Ho Ho Ho Christmas 2008

Looking back over the year there are so many wonderful memories it is hard to select only a few to write about. With Noa and Zeke being so young every experience has such significance and importantance, they are so full of life, energy, and they are learning so much everyday. We are all excited about Christmas almost being here. The Allison household is decorated to the brim and full of the spirit of the season. Christmas music can be heard all the way down the street and hot chocolate is the drink of choice. Though Rory and I will always miss the colder winter weather and our “white Christmas” we appreciate all the beauty Hawaii has to offer. This year we are we are focusing on building memories and creating traditions for the boys. The family is watching lots of Christmas movies and trying to explain to Noa what the meaning of Christmas truly is. We are enjoying reading to the boys lots of Christmas books and stories of the season. We are looking forward to participating in as many Christmas events as possible all leading up to the celebrating of Christ’s birth. We feel very blessed and grateful as a family to have Gods care and faithfulness surrounding us. Though we all know that are so many uncertainties of the future we hope this greeting finds you in good health and with happy hearts. We hope that God’s love and grace is with you everyday.

Visit to Kailua Beach

What can I say...This year Thanksgiving was amazing. Rory and I took the boys to Oahu to spend the holiday with Rory's mom and her wonderful husband. We were blessed in so many ways. We all have some much to be grateful for and spending the holiday with family made it one of our very best Thanksgivings. Mom got to do so shopping (remember we live on an island in the middle of the pacific) and that was sooo much fun. They boys spent most of their time at the beach or in the pool. I know what you are thinkin..what a surprise.

November

November was an exciting month for the boys. Noa turned four with a big birthday bash, his grandparents from California came and so did his grandparents from Oahu. I know that was his highlight for they year. He wanted a Go Diego Go theme and I was all for it. It was really fun, the kids played pin the badge on Diego, Diego Says and we had a pinata.


His Grandma Byrd and Grandpop Byrd from CA stayed for two weeks. They lavished them love and affection so when they left we were all a mess. Mom got a much need break and the boys got grandparent time. The boys just had the time of their lives. Having family come to stay is so precious when you live so far away. We spent a lot of time just playing and swimming.

Time to Catch Up

Time flies by when you are having fun. I think it is time to catch up on the pictures cause it is already Christmas time. This Halloween Noa and Dad got to go Trick or Treating. The last few years it has been unseasonalby warm here in Hawaii. So when Noa said he wanted to be a pirate I got him a costume with nice light fabric. Wouldn't you know it...it was freezing in Waikoloa this year. But Noa was a trooper nothing was going to stop him. He walked all over our neighbor hood, they must have walked three miles...

Fishing with Dad

Noa caught his first fish with Dad a couple of weekends ago. This was an exciting day and one that will not be forgotten. The trouble is Noa caught these little fish so quickly that he thinks it is easy now. Wait til he finds out that it really takes a lot of patience to catch the big one.

Summer 2008

Rivers Edge - 2008

Cousin Jason & Ty
Princess Keala

Queen Toscha & Her Royal Highness AmyThe Yates Family
Rory & Gary Catching Up

Noa is the Superstar Batchie Baller The Inseparable Couple
This is what two days of Traveling will do to little boys
Yum Yum Smores Hang'n by the Pool

Dress Up with Allison Noa Zekey and Keala

The Bunny Hoppers
(the loves birds swapping sippy cups - notice Zeke's pink one)

Summer 2008 Comes to a Close

Can't believe how fast this summer has gone by. So many memories and great times. Noa is turning 4 in a few months and Zekey is already 16 months old. They are learning what it means to be brothers and work together. We have a long way to go! I know that Noa is my son and of course I am proud of everything he does (ok...most everything) but he really is turning into a wonderful little person. He has made so many accomplishments and successes this summer. One thing he has learned is to write his own name. We have started a little preschool to help him along. I am learning so much about myself being a teacher to him. I think we both can benefit from a little home schooling. Zekey is really starting to talk and use signing to get what he needs. He has master the sign for "no". As he is bringing me my cell phone or taking apart the remote...he will say and sign "no". He is a little trouble maker and I love that he is still a Mama's boy. Noa has grown up so much and so independent that it is nice having one still need me.

We had a family reunion this summer and talk about building memories for the kids....WOW! It was a trip that I hope Noa always remembers. Just getting there was an adventure from Hawaii. There we two flights, car trips and other stops along the way. We we so blessed to have all the Grandparents there spending time with all the kids. It was truly a vacation for me having so many loved ones looking out for all the kids. It gave me a rest physically and emotionally. Having no family to help out is the only draw back to living in Hawaii.! All three grandpa (Grandie, Grand-Pop Byrd and Grand-Pop Allison), all two grandmas (Grammie & Grannie), Auntie Amy & Uncle Jeff, Cousin Allison and little Cousin Keala Rose...even Cousins he didn't even know he had...Cousin Jason and Cousin Ty. The house we stayed in was right on the river, so the kids got to play, skip rocks, hunt for all kinds of critters. Poor Grand-Pop Byrd got poison oak really bad....there is always one that gets it? Zekey really fell hard for his cousing Keala, they are only weeks apart in age...Everyone did great with the Photo Scavenger Hunt....lots of funny pictures. Every night all the grown-ups gathered around the fire pit and just enjoyed being together. Grannie Byrd brought all kinds of fun dress up and play clothes for the kids (of all ages). As a family we thought having Christmas in July would be a great way for us all to spread a little holiday cheer because we usually do not get to spend the holidays together. There of course was roasting marshmallow for smores (Noa's first time).