Missing from Paradise...

Well, I am clearly not good at this writing thing these days. With best intentions i often think if what i need to write on and catch up with...but the time thing gets the best of me.

Anyways, while I sit here in Paradise...I am finding a few moments to put a few MOM thoughts to blog...

I miss my kids!

Yes. Being a parent hold many ironies.... you breathe in children every minute of every day wishing for some time to yourself- some time to breathe, relax and find yourself, even if for a brief moment. But why is it that the moment you do, you cant stop talking about them...let alone stop thinking of all the ways they would LOVE everything about the place you are in without them- and feeling a slight pang that they weren't there with you.

Parents...we are W-E-I-R-D people lol.
Please do not get me wrong. I am relaxing and enjoying every minute of our child free vacation- but there is about 25lbs missing from my left arm, another 30 missing from my right hand and 45 missing from my shirt dragging at the back. This feeling is weightless to say the least and as much as i enjoy it for a brief moment to catch my breathe, I love my kids and cant wait to hold them in my arms again :)

But for the last bit of vacation...i will do my best to enjoy this place...i know, its tough ;-)

I am blessed and so fortunate to be able to have the reality of enjoying this location and am truly pinching myself every minute as it really does- feel like a dream.

On the person/wife/love side...these bits of life to take a breather and enjoy my husband and our time as a couple- there is truly nothing better.

Downtime...

Well- that's about all i can say! Life has been busy. Kids are all consuming and I have not been good about taken much time to do the things i love...
so as i sit here on our rainy long weekend- i am taking some time to catch up on our world.

Ryan and I enjoyed a week of child-free relaxation in Cabo back in March. Yes- it already feels like it was a dream from a long time past. But that week was amazing. We did a vacation without children a few years ago and have made it a must do tradition annually. To be able to recharge ourselves as individuals- but also as a couple- is so important...a must do.

In the world of a parent, there is no downtime- you are always on. And to say the least- it can be very exhausting. Usually, aside from yourself, your relationship takes a back seat. Ryan and I have learnt that if we don't work at it...then it wont happen- to put it matter-of-factly. In order to have our amazing kids- there had to be an us to begin with- and to maintain that... we have to make sure the 'us' is priority.

And so- we had a wonderful vacation, just the two of us.

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!

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.

Treading Water...(giveaway)

It's only Monday and this is how I feel already. I am looking at the week ahead and know how busy it is going to be and has been already; I feel like I am at a stand still with so much to do and not knowing where to even begin!

We are heading away on vacation this Friday for 2 weeks! I am so excited to just get there...and unwind! A much needed rest, and well deserved if I do say so myself. But it is the getting there that is always so stressful! The organizing of my work while I am away; ensuring everyone and everything is left in good hands. It's the packing of the kids. The "stuff," the clothes, the toys, blah blah blah. It's organizing the dog. Getting laundry done. Ensuring DH (dear husband) packs. And then finally packing myself. I am hoping to fit in a few "girl necessities" before heading away...we will see if that works out. Somehow a pedi and a wax don't seem to be taking front seat!

To add to the chaos of our lives, we are dealing with the wall in the basement where my office will move in to. Originally, we were just going to throw up a wall and call it a day; now we are re-thinking the plan a little as the area is also plumbed for a bathroom. So instead of doing it later, why not do it all at one time. The contractor is coming over tonight to ses out the situation.

When plans are all up in the air I always feel so "stressed" and disorganized. I like organization. I like post-it notes and lists. Right now my lists are long and the things i have to do do not fit on a post-it!


On another note, I received a link for all of my readers for access to a FREE COOKBOOK! There are some yummy sounding recipes in here...and some that sound really quick and easy!
If you are interested in taking part of this FREE COOKBOOK offer, the cookbook is called "dinnerRevolution" by Chef Jeff. Take a look and get cooking! Just click on the photo to receive your free online access!

Let me know if you try anything that is worth while giving a go! I will let you know once I find some time to get back into the kitchen ;-)

Happy Monday~





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