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).

We celebrated Rory's birthday and everyone go to enjoy his ice cream cake (even Sage). Rory was very gracious to share it with his sons (like he had a choice). I have to say there is nothing better than watching your little ones devourer an ice cream cake on a hot summer evening.

After four years together we finally got to enjoy the 4th of July as a family........This year we went down to the beach and enjoyed a b-que with great friends. Spending the holiday by the ocean is a tradition we hope to carry forward. Noa is officially swimming and body surfing without wings or vests. He is thrilled with the freedom of the water. Later in the night we got have a little adventure. We all had hoped to watch the resorts fireworks on the beach, but a 8:00pm security came around to let everyone know the gate we being locked up. Oops! Can't say I have seen four families pack up and move out (in the dark) faster in my life. Fun Fun Fun. So we quickly drove home and had a blast lighting sparklers with Noa. Alls well that ends well.

Summer Vacation

Last Posting April 24th, Ugh! Summer is here and it is getting hot already here. The boys are having a blast together. Zekey turned One on May 28th.....what a blur this year has been. Parties, MOPS, Play Dates are keeping us busy. For Zekey's first birthday HE gave us a gift too.........he learned to run. Like I didn't have enough to keep up with?

Every Wednesday my Mom's Group has had a Book Study where we get to have intelligent conversations and discussions and the kids get to play. The book we are working on is Guilt-Free Motherhood, Parenting with Godly Widsom. I can't recommend this book more highly. This one is worth reading and applying to in all my parenting principles. We are also remodeling our master bath ("we" - that's funny I mean Rory is remodeling). So the Allison family is sharing a bathroom at this point. Yes, it is a fun as it sounds.

Rory and I celebrated our 4th anniversary, Yippee! We went out to dinner to the Hapuna Prince Hotel Restaurant where we orginally met and then honeymooned. Very romantic!

We think Noa is turning a corner and really working hard to use self-control and he is making better choices. There are still many "teachable moments," but we are seeing HUGE improvements.