sugar and spice and everything nice....

We're having a GIRL!! The doctor scheduled the ultrasound early and we finally got to see that we are definitely adding a little girl to our family. I made sure to drink a big iced tea before I went in, hoping the caffeine would get this little baby moving. I'm not sure it really did anything because she seems like a laid back baby already. My boys were doing somersaults when I got ultrasounds with them and this little girl seems content to just sit there and wave a leg or arm every once in a while. Jason and the boys were there to hear the good news as well and everyone is very excited. So now I can definitely get the cute dresses and outfits I have been seeing.

drum roll please...

Well today was the big ultrasound. We got to see our little baby and all it's cuteness. Isn't that the cutest head you have ever seen? But this little one was very content to rest in a breech position with it's legs crossed the whole time. So...we still don't know if this little one is a boy or girl. I kept thinking I saw glimpses as to what gender it was, but I also thought I was looking at it's cute face when actually it was the abdomen and stomach. Or when I was looking at it's face I was thinking it was it's foot. So we have to wait another 2 weeks to go back because we also didn't get a clear shot of the spine and they have to do the measurements, etc. for that as well. So for those of you who haven't voted yet, this will give you a couple of more weeks to cast your vote. We are just so thankful that this new little baby of ours is healthy, strong and doing well.

once upon a time...8 years ago...

... Jason and I got married. Happy Anniversary Honey! Wish you were here so we could go out and celebrate. But even though he is thousands of miles away this week, he still remembered to call (a little too early but he forgot that it was a 6 hour difference...not 5) and send me these beautiful flowers. There's nothing like having flowers delivered to the door.

pink or blue?

A friend of mine did this on her blog and I thought it was kind of fun. We have the big ultrasound appointment next Monday (28th) to find out if we are having a boy or girl. So I thought I would give my few readers a chance to pick which gender they think it will be. There aren't any prizes planned...just thought it would be fun to do. I will announce next Monday (if this little one cooperates) if we are adding a boy or girl to our family. Just vote on the side-bar.

surfer in training

This is Jude's idea of surfing...a lot more steady this way.

our little surfer

He does catch a wave every once in a while, but even if he doesn't he still loves "surfing" and wants to go every day.

I'm back...

I can't believe my time in Chattanooga has come and gone. All I can say is God has blessed me with some great friends. I miss being able to hang out with these friends of mine and wish we didn't live so far away. But the great thing about friends like these is that even with distance and time separating our friendship, it is still so easy to just pick up where we left off. I feel refreshed (other than the traveling 12 hours one-way part) and encouraged...I look forward to the next reunion.

While I was there we did a lot of talking/laughing and catching up, eating great food, watching HGTV and a couple of chick-flicks, going to IKEA and Target, and lots of relaxing. We also did a bit of "sight-seeing" of the new places around Chattanooga. One being the updates at Covenant College while also catching up with some friends/staff. We also drove by our old St. Elmo house and I got to catch up with friends on Sunday at our old church, St. Elmo Pres.

It was fun to see everyone's houses/home improvements and little munchkins...a lot has changed in the 3 years since we moved.

I also got to be there to hear of a couple of pregnancy announcements and to see Ryan off to her first day as a nurse intern (not sure the exact title)...cute scrubs by the way.

I must say the air-conditioning was great also...even though I was freezing the whole time I was there...this Hawaiian girl isn't used to such cold air. And I really enjoyed the outdoors...especially in my friend Jocelyn's backyard. The post where I said that I have a brown thumb and will just have to enjoy others hard work, was exactly what I did in her backyard...we even got to eat some of the fresh veggies from her amazing gardens.

My time there went way too fast but I am so glad I was able to go even if it was for a short time.

Chattanooga here I come!!!

Jason surprised me with a trip to see my friends in Chattanooga. He wanted me to be able to go before I got too pregnant....then once the little one arrives I don't think I'll be leaving the island any time soon after that. So all I can say is I AM SO EXCITED!!! Jason is watching the boys too so I actually get to do things like read books on the plane...BOOKS I say. I love my little family and I will miss them, but there is nothing better than spending some good girl time with your bestest friends. Woo, Hoo!

swim lessons

Ethan has been taking swim lessons for the past couple of weeks with Auntie Patty. He started off with being able to put his face in the water and that was about it. Now he is a little fish swimming on his own...not perfect form but swimming across the pool without holding onto anyone or anything. He is so proud of his accomplishment and Auntie Patty says every time he comes up for air he has a big smile on his face.

Sorry the pictures aren't very close or clear of Ethan's actual swimming technique but I am actually afraid of Auntie Patty. She is great at what she does but she is also very militant about it...I just try to stay out of the way. So I was trying to take a picture without her seeing me. Yes I am a grown women and it's a bit silly but she states her expectations very clearly with her students and the parents...and she lets you know when you're not meeting that expectation. So I will continue to take my pictures of my little swimmer in secret.

Pictures to come... Ethan now calls himself a surfer with his new confidence in his swimming ability. So he takes his boogie board to the beach whenever he can and says he's going "surfing". Cute stuff!

the new school

So this is Jason's big project lately....renovating the "new" school building for the 5th-8th grade. They were given occupancy July 1st and Jason has been there from sun up to sun down every day since then (minus Sunday). He has had help but it has kept him pretty busy. It's coming along but we sure do miss him being around more. Thank goodness it will be done in the next couple of weeks. It's exciting to see all of these months of planning come to fruition.

Thy Mercy, My God

I love the lyrics of this song! If you want to hear this hymn put to new music click here and then click on the MP3 demo. The new music with original lyrics is from the RUF ministry Hymnal.


1. Thy mercy, my God, is the theme of my song, The joy of my heart and the boast of my tongue; Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last, Hath won my affections, and bound my soul fast.

2. Without Thy sweet mercy I could not live here; Sin would reduce me to utter despair; But, through Thy free goodness, my spirits revive, And He that first made me still keeps me alive.

3. Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart, Which wonders to feel its own hardness depart; Dissolved by Thy goodness, I fall to the ground, And weep to the praise of the mercy I’ve found.

4. Great Father of mercies, Thy goodness I own, And the covenant love of Thy crucified Son; All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine; seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine. All praise to the Spirit, Whose whisper divine; seals mercy, and pardon, and righteousness mine.

~ John Stocker (18th century hymn)

happy 4th of July

Well we braved the heat and rode our bikes on over to the parade. Ethan was very excited about it and Jude seemed a bit overwhelmed. But once he got some candy he thought it was a pretty fun thing too. This time I went overboard with our sun protection. Not only did we sunscreen every visible part of our skin, but we also wore hats, sunglasses and had umbrellas over us to give us a little shade. Did I mention it was unbearably hot?


Mr. Wally Amos himself (Famous Amos cookies anyone?).

They had the typical highschool bands, politicians, Hawaiian bands and pimped out Dodge trucks...but this year we were a bit disappointed in all of the "groups" out there that were trying to make a statement with "keeping it country", "no rail", "no gates, keep our beaches open", etc. I could go on and on. Anyway it's our 3rd year to attend the 4th of July parade and it's kind of a fun tradition.

Later we are going to our friends house to have a bar-b-que and then off to the beach to watch the fireworks.

pillows

A boy after my own heart...sleeping with as many pillows as you can fit in the bed. Jude is new to the whole sleeping on a pillow idea since he has moved to his big boy bed. But he doesn't necessarily use them for his head. As you can see in the picture it's more like an added layer to his mattress. My bed looks pretty similiar...one pillow for my head, one for my knees, one for me arms and one to throw over my head in the morning when everything starts to make noise with the sunrise at 5:00am.