So-niele

That was my breakfast this morning. Egg in a basket, or as my ma calls it Popeye. It’s just a piece of bread with a puka, (hole) in it and the egg cooked in that puka. And on the side is the bread made from the puka. Sure it’s easy peasy but Ma didn’t make it for me all the time. Only on Sundays! Ma didn’t have all the time in the world during the week, she was a working mama Monday thru Friday. My dad did the dinner cooking as he had the graveyard shift, so my dad was the one home with me afterschool. Saturdays were spent cleaning the house and then off to the grocery store to replenish the reefer and cabinets.

So when Sunday rolled around she would sometimes indulge me and make me a Popeye !!! And as I’ve said, sure it’s an easy peasy recipe, one that I’ve even found in The Joy of Cooking, but she only made it on occasion. Which made it rather spayshal (special) to me!!! And I do the same for my kids! I don’t cook it up all the time, I’m trying to make it a special thing for them too. And when I do make it… you better believe their plates are licked clean. heh.

I made this one just for myself tho. *shh Don’t tell the kids. J is off to school and N spent the night t my mom’s. M is here but she don’t know any better. But I swear she was eyeing my food as I tried to feed her her fruit and oatmeal mush, that she refused to eat. She never liked to eat the oatmeal/ rice cereal but I have to force her to eat the stuff b/c she’s borderline anemic, so her ped encouraged me to just keep trudging on and feeding it to her. She also said to try the drops and she won’t even take those. So whatever I can do to help her.

Every morning she asks what we’re doing “today” or where we’re going. This morning was no different as I was getting the baby’s breakfast together. Honestly I have no plans. For the past few weeks we’ve been heading to my mom’s for Sunday lunch/dinner. And normally that’s b/c my brother is BBQing. My brother is on this weekend, so more than likely he’s sleeping, so no BBQ.

So I told her “Nothing and nowhere.”

She didn’t seem too happy about that. And then she realized that she’s gone a whole day without seeing my mom. “I miss Mama. I want to go see her!!!!”

That is honestly not in the plans. And really I hadn’t even anticipated it for tomorrow either. Only b/c I don’t have anywhere I need to go, no money in my wallet, and J has bball practice tomorrow so I don’t want to have to drive here and there and everywhere… and then back again.

Maybe she has cabin fever? We didn’t leave the house at all yesterday. I have plans to leave the house today either.

How is she going to handle things when my mom leaves in January to go back to Hawaii? I’ll have to admit that my mom spoils her to the point where she’s just plain and simple BAD. Everyone notices it too. She tries to get away with things with my mom that just don’t fly with me. It’s annoying. She downright protests to my mom when she says she’s leaving and has even said she’s going with her.

*sigh*

I’m tired, seems I’m always tired as of late. I blame the baby b/c despite having a full tummy, taking consistent naps, sleeping at the right time… she still wakes and OFTEN through the night as well as having her internal clock wake anywhere between 630 and 7AM. UGH. I’m not even going to ask what’s wrong with her not sleeping through the night yet. Her siblings didn’t do it, so why should she, right? It would be a nice thing, but I’ve accepted it!

Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was a good one. Being with the ones that matter the most and most importantly Mama wasn’t all the way across the ocean. Tummies were satisfied. Food was good! Now to figure out what to make for Christmas . I made piggies in blankies, lumpia, and pumpkin cheesecake. More than likely I will make lumpia and piggies again, but will do something different for dessert.

As in past years I braved the crowds with Mama Toots and did midnight madness. This year I didn’t. I just couldn’t fathom bringing the baby out at that hour of the night. I can’t leave her with anyone, especially not at night b/c I am her human pacifier, lest I be gone, sure as hell no one will sleep. Instead I woke at 530 and got ready and headed to Tarjey. Picked up a bunch of good loot for gifts and then headed back home to pick up lilman. For some reason the lilmiss had already been awake and was aware that I was heading out, she wanted to come too. Funny thing is she thought it was still night, b/c it was dark. And of course, had to bring baby along. They did very well. Then it was off to my mom’s to p/up mom and SIL. We headed down the peninsula and they went to town at both Old Navy and Guess. Crowds surprisingly weren’t bad at all the whole day. Thank goodness.

26 more days til Christmas!

For the life of me, I can’t remember where I put the Sleeping Beauty DVD!?!? Bought it at Target last month and I have not seen it since. OY!

I need to go through the girls’ clothes and put some away and give back or donate the smalleys from babyM. Been stocking up on some stuffs for her b/c there was a gap in the 6-18 handmedowns. And for some reason I need to go thru some things b/c onesies seem to be lacking. Where the hell did they go? Lilmiss was wearing stuff from when lilman was a baby, so where did those go?

Today I finally got J an appt for his flu shot. Thankfully it went fast. When we arrived at the office it was packed. Not a seat in the house. As soon as a seat opened up they called him in and I also made an appt for babyM’s 2nd dose for next month. Then we were off to the lab to get her blood drawn. OY! I can’t believe she even put a tourniquet on her. She’s so itty bitty. I had to hold her and she didn’t like that one bit. She let out a teensy cry from the poke and was more irritated that she couldn’t move.

Thanksgiving is next week. Weeee!!! I’m so excited. I’m appetizers and half of desserts. I’ve gotta roll lumpia next week and I need to think of another appetizer I forgot about the pigs in blankets those always go well at family gatherings. My mom ordered kutsinta and maja blanca and I’m making a pumpkin praline cheesecake. Mom’s is making the turkeys, yes 2 and the mashed ‘taters. My sister has side items. I’m wondering if anyone else is coming to Thanksgiving?

I want to watch Twilight, of course! But I think I’ll have to wait til AFTER the holiday weekend. So I can watch it in the middle of the day when all the screaming FANatic tweens are in school. I had to go back thru my archives to see when I read the stinkin thing. Over a year ago. And to think I was encouraging my niece to read it back then, did she heed my calls? Of course not, and guess who’s reading all 4 of my books now? HA! I told my sister she should read them now. She’s gonna try. Or so she says.

It’s Parent Teacher Conference Week at J’s school. We were scheduled for today @ 1PM. It’s 1:08PM and I sent the BM to the conference. He’s normally working right now, but got the day off b/c he filled in on Monday. I’m always the one to go and honestly there’s nothing that they really tell me that I don’t already know.

And with J’s grades this quarter, there’s nothing much to worry about. Mostly A’s with the exception of a B- in a class he’s never really had other than attending church, Religion. And it’s laziness on his part more than anything! He claims it’s b/c it’s something new to him but really it isn’t.

*****************
In other not so fun news, me and the lilman were hit with something ugly over the weekend. A case of food poisoning. ICK! Not fun! Lilman had basketball tryouts on Sunday too and spilled his cookies all over the court. There’s going to be 3 teams in the 4th grade b/c so many boys want to play. Wondering how hectic our schedule will be once that picks up.

babyM is sprouting 2 more teeth, to make it a totaly of 3. Thankfully she hasn’t been complaining much.

Lilmiss got her 1st official haircut yesterday. Just a trim so her hair can look healthy again. My mom trimmed off about 3 inches.

[eta:] So BM and lilman returned home in record time. Apparently there was nothing to say about J. He’s doing great. He just has a few problems with late work but other than that he’s doing good. Good thing I didn’t go. Lol.

So far it looks to be a wet one this year. The rain has graced us even a day, or at least a few hours early. A couple years ago I remember a light drizzle. Here’s hoping the rain subsides long enough for the kids to even get just a little bit of loot. Why, earlier, did I have a craving for a chocolate bar? That’s certainly not something I normally want to eat, so I told myself that I’d have to wait until I inspect the kids’ candy .

As for costumes… they’re finally complete. Lilman is going to dress up as a “brain donor” and his costume cost us a whopping $3.29! Lol. $2.29 for the head of cauliflower that will pose as his “brain”, and $1 for the fake blood that I have to put on his gauze. My brother snagged a hospital gown and some gauze from work and I scrambled around the house for a jar to put the “brain” in. Lilmiss is going as “Snow White” and babyM will be a panda. I fashioned a little red bow on the top of my panda’s head, just in case people wonder if she’s a girl or boy!?! And I’ve gotta snag a bamboo stalk from my mom’s house.

J’s school has a parade scheduled but it might be rained out . And we’ve got plans to t-o-t with my cousins and their kids while my mom and aunt stay home with the littlest of the trick or treating crowd! Woo hoo! I’m kinda excited! Let’s just hope everything pans out and the rain waits it out a little for the showers!

Happy Halloween everyone! Be safe!

The soccer one that is. They didn’t lose. But they didn’t win either. We thought for sure we were going to be walking out of there with our heads down low. But they scored, and so did the other team. And although they’ve tied before, somehow walking out of there with a goal is somehow better. They were all so happy, as well they should be.

We made a trip to the pumpkin patch for the baby’s 1st pumpkin patch visit. She was in snooze land when we arrived and I was very hesitant to wake her, but she was all smiles . Yay! I think I got some good pictures in. And funny babyM was the most cooperative of the bunch, even compared to the Daddy. Ha!

We were s’posed to be in many places today and made it to the select few that we did.

Oh yeah, think we might be on the hunt for a new school… AGAIN! Oy! This is annoying. Lately we’ve been missing out on some vital info from the school. Stuff that’s s’posed to be in the twice a month envelope that gets sent home, only it hasn’t been in OURS. And more than a month ago, I sent in a sheet of paper indicating that we’d be donating some food for the International Dinner. S gets to the school to drop off the goods and they’ve only got us down for 1 donation. The one that gets LESS points. WTF???? And then she nearly refused to accept the other one, and only gave us HALF the points. Biiiiiiiiiitch! He forced it on her! Bullshit! The damn school is so damned cliquish it’s annoying. J is doing absolutely fine, excelling even and I hate to pull him out when he’s made some good friends, again, but sometimes it’s better for our own sanity. It’s strange to me that tuition is so varying around the city. Oy! Decisions, Decisions!

Since J started school, life has been rather non-stop. I like it and yet I don’t. I still never filled out my week-by-week calendar that is supposed to be on the fridge. I did find all my colored pens tho !!! Just need to squeeze in some time to play around with that. And that would probably be about this time at night b/c they’re all asleep and it’s ME time but I don’t wanna.

We had our first Catechism meeting today and it wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. J did all this extra work for nothing. Pfft! Typical! Next meeting is in December so come then, I won’t be such a spaz on him. It’s his religious teacher’s fault. He told us to do it ALL! Always the overachiever , better safe than sorry right?

Soccer is winding down. They didn’t win this weekend, BUT they didn’t lose either! It was a tie 0 to 0 ! And basketball is about to start up and J is having second thoughts about it . Not a competitive aggressive bone in his body. But doing nothing is not an option. Karate is always in the wings but he still doesn’t seem into it anymore. Lilmiss, however, wants to do everything under the sun. Hula. Yes. Karate. Yes. And I sooooo want her to do it all, but these things are NOT cheap.

It’s heating up here again in these neck of the woods. Indian Summer don’t fail me now!

The holidays are creeping too! I’m rather excited for them b/c of the kids! Last year I was rather bah humbug only b/c my family wasn’t here, mainly my mom. But we’re making her stay for Thanksgiving and Christmas too!!! WOOT!

Unfortunately they lost again! Maybe BM is bad luck . This was the first game for him to attend, his first to actually see the boy in action. By the way we were yelling the other parents probably thought we were mean. Muahahahah. And from what I saw, 95% of the boys on the team are scared of the ball! Oy! They don’t go after the ball. They’re afraid of it. They wait for the ball to come to them and even then they don’t know what to do with it. I think I finally learned what J’s position is, fullback? Not sure still tho . Once again he played against some friend from karate. This game they were getting spanked. These kids were good, they knew what they were doing! *sigh*

Tomorrow we head out for my niece’s sweet 16. No big shindig just a picnic/ bbq. Here’s hoping for some good eats. I can count on mom’s pancit. Yum!

Something FREE on your birthday?

Disney corporation is giving you a FREE ticket into the park of your choice: Disneyland or Disneyworld, on YOUR birthday!!!

More than likely we’ll be in Hawaii when J, N, or even my birthday rolls around. But maybe for BM’s? Even if you’re a season pass holder or have a multi day ticket you can still take advantage of a FREE something. Be sure to check it out and register!!!

We are soooooo itching to go to Disneyland!!!

My poor son’s soccer team lost their game today and secretly I think it’s b/c I wasn’t there. B/c I’m a good luck charm, or maybe one of his sisters is a good luck charm ? B/c none of us were in attendance. My brother took him and they lost 0-2. Or maybe my brother is bad luck, or his lady is bad luck. Hopefully this will be the only game I will miss this season.

The girlies and I attended a wedding for one of my close friends from high school. She was glowing. She looked lovely! I’m so happy I was able to attend the ceremony at least. I couldn’t do the reception b/c I just wouldn’t have been able to handle the girlies. I’m sure I would have gotten help from the JQ but the baby is so, UGH! Just UGH! Had the reception been super informal and I could have donned some sweats then I would have been all up in there but me dressed up wrangling the 2 girls= hot mess! I’m sad I missed out but that’s the price you pay when you have kids, right?

BM had his first day of training. He left the house feeling nervous and at some point I thought he was going to bail on this new found job b/c he was already feeling overwhelmed with the schedule they’ve given him. 8 hours later and he says it was cool. He says he can’t wait to go back tomorrow. Like what? YAY! I hope he stays as enthusiastic

This weekend is booked. I’ve got a wedding to attend. BM has training for his new job. J has a soccer game that my brother will be taking him to. The girls… they’re supposed to be tagging along with me. I’m only going to the ceremony though and not the reception. The ceremony is in the city, at the grammar school that my siblings went to. It’s the bride’s parish as well. The reception is down in San Jose and as much as I would love to attend, it’s just not a good thing to travel with the baby. She sucks. UGH! The last time we were in the San Jose area she cried. And cried. And screamed. And cried until we were like 10 minutes away from home. UGH! And to top it off, I was sitting right next to her. Singing, talking, singing, talking, laughing, making goofy faces, and even tried to be quiet. But nothing. NOTHING worked. So I’m sitting out the reception on this one.

Life is busy. Has been busy. I bought a week by week calendar that is going to go up on the fridge. Visuals. I need them. I know I’ve got my iCal in the iPhone but I need to see color! Different colors. Plenty of them. Busy I tell ya.

In other news, lilman had an incident occur at practice that is making him NOT love soccer so much at the moment. One of his teammates (the goalie) yelled at him. The lilman is sensitive. Very. The goalie told him to pay attention. I could see it happening, I wasn’t there, but I could totally see it happening. Lilman is often in space. He waits for the action to come to him as opposed to going towards it. I had to explain to him, that he’s working on a team and that his teammates rely on him. He doesn’t get it. His sensitive side is swaying him. So much so he’s trying to get out of even going to the game tomorrow. We told my brother it’s NOT an option. And now he’s even contemplating not joining basketball when season starts. We’ll see. BM said NOT an option, he’s playing!

Yay! My mom is coming back 2mrw night. The plan was for me and the girls to pick her up. She’s been missing the 2 girlies something fierce, especially the wee one. Thinking about getting this for her ! Cute eh? My brother calls to tell me that he’s going to get her, so we don’t see her until Wednesday! Phooey!

Back to yummy in the tumminess! I have been forced to cook for the kids and I’ve been making it a point for it to be good for them. Lilmiss is rather hit or miss which makes it difficult. I think she’s lost some weight since returning from the islands. But now that Mama is in town she’ll be gaining her cheeks back again. Not that she’s ever really lost them.

Tomorrow I’ve got cuppies to make again. This time I’m making funfetti with strawberry frosting! I’m kinda excited for those!

I finally had my appt with the optometrist! He was soooooooo nice! My glasses broke while in Hawaii and I need to replace them asap b/c the super glue will only last so long. I also noticed a bit of a change in my prescription anyhow. I”ve had these frames for a loooooong time too so it’s time for a change, and I need to refill my contact prescription too.

Which reminds me, I need to set up an appt for the boys. J has been complaining about not being able to see. Most of the kids in his class wear glasses already. It’s probably from all the gaming and computering.

After my appt we headed to Sp.ortmart to get J some cleats and shin guards and socks. He has his first soccer practice tomorrow! Was looking for red socks b/c his uniform is red, but they didn’t have ‘em. Daddy of course picked out the shoes b/c he has to look cool. Ahahaha. $76. AUWE! That’s not including the fee we had to pay in order for him to play. And then it’s basketball after this, gotta get him shoes for this sport too. Damn this kid is expen$ive, but I suppose we’re saving a bit from not putting him in karate, right?

So this morning, at about 6:30AM, the BM comes in b/c he heard the stirring of the baby to inform me that I would have to take her to get tested for TB! WTF? Mind you I’m soooooo not awake but he’s rambling on about a news report he had seen.

All day I had been stressing over the fact about being exposed to TB. Possibly being a carrier. And it doesn’t help that the baby and lilmiss are sick right now. I know for certain that lilman and lilmiss are in the clear though b/c they recently had TB tests come out negative.

So I finally got a hold of the actual news information and we are in the clear. Thank God!!!

Funny after hearing what the BM told me this morning and then thinking we might be carriers, I had been VERY weary about taking her out. AT.ALL. And exposing her to ANYONE.

So we’re safe for now. *whew*

Yesterday the BM, the baby, and I went to the Mandatory parent orientation at J’s new school. We were s’posed to meet our “Shepherd Family”. S’posed b/c they weren’t there! How rude! Uhm negative service points for them, sheesh! And they expressed how Mandatory it was for us. The “Shepherd Family” is s’posed to help us through our transition phase to the school, let us know of any important things, etc… basically be our guide this year. It’s all good tho b/c we’ve already got friends in the school to help us. No doubt. One in J’s actual grade, which I’m hoping is in the same class as him. And another family that just finished the 4th grade.

I didn’t really come away with anything that I couldn’t have read in a handbook. It wasn’t as Mandatory as they made it seem. Pfft.

Lilman is going to play CYO. I’m so excited. We want him to play soccer and he wants to play basketball. That’s 2 back to back seasons, so he will be taking a hiatus from karate. No point in paying for it if he’s not going to be there, right? I figure he probably won’t be back until after the holidays, maybe. I’m not sure how long the seasons last.

We came home to appointments upon appointments.

First up was the lilman’s last Monday. We won’t get into how much he weighs, I think he’ll be embarrassed if I told the rest of the world. He is 4′9″ though in height and she said that if he continues to grow and grow like this he might just be 6′2″. He got a TB test and it was checked this morning, negative.

Lilmiss and babyM had theirs today. Lilmiss is 31 lbs, 25th percentile, and 36.5 in, 50th percentile. She’s looking good DrM said and she’s right on track. She also got a TB test and a shot, but she didn’t even cry! YAY. BabyM is 14lbs and 10 oz, only 10th percentile for weight. And she is 24.8 in, which puts her in the 25th percentile for height. I got the go ahead to try her on various foods, being that she didn’t take rice cereal too well. I’m thinking I might try her on some oatmeal just to keep her “regular”. Something she hasn’t been much of lately. I used to be able to count on a morning movement. Not so as of late.

Other than that the kids are doing well. Just now getting back into pacific standard time. And getting J back into school mode. UGH.

Srsly! Where?

We’ve been here for what? *goes to open iCal, b/c brain is melting from the heat*…
2 weeks + or 17 days? Right?

Yeah well the lilmissy’s birthday is next week and we’re supposed to be throwing her a party. Albeit a small one b/c we don’t know too many people here but still. My mom said this Sunday, uhm hello? Invitations? I haven’t done anything in the way of those. Party favor bags? Yeah none. Food? Not exactly nada but still.

3. I can’t believe she’s been here for 3 years.

So yeah I’m stressing a little bit about that.

In other news, it’s hotter than a mo’fo here. But apparently it’s hotter than a mo’fo everywhere else too.

Our 4th was not as I had planned it to be. First off we were out for the majority of the day, checking things out, and trying to take advantage of free a/c. It hasn’t been as hot as it’s been in days past, but it was warm.

We were s’posed to fire up the grill and bah-bee-cue. But there is still a question of, is there still any gas in the tank? And I’m not exactly sure how to check that. I’m sure there’s a way. I just haven’t bothered. So no BBQ was had. No apple pie either. Pfft.

There were fireworks though. Me and the 2 big kids went next door and fired off some stuff in the street with the neighbors. I had to come in and rescue the baby b/c she was NOT having my mom. Not. One. Bit. So I watched the Ala Moana fireworks, another set of fireworks close to Alaz (which I’m thinking was Sand Island? but I’m not sure if they do fireworks?) and Pearl Harbor’s. And then this very city had their very own, for the first time, fireworks. Right off the lanai! Nice!!! Here’s hoping they have them every year in the same place b/c they were up close and personal without the fuss of traffic, annoying people, and driving anywhere.

So yeah and an uneventful 4th as it seems.

We’ve been here 1 week already. And it seems it’s gone by all too fast.

I still haven’t had any shave ice. No Zippy’s. Barely plate lunch. None of my fave garlic chicken or garlic mahi. I’ve had a teaser portion of haupia cake a teaser of poke. I’ve shared a plate lunch at Yummy’s and even shared an Apple Napple. Oh and I’ve been totally digging mama’s cooking. Oh hell yeah! Especially the dinengdeng, nothing better than fresh veggies and sweet Kahuku shrimp *slurps*!!!

We’ve gone to the pool once and it was an all bad experience. First the lilmiss lost her knowledge of swimming. Not that she had any real ones to begin with but her confidence went into the toilet. Last year she could “monkey walk” the pool and even dunk her head. That day we went she couldn’t even hold the sides of the pool and either wanted to strangle hold me or sit at the pool’s edge. Which meant no aerobis workout for me. Despite there being 2 lifeguards there, I was afraid she might fall in anyhow. So yeah, she’s not coming to the pool anymore. Pffft. Then I think the pool man must’ve overdone it with the chlorine b/c it tasted like crap. Ewww. And when we got home, the baby was NOT having anything to do with feedings b/c she too could taste the crappy chlorine water on me. Ewww.

The boy has been asking to go to the beach and being that the baby is exclusively @ the bo.ob, that can’t happen unless the mama comes along b/c a trip to the beach, takes a LOT of time. And the mama doesn’t like to be in the sun much, let alone the beach b/c she doesn’t go in. She’s allergic to the sun. Doesn’t that suck?

Yeah so 1 week down. Don’t know how many more we have to go, maybe like 6 or something. Heh.

aloha

I brought the camera out on our adventures yesterday but they weren’t much in the way of adventures. Just stopped at my aunt’s like I said and swung by Walmart, did NOT get my flat iron either. Grr. This is not looking pretty!

This morning when I woke, I couldn’t even see the mountains bc there was rain and fog and lots of it. Blech. But the skies have cleared and nothing but blue skies but we normally don’t go out on Saturdays out here b/c my mom cleans and such and then we go to church. We stay away from the beaches b/c we would be waiting a long while for a parking space and then a nice space of beach space. Why bother when we can go when everyone is at work during the week. Right? And just like I at home, I loathe going shopping on the weekends, again b/c there are hoards of people probably trying to beat the heat. So we just hang out in the ‘hood. I would take the kids to the pool down the street but that would ensue tired and crankiness when it’s time to go to church. Maybe when we’re finally fully adjusted to the time change. Then maybe.

BM seemed a pit peeved that we’re not doing anything. We’ve got 6 other days out of the week to do things. And we’re kinda on vacation, and yet we’re not. Like I’ve said, this is literally our second home and it’s not as if we’re constantly on the go when we’re back home. Right? Oh wells.

I would go outside and take pictures of my favorite flowers, but the mosquitoes loooooooooove me and that’s NOT a good thing . Since last night I have 4 bites and counting. Grrrr!!!

If you’re pilipino or Asian for that matter. You know how rude relatives can be, right? Well I got an awesome compliment today that put me on top of the clouds. It don’t matter that my hair is a hot mess with the lack of a hot iron at the moment. 2 Walmarts and both out of the same iron! WTF? Everyone’s hair a hot mess? Anyhow back to cloud nine… I got out the car and my auntie kept complimenting me that I look “goooooooooooood” as she kept saying. *insert big cheesy grin* She kept complimenting me and I told her to check back before I leave b/c I’m sure I’ll have gained all that I lost from the breastfeeding with all the eating I’m planning to do . But strangely I’ve been holding back. I have yet to stop at Zippy’s or even get a plate lunch! There’s still plenty of time for that tho .

We’re back in the islands and it feels good. But I’m missing the mister something awful. We were s’posed to have an iChat date, right now actually but he had to do something for work and has rescheduled for 10PM HST, which is 1AM PST. Don’t think I’ll be awake then b/c I slept late last night, woke early this morning, and didn’t get any kind of sleep on the plane. But, I’m actually not tired now. The crappy thing is that the wireless is acting wonky right now so I’m restricted to sitting in the “office” wired. Pfft. This sux. I can’t watch my k dramas in bed.

The plane ride wasn’t as bad as I had anticipated. Thank the powers that be! Woo! I gave lilmiss her dosage of Benadryl while we were still at the airport and she fell asleep before the plane ever left the gate. The baby fell asleep on and off too, so my flight was awesome, here’s hoping that my return flight is just as nice. Lilmiss woke up just in time for lunch, but the crappy thing about sitting in the way back is that they ran out of certain lunches. We were all hoping for sammiches but ended up with pasta. Pfft. I didn’t even eat any of it. Sux and I didn’t get much of a breakfast to begin with. So surprise, surprise the first thing I wanted to do when we hooked up with my mom was to eat. She had some Nanding’s Spanish Rolls that she had picked up before getting us. So we just munched on those and headed home for some of her homecooking. Managed to take a nap with the baby but it was interrupted a number of times by the boy.

We’ve already managed a trip to Walmart and Times . Baby needed some diaper rash cream and I actually need to get a flat iron for here. I decided that bringing one back and forth is lame and that I’m better off getting one for here. They didn’t have the one I was looking for. Grrr!!!

Baby is having issues with the heat, but other than that it seems the kids have already slipped back into their usual routine here. They even went out to play with the neighbors. Heh.

Alooooooooooooooooooooooooha!

Vamos day is creeping up on us. And I’m ready more or less but now the anxiety is creeping up too. I was thinking that the plane would be no sweat, well a teeny tiny sweat might break out but I think I could handle it. Now that the reality is getting closer, my sweat glands are about to burst!

I feel like telling people to not get behind me in the line. I’ve got shit to unload and people to get through. If only I didn’t have to take the laptop and camera out the bag I think I could handle it! B/c there’s still the matter of folding up the stroller all with the infant! Not in it of course. OY! The lilmiss will be getting the limo ride through the airport while the baby will be worn. And then being on the plane itself, here’s hoping that the lilmiss knocks the funk out for a good portion of it. What was I thinking getting the 3 seats in the middle? I should’ve opted to get 2 window seats and having the boy on the other side just so that N could be corralled and entertained with the window. But my hopes are that she’ll be, again, knocked the funk out. The baby I’m just hoping will be happy that I’ll be holding her the entire time. I mean really that’s what she wants now, why should she complain otherwise.

And then there’s the issue of my baggage luggage. We’re allowed a parcel for every seat we paid for, that makes 3. We’ve got 2 suitcases and I’m checking the infant carseat. But I’m worried the luggages might be overweight, what else is new? Then there’s the other issue of bills that need to be taken care of before we depart and then the spending money. Damn, maybe we shouldn’t be going?

What am I dreading over there? The mosquitoes. The heat. The humidity. The food. Yeah as much as I love to eat over there, it’s sure to put on some poundage that I got rid of. But it’s nice to know that my mom will be there so I can take a shower in peace knowing that the baby isn’t screaming bloody murder. I can’t wait to hit the beach either and work on my tan. Lol. I want to go swimming and get some aerobic exercise going.

I really shouldn’t be sitting here. But I needed to get some things off my mind. I think my anxiety is only escalating even more. Aloha for now…

10 days! 10 days! 10 days! Wo0t !!!!

In other news we went cherry picking with the Toots Family.

Cluster of Bings (?)

My faves, the Rainiers!!!

It was so much fun! Albeit it cost an arm and a leg to drive out there with the ridiculous price of gas as of late… but so worth it!!!! We’re going to try and make it an annual event. There were so many other sorts of fruits I would have loved to pick but we made plans to just pick cherries and then lunch! babyM did so well the entire time EXCEPT when we were driving away from the farm and on the way to lunch. The entire, I’d say, 20 minute drive she screamed like a banshee. She howled. She cried. OY! She sucked! I’m so scared as to how riding the plane will be on my lonesome. But there should be no reason for the baby to have any sort of meltdown b/c I’ll be carrying/ wearing her the ENTIRE time.

A short sort of update. We’ve got to head out to karate. His last week until his summer hiatus .

Until we board that plane. Wo0t! I am so excited and at the same time anxious as to how it will be boarding the plane with 3 kids all by my lonesome. Let’s hope they’re nice to me and cooperate and not make me want to take the emergency exit. Oy!

Things to do/eat:
1. Leonard’s Malasadas! Yum!

2. Shave Ice!!!

3. Eh brah, gotta get da kine Zippy’s!

4. Kim Chee Tako Poke

5. Ahi Shoyu Poke

Are you noticing a trend here??? LMAO

6. Garlic Ahi plate lunch

7. Korean BBQ plate lunch

8. Garlic Chicken

9. Mom’s homemade dinengdeng made with fresh veggies from the Farmer’s Market!

10. A bowl of saimin from Shiro’s!

I know I’m missing some things here but I’m sure you can see what I’ll be doin a lot of while I’m there. There will also be lots of beaching and loafing and driving and shopping and just hanging out.

You’re jealous. I know .

So yesterday, at my mom’s request, I decided to take the kidlets back to church to attend mass. And also to pick up the bulletin and witness the kids name in print! LoL. Yeah they officially announced them in the bulletin as being full fledged members of the Catholic church. Not in those words exactly but you get it .

It didn’t start well. The boy went swimming earlier with my brother and so he was a bit tired. I had to “bribe” him that if he went without complaints or problems we would go to Target and he could spend some money. OY! I don’t know how many times I had to elbow him. And let’s not even get into the little miss. Since going with my mom, the kidlets are separated and the lilmiss sits with my mom closer to the aisle. Well she climbed into our pew and kept getting in. To annoy his sister, the boy decided that he wanted to sit on the aisle. OY! Anything to be difficult. Right? She turns around and sees where he is and without controlling her voice starts yelling at him in church and pulling him out of where he’s sitting. Remember we’re in church. Acoustics! Thankfully only a handful of people were in church but still. They were praying. OY! She gets over it and throughout mass she’s sooooooo fidgety. She decides she’s going to lie on the kneeler. Then happens to find the gum under the pews and wants to pull them off. Soooooo nastay! Nevermind that I’m yelling at her in a hush, b/c by this time mass is going on . Then there’s a procession going on b/c it is the feast of the Corpus Cristi this weekend, and she needs to be front and center. One of my mom’s friends in church tells her she can be on her aisle and as the priest who baptized her passes, she’s waving at him and smiling. There was no way he wasn’t going to ignore her so he gave her a smile. Mind you, she calls the priests “Master” where she got that is beyond me. They processed every aisle in the church and she managed to get my mom’s friend in front of us to let her watch from her aisle, remember the boy was in the aisle seat of our pew.

Thankfully throughout most of this the baby is asleep.

I got a good message in the Homily. That yes if I can spend so many hours on the computer or on the phone or hanging out or shopping or watching TV, I can give the Lord an hour a week. Right, but it seems my hour is soooo hectic when it involves my kids! I think He’ll understand when I’m not there all the time, but I’ll certainly make the efforts now, right? B/c then what’s the point in having my kids baptised and send them to Catholic school?

Yesterday. My mom went back to her “home” in the islands. *sigh* And already with the missing. I’ve talked to her a number of times already since she’s left though and we’ll be joining her next month anyhow. Woot woot. Tickets have been booked we fly out on the 19th, which so happens to be my brother’s birthday. I caaaaaan’t wait. But those tickets did NOT come cheap. A big thank you to the BM for making this happen. Unfortunately he won’t be able to join us b/c tickets are so pricey. Damn gas!!! Pffft.

Spent some time with my brother today and thankfully he’s not acting like a little bitch. UGH! I hate when he’s like that! We went to Costco, had some lunch, and just hung out with him. We go back to “visit” on Friday. Heh. I’m leaving him the 2 big kids while I head downtown with the wee one.

Time to have some watermelon. I actually picked a sweet one. I was hesitant to get one, but they looked so good.

Today all 3 kids were initiated into the Catholic church and received the sacrament of Baptism. It’s been a long time coming. Something my mom has wanted since J was a baby, but at the time the priest was a sh!t. No seriously. He judged me. He judged my choice in the way I led my life and told me I would need to come in for counseling. Uhm, hello? This is not about me. This is about my son.

Long story short that priest left my childhood parish and my mom has since befriended one of the priests, the main priest for Baptism, and all 3 kidlets are now going to be saved. LMAO!

We didn’t have the grand hoopla that usually surrounds baptism. We kept it as intimate as we possibly could, b/c we’ve got tickets to Hawaii to purchase and they’re not coming cheap. Each child has 2 godparents, people who are close to our children and have made an impact in their lives, that we hope will continue on! I think it was less than 25 people and then had the reception in our favorite Chinese restaurant. It didn’t disappoint and bellies were full. The cake was good old Costco cake.

Our friends and families are the best.

I’m so exhausted. From waking early this morning, sleeping late last night. Running errands this morning and then getting the kids ready. Then the ceremony and the reception.

The priest told us this day is as important as their birthdays. It’s their initiation into the Catholic Church and some other stuff that he said that’s slipping my mind at the moment. LMAO. Good thing for me it’s all on the same date, and not 3 different ones!

That would be of the Apple variety and not that of the makeup! I’m more of a geek than a girly girl . So the BM got a hold of a brand spanking new MacBook and put it in my hands to do what I like with it. He just got one about a month ago for himself. We’re MacGeeks didn’t you know. iPhones? Check! iPod videos. Check! We both had Powerbooks but have since gotten MacBooks. And then there’s always his G5 downstairs in his office. Lilman inherited BM’s Powerbook.

So I sold my brother my 1.5 year old MacBook and upgraded to this upgraded MacBook. Weeeeee! I’m so spoiled. I know . Last night I was up to the wee hours dumping the old one and reloading the software so he to could have a “brand new” laptop. Heh. I’m slowly making him a Mac lover too, he got an iMac for the house in Hawaii.

I don’t understand why people are so discouraged by Mac’s?! Mac’s are love! They’re so easy to use. I’m telling you….. NEVER. GOING. BACK. NEVER!