Getting Ready for the Baby!!!

Only 3 weeks to go!!! Mark took these pictures of me after we got back from a morning walk. I have just a few weeks left so I decided to remodel some of my furniture and organize my home.

Another Cast!!!

Wihin a few days after getting his cast, Henry started playing around with it. I took Henry in for a check up after having broke his arm and my doctor immediately noticed that his cast was too loose. The doctor immediately sent us to the Orthopedic Surgeon to reset his cast. Henry's cast was too loose and his bones were not setting right, so Ortho Doc let henry pick out a color and then they set a new cast. Here is a look at Henry's new cast...it has already been autographed by all his little friends.

The reason you should come visit...

Over the last year and a couple months that we have lived here I have heard the phrase, "oh, we will come visit when we save up enough money..." blah blah blah. I have even noticed the cheap ticket sales to hawaii for 299 round trip from various locations in the US, including Utah. Well, the door is always open and today I thought I would add another reason for you to consider coming to visit us.
On Sunday night, my back went out (pregnancy nerve problems) and George got sick. Because I couldn't even walk, Mark had to get up 4 times from 3:30 am to 5:30 am to clean up mass amounts of vomit. It wasn't until the 3rd puking that I thought I would tell Mark it might be a wise idea to give George a bowl so Mark doesn't have to keep changing his bedding, washing the wall, the floor and the rails of the bunk bed. Needless to say, Mark was exhausted, and I was not any help, so he decided to call in to work. We decided to all sleep in Monday morning; however, we woke up to the sound of our doorbell ringing a few times.
It was our neighbor Kekoa, George's primary teacher. He came to let George know that there were Manta Ray swimming out in the bay behind our home (literally our back yard). So we all hopped out of bed and ran out to the beach. It was the most beautiful sight, the sun coming up, lighting the aqua marine water to show a mother Manta Ray and her Baby playing around in the waves. They were only at most 10 feet from the shore!!! Wish you could have seen it with us...luv erin

Bumps and Bruises...and BrOKeN bOnES!!!

Did I tell you that I recieved the Mother of the Year award? hahahaha...well Today for sure I was placed in the running for it. About 3:00 this afternoon, Henry was running around the house wildly, playing chase with George, and George's friend David. Henry decided to take a flying leap off the landing from the entry way into the living room. Although the drop is only about 3 1/2 to 4 feet, Henry landed awkwardly and then rolled onto his arm.
I knew instantly that he was hurt because he let out a whimpering, moaning cry...(not one I have heard very often in his lifetime). But his injury combinded with his not having a nap today, turned him into a crying, sobbing, whining boy. I tried to find out where he hurt for about 30 minutes, but he refused to tell me, so I just sat him on the couch and let him watch a show...which he then told me he was bored and blamed me for his ultimate boredom. At this point I figured He had just bumped himself too hard and he was over it. Henry was back to his "No Nap" self. So I sent him off to his room to get a book or a toy.
20 minutes later I realized that he hadn't come back from his room and so I went to check on him. I found him laying on his bed fast asleep. Well my suspicion was confirmed, he was only tired and only mildly hurt from his fall.
After he took a 2 hour nap he came and found me in the living room. Although the tears were gone, I noticed that he wouldn't use his left arm. At this point I felt prompted...by my Mom...to take him to the ER.
Once we arrived at the ER, I explained to the doctor that he wouldn't use his arm at all and he was in pain. But to my surprise, when the doctor asked to move his hand around, wave, touch his nose, turn his arm from side to side, he did it all without hesitation. At this point I felt embarssed that I had probably overreacted by bringing him into the ER. But, as I contemplated just apologizing for the false alarm, and sweeping him out of the ER, the doctor lightly pinched the sides of his arm. When the doctor touched a small spot an inch below his wrist, Henry shook and burst into tears again. 30 minutes, and 4 x-rays later, the doctor confirmed that Henry broke his RADUIS clean in half! I couldn't believe it...but I guess from now on I need to listen to my boys a little more.

(Here is sad Henry, recounting where he jumped from and where he hurt his arm)

Labor Day BBQ

If you live in Hawaii, you probably came over to my house today to go to the beach. The weather was perfect, only a few clouds in the sky and the waves were starting to get big enough to ride. Since we moved in a week ago, I decided to invite friends and family over for a Labor day BBQ. Mark and I woke up early and organized the house and the back yard so there would be towels and a place for people to wipe their feet off. The great thing about this house is there is an outside shower so sand doesn't get tracked into the house. Quite a few people showed up and we had a great pot luck BBQ. We started around noon and there were people here until six! George and I just got a little tan, while Mark and Henry were a little pink by the end of the day". I spent most of the time floating around in the waves. While Mark took a break from the beach to play ball with George and Henry. Sorry I forgot to pull out the camera, but I hope your Labor day was great too!

My friend Sarah, a teacher at the high school I taught at, and her sister Rachel, decided to throw me a baby shower. I was so grateful to them, because I hadn't expected a baby shower with my third boy and I had already recieved some wonderful gifts from my great Pleasant Grove Wives Club. I have to say that I am just so thankful for these wonderful women that are such good friends. In fact, I am so lucky to have such amazing, special, talented and great-hearted friends here and in Utah!
I just wanted to say thanks to all my friends on this blog and share a typical "my life" story...

Saturday night, I got ready and put on make-up for the first time in a couple weeks. It seems like such a task to look good when you are enormously pregnant. My cousins Anela and Sarah went with me to the baby shower and when we arrived I was so over-joyed because my friend Sara had bought me a beautiful full orchid rolled lei for my baby shower! The lei just lifted my spirits and made me feel prettier than I had been feeling in quite some time. Well, after the shower started, and all the women were sitting around talking I moved in my seat just a little to talk to a girl sitting next to me (Nadia) when all of a sudden, my self esteem was dashed to pieces...the chair underneath me collapsed to the floor...it had broken in half with the weight of my pregnant body!!! Everyone in the shower stopped talking and just stared...I think everyone was stunned and noone knew exactly what to say. So I just started laughing and then everyone at the shower started laughing and we all had probably a 10 minute laugh of hysterics. So just as a word of encouragement to others, if you are feeling large and uncomfortable with your body, just think, it could be worse, you could be breaking chairs like me!

(Here are some great gals from Hawaii, the famous Carol F., Joni, Jackie, Me, Robin and Sophia)

(My cousin is the far left, Sarah who threw the shower is next to her, she is holding a baby girl, Mariko, in the middle, is the baby's mother and a teacher from the high school, and then Tara and Pualei are in my single mother's club)....(OH, I am not single, but since Mark is gone from Mon-Fri and I only see him on the weekends, I sometimes feel like a single mother)

We Have Moved!!!

This is a picture of the extra bedroom...or the baby's bedroom. (My Mom made the quilt and gave it to me for my birthday).

This is a picture of the beach access from our dining room.
Here is a picture of the master bedroom. Around the corner to the right is the bathroom.
Here is a picture of the boy's room. My mom also made the quilt that you see hanging on the wall.











We finally found an place to rent that isn't tooooo (relatively speaking) outrageous for rent or too ghetto! I will be sending out our new address through e-mail. If you don't get it, I might not have your e-mail address correct, so just e-mail me to let me know if you got it or not.

The following are pictures of our new apartment. Our apartment is actually a duplex down on Kam. Hwy. We are right on the ocean and we have a great view of Temple beach from our dining room. Our new place has 3 1/2 bedrooms (the 1/2 is a loft space that is the size of a bedroom, but has no door) and 2 bathrooms. Although this townhouse is quite a bit bigger than our last apartment, it lacks storage space, so we are creatively trying to figure that one out. I have been recently informed that some of the airlines are having great deals on tickets to Hawaii, so if you want to come and stay the invitation is open, just let us know you are coming...and pack your bug spray (there seems to be a slight cockaroach and ant problem in this place. Last night Mark and I killed 5 2 1/2 inch to 3 inch cockaroaches and a million ants. Part of the home isn't sealed very well, so the bugs and other "friends" are finding their way in...but we are working on it.

Curious George Goes to School!!!

The night before George's first day at kindergarten, he could hardly sleep! He had talked about what kindergarten would be like, a day full of games, playing and making new friends. I was pretty confident that George would walk into his kindergarten classroom and find immediate friends without even saying goodbye to me. Unfortunately things didnt happen that way.
George walked right up to Mrs. Siazon's kindergarten classroom and then stopped dead in his tracks. He froze like a little otter pop. The fear of a new situation gripped him and Mark and I had to coax him into the room. (Henry had no problem walking right in and looking around at all the colorful toys and pictures) George's shy side emerged as the teacher talked to him and tried to introduce him to other kids.
Mark decided to leave to make the transition go smoother, but that only caused a waterfall of tears...first from George then from me. (I couldn't believe that I started to cry, I was so embarassed that I had to hide it...its all those pregnancy hormones). It took about 30 minutes until George felt comfortable enough that I could leave. He was partnered up with another little 5 year old that wasn't having quite as hard of a time.
AT the end of the day, George decided that he did like Kindergarten. He got to eat in the lunch room and he made some new friends.

GROWING

I am just getting Bigger and Biggger and Bigger! Well I only have 8 weeks left! Here are a few pictures I finally downloaded from this summers trip to Washington state. Since coming back to Hawaii, we have been so busy looking for another apartment that we haven't taken many pictures. Here are my two Pregnancy pictures, these will have to do. By the way, wouldn't it be great if every store had an Expectant Mother's Parking and not just the walmart in Ephrata Washington...because really, how often do you think that Ephrata spot is used?

While I was in Utah, I did have a chance to go to my 10 year high school reunion. While I was there I ran into some good friends from high school. Tiffany (Tessem) Benedict and her husband Jason, Alecia (fielding) Bales, Rebecca Miller, Jana BulkleyWent, Aubrie Gerun Ivie, and Nichole Herndon Teemant. It was really fun to catch up with everyone and see what they are doing now. I also saw Kami Chesnut and Nikky Christofferson, but they snuck away before I could get a picture with them. And I was really sad that Carolyn Walker Kunic decided not to come to the renion. At the reunion we watched a silly picture slide show, listened to music from our era and ate a great dinner. I was suprised to recieve the expecting mother award...I guessed they were suprised that a pregnant person would come. What a blast to the past...it is a good thing I am nothing like I was in high school...wink wink. hahahaha

Long time no Write!!!

Mark's photo talented brother, took this picture of me and the boys just before we returned from Utah.

Ok, I know that I haven't written for a long time, and really I don't have a good excuse. But since my last blog our little family has done quite a bit.

1. Mark continued taking classes through spring and summer term for his MBA.
2. Erin found out she was having her third boy. OH WHAT JOY!!!
3. Erin, George and Henry nearly died at the Pheonix Airport when Henry and Erin tumbled down a two flight escalator. George stayed at the top and cried from fright.
4. Erin, George and Henry traveled to Utah and spent 5 weeks with Grandma and Grandpa Calabio.
5. Erin walked two miles every day in the Utah Heat Wave to take the boys to swimming lessons.
6. Mark took up knocking on doors to find another place for our family to live in Hawaii...our contract ended in July and our landlord did not renew because his sister is going to be moving in.
7. Erin, George and Henry traveled with Grandma and Pokey Joe (Grandpa Calabio) to Washington to see the Pughs...Leslie and family.
8. Erin, George and Henry returned to Hawaii...with 2 weeks left to find a new place to live.
9. George started up at Laie Elementary as a kindergarten student.
10. Erin has spent the last couple weeks occupying space in the Tueller's Home (a family that used to live in Utah by the Calabios, but now lives in Laie) because they have air conditioning.

That is my top ten list of the exciting things that have happened since I have last blogged. If you have noticed that sometimes I don't answer my phone, or I dont call back, please dont feel bad, remember..."It's not you, its me." I will try to post pictures of our trip to Utah and my expanding body. I will keep you updated on our quest to not be homeless, George and Henry's discoveries, and Mark's rollercoaster ride through graduate school, the changing work field and on to PHD school.
Sorry for the long hiatus....luv Erin

Memorial Day at Castles Beach

For Memorial Day, our family spent the day at Castles Beach Park. Castles is only a few minutes from where we live; it has a smooth sandy shore and small waves. We spent the day boogie boarding, bbq-ing, playing in the sand and Surfing. Mark helped the boys catch a few waves on the boogie board, and by the end of the day George was taking the boogie board out on his own. Henry caught a few waves, but spent most of the day making sand balls with Klailea Bennet (Rachel's daughter) in the sand.
I am about 5 months pregnant, so I figured I have about one month more of time that I can still take out the surf board, so I went surfing. I stayed out for an hour or so but my balance isn't so good so I kept falling off. I finally convinced Mark to take out my board and he paddled around for a little, but the waves died off.
We came home exhausted, a little burnt, and ready for a cool shower. We love living in Hawaii!!!

George Goes Gymnastics

Ok, sorry I haven't blogged in quite some time, but here are some recent pictures. After an incident when George was almost 3, he has had a fear of heights, and he has become very timid when trying new things. A friend of mine recently told me that she was enrolling her daughter in a local gymnastics program. I thought that gymnastics would be the perfect opportunity for George to build his confidence.

In late April, I enrolled George and his interest was sparked right away. He doesn't like the high bar too much, but he has no fear of the balance beam and the floor routines. He has learned a hand stand, a cartwheel and a back bend. IN May, George's gymnastics had a mini-olympics. I thought that George might have stage fright because it was in the CAC (BYU-Hawaii's version of the Marriot Center) and the CAC is large and intimidating to a 5 year old, but he amazed me. George ran right out when it was his turn and he remembered his entire floor routine! We are so proud of George and his new talent!!!

Kung Fu Fighter

Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting...da de da de da de dum...
Here is Henry, wearing his favorite 25 cent yard sale find. Since the day we bought that Japanese head piece, Henry is convinced that he is a skilled Kung Fu fighter. I must admit he does have quick, cat like reflexes, but they seem to be sporadic and in no assuming pattern or nature. Either way, Henry is on the war path and all should be ware!

And on a side note, there just happened to be a family in our ward with the last name of "Suhawka". (I dont really think that is how you spell it, but that is how it sounds when said correctly) Either way, Henry attended nursery with the youngest Suhawka boy and Henry became quite fond of his name. The poor Suhawaka last name is now Henry's war cry. When he is in full Kung Fu swing, he will flail his arms and legs about and yell "Eh SUHAKA!!!"

Pregnancy Changes

Yes, I am Fat and Pregnant...I can't believe my body has changed this much. hahahahah

I thought you would enjoy this picture of this crazy cat (I actually think it is one of my sister Leslie's cats) hahaha

Hunt Pictures

The Hunt

Today Rachel, my sister, and I took our kids to Gunstock Ranch, a large ranch 2-3 miles from where I live. Every year Gunstock ranch holds an Easter Egg hunt that all the surrounding communities are invited to. George and Henry were excited with the prospects of finding eggs loaded with candy, but when we arrived to gunstock ranch our eyes were opened to a whole new style of egg hunting.

THOUSANDS of children were lined up in 1/2 acre sections according to age. Because of the age difference, George and Henry had to be split up. Rachel took the younger kids and I took George. We gathered with hundreds of other 4-6 year olds and their eager parents and waited for the hunt to begin. I couldn't understand why fathers and sons, mothers and daughters kept inching their way closer towards the eggs in the field. After questioning what looked like Egg hunting experts (they had really large garbage bags instead of baskets), I was informed that all the hard boiled eggs were worth money! Each hardboiled egg, depending on it's color was worth anywhere from 25 cents to 5 Dollars!!! Well My Word, after hearing this news I drilled George again and again, "No Fake Candy Eggs, you only want hardboiled eggs!" "Do you Understand"...confused and wide-eyed George quietly shook his head yes.

I could see that he didn't understand, but he would once we got all that money, lots and lots of MONEY!!!
The countdown began, and We took off. Sure there were times that I had to leap over small children in the way and drag George with me, but it was all in the name of fun.

In the end, George didn't heed my warning too well. He decided he liked the plastic eggs better; although, George did manage to pick up a few hardboiled eggs and one SILVER hard boiled eggs. George ended up making about 5 dollars and 6 candy eggs! What a Hunt.

Just to Let you Know...

(Please read the following in a cheap Scottish/Irish, American trying to be funny, accent)

There be a baby in my belly
and I don't like eatin' jelly
I am startin to feel niele (Knee-ell-e) (old)
There be a baby in my belly


Like a dog I be sick tonight
I'm feelin' weathered with all me might
So I sit and this poem I write
Like a dog I be sick tonight

The baby best be comin' out a girl (girrrrlllll)
And I won't be namin her pearl
Right now to the toilet I will hurl
The baby best be comin' out a girl (girrllll)

I just finished a great book!

I just finished Eragon and Eldest. If any of you have not read these two books, I suggest that you run as quick as you can to your car, get in your car, start it, drive to the nearest book store, purchase the books, drive home quickly, get snuggled in bed and begin reading. I had my students complete book report projects last term and one of my students completed a project on these two books. They are two books in a trilogy...the third book has not yet come out, but is expected to come out this fall.

The student in my class let me borrow the books and I read both over the weekend. These are the type of books that you just cant put down. REALLY!!! After reading Harry Potter I thought my world was caving in because there were no other books out there that intrigued and delighted me so...but I was wrong. Don't worry, I have not renounced my leadership in the Harry Potter Religion (Just Kidding) but I was enthralled with these books. You must read them and then reply to my blog! READ READ READ READ ERAGON READ READ READ READ!

ONE OF THESE...

Does anyone look at the last blog and think ONE OF THESE IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS? hahahaha...I love my little haole Henry!

A serious of Unfortunate Events!

When my mom came to Hawaii, she brought with her the pictures that we took at Christmas time at Target. Because the pictures didn't come back in time for us to pick them up before we left Utah, my mom picked them up for us and waited to bring them until she came.

I was so excited to get the pictures. We only get around to taking a family picture or even boy's pictures at Christmas time. Unfortunately this year a great tradegy happened. The other day I was cleaning my home and I placed the packet of all the pictures on the table. Later that day when I had returned from grocery shopping, I noticed one of my cans I bought was not sealed correctly and most likely the soup in the can had gone bad, so I placed the can in a bag and placed the bag on the table.

The next morning, after one of the largest rainstorms Hawaii has seen in almost 10 years, I noticed that there was a small amount of condensation in the home. Everything felt damp. When I was cleaning off the table I noticed a puddle coming from the bag with the rotten can. I guess the pressure in the air and the extreme moisture in the air made the can bust open and the soup contents leak out and find my precious Christmas pictures and destroy EVERY SINGLE ONE!!! I am devestated and not quite sure what to do. I think I will try to call Target today to see if I can get reprints, but other than that, this one single scan of the picture is all we scanned before the fatal accident. So here is your copy of our family picture for 2005.

Mom Is here!!!

Since the end of February my mom has been staying with us to help watch the boys while I work during the day. I have to say, I have enjoyed spending time talking, touring the island and beating her at almost every scrabble game we have played in the last month. We have spent most of our time on the air force bases because it has rained almost every day since she came. Hopefully next week the rain will clear and we can go to the beach. She returns to Utah next week and when she gets there she will be able to spend time with my sisters who will all be visiting Utah. I am sad that I wont be able to go, but it has been fun while she is here.

LOST in Hawaii

Mark works downtown on Merchant street...that is in the heart of the business district of Honolulu. The other day he took the long drive to work and was surprised when he had a difficult time getting to his office building. Right in front of where he works, a camera crew was set up to film an upcoming scene of the tv show LOST. Now watch the upcoming episodes really carefully and you will see a small haole man jumping up and down in the back of the character's flashback bank scene...hahaha just kidding, but Mark took a few pictures of the people taking camera shots.

long time no talk eh....

Hey, I just wanted to write and let everyone know that we are still here and alive in Hawaii. Eventhough the entire side of the island has been flooded, we are still alive and well. We weren't able to do much because the rain was pouring down like sheets of water. At BYU-H the field was so deep of water that it was waist deep in some areas. A few locals pulled out a kayak and used that as transportation. In many areas along this side of the island, the constant rains made the ground too soft. As the flood water ran out to the ocean, it took down a few homes and caused a few small landslides.

Luckily, my mom is visiting for the month of March, and we spent yesterday cleaning out my sister's store and playing scrabble...no need to ask who won...but just to rub it in...it was me, by a "landslide"!!!

George and Henry are now staying at home everyday with my mom and she is teaching them school lessons in numbers, letters and keeping their room neat and tidy.

Mark has been busier than ever as he works all day long and then attends U of H in the evening. We almost never see him, but I know he is there because there is a dish in the sink in the morning, and the lunch food I packed the night before is gone.

That is pretty much the excitement we are having here. Talk to you later!