For New Years day we decided to go ice skating. We pulled out the boxes with winter clothes and dusted off the jeans, got everyone dressed and went to the ice rink here in Hawaii. The last time I went ice skating it was like 15 years ago and in the Galleria in Dallas, TX---I was totally unprepared for the cold that was in that building! From the minute we walked in our breath was crystallizing in the air and it was quite shocking! The boys did pretty well with these walker-like contraptions they had for stabilizing unsteady feet on the ice, and it came back to Robert and I easily, but they really were a little too young to really enjoy it there. They spent more time in the game-room area than they did on the ice, but everyone had fun. Check out Robert's sweet outfit he donned for this outing! He-hee!! Not that mine was tons better....We've been away from cold for so long...we don't even know what to do with ourselves. When we left the rink and stepped outside, the humidity hit us like a wall and Robert's glasses immediately fogged up....it was a funny sight, but I guess you had to be there!
New Years Day
Makiki
Our first family hike in Hawaii was at Makiki...It's at the Hawaii Nature Center in Honolulu. It was 2.9 miles and went up 720 ft in elevation. We were totally unprepared for what we found on this hike...we were wearing normal clothing and I was in slippers (flip-flops). It was really raining when we got there but we figured it would be fine and not take that long---but, it was pretty long because the trail was mostly large rocks to climb over. It poured rain the entire time and we were all enjoying it, except Roddy who was carried by Robert. Sterling was our trail blazer and he kept a pretty good pace! We were totally surprised by him on this hike! He had so much fun and never complained once! We passed many people on this trail and everyone was shocked when they saw our little troop. We looked like we were either such hardcore hikers we didn't even need to be prepared, or we were lost! Robert carried Rod the entire time and Sterling was wearing Crocs. It was pretty funny, but we learned to bring towels and rainjackets for the boys from now on! Oh yeah, there are wild chicken everywhere here! Even in the forest, so I had to grab a shot of some on the walk to the hike.
At the park
For our all new active family lifestyle, we decided to incorporate work outs with the boys, so we could all exercise and the boys could get used to a healthy lifestyle at a young age....anywho...we went to the "sand park" and Robert chased the boys all over the place. (I've had shin splints--boo-hoo, so I haven't done much chasing in the sand) They had a lot of fun (of course)!
Christmas
Christmas at our house this year was sort of nontraditional...we were without family and that was strange, but it was good. Aunt Cassie, Grandma and Grandpa, Grandmommie Becky, Grandmomma and Granddaddy Harper and Aunt Tammy sent gifts for the boys and they were very excited. Christmas Eve I brought all the boxes everyone sent along with our gifts and put them in the living room. Roddy was so excited, he picked up each and every box and asked who it was for and if we could open it now. He kept saying, "I love Christmas and Christmas presents!" So cute! It was difficult to deal with him until bed time and I could only get him to go to sleep by saying that the faster he went to sleep the faster he could open the boxes. They woke up ridiculously early...like 5 am or something...We had a lot of fun...thank you everyone who sent gifts, and we are currently working on thank you cards...hopefully to be sent out before Valentines!?
Halloween
I know, it's way past Halloween, but the pics were just too adorable to not share. We went trick-or-treating with Christy, Ava, Daeli, and Mikey. In case you can't tell, Sterling was Woody (from Toy Story) and Roddy was Buzz Lightyear. They were both so funny and Roddy is still talking about how he wants to dress up like Buzz, go outside and say, "Trick-or-treat!" and get candy then say, "Thank you!" I ended up finding this awesome Buzz costume at Airman's attic and I made Sterlings (not that it took much). We had a lot of fun and there was so much candy they got it in stockings for Christmas!
My Best Friend
So, I know it seems like I could be making things up, because my kids are just that cute, but tonight the boys are having a hard time going to sleep...Sterling is asleep but we can hear Roddy upstairs making noise, so Robert goes to investigate the situation and hears what Roddy is singing...."Sterling is my best friend, Sterling is my best friend..."are my kids the cutest or what?
I'm telling momma!
Robert was just getting onto the boys and Roddy was misbehaving so Robert gave him a little adjustment. Rod looked at Papa like I can't believe you just did that! He then said,"I'm telling momma that you pushed me!!! I'm telling!" And he said it with all the force a little 2 year old has! That was definitely one of those parenting moments we both started laughing so hard! Robert promptly explained, after we could quit laughing, that he can't tell on Papa because momma always is on Papa's side. But seriously, that just happened 5 minutes ago, and I had to share! Sometimes the hardest part of parenting for me is keeping a straight face!