he recognized the Dole name on it :)

Now today is my birthday, my 33rd birthday and we just laid low today because yesterday we moved condos. We are a little closer to Waikiki beach and the walk is much shorter. The boys and I spent the day down at the beach which seems to be where they want to go everyday. Then Sean called because he was almost back to the condo and he wanted to take me to dinner for my birthday. It was great to be able to walk a few blocks in the warmth down to a restaurant and then walk the food off on the way back. I had a yummy pomegranate margarita and some divine shrimp tacos. Probably one of my best birthday experiences!! Tomorrow we are off for my lifelong dream which I will post about later. Aloha!

One week into our vacation

So we have survived one week in Hawaii....I know sounds rough :) I am sitting here staring out at the beautiful water and the many boats enjoying the sunshine and perfect water. The boys have been playing so wonderfully this morning while I have been cleaning the condo. We have been keeping ourselves very busy with walking to the beach and driving around learning the roads. I have become very comfortable here and could only wish that it was closer to family and the groceries weren't so expensive because I could get used to this kind of life. We have kept updated on the winter storm at home and the boys have been sad to miss the snow. I was a little sad at first because I love sledding and making snowmen but that usually only lasts for a day for me and I much prefer the sunshine.

Sean has been kicking butt as usual and they are halfway done with the job. They are waiting for more casing for his holes but they won't be in until probably Tuesday. He is helping the general contractor today but hopes to have any earlier day today. So we are waiting patiently for him so that we can all drive to some lagoons to go play for the second half of the day. I think we are planning to drive to the North Shore this weekend and do some exploring over there. That is what Sean had said he wanted to do because he hasn't gotten over there yet. I'm hoping to see some turtles for the boys. When I was here 11 years ago I stayed over at Turtle Bay Resort and we saw lots of turtles and I know the boys would be in awe.

My poor boys have come down with colds in the last couple of days. I can say this has been the WORST season of colds and flu for our family. It has been a little better having colds in warm weather versus cold weather. I feel like we just can't get away from being sick. Three weeks ago Brayden was diagnosed with bronchitis and then the Wednesday before we left Seattle, Hunter started screaming because his ears hurt and I rushed him to urgent care because we were getting on a plane in 24 hours. Poor guy had 2 middle ear infections but we got him on antibiotics and some numbing ear drops and he was good for the flight.

I must say that I was very nervous flying with 2 young kids. I didn't want to overwhelm them with too much so we made it all about the fun things they were going to get to do on the plane ride. They had color books and new twistable crayons, their video games and the hope that there would be a kid appropriate movie playing. Then when we arrived at the airport I explained about the security and how they were going to have to listen really good and do what they were asked. Hunter did fantastic and the security guy we had was great. Brayden got a little confused but security was very patient with Brayden. I did have to tell them that I had Hunter's antibiotics with me because it was much bigger than the 3oz. limit. They had to take it over for a special screening but it turned out to be no big deal. So we boarded our plane at 5:10pm and arrived in Honolulu at 10pm which was midnight Seattle time. The stewardess's could not believe that both boys stayed awake for the whole flight with the exception of Brayden sleeping for the last 15 minutes of the flight. I was very proud of them and how they behaved on a 6 hour flight. I have some pretty fantastic kids!!

Starting 2012

Well I can say we have started the year off well. We no longer need diapers in this house and for that I can shout "HURRAY". As much as I love the baby years I am LOVING the ages that the boys are right now. We got a taste of it this past summer and now I am fully embracing the freedom that we are experiencing in life.

We got word that Sean would be leaving to go work in Hawaii for a while when the new year began and I told him that we were coming. As I write this I am sitting on the 30th floor staring out at the beautiful blue water of Waikiki beach. We are across the street from the zoo and that has been a lot of fun. We sit out and eat dinner on the lanai every night and watch the elephants and giraffes. The monkey's entertain us with their banter every morning around 9am. The boys are enjoying the fact that we can just walk down to the beach and play in the sand for hours.

Yesterday we spent the day at the Lyon Arboretum since it was overcast and raining for part of the day. This was a beautiful rainforest of plants and canopies of huge trees. As we walked around I noticed that the majority of the huge plants were larger versions of our house plants. I got a huge laugh out of this. The boys wanted to try the hike up through the forest to a waterfall. I figured we would give it a try and was so proud that they made it without any complaints. They enjoyed the hike as did I and I took so many pictures my camera battery died on the way back down. As we were hiking we kept hearing these screeches in the trees that sounded like monkeys but came to find out as we got further in the forest that they were Wild Cockatoos and when they flew out of the trees they were spectacular. Nothing like the ones in the animal stores back home, these birds were huge like eagles and had such amazing wing spans. I was definitely in awe! Then we hiked back down and walked around the gardens below and watched the little green parrots in the trees. We did get eaten alive by the mosquitoes and are paying for that today but we are headed down to the beach now so I am sure we will soon forget about the bites.

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

This was posted from a friend of mine today and I read this and cried. I wanted to post this to our blog so that I can always remember these things. My boys are amazing and I am a better person because of them! Jess

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

Inspired by a Pin I've recently seen about "rules for dads with daughters," I went searching for a similar list for moms with sons. This search was mostly fruitless, so I was inspired to write my own Rules for Moms with Sons. Granted, my list will not be conclusive and may not be entirely uncontroversial. So agree, or disagree, or take with a grain of salt - but I hope to inspire other moms who are loving, and struggling, and tired, and proud, and eager to support the boys in their lives. You are the most important woman in his life, his first teacher, and the one he will look to for permission for the rest of his life. From "Can I go play with them?" to "Should I ask her to marry me?" Its a big job, but as the mumma, we're up for it.

25 Rules for Moms with Sons

Source: pre-schoolplay.blogspot.com via Tabitha on Pinterest

1. Teach him the words for how he feels.
Your son will scream out of frustration and hide out of embarrassment. He'll cry from fear and bite out of excitement. Let his body move by the emotion, but also explain to him what the emotion is and the appropriate response to that emotion for future reference. Point out other people who are feeling the same thing and compare how they are showing that emotion. Talk him through your emotions so that someday when he is grown, he will know the difference between angry and embarrassed; between disappointment and grief.

2. Be a cheerleader for his life
There is no doubt that you are the loudest person in the stands at his t-ball games. There is no doubt that he will tell you to "stop, mom" when you sing along to his garage band's lyrics. There is no doubt that he will get red-faced when you show his prom date his pictures from boy scouts. There is no doubt that he is not telling his prom date about your blog where you've been bragging about his life from his first time on the potty to the citizenship award he won in ninth grade. He will tell you to stop. He will say he's embarrassed. But he will know that there is at least one person that is always rooting for him.

3. Teach him how to do laundry
..and load the dishwasher, and iron a shirt. He may not always choose to do it. He may not ever have to do it. But someday his wife will thank you.

Source: offbeatmama.com via offbeatmama on Pinterest

4. Read to him and read with him.
Emilie Buchwald said, "Children become readers on the laps of their parents." Offer your son the opportunity to learn new things, believe in pretend places, and imagine bigger possibilities through books. Let him see you reading...reading the paper, reading novels, reading magazine articles. Help him understand that writing words down is a way to be present forever. Writers are the transcribers of history and memories. They keep a record of how we lived at that time; what we thought was interesting; how we spoke to each other; what was important. And Readers help preserve and pass along those memories.

5. Encourage him to dance.
Dance, rhythm, and music are cultural universals. No matter where you go, no matter who you meet - they have some form of the three. It doesn't have to be good. Just encourage your son that when he feels it, it's perfectly fine to go ahead and bust a move.

6. Make sure he has examples of good men who are powerful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity.
The examples of men with big muscles and a uniform (like Batman and LaMarr Woodley) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he also knows about men who kick a$s because of their brains (Albert Einstein), and their pen (Mark Twain), and their words (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and their determination (Team Hoyt), and their ideas (The Wright Brothers), and their integrity (Officer Frank Shankwitz), and fearlessness (Neil Armstrong), and their ability to keep their mouths closed when everyone else is screaming (Jackie Robinson).

7. Make sure he has examples of women who are beautiful because of their brains, their determination, and their integrity
The examples of traditionally beautiful women (like Daphne Blake, Princess Jasmine, and Britney Spears) will surround your son from birth. But make sure he knows about women who are beautiful from the inside out because of their brains (Madame Marie Curie), and their pen (Harper Lee), and their words (Eleanor Roosevelt), and their determination (Anne Sullivan), and their ideas (Oprah Winfrey), and their integrity (Miep Gies), and fearlessness (Ameila Earhart), and their ability to open their mouths and take a stand when everyone else is silent (Aung San Suu Kyi).

8. Be an example of a beautiful woman with brains, determination, and integrity.
You already are all of those things. If you ever fear that you are somehow incapable of doing anything - remember this: If you have done any of the following: a) grew life b) impossibly and inconceivably got it out of your body c) taken care of a newborn d) made a pain go away with a kiss e) taught someone to read f) taught a toddler to eat with a utensil g) cleaned up diarrhea without gagging h) loved a child enough to be willing to give your life for them (regardless if they are your own) or i) found a way to be strong when that child is suffering...you are a superhero. do not doubt yourself for one second. Seriously.

Source: simplymontessori.blogspot.com via Terry-Anne on Pinterest

9. Teach him to have manners
because its nice. and it will make the world a little better of a place.

Source: swagbucks.com via Adriana on Pinterest

10. Give him something to believe in
Because someday he will be afraid, or nervous, or heartbroken, or lost, or just need you, and you won't be able to be there. Give him something to turn to when it feels like he is alone, so that he knows that he will never be alone; never, never, never.

Source: theberry.com via Chris on Pinterest

11. Teach him that there are times when you need to be gentle
like with babies, and flowers, and animals, and other people's feelings.

Source: heatherbeadles.com via Heather on Pinterest

12. Let him ruin his clothes
Resolve to be cool about dirty and ruined clothes. You'll be fighting a losing battle if you get upset every time he ruins another piece of clothing. Don't waste your energy being angry about something inevitable. Boys tend to learn by destroying, jumping, spilling, falling, and making impossible messes. Dirty, ruined clothes are just par for the course.

13. Learn how to throw a football
or how to use a hockey stick, or read music, or draw panda bears (or in my case alpacas), or the names of different train engines, or learn to speak Elvish, or recognize the difference between Gryffindor and Slytherin, or the lyrics to his favorite song. Be in his life, not as an observer but as an active participant.

Source: shanna-kaye.com via Shanna-Kaye on Pinterest

14. Go outside with him
turn off the television, unplug the video games, put your cellphone on the charger, even put your camera away. Just go outside and follow him around. Watch his face, explore his world, and let him ask questions. It's like magic.

15. Let him lose
Losing sucks. Everybody isn't always a winner. Even if you want to say, "You're a winner because you tried," don't. He doesn't feel like a winner, he feels sad and crappy and disappointed. And that's a good thing, because sometimes life also sucks, no matter how hard (as moms) we try to make it not suck for our kids. This practice will do him good later when he loses again (and again, and again, and again, and again.....) Instead make sure he understands that - sometimes you win - sometimes you lose. But that doesn't mean you ever give up.

Source: None via Emma on Pinterest

16. Give him opportunities to help others
There is a big difference in giving someone the opportunity to help and forcing someone to help. Giving the opportunity lights a flame in the heart and once the help is done the flame shines brighter and asks for more opportunities. Be an example of helping others in your own actions and the way your family helps each other and helps others together.

Source: data.whicdn.com via Meagan on Pinterest

17. Remind him that practice makes perfect.
This doesn't just apply to performance-based activities (like sports and music) but also applies to everything in life. You become a better writer by writing. You become a better listener by listening. You become better speaker by speaking. Show your son this when he is just young enough to understand (that means from birth, folks - they are making sense of the world as soon as they arrive), practice trick-or-treating at your own front door before the real thing. Practice how you will walk through airport security before a trip. Practice how you order your own food from the fast food cashier. Practice, practice, practice.

18. Answer him when he asks, "Why?"
Answer him, or search for the answer together. Show him the places to look for the answers (like his dad, or grandparents, or his aunts/uncles, or his books, or valid internet searches). Pose the question to him so he can begin thinking about answers himself. Someday, when he needs to ask questions he's too embarrassed to ask you - he'll know where to go to find the right answers.

Source: 1.bp.blogspot.com via Maegan on Pinterest

19. Always carry band-aids and wipes on you.
especially the wipes.

Source: babyhold.com via Katie on Pinterest

20. Let his dad teach him how to do things
...without interrupting about how to do it the 'right way.' If you let his dad show and teach and discover with your son while he is growing up, some day down the road (after a short period of your son believing his dad knows nothing), he will come to the realization that his dad knows everything. You will always be his mother, but in his grown-up man heart and mind, his dad will know the answers. And this will be how, when your son is too busy with life to call and chat with his mom, you will stay connected to what is happening in his life. Because he will call his dad for answers, and his dad will secretly come and ask you.

Source: familyfun.go.com via Kate on Pinterest

21. Give him something to release his energy
drums, a pen, a punching bag, wide open space, water, a dog. Give him something to go crazy with - or he will use your stuff. and then you'll sorry.

Source: bleubirdvintage.typepad.com via Marybess on Pinterest

22. Build him forts
Forts have the ability to make everyday normal stuff into magic. Throw the couch cushions, a couple blankets, and some clothespins and you can transform your living room into the cave of wonders. For the rest of his life, he'll be grateful to know that everyday normal stuff has the potential to be magical.

Source: None via Tabitha on Pinterest

23. Take him to new places
Because it will make his brain and his heart open up wider, and the ideas and questions and memories will rush in.

Source: None via Anne on Pinterest

24. Kiss him
Any mother of sons will tell you that little boys are so loving and sweet. They can be harsh and wild and destructive during most of the day. But there are these moments when they are so kind and sensitive and tender. So much so that it can cause you to look around at the inward, reserved grown men in your life and think, 'what happens in between that made you lose that?' Let's try to stop the cycle by kissing them when they're loving and kissing them even more when they're wild. Kissing them when they're 2 months and kissing them when they're 16 years old. You're the mom - you can go ahead and kiss him no matter how big he gets - and make sure he knows it. p.s. (this one is just as important for dad's too).

Source: smallesthings.blogspot.com via Sherry on Pinterest

25. Be home base
You are home to him. When he learns to walk, he will wobble a few feet away from you and then come back, then wobble away a little farther and then come back. When he tries something new, he will look for your proud smile. When he learns to read, he will repeat the same book to you twenty times in a row, because you're the only one who will listen that many times. When he plays his sport, he will search for your face in the stands. When he is sick, he will call you. When he really messes up, he will call you. When he is grown and strong and tough and big and he feels like crying, he will come to you; because a man can cry in front of his mother without feeling self-conscious. Even when he grows up and has a new woman in his life and gets a new home, you are still his mother; home base, the ever constant, like the sun. Know that in your heart and everything else will fall into place.