Notice a difference?

We have hit 27 weeks pregnant with #2 and I remembered that I had a picture from the first time around at exactly 27 weeks. Thought it would be fun to compare and see if I'm carrying any different... especially since they are both boys. The only difference I see is that I look 2 years younger ;)

After Mark took my picture Gavin said "Take mine!"

27 weeks - June 11, 2010

27 weeks with Gavin - Sept 15, 2007

Preschool Update

We have been researching and visiting preschools in the area (that are in our price range) for several months now. Our first choice was Makakilo Baptist Preschool less than a mile from the house, but it was hard to get into because of the waiting list. I called the school earlier this week just to double check that there were no spaces available and to find out Gavin's status on the wait list - he was #3. Basically, there was no chance of him getting in for the fall.

Then, prayers were answered when we got a call two days later saying that there was 1 spot and that the 2 families in front of us would not be attending (for different reasons). So, there was a spot for Gavin! We are so excited for him to be in this school for several reasons ..... the Montessori curriculum, the great reputation of the school, and the proximity to home. I went today and finalized the enrollment papers, so it's official ;)

Hard to believe that our little boy will be starting school in August.... time really does fly!

If you would like to read about the school, here is the link: makakilopreschool.org

Swiper No Swiping!

Gavin loves watching the TV cartoon "Dora the Explorer". If we would let him, I think he would spend an entire day watching TV...but the one he asks for every time is Dora. (It is his first request when he wakes up in the morning, from a nap, or when we get home). We really have to monitor how much TV he watches, so it is usually for a reward (especially Dora).

Gavin even refers to himself as Isa, me as Dora, Mark as Boots, and Marley as Swiper (all Dora characters). The name, though, that was the most fitting was calling Marley Swiper. Swiper is a fox on the cartoon that is always trying to take things from them. They have to say "Swiper no swiping" to get him to stop. Funny, because Marley will always sneak food from Gavin if he isn't paying attention or take certain toys to chew on. So, now Marley gets referred to as Swiper quite often... especially at dinner when she is waiting for him to drop something or sit a snack in her reach!

As you can see, they even resemble each other - we just need to get Marley a purple bandana and gloves ;)

Procrastination

I have really mastered the art of procrastination! If you were to look up the word - my face might be there...instead of working on my dissertation (like I should be), I have spent hours this weekend updating this blog, changing the background to perfectly match the picture, changing the font color, and adding other frills. If only I was this motivated when it comes to writing about Vygotsky and Dewey!

Exploring the Island

When you've lived on an island for 10 years, one might think there is nothing new to see or do. Today, we found some new sights as we explored the windward side of the island near Waimanalo. We attempted to hike Maunawili falls trail from the shorter route we have never taken before (usually we start off the Pali Highway and it is the less traveled, longer trail). Notice I said we attempted to hike the trail. It started raining half way in - and not just sun-showers, but rain. We decided that a 2 year old, a muddy dog, a pregnant woman, and a muddy trail just didn't mix, so we turned around. Here are a couple of shots before we turned around...

Gavin hiked at the beginning of the trail -he said he was hiking through the jungle but wouldn't stop for me to take a picture.

Sitting under the canopy of trees to try and wait the rain out.

26 weeks

After our attempted hike, we went looking for a beach that was Marley friendly. We drove up the Waimanalo coast until we found the perfect spot. Actually, just pulled off the side of the road and hiked down the embankment to find our own private beach. It was perfect!

Mark and Gavin were digging a hole and Marley tried to help. Notice the look on Gavin's face...

The boys kicked Marley out of their hole...

so she dug her own hole!

You couldn't see the car, but it is right at the top of the greenery, basically pulled over on the shoulder of the highway.

5oth State Fair

The 50th State Fair is here for the month of June and we thought it would be something Gavin is old enough to enjoy. We went at night, so he could enjoy all the lights and so we all didn't melt during the day! He really enjoyed playing games, riding a few of the rides, and getting ice cream to end the night ;)

Dad and Gavin playing a ski-ball type game

I won Gavin one of those Monkeys hanging there with my skills ;) He named the monkey "BumBum" (which is his new favorite word)

Gavin won this himself on a game made for kids- a winner every time! He had to put a ball in a basket to win!

His first fair ride- this one went up in the air around in circles. He cried.....didn't like it too much.

He loved this boat ride and rode it several times...

He was the captain in the front the second time around - he looks like he is taking the job very seriously ;)

The Joys of Childhood

One of the great things about being a kid is that if it makes you happy to put stickers all over your face while waiting for your food in a restaurant, then that is what you do. Not to mention, it brought smiles to everyone around us ;)

Gavin's chores

We decided to make some of the things we ask Gavin to do around the house official, by introducing him to chores and rewards. I bought him a chore chart to keep track of his daily chores and he gets to place a star next to each chore he does. So far, the star is reward enough but when that gets old, we will move on to a system where 5 stars = candy for example. His daily chores are to carry his plate to the sink, brush his teeth, clean up his toys, help feed Marley, and help water plants.

Here he is happily watering the plants out front... probably enjoys this one the most because he is playing in the water!

Being the elementary teacher that I am, I made his list of chores on the computer with a picture of the task to help him remember it.

Gymboree Classes

Now that summer is here, my new job is to be the playmate to Gavin. Mark has been at a workshop all this past week and will be subbing as a summer school PE teacher all next week. So, I've been looking for ways to keep Gavin entertained now that he doesn't have daycare. We have signed up for several Gymboree classes this past week and next (Art, Music, and one called Play and Learn). So far, we've attended the Play and Learn - which has parachute play, bubble play, and time to play on the equipment. Today we attended Art class and next week we

go to Music class.

It takes Gavin a little while to warm up when we first get there, but he really enjoys himself and gets upset when it is time to leave.

Play and Learn class - playing basketball

Art class - he wore a smock and painted with blue and red. He even discovered when he mixes these colors, it makes purple. He was so independent today - when I tried to help him paint, his response was "I'll do it!"

Painting the second picture - red with black dots

He also colored a watermelon on this half of a paper plate. At the end of his class, I asked him to pose with his 3 works of art, and this was all I got ;)

Happy Birthday to Mark!

May 31st marked Mark's 34th birthday and we spent the day relaxing at Ko Olina to celebrate. Our beach choices really have changed over the years - in the past, Mark would check the surf report for the beaches with waves and that would determine where we went. This time, Mark checked the surf report, but looked for a beach with no surf so Gavin could swim. . . What a good daddy ;)

We met up with the Hoffmans - Jenn and I got to catch up, Gavin and Makaela played together, and Mark and Matt got to get in a few games of backgammon. We finished the evening with an early dinner at Chucks with includes a free ice cream Hula Pie for birthdays! Gavin and Makaela were great all through the day and dinner (with no naps) and decided to have simultaneous meltdowns as we were leaving the restaurant. At least they made it that long...

Amazing how the 3 month difference between them disappears after a year or so. When they were babies, it seemed like such a difference - now we get asked if they are twins.

Happy Birthday Mark!

26 Weeks

Today marks 26 weeks pregnant for us - 14 more weeks to go! I'm sure time will fly by! We have been busy painting #2's room (still no name yet) and getting life ready for 2 boys! So far, Gavin is excited to have a little brother - he talks about his baby brother a lot....but that is because no one is here to compete for attention yet ;)

Last weekend Gavin and I went to a baby shower for a good friend from Ewa Beach El - Tracey. Her daughter, Ella and Gavin went to daycare together when Gavin was at Aunty Casey's from 3 -18 months. Tracey is due to give birth to a baby boy, Tristan, on June 16.

25 1/2 (me) and 38 weeks (Tracey).

A Successful Season

This past wrestling season proved to be the most successful for Campbell H.S. since Mark started coaching there 10 years ago. The team won the OIA championship, which is the championship of all the public schools on Oahu and won 4th place at the state tournament (which includes all public and private schools from all islands).

In addition to their team accomplishments, one of the wrestlers was recognized for national award - The Dave Schultz Award. Tyson Tynanes-Perez was the receipient of this award for the state of Hawaii. Tyson will be going to the national olympic training site for wrestling this summer in Colorado on an all-expense paid trip!

Mark was also recognized for a national award this year - the National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholastic Award. He was chosen as the winner for the state of Hawaii.

One of our State Senators, Senator Will Espero came to Campbell H.S. and had lunch one day with Mark and the team to give them awards on behalf of the Senate and Senator Espero got a Campbell Wrestling t-shirt in exchange ;)

Senator Espero with some of the team (pictured center with lei)

Mark has created a blog for his wrestling team, so if you want to read more about the awards and what is happening, check it out! campbellwrestling.ning.com

The last days of daycare

Summer is officially here - we have 2 months off work to enjoy spending quality time with Gavin, traveling to the mainland to visit friends and family, and work on getting a nursery ready for the little one on the way (oh and I almost forgot to mention - work on my dissertation, which surely will be the most fun of all the things I've listed;) It is certainly a time we always look forward to, however this year it was a little bittersweet because it meant the end of Gavin having the most wonderful childcare provider in the world...

Here are a couple of pictures from the last days at daycare. I really appreciated the pictures Claudia took each week of the kids to share with us - it really kept us connected to all the things Gavin did each week while we were at work. I wonder how much extra we would need to pay the next person to do the same??? ;)

Katie and Zack came by for lunch one day - the kids loved having Baby Zack around!

We left extra carseats here one day so Claudia could take all the kids to the beach for an afternoon. The kids played "airplane" with the seats all morning. Gavin and Kailee are passengers and Hailey is the pilot. (At least that is how Claudia explained that she had them buckled in their carseats all morning - ha, ha ;)

Wow, this pilot even reads books to the passengers!

The very last day of daycare - Thursday May 27, 2010...

at attempt at a group shot.

Take two...

Marley and Leila

Here is the last video I have of Marley and Leila playing. I found this one funny because they were too lazy to actually get off the couch, but were still playing. (For you non-dog people, I know the sight of 2 big dogs laying on my couch might be too much... but these two dogs are quite spoiled)

Well, its official- Leila is now in Germany- from what I hear she did pretty well on her long flight...we miss her around here - we got used to having 2 dogs ;)

*After I originally posted this video, I pulled it up to show Gavin. Marley heard Leila barking in the video and perked up from her nap. She began looking around for her friend :( She walked over to the table and looked at Gavin and I with sad eyes. Gavin tried to "make her feel better" by petting her and speaking in a very nice voice saying, "She went to Germany with Hailey. It's ok we will go visit" :(