Happy 4th of July

This year is going down in the books to remember.  We started the day off with Rylan getting his car started after sitting for 3 months while we were gone.  You would think just hook up jumper cables and it would be fine, however his car is equipped with an alarm system. So anytime the battery dies it goes off sounding to the whole wide world that the car does not want to be taken.  This is a nice feature since it is a Honda Accord that gets great gas milage and it is paid for (no car payment). While Po'okela took his morning nap, Alohi and I head to walmart to get groceries. When we got back the car was still not started, but Ry had a plan that would take me helping too.

We had a quiet lunch as a family and rested for our church cookout.  Kids took great naps and Rylan and I were able to get the car started with me turning the jumper thingy on (don't ask me what because I  don't know what it is called) and Rylan pushing a button with turning the engine on within 5 seconds. Yay we got the car started!!

When kids got up from their naps we headed out to the church cookout.  I got to learn a whole new part of our area, which I knew we had but never ventured there.  The families house we went to had a pool, horse shoes, trampoline (which while going thru out shed, I found out that we have one as well... well I am not sure who's it is, but it is in there and I may make good use of it) and volley ball net.  The kids had a blast!! Thankfully most of the kids remembered us and the youth girls took care of Alohi while in the pool.  We got to visit and catch up with our friends we haven't seen in a long time.  Po'okela loved the attention and I was able to pass him off to friends without a problem.  There were a bunch of times where people introduced themselves to us and said they were glad we came to visit.  Little did they know that we were back.  It was kind of funny and I think it is going to happen each time we are away in OKC with Rylan's job.  

However the best part of the day was returning home just as the last bit of sunlight was fading away... from our front yard, we watched the skyline light up with fireworks.  THE WHOLE SKYLINE!!! There were times I didn't know where to look because there were so many going off.  Then our neighbors were putting on a show as well! It was AMAZING!! We watched for over 2 hours! I am sure we would have stayed out longer, but I was getting eaten by mosquitos (which one I am having a horrible allergic reaction to) and Rylan had to go to work in the morning.  

It is great to be back home and start new traditions with our family!

 Above: the closest thing to a family picture

Below: Po'okela loving the water

 Above: fireworks from neighbors house

Below: infected mosquito bit

Po'okela 10 Months... A little late

When Po'okela had his 10 month day, if I look at a calendar Grandma & Grandpa were visiting with us and I was preparing for Alohi's Princess 1/2 birthday.  So I am playing catch up...

So little man. You are officially on the move! You pull yourself everywhere in your own little special crawl.  Unfortunately the carpet at our apartment gives you rug burn on your knees or belly, so I try to make sure you have the proper clothing to help your skin.  I love how you find yourself in the most unusual places and spaces.  I have had to start putting things up so you don't get into them.  You know how to open drawers and love to pull anything out of a container.  Thankfully I have started working with you to put things away and hope you will learn as quickly as your sister.  You get up on your knees to look into things, but no pulling up to a standing position yet.  

Here's a random selection of pictures of all the things you have been up to!

 Crawling under the coffee table, driving the car, party at the mustang pool, bowling, finding your reflection, playing with your sister, crashing out in your stroller while your sister plays at the OKC zoo, and tea parties!

I think with all the moving around you are doing, your eating has increased!  You still nurse 4 times a day, along with an occasional extra nurse at bed time.  With you being so active, there are times you aren't interested in nursing.  Yep, you refuse me because of anything or everything that might be happening.  It always works out because you always make up for it with nursing longer at another feeding.  Along with nursing you are eating 3 meals a day with a afternoon snack.  You gave up baby food after your 9 month check up, however I was able to get you to eat sweet potatoes because we were at some place that didn't have kid friendly food. When eating you sign more (clapping your hands together), all done (the normal way) and more, please (clapping your hands together with a side swipe).    You do say "mum mummmm" when I don't pay attention and miss the signing.  Your favorite thing to eat is blue berries! There was a day that I thought you would turn blue with how much you ate, but you didn't.... you just pooped blue berries.  

Here the official running list of foods you have: black beans, rice, any type of noodle, beef broccoli, vanilla wafer, gold fish, chicken nuggets, grapes, watermelon, turkey & ham, cheese, any type of bread, sherbet, ice cream, tomatoes (you love this stuff), strawberries, cereal bars, cheerios, carrots, and I am sure this list could go on....

Your favorite foods are: avocado, grapes, tomatoes, blue berries, strawberries

Along with food, I still have you working with a sippy cup. You mostly chew on it, but I think you are learning to swallow liquid better because you are always reaching for cups. I am sure you will master it when it is the only thing you can get liquid feeds from.  

Your sleeping patterns are come and go... It just depends on what is going on.  For the most part, this is what your sleeping patterns are: morning nap ranging 1 1/2 hours to 2 1/2 hours, afternoon nap ranging 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours and occasional early evening naps that last about 45 minutes.  There are times that you skip a morning nap, so we are able to go to the zoo, have a play date or on the go for any number of reasons.  However, there has been a few afternoon naps that get skipped but we never miss more than one.  Here's a picture of you curled up sleeping.

I love you sweet boy!! 

 

List...

Things to Blog about List...
- Po'okela's 10 Month
- Girls Night Spa & Pinterest Party
- Alohi's Princess 1/2 Birthday Party
- Grandma & Grandpa Visit
- All the Places you will go... Alohi & Po'okela

Things I need to get done...
- Packing for our early return to Nebraska
- Laundry so I can pack (which I have been working on since 8 this morning)
- Getting things to people that I have waited until the last minute to get to them (but I was supposed to have until Friday of next week)
- Organize everything to go into the car


Things I am doing now instead of the following things above...
- Blogging about list
- Texting Rylan complaining about leaving early (I wanted to have more time...)
- Flipping through the TV channels delaying all the stuff that needs to get done
- Relaxing since the kids are asleep

What about you?? What list do you have going?? I hope they are more excited than mine.

Eat More Chicken, Wedding, Pops, Texas

Yes the title says it all...

Eat More Chicken...
The catch phrase for Chick-fil-a. This is Alohi's favorite place to eat and play. I think it is more the playing since the play area is great for her petite size. Being back in the city, Chick-fil-a is a place Alohi knew she wanted to eat at.  After the clinical study, that was Alohi's request with going thru about 1 1/2 hours of test.  While there I found out that every tuesday night at their restaurant they have a family night. I wrote down the date that they were going to be doing "back stage tours" in hopes we could make it.  It was a really neat experience to go back in the kitchen to see how they do everything.  Alohi's favorite thing about the back stage tour was that she got to look for "cows" (mini stuff cow with their random sayings).  She found 4! And the crazy part was the manager said she could take them all.  2 went to brother and she got to keep the other 2.  At the end of the tour we got to have a free ice cream cone (Po'okela's favorite part).  It was kind of funny because at the end of the tour we were telling the manager that we really miss Chick-fil-a in Scottsbluff, which then led to a conversation with a guy there who grew up in Scottsbluff.  Small world!  Here are a few pictures from the night (I have more, but I am playing catch up on blogging).

 Above: We had to wear special hats to keep hair out of food. 

Below: Alohi loved the cow (normally she would freak out) & Po'okela just kept staring.

Wedding...
Memorial weekend, Rylan's roommate from college "Red" also known as Robert Douglas got married to Melissa. They had a private ceremony and then had a lovely reception where family & friends could celebrate with them.  It was a beautiful location, the Round Barn.  It did get a little warm... what am I saying it was hot.  Alohi had so much fun with Nolan & Ashley's kids (we share the same  wedding anniversary... They got married in Kansas and us in OKC).  The food was delicious and it are so happy for them.  Here are a couple of pictures...

 The Round Barn

 Nolan, Red (Robert), Ry, Po'okela

Mel with Po'okela (he wasn't happy... hot, tired, hungry boy)

Pops...

After the wedding, we went to POPs with Nolan's family.  The kids got to run around cooling off, pick out chocolate/strawberry milk (because you go to pops for milk??), and hang out with friends we haven't seen in so long.  Pops is a place you can get any soda imagined.  It is off Route 66 and a great place to hang out.  We had a great time!

 Kids playing in the grass... Po'okela loved getting pushed around.

 First taste of root beer

 Rylan & Alohi fighting the crowds to make a selection...

 And she picks... chocolate milk

Alohi and her new friend Sadia

 Family pic

Texas...

My soul sista from college just purchased a house and she hadn't met Po'okela and we were only 3 hours away instead of 16-18 and why not take a short weekend trip to visit!  It was short, with Alohi coming down with a temp saturday evening and then came home with Rylan sick (strep and inner ear infection) and then I got strep... Even with all the illnesses, we had a great time with them and pray God bless them in their new home!

Ro with Anecea; Me with Po'okela

This little guy helped drive while sitting in the parking lot waiting for the restaurant to open for lunch.

There is more to come... this is all I have got and it is time to nurse Po'okela.  However I did want to leave you with two of my favorites from our 9 month photo shoot with Capture1000words.com 

June Randomness

I have so much back blogging to do!! Since getting to OKC our time is going by so quickly. We have done so much and been on the go from the first day getting here.  Hopefully I will be able to put some time aside everyday this week to get caught up on all the things we have done, that way when grandparents get here I will be able to post about that.  I can't wait for them to get here! Hoping Rylan and I will be able to go on a real date!

So here is the randomness happening in no particular order....

Every Sunday Mr. Mike greats us at the door! Alohi always gets her hug from him and he normally has a cup of donut holes waiting for her.  One Sunday Rylan and I volunteered to serve donuts, so Alohi volunteered to help great people with Mr. Mike. I love this picture!!!

Pepaw came over for dinner a couple of nights while Memaw was out of town for business. Alohi had him play dress up with her, but if you look closely at this picture... I think she took the dress Pepaw has around his neck! She loves Pepaw!!

 Weekend sleepovers at B&T's (aka Pepaw & Memaw) are always so much fun!! They got bedtime stories every night!

 Swinging at the park... this was Po'okela's first swing ride. He loved it! Giggled the whole time!

 Zoo dates with the Davis' girls! It was a perfect weather and day at the zoo! We saw so many animals!

 Yep... more time with Memaw! This is from our sleepover weekend. Alohi is helping make mac&cheese.

 One great thing about being at an apartment is having a pool! Po'okela loves the water. We have to watch him carefully because he tips forward to get his hands in the water to splash!

 I love quiet mornings/days at the apartment. I get to watch the kids play together. We always have a tea party!

 When we stay home, I try to get back into our "school time" routine while brother sleeps. I brought a few things when I knew we needed to relax and not be on the go. Here Alohi is doing letter finds with simple magnetic letters.  I have a running check list of the alphabet and mark keep checks on the ones she is able to identify without any help. So far we has 12 out of the 26 master (I only did 12 letters the first day because it can take about 5 minutes).  Here she is finding the letter P for Po'okela or Papa.

 Play time together... Alohi can get into the smallest of places!

 And I sometimes find her in bed with her brother... I try not to let this happen because then they don't sleep so well.  He thinks it is funny... but I think in this picture she had dropped a doll behind packnplay, so was trying to get it.

 Then we have dates with this little man... Mason Reeves.  I got to watch Mason one day while his mommy and daddy got into a jam with work. Alohi and Mason get along so well!! I am sure his mommy and I wouldn't complain if in the future they got together... but I won't marry her off yet!

 Yep... another date with Mason! Here they are being supervised by Po'okela! He is making sure nothing fishy happens!

 A random Sam's trip! Man I miss Sam's... In Nebraska, we drive 1 1/2 hours to get to one and here in Oklahoma I can get to 3 within 20 minutes (and that is me driving to the farthest one!!).  The little old ladies love feeding these two during sample time! Free lunch anyone?!?!

 And to leave the randomness is.... Po'okela who has learned to "crawl" or better described as drag your legs behind you and pull with your arms.  He find himself in unusual spaces now.

Sorry... I couldn't bring myself to leave the last picture of screaming Po'okela! Here is a more peaceful picture of the two kids. Sleeping in their carseats with all the crazy running around, fun things, random things we have been blessed to do during our time here in OKC!

And I just counted... We have about 3 weeks left before we head back to our home in Nebraska... Bittersweet times again!

Po'okela 9 Month & Alohi 3 Year Pixs

I was so happy to be able to get together with our neighbors, who's husband is an amazing photographer and his sidekick wife who does great with kids for pictures.  Unfortunately with the move I never got Po'okela's 6 month pictures done, but I keep telling myself the moments I have been able to capture at home won't ever compare.  Here's the link to check them out!! And now the directions to find them... click on the link, then go to the tab captured memories, then families, and find Kocher Family.

I keep going back to them and looking at them!!

If you are in need of a photographer... Please check out Jeff and Syndi's site!!!
Capture1000words
http://www.capture1000words.com/