Category Archives: Family

Be Auntie Gail

April 8, 2014 Be Enough 1 Comment

My mom’s sister arrived yesterday to come stay with us. Every since our oldest was born, a sure sign of spring is Auntie Gail arriving at my parents for a visit. We always looking forward to seeing her.

I have especially been grateful for her immediate willingness to come jump in with our brood of boys, her contagious laughter and depth of stories. She reminds me of my mom in so many ways – her love of her children, her thought for my children, working side-by-side with Sexy Neck drying the dishes and really just being willing to come along on our wild ride.

Auntie Gail.

Deep strength.

Huge heart.

Beautiful children.

Contagious laughter.

Here is Auntie Gail enjoying her first ever Japanese food dinner.

Auntie Gail getting settled in her room. The boys ‘helped’!

Beautiful butterfly cups she passed on to me.

Auntie Gail had us all laughing our heads off as she attempted to use the walkie talkie.

Auntie Gail brought beautiful drawing pencils and paper for the boys. They all spent many hours drawing together.

Auntie Gail read Happy Pig Day to OC while we watched CC’s gymnastics.

Auntie Gail watching our youngest at gymnastics. OC loved having her to wave up to. She watched with a big smile on her face. What a gift!

She helped us have a painting play date with friends.

We enjoyed an after dinner walk to the duck pond.

Side note:
I haven’t been back to CC’s gymnastics centre since my mom died. Five days before my mom went into the hospital in December and just over two weeks before my mom died, mom insisted that dad drive her 60 kilometres down the road so that she could watch CC and OC do gymnastics.

I knew my mom was in pain. She still insisted on getting her own blue folding chair, placing it right beside the window so that she could watch her grandsons participate in class.

She was in pain. She smiled and clapped for her grandsons.

She was stooped over but she sat up straighter every time her grandsons looked over.

Resiliency.

Love beyond comprehension.

Support.

Thank you mom. Thank you for being the most selfless Nana.

Thank you dad for supporting mom’s ideas.

Thank you Gail for passing on this loving support to my boys these days.

Boys, Family

Be Seven

April 8, 2014 Be Enough 1 Comment

Celebrating our oldest lad.

Seven years since his first breath.

Seven years since I felt his skin and kissed his cheeks.

Seven years of holding, hugging and setting free.

Here are a few moments we shared celebrating seven:

Family, Grief

Be Celebrating Nana’s birthday (with a birth!)

March 30, 2014 Be Enough Leave a comment

Yesterday was my beautiful mom’s birthday. When we were away, we felt Nana’s presence and spoke about what we could do to celebrate her birthday.

As a family we decided we wanted to bake her a meringue cake. OC helped me.

Here is the recipe we used:

Our nana loved biking, so we thought a bike ride would be fun.

We ate breakfast for dinner. Breakfast was mom’s favourite meal.

We sent balloons to the heavens.

Lastly, we sang happy birthday and enjoyed Nana’s wonderful cake.

Happy birthday mom! I love you so very much. Your presence is felt more and more each day. You continue to be such a gift and a caring mom.

Heavenward.

Flying.

Sweetness.

Life.

Love.

Peace.

And glory, a new baby girl was born on my mom’s birthday. My cousin’s J and M gave birth on March 30th.

New life.

Gratitude.

Joy.

Anticipation.

Peace.

Boys, Family

Be Living the Resort Life

March 27, 2014 Be Enough 1 Comment

We have been fortunate the spend that last two days at Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore. We splurged to get the epic ocean view room.

Our View:

Last day in Hawaii:

Boys, Family

Be Laughing About Cheese

March 26, 2014 Be Enough Leave a comment

We have been giggling all week while eating this cheese:

Ah cheese!

Boys, Family

Be Boogy Boarding and Busting Your Shorts

March 23, 2014 Be Enough 3 Comments

We went to a new beach today. It was suppose to be family friendly, have great sand and be a fun place to boogy board.

Look at this postcard, it looks idyllic:

We received a few clues that the day was going to be a wild one when a Hawaiian boogy boarder screamed as a wave threw him into the air then the lifeguards came over the loud speaker reminding everyone that the current waters were unsafe for swimming, children and anyone inexperienced boogy boarding.

Checkout this photo I took of the bay and compare it to the postcard:

Steve decided to give it a go anyways. Here he is with the blue board contemplating his entry:

And this is what happened to his shorts:

hahaha…
But then he decided to take our oldest son in to give it a try…

Mama Bear and the lifeguards had to both yell at him. Me up close and personal, the lifeguards from the tower at the top of the beach.

The boys stayed on the sand for the rest of the morning building a rescue boat and a command centre. They had a great time. I was the only one traumatized by the crazy surf!

At sunset, we went back to our favourite beach beside the turtles so that everyone could do some boogy boarding.

Checkout this perfect little wave lapping up onto the beach:

OC and I were able to rest on the beach and make a bus:

Another incredible day! OC got his feet wet by a wave for the first time and no one was sucked out to sea or pulverized too badly by waves.
Tomorrow, we will be shopping for shorts!

Boys, Family

Be Hunting for Turtles

March 22, 2014 Be Enough Leave a comment

Today, we went on a turtle hunt. The honu, or Hawaiian sea turtle, is the Hawaiian symbol of longevity, peace, good luck, humility, long life and the spirit within. I could use all of those things in my life. How about you?

We started off the morning at Turtle Beach, the unofficial name for Laniakea Beach, hoping to snorkel and see the turtles. No turtles and no snorkelling as the currents were too strong.

We headed north down the island to do some snorkelling in an incredible area at Pupukea Beach Park. We were able to see whales in the distance.

Tonight, we went to Haleiwa Beach Park to have a picnic dinner and what did we end up running into at the beach right beside the Haliewa Marina? Seven humongous turtles!