Step Father's Day

Since the kids are with their biological dad this weekend we had an impromptu Father's Day with Superman.

IT WAS GREAT!

Not that we did anything special. We just hung out, watched an episode of Law and Order, had tickle fights, and a simple dinner.

We all ended the night happy and no fighting. BONUS

Happy Father's Day Superman. We all appreciate your hard work.

Hawaii Day 1

So I know I promised an update of vacation. We have our photos loaded onto the computer but there are over 2,000 to try and get through! This my friends takes some time. I have a lot left to do but wanted to at least start blogging about the trip of our lifetime.

I have this post labeled day 1 - really it is day 1 + day 2 as day 1 was traveling and spending time in airports and airplanes for 20 hours! There is not a lot of excitement to blog about when traveling for that long except you want it to be over as quickly as possible. Those 100% filled planes are not my idea of a good time, especially when I was usually stuck in the middle seat.

Here is Vern getting ready for leg 1 of our multi-leg journey. He is excited!

So here is picture of the kids in the Minneapolis airport. We had a 3-4 hour layover so we took the train over to the Mall of America to eat lunch. It passed the time and we got some walking in. After this it was more plane rides and icky airport food. We finally arrived in Honolulu around 1-2am our home time. We were exhausted and went straight to bed.  Upon awaking the next morning we were greeted with this lovely view off our deck.

Beautiful isn't it? Right across the street from Waikiki Beach. I never could get my sense of direction while I was there. To me the sun kept traveling across the sky from south to north :-)

After a breakfast that morning, we changed our plans and headed out to Aloha Stadium to the flea market/ local sale. This was "the" place to go for cheaper souvenirs and locally grown and made items. It was HUGE. The vendors were completely around the stadium, some places 4 rows deep. We walked and walked and walked and were tired by the time we were finished. Vern fell in love with coconuts. He loved watching the guys chop them open and he loved the coconut milk even more. He bought at least 2 while we were at the sale. 

In the background of this photo you can see the other fresh fruit offerings they had for sale. All the fresh fruit we purchased was DE-lish-OUS.

This is just a shot of Vern on our balcony.

After the farmer's market we decided to see more of the island as there were only a couple days and we did not have enough time to see/do everything. We drove north to the Dole Plantation. They had a huge maze the kids found their way through while DaMom and Superman ventured through the gardens and LOVED it.  Here is just one of thousands of flowers in the garden.

I almost forgot the kids all got temporary tatoos. Here is Vern's.

After Dole Plantation we continued our treck north to North Beach. This is where the waves are l-a-r-g-e and noisy but the sand is just beautiful! I think of all the places we went on the two islands the north beach was the most beautiful.  Here is one photo of the waves. 

I will continue with each day as I get these blogs written. Check back soon!

Memorial Day Greetings

Hello readers. We are back!  Vacation posts will follow later.

Today I would like to take some time to remember those that have passed before us. May their memories live in our hearts always.

Here is a photo of Grandpa Harry. He is whom Vern takes after in looks I think. Do you???

Harry was a man of few words but his wisdom is still appreciated by me. LOVE YOU!!!

Together time

Vern and I got to spend some quality time together and I have to say it was nice.

Over the weekend Vern was having multiple nose bleeds. These come and go and are difficult to stop sometimes. After this weekend's 3 inch clot, I thought it was time to visit the doctor with our vacation soon upon us. Neither of us need major nosebleeds on an airplane.
So I made the family doctor appointment for 8am and Vern came to work with me! He enjoyed missing some school and was the B-E-S-T little man. He read quietly, met my friends when I showed him off and was very polite. (Hey that is one of his spelling words this week. --- Oh I digress.) We had a great time together. Then it was off to the first appointment. Like expected the family doc recommended we go to an ENT to get it looked at.

The nurse said there was an available appointment down the street at 10 am. I took it so I didn't have to incur more driving and time off work. We came back to work until it was time for the second appointment. I did some work and Vern watched, jabbered, and did a bit more homework. We both were happy!

Next we were off to the ENT. The appointment went very well. Vern was brave and did a great job holding still for the procedure. I was so proud of him! After the appointment I dropped him off at school and I went back to work - both of us smiling.  Item to note: there were at least 2 different people (nurse and lunch ladies) that I remember talking to about Vern's beautiful eyes.  He knows how to use those eyes too, with those long lashes. ZOWIE.  It is one of his best features.

Then at home last night after dinner and his jobs were complete, he asked me to go for a walk. I, of course, said yes.  We walked. We talked. He HELD - MY - HAND.  I was mush. See how he can melt even a hard-core mom like me.  I am sure that will get him through life.

Signed,
The proud, mushball, loving my son Mom.

MUCH NEEDED

Absolutely every - single - member of our immediate family NEEDS a vacation.

We are cranky.
We don't want to do our work/jobs/school work.
We want to be lazy.
We fight.
We let things slide.

OH LOOKIE - 2 weeks from today we will be on a plane getting what Dr. Mom ordered.

The pet children will not be happy but the two-legged ones will be.

Yes, this is just a random photo of some flowers from the spring garden.  Vacation count-down has begun!