Secret Beach

Today the weather was gorgeous.  On the island of Kauai things can be a bit iffy - one minute it's sunny, the next is rainy, but today it was absolutely perfect.  82 degrees and sunny all day.  We decided to take advantage of the weather and spend the afternoon at Secret Beach.  The name says it all - it's a beach that is basically hidden to the world.  It requires about a ten minute hike down some pretty interesting terrain followed by another fifteen minutes down the shore to the perfect sandy area, but it was totally worth it.  And on a beautiful day like today - we saw no more then ten other people - and they were all spread out over the beach.

Jet Lag

I can't quite figure out my sleeping schedule.  Even though I was wasted tired last night, I got into bed and was wide awake.  I fell asleep around 1:00 am and then was up and wide awake by 5:30 am.  By about 8pm today I was ridiculously exhausted, but now it's 11 pm, and I'm wide awake again.  Hopefully tonight my body will go to bed, and sleep for at least eight hours.

Today we woke up and had a breakfast of sliced pineapple and banana cereal.  We got some grocery shopping done, then spent the afternoon touring the local beaches.  It is so beautiful here - I had no idea that it was almost like a jungle in some areas.

Because of all the recent rain and flooding a lot of the roads are closed off.  It puts a damper on some of the plans we had, but honestly...I'd be happy just hanging out on the patio listening to the waves and getting some sun.

Off to bed....hopefully!

BDEM:  The hot tub after a long, fun and exhausting day.  

Day 1 in Photos

I've been up for about twenty four hours now...so I'm just going to post some pics of day one and climb into bed.  

Kauai Day 1:

BDEM: After another long day of travel, we enjoyed a wonderful fish dinner. Not just one, but four amazing fish dishes.

From AZ

I'm actually on a computer tonight, which is a fantastic feeling. As I've mentioned in the past, phone blogging just isn't all it is cracked up to be. We are leaving our kids with some of our favorite people in the world, and the greatest thing about that is the fact that we actually get to see them! After a much-better-than-yesterday day of driving, we arrived at a warm and welcoming home. We were served a delicious homemade meal, and couldn't feel more comfortable in our environment. The kids are in warm-weather-heaven, and are so happy to be here, so we don't feel TOO guilty about leaving them here.

We take off early tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to thank our wonderful family for being so willing and EXCITED to take our kids. You guys truly are amazing - thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!! WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH!

BDEM: I want to go and join it...so I'll sign off. Adults only are chatting in the kitchen!

Water: I'm totally skipping this for the next week - - one less thing to phone blog!

We survived! Well, mostly. Ya know that moment on road trips where you think, "I'm going to die if I have to spend one more minute in this car!"? Well, that's when we hit an hour and a half of extra traffic...right after we told the kids we're almost there. That didn't go over very well, but I'm sure they're stronger because of it.

But for now, we're halfway there, and ready for a good night's rest before starting all over tomorrow.

Wish us luck!

BDEM: watching the kids fly out of the car upon arrival.

The Drama

Planning a trip to Hawaii on two weeks notice should be hard - especially when you have four kids.  For us, it all fell together in a matter of 24 hours - babysitting and flights included.

Packing up six people while your husband is out of town should be stressful and frustrating.  Strangely, it has been a breeze.

Everything about planning this trip has just been TOO easy.

Then today hit.  As I moseyed along packing a bit here and there - doing dishes, putting things away I couldn't help but think that this was the least stressed I've ever been before a trip.

Thanks, universe, for correcting that obvious oversight.

Part of our trip involves driving to Phoenix to leave our kids with Rob's brother and his family - then we fly from Phoenix to Hawaii.  So we made sure last week that the car had a tune up, etc - and was running smoothly since Phoenix is roughly a ten hour drive from our house.  (It will probably seem closer to 30 hours with my kids who have never been in the car for longer than 3).

After returning from a small errand, we pulled the car in the garage, and I let it idle as the kids danced to the end of, "Tonight's gonna be a good night."

Then things started to smell funny, then the garage was filled with white smoke coming from the engine.
Just Grand.

It's now 3pm on a SATURDAY, all mechanics are closed, and my car looks and smells like it is on fire, my husband is out of town, and we are supposed to be leaving at 8am the next morning.

My father in law found the only open mechanic who verified that this car was absolutely not drivable for a road trip.  It would require some major work, which couldn't be done over the weekend since all the parts shops were closed.

We looked into borrowing a van, but that didn't work out. So we looked into renting one...and that was going to cost over $800, and leave Rob's brother without a car to drive our kids around in.

My brother, Dan - seeing my facebook post - called to see if there was anything he could help with, and I just lost it.  Talk about a sweetheart, he called from Chicago to see if he could use his sky miles to rent us a van.  He said, "This trip has come together perfectly for you...we're not going to let some car problems get in the way."  As Dan was looking for car options, my father in law walked through the front door, tossed a key at me, yelled, "You have a great time, okay?"  and ran out the door.  He and my mother in law were late for my nieces play (another thing I missed because of today's drama).  Rob later explained that his Dad pulled his car-dealer strings to make some kind of a deal with another car dealer, to let us use a van that someone else was selling.  I can't believe he went to so much trouble for us.  Thank you, Ross.  My kids literally jumped up and down with excitement over the new vacation van.

So yes, today I am overly thankful for others who are so willing to help. I am also thankful that this van has a built in DVD player.  Hawaii by way of Vegas then Phoenix, here we come!!


BDEM:  Fairly obvious.

Water:  40 oz

When I Get an Awesome Office

I will get these awesome letters.


Then I will be awesome.


I have a couple of ideas in my head of what words would be perfect...and masculine (okay, I'll probably never have an office of my own).

What ONE word would be most awesome?


(To buy these letters - click on my friend, Katie's Etsy site - HERE).

BDEM:  Another crazy-busy day preparing for this trip, but I was able to spend some time with my sister in law, Jessica.  If I had a Jessica around at all times, I'd be much more hip.  I definitely lack in hip, but I think from today's exposure, I have become a bit hipper.  Maybe just hippier.  Not in a vagabond sense - more of a my-hips-are-getting-bigger-from IHOP sense.    (Happy Birthday, Johnny and Syd!)  

Water:  Oh.  I didn't even think about water until I typed that.  Now I'm thirsty.

Angry Buzz

I've been calling Jude Buzz since the day he was born - not sure where it came from, but it has stuck for years.  So, I especially like when he gets a buzz, and the nickname makes sense.

I also love that as soon as his hair is short he looks just like my little two year old boy.  I cut his hair, and it's like he hasn't aged a day!

Angry Buzz three years ago -   I should add that he's angry because he is stuck in a toilet.  I'd say his anger is justified.

Angry Buzz today.  Angry because he had to stay inside after pouring sand all over our next door neighbor's driveway.  His anger is not as justified this time around....but I'm pretty sure mine was.  

( He was trying REALLY hard to stay angry in this last shot)

Gosh, I love my little Buzz.  Even at his angriest.

BDEM:  Crazy Uncle Jeff joined us for dinner tonight, and the kids couldn't have been happier.  Anytime that poor guy walks through the front door it's like pure pandemonium.  He is such a good sport!  

Water:  40 oz.

Baby Hungry

(As in....I'm not)

But I should be, shouldn't I?  After all, Stefanie is pregnant.  Kat is pregnant, Kim just had a baby, Sara is not "ruling out the idea,"  Katie just had a baby, Nicole is pregnant, and I know there are other friends who are secretly reading thinking, "I haven't announced it yet!"

My little baby is almost 14 months old - and for anyone who knows me, knows I should already be at least four months along!  (Okay, perhaps thats a SMALL exaggeration, but truly - I'm running behind on my usual schedule).

But, shouldn't I WANT to be pregnant?


Does that mean I'm done?


How do people know when they're done?  It seems like the further away from pregnant I get, the less I want to do it again.

Go, Go Joe!  Give me the interpretation of my feelings!

BDEM:  One of the great perks of having Rob work from home is that we get to run silly errands together.  Today we went shopping and to lunch - so much fun!

Water:  50oz

Checklist

Tune up on Van - check
All 8 loads of laundry - check
YM/YW Combined Activity that I was in charge of  - check
Book ideas from bloggy friends - check (thanks, ya'll!)

Still to do:
Run to Target for last minute items
Pack the kids
Pack myself
Clean house
Paint toe nails in some ridiculously bright color of polish
Make treats for doTerra meeting
Charge every single electronic item we own

I'm feeling optimistic.  Exhausted, but optimistic.

Oh - and if you ever find yourself ridiculously white before heading off to a tropical island, don't panic. Just run out and grab this stuff:

FANTASTIC.  And that's coming from the world's pastiest woman.  I know you're thinking, "No...I'm the whitest person in the world."  Wrong.  In the winter I actually turn to a pale shade of blue.  

Anyway - doesn't streak, doesn't turn orange - just a really nice even spray.  

Rob walked into the bathroom after I had sprayed my legs and said it stunk.  Personally I didn't think it smelled too bad, but he turned up his nose and said it smelled like skunk.  I then called him out because he is one of those weirdos that actually LOVES the smell of skunk.  Long, deep breaths whenever we hit a stinky area.  He said, "I like the natural smell of skunks.  This just smells like synthetic skunk - and I don't like that."

BDEM:  I have to get some video of Claire saying Ella's name.  It is a beautiful thing. She can say all of our names pretty well - but Ella's is hilarious.

Water:  40 oz

Still Waiting

...for that great book recommendation.  Over the next three and a half weeks I will be doing a lot of this:

Then a lot of this:  

Followed by some of this: 

So, I definitely need a few book ideas.  I can almost guarantee if you liked it, I haven't read it.  

Please share, my friends!

BDEM:  Does getting 5/8 loads of laundry count?  I guess when you're dealing with the busiest week of the year, it can. 

Water:  90 oz - and about to grab some more!  

Getting Excited

Is anybody else rereading The Hunger Games before the movie comes out? I started it a couple of days ago, and I still can't put it down - even though I know what is going to happen. I'll probably finish in the next two days, so I'll be looking for another recommendation for my upcoming drive and plane rides.

Till then - enjoy this video. It's for the movie, and even though I'm not a huge Taylor Swift fan, I think it is done perfectly.

BDEM:  Family dinner with my brothers and their families!

Water:  30 oz.

Do Not Pass Go

Do not collect $200, proceed directly to Stefanie's blog.

I talk about Stef a lot....for good reason.  I love her to death.

To prove my love for her, I'll post this picture...knowing that she can't hate me for it.  We're past that.

Maybe you'll think twice about stealing my camera and taking pictures of yourself.  

When I read her post today, I just knew there was nothing I could even THINK that could be as amazing as what she wrote.

So, seriously - go HERE now.





BDEM:  I replaced the dress.  I just couldn't get into the flowers.  Shopping was fun, though!  

Water:  40 oz

Calling all Seamstresses!

Maybe in plural form you are called Seamstressi.  It's all just too technical for me - especially being a novice when it comes to the old sewing machine.

Here's my dilemma.  After hitting up Old Navy's 30% off sale, I came home with this dress:

I'm still trying to decide whether or not I can get back into floral patterns, but the dress was super cute on. Or at least I thought it was until I saw the double, awkwardly spaced ruffles at the bottom. When I showed it to Rob he said, "The top of that dress is awesome....but then the bottom kind of looks like a moo-moo.  I feel like you should have a fruit basket on your head."  He put into words exactly what I was feeling.  So, here's my question - can this be altered to look more awesome?  I thought about removing the awkward space between the two ruffles, and just making it a double ruffle - which will actually keep the dress long enough. But that would definitely require the handy-work of my awesome seamstress mother-in-law.  She is a whiz behind the sewing machine.  BUT - IS THE DRESS WORTH IT?  Is it a cute enough dress to put some time into, or do I just go with this one:

It also comes in blue:

BDEM:  Lunch with Stef.  Then talk of making said lunch a regular occurrence. What I wouldn't give! 

Water:  Ooh...I kind of lost track today.  I'm not sure I actually had ANY.  Crap.

I've mentioned in the past that Claire looks just like Maddie did when she was a baby.  Both kids were little chunkers, but I think Claire may be JUST a little bit bigger than Maddie was.

We tried to buy Claire some pants today - but as always, I could button them while she was on her back, but then she couldn't actually sit up.  Up until this point Claire has basically lived in stretchy pants, and it looks as though she will continue in stretchy pants for a few more months!

To confirm the fact that Claire is indeed our chubbiest, I started looking at pictures from Maddie around the same age.

This picture proved that Claire and Maddie were indeed the same size:

Unfortunately, Madelyn has a balloon up her shirt.  Claire....no balloon.

BDEM:  Anybody else love oatmeal?  Comfort food at it's best! I just finished a warm bowl of banana-flavored oatmeal with craisins, and mmmmmmm-boy!  That was DELISH!  

Water:  50 oz