Hula 101

There are always a bunch of activities that the community association puts together and we don't take near enough advantage of them.  Mostly, because the kids are still young for a lot of them and by the time I remember that I wanted to go to yoga at 9 it is already noon.  They just added a keiki hula class that sounded fun but it was for 3-13 year olds.  We figured we would give it a try and see how it went but figured it would be fun to at least try.

It turned out that Abby was actually the oldest kid there!  One other girl who was Zack's age showed up and the teacher just made the most of it.  Abby lasted about 20 minutes and Zack even joined in for a moment.

In the end, Abby and Zack ran off to play and Matt chased around after them while the teacher insisted that I should have a private lesson.  So, I learned how to hula to Blue Hawai'i.  Sadly, I was sore the next day...so pathetic.

I love Zack in the back dancing:)

Zacky Boy

I never imagined that I would call Zack, Zacky, but we do.  Abby started it (likely from daycare) and we just adopted it.  I feel like I have written so much about Abby.  She talks more and her shennigans are a bit more overt and easier to write about these days.   So for now a focus on my Zacky Boy.

Zack is starting to say so much more and express his wishes (and demands).  I love to ask him questions and see how much he understands.  He doesn't always have the words to respond but if you ask him a yes or no he will nod and say, "yea" or shake and say, "uh-uh".  Seriously, we could do it all day.  It is so cute.

crazy sunblocked hair and devilish smile!

Zack loves his sister and is always aware of where "Abba" is.  He loves to wake her up and climb all over her and she loves it too.  I prefer she stay asleep as long as possible, however.

 

He is such a nature boy  and "go, go, go" is still a favorite.  He is so happy outside and loves to go on walks, play on the slides and ANYTHING that is outside or on the move.  I rolled the windows down for the kids the other day and they were giddy with excitement to have the wind in their faces!

 Our little fish is growing increasingly fond of the water and can just swim around with his floatie for as long as we will let him.  Today we played in the ocean and he was loving being tossed around in the waves and going in and out with the tide.

 Daddy, daddy, daddy!!!  He loves his daddy!  And really, who wouldn't!

 My baby, is getting so big!  He is 17 months, now and getting bigger by the minute!

 A big fan of utensils but not quite so skilled yet!  This session got a little out of hand.  Note to self (and daddy)... he isn't quite ready for a whole yogurt on his own.  Good effort though...

I wish I could just stop time and remember each cuddle and nuzzle in my neck as I put him down for a nap or get him up from a slumber.  I wish I could capture every second he snuggles up in our laps to read books and embraces his sister with delighted squeals.  He is my baby but continues to grow into a big boy.

Sunsets and Sleepovers

Last weekend we headed to the beach for an impromptu picnic with the Buelow crew and enjoyed the evening while the kids played (and Dylan slept).

Cheesin for the camera while eating some PB &J

the moms

they were in their won little world

Gavin, Dylan, Zack & Abby

Tonight, Mark and Steph got out for date night and we had our own party over here with the munchkins. 

The wee ones had to establish dominance first off.  Dylan gave Zack a run for his money, especially for being 4 months younger.  He's a tough little guy!

Dora break

Dinner time!  The little ones totally out ate the big ones ( that included Matt and I).

Little D.  Always happy ( except for bedtime).

Feeding the swans

A very sweet father-son moment

The Buelow boys

Who knew we had a 4-passenger wagon?

Rub-a dub-dub, 4 babies in a tub!

It is actually pretty fun to have all the kids together and it is so nice we can swap kids and go on date nights every once in a while...they are so necessary! 

Grandpa's Here

We picked Grandpa up on Friday, which was Admissions Day, so we didn't have school and we could enjoy a nice long weekend together.  We started with lunch at Nick's for some fresh fish and hit up the zoo.

Abby got to help make lunches:)

 

 And check out some baseball stats.

 Sporting the hats

 Cruising the beach path

 Thanks for cleaning up boys...Mommy really appreciates it!

 

Hard to believe that this was only 2 weeks ago and that it has taken me that long to post them.  it was a great visit with Grandma and Grandpa.  We are looking forward to December.  Abby reminded me today that they are back in San Diego now, not here.

Getting out with the girls

 I definitely missed my girls over summer and was in need of some bonding time.  Another  dear friend is leaving the island (it is getting contagious) so it was a great reason to get together.  Monica organized a hike and farewell dinner for Michelle and I was just going to do dinner but Matt encouraged me to go hiking too (awesome, right!).  I forgot how much I love to hike and really enjoyed the new terrain.  Thanks to Michelle's recommendation we all loved the Nuuanu Judd Hike.  After a great day I felt a sense of balance return to my life, which may also be part of submitting my final draft of my dissertation ...but either way I feel like I got my groove back.  Thanks girls:)

some of the awesome scenery

Mon & me

Climbing the Banyan Tree

Mama-to-be T crossing the river ( Due on Zack's birthday...we are so excited!)

 

 

I got home right after naps and got to hang with the family and the night time routine and then we headed out for dinner at Longboards (I have been there a lot this week!)

Aloha Michelle.

We caught the sunset just as we sat down for drinks:)  My favorite time of day that my kids' bedtime coincides with.

Take Two

The production crew called us back for one more day before they finished the whole shoot.  There was a lot more waiting around but at least we were slightly more prepared for it this time around.  It was another fun day of hair and make up and a lot of hanging around.  Obviously people who do this for a living do not have any idea what it is like to have a 1 & 2 year old.  They put 12 of us in a room at a spa (you know a place where people go to relax away from kids!)  to wait indefinitely.   I think they thought that my kids were just going to sit nicely and wait our turn...wrong!  To make matters worse it is a brand new facility that is preparing for their grand opening and Abby spotted a cupcake.  Drama.  I'll just leave it at that.

Luckily, they got us out of there and moved us to another location.  We were done at 6 but had to wait around to be released.  Abby and I snuck out to watch the sunset and dipped out feet in the spa. 
We were doing okay until we passed bedtime and then it became painfully obvious to everyone that Abby was ready to go and our papers were magically ready:).  I was definitely exhausted after a long day of "work".

All the kids

The right place at the right time

One of the last nights my parents were here we were going to keep it low key and make spaghetti but then realized we didn't even have the ingredients to make that (major shopping trip needed) so we did what the Hughes family does best, go out for dinner!  We walked to Longboards  at Lagoon 3 and on the way back Abby ran and ran and ran and grandma followed while the rest of us leisurely strolled behind. 

As we got to the Disney hotel we watched as they were filming as they have been doing a lot of lately.  I saw someone check out Zack and just thought it was cute but then someone can up to us and after a few questions about ages etc., we were asked to possibly come back the following day as a family to be in a Disney shoot.  We had no idea what that could possibly mean.  They called back and confirmed the shoot for the following evening.    I still had no idea what to expect.

As we arrived the the next day they ushered us into a room with about 15 other people and we soon found out that there were 3 other families there and they had been cast in LA and flown out for the week to shoot footage for the B Roll.  The families we met had been "working" from 7 am to 7 pm but mostly sitting in the room waiting for their shoots.  From what we gather, the B roll isn't for anything in particular.  It is stock footage of the hotel that they can use if and when they need it for commercials or promos. 

The fam in the holding tank ( with horrible lighting)

Lazy river inside the hotel

 They had wardrobe come check us out and make sure we were fit for the shot and then I got to sit in a big chair and have someone do my hair and makeup.  I have to admit that I loved it!  Most days I barely get around to brushing my hair and make up is done super fast to avoid Abby finding me and wanting to do her make up also.  So I enjoyed the opportunity to have someone take their time who actually knew what they were doing- I guess she did hair and make up for LOST too.  Shortly after (still having no idea what we were doing) we got directed outside and before I knew it we were on a bridge hugging and kissing Mickey and Minnie and having people yell "action" "rolling"  etc.  Sureal.  Especially because if there was ever anything I have NEVER wanted to be is an actress.

A peek at the camera crew

All hair and makeuped

Meeting Minnie & Mickey

I thought we were done after this.  Little did I know this would go on for another 4 hours and we had not packed food or anything necessary to keep two toddlers occupied.  Total amateur.

One of the production assistants, Olivia, playing with the kids

 Abby danced with Mickey solo- Zack didn't want to without us.  We were pretty impressed that Abby did it with the whole crew and lights in her face.

Another view of the camera crew doing their thing

This was certainly not how we planned to spend my parents' last night but it was definitely an experience!