Turkey pumpkins and what I'm thankful for

Happy Thanksgiving week!  Do you ever say things like “Thanksgiving is next week!” and in the following sentences you say stuff like “and such and such will be up on the blog?” But it doesn’t really sink in that it’s really Thanksgiving week until two days before Thanksgiving.  I’m one of those people who say stuff like that not really thinking about it and then panics because I now realize how much shit needs to be done and blogging is put on the back burner once again.

Sorry for the crappy pictures but here’s the Radicals turkey pumpkins we made a couple (or maybe one) of weeks ago.  We got these pumpkins the weekend before Halloween and I didn’t want to just throw it out because they were still good.  I thought it was a fun project but the Radicals gave up two minutes into cutting out the pieces.  In the end I was the one who cut them out and they got to color and stick the pieces onto the pumpkin.  Here’s the link if you want to try it out next year.

We have a busy week so I probably won’t be back until next week.  Me and my big Betty Crocker mouth thought it was a grand idea to make pumpkin pies and cookies and now?  I’m kicking myself because 1) I’ve never made a pumpkin pie in my life and 2) I have so much stuff (like homework and laundry and cleaning) to complete before we leave on Thursday.  I’m praying for myself and for those who will eat the pies.  It can’t be that hard right?

And since I’ve been seeing the ‘What I’m Thankful For’ lists going around, I thought I’d say what I’m thankful for too.  Not to get off track or anything, but I want to work on being thankful every day, not just during this time of year.  I mean, I’m thankful every day but I don’t get all sappy like I do now.  Anyway, I’m thankful for…

…my Radicals.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they are my world.  If not for them, I wouldn’t be who I am today and I wouldn’t have learned all that they have taught me.  Love, patience, multi-tasking, how to open the eyeballs that has miraculously grown on the back of my head.

…the Mister.  Without him, I wouldn’t have Radicals and the fact that I know more about fishing than I’d actually like to know.  LOL! 

…the parentals.  Advice, guidance, and always being there for us.  Life lessons and the times I thought I was getting the crappy end of the stick which prompted the dramatic “my parents are soooo unfair!!!”

…my brothers.  They make my life that much more interesting.

…my besties.  We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and in the end, we still are besties that will grow old together hanging out in our rocking chairs on the front porch drinking our brew and shamelessly hollering and waving our canes at the luscious young eye candy that pass by.

…my Momo.  The sister I never had even though we rarely see each other.  I’m looking forward to the for real coffee dates and hang out sessions that will come soon.  Very, very soon.

this is the only picture we have together...

…the SIL.  Without her, I wouldn’t have my very first nephew.  And it’s like having another sister I never had.

w/Radical #2.  I don't have a picture of my nephew yet :(

 …the rain.  I’ve never been so grateful for rain until I moved here because it fills up my tank.

Okay, so this post was longer than I expected.  Sorry.  There is so much more I am thankful for but I'll be kind and stop now.  

I hope y’all have a Happy, Happy Thanksgiving.  Eat lots of yummy food.  Enjoy the time with your family and friends.

And we can’t forget my beloved Macy’s Day Parade!!!  I’m on a mission again to make it to Kona before it starts.  I just need to give the Mister a really good excuse as to why we have to leave before the crack of dawn.  I’ll be happy to be the driver while my family peacefully sleeps.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jenn.

12 weeks :: Pickles, nausea, & brain farts

Hi-dee-ho, friends!  I’m such a liar.  Or a procrastinator.  Or let’s just be honest here…I’m lazy.  I said last week that I’d see you next week which happens to be this week and well, the week is almost done and only now I’m checking in.

Okay, that long, run-on, no sense making sentence should prompt you that I’m not in the right frame of mind….but…

I’m sort of making an effort to do my bump updates.  It ain’t the best but I’m trying.

` I’m at 12 weeks.  Baby is the size of a lime.  Could that be why I’ve been such a sour puss lately?  Bwahahaha!  I crack myself up!  Anyhoo, I’m still uncomfortable with taking pictures of myself so I found this picture for you.  You're welcome.

 

via

` I lost 4 pounds.  What?  Where?  In my big toe?

` I got to listen to baby’s heartbeat on Tuesday!  According to the doc, baby was very active!

` I’m what I would call “good for nothing.”  Wait a minute…I feed and bathe the Radicals but that is all.  Other than that, I really am good for nothing.  It could be because I’m lazy and tired and everything I do makes my body ache like I just ran some marathon or worked out like a mad woman.  I’m so lazy that I can’t plug my camera into my computer to show you pictures of our family day we had last Sunday.  We went on the boat and took the Radicals fishing which brings me to my next point of being good for nothing…

` I’m nauseated.  All.day.long.  And while on the boat, I, the person who never gets sea sick, was sick as a dog.  So yeah, nauseated all day, every day.  That must be my bachi (sp?) aka karma for not having sympathy for people who tell me they’ve had morning sickness that lasted all day.  It’s not like I was all “suck it up!”  I just never understood.  Well now I understand completely.  It sucks.

` The nausea (and all the other different things) are making me think that this is going to be a girl.  Oh please, please, please be a girl.  Gunfunit (aka gosh darn it)!  This waiting is making me crazy anxious.

` I’m obsessed with pickles.  What the what?  I hate pickles and I always thought pregnant people were crazy for being obsessed with pickles!  I never understood!  Ah, bachi again…

` I’m also eating fruits and soup and veggie sandwiches. 

` I’m done with soda.

` I’ve slowed down on the candy and coffee…that is a shocker!

Those last 4?  Those are the other changes I’m talking about.  When I was preggers with the Radicals, I ate crap food every day all day.  Coffee, candy, and soda were my go-to, make me feel better things.  I was a very unhealthy eater and I drank way too much caffeine.  I was talking with my girlfriend last week telling her of all these changes.  I also told her that I was very proud of myself for cutting back on my coffee and she was all “what, you drank coffee while preggers?”  And I was all “yep, all day every day.” And she was all “wow, now I can see why your kids are the way they are!”

Oh, and I opted for a blueberry dream instead of Starbucks on Tuesday.  That’s another shocker!  Like who are you and where do you come from?!  No Starbucks?  That’s saying something a lot.  I realize that wasn’t the best choice for a fruit smoothie but it was better than a venti caramel frappuccino.  Times 2.

Oh, and I’ve been going back and forth regarding my major.  Why all of a sudden am I indecisive?  I’m studying accounting but now I’m thinking public relations.  Uh huh….me, the person who has become socially awkward since I moved here plus my “good for nothing” thing going on.  Sure Jenn.  It could be the hormones thinking.

Oh, aannnnnd! I promise this is the last of the “oh, ands”.  The Mister’s dad is visiting from O’ahu.  I stole some pictures of the Radicals from him and look at how small they were.  And look!  Radical #2 was bald!  That is so hard to picture now that he has a crazy afro-puff going on.

Okay, so it took me 3 hours to write this post.  Between the Radicals needing something and my brain farts, I hope I didn’t bore you.  I ain’t promising anything but I’ll try my hardest to get it together because I have lots to tell you.  But until then, wishing you a happy Thursday.  Or what’s left of it.

Peace out!

 Jenn.

Project: The Radicals' Room

Happy Wednesday!  I hope your week is going great!  So, I’m finally posting about the project that had me SO excited but then reality hit and well, I’m not SO excited anymore. 

Let’s do a little recap first, shall we?  Remember my complicated living situation?  I mentioned that the house we live in belongs to the Mister’s mom and we’re taking care of it until she decides to come back.  I also mentioned that the Radicals don’t have a room of their very own because all the other rooms are taken.  And that means they sleep in my room and I secretly thought that this would be the set up until they were teenagers.  Ugh. 

Anyway, while the Mister’s mom was home for Merrie Monarch week she told me she had a project for me to do and to start on it when I had time.  I immediately thought what more is there to do?  I already cleaned and re-organized the entire house.  Well, she gave me the green light to move all of her stuff in her room to the upstairs room.  And I can make her room the Radicals’ room.  What?!  Really?!  This is the room I’m working with…

I moved all of her stuff upstairs and started to move some of the Radicals’ things in there. 

**side note: I thought I took pictures of the room when it was empty but I’m not finding them. 

Anyway, the Radicals were pumped.  I was pumped.  Until…night time came and Radical #1 asked me if he could sleep in his room.  And that’s when reality set in.  I realized that I wasn’t ready for this.  I told him no and that he should just sleep in mommy’s room for tonight.  And then he cried and said “but mom, it’s my room!” 

There’s still a lot to do in there and I’m using that excuse as to why he can’t sleep in there yet.  I know, I’m so mean.  But there really is a lot more to do.  I can’t fit both of their beds in there so I’m still trying to figure that out.  The bed that is currently in there is a water bed and I’m not up to moving it myself.  And besides, I haven’t figured out where to put it because this house has too much furniture. 

I need closet doors.  I need storage and décor ideas.  They’ve never had their own space before and I want it to reflect them.  Am I being weird and over the top? 



this set up would be cute if I could fit 2 beds

Anyway, I’m still searching décor and storage ideas and I’ll let y’all know my progress…if I ever make any!  I’ll get over my attachment issues soon.  I think once their room is done and I’m happy with it, I’ll be more open to letting them sleep in there.  Maybe….

Are there any other moms out there who went through this or something similar?  Is it just me who had their kids sleep in my room since birth?  I’m thinking that I wouldn’t have these issues if they had their own room from the very beginning.  Anyway, feel free to give me any ideas or advice or if you feel the need to yell at me and tell me to get over my attachment issues, that’ll do too. 

To be continued…

Jenn.

Coconut Island

Hello, friends!  How are you on this fine Wednesday?  I hope all is well!

I got a message from the Mister’s cousin saying she’s was going to be in town on Tuesday and she wanted to see the Radicals.  Well, our visit took all of 30 seconds until she had to be back on the bus to finish their tour.  Her and her halau were on a cruise and they had a tight, strict schedule to stick to. 

Anyhoo, I decided to take the Radicals to Lili’uokalani Gardens to let them burn off their energy run around but when we got there I changed my mind and took them to Coconut Island. 

Do you know that I’ve lived on the east side for 7 years and I’ve never been to Coconut Island?  Lame, I know.  Wait, I went there when I was little but my memory bank doesn’t travel that far back so I consider this trip the first time. 

Even though the weather was cold and windy, I was in awe.  It was beautiful.  There’s a large grassy area for the Radicals to run loose.  Picnic tables.  Bathrooms.  The ocean.  Ugh, this place has been here forever and only now I’m bringing the Radicals here?  Well that’s about to change.  We will definitely be going back more often.  Enough with the talking writing, here’s some pictures of our mini adventure…sorry in advance for the picture overload!

It was a good day.

Jenn.

Lately...



Don’t mind my hideous pink carpet.  It was the trend back in the day ‘cause our house is not the only one with pink carpet!





yes, those big red boxes are my Christmas tree and décor.  I’m having a hard time putting them away.  If I ruled the world, I’d never take my decorations down.


This has been life in our household.  It has been chaos.  I don’t normally let it come to this but lately I’ve been shrugging it off.  That’s life and sometimes I need to let it go.  I look at this and think to myself how this needs to be cleaned pronto but lately I’d rather spend time with the radicals. 

Hearing “mom, can we read a book?” or “mom, come build a castle with us!” or “mom, can you troll my mote?”  Which translates to “mom, can you find my remote?” warms my heart.  Time has been going by so fast that I want to cherish these moments turning the “trolling his mote” into some kind of adventure.  I want to be present, mentally, as my little radicals are growing up.  I’ve wasted so much time in the past worrying about my to-do lists and planning ahead that I forgot to live in the moment.

Other than letting the mess go and spending some QT with the radicals, I’ve been working.  I have the pleasure of being a SAHM and working from home. 

It’s an eye-sore isn’t it?!  I know I need to get organized and I do have a hard time working in these conditions but for now, it’ll have to do. 

Oh and laundry, it never ends.  Although they still need to be folded and put away, at least they’re clean right?



Yep, that would be crayon on the wall behind him…


As long as the laundry is clean, my radicals are fed and bathed, and my attention is all theirs, everything else can wait for now. 

Life is good.

jenn

Is there something in the air?

Don’t let this picture fool you…

Because they have not been so cute lately.  It seems like they are becoming more and more rotten as the days go on.  Lately, taking them out in public has been difficult.  I don’t know where this came from.  They were fine before but now, I dread it. This is all new to me and dealing with their attitude is the pits. 

They are total beeshes!

Since when did they think they can get something every time we go to the store?  And since when did they think that they can start whining and screaming when they don’t get something?  This is what’s been happening lately and when this shiz goes down, I start to have hot flashes and all I want to do is beat spank them.  But we are in public and some people around me feel the need to look at me in disbelief and shake their head.  It’s one of those “damn if you do, damn if you don’t” kind of things.  You scold/spank them and people do the head shaking or say “they’re just kids!” or if you don’t do any form of discipline then you get the looks like “control your kids!” 

But I find that spanking them only makes it worse so instead of spanking them I will tell them, in my firmest tone possible, that we are here to get only the things we need and the way they are acting is inappropriate behavior.  Then I make a mad dash for the items I need and we are rapidly out of there.  I’m finding that this approach is slowly working and the whines and screaming are stopping faster.

I hope this is just a phase and it will go away pronto because this new form that they both took on is wigging me out.  Any other mamas out there have or had the same issue?  Is this normal for a 2 and 3 year old?  Or, is it the store’s air that makes them transform into something of a different kind (haha!)

jenn