sweet boy

the project recommends: inception

We hardly ever go out to the movies anymore. I think the majority look annoying or the actors in them make me not want to see them. I'm so glad we went out and saw this one on the big screen last Thursday afternoon. It is the best movie I've seen in a long, long time. I felt like Shandra must have felt after we watched The Return of the King when that came out. (She was weeping openly and had to be helped out of the theatre) I held it in better than she did that time, but it was really amazing. I wanted to hide out while the people came and cleaned the theatre and just wait for the next showing.
Really, really awesome movie.

It's like a roller coaster ride and I think we need to go again.

So do yourself a favor: go see Inception and have your mind blown.

swim school

Tristan just completed his first session of swim school and he loved it! Some of the progress he made this first time around: he can now hold his breath under the water without any fear, he can blow bubbles, he can jump from the edge of the pool into my arms. I noticed that he was the only one with obedience issues. (He was the youngest in the class). He really didn't care what his instructor had to say or wanted him to do. It was mostly just playtime for him, so he thought. He enjoyed climbing out of the pool and running around while the lifeguard chased him around. He thought that was funny. I'm excited to sign him up for more classes because I think he is catching on pretty quick! I'm sure he will learn to listen with time- let's hope!

Thank goodness the pool is over 85 degrees. Sometimes too warm! Entering the pool is always a breeze.

Dunking under the water.

"Did you see that, Dad?"

"Hi Dad!" Tristan loved the toys available to play with. In fact, they were a big distraction most of the time and we had a problem with him stealing the other kid's toys right out of their hands. Something to work on.

Tristan jumps into the water without even moving his feet from the edge. Mad skills.

Medal Ceremony Day. Tristan gracefully accepts his medal by throwing it on the ground.

"Mom! put that camera down and get me off this box!"

Tristan with his instructor. He loved her. Yes, those are real tears and real snot.

thirty one

Thirty one? Really? Happy Birthday to my sweet husband, Christian! Here is a short video tribute for the birthday boy. Lots of old footage, mixed with some new. Christian doing the things that he loves. The quality is junk. Enjoy!

family photos

It's about time! We finally have photos with all three of us in them. I've been wanting to get family photos since Tristan was born. Special thanks to the talented Alyse Thomson. She is wonderful! She helped make an awkward looking/acting family take some decent pictures. Christian and I tend to freeze up and feel really uncomfortable when we are in front of cameras, but Alyse made us feel right at home. Don't let these photos fool you. Tristan was not chipper the whole time. We have some nasty pictures of him from this shoot as well that I should probably share. He was tired. Anyways, here is a preview of some of our favs.

Please note that Tristan's lips were not photoshopped. They REALLY are that pink.

Kohala ranch evening

Kahua Ranch in Kohala equals Heaven on Earth. It's so beautiful! On the 4th of July, Christian's childhood friend got married, so we headed back to the Big Island. These green hills go on for miles! To make it an even more magical place, it's nice and chilly and you can see the coast right down the hill! Average low 70's mid 60's maybe? Night time colder? Christian would know. Anyways, what a perfect place to have your wedding reception.

Bundled up!

Visiting the horses.

This was our firework show! Front row seats. He was great!

Ian and Ambre.


Christian and Tristan watching the slide show. Tristan liked the music so much he had to get down and dance.


Congrats to Ian and Ambre!

16 months

"Mom, I can empty your clothes all over the bed. I can do anything I want".

This post is a little late, but very necessary! I need to recognize my little 16 month old who has changed so much...and to vent a little. Sometimes writing about it all makes me realize that it's not as crazy as I think and I can actually laugh about it. This blog is very therapeutic for me sometimes. :) Anyways, here are some of the 'adorable' things that our little toddler has been up to lately.

• T started climbing out of his crib. It was really scary at nights because we thought he would hurt himself. We weren't sleeping much because we were trying to keep our eye on him. No more 'cry-it-out' naps in the day time because he can just hop right out. I tried setting up the porta-crib thinking that it would be harder for him to jump out, but he was out in less than 2 seconds. (I watch him on the video monitor). He has mastered his escape; he pulls himself up with his arms, throws his legs over the rail, drops his legs and hangs on the outside of the crib, and then plops on the floor. We decided to put him in a toddler bed, which he has taken to nicely and is less frustrated in, but he is now free to roam out of his room when he wants. He ends up in our bed the last stretch of the night, not fun. Hopefully we will get it all figured out soon!
• Now that T is more free, naps in the daytime are even more difficult. Car seat naps and then transfer to his bed is the only way now.
• New words! "uh-oh", "quaker?" (aka Cracker), "mama?", "dada?", "Hiiiii". Everything he says ends in a question.
• The other morning I turned on Fraggle Rock for him, went in the kitchen to make him some breakfast, he followed me and saw what I was doing, then he ran back to watch his morning show. About 2 minutes later I went to bring him his breakfast and he was already sitting in his high chair, sitting straight up, watching his show and waiting for his breakfast. Apparently he can climb into his high chair now.
• He started swim lessons and can now blow bubbles in the water and kick his feet. He loves his swim class!
• He's obsessed with his Dad. I feel like he's a little sick of his Mom, just a little. Dad is WAY more fun!
• Nobody really warned me about terrible ones! He throws awful tantrums now, kind of uncontrollable. He goes limp and screams. Maybe he's teething hardcore, it's always hard to say. Or his lack of sleep is catching up with him!
• He is so high on life and I love it. Curious about everything.

Although frustrated with the boy most of the time, we still can't get enough of him. He seriously is so much fun and so dang cute!

anna's pond... and beyond

Our last day with Courtney on the Big Island, we decided to go for a hike. We headed up to Anna's pond, and we continued on to this other waterfall (I'm going blank on the name, actually, I don't even remember hearing a name)- (that's because it's known as 'the place'...per christian's update). When we got to the falls, we saw some crazy (soon to be nude) people jumping from the rocks. We noticed at the top of the waterfall, there were smaller waterfalls, with little ponds. As tempted as we were to join in with the hippies, we decided to walk over to the ponds on top.

About 1/2 into the hike. It was too green to not stop and take pictures.

Spotting the falls on top.

We found a slide! You can tell by Christian's face that the water was a little chilly. He's so brave!

He slid down several times and loved it. He was the only one that wore his suit, otherwise, the 3 of us would have been more than happy to jump into that ice cold water. wink.

On our way back. I have to admit, my favorite part about hiking is the way back. It's all down hill!

beach 69

While on the Big Island, we went to Beach 69, one of my new favorite beaches over there. The sand has these little tree coves which makes it feel like your own private beach, and also adds a lot of shade! The waves are calm for baby T and there are some semi fun snorkeling spots.

This swing, that is probably not meant for adults (we find that out later) was calling my name.

So I jump on.

As did Courtney (Christian's sister). I convinced Christian to jump on with us as well and that's when it snapped. He landed flat on his back, just as this little girl arrived to get in line to swing. Sad for her. Sad for Christian too! I'm sure it was the combined weight of the 3 of us that did it in.

Tristan just woke up and is trying to process where he is, while snuggling with his Tutu.

Still in the zone.

T dips his feet in the water and lets us know that he's ready to get in!

"Dad, just let go. I can handle this!"