Quick Takes • The Post Vacation Edition

In no particular order...

1. So good to come home from the islands. Our sweet neighbor, Ginny, turned on the heat last night when she brought Maggie in for the night...so when we got home at 1 am, the house wasn't ice cold. ♥
2. Funniest note on the counter? From the Merry Maids... "Right when we got here, your neighbor came by to say the cows were out! Eeeek! We would chase them back into their home, but we lack the herding instinct."
3. Loving settling in back at home. Rainy, windy, cozy. So glad to be home for the rest of the year. Getting unpacked. A monster trip to Costco today for the upcoming week.
4. Thomas finally cut his third tooth tonight. Thank the good Lord. Last night's five and a half hour flight was among the longest (figuratively and literally) and loudest that Thomas has ever had. And it was loud because he let everyone know that his gums were throbbing. Everyone from first class to the back row. We had a little baby Orajel last night on hand. His gums swelled up this morning and it was a big relief to see them break open after his bath.
5. Excited for the Ski Soup Swap next week. Finishing up my soup batches tomorrow morning. Perfect weather for a hot bowl of soup! And yea for having more time in December and less in the kitchen!
6. Finished designing our Christmas card and sent it off for printing. Did a different style this year - I'm loving long and skinny designs. I already have the envelopes in hand...so I'll begin addressing during a Christmas Vacation marathon next weekend. Can't wait to see how they turn out!
7. Finishing up the 2009 Christmas Mix...can't wait to have it done and burned. I'll give one away on December 1st. :) Speaking of giveaways...there will even be a Hawaiian treats giveaway next Monday!

Reflections on time away...

The past few days have been so needed. On the farm, it's easy to get into your own rhythm and flow without stopping to reflect, readjust, recharge. When you are 'away from rest of the world', you forget about how easy (and how fabulous it is) to have help, a little downtime for yourself, and time with your family without anything else going on.

While our schedule here was relatively low key, it gave me the time to be able to bounce back. To come home with a renewed spirit. To be truly excited to get back to 'our normal lives'.

A few themes from this vacation that I've been focusing on in my downtime...

• Being intentional with my time.
  Not simply getting things done, but choosing what is truly important and focusing on that first. Knowing that my time with Thomas as a little one is fleeting, and soaking in every moment I can.
• Knowing that it's OK to not have (or do) everything all at once.
  Being content with what is on my plate at that exact moment. Ignoring the "what's coming next?" all the time. Knowing that things and people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime...and being content with whatever timeline that may be.
• Unplugging a bit.
  From the blackberry, the computer, the virtual world. Knowing that life will go on regardless.
• Continuing to ask for help when needed.
  Having Mom and Dad there this week, especially with Thomas when Jonathan and I needed a 'date night' and time together, was such a blessing. Knowing I am at my best when Jonathan and I are at our strongest, re-focusing on that first. Knowing that others' experiences with the Wee Ski help to shape him as well - not just what he experiences with me or us.

Heading home today, looking forward to snuggling in at home tonight...stormy rain and all. :)

Remembering today...

Thomas's Grandpa Ski, who passed away 13 years ago today.

Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord,
And let perpetual Light shine upon them.
May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God
Rest in peace.
Amen.

Hawaiian musings

Some good stuff right now...

• Loving this Hawaiian outfit for Thomas. It was his first "from Hawaii" gift, given just after his birth from Sister Joan, who was my fifth grade teacher and is a nun who has retired to the Hawaiian islands. She has been an angel to our family over the years and it was so thoughtful.
• Thrilled with the baby goods we rented from Easy Travel Hawaii. They have been fantastic to rent from. I heard about them from Erin, who had just returned from Maui and loved them. We rented a high chair, stroller, pack & play, beach toys, and a wood block wagon.
• Cirque Polynesia was fantastic. Very different than the luaus that we've seen. Mom and Dad had Thomas for the evening, and we had dinner at the Umalu and headed over to the show.

And about those cobbler's kids...

It's almost as if Karen Russell was on the beach with us this morning. I was reading her blog post right after finishing our fam's photo shoot and couldn't stop laughing. This definitely could have been my parents and husband today!

The old saying about the cobbler's children having no shoes...definitely applies to photographers and their families. Trying to get everyone out the door in coordinating (not matching!!) clothes this morning before the sun came up over Kaanapali was a miracle in and of itself.

Thinking that Dad was busy getting ready all morning, only to find out he'd been playing on the computer while we were all waiting for him...I decided to head down early while Thomas was still in good spirits. I also explained to Dad that one doesn't wear competing Hawaiian floral patterns at the same time. Jonathan headed back to change into beach shoes, and I waited at the elevator. Mom had been ready to go all morning, and she waited for Dad...who changed out of the great looking shirt into a clashing shirt with his obnoxious shorts.

My husband, knowing this may just set me off the edge to Alohacrazytown, ran ahead to the elevator not to warn me, but to see my reaction when Dad came around the corner.

Then came the prerequisite whining, then the "I don't want to get dirty in the sand!", and the "are we done yet?"

Never mind the whole thing lasted 20ish minutes start to finish.

Best part?

Just before the photo above, right near the end of the shoot, when we realized that Mom's dress had been on backwards all. morning. long.

That's my family.

Right there in a nutshell.

Excerpts from the weekend...

Completely out of order. Living life on the edge, here on Kaanapali.

Time is starting to slow down, and we're all adjusting and beginning to unwind. Thomas slept for 15 hours last night, and took a monster 3 hour nap today in between swims. Jonathan and Dad had (several) mai tais while watching the Seahawks game. Seriously a kick in the pants to see them come back afterwards, even with the Seahawks' loss. I am halfway through The Shack (which everyone has been saying "you need to read it!") and all the way through the latest People mags.

Had a great lunch yesterday at the Hula Grill - so we stayed in last night and I made teriyaki pork, rice, and apricot brie. Very low key and chill. Just what we needed.

Onto the photos...


Mom and Dad with Thomas after Mass today...it's so amusing to try to get him looking toward the camera when both Grandma and Grandpa are talking to him...


Being tossed by Grandma in the pool...

Jonathan and Thomas after dinner on our first night

After swimming underwater and splashing around

Splash, splash, splash!


Completely content. :)

Be still my heart. Well, this may cause my heart to go still, but it will be worth every moment of deliciousness when eating it. "Local Benedict". Kalua pig benedict on Hawaiian sweet bread. Mmmmmm.........

Why not finish these off with a self portrait?

Aloha, Wee Keiki!

Thomas met his first Hawaiian wave this morning. First impression? Not a fan.

We got settled in last night, walked down to Leilani's for dinner, and came back and crashed. Lots of sleeping yesterday. Anticipating that there's lots of sleeping, swimming, and playing on the agenda for today. Maybe for the whole week. :)

Thomas's first time in the sand...listening to Papa tell him that Sprouffskes don't eat sand.


So looking forward to good family time, slow downtime, and just being.