Pictures with G&G

My newest favorite place is this little lagoon right by our house.  It has a beautiful sunset views and fun tide pools and rocks to climb and prime picture taking opportunities.  I tried to snap a few of the grandma & grandpa and the kids but they weren't so cooperative:).  We got some good ones though.  Miss you guys already. xoxo

Traditionally Untraditional: Christmas 2011

The Hughes family has never been much for keeping to strict traditions.  We have had Christmas anywhere.  I have always thought that this meant that we didn't have any traditions but what I am realizing in my old age is that we have always had many traditions they just have more to do with the things we do and how we interact more so than the actual activities we do and it makes me appreciate my family for that. On the other hand, one of the many things I LOVE about Matt and his family is that they have lots of traditions and Christmas and Christmas eve are full of them!  So this year we combined the two.

My parents came out for graduation and Christmas but their flight left early (like 7 a.m) on Christmas morning!  So, in typical Hughes fashion, we got creative and made it work because we wanted to infuse as much of Matt's traditional Christmas into our holiday.  We pushed all the celebrating up a day so our Christmas eve was December 23, we woke up on Christmas eve and had Christmas.  When I took my parents to the airport on Christmas morning it was a while before it dawned on me that it was actually Christmas morning.

We got ready for Santa and made cookies and gingerbread houses.  Yummy!

Matt made his families traditional Christmas Eve dinner- Lobster, peas and potatoes.  I love that tradition!  It was a perfect dinner and we are very thankful for our chef!

While he was cooking we ran down to the beach and he came and met us for the sunset.

 

After dinner the official reading of, Twas the Night Before Christmas was read and then we tried to figure out how to present presents since both of our families did it very differently.  An ongoing point of contention:).

Christmas Morning!  The kids got lots of fun little toys.  Nothing too big or crazy but enough to argue over.  No matter who was playing with one thing the other wanted it:)

The only picture of the kids in front of our crazy tree.  Any ornament at their level eventually got broken or removed:)

After a busy day celebrating we went and joined our extended Hawaii Family for Christmas dinner with everyone at the Buelows but to them (and the rest of the world)  it was actually Christmas eve.

The kids had their own tables and the adults ate out on the patio.  Thanks for hosting Buelows.

Mele Kalikimaka!

Bittersweet Sunset

We prolonged our goodbye to Jenn as long as possible.  Even though we planned a weekend downtown, we all decided that we could do one last picnic on Monday so we didn't have to say goodbye on Sunday. 

We rounded up all the kiddos and let them run around while we pretended Jenn wasn't moving to Florida the next day.  Dinner turned into a run-bye eating rather than an actual picnic but they had fun so it is all good.

The kids pushed and pulled the wagon and ran around all evening.  Dylan was around but somehow I have now pictures of little Badger.  Abby was as sad as we were to be losing her friends!  

A bittersweet sunset for sure.  There are so may memories that we have all shared: Our passion for education and work as crazy as it sounds,  the  balance becoming real adults and with our love of having fun, getting pregnant and becoming moms, going to school and actually graduating with our PhDs, deployments, Mia's birth and so much more.  Although distance may affect how often we see each other, the experiences and friendships built over the last 9 years will last forever!

Some tired mommas after a fun weekend!  There was a ridiculous amount of tears that ensued after this picture when we finally said goodbye.  Abby came home to tell Matt that mommy was really sad and she was too!  A bit of an understatement to say the least.



Aloha, Hoffmans.  We miss you already!

Diamond Head

One of my mom's only requests was to go hiking and so we had planned to hike Manoa falls but it was likely going to rain so we opted to hike Diamond Head.  The lat time my parents did this hike was in 2002 when they were in Hawaii with my grandparents before I had even moved out here.

 Zack was happy as could be in the "backpack" one of his new words now.

cute boys!

 We were just getting started.  We figured we would take turns carrying Abby whenever she got tired but she wanted to walk abd made it the ENTIRE way- almost a mile up the mountain all by herself.  She has told me quite a few times that she wanted to climb a mountain and she really did it.  We were very proud of her.

 Taking a water break almost half way up.

Go Abby, Go

 We made it!  Both kids did great.  On teh way back Abby was more than happy to rest in the backpack and I carried Z down.  He was super chill and just enjoyed the scenery.  It turned out to be a perfect day!

Honolulu City Lights

 It has been over 5 years since we have gone to see the Honolulu City Lights.  So now that the kids are old enough to enjoy the lights we decided to head down to check it out.   Everything is different and way more fun to experience all the holidays fun through the eyes of little ones.

Mele Kalikimaka- 2011

 After we saw the light displays and walked around Abby spotted the rides...she LOVES rides.  Grandma and I volunteered to go on the first one and it spun a few too many times for my liking.

 Grandpa and Daddy got the next round and about half way through at each go around I heard some version of: "Longest ride ever or Make it stop".  We are getting too old for rides!

Z and grandpa having fun...a little blurry

Abby looks like she is having the time of her life.  Matt not so much.

checking out some more lights.

It was a fun night until we had to go home.  Abby was NOT ready to leave and wanted to go on more rides:(.

Fun Times with Grandma & Grandpa

Grandma Lori and Grandpa Don were in town for a week and a half and the kids really enjoyed the quality time with their grandparents and vice versa.

Kids being adorable:)

Grandma had some craft projects for the kids.  They made ornaments and decorated Christmas trees. Abby put ornaments all over her tree -not like ours that only had ornaments on the top third.

 They swam and climbed trees.

 I believe they got in trouble for this move by the maintenance crew:)

We all ate lots of treats including this banana split.

And of course played in the ocean.

We miss you already G & G!  Thanks for a fun visit. xo

Aloha Heidi & Jackson

Heidi left early Sunday to reunite her family in Connecticut.  Although we are happy that they get to be together again we are so sad to see Heidi and Jackson leave.  We decided to all stay downtown to make the most of the last weekend for the last weekend with Staffaronis and the Hoffmans an celebrate graduation.  We all met on Saturday to have a drink before it was time for Heidi to go.  Goodbyes are so hard!  It is crazy to think that Heidi and I were roommates and because great friends throughout the years!  Guess we'll just have to make a trip to Connecticut.

Miss you already!

Hilton Hawaiian Village Staycation

We had a BLAST in Waikiki.  Even though it is only less than an hour away with traffic & parking etc.  it was so nice to just be down there for the weekend and play.  We got a 2 bedroom for my parents and the 4 of us.  We lounged in the room, took advantage of the pools, beach and amenities around the hotel and even got an adult night out!

Z. got comfy right away!

 

 They had the best bathtub.  he kids played around like it was their own personal hot tub forever.

 

We had a busy but fun and delicious dinner with the Hoffmans at Benihana on the last night.  Sniff, sniff.  The kids loved the food too and ended up taking most of the adults' food!  That is true love.

We certainly took advantage of the comfy beds and the TV in our room.  The kids watching cartoons and eating breakfast in bed.  Such luxury- they really have no idea how lucky they are!

The resort was so nicely decorated for the holidays and the kids loved the fish and penguins too.

A great weekend and lots of fun memories!

Introducing Buddy the Elf

We jumped on the Elf on the Shelf bandwagon after rave reviews form so many friends.  Our elf's name is Buddy, after my favorite Elf from the movie:).  The kids lit up every morning when they found his new hiding place.  It turns out he must have given a pretty good report to Santa since the kids had a very merry Christmas!  We look forward to Buddy's return next year.

Looks like Buddy and Tinkerbell became friends:)

Auntie Feliza

Beginning in January, Abby and Zack are both moving on from the daycare they have been in since they were each 4 months old.  Auntie Feliza has taken great care of the kids and I always felt like they were happy and loved while we were working.  She has been a big part of our lives and we are very thankful!

Abby will start preschool and Zack will go to daycare with Dylan...should be lots of good fun!

Phinally Done!

Woo Hoo!  We are officially graduated.  We had a great crowd come out to support the 3 of us and I am sure that everyone is just as happy that we are done too. 

Sitting through the ceremony

Getting hooded- view from the big screen

My very supportive and fabulous family!

Paul, my advisor

Steph, Me & Jenn

Grandma & Grandpa too- It was so fun to have them there!

Thanks for the support, love!

I think this my last graduation:)

Me with my mom and dad

3 families with 6 kids born within 5 years since we started the program.