Our little tree

We got a little 4 ft. tree this year.  I had big plans for this tree with lots of homemade garland and a new topper but since we were in the middle of our sick funk, I decided I could care less this year.  :)  There's always next year!  

We are finally feeling better!  The bug sure was going around though.  Almost every one we knew caught it.  It was a feisty little bug.  It lingered a little longer in our home.  No fun!  We can finally start enjoying the holidays now.  

I love her hair.  100% air dried from her bath.

Notice Fred our Elf in the stocking above.  Fred has already sent a letter in the mail to Tristan letting him know that he has been naughty and needs to start listening to his parents.  Fred disappeared for a few days to hang out with Santa to decide if he was going to bring his presents this year.  After a (minor) change in behavior, Fred came back and Tristan was happy and relieved.   

RIP Neil Armstrong

I was going through more videos tonight and came across this little gem of T man.  He was really bummed out when Neil Armstrong died in August.  Out of the blue he told me that he was sad.  I asked him why and he said, "because of Eel Armstrong".  I grabbed the camera and asked him why he was sad again, and this is what I got:

Big Island Thanksgiving

We headed to the Big Island for Thanksgiving this year.  We were all in need of a little vacation.  After almost 3 weeks of sick kids in our house, we were excited to get away.  Tristan and Betsy passed a head cold back and forth to each other.  Then it turned into a chest cough.  Then Betsy began to vomit and then diarrhea for a week and a half.  After a couple of blood tests and a stool sample, her doctor urged us to take her to the ER for an IV.  At first he was worried that she had salmonella poisoning which made sense to me because we just got a peanut butter recall from Costco.  He ruled out any bacteria in her poop, thank goodness!  They believe it was just a virus and that it should pass.  

So we visited the ER on the Tuesday night before we headed off to the Big Island. (Saddest thing ever to watch!) She regained some strength and was able to eat some of the (yucky, bland) foods she was supposed to eat, and drink lots of fluids.  She was getting better on the BI but had a relapse right when we got home with more vomiting and lots of diarrhea.  Maybe a new virus?  Or an allergy?  Or teething?  I have no idea.  I just want her to feel better again.  (And I'm sick of doing 2-3 loads of laundry every day).  Poor baby girl.  

Anyways, we had a really nice weekend with Christian's parents.  On Thursday, Christian got to "slip out" for a morning surf with his two friends, the Ians.  After some driving back and forth they found one of their favorite spots had fun waves: secret waves because they had it almost to themselves for a while. They were stoked to have a session together just like the old days. 

Our Thanksgiving feast was spent with a couple other families from their Waimea ward.  Really nice people.  Below, some of the kids feasting away.  Poor Betsy, so limited with what she could eat.  But she LOVED sitting with the big kids.   

The spread.  Everything was delicious: 

The next day we went to Waialea Beach/Beach 69, and met up with a few friends.  I feel like the kids are easily entertained at this beach; rope swing, trees to climb, swimming, rocks to throw.  Dad showed Tristan how to make sand balls which he was pretty excited about. 

Below: Tristan paddled out with his dad for a little.  Of course he got cold and needed to come in.  Betsy happily waits for her brother.  

Digging a hole with Tutu:

I love these pictures below of daddy with his little girl.  These two adore one another.  P.S. Betsy's hair has gotten pretty unmanageable.  I seriously don't know what to do with it.  And she hates when I touch her head to even brush it, or pull it back in a pony.  Whatever.  We just let it go wild.  

On Saturday before we headed to the airport to go home, one of Christian's friends, Ian Lindsey (who is an AMAZING photographer! http://www.ianlindseyphotography.com) took some pictures of our family out on Mana Road.  I love that drive.  There are so many colorful barns and rolling green hills out there.  As expected, the kids were a nightmare.  Hopefully we get something for our Christmas cards!  

Below: This was Betsy's happy place; eating goldfish while visiting with her boyfriend, Imi.  

Below: This was Betsy's cry face.  She was screaming the whole time we took these photos. This one could maybe be pulled off as a smile?  What is with these kids and taking pictures?

So sassy.

This little guy has made his home at the Hastings house.  Here he is hanging on the Christmas lights on the porch.  So cute.

Saturday afternoon, the sun came out long enough for us to pull the slip n' slide out for Tristan.  He had a ball.  Below, Betsy girl cheers her brother on.  

We look forward to heading back over for Christmas!  

Halloween 2012

The Saturday before Halloween we hit up the Waimanalo Pumpkin Patch.  Tristan with one of his BFs, Talia.  

 Most of the gang:

Betsy with two of her favorite girls!  Abi and Bethany:

Who needs to pay for the train ride when Uncle Paul can run you around in a wagon?  Probably way more fun:

Betsy girl joined in on the fun:

That night the kids got dressed up for the ward Halloween party.  I found out from Tristan's preschool teacher that he wanted to be a vampire with a white face, the week right before Halloween.  That was news to me!  I think he got the idea from one of his Halloween library books we checked out about a vampire who has a hard time sleeping at night.  Betsy is at that perfect age where she doesn't have an opinion yet.  We get to pick out her costume. :)  Cutest Garden Gnome ever!  Although, Betsy was having some trials with her shoe covers.  She was not feeling it and kept trying to rip them off.  I somehow distracted her, got them out the door and we were on our way.

Tristan with one of his favorite babysitters, and sacrament entertainers, Uncle Brett:

Tristan fishing for some candy.  Happiest day of his life!:

 Betsy gets ready to fling the angry bird into bowling pins.

The scary vampire with Queen Talia.  Tristan said that he couldn't wait to scare everyone when he got there.  It was cute watching him try.

Betsy finally ventured away from my arms and was ready to mingle.  

She ran into her favorite gal pals, and caught up on the latest gossip.  

Betsy and I waited for Tristan and dad to come out of the spook alley exit.  She was a little freaked out when she saw the zombies going in and out, but she kept going back hoping to see more:

Tristan was spooked but stayed strong.  

Monday night we carved our pumpkin.  Both kids were not really excited about the gooey stuff inside:

Tristan was running a high fever all Halloween day.  It was the saddest thing because he was so excited for this day to come.  We had a count down sticker calendar and all.  I kept thinking that his fever would break later in the day and he would be feeling better for trick or treating.  He ended up dosing at 5:00 pm (fever still there) and woke up at 7:00 pm (fever gone), all ready to go!  We thought we would take them out for an hour.  So we got a late start but the kids were still so happy.  Below, Tristan gets his scary make-up put on.  I tried to convince him to go without since it was so late, but he wouldn't have it.  He was so cute and tiny as I put his make-up on.  I've never seen him hold so still in my life!  This was serious stuff for him.    

I seriously don't know what I'm doing with this make-up thing.  Haha!  I pulled out some raspberries from our fridge and tried to make blood coming out of his mouth.  Didn't turn out the way I wanted it, and it got all over his white shirt.  :)  

Betsy was the sassiest little Gnome to walk the streets!  She insisted on walking the WHOLE time.  It took forrrreeeverr to get from house to house because she was roaming around in yards exploring, just taking her sweet little time.  When I would grab her to pick her up she would freak out.  And she had to have candy in each hand.  Oh well, she's cute.  

Halloween is so much more fun these days.  I'll be sad when the kids don't get as excited for these kind of holidays.  Or when they would rather trick or treat with their friends than mom and dad.  I'm enjoying it while it lasts!