Balance

The sense of balance has been restored to the McLaughlin household.  It was a bit rocky there but we have managed to right the ship.  Kevin and I are both happy now which is a very good thing.  It all started, you see, with the Wii.

Yes, the Wii.  Kevin got this bonus from work.  He could log onto this prize site and pick a prize as a thank you for all the crazy hours he worked this summer.  He took one look at the list and jumped for joy when he saw the Wii system.  I looked at the same list and my heart was all a-flutter when I saw the Dyson.  There ensured a rough hour of cajoling and bartering and pleading of cases.  In the end, the Wii arrived and Kevin was ecstatic.  He loved playing and playing and playing.  Me?  I mopped about bewailing my dirty carpet situation.  The boat was threatening to capsize.  It wasn’t pretty.

Then my dad gave me a gift card out of the blue and Kevin galantly added a gift card he had as well to my stash.  Suddenly the Dyson of my dreams was within reach!   Add to it a random clearance sale and voila!  My Dyson arrived and I was esctatic!  I vaccumed.  I cleaned.  I was happy.

So if you were walking you dog past our house yesterday and decided to peek into our front window, you would have seen a touching domestic scene.  Husband playing Lego Star Wars on the Wii while wife was vacuuming every square inch of carpet she could find.

The kids?  Huh.  Good question.  I’m not sure what they were doing.  They were probably escatic to have a few hours of unsupervised time to themselves.  Although, that would explain why Artie had pink marker all over his head.  Poor thing.  Yes, it was good all around.

My Hawaiian Family

Aside from reading, I also got some good time with my Hawaiian family.  It took a while for the girls to warm up to the horde of new people but once we got out the playdough, they were right in their element.

The only person missing from this picture is cousin Amy.  (She’s behind the camera here.)  She has a ture gift with children.  They simply adore her.  (See Kulia’s adoring gaze below.)

Even stand-off Leina couldn’t get enough of her. 

She is pretty cuddly if I don’t say so myself.  Doesn’t Auntie Bonnie have the most beautiful backyard?  It was the perfect backdrop for our photo session when Kulia wasn’t running around pretending to be a wild pig.

Don’t Auntie Bonnie and I look alike?  I have fooled her neighbors and even used her driver’s license to get local discounts.  Shhhh.  Don’t tell anyone!

Ready, Steady….

Go!

Oh how I love fall!  Perhaps my most favorite season here in the NW.  For years, living in SoCal, I was deprived of fall.  Maybe a bit more sea mist in the morning but that was all.  Here, in Oregon, fall is major.  You know all our tress?  From all that rain? Man are they beautiful in fall.  And the sky is this deep light blue and the sun seems to slant in instead of beaming right down on you like it does in summer.  I adore fall.

My increased happy level translates into an increased energy level.  I have the urge to start projects, tidy up, organize, tackle things left far too long on the back burner.  It’s awesome.  The hard part is figuring out where to start and sticking to one project at a time.  I’m apt to bite off more than I can chew so I’m trying to breath deeply and stay the course.  Here’s hoping.

Even more exciting, this school year I’m going to get 30 minutes each week to myself!  Yes!  Let the party begin!  Every Wed, Leina will be in preschool and Kulia will be in her very own 30 minute music class.  This means I’m free baby!  Free for 30 whole minutes all to myself!  What will I do with all that time?!?!?  The mere thought makes me giddy.

Tomorrow I will be without any child for half and hour.  I can hardly wait.

My Summer Vacation

So, what did I do in Hawaii?  Lots.  But the thing I miss the most, my most favorite memory?  That had to be the hours between 2pm and 4pm when I was able to tuck the kids in bed for a nap, grab a book and a beach chair, and head to the ocean for some uninterrupted reading time.  Ah, heavenly.  The beach to myself, sitting in the dappled shade, with the white noise of the ocean all around.  Perfect for reading.  Just perfect!

Next time, however, I’m bringing more books!

Good-bye Hawaii

Today is a day of lasts.  Last sunrise over the beach, last morning walking the shore picking up trash, last re-digging of the giant hole in the sand, last coconut turnover for breakfast.  I’m hoping to squeeze in one last shave ice and a last reading by the surf this afternoon and maybe one last plate lunch.  Sigh.   Good-byes are so hard!  Don’t you feel for me, having to leave all this behind?  Aren’t I suffering?  Oh, hold on a minute, I have to take a sip of my kona coffee and check for the local sea turtle out the window……

Where was I…. Nevermind.  The surf is calling one last time.  I’m going to brave the man-o-wars and soak up a bit more sunshine.  When next you see me, I’ll be wearing a raincoat and shoes with socks. 

Oh the horror!

Hello Hawaii

Ah yes, we are back and it is a beautiful as I remember. Beach, check. Ocean breeze, check. Swaying palm trees, check. Nothing to do but eat and lounge, check, check, check!

We had a very easy flight. My apprehension about flying alone with the girls was unfounded as they were perfect sisters the entire time. Once we arrived, the cousin immediately ran off playing and laughing and being goofy as only a pack of kids can be. Kulia is finally old enough to join in the fun so the whole pack tromps through the house.

Just like last year, Kulia has no fear of the ocean. She just walks right in and gets clobbered. Totaled. Smashed by the waves, covered in sand, but still smiling. Man, I love that girl. Kevin arrives today and then the gang will be all here. I can hardly wait!