Spring forward

Spring break has come and gone and here's what we know now:

After child number three, it's very easy to forget what it was like with just one. The two big kids didn't have Spring Break so for a few days they went to school. Iwa's really into T-ball and she didn't want to miss practices, which are during school hours, and Kawika was excited about show and tell. Far be it from me to get between the kids and their learnin'.

Leilea and I had a small adjustment period where she wandered the house looking for "Iba" and "Deeta" and I caught myself watching, singing along with, and answering questions asked by Super Why and the guys on Word World by myself, but we did adjust. We both really enjoyed one on one time with each other and I enjoyed a break from my role as a constant referee.Apparently "Plus 4" means "freakishly large" in ENT. Because I have such a great relationship with our pediatrician, I just thought it wouldn't be a school break without a visit to her office. Apparently, Kawika and Iwa did, too, because K had a spiking fever all weekend right before Spring Break and Iwa woke up the day of his appointment with a weird swollen gland in her neck. If they wanted to go so bad, they could have just asked! That appointment resulted in meds for K (sinus infection) and a referral to the ENT for Iwa. At least it wasn't strep, which is what we thought for both.

It took the ENT one glance into her throat at her tonsils (after he immediately told the nurse "Plus 4, at least") to decide that she needs them out. We're going to do that this summer, which leads me to the next lesson learned (hopefully by John)....

Just because I get lots of "breaks" (summer, fall, spring, christmas, thanksgiving...) with my job, doesn't really mean I actually get a break. Yes, I do love being a teacher. Yes, I do get a lot of time off that most people don't get, but as I always tell John, it ain't all it's cracked up to be. Wondering when I'll be able to take a shower without any kids intentionally or unintentionally inflicting bodily harm to themselves or each other, and getting most of my social interaction from medical care professionals isn't exactly like romping in the beach or sitting at home eating bon bons. Teaching is my second job. My easier job.

I did have fun on Spring Break this year, got A TON of things accomplished (sadly, none of them were crafty), and even squeezed in a trip to the zoo with the kids and a bunch of family.
Iwa, Brock, Max and Kawika in the obligatory picture nook in the Northwest Passage of the zoo. With Leilea and P's nephew, the adults were outnumbered 4 to 6 but it was good times with great kids.
All I can say is this kid is secure... and he'll do anything for a chuckle. Which kinda makes me concerned for his college years....The zoo opened a new exhibit in the fall called Teton Trek. It has wolves, swans, elk, and adorable bears that wrestle in the water. I like this picture because you can't have enough pictures of Kawika in front of water tanks full of bears.

5 going on 30

With three sets of grandparents, Iwa had a few birthday celebrations. This is the one I actually remembered to bring my camera. We went to Chuck E Cheese with my folks, Uncle Jere, Aunt Amy, and Hannah. We went at 10 a.m. (they open at 9) and let me tell you, pizza for brunch was so worth it to avoid the crowds and work around naps.

(my friend Laura made the hat. Iwa thought it was cute but didn't want to wear it to her party because she was afraid other people would laugh at her. So weird that she cares now.)

Kawika ran the overhead tunnels like a hamster. Towards the end, he was asking me to lay down with him because he was sleepy, then he disappeared into a tunnel. I was so afraid he was going to lay down in there and go to sleep!

After the party she even let me take a picture of her wearing the birthday hat!

One time we went to the mall

That's a cart load o' crazy if I ever seen one.

Streptococcus for all!!!

Antibiotics are a wonderful thing.

Prednesone is even better.

Sharing..... just might be over rated.

You're how old?!?!

Wow how time flies! The original Frisky addition is five today.

Iwalani Morgan.

Wow.
I love music of all kinds and sometimes I feel like my life could have a playlist. There are certain times that I relate certain songs to and certain songs that just kind of remind me of moments, people, and feelings in my life.
Iwalani would have her own branch of the playlist.
I so wanted her to be my Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison).
I wanted to sing it to her all of her life. No such luck with that one.
The first time I ever felt her move while I was pregnant, I was blasting Easy Like Sunday Morning (Lionel Richie) in my car on the way home from school one day.
Sometimes I hear Sweet Child O' Mine (Guns N' Roses) and think of her.
...I'm Bossy by Kelis
It wasn't until one day in the car while listening to James Taylor that I found "our song".
So I'll just let ol' JT finish the post for me.Whenever I see your smiling face
I have to smile myself
Because I love you (Yes, I do)
And when you give me that pretty little pout
It turns me inside out
There's something about you, baby (I don't know)
Isn't it amazing a man like me
Can feel this way
Tell me how much longer
It will grow stronger every day
Oh, how much longer
I thought I was in love
A couple of times before
With the girl next door
But that was long before I met you
Now I'm sure that I won't forget you
And I thank my lucky stars
That you are who you are
And not just another lovely lady
Sent down to break my heart
Isn't it amazing a man like me
Can feel this way
Tell me how much longer
It can grow stronger every day
How much longerNo one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today
Whenever I see you smile at me

No one can tell me that I'm doing wrong today

Whenever I see your smiling face my way

Happy Birthday.

Another video

I just can't resist posting one last video from the kids' little session.

This is one he's going to see several times in his life (along with buddies, first dates...).


This is just a fraction of what he has to deal with. Poor kid.

Road trip

For school, I was asked to drive a four or five hours into Mississippi and attend a conference. I LOVE road trips, and I am excited about what the conference is about and I WAS excited about getting out by myself. I realized I haven't really been away from John and the kids completely on my own.

Instead of relishing all the things I CAN do without them around, I keep thinking about the stuff I can't:

1. I can't finish an entire meal. I eat until I'm full and have all this left over. I never thought about it before, but I probably haven't finished a meal for 4 or 5 years on my own- without six chubby little hands eagerly "helping me out" with those fries or tater tots or whatever.

2. Pointing out cool stuff- Driving through Mississippi isn't the most exciting, but every time I came upon a herd of some kind of livestock, I instantly thought about pointing it out to everyone in the car--- which was me.

3. I keep having a hard time just getting in the car, buckling myself up, and driving away. I have to fight the urge to buckle someone else in and keep wanting to check the back seat to make sure I've done it properly. It just doesn't seem right when it only takes two seconds to get in and go. It's quite a process at home.

4. Hotel pools aren't as cool. I was so excited about getting in last night and swimming- and I did and it was alright, but I was done after ten or fifteen minutes. It was kinda boring without a monkey of my own making holding on to my back. It was nice, though, to sit in a hot tub.

5. I can't sleep the same. If I ever go to bed alone at home, I will probably wake up with three more people than before. Today, I woke up and it was still just me.

I'm enjoying my trip but I can't wait to get home to all the things I CAN do.