It may sound crazy, but as I'm wading knee-deep in a sea of diapers, crackers, and dirty laundry I really do stop and with a sad heart think of the days when I won't have any of this anymore. I guess I've always been that way. I've always felt like my life is meant for me to live, so I'd better do my best to pay attention every second and make the best of a great situation.
That being said, I'm posting this poem that brought tears to my eyes this morning:
Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
For babies grow up, we've learned to our sorrow
So quiet down, cobwebs
Dust, go to sleep
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep.
-Anon
I also want to carve this in my front door so that all of my guests can keep it in mind as they're also wading through the diapers, crackers, and dirty laundry.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
AH-mazing
Jackson Falls, Illinois.
Seriously, this place is amazing. No bathrooms, no electricity, and the only running water is the stream and waterfalls that run through the park. John has been coming here about once a year to climb for quite some time but I've never wanted to encroach on his "man trip", with the image of war paint and loin cloths forefront in my decision.
No one else's wives/girlfriends cared to go and I'm not much of a climber.
This year we planned a trip and invited Buck and Mary Margaret. They were down for it so off we went.
This is the north falls. You can either rappel to get down here or hike several miles around. We hiked it the first day and rappelled the second.
During the hike.
This is me rappelling for the first time.
John climbing up the rope harness-free.
Mary Margaret giving it a whirl, Buck helping.
Looking down into the north falls. This is from the top of the cliff from the first picture. You can see the top of the waterfall in the bottom left corner.
The night hike. 
After rappelling and hiking around here, I have a new fitness goal: now that I can run, I want to climb. I really stink at it now, so I have some work ahead but I'd love to go back next year and tackle some of those rocks.
Seriously, this place is amazing. No bathrooms, no electricity, and the only running water is the stream and waterfalls that run through the park. John has been coming here about once a year to climb for quite some time but I've never wanted to encroach on his "man trip", with the image of war paint and loin cloths forefront in my decision.
No one else's wives/girlfriends cared to go and I'm not much of a climber.
This year we planned a trip and invited Buck and Mary Margaret. They were down for it so off we went.
This is the north falls. You can either rappel to get down here or hike several miles around. We hiked it the first day and rappelled the second.
During the hike.
This is me rappelling for the first time.
John climbing up the rope harness-free.
Mary Margaret giving it a whirl, Buck helping.
Looking down into the north falls. This is from the top of the cliff from the first picture. You can see the top of the waterfall in the bottom left corner.
The night hike. 
After rappelling and hiking around here, I have a new fitness goal: now that I can run, I want to climb. I really stink at it now, so I have some work ahead but I'd love to go back next year and tackle some of those rocks.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Teton Trek
This was a few weeks back but I'm just getting around to putting the pics on my computer. We went to the zoo to see a sneak preview of the new exhibit the Teton Trek. It was really cool!
There's an Ol' Faithful geyser type thing in the front of it all that's really fun. The enthusiasm in this photo just overwhelms me.
Kawika was very interested in the chickens- the one thing at the farm exhibit we can't see at Grandpa Tony's (yet) .
I only wish they were hatched out of eggs- would've saved me a bunch of trouble. 
This is how Leilea enjoyed most of this zoo trip:
The rest of the time she roamed wherever allowed and was her usual vibrant self. She has started making this fishy face. I don't know why, but it's usually when she's just walking around. I'm glad I caught it on camera.
There's an Ol' Faithful geyser type thing in the front of it all that's really fun. The enthusiasm in this photo just overwhelms me.
Kawika was very interested in the chickens- the one thing at the farm exhibit we can't see at Grandpa Tony's (yet) .
I only wish they were hatched out of eggs- would've saved me a bunch of trouble. 
This is how Leilea enjoyed most of this zoo trip:
The rest of the time she roamed wherever allowed and was her usual vibrant self. She has started making this fishy face. I don't know why, but it's usually when she's just walking around. I'm glad I caught it on camera.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Holidays!!
I realize it's not even Halloween yet, but I count it as a holiday. It's like the introduction to the official "Holidays". Here's what I'm excited about:
Halloween is almost here and the temptation to watch a scary movie is almost too much to resist. I do not do well with scary movies, but once a year I succumb... and regret it.
I always look forward to Thanksgiving, but can't quite put my finger on the reason. It's probably the fact that family comes in town but there's something else about it that's just... comforting. The meal isn't my favorite, but the people are good. Yes, that must be it.
I'm still in charge of Secret Santa for my school. It's a large task, and one I look forward to from the first day of school. I had to be told the other day that it's too early to have everyone draw names.
The Frisky Holiday sweatshop is officially open for business. I love making stuff. I love giving gifts. It's perfect.
(on a side note) In order to open the sweatshop, I had to finish a project I've been kinda (not) working on. A friend of mine had a baby girl and asked for some paintings for her nursery. Here they are finally done and in the nursery:
Elsie Tate is 5 months old now, but better late than never, right Laura?
So, needless to say, I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the kids are getting more and more into stuff. Seeing these times through their eyes has sort of rejuvenated my childhood excitement for all things festive.
Halloween is almost here and the temptation to watch a scary movie is almost too much to resist. I do not do well with scary movies, but once a year I succumb... and regret it.
I always look forward to Thanksgiving, but can't quite put my finger on the reason. It's probably the fact that family comes in town but there's something else about it that's just... comforting. The meal isn't my favorite, but the people are good. Yes, that must be it.
I'm still in charge of Secret Santa for my school. It's a large task, and one I look forward to from the first day of school. I had to be told the other day that it's too early to have everyone draw names.
The Frisky Holiday sweatshop is officially open for business. I love making stuff. I love giving gifts. It's perfect.
(on a side note) In order to open the sweatshop, I had to finish a project I've been kinda (not) working on. A friend of mine had a baby girl and asked for some paintings for her nursery. Here they are finally done and in the nursery:
Elsie Tate is 5 months old now, but better late than never, right Laura?So, needless to say, I'm really looking forward to the holidays this year. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that the kids are getting more and more into stuff. Seeing these times through their eyes has sort of rejuvenated my childhood excitement for all things festive.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Sprechen Sie Kawika?
Last week Kawika was sick with a crazy high fever. We took him to the pediatrician and then to the urgent care center. The urgent care center was down the road from Best Buy, and Nani being who she is came by with snacks after she got off work. Not only did she bring snacks, but she brought Kawika the movie Monsters Vs. Aliens. He was thrilled.
We NEVER let the kids watch DVD's in the car unless we're on a road trip... and apparently unless they've had a 105 fever. Sick kids get special treatment. Anyway, we let him watch the movie on the way home from urgent care. (it was just a wicked sinus infection, by the way, he's fine now)
It was late at night and Iwa was at Grandma Ann's. Before I went in to get her, we hid the movie and all traces of it so that she wouldn't want to watch it before she went to bed. I don't mind saying no, but I'll avoid a conflict if I can.
So, with the Monsters paraphenalia well hidden, Iwa gets in the car and greets everyone. Immediately, Kawika starts spouting his regular jibberish excitedly at Iwa. She's listening intently to what John and I can only interpret as, "blah, be dada me la... " Jibberish. There's a pause and Iwa says:
"What's this about a monster movie?"
We NEVER let the kids watch DVD's in the car unless we're on a road trip... and apparently unless they've had a 105 fever. Sick kids get special treatment. Anyway, we let him watch the movie on the way home from urgent care. (it was just a wicked sinus infection, by the way, he's fine now)
It was late at night and Iwa was at Grandma Ann's. Before I went in to get her, we hid the movie and all traces of it so that she wouldn't want to watch it before she went to bed. I don't mind saying no, but I'll avoid a conflict if I can.
So, with the Monsters paraphenalia well hidden, Iwa gets in the car and greets everyone. Immediately, Kawika starts spouting his regular jibberish excitedly at Iwa. She's listening intently to what John and I can only interpret as, "blah, be dada me la... " Jibberish. There's a pause and Iwa says:
"What's this about a monster movie?"
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