Pumpkin Patch

It's pumpkin patch time all over the US and Maui is no different. Kula Country Farms transforms themselves into the biggest patch on the island (aside from the grocery store!). We had been wanting to take the kids but with the move the timing wasn't right. So of course we go on the last weekend and it was crazy! Two police officers helping traffic and parking all the way past Rice Park. The kids were actually not being very good listeners but we braved the crowd anyway and scored a couple cute pumpkins for our pumpkins.

Afternoon Bike Ride

This was hanging at the entrance to the Pukalani Pool. The kids just started their next round of swimming lessons. Ry and Kai are doing great - Cruz not so much.

Nothing like the feeling of finder killer turquoise shades for $12 at the gas station right after your other cheapies break!

The boys have wood that they haul out to the street every day to make a ramp. This is our little street. Cruz totally huli'd right after this.

Riding down Vineyard on a Saturday afternoon.

This is a really cool side road that has a loop. It's perfect for riding bikes and walking the dogs.

We went out right at sunset - the light was gorgeous.

We are right above Happy Valley. It's super voggy right now.

The back part of the loop.

Ready, Set, Go!!!

There are so many old buildings and homes around here. It would be really fun to document them, especially because many are in really severe disrepair and won't be around much longer. One building down the street as the entire back-side missing and you can see all the various rooms exposed. It's interesting to think that these were areas that people lived and somehow just let it go... 

Let the healing begin...

I had a really wonderful conversation with my mom yesterday. My body has taken a beating with the move and the stress involved with our last housing situation. I haven't addressed it much here because I was still living in Makawao.

Our issues really stem back toward the Spring and it only got worse through the summer. To the point that I was nervous playing outside with the kids, felt like I was walking on eggshells, and even felt my conversations were being overheard. In essence, the place that was supposed to be my refuge was actually more of a prison and I had to serve my time to get out. I think I bottled up every feeling that I had and it manifested in hand and eye tremors, additional migraines, and speech issues over the last few months. I will be going to get a physical next month - just to make sure I'm all good - but now as I put each item away in my new house I'm feeling more and more the release that I needed. This is OUR space. This is my sanctuary.

I need to let go of the poison that was surrounding me. I think it was even more then I realized because I have been an emotional mess. I'm having a hard time sorting through it and I think I need to make an appointment for an infrared sauna time at Spa Luna because I need to sweat out the toxins that have built up over the last few months.

It all came to a head yesterday - October 25 - the day I turned in the keys. I shut the door to the house, put both hands and arms on the door frame, thanked the house for the last 2 years, said a prayer for the next family - and I said goodbye to the house Emi came up to yell at me screaming that I am never welcome back. Tears streaming down my face I said I cannot talk to her, walked to my car, and drove away. It's amazing to me how emotions can physically alter the body. Tremors, shaking, crying.... I feel like they've been daily occurrences lately. I wish I wasn't so sensitive to the way that others' feel about me. I have always been stricken with that need to please all around me. I need to work on that because I need to make sure that I am ok first before I can help anyone else. Talk about a life lesson!

Our Wailuku house was just tented and is now termite free. I can find a home for all of our things and organize. I wish I was a little more OCD about organization and cleaning.

Going to make myself some coffee, eat a little lunch, and then take the monkeys to swimming lessons.

Let the healing begin... let my soul release the hurt and fear inside.

And... we're in Wailuku!

Oh my gosh it's been a crazy few days.

Early in the week Peter and I cleared out old carpeting and Peter laid out the new vinyl planks. They are the best looking vinyl planks I ever seen - I am SO STOKED with them. They look so much like real wood! Monday through Weds we've been down in Wailuku every morning working and cleaning. The house was SO DIRTY. I actually haven't cleared the lower kitchen cabinets yet because they're so nasty. Anyway... 

Our lease in Makawao ends on 10/31 but our landlady wanted us out ASAP and honestly, I want to move on quickly as well. I couldn't wait another week for Peter to be off so we scheduled the move for Thurs/Fri. Thursday we cleared out as much as we possibly could - ghetto moving with all our stuff in rubbish bags - then on Friday Island Movers came for the big stuff.

Now let me just write a little bit about Island Movers. We used them in 2008 when we moved to Texas and they made that move quite easy on us. Hired them again just to move the big stuff for this time and they were so awesome. They finished in half the time estimated and the final bill was less than half quoted. We tipped our guys and the supervisor of the three called me and left me the sweetest message that he was going to use the money to buy something for his son and he was short just that amount but now he could go buy it. Man oh man that made my day!!

Friday was the kids last day at Makawao El and we picked them up and brought them to the new house for some good old fashioned camping in the house. Seriously... just like camping with a roof. Saturday we headed back up to Makawao to clear out the rest of the kitchen, pantry, and small stuff. Marissa and Eugene watched the kids while Pat, Peter, and me went back and forth. Now did I mention that I also had photo shoots on Thurs, Fri, AND Sat. Holy bananas was that crazy!

Saturday right as I was leaving the beach I stepped on a bee and my foot promptly swelled up to football size - Benadryl didn't help. So today - Sunday - I was supposed to go to Makawao to clean but I just couldn't. Instead, I hauled in rubbish bag by rubbish bag and put away most of the kitchen items and pantry items. It's amazing to find out how much you have when you move. Things are hidden everywhere!

I also have to mention that Peter was amazing on this move. We have moved a lot. And every time (except this one) he has been a whiny pill (true story - he'll admit it). This move he's been like superman. Especially with my swollen foot - he asked me today everything he could do before going to work. Maybe it's cause this is our last move?

And now the house... we are in love. Aside from having barely any electrical outlets (computer is on an extension chord as I type) and those that do work can only have one device on (don't even try to listen to the radio and turn on the light!) - we are really enjoying all the character of the house. The big pantry, the back room (which I've learned was the sewing room originally), the old doors, classic windows, awesome yard... and the kids have pretty much taken over the street riding bikes. I am sure all the oldies in the neighborhood are just rolling their eyes. So far we've met many of the neighbors. Aside from the couple homes that have kids, most have been here a long time. One old woman walks everywhere and she definitely has some dementia because she introduces herself just about every day. Another right next to us lives alone in an adorable house and said she moved there in 1945 after she was married and she had a dress shop in the garage. She now does origami and said her name is Tomiko but insisted I call her Helen. She invited us in and gave me origami to give to the kids - said she hopes we never move cause she likes to hear the kids play.

Ironically, next door to us is a vacant plantation house - and this is a funny story because maybe a year ago it was for sale. I remember I even emailed the MLS listing to my mom saying, "Oh if only!" and I pinned it to my Pinterest board. And now here we are.... in the house next door and it's ours! Isn't that just a bit of destiny or what?

So all is good. Glad I got the cooking supplies in today because takeout is expensive. Nothing like feeling you're hemorrhaging money! Thankful the first mortgage payment isn't until December 1 so I can put some money into the electrical repairs that are needed now (more like yesterday) - shout out to my Pops for helping with that too. Also wanted everyone to know that I do realize electrical is important. Also went out and bought the 10 year lithium smoke detectors too!

Oh and the INTERNET! OH MY GOSH. There is life changing internet in Wailuku. It took me nearly 6 hours to upload a photo session in Makawao. 15 minutes in Wailuku! Game changer! 

Sorry no pictures in this post. My desk is barely set up - everything is in one of the bags/boxes laying around here. They'll come soon!

Here we go...

Three little monkeys on the front stoop

Silly kids!

Lots of glue on the top of the vinyl we found in the dining room area. We are thinking of cleaning it up really nice and leaving it.

Original flooring in the living room. Painted the traditional "Baldwin Brown" that most plantation homes had. I was told that Mrs. Baldwin was in charge of choosing paint colors and she chose brown and red for most homes.

Here we are right after carpet demo.

Met our neighbor across the street - he's lived there for 20 years. Another neighbor across the street has three kids, ages 7, 5, and 2! And another neighbor at the end of the street has an 8 year old little girl. The kids are stoked!

I'm sure there will be a lot of projects that come up and my head is spinning with ideas but we'll take it one project at a time as we can afford it. It will be nice to save for a project and then pay cash to accomplish it. I did order some new kitchen cabinets for the lower cabinets. They'll be here in about 12 weeks and I came in $1,000 under budget! WooHoo!

Thankful for them both

I don't think I've mentioned much anywhere my feelings on my parents divorce. I was talking to my dad the other day about it because when they call me or I call them, the divorce doesn't exist. You know how someone can move away or even pass on and your mind says, "Oh they're just not visiting you right now, but they're just down the street" or something of that nature. In my heart I'll always feel the strong connection between them both because they're my parents. And even though they are not together anymore, that doesn't make them any less my parents.

It's interesting to think about growing up - and for me, I was one of those kids who wanted to buy my own things - to prove I was helpful to the household. My parents have pretty much always been self employed, and with that comes financial ups and downs. I didn't quite understand it much when I was little, and then when I was a teenager I resented it because I wanted to buy things. I think one time in a rare moment of being upset, I screamed at my parents that I would never work for myself, that I would get a great job and always have money. I started working very early on because I didn't want to be a financial burden on my parents - I wanted them to not worry about me so that they could save for themselves and for Nico and Koa. Sounds heavy for a 16 year old, but that's just the way that I am.

But all of those years taught me the most important lesson ever - money doesn't buy happiness. Things are not happiness. It's the tooth fairy leaving sparkly kisses on your cheek, a father climbing on the roof to make a "boom" sound we thought was Santa's sleigh, home cooked meals (mostly before Koa - haha), and the freedom to be a kid and play outside all day. Happiness is growing up on a tight budget in Hawaii - pure and simple. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

And now here I am - self employed - reaching daily for happiness because it's been instilled so deeply in my soul from these people that did their best in everything everyday.

I am still the person who works hard so I'm not a burden on anyone - still work just a little harder to buy the "fancy" soap I really want - but instead of feeling as though the weight of the world is on my shoulders, I feel now that I am floating among the clouds - doing flips in the salty air. All because of the hard work of two very special people. Thanks guys - love you both tons and bunches!

Happy Birthday Kai Boy

Rewind to October 1, 2008 - our little Kai Boy was born. In Texas. Over 2 Weeks Late. He was due on September 15th and decided he wanted to come in October. He was, ironically, my smallest baby!

Kai is my second miracle baby. Ryenne my first, of course. But we didn't know if we could have more children and Kai Boy came along and surprised us in more ways than I could have ever known. Aside from surprising us with his presence in our lives, he surprised us by his strength to pull through a variety of things.

I think we named him well. Kai is the sea. The sea is strong. The sea rolls through ebb and flow. The sea provides, nourishes, soothes, and scares us all at the same time. All of those things describe this amazing little boy.

In his short 5 years he has taught me so much about life and how to pull strength and courage from places I didn't know existed. He taught me it's ok to ask for help when it's needed.

I won't ever forget the feelings I had when I thought I was losing him. I have tucked those into my memory because now when I look at him, I see the sparkle in his eyes, the muscle tone that his face has regained, the words that flow from his mouth - sometimes thoughts that are so profound for a little boy. I see a scientific, methodical mind full of questions. I see a boy who always wants to do big boy things with his dad. A boy who thinks he's big but wants his mommy to hold him like a baby and proclaim he's never moving far from me.

I see so much for his future. I'm so incredibly proud.

Some notable things about Kai Boy:
He thinks he's a ninja, but he says Minja
He loves Filipino Food and French Fries
He is loving kindergarten

Happy 5th Birthday Kai Boy!!