Friday, November 8, 2013

Coffee Date Friday



Happy Friday, Lovelies!  I’m so glad that we’re back to having our coffee sessions; it’s been a while, no?  

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that…

…Pumpkin Spice Lattes no longer tickle my fancy.  I was totally obsessed last year but that could have been because I was growing a human.  I’m now back to my usual iced caramel macchiato.

…I’m sick of the visiting germ squad.  We’ve been sick 4 times since we’ve moved here.  What the what?  Could it be the change in environment, the fact that we’re always on the go, or maybe because Radical #1 is in school and he’s more exposed to other kids?  Do other parents of school-aged kids experience sickness this much?  Sheesh.

…I’m almost finished unpacking.  I know it’s been over a month but trying to unpack and organize with banshees is not fun.

…I'm slowly getting acclimated to our new lifestyle.  Haha!  I make it sound like we’ve turned into Monks or something.  We went from being at home 99.9% of time to not being home 99.9& of the time.  We’re always on the go.  I’m glad Radical #3 doesn’t give me that much of a hard time for being stuck in his car seat all the time.

…Is it just me or do y’all get excited every time you see the red cups from Starbucks?  It’s just me isn’t it?  Hmph.

…Radical #1 lost his first tooth and I wish I had the same Tooth Fairy.  She left him $5.  $5?  Shoot, l got like a quarter or sometimes she didn't even come at all.




…I’m so glad to be back home closer to these people…




Anyway, enough about me.  How are you doing?  How has your week been?  Any plans for the long weekend? 

Jenn.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Since I've been gone...

…I’ve felt every emotion known to mankind.  Cray-cray as I’ve demonstrated in my first sentence.  Happy, sad, frustrated, afraid, paranoid, anxious…you get the drift.

It’s not surprising that I went MIA once again so I’m not even going to bother saying I’m sorry.  I did miss you though.  I have a lot of catching up to do since I’ve been computer-less since the middle of August.  That’s not completely true-I had it, I just never had the time to stop and think.  And breathe.

Anyway, since I’ve been gone…

…we’ve moved to the other side of the island!  Ahhh, Home Sweet Home. 

Kailua-Kona, HI. I used to live here! ;-)
via

…the Starbuck addict has resumed her addiction.  No bueno.

…Radical #1 started Kindergarten.  And of course mom of the year didn’t get a picture because it just happened so fast.

…I pulled off my SIL’s baby shower amongst all the moving chaos.  It turned out great even though some details were missing.  I’ll be honest, I silently freaked out.

…I did my SIL’s maternity shoot.  Not too shabby for someone who doesn’t know what she’s doing.



…my SIL gave birth.

…the neighbor’s shenanigans have gotten worse.  In a nutshell, he’s filed harassment and assault charges against me.  The crazy old bat maced the Mister.  He’s filed other ridiculous charges against me including remotely tapping his phone lines.  We moved to the other side of the island to get away from them and they still find a way to harass us.  They must love me.

…we celebrated my nephew’s 1st birthday.



…we celebrated Radical #2’s 4th birthday with bowling and the arcade.  He had a blast!  And of course, mom of the year has no pictures.

…we celebrated his birthday again on the Atlantis Submarine.  I survived.  It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be for claustrophobic me.



…we had a surprise party for my dad’s 67th birthday.  Haha!  Just kidding, although he didn’t find the whole 67 thing funny.



…oh, and I can’t forget about the Mister receiving his Captain’s license!  I’m so proud of him.  And it’s his fault that we don’t have pictures.  He thought I was making a big deal by bringing my camera so he made me leave it in the car.  Party-pooper.

Life has been busy and it’s been quite the adjustment but in the end we’re all happy. 


Now, if I could just finish unpacking and organizing my house…

Jenn.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

They can have their cake and eat it too.

Good morning, lovelies!

Remember how I keep saying that I’m going to do an update on my crazy neighbors?  Well, I wanted to give you the 411 in chronological order but yesterday’s fiasco with them just baffles me.  And I need to share.  I already knew he was crazy but yesterday his delusional-ness topped the delusional cake.

The Radicals and I were having a good day yesterday.  The Mister came home pretty early from fishing.  He and his fishing partner (we’ll just call him R) cleaned up and cut up some fish, and we all hung out for a bit.  Oh and, the Mister and I just started speaking to each other after 4 days because of last Thursday’s fiasco with the crazy people.  It was a good afternoon but it was time for R to leave.  We say our good-byes.  I hear him drive off, stop, and then come back thinking he forgot something.  But he stops in front of the neighbor’s house. 

Oh man.

As R was driving away, the neighbor called him out and was just acting like a fool.  I sprint it up there and just in time to hear the neighbor yell to R “you tell her to prove that she has a 3rd baby!”  Just when I thought it couldn’t get any more absurd, he busts out that line.  What the what?  How the eff is that relevant?  And if I do prove it, will he stop harassing me?  I mean, for the love of goat cheese somebody pinch me because I feel like I’m in the damn twilight zone.

So I start snapping and of course the neighbor does what does best-runs away.  Coward.  He loves to talk his poo and taunt me but as soon as I react, he runs away telling me “C’mon, trespass onto my property!”  Then his mom comes out and gets in my face.  She pushes me and then whacks me in my face. 

Everything went in slow motion as I was having a conversation with my two other selves.  You know the ones; the good one and the not-so-good one that sit on your shoulders whispering the right from wrong to you.  Of all times, y’all have to show up now?  The not-so-good one is all ooohh, there’s your reason to wail on her and the good one is all no, no, no…she’s a little old lady and what if you start and can’t stop and she gets hurt.  What if she falls and hits her head and really gets hurt.  How will you feel after wailing on her?  You’ll have to live with that for the rest of your life.  If you’re going to fight; fight fairly and this clearly is not fair because she’s a little old lady!  Damn you!  Sometimes I hate that I have morals.

Be wise enough to walk away quote via www.IamPoopsie.com
via

I walked away. 

I hate living here.  Day in and day out I have conversations with myself about being the better person and ignoring them.  Kind of hard when they constantly taunt me.  Sorry moms, I know we had a deal to take care of your house but it ain’t worth it.  I’m either going to end up in jail or in a body bag.  These people are not worth it.



We out….


Jenn.

Monday, July 22, 2013

Hello Monday...



Hello!  I normally like to post in the AM so this post is super late.  But at least it’s still Monday, right?  I’m linking up with Lisa Leonard and saying hello to…

` My blog.  My poor, neglected blog.  I haven’t forgotten about you, I’ve just been busy with a baby, a toddler, and a preschooler.  Don’t feel bad, my house and the Mister have been neglected too.  I’ve been trying but the days keep flying by.

` Cleaning my house.  Oh my word, it’s been months that I’ve been taunted by my house.  Day in and day out I can faintly hear clean and organize me please

` Laundry.  I have no problem washing; it’s just the folding and putting away that makes me cringe.

` Being so confused with GFC.  I thought it was going away as of July 1st and I also thought that the blogs I follow wouldn’t be on available through my Blogger feed?  I tested GFC and I can still follow blogs through it.  And blogs are still showing up on my dashboard.  Oy.  I’m so confused.  Maybe I’m not understanding correctly.  Anyone want to school me on this? 

` More outside time with the Radicals regardless of the crazy people next door.

` More overnight fishing trips and being okay with it.

` A lady bug themed baby shower.  My SIL asked me to do her baby shower and by the time I’m done, I’ll have lady bugs coming out of my eyeballs.  Wait, I didn’t tell you that I’m going to be an auntie again.  Oh my, that’s how long I’ve been away from Blogland.  My youngest brother and his other half are having a baby.  Not only is it a baby, it’s a baby girl.  I’m so ecstatic!  Thank goodness because we have too much dingalings running around.  Ha!

`Working AC in the car.  WA-to-the-HOO!!!  Oh man, it was miserable.

`A positive and productive week!

How is it that July is almost over?  Didn’t we just welcome July?



What are you saying hello to this week?


Jenn.

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Thursday Randoms

Morning!  My apologies for leaving you hanging again but we got a visit from the germ squad.  They came unannounced and BAM! Kicked me in the bottom.  Last week I was finally feeling better and BAM!  I tweeked my back.  How?  I guess I’m getting old and crawling on the ground to motivate Radical #3 to follow was not in my cards.  Other than that I’ve been nurturing my neglected house and playing catch up.  And since my brain is scattered, how’s about a round of randoms?

` Blinky (that’s his name, right?) from Lilo & Stitch makes me happy.  I bust-a-gut laughing whenever the movie is on which is every other day.  I don’t even have to be watching it; just hearing his voice makes me laugh.

` KitKat minis.  I’ve been waiting for you!  I’ll admit that I ate the whole entire bag in 2 days.

` Call me cheap but I refuse to pay almost $8 for a box of cereal.  If I’m paying that price, it better be made of gold or give the Radicals the “listen all the time” power.

` A house is going up across the street.  Is it horrible of me to hope that the crazy people next door will bother them instead of us?  Or maybe the craziness will stop completely.  An update post is coming on them.  Pinky promise.

` I’m having a hell of a time getting all the necessary documents together so the Radicals can go to school.  I’m about to throw in the towel.

` I have this cousin who knows just about everything and I’m always trying to find something that he doesn’t know.  Well, that day finally came…he didn’t know “cul-de-sac” had hyphens.  Ha!  He’ll never live it down.  Don’t worry, you’re pretty-I love you.

` I have a lot of projects on my to do want to do list.  I’m just blurting it out.  I’m thinking that by blurting it out, I’m one step closer to actually doing them.



Any randoms y’all want to share with me?  
Jenn.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Taula'i: 1-5 months

Don’t worry!  I’m only posting a couple of highlights for each month so I’m not blogging your eyes off for days hours.  I’m posting this today because my little Radical will be 6 months in 3 days; EEK!




I month:
` Took your 1st road trip to visit Ama and Papa.
` Went to the beach.



2 months:
` Started sleeping through the night.  Hallelujah!
` Switched to formula; this made you more happy and content.  I was sad and beat myself up over it but that’s for another post.



3 months:
` Experienced your first Merrie Monarch week.  You loved all the attention.
` Had your first taste of poi.  Your daddy just couldn’t wait…



4 months:
` Went on your 1st plane ride to visit Nana and the rest of the family on O’ahu. 
` Started rolling over.  You gave me a mini heart attack when I woke up one morning to find you on your tummy.  Thanks for the adrenaline rush at 5am.  I was definitely wide awake after that.




5 months:
` You’re worming your way to your toys or to whatever catches your eye.
` Your 1st tooth is making an appearance.
` You love to sleep with your face down.  You get mad every time I turn your head and as soon as I walk away, you resume the face down position. I’m not sure why you do this but it makes me paranoid.

You love your brothers and the attention they give you.  They come to your rescue with every little peep you make.  They love to make you laugh and they love to cuddle with you.  You can’t wait to get in on the action but for now you’re stuck on my lap watching them, squealing in delight at everything they do.

Happy Saturday, friends!
Jenn.

Friday, June 28, 2013

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Coffee Date : I'm Still Alive



Good morning, Lovelies!  I’m linking up with Alissa over at Rags to Stitches for Coffee Date Friday.  Wanna join me?

If we were having coffee, you would probably tell me “it’s about darn time!” to which I’d reply “I know, right?!”  Shoot, life’s been chaos busy.  I seriously forgot what life was like with a baby; they gotta eat, they cry, they gotta be carried and cuddled and loved.  It’s been non-stop from one Radical to the next and sometimes I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread.  I’ve been in my own world trying to survive life with 3 Radicals and man oh man; time totally flew by like it’s nobody’s business.  Can you believe we’re 2 days away from July?  Holy cow!



If we were having coffee, I’d tell that I have so much to tell you.  Haha!  I guess I would start with how we had to postpone our move (with tears in my eyes).  Moving cost money and it never fails that when we’re almost there…something happens that involves spending money.  The truck broke, the boat broke, a family reunion, and the list goes on.

Are y’all wondering why the heck do we have a boat when we’re trying to save money?  In my dysfunctional brain, a boat = leisure time.  Well, if we were having coffee I’d tell you that the boat is our income.  And the source of my irritation.  I’m just kidding.  Or maybe not.  Anyway, now that the boat (and truck) is up and running, the overnight trips have returned.  It’s bittersweet.  Great on the making/saving money; not so great when the Mister is gone for days.  Hmph.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that Radical #1 starts Kindergarten this year.  I was doing great emotionally until I went to get his application.  My anxiety returned with a vengeance as soon as I walked out of the office.  I was having hot flashes and all.  And I’m now finding every excuse not complete it. 



If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that I’m so excited to go home for the 4th of July.  I cannot wait.  I haven’t seen my parents since Mother’s Day.  That’s a long time.

If we were having coffee, I’d tell you that Radical #3 will be 6 months in 4 days.  6 months?  I’d tell you that I feel guilty for not doing his monthly updates.  I’d tell you that because I don’t want to blog your eyeballs off, I’m hoping to get his 1-5 month highlights post up tomorrow.  Keyword: hoping.  Haha!



If we were having coffee, I’d ask you how the heck you’ve been.  What have you been up to?  How’s life?

Jenn.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Coffee Date Friday :: 5 Things You May Not Know About Me


Happy Friday, Lovelies!  Our little family got a visit from the germs last week so we’re still trying to re-coop.  Actually, this is the second visit from them and I’m hoping and crossing my fingers that they leave soon and don’t come back for a really long time.  Even the wee one is sick, poor guy!  If I have another baby, remind me to plan around cold season.  Haha, I probably just gave my MIL a mini heart attack.  Just kidding moms!  But no, really.  No fun having a baby during cold season.

Anyway, I’m joining Alissa for Coffee Date Friday today and I’m going to tell you 5 things you may not know about me….dun, dun, duuun…

They make my heart sing

#1 I always have to drink with a straw with the exception of bottled water.  And wine.  And if no straw is available, whatever I’m drinking tastes funny.  I don’t know what it is but it just tastes so much better with a straw.

#2 If I have a goal, like if I want to lose weight, I have to start my goal on a Monday.  It can’t be on a Tuesday or some other day of the week.  It has to be on a Monday.  Don’t ask.  I have no idea why I do that.

#3 Alissa told us about her Hawaiian name so with me also being part Hawaiian and from Hawaii, it sparked a thought about my name.  It’s not even Hawaiian although some people will argue with me that it is.  “Neola” (the youthful one) is actually Greek.  Sounds Hawaiian but it’s not.

#4 Um…I hate massages.  I don’t like people touching me.  I mean, I can handle hugging and handshakes but other than that, I don’t like people touching me.  Hmmm, said the person with three kids…

#5 Oh, my dad adopted me when I was…6? I don’t remember how old I was.  Although we don’t share DNA, he raised and loved me as his own.  He is and always will be my “daddy.”

Good gosh, that was hard.  So there you have it.  5 things you didn’t know about me.  And now you know too much.  Haha!

So, tell me how you have been?  Did you have a great week?  How was your love day?  Wanna tell me 5 things I don’t know about you?  C’mon, spill the beans.

Happy Weekend Eve, friends!
Jenn.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Things don't always go as planned.


Hey lovelies!  Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Happy February!  Sheesh.  I know, I know…I always go MIA on y’all but this time?  This time my world was flipped upside down and I’m slowly making my way back. 

Side note: Sorry in advance for blogging your eyeballs off my first time back in 2 months.

Let’s rewind for a bit back to December 28th, shall we?  I was determined to ring in the New Year with a clean and organized house.  I was 37 weeks pregnant (I know, total fail on the bump updates!) and in pain.  Incision pains to be more specific.  My doctor told me at every appointment that I needed to let him know if I had any incision pains but my definition of pain was if I felt like I was dying and dying I was not.  So the stubborn person that I am kept on pushing to get my house cleaned.  I would just take a break when the pain was really sore and start again when it subsided.

On top of cleaning and organizing my house, I planned to finish prepping for Radical #3.  I had the bulk of everything washed and put away so I just had to tie up some loose ends.  Loose ends also included purchasing some last minute items.  Anyhoo, with the pain, trying to clean, and tending to the Radicals, I was over it and convinced myself to finish the following week since I had 2 more weeks until birth day. 

We went home for New Year’s Eve and the pain was still clinging to me.  I had planned to get my shopping done since my mom would be with me but I was over it once again.  My mom said to give her my list and she would do it for me.  But again, my stubborn self told her that since I had a doctor’s appointment the following Wednesday, I would wrap up everything then.

I survived New Years. 

The plan for Wednesday, January 2nd, was to get through my appointment, finish up my shopping, and then come home and finish up my cleaning, organizing, taking down the Christmas décor, and to finish prepping for Radical #3.  My appointment was at 10am, I was running late (story of my life), and I didn’t have time to get my Starbucks.  No biggie.  I could get my fix after my appointment.  I go in and do the normal weight check and yada-yada.  We also schedule my c-section for January 16th.  The nurse asked if I was having any incision pain so I told her “yeah, a little here and there since last Friday.”  The doctor comes in a gives me a lecture on how important it is to let him know and gives me background on what could go wrong.  He lays me down and gently presses on my incision and my flinch and “ouch” leads to his response of “I’m taking this baby out today!” 

What?!  I asked him if I could go home and finish cleaning and laundry first.  True story.  Haha!

He told me to get dressed and meet the nurse in the interview room to get my paperwork completed.  I went numb and felt like I was in the twilight zone.  As the nurse was doing my paperwork I tried to get a hold of the Mister who was (insert sarcasm) conveniently at a playground with the Radicals in a no cell service zone.  I turned into a texting maniac and texted my parents and the BFF who (insert sarcasm again) conveniently lived 2.5 hours away.  I made my dad crazy when I wouldn’t answer my phone and when I finally called him back he asked where the Mister was.  I told my dad about the no cell service crap; thanks Verizon, no I cannot hear you now! 

It was 11:30am and I was due up at the hospital at 1pm.  My dad and I planned to keep calling the Mister for another 20 minutes or so.  20 minutes came and went and still no answer from the Mister.  My dad decided to send an officer to the location where the Mister was.  I told him not to because how embarrassing is that?  Then I gave in because this baby was coming whether I liked it or not.  Not that I wasn’t excited to meet him, I just had a bit more “nesting” to finish.  Sometimes having a dad in law enforcement has its perks.

In the meantime, I was debating whether to get my shopping done now with the hour I had to kill.  I was bummed because I couldn’t have my Starbucks fix or eat anything so I sat in my car to get my head together.  I didn’t have my hospital bag packed and there was no sense in driving home because I only had about 45 minutes left.  So I decided to go visit a friend until it was hospital time.  I was surprisingly the calm one in the midst of all the “chaos.”

The Mister finally calls and asks if I’m okay because the officer told him I was in labor.  It reminded me of the “telephone exercise” we used to do in elementary school; the final message does not match the initial message.  I told him I had to be at the hospital by 1pm and we were doing the c-section at 3pm and he said he would be there asap.

I got to the hospital and they got me into a room to start prepping me.  I was amazed at how fast 2 hours went by and as “go time” was approaching, I started to get nervous.  The Mister wasn’t there and my parents were on the road and there was no way they would make it by 3pm.  That meant I would be by myself during my c-section because the Mister had to stay with the Radicals.  

There I was outside of the surgery room.  There was no turning back.  No pausing time.   I was on the verge of a tear-fest because everything was going by so fast and I had to do it alone so I tuned everyone out.  We finally get into the surgery room and I get numbed up.  The curtain goes up.  I hear my doctor and another doctor talking about hospital policies while they are snipping away and pulling at me.  The anesthesiologist is telling me about her car being at the shop, the mechanic is not calling her back, and she needs it to pick up some friends at the airport.  I kept asking myself if they were done yet/how long is this going to take while trying to keep up with the car conversation and at 3:26pm I finally got to meet Radical #3.

 Mark-Simiona Taula’i Lagunte
6lbs 5oz 19in





We’re all doing good and slowly getting back into a routine.  Hopefully once that happens, I get can back into the blogging groove. 

Happy Wednesday!
Jenn.