Another Vacation?

4 days after I got back from Hawaii, we headed down south to Oceanside for a week. The kids had a fantastic time playing with their cousins.

Kaylin and Lyndee

Hanging out on the rocks watching the crazy boys play in the water! And by crazy boys I mean Mike's brothers! Mike joined in shortly after this....

Mike and Jay playing in the water. Mike and Jay's wives were a tad nervous, seein as how the waves were crashing hard on the rocks and pulling back making it difficult to get out. But the boys had fun!!

Konner watching daddy playing in the waves. Konner is content to watch from land.

This is what the kids did while hanging out in the hotel we stayed in. Lots of bed jumping, wrestling, and cars.

Watching a movie.......
London, Kaylin, Ollie, Konner, Dylan, Kylie, and Rylee.
So thankful for how sweet Rylee was with my kids. They had so much fun playing with her. Especially Konner! Thanks, Rylee!!

Konner and James hanging out in the jacuzzi. Konner's favorite place at the beach house. Thank you for sharing your scooter, James! It made Konner's evening!

The kids wanted so badly to swim in the pool at the hotel. Lucky for them they have their daddy! Cuz mommy is too paranoid to let them in a pool that size without their life vests!!

Konner had to warm up after almost giving mommy a heart attack with his jumping into the pool without his vest.

Kaylin was more low key in the pool. Thank goodness!

Even Kylie had a good time! She may just be ready for some swim lessons herself.

My most favorite people in the world.....

Rigby Week is always a bit stressful for me, because Mike works and I am down there alone with all 3 kids. At a beach house. With a beach! But my kids had so much fun and loved their time there that it was totally worth it! Hopefully next year Rigby Week will be after Mike is out of school!!! Thanks for the fun, Rigbys!!

Kindergarten graduate

Onward on to 1st grade! Konner is so excited to go to 1st grade. Me? Not so much. He's going to be 6 next month, and each birthday is a sad reminder to me of just how big my buddy is getting. He's in such a rush to grow up, and I want him to stay my buddy forever.

My mom

Growing up in my family wasn't exactly what I would call easy. And neither were the relationships. My father was a total abusive alcoholic, and without going into detail my mother and I didn't have much of a relationship for quite awhile. I was close to my grandmother and believed that she was the only one who loved me. I was lost without her for a long time after she passed away.

My father passed away in my early 20s, he was only 42, of severe Cirrhosis of the liver. And it wasn't until a couple of years after that that I worked through serious issues from my childhood. I had a lot of anger and resentment, and with my father gone, I took it all out on my mother. I held her responsible for a lot, and maybe I still do a little, but I understand her and her choices better now. And I've lost the anger.

I grew up believing that my mother and I couldn't ever have a bond or connection. But ironically now, as a mature adult and wife and mother, my mom is who I can count on the most. My mom is the one I can count on for compassion when I need it. My mom is the one who will do her best to try to help me when I need it. That isn't saying that there isn't another person who would help me in my time of need, but my mom tries the hardest. If I need help with anything, I don't have to plead my case to her or beg. If I need to money or I need help with my kids, she doesn't make me plead my case or beg, and she typically has less than we do. She just does what she can.

My cousin, who I love very much decided to get married in Hawaii this month. She's my Jessie. I took care of her when she was little. The thought of her getting married without me made me very sad. So after discussing it with my husband, we decided I should go. I needed help with my kids, because I couldn't take them with and my husband had to work. He couldn't take the time off to go with me, and he needed help with our kids while I was gone.

I asked a few people for help. My sister was willing to do it, but it was a big inconvenience for her, and I really needed someone who could come to our home. So I called my mom. She has a full time job. She lives paycheck to paycheck. Money is always tight for her. She didn't make me plead my case. She didn't make me beg. She didn't give me excuses. She just said yes. She took a week off work and came down to stay with my kids while I went off to Hawaii. In doing that, she relieved me of a great deal of stress, and she made me realize even more how much I can count on her. And that is what family really is about. Being there for each other.

My kids had a great time with grandma and they even miss her now that she is gone. She has grown so much as a grandmother and even as a mother. I really appreciate her and the sacrifices she made to help me out. We've come a long way, mom. I love you.

Hawaii baby!!

I had the opportunity to spend a week in Hawaii, and I took it! It was a no kids trip, and my husband had to work, so off I went and vacationed for a week where the only stress was getting lost while trying to get somewhere!

My cousin Jess got married while I was in Hawaii. And she announced that she is having a girl. Jaycee Hutton Mae Caldwell.

I love to do touristy things, and I absolutely love the ocean. The only thing that would have made my trip even better was if my husband could have experienced it with me!

I also got to spend some time with my life long time friend Dani Wani, who lives in Koneohe.