It's Fall!

Or at least that is what people keep telling us.  It's hard to believe when it's still in the high 80's and sunny here.  This week Addison's playgroup had a field trip to the pumpkin patch.  This is her friend Aurora that we meet at Fort Shafter pool.  They both had mermaids and became fast friends.

Where else do you see banana trees on your hay ride?

Addison did a great job picking her pumpkin and a little one for Easton too.

She had to have her hand in her pocket for this shot.  She asked me to wait until she was posed just right.  Where does this kid get this stuff from? 

After the pumpkin patch we headed over to the North Shore.  And while I was using my navigation on my phone it just quit.  I couldn't even turn it on.  Luckily I had written down the town we were headed to and we got to Matusumoto's famous Shave Ice market.

Where we met up with my babysitter. Yup, you read that right, MY babysitter.  Laura use to watch my sister and I in the summers.  She was visiting with one of her friends, and will be back again in May, and I was so glad we were able to catch up.  On a side note, I look like a man in this picture.  In my defense it was 89 degrees, I had one kid strapped to my front, trying to balance on kid on my lap and tourists milling about unaware of what was going on around them.  But I do still look like a man.

This cute little guy melts my heart.  He lights up and is all smiles and coos when I talk to him.  Love him!

I had to help him grip the teether but he was able to get it in his mouth.  He has started sucking on his fingers and is super drooly.  The other day I couldn't figure out where the water drop came from on my foot and then I realized it was drool from Easton.

Friends

One last photo for tonight.  Addison has been making quite a few friends in the neighborhood.  She's had about four play invites this weekend alone.  All of which we had to turn down due to potty training.  I allowed these three in today to play for about a half hour before I loaded Addison up with juice and got back to the potty business.  She's the littlest, but she sure tells those big girls exactly how to play and they listen!  It is so fun seeing these friendships form. 

I did get a preview of a couple years from now.  They screamed, shrieked, and laughed playing hide n seek.  Oh, man what am I in for?  And Easton, slept the whole time in his swing, screams and all!  What a good baby.

Keeping Up

Well, dang it, this photo is suppose to be at the bottom.  In fact all these photos are in reverse order.  But here we go anyway.  I finally have one room in the house complete, the kids' bathroom.  Addison went to town creating our wall canvases which gives the room a nice pop of color.

On Friday I took the kids to the pool and we left with Addison carrying a full load in her swim diaper!  That was my final breaking point.  We came home and started intensive potty training.  We have spent the last two day outside from wakeing up to bed time working on putting pee in the potty.  If I were rich I would hire someone to do this for me.  No one told me potty training was this much work and stressful for the mom!  For each success Addison gets a potty prize, M&M's or cookies, and gets to do a project.  Those who know her best know this kids loves her some projects.  These have probably been the best motivator for her.  But let me tell ya, it's exhausting me being "on" for 12+ hours a day.  Thank goodness Daddy was home yesterday for the day.  His help was much welcomed and appreciated.  He helped keep Addison busy between pottty breaks by making creative activities which included a treasure dig, (Thanks Grandma Jodi for the sandbox!).

It's so fun to see how much these two like eachother.  Addison always looks at E and says, "He's so cute!" in a super high pitched voice.  Amd she always asks to "pet" him.  Easton in return loves to watch Addison flit around all day.

What am I suppose to say when this little chocolate covered face asks, "You get me one more cookie please?"  Of course I gave her another and then Ryan informed me she had already had 1 1/2 while I was out walking.  She royally scored that night.

In the afternoon we go enjoy the weather.  Perfect weather to take a nap in.

Another potty activity, playing super hero!

Here's a close up of some of the wall "art" I did for the kid's bathroom.  It's going to have wording that says, "Don't forget to..." and then each picture will say clean your ears, wash your hands, etc.  Ryan thinks I should take down the buns one, but what else do I put up there?  Besides, it's not a guest bathroom only family will see it.

So back to the potty training.  We are making progress but it's no fun.  How come none of you all told me about this part?  And how the heck am I going to teach Easton to "aim?"  I don't have a hose of my own.

He's 2months Already

 Today, marked Easton being in our family for two moths already!  I can't believe it's been that long.

 He's a very sweet little guy.  He sleeps for six hours when he first goes to sleep and then gets up every 4-5hrs after that.  He has been smiling a lot and "talking" to us when we talk to him.  Lately, I've been catching him smiling while he is looking around the room.

 He still doesn't have that much hair which seems a little weird considering how much Ryan, Addison and I have, maybe by next month!

 This little girl is such a great big sister.  She is very helpful and loves her brother.  I have asked her a couple times if we should take Easton back and she always answers with an urgent, "No."  She always likes to know where he is at if she can't see him.

 She learned how to put a pencil in her hair like Mom.

 The MWR hosted a free concert by the Imagination Movers, a Disney show.  Addison was less interested in the show and more interested in running around with her friend. 

And lastly, I think I have a budding decorator on my hands.  These are the boats we put up every time Ryan gets underway to help Addison visualize when Dad will be home.  Each day she takes one boat down, getting closer to the day Dad will be back home.  Last time we put them up this is how she arranged them!  I love it!  Very design conscious, already.

For an activity we made home made graham crackers in the shapes of animals.

 I just love this little face.  She is so expressive with her face.

 Little E swinging in his bamboo PJs from Aunt ShawNee.  These suckers are so so soft!  He is getting more and more inquisitive to his surroundings and has started really giving us smiles and cooing this last week.  Very darling.

 Sometimes we see this little monster around our house.  But a little time out in the corner does the trick!

 These two are already buddies!

Saturday

Saturday we headed out to the lagoons on the west side of the island.  Easton was very cool thanks to his rash guard and trunks from Aunt ShawNee and Blake.

I wanted to take a picture of Addison and she gave me this series of impromptu poses.

What a nut!

The lagoon is my new favorite spot for a kids beach.  The rocks protect the beach water from the waves so Addison is free to go in the water on her own without being afraid of getting knocked down.

The beach is always a good place for a nap.

The little spout in the middle of this picture, in front of the rock, is Ryan.  He went snorkeling for awhile.  He said there wasn't too many fish to see.  Just the usual small reef fish.

And another nap for Easton.

This one is for Aunt ShawNee.