Good morning starshine. The earth says hello

Imagine.... it's 5a.m. Everyone in the Frisky house is asleep as I put on my shoes. Leilea is cuddled in a chubby pile in the corner of her crib, Kawika- a mass on the floor behind the door of his room, and that sneaky little Iwalani and John in my bed, sleeping hard, and loud, congested heads, mouths open.

Since school has started, I have been getting up at 5 and either walking with Nani or running the neighborhood and let me tell you- the world is an interesting place right before the sun comes up.

Nani and I are both pretty scared when it comes to creepy things. We're not a good team because we really freak each other out. One of the first days we went out at our new time we saw someone- a figure- moving in a way that can only be described as loping- towards us. He's a tall and thin older man.

We were like rats in a sinking ship. We scrambled to find the nearest side street and hauled it out. We evaded him for a few more days until one day we had to face him. There was nowhere to run- no side streets. As it turns out, he's a nice old man who now says hello from blocks away because he probably knows we're scared. It made me think of Home Alone when everyone thinks the old man who shovels his snow is a murderer but is really a nice old man. He really should correct his posture, though.

We've also noticed, for the past week, that the people in one of the houses near Grandma's street consistently steal the newspaper from their neighbor's driveway. This happens closer to 6a.m. I wonder what would happen if we got there before them and replaced the newspaper with a note that said, "WE KNOW WHAT YOU'VE BEEN DOING."

Finally, here's a hit to the people of the neighborhoods we walk/run through: your curtains aren't as closed as you think they are. 'Nuff said about that one.

**On a side note, I have made it to 28 minutes of straight running (my program considers 30 min to be about 3.2 miles). I am planning on doing the Race for the Cure 5K on Halloween. I may not be the fastest but it's a heck of a lot better than I could have done last year or any other year in my life for that matter.

We're grrrrrrrreat!

Last night was faculty meeting night and I forgot to thaw something so we went to Lenny's for family night. I love Lenny's but we haven't been eating out so we haven't eaten there lately. Still, every time Iwa passes that place she tells people, "If my mommy could, she'd live there." I don't know where she gets these things, but she's probably right.

I've heard of family night at Lenny's before from a friend who didn't have kids at the time. It wasn't a flattering description: kids everywhere (they eat free), food everywhere, and a pushy balloon artist who works for tips. Total chaos.

We got there early so it wasn't packed but let's just say we weren't the rowdiest crowd in the place this time. Also, instead of a pushy balloon blower there was a guy painting faces for tips. We had a dollar and this is what Iwa got (after waiting patiently- which was a visible struggle for her- till we finished eating):

Update: I found my camera. I still didn't have it when I needed it (this picture is from Auntie Kaylani's Facebook page) but I know where it is. One step forward.

Bum

I've been the biggest Blogging bum lately, haven't I? Here are my top three excuses:

1- I have three kids under 5. That's my excuse for everything.

2- School has started back. This is the first week with the kids, but the teachers have been back for a week. Only 178 more days left! (I joke, but I do love my job and this is one of the most exciting times of the year.)

3- I haven't found the camera yet. I mean, I guess I haven't really started a full-on recovery mission for it yet, but it hasn't magically appeared in my hand when I needed it so pictures have not been taken. Leilea's 10th month of life went undocumented. Parents of the year strike again.

Of course, there's much more but those are the main ones. The recovery mission for the camera will begin tonight.

Good one.

While re-doing our photo wall to include Leilea, I ran across a new favorite pic from Tootie's wedding. It's Kawika and Grandpa Steve.

Don't mess with Texas

This is my last week of summer and I can't believe the summer has gone by so quickly!

John and I got back last week from our farthest, longest trip without any children. We went to Sam and James' house about 2 hours outside of Dallas. It was a great trip- we did a whole lot of nothin' at one of the most beautiful places I've ever been able to stay.

I guess when the kids aren't involved, I subconsciously assume I won't want to take pictures- I forgot the camera. We took some photos with James' camera and loaded them onto John's ipod only now we can't figure out how to get them on our computer.

...anyway, I have nothing visual to share from the trip.

I do, however, have some highlights I'd like to share:

-Hard 8. Where else do you pick your meal starting with the meat, have it dipped in butter, and pay by the pound and (if you're into this sort of thing) have all you can drink beer? Only in Texas, my friends.

-The cows were taunting. Their huge black eyes were full of malice and I think I narrowly escaped with my life.

-The stars at night ARE big and bright (clap, clap, clap, clap) deep in the heart of Texas. I think we used to sing that song before the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance when I was in elementary school in Texas, but I saw that it is so true. I think we were somehow closer to them.

-Everything sounds better on vinyl.

-When I'm away from my kids for any amount of time, everything reminds me of them (but it was still a priceless break for all of us, I think).

-The Ikea store was designed by the devil.

Great trip, fabulous hosts, good times.

The lake

I don't know if this is becoming a tradition or what but this is the second year we have been to the lake for the 4th of July with the Friskillos. It's a nice tradition if you ask me. We always have lots of fun, and it gets even more fun as the kids get older. Kawika got some sunglasses and enjoyed them on his head more than on his face.
One night John caught a toad for Kawika and put it in his critter cage (which don't stay vacant for long in this house). The next morning we were getting stuff ready to go out on the lake and the kids were in the camper with Grandpa Tony and Grandma Martha. John poked his head in, gave Kawika the cage with the toad in it, and shut the door. Next thing we hear is Martha saying, "Aw... what is that? (pause) AW!! WHAT IS THAT THING?! NO! DON"T LET IT OUT!!!" That's when the toad moved back outside. Kawika was letting him out on the table in the camper. We still haven't located the toad or the critter cage. I hope he's not in my car somewhere. Yeesh.
Leilea enjoyed herself in her new camping chair, and the many stroller walks she went on around the campgrounds...
...and Iwalani found out that she likes beef jerky. a lot.
We played a lot on the beach and I think that was the kids' favorite part of the whole weekend. Iwa kept calling the lake the ocean. The last day we went out, the water was very choppy and when we got to the beach, there were lots of waves almost like the ocean. Kawika would stand knee deep in the water and crack up every time a wave knocked him over. We really do need to get these kids to a real beach.

Here's John and Iwa and Uncle Buck and Kawika swimming. This was our last trip out on the water. These kids have always fallen asleep within minutes of the boat running but I'm sure he was just exhausted. He refused to lay down but he couldn't help himself from falling asleep. The day after we got home we all went took a nap at noon and didn't wake up till it was almost time for John to come home. The Friskys were pooped but it was a good time for everyone.

The last KC post

On our way home from Kansas City, we went through Springfield, MO and stopped therefor lunch. I remembered that they had a pretty huge Bass Pro- which turns out to be their headquarters or something. We went there for the kids to stretch their legs for a bit.

While most of the displays were under construction and the huge museum next door was closed for renovations, we had LOTS to do and ended up staying around much longer than we planned. It was so worth it.
They have lots of cool stuff for sale to look at- three floors of it- but I'm not even sure the kids realized that it was a store. They were too busy looking at all of the animials and fish they have around. We definitely recommend it if you're in the area.

*actually overheard at this Bass Pro near the giant real stuffed bear*

Wife: "Smile for the picture, Dale!"
Guy named Dale: "Why I gotta smile? I ain't got no teef!"