Maui Moments...

We did it! We went on our family vacation and had an amazing time filled with so many memories and milestones.
To begin, for those of you who know a little of our families happenings, it was a big deal to get on the plane and onto the trip in the first place. It took a few years and a few missed flights to accomplish this as a group and to say the least...i am so proud of all the hard work it took to do so. Determination. Health. Love.

The big part in this trip for me was, it was our first airplane trip as our family alone! Sure we have done a few little trips through the years...with Kai, then with Si...but this was the first as a family of FIVE...and the first as our own little family, flying somewhere...period! We have been fortunate in traveling to many great spots; Hawaii, other US destinations, Italy...however all these amazing trips include our extended family...parents, sibling etc. This was a milestone for us. A growth as our own family: And in it, many individual growths. It was a first, and most definitely not, a last.

We headed off to Maui for some fun in the sun and were there for 8 days. 8 days that went too fast. It was a fun trip, a busy trip...for all of you with kids, you will understand when I say, you somewhat need a vacation from your vacation upon arrival home ;)  Morgana, our amazing sitter, majorly helped in making this a fun time over a stressful one. She accompanied us as another pair of hands, nanny-extraordinaire...and we even had a few date nights! It was a great decision to bring her and she made our vacation that much more enjoyable. 3 kids 4 and under leave little time to rest and no time to not have an eye on while at the pool.

Before going, Kai turned 4, T tuned 5 months...and little Miss Si was 2.5 going on 16...yes, her attitude can be that "wonderful." At home, days are filled with I love you and I hate you moments shared between Kai and Si; moments of holding in yelling and foul words by mom (trust me some days are harder than others not to say them); in general, home is chaos in its greatest form...oddly enough, I still love it all- yet it can be trying.
Maui brought a piece of heaven...the kids (or the most part) were amazing. Days were filled with sun, sand and swimming:Tiring them out poolside and early to bed. Once we got through the ends of their colds from home, sleep was descent for the 2 older ones. Minimal fights between the two: less yelling by mom and dad...more peace...The few dinners we took them out to, they even sat in their seats and ate their meals: This in itself is priceless!

T started sitting on her own while we were there. It felt like she went from newborn to baby overnight!

Kai learnt to swim! He went from his weekly swim classes of shallow end floating, to attempting the doggy paddle and front crawl. We could actually sit aside the pool and watch him.

Si gained much more water confidence, sliding down the pirate slide all by herself, and going head under in the shallow end.

I think all the kids grew bounds in self confidence...coming home very proud, and that much older in mom and dads eyes. Once again, time is passing us by, yet we had many magical moments and a book of memories to hold on to because of this trip.

Ryan and I had a nice time too. It felt great to just...relax. To not have to schedule anything...aside from our couples massage ;) It was time that we as a family needed...and us as a couple, we are getting that time in very soon.

Here are a few more memories from the trip.

"Gana" and Si

Don't think we could fit more into the car- to the airport we go
Till next time Maui!

Back at it...

Vacation is over. We are back to the grind, and finding some routine!
I am actually pretty happy to be home. I am not one to sit still for too long; and that was a long time I must say.
We had a great time at the cabin though. The kids ran for miles each day; We all had our fare share of food; Read a few books, worked on a tan... it was needed. It's a hard thing to do to sit... and relax. Try and clear the mind and take in the "me" time; But, I am glad I did it/ we did it. Coming home and back to reality... it was a nice break from the grind of every day life! Fingers crossed Kai remembers that he now has to pee in the toilet and not anywhere he pleases... against a tree, in the grass, in the water, the list is long!

Here are a few photos captured in the past two weeks.

A Great Vacation... Exhausted and Almost Home!

One More Week...

Today Ryan is heading home for work till Friday; that means it's down to me vs. the kids for the last week of vacation. I have to admit, so far the week has been filled with both the busy and restful times. What is with new places and a new bed that can alter a child's sleep schedule so much!! The kids have been having some seriously AMAZING naps...close to 3 hours. I guess it's all the fresh air and exercise; yet when in comes to bed...they seem to end up in bed with us (well make that me, as Ryan then goes to find more space in an empty bed). At least this week, he won't be in search of more space in bed...as we will all be still cabin bound.
I am hoping this week I can learn to relax a little more. Honestly, I am finding it hard to allow myself to completely unwind. I keep thinking of what I need to do, what needs to be done once home, and I guess really what I feel I should be doing instead of telling myself that I deserve this time!!
In a life that is always so busy and rushed, once you become used to a certain level of chaos, R&R seems to be a bit of a hard concept to grasp!

With Ryan heading home today, a friend is coming up! Looking forward to spending some time with her. A little girl time with some much needed catching up. Should be a nice way to spend the week of vacation in a beautiful place :)

"The railing hurt my beautiful hand." Kai just came over to where Ryan and I sit drinking our morning coffee (decaf for me) to tell us what just happened. The words of wisdom from a three year old mind...beautiful.

Happy Monday!

Living for the moments...

Amongst the happenings of life, vacation is allowing me to find a little time for...me.
I feel as if days lately are just, lived. Lived to get through them. Lived to get to tomorrow. Lived to get to the next thing I/we are looking forward to. I am forgetting that instead of just living them and getting through them, it is important to ACTUALLY live them. Whether it's one thing in the day that was made with a point, just ensuring that all days are filled with many moments.
When did we begin to allow life to live us and stop living OUR life!? I find it to be a hard concept to grasp. Maybe it's because, when thinking about what I want out of life...I am still a little unsure. I find myself getting to one level, and then always looking for the next. Is this the culture we are raised in...always strive for more, to be better? In a way yes; but what about living in the present as well? Time to start enjoying the present a little more.
Ryan and I were talking not too long ago about life. We have two amazing kids, a third on the way, have been together for almost 12 years (a few weeks away!) and have so much to be thankful for. And yet, we feel our directions in life are sometimes steered too much by expectations and pressures from others, and not enough by ourselves: Recognizing this, we still feel a little...trapped, for lack of a better word. How do you, or maybe even, when do you stop this feeling, this cycle. For each I know this is a personal endeavor, and maybe the answer is we never truly do...maybe we will always be in search of another level...but while on this current level, this step of life, I am going to ensure I remind myself to stop...and enjoy it all. The little things: the sound of our kids playing, our kiss goodnight, the moments.

"live for the moments, not the memories."

And to add a smile to the end of this...a bit of a laugh.
I am sitting here in the sun...watching our kids run around nude in and out of their little pool...and our daughter is standing by a bush, taking a poop...followed by Ryan cleaning it, and her, up. A good laugh. A hilarious memory.
These are the moments.

To life. Enjoy yours!

Vacation Mode...

Well, sort of! Yes, it has been relaxing up here. Sun, play time, swimming and no shortage of food! But work has not been left behind. I am still checking messages, making calls, negotiating deals and sending too many texts/emails daily.
It is too important to not deal with at this point; which in turn, vacation mode 100% takes a back seat till another day.
I guess that is the life of the self employed realtor. I should know...both my parents are realtors as well ;)

These past few months, the term "Working Mom" really has been kicked in to full gear for me. I think I am just finding the 'groove' so to speak. It has been a hectic while as I went from quiet to anything but...trying to find the balance of family and work...the right amount of attention to both to not lack the details. I think i found it. Not without a few hiccups and exhaustion along the way...but I am doing it :)
Working moms out there, how do you find the balance? How much is too much work...and what does balance really mean?!

If you had the choice/ability...would you choose to work (full or part time) while still raising kids, or would you prefer to stay home and be a STHM?

For me, I enjoy working on a certain level. I don't think I could ever not work outside of the home in some way, shape or form...but I LOVE being there for my kids and spending days and time with them. Playing with them. Teaching them. Learning from them. I would never give up any of that at the same time. So the answer for me is, a "balance" that works for all and keeps all happy...and sane!

Now, for this subject removal to come through...and then hopefully a few days of real R&R.
(ps- sorry for spelling errors....no spelling on this medium up here :) after all, it is vacation!)

Pictures to come soon :)

Ready for Speed...

In my preparations for cabin countdown, I checked another item off the list today and picked up Kai's dirt-bike helmet! Still a little young for his own pint-sized bike (I think that may come next year!), he is ready to double with dad on dirt bike and four-track (ATV).
He is soooo excited for his new helmet that he now wont leave a room without it, and is now relaxing on the couch...wearing it.