Rubbing it in....

My parents called me and emailed me some photos of the snow that hit Utah today. I'm not one to rub it in, but I think I actually have a headache from all the warmth I soaked up at the beach today!
All in all, a super fantastic, keeping it toasty, day!

Digging a grave....

Here's my sweet boy digging a grave for the latest victim (bird) in a string of dive bombers that have hit our lanai windows. Seriously, it's getting a little ridiculous! Buddy "played" with the disgusting thing for a while (thankfully with his mandatory gloves on), then buried it. Look closely, those are my steps up to my door right behind him. Perhaps the ultimate STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN! I feel an exhumation in Shane's near future!
So all in all a super fantastic, diggin' it, kind of day!

The apple falling...

Today Buddy took his first step into manhood. I picked him up from school wearing my bathing suit and cover up (it's Hawaii, don't judge me, I was planning on going boogie boarding), let's just say my coverage was not complete in a certain area. Buddy however put me right at ease and said (that is after staring at my boobs long enough to make me feel uncomfortable) "don't worry mom, you're so pretty I'm not going to stare at your boobs anymore....today". Awesome... creepy, disgusting and perverted with a tiny little hint of sweet, all in one fail swoop.

So full body coverage for me from now on to avoid the costly therapy bills I foresee in our future!
So all in all a creepy, fantastic, just like dad, day!

Just one of the guys...

Today Buddy walked home from school all by himself (at least that's what we're calling it when I tagged behind and didn't tell him the way)...

Look at him, he's even got a spring in his step for being such a big boy. Afterwards, he played with the neighbor kids and WALKED HIMSELF HOME! OK it's only 3 doors down and across the street and I won't tell you that I weeded our front yard to whole time to make sure he was OK coming home. He did fantastic and he was pleased as punch with himself. When did he grow up? It just seems like yesterday he was content to stay home and make paper cup telephones...

Of course now I'm wondering what kind of monster I created? What was I thinking teaching him how to get places, doesn't he know he's suppose to be totally dependent on me? Oh boy, I think I'm in for a ride, and I think the neighbors won't know what hit 'em!
So all in all a super fantastic, growing up, day!

Dyngus Day!!!

Happy Dyngus Day!!! Oh you didn't know about the strange Polish Holiday also referred to as "Wet Monday". Me neither until I was reading my bathroom book (a fantastic book full of lots of trivial nuggets that are to be consumed no matter how small, or large the load may be). Luckily I read about it Friday, and lucky us, it's celebrated the day after Easter. So we did what any other red blooded American without a speck of Polish in them would do, we went across the street, grabbed some neighbors and celebrated in style...


It was a success, the kids played for hours (thankfully for my ridiculously priced water bill, not with the water). Buddy has declared these 2 playmates his very first real home friends (cause they live near his home, don't worry I had to ask too).
So all in all a very super fantastic Dyngus Day!
By the way don't forget May 14th is Dance Like a Chicken Day, mark your calendar, I know we did!

Happy Easter!

Nothing much in our house today, just a bunch of snot (from Buddy's eyes this morning) and nausea(from me). Of course snot and nausea mixed in with a bunch of Lego's, trains, guns, and then to spice things up Buddy played with a motorcycle he got in his Easter basket. Let's just say I am more than excited for Buddy to go back to school tomorrow, and I'm sure he is too, since he was reprimanding me for not making my trains talk "peppy" enough today!
So all in all a super fantastic, "peppy", day!

Mothering contradictions....

First and foremost, I wanted to post this little snippet...

http://youtu.be/QPFnSdG0cy8

Sadly I missed most of it and Buddy refused to continue on when I grabbed my camera, well, at least until I told him I wouldn't show anyone. Since I am a frequent contender for Mother of the Year, I did what I thought I had to do. Which of course is post it on YouTube for your viewing pleasure. Bad mommy I know, but someday..... he'll be a teenager and totally hate me for it.
In other contradicting news, since I've grounded Buddy from playing computer games about shooting, I thought we should dive right in to the world of reality...


Awkward isn't it... and not just my face.
So for now a super fantastic, bilingual, day!

Hot Chocolate and avoiding the storm...

Today we went to an Easter Egg hunt. Let me just put this out there, chocolate, plastic eggs, the Hawaiian sun and the 30 minute set up time for the hunt, not a great combo! Buddy had a good time anyway (after the Easter lesson that is, since we were at church). His impatience reminded me of when my dad used to make us wait to open Christmas presents until most of the Book of John was read. I'll just say, we don't wait for things well around this house...


Buddy was sadly disappointed that the eggs weren't actually hidden, just laying there helpless on the grass. His disappointment faded a bit when he found out there was candy inside, unfortunately the candy fill of choice was chocolate, hmmmm, slight problem!
Afterwards, we went to the park and played, then went home to continue the playing. Buddy decided it would be a great idea to make "crappy" (that's what he called them)
space craft so that they would rain down on Lego Town and the visiting trains from the Island of Sodor. We tried to make junky ships that were, heavy, loaded down and had very poor designs. Of course the space ships just had to crash cause an asteroid storm! Here is our end result...

Gladly no trains were harmed in the making of this Lego storm.
In other news, Buddy has taken a vat of truth serum. Today he told me I needed to exercise tomorrow, since I was getting fat again (totally true, but I'll blame our company last week, and then I'll blame them again for making me sick this week), and that I was almost growing a mustache. Awesome! Yet again true . Too much information? Probably but really funny since he pointed it out while we were cuddling in bed first thing in the morning and he was stroking my hair, that's right, my facial hair. Hopefully we'll get on the right track tomorrow, I hear an aesthetician and Jillian Michael's calling my name!
So all in all a super fantastic, it's probably a good thing all the chocolate was melted, day!

Grounded....

Buddy is officially grounded from the computer! Since Shane and Buddy have been home (sick) at the same time, those two have been playing computer games on the Internet with Kevin. So what's the problem with the male bonding? My problem is the horrifying language that escaped my 6 year old's mouth this morning from all the "shoot 'em up games"! So Buddy is grounded for the first time, but handled it well....At least after he questioned why I hated him/was being so mean, yada, yada, yada, you get the point. Then I pulled out my KUMON workbook of crafts that had been gathering dust (at least it would if I didn't have OCD). So kudos to the crafty people at KUMON !!! We had a blast!









As you can see, the end result was fantastic...

We even had time to do a little of this....

We've already hid the eggs about 6 times, only to be repeated "straight away" in the morning, as requested by Sir Budster! Thankfully, most of our hunting will be outdoors in a very large crowd....that should minimize the risk of me finding a rotten egg in someone's toy chest a year from now when I'm packing up to move to Hawaii (oh wait, that already happened)!
In other news, Buddy was honing his acting skills some more today. As he was throwing a tantrum (skill number 1...check), he was staring in the mirror to make sure he was putting on the best face. Seriously! At least I hope that was why he was staring, or we are looking at a future Prima Donna (which could also be true).
So all in all, using my parenting skills (with a little help from my friends), day!

Banned from the beach...

Sounds like a horrible 80's movie, but it's the story of our life. OK, I won't be so melodramatic, but sometimes Hawaiians phrase things just a little differently and honestly it makes me laugh. Seriously, wouldn't you, try it out... " I will ban you from the swimming for three days". You can't tell me you didn't just giggle a little bit. While we at the doctor's we also found out Buddy has a bad case of gidi-gidi, the doctor said it was the worst she'd ever seen! Then she touched it... A LOT! Let me show you Buddy's gidi-gidi (I hope your stomach can handle it)...

Hopefully you can see Buddy's whimsical cowlick, or gidi-gidi as they say here (of course I just barely found out they say it here). Our doctor was fantastic, and Buddy of course was showing off for her, gidi-gidi and all! So now we are all on antibiotics and trying to fill all our free time (with someone missing school and all), with some creative construction...

So all in all a super fantastic, banning day!

The Drummer...

Over the last few days, every once in a while Shane's drums have made a pat sound without anyone around. I thought it was a gecko leaving a dropping. Seriously, I think the geckos have a plot against me, as soon as I vacuum the droppings up, more magically appear to replace them. It wasn't until Buddy returned home from school, heard a pat and then investigated the situation that uncovered this....




Buddy helped free him and then gave him a tour of the house so the gecko would be oriented (I'm assuming). Then Buddy announced that the gecko was his new best friend, no worries, with his new friend he's no longer bitter that my uterus isn't giving him a sibling and has stopped requesting for a made to order brother (his age, his size, likes cars and has black hair).
Shane and I are still sick, and Buddy is much, much better (at least that's what I told myself when I sent him to school this morning). Although, I'm still wondering how the heck you get a cold in Hawaii, ummm, it's Hawaii, it's warm here!
So all in all, a super fantastic, pitter-patter, day!

Grumpy Old(ish) Men...

Is it just me or is this picture a little disturbing?
In other news... Hawaii rocks, not only is it warm and surrounded by water (yay, go figure with it being an island and all), but I wrote a little letter to the court about my speeding ticket and got a 6 month probation instead of a ticket. Super woohoo on that!
So all in all a super fantastic, awkward dressing, day.

The Conquerors!

Today we returned to Kaumauna Caves, this time we were well prepared. This time we returned with a full-grown teenage boy that happens to share some DNA with some of us...

(If someone looks a little scared it's because all the flashlights had to go out for our picture, lets just say it was freaky dark)
It was fantastic, we went about a mile in before our company got tired and we turned around. We will conquer them again, next time with extra batteries and possibly a hard hat( not that it's completely necessary, but wouldn't we be cool). Afterwards we went to Volcanoes National Park, sadly this was the most exciting thing to see...

I mean he's cute and all, but he's no natural wonder, well, maybe he is. Tomorrow we're going to try our hardest to get Kevin on a helicopter ride with our favorite pilot to see the eruptions, in the meantime, we'll just deal with Buddy's audible eruptions (they are almost as cool)!
So all in all a super fantastic, erupting, day!

Our week in pictures....

So we've lagged a bit in our blogging, Kevin and some of Shane's friends are visiting so here's what we've been up to, first we started practicing our proper faces to receive our company...

I think we may have perfected it! Then Buddy went to school and got his creative on...

Ummm, yeah, that's what I thought. Buddy insisted I take the picture to share with the world (hi world), he made it during recess with some other kids. They also made boats and bridges to get across that ocean of water. Smart kids (I'm sure that's just what their teacher was thinking).
Then of course there is the never ending scooter racing across the lanai. Sometimes you just gotta amp it up and do crazy faces, cause we never do those around here!
Exhibit A...

So all in all a super fantastic, ready for the weekend, day!

Renegade...

So I promised Buddy a treat for finally starting to do good at school(in his teacher's eyes) and today we went to retrieve our prize! I promised him a Hex Bug since we had an unfortunate experience that landed ours buzzing for a full day under the refrigerator and an untimely demise. Unfortunately, we live in the country, OK it's Hawaii, but it's still country and the closest store that sells Hex Bugs is one hour away. That would be one very long hour, in one very expensive gas driven car. I'm just not that kind of a mom (anymore). So instead we went to the Queen's Marketplace in the middle of the resorts at Waikoloa (translation, expensive gift shops). We landed one of these...

Seems that my boy is practicing for his career as a sniper....

Thankfully shortly after we arrived home, we were joined by a few other renegades to play something a little less disturbing...

So all in all, a super fantastic, not practicing our military maneuvers, day!

The Conforming Non-conformist...

So guess who got a standing ovation from his classmates for actually participating in class today...

Sad, but oh so true! I'll just say this had nothing to do with me being with him at school, I left after 2 hours thinking what is wrong with this kid? Has he had too many acting classes (he was putting on quite the show)? So to celebrate our now "recognized" awesomeness, we grabbed a few kids and went to the beach (I know it's a rarity to us and all)...

Needless to say, it was awesome, and mom this next part is just for you: Buddy said he almost drowned for the second time of his life. Don't worry mom, we'll get really good at boogie boarding so he'll say it several times every day! I mean, you have to go out far to catch the best waves, right?
So all in all a super fantastic, getting our recognition, day!

Cookie cutters....

Today we decided to take Kevin to our favorite beach...


Let's just say it was awesome, even if Kevin was sick. No better way to get over a head cold than immersing yourself in some serious saltwater, right? So tomorrow Buddy and I are going to school. That's right, I'll be joining him at school. Seems as if the teacher is having a hard time putting a square peg in a round hole so to speak. All I have to say is Buddy beats to a different drum, and I wouldn't have it any other way (Oh, Dancing Moose Montessori how we miss you)! So after school we're planning on going boogie boarding, cause that's what normal people do after school!
So all in all a super fantastic, breaking the mold, day!

Missing picture....

So my lanai has been soaked with bubble juice for a few weeks now. Thankfully Kevin arrived today to help with our problem...

Wait, does this picture make me look like a bad (step)mother?
All in all a super fantastic, hey now the lanai isn't sticking, day!

Shopping Partner...

I used to think Buddy was a great shopping partner, but after he convinced me to purchase these today....

I'm starting to have my doubts! Yes, they do flip up, quite the selling point for the little Budster...

Well, even if he isn't turning out to be the fashionista shopping partner I hoped he would be, at least he's still up for spiking your drink (even if it is sour candy, and you're made of stone)...

So all in all a super fantastic, maybe I won't (or hopefully will) lose this pair of sunglasses in the ocean, day!

Extra-curricular activites...

So after school today we did a little of this...


Of course mixed in with some serious boogie boarding. A storm is heading our way and the waves were quite rough, fantastically rough. Unfortunately though Buddy's "rash"/ irritated area got worse today with all the craziness of the water. His rash guard is working well for his chest, now I'm looking for a penis guard (I'm so not kidding, it looks horrible). Maybe tomorrow I'll make a penis pillow to protect him, hmmmm, maybe I could sell them online and make a fortune?
So all in all a super fantastic, ouchy in places, day!

The Surf Report...

When I picked Buddy up from school we headed straight to our favorite beach, he's been looking forward to going back since Saturday. He kept trying to leave class early because he was that excited! It was beautiful and the waves were crashing at least 10 feet high. Buddy and I were excited, it looked fun, but Shane the rational one when it comes to water decided it was too dangerous so we left and went to another beach. Buddy and I floated for a bit on our boards, but no waves and lots of rocks, so we decided to leave Shane home next time! Just kidding, we decided to actually pay attention to the surf report (what a concept) every day to increase our chances of some serious wave riding at our favorite hangout! Afterwards we came home and I put some cream on Buddy's healing Boogie rash (that's totally a term, right?), when I was done he told me as soon as he found his medal (from Gymboree 2 years ago for completing the Tiny Tots class) he was going to give it to me for being so nice to him! How sweet! Although, I think he wanted to take it back when I told him to stop playing computer games and go to bed. Oh well, you win some you lose some.

So all in all a super fantastic, maybe tomorrow will be our day, day!

Red Neck...

Yesterday we must have gotten wilder and crazier than I thought with our boogie boarding! Today while we were chasing the elusive ice cream truck on our scooters (sadly we never found him), I noticed this...

That matches the ones in the front from someone's crap mother not having them wear their rash guard shirt until an hour into the rough and tumbling! When I asked Buddy how he got that one, he told me he spent a lot of time on his back. Apparently. Maybe I'll go to the store and ask if they have any neck and penis guards (don't ask), because I know a kid that is in some serious need right now!
So all in all a super fantastic, seriously ice cream man stop tormenting us, day!

The Natural...

This morning Buddy and I went to our favorite beach. We spent 5 wonderful hours getting hammered by waves and testing out our boogie boarding skills. Buddy is truly a natural, he even has the rash to prove it! Enjoy...




So all in all a super fantastic, can every day be Saturday, day!