Happy Mother's Day!

I am so unbelievably blessed to have these three boys in my life. Life would be meaningless without them. Hm, how was life without kids...?? ....but seriously... It's not easy and I don't imagine it ever will be easy, but I feel a sense of belonging and worth that I have never felt doing anything else. Having them call me "mommy!" and how they can make any problem go away with their sweet smiles and endless amounts of hugs and kisses, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Also, I am so thankful for an amazing mother who showed me how precious this gift of motherhood and family can be. The best example that I turn to whenever I'm in need of guidance. The best mom in the world! I love you tons. I strive everyday to be just a little more patient and a little more caring like you.

To all you moms, grandmas, and moms-to-be, HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

(click photo for my DMiID mother's day post)

Anniversary.

We got to get away. Kids-free, just the two of us. Even if it was just for a few hours, it was everything I could have ever asked for! We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family that made it possible for us to have this time together.  You know who you are, Thank you! ♡ The day was perfect in every way.
 

4 years ago...

I married my best friend,

the love of my life....

How did I get so lucky?

 

I am as much in love with him today as I was then...maybe even more...

Thank you for the best four years of my life.

It just keeps getting better and better everyday!

I love you so much.

♡

My Birthday Adventure.

Yesterday was the perfect day! It started at 5 o'clock in the morning, driving down to Kualoa Beach Park for the sunrise. Despite it being windy and cold, having breakfast and watching the sunrise with my sweetheart was the best beginning to the day. I debated going through with this hike until the very last second...obviously, I went through with it....and I am SO glad that I did! It was a good 15-20 minute paddle out on the longboard (Chad pushed me the whole entire way - thanks Love). We hiked to the top of the island, rock-climbing and hard-core hiking all the way up. At the top, we could see 360 degrees around the whole island, and the view was absolutely breathtaking. We finished our hike and took a slow walk around the entire island. It was so fun just being able to do this together, by ourselves ;)
It was the absolute best way to celebrate with the most important person in my life. Chad, thank you for making this day so special (and for making this cute movie)! I love you sweetie ♥

Merman.

Did you know that I'm married to a merman?

Yup that's right. Chad is really half fish, half man. 

It's just second nature for him to be in the water...unlike me...not only can I NOT swim, but I am deathly afraid of being in water deeper than 5 feet. Chad held a few records in high school and was one of the fastest swimmers on his team. 

He has been wanting to get back into swimming ever since coming here to Hawaii, but work, surfing school, and other things have kept him from being able to. One day, something clicked inside of him and he decided to participate in the North Shore Swim Series - a series of races ranging from 1 mile to 2.3 miles in length on the North Shore of Oahu. He didn't have much time to train, so he got right to work. Every night after school and work he would go swim laps at the school pool in preparation for these big races.

He is such a dedicated and determined swimmer.

The third race of the four-race series was just today. Chad set himself a goal of finishing the 1.6 mile race in less than an hour. He knew that even with his training, he wasn't back to the level he was at in high school. With that goal in mind, he set off for the course against 650 other swimmers.

The Jaco's race went from Chun's Reef to Waimea Bay.  1.6 miles of upwind, against-current swim.

We waited for Chad at Waimea beach. We watched the first few swimmers coming in half an hour into the race. The first place guy came in at an amazing 32 minutes and 4 seconds.

Not too far behind him was my hubby. Against the 650 swimmers that participated in the race, Chad finished way ahead of his original goal of 1 hour. His official finish time was 43 minutes 30.9 seconds!! only 10 minutes behind the first swimmer. 82nd place overall, and 8th in his age group. 

{battle wound.}

I am beyond proud of Chad. He set a goal and not only achieved it but he surpassed it.

There's just one more race to come. 2 weeks from now Chad will be racing the Jamba Juice North Shore Challenge, the longest of the four races at 2.3 miles. So excited.

We love you and are so proud of you Daddy!

One Sunday Afternoon.

Chad and I decided to go on a little bike ride while Chad's mother offered to watch the kids. They were both napping so we thought an hour long stroll wouldn't hurt. We got on our bikes and left for the new bike/running path off of the very scenic Kam Hwy. It had been a while since I had ridden a bike and it took me a minute to get used to the feel again, but once I had gotten the hang of it we were off!

It was so nice. I enjoyed not only getting out of the house and getting that fresh air, but also seeing the beautiful mountains and nature around us. It really was a very scenic ride.

BUT as much as I enjoyed being active and being able to connect with nature, it was HOT. The sun was beaming down on us, humidity felt like it was 250%, and there was no wind...despite being on a bike and it being 4 o'clock in the afternoon...

sweaty and sticky, we ended our ride at a hidden beach. We watched the waves get tossed in all directions by the wind and strong current. (where was this wind while we were bike riding, I have no idea.)

We decided that we had left the kids long enough, and headed home. Out of the BLUE (literally) it started to DOWN POUR. There was NO sign of rain, not even a rain cloud. Welcome to Hawaii....

We were soaked. (Chad doesn't look as wet as me but you'll see in the next picture that he really was soaked.) The rain brought the temperature and humidity down, so we were able to have a pleasant rest of the evening. It was a fun and adventurous day for us all.

(yes, Chad is sticking his bum out right here. haha)

3.22.2011

 

3.22.2011

 

...marks the day...

 

that I was sealed to this stud-muffin for time and all eternity, 3 years ago.

AND

 

also the day that I have had this cutie in my life for 19 months + 1 day

I am so blessed to have both of them in my life. And I am beyond thankful that I get to spend the rest of my life and forever with them both. Especially thankful for my Hubby. My best friend. My everything.

Happy 3-year Anniversary!

Thanks for the best 3 years of my life!

I love you!

xoxo

♥ Happy Valentine's Day ♥

This morning I woke up to this.....

My sneaky boys woke up extra early to make sure that this was a complete surprise!

...and it totally was :D

A handmade card....made with love and filled with sweet messages....

and the best gift of all...

sweet kisses from my little boy ♥

 In return, Chad came home to this yummy goodness....

OK, ready for this??....They are White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Magic Bars from Baking Bites!

YUM-O

Hubby's favorite treats include anything with white chocolate, condensed milk, and/or coconut....so this was THE PERFECT dessert! - really, it's so good!

Here is the recipe:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 cup white chocolate chips
1 cup roasted, salted macadamia nuts, coarsely chopped
1 cup shredded coconut, sweetened or unsweetened
1 14-oz can sweetened condensed milk

 Preheat oven to 350F.

• Mix together graham cracker crumbs, oatmeal, and melted butter; Press into even layer in a lightly greased 8x8 baking pan.
• Layer evenly in the following order: first the white chocolate chips, then macadamia nuts, followed by coconut, and topped off with condensed milk (pour evenly over everything).
• Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until coconut is golden brown.
• Cool completely before cutting.
  
  *Makes 16-20 bars*

 

 

I hope that everyone had a fabulous Valentine's Day!!!

♥  ♥  ♥  ♥  ♥

More projects & some random thoughts...

 Pillows 2 & 3 are done!

Take a look.....

Rosettes are super easy to make and this simple pink pinstripe helps to tone down the other rather loud prints and designs on my couch...

I got the idea for this pillow from ...Vanessa at V and Co.
I just made the ruffles a little wider, and only on one side of the pillow.
I'm very excited about how it turned out, even though Chad thinks it's too girlie ;)

Testing out the new pillow.
...I think he likes it too :D

All of my sewing was done on this beauty...

Margaret....my friend Christal's vintage sewing machine.
She sews perfectly  and looks lovely too.
Thanks, Christal for letting me use your sewing machine!!

My next project I have planned is also super simple, yet super cute:

I made these paper roses using card stock and the spiral paper method.
I plan on making this:

by Dozi Design
Now, I just need to find some good twigs and branches lying around.....not so easy when you live on a tropical island with only one season all year-round.



On a more random note......

Noa fell asleep after having lunch in his high chair

I always have been envious of his long eye lashes...and today they seem to go on for miles.

Hubby is taking a photography class now.......am I jealous? YES...
He also took a photography class in high school

This photo was taken in his HS photography class and got high remarks.
It even got entered into a contest and was displayed in the library for everyone to see.
Appropriately titled: "Got milk?"  :)

oh, how I love my boys!

*＊Just Life* (and SOME photography stuff)

I didn't know what to name this post because I really didn't know what I wanted to even post about. {so I just started writing, and came up with the title at the end...} 

I guess I can start out by saying how excited I am about how Noa has been growing, and how fun it is to just watch him day to day progressing and changing! He has truly been the biggest blessing in my life. He is now almost running...and he is talking a LOT more, mimicking different sounds and trying to say words - like dada, mama, nenne (nigh-nigh), banana (of course) and mixing up different sounds to make up a word...He also knows how to bow now! {he's so Japanese! hahah} when ever you say "arigatou" (thank you) or "oyasuminasai" (good night) he BOWS!! its seriously one of the cutest things ever!

And Chad, {he's going to kill me for writing about him} but he is the best! - the best DAD, the best friend, the best son, and the BEST husband. 

why, you may ask??  well{no one would really ask that...}, there are a few reasons my hubby is so wonderful, they are:

he loves me for me...he helps me get through my bad days {and my good days}....he is SO good with Noa....and he LOVES (and would do anything/everything for) his family

...and....and.........get this....

HE GOT ME THE CAMERA!!!

not just A camera, but THE one...

{Thanks Babe!!! thank you thank you thankyou!!!}

can you tell that I am pretty super duper excited about it?

I haven't even received it in the mail yet, and I'm already blogging about it!

there will definitely be more posts about this little item...guaranteed...

...but moving on.....

I am also pretty excited about my new little photography logo (for watermarking my photos)

if you still haven't gone over to my photoblog to see it, here it is:

do you love it? cuz I sure do!!!

I'm pretty proud of myself for coming up with the idea and also for making it all on my own!...it was inspired by one of my own previous photographs:

it's definitely one of my all time favorite photos...(even though it was taken with my measly little point-and-shoot)

I really hope that these things will help me kick off my little hobby into something a little more than just something I do from time to time....thank you all for the support that you've shown me thus far!

I am really looking forward to where this journey takes me!