Hawaii - October 20 & 21

Saturday and Sunday were leisure days around the house. We played, prepared halloween costumes, took pictures with baby Kat, played, napped, did church together, played, took another walk to Starbucks, and even made our way to Target! Yes, all the essentials for the weekend. Besides, everywhere else would have been crawling with tourists, right? We stayed close to home and had a relaxing weekend together. 

One of John and Laura's neighbors, Mac, invited us to lunch at her house. She is just two houses away and extremely loving of the kids. She was also the one who helped pick us all up from the airport since we didn't have the rental minivan yet. It was fun to spend time with her and her extended family for the afternoon. She really made us feel welcome and right at home. Plus it was so wonderful because she is very aware and thoughtful about Laura's allergies and once she realized Brianna's and Carl's sensitivities she was all over that too and made sure there was some they could have too. She would show up in the evenings sometimes and just have a special toy or treat for all the kids. The first time she brought the kids sugar cookies, but then we told her about the wheat allergy and she then made the necessary adjustments so they were included too. How sweet!

My dad had a few projects to complete for John and Laura and one of their neighbors. For John it was a podium for his sermons, complete with auxiliary arm that fits a computer perfectly. For Laura, or really Danya, it was a wooden swing for the backyard. And for a the neighbor it was a new desk/plan table, that they already had in use the moment he was finished. I have such a handy Dad!

Speaking of my handy dad and the fabulous photographer that he is, he captured these precious moments with Brianna and Baby Kat. She was always willing to pull up a chair and hold the new baby. Literally, what seemed like every time my mom was holding her, Brianna would pull up this princess popasan chair, sit down and ask to hold baby Kat. She was so cute with the new baby. Carl didn't mind Kat but was more interested in the fact that he could let himself outside and play, play, play. Did I mention we enjoyed playing together!

Blog update: Saturday was dress up day, not Friday as previously mentioned - so it has been moved. Because Dress-up is really a perfect weekend activity anyway!
It was dress-up day! Brianna and Danya switched Princess costumes many times. It was a good experience for Brianna to play with her older girl cousin and figure out what some of this new stuff (i.e. dress up) was all about. Even though the outfit was a little big, she still had fun chasing around in it! Here she is Mulan and Princess Jasmine!

Hawaii - Side Note

If you start to notice Brianna with some facial blotches in the pictures, it's because there were some. Poor girl had some irritation that I just didn't know how to fix. Then I started to feel even worse because all the pictures we were taking, she had these noticeable red spots on her cheeks. I mentioned that on our first day in Hawaii we put sunscreen on her before playing at the park. All I can determine is that she had a reaction with the sunscreen and most likely the sun, that really only affected her cheeks where I put the sunscreen. Nearing the end of the first week, I was growing more concerned because it neither went away or got better.

Laura tried calling her doctor who would have seen us, however they were not in network. Boo. So the next best thing was the Walmart pharmacist who pointed us to a benedryl or hydrocortisone cream. We liberally applied the creams to her cheeks as a "special medicine". After a few days they seemed to lighten up, but prolonged periods in the sun were not her friend. Turns out, after Facetiming with Jon, he also had issues with the sun when he was little. That helped explain some of it, but it was still weird.

I am very thankful though that it didn't seem to bother her and it didn't seem to itch (that badly). She was a trooper and kept on playing!

Hawaii - October 19

After Danya went to School, we headed on another little adventure to the North shore. It was beautiful! No sea turtles, although we weren't looking that hard, so I can't be too disappointed. We walked around the shore a while, took a few pictures and walked some more. What fun to go exploring new places and take in the sites. The kids were good explorers and were patient with us adults. We hit a snag though on the way back home. I was getting concerned because there wasn't many places to stop to get the kids something to eat and I only had snacky items to tide them over. So I was hoping to get home as soon as possible. However... for some reason, traffic was stopped every direction we tried to go. And... there's not many options for trying to get home! Thankfully, as we hit an intersection, they police were letting people through. Whew! Off to Laura's for lunch and nap. Great morning!

Our last stop before heading home was some good old Shaved Ice. No pictures of the kids trying the shaved ice, but a cute baby feet picture. 

Laura made some wonderful costumes for her shop and she needed a bite-sized person to try one on and make sure it fit. Yup. Everything is a go. Maybe this little lizard should go chase his friends outside...

Baby Kat posing for the camera! She looks cute in her little headband and flower. Brianna certainly enjoyed sharing some of those cute accessories while we were there!

Hawaii - October 18

Started with Diamond Head with my Dad! This was so much fun! For a couple reasons: I didn't have any kids to answer to, I got to go hiking up Diamond Head, but most of all, be able to hang out and have some time with my Dad.

Our plan was to wake up and leave around 8:30 or 9, trying to avoid the morning traffic, but still get there at a reasonable time in the morning so it didn't get too hot. It worked out as expected. Except for the short photo op with Carl and Katriel!

While we were gone the seemed well to have a lot of fun in the container in the garage. I'm sure there's a lot more that happened but I simply have a picture worth a thousand words...

On our way, we hit a little rain shower and a little traffic, but by the time we arrived it was sunny and warm. Sun screen was definitely needed!

We walked a steady pace all the way to the top. I got a little claustrophobic in the small tunnel on the way up but pushed my way through. Coming down was a lot easier, especially since there were less people and I could move at my own pace. Once we got past the tunnel we realized there was an "Easy way" and a "Hard way." We took the easy way, but took a picture of the hard way. I'm glad for the choice we made! Those are stairs... straight up...

My dad's photo of the lighthouse down below. 

We made it too the top and enjoyed the scenery. My dad got a small bout of vertigo, but we found a nice bench to sit and take in the beauty. It was a fantastic morning and I was glad to be able to spend it with my dad.

We finally headed down and once at the bottom I was getting a little shaky. I really needed to eat. So on the way we picked up some food and headed back to my sister's house.

While the kids were napping we decided to keep the fun rolling and pack up so once Danya got home from school and the kids woke up we could head to the beach. Yes, back to Ko Olina for a sunset picnic dinner on the beach! The kids were even able to take a short dip in the ocean.

 As it turns out, we'll have to go back for his senior pictures. He's already posing...

Another favorite photo from our trip. They were sitting there so nicely for me I just tried to capture the moment, simply perfect. We only wish Daddy could have been there with us.

We ate dinner together, but there were just a few distractions. So many new things to see and all the wedding parties circulating across the beach.

What a blessing to spend such a beautiful day outside exploring God's creation.  After getting home it was the usual routine of baths and story time. Carl was not liking the whole bath every night thing (i.e. screaming while I soaped him down as fast as possible and didn't stop until I had his diaper and pjs on), but it was much needed for everyone. Especially since we were all sandy from the beach. I was ready for bed that night!

Hawaii - October 17

We loved the beach so much that we wanted to go back. I mean, we were in Hawaii after all! We wanted more fun in the Sun. We packed up that morning and headed out for some more play time! My sister took us to Ko Olina Beach, one of her favorites, because it's usually not very crowded, and what I'd say is just plain beautiful. The Lagoons they created are perfect for swimming and you can still enjoy the splashing of waves just beyond the rocks. A big thanks to my dad for helping capture many of our special moments in Hawaii. As much as I tried to keep the camera handy, there's not much you can do when you're in the water.

Both Brianna and Carl were a little timid at first but really had a fun time. Since Carl got a taste of the first beach, it was only right that he tasted the new sand too! He always seemed to sneak some in his mouth whenever I blinked. He is fast. We playing in the water and on land. Thankfully they had rinse of showers to help get the majority of the sand off before getting dressed again.

Later in our trip, we went out in search of the Lost beach. Little did my dad know, what a perfect precursor picture he took!

Even Baby Kat and my sister got in on the fun. We were so glad we got to do so much together. After all, she is the reason we made the trip!

And just Carl being Carl!

 After swimming, we went home for lunch and naps. Then once again, we played outside in the backyard. If Carl wanted to play outside, he had to close the screen door. He got pretty proficient in closing that door. It didn't take him very long!

Hawaii - October 16

A trip to Whole Foods was in order, to stock up on gluten free goodness. I brought quite a few staples with me to get through, but a few extras, like pasta and bread, were needed to make full meals. We made a morning of it by leaving after Danya headed to school and got back for a quick lunch and naps.

It was a fun Whole Foods trip, but the best part was what came next! 

Our first trip to the OCEAN!!!!

The kids' first experience of the ocean came at Waikiki Beach. It was earlier in the morning on a Tuesday so it wasn't very busy, and we were making some of the first tracks along the beach. There was one couple already getting their wedding photos taken (the first of many that we saw while in Hawaii). I should have known better and just changed them completely into their swim suits, but I was fully prepared and had a change of clothes for them. They had squatted down in the water then right away would sit down on the sand, leaving a semi wet and very sandy bottom.

We had to be careful because even the smallest wave had a nice pull too it, leaving both Brianna and Carl a little unstable in the water. Carl didn't seem all that impressed with the water. He preferred the individuals relaxing on the beach.

This is one of my favorite pictures of our time. I think it is so funny. Yes, that is my mom looking at her cell phone!!! Just look at the palm trees and the fabulous lagoon we are standing in with the buildings in the background - it was a very nice setting, and she is on her phone!

Ok, Sorry Mom for giving you such a hard time!  She is actually taking or trying to take pictures of the fish that were swimming by their feet. Brianna was at the wrong angle with the glare of the water and couldn't see them, so she was trying to catch a picture with her phone. She did put it away and continued playing in the water!

Back home we went to take naps and then play outside once Danya got home from school. A pretty fun day with so many left in our trip...

Hawaii - October 15

Got the chance to take my niece to school! It was just so wonderful to be able to spend that simple family time with my sister and her family. We had things we wanted to do while on the Island but no hard and fast plans. What I've told a lot of people about my trip, it was so good to be able to just live life together, even if it was for 2 weeks in a very full house. This was one of those moments. Laura and I snuck out the door with Kat, Brianna, and Danya. I say snuck, because we left poor Carl at home this time! 

It was fun to be with Laura as she got to show off baby Kat for the first time to all the other moms. It ended up being a good thing I dropped her off too because Laura had an appointment that afternoon and I was then able to go pick her up, by myself. She was pretty psyched that her Auntie came alone to pick her up! We made sure to email the teacher before hand, and she even recognized me from the morning, so I didn't feel so awkward about being a stranger outside the classroom door. 

We got home and played for the afternoon. It was fun to see how fast they all picked up on playing with each other. It was as though they've been together forever. One thing we also picked up quick was the need for nightly baths. With playing so hard and coming in and out of the house, they worked up quite the need for getting clean. For some reason, Carl would work himself up every night and not want a bath. It became a challenge as the week progressed, but we managed. I feel so blessed we got to visit when we did. I know B and C enjoyed (mostly) every moment!

Hawaii - October 14

Since we were a little short on energy, the day after traveling and the time difference was beginning to catch up to us, we decided to lay low for the day. That first morning, my mom and I, with Danya, Brianna and Carl went for a walk to the local Starbucks. It just so happened that there was a Jamba Juice right next door... the stars were aligning!  It was lightly sprinkled on our way, but never too hard where we thought we had to turn around. Honestly, it felt really good - the warm air and sprinkles. 

It was also Sunday, so we made it back to my sister's house just in time for their church service. Then it was lunch and nap time for my kids. I can't remember how nap time went but they were exhausted and I'm sure they slept at least a little bit.     After they woke up we decided to run off some energy, so we walked to the park. My sister says the island got a good deal on playgrounds because they are all the same. After we saw a couple more, exactly the same... we were believers. Kinda funny, but practical!

It was a fun little adventure. One of the best parts was seeing Danya and Brianna takes turn pushing Carl in the stroller. There was a tense moment when taking turns became difficult, but we pushed through. This was also the beginning of a trip long saga between the sun and Brianna's poor little skin...

Hawaii Trip - October 13 (cont.)

When preparing for our trip, people would ask if we had a direct flight or a layover. Yes, a direct flight is nice, shorter overall trip, less hassel with boarding and deboarding, etc., but we were glad for our layover. Carl was good the first flight and finally relaxed enough to snuggle in for a short nap and Brianna was amazing playing with the toys/books/videos we brought along. Even after that (relatively) short amount of time on the plane, I was glad to be getting out and stretching my legs. Not paying for one little person is good in theory, but when the little person is climbing Carl, that is a whole other story. PLUS, with the time of our flight and the little it seemed we ate that morning, I was hungry and I'm sure my kids were too. 

We arrived in San Francisco a little ahead of schedule! There wasn't much for food options in our small end of the terminal but there was a restaurant who was willing to help work around our allergy needs. The manager came out and was like, "Hmm, probably not that, probably not that, probably not that... Well, let's figure this out!" We ended up with a baked chicken with fries and vegetables. Since the fries were sketchy, I asked if we could just have more vegetables, and a ton more vegetables we got. I may have just been really hungry, but it was delicious. We had to wait a little bit since they baked it in the oven, but it was worth it. The kids and I shared this enormous piece of chicken and all the vegetables. So good!

So while we waited for our next plane and ate dinner, a FABULOUS couple from Hopkins entertained my kids. Right away they were making conversation and asking questions and even helping me get Brianna to eat more chicken. B would come over to me, take a bit of chicken, go back over and "show off" for the couple and when the women thought she was done chewing she'd tell her to go back to mom and take another bit. It worked swell! Then it turns out they were right across the row from us. They may have preferred another seat, but it was fun for Brianna to see her new friends again. 

This was a late night flight so after a while they turned off all the lights and we tried our best to get some sleep. Not much was had by me, but Brianna and Carl both were able to calm down and get some rest. You really have to be prepared with a lap sitter because once they fall asleep and you have to go to the bathroom, there is a little difficulties getting up. That's all I'm saying about that!

We landed safely, again slightly ahead of schedule, and we were picked up by my brother-in-law John and headed to their house. To give some perspective to the timing of our trip, my sister had just returned from the hospital the day we arrived, after having baby Katriel just a few days before (10/11/12). Kudos to Laura for being willing to take us in after not being home and just having a baby! We had hoped baby would have come sooner so there would have been a little adjustment period, but Kat just wasn't ready yet!

So, as you an imagine, B & C were pretty tired since it was the middle of the night to our internal clocks, but they were troopers. Went to bed pretty much right away and was up, what felt like, pretty much right away. I tried delaying them as long as possible.  I think my phone said 3:35 Hawaii time and after a night with hardly any sleep because Carl slept with me on my bed, I did my best to not judge their alertness. It finally seemed semi acceptable to make our way into the living room where my parents were camping out, so out we went and on to cranky/sleepy day number two.

Hawaii Trip - October 13

Setting the scene:

My oldest sister,  Laura, was having her second little girl and we thought, since my parents were going for a visit, it would be a great time to get to Hawaii and have a little extra help on the plane ride. It was just me (Eme), Brianna and Carl. Jon stayed behind this trip. It was quite the endeavor to plan and travel with two little ones, but in the end so worth it. Here are a few stories from our adventure...

October 13, 2012

Leave MPLS at 2:20 pm – Arrive in San Francisco at 4:29 pm (6:30 our internal clocks)

Leave San Francisco at 7:00 pm (9:00) – Arrive in Honolulu at 9:33 pm (2:30 am)

We woke up that morning all set to go. I didn't think we'd have everything set but I had a good running list and made sure everything was checked off. Our departure time was a little strange for my two usual nappers but they handled the shift quite well. (They ended up skipping naps all together. Napping on the plane was a hard sell since it was new and exciting, even though they were already really tired.) We ate an early light lunch, since the sleepy heads slept in and had a late big breakfast, and headed to the airport. It was hard to say goodbye to Jon; this was going to be the longest we have been apart and the longest time away from the kids. 

We got our bags checked in and the wonderful lady behind the counter took us to the fast lane for security. It was amazing to not have to wait in the snake line. Brianna and Carl also did well going through security. Since I was traveling with juice pouches and milk for Carl, above the allotted amount, they told me they either had to pat me down or open each pouch (which would have spoiled and defeated the purpose of bringing them). I said she could pat me down, my first experience, all the while Brianna just starring at me asking what she was doing. "This is part of everything they do to keep us safe." That was enough for her and on we went!

Thankfully after the security checkpoint a passenger cart stopped right in front of us and asked us where we were going and if we wanted a ride. Um, yeah! Turns out we would have had to walk all the way to the end of the terminal, quite a long way with our crazy load. He was so nice, those people are the best! Not long after we arrived, they started boarding the plane, and since we were traveling with small children, we were some of the first on. Whew... the first step in our long journey began...

The plane ride was fairly uneventful. What a relief! They both did really well with take off and landing, they were just so excited to see and experience everything that was happening. The hardest part was trying to convince Brianna that it was ok to use the potty on the plane. We talked a lot about it leading up to our flight but nothing can compare a 2.5 year old for the weird, noisy, undesirable location to use a bathroom. She went potty just before we boarded and after many trips to the toilet with either me or my mom (it was quite confining), she finally went about 30 minutes out from landing. That means she held it something like 3 hours. I felt terrible holding her down and what felt like forcing her to go, but I really didn't want her to have an accident. It just didn't seem like that would have been a good experience for her. I was hopeful because she is practically potty trained, and she exceeded my expectations and did so well in big girl undies the whole trip. 

We landed in San Francisco and we were thankful for the layover...