i won!!

I am having such a great week already and it's only Tuesday!!

We are completely packed!! And the night is still young. People this has NEVER happened before. I am always up until 2am the night before a trip packing and scurrying around the house while everyone else is sleeping peacefully. I'm not entirely sure how it happened but it has something to do with the fact that Karina, our beloved babysitter, had the kids out all day today. Love her!! We leave for Heathrow at 7am ... and land in Honolulu at 7:30pm. It's going to be a very long day. Thankfully we have a 3 hr layover in LA to stretch our legs and let the kids run around. I cannot wait to get to Hawaii!! This is our first trip and we are going to see my bff's little brother get married!!

The other exciting bit of news is that I won a giveaway from Persimmon and Pink!!! The best part? I won not one but TWO of Susan's prints. I LOVE these prints. The designs are so fresh and come in the best color choices. The kids each have one in their room and I have also given them as gifts. I can't say enough you just have to check them out yourself. I don't know how I will ever decide but I do know that these are going to go in my bedroom.

here is a shot of kaneu's print - bottom right, it says "love one another"

ruby's room

Ok, well that is it for me. The next time you hear from me I will be in Hawaii! Aloha!!

all about the boy

I really should NOT be blogging since we are leaving in LESS than 24 hours for Hawaii and I have a million and one things to do. But ... I wanted to get this blog updated on the last week. This post is all about Kaneu. Last week was INSANE. There was a school-related function everyday -- Mon/Sports Day, Tues/Picnic, Wed/class party, Thurs/Kaneu's Day, Fri/town meeting & last day of school. This mama was wiped out and so happy when Brian came home on Friday. Phew! Plus I had a bunch of stuff to take care since I am a class parent - teacher gifts and "going away books" for the kids that are leaving. It was a busy week!

First his 6th birthday party (one month early).

The party was a ton of fun. I think there were 18 kids. I pulled this party together in ONE week. It was easy because I outsourced the whole thing. I rented a room at a local community center AND I hired an entertainer, who was fantastic. I ordered all of the supplies and party bag stuff online and ordered a cake from our fave place. (It's a little embarrassing because they know us by name now.) It's not how I typically like to do parties but I knew there was NO way I could have it at home. These kids were wild so the big empty room was perfect - plus I only had 30 min to set-up which for me is a good thing. I tend to overthink the details and spend way too much time cleaning and getting everything just perfect. The party was a hit and Kaneu had just the best time which was all that really mattered. The theme was superheros and worldcup/football. The party bags included a blow-up globe, football whistle, chocolate footballs and lollypops.

the entertainer was so good - she had the kids dancing!!

the moms

a treasure hunt


this is NOT an attractive photo of me and my gazillion chins BUT look at the candle -- can you see the surprise in my expression?

kaneu was startled (and scared!)

and apparently did not like the way the candle/sparkler smelled

the darn thing would not blow out and i was scared of sparkles blowing and burning the kids (note - this was not a child friendly candle but thankfully nobody was hurt!)

and still holding his nose!

And do you know what this funny kid said the other day? "For my 7th birthday I would like ..." He hasn't even turned 6 yet!!

Kaneu's Day -- June 24

Last week when I asked Kaneu if he would like for me to bring in brownies for his class he quickly said "yes" and that he wanted to help decorate them. While we iced and decorated we talked about sharing "Kaneu's Day" with his class and how some of them may not know what the day means. He was very excited to share his day with them and I tried to have many conversations with him to make sure that he was prepared for potential questions that his classmates may ask. I wish I had photos! Kaneu's teacher is such a special woman. She had the children sit on the rug and had Kaneu and I sitting in the "royal chairs" where we shared how Kaneu's Day came to be and what we do a family to celebrate the special occasion. It was such a sweet way to to discuss adoption with his friends and the best part was that he was so proud. I could have cried but thankfully I didn't! The principal came in to say hi and to wish Kaneu a "happy kaneu's day" and the class sang "happy kaneu's day" to the tune of "happy birthday". It was beyond sweet. Kaneu passed brownies out to all of his classmates and took one to the principal. Oh how I just adore this boy!!

ruby LOVES going to school! and she is a big hit with the girls

Last Day of School - June 25

celebratory dinner and sorbet

five ...

Yesterday we celebrated our FIFTH Family Day. We actually refer to it as "Kaneu's Day" since it really is a celebration of him and all of the joy he brings to us. It is also a celebration of our family. I cannot believe we have been parents for five years. It really boggles my head thinking about. I find myself getting overwhelmed at how fast the years are going and I'm wondering if that might have something to do with my outbreak of hives this week, which have continued every single day - twice a day. So weird. Buy anyways, our little man. Oh he really just makes my heart sing. Today was the last day of school and a continuation of "Kaneu's Day" since dad just returned from being in the US this week. Here is a little video I took while playing with my new favorite gadget. Is he just the cutest little guy? I think so!

father's day weekend

We are running full steam ahead over here. Friday is Kaneu's last day of school. My boy is almost finished with kindergarten. He has THREE wiggly teeth and has a molar moving in, plus has 2 adult teeth moving in right behind the wiggly ones. Ahh, but I digress. The week is chockablock with sports day, picnics, and parties. Last week flew by and now it's Monday again! Somewhere along the way we had a party for Kaneu. It was a ton of fun but it seems like it was ages ago. Perhaps because we had the absolute most fantastic weekend away EVER ... and the best part was that it was only a 20 drive north of London. Love that. Party pics to come but for now a few snaps of Father's Day weekend. It was a really good one for a really incredible dad.

their first banana splits ... kaneu declared "i could kiss this!"

ps. I made it 19 days people ... but on Saturday night I enjoyed a lovely bottle of Rioja with my man. I also broke out in hives on Sunday ... apparently I am allergic to passionfruit!

exciting times

Last week while I was putting laundry away Ruby was teaching "pinky", her beloved yoohoo bushbaby, how to poop on the toilet. Thankfully my phone was close so I could capture the cuteness.

She was so proud of Pinky and kept repeating "I helped Pinky poop on the potty. She is a big girl.". As I said on a previous post we have been trying to work with her on numero dos. I promised Ruby we would have a party if she would poop on the potty. Four days after the "pinky potty training" she made us proud and pooped on the potty all by herself!! While Brian was gagging on cleanup duty Kaneu and I were jumping up and down clapping our hands.

After Kaneu's football practice we enjoyed a pub lunch followed by a "I pooped on the potty" cupcake party at my favorite local bakery. I caved and had a cupcake - rose flavored. It was so delish. I savored every bite. At lunch we got to check out the latest Banksy graffiti art. It's the current talk of the town.

On Wed afternoon we will have Kaneu's birthday party. His actual birthday is not until July but we are having it early before everyone from his class goes away for the summer. That will be my next post - how to put together a superhere/world cup birthday party in less than a week! Wish me luck!

well ... at least I got the Westminster part right

First I want to say that the Suzuki concert last night was so great. We were so proud to see our little guy on stage without any hesitation whatsoever. For weeks we have been preparing for this and I just loved seeing him excited and proud to perform. The concert was all of the lower primary grades from the school's two campuses - the one that Kaneu attends and then also the Kensington campus. The two campuses had never practiced together, nor had they ever practiced outside of the schools - regardless, the kids did an incredible job. We were so impressed!

can you find him? look in the first row

So, as I said - for weeks we have been preparing for this. I have been in multiple PTA meetings where we have talked about the details of this event - all the while the location had been referred to as "Westminster" ... so I just assumed it was Westminster Abbey. I am not really one to pay attention to details, though I am very detail oriented with some things. I guess that the actual location of the concert was one of those details that I somehow overlooked or just assumed I knew. Side note - we get inundated with school newsletters and emails and notes and it's all a bit much to keep up with ... ok, do I really need to continue making excuses for myself? You get the point. Thankfully when we got off of the tube at Westminster we ran into a several families making their way to the concert. Brian was leading the pack and when we got to the intersection for Westminster Abbey one of the moms mentioned that we needed to keep walking because we were going to the other side, to Westminster Hall. Ummmm. What??? Brian and I just laughed. And laughed. And then laughed some more. Thankfully we ran into the group!! Can you imagine if we hadn't?? Westminster Hall, which is just across the street from Westminster Abbey, proved to be a lovely venue for the concert. The only downside was that the school lost three instruments yesterday while transporting them to the Hall - and Kaneu's cello was one of them. I really tried to not let this get the best of me but I was disappointed for him. He and the students on either side of him took turns throughout the concert. He had a great time, which is what is most important.

a big deal

Guess who is going to playing his cello at Westminster Abbey tonight????

this guy!!

30

Ruby is now 30 months old. I was reminded of this at a birthday party recently when another mom asked me how old she was. I answered "26 months". Umm, wrong. We are halfway to three already! Where has the time gone? I have been terrible about keeping track of the funny things she says and does, latest and greatest, height and weight, but here are some things that I think are worthy of noting ...

• Potty training was a breeze with this girl. She gets it. Almost. We are still working on going #2 on the toilet ... she much prefers to use the garden, like Rosie does, or her pull-up after nap. She will try and try to go on the toilet and occasionally is successful but we're not there quite yet.
• When we ride in a taxi (my weakness though I'm getting MUCH better at this lately, btw) she will point to all of the (empty) seats where "daddy sits" and "nunu sits". If I dare sit in someone else's spot she will demand that I am sitting in the wrong seat and tell me to move. She means business!
• "What's that, mama?" She asks this question of me about 250 times a day. That is probably a slight exaggeration but she does ask this a lot. Over and over again about the same things. And even things that she is familiar with. Sometimes it's really cute. Sometimes it's not.
• "Actually" Another of her favorites.
• "You buy that for me, mama?" I hear this when I am getting her dressed, putting on shoes, playing with toys, etc.
• "Don't worry, mama" This is new and it is just precious!!
• She loves to sing. She sings all the time and has recently begun making up her own lyrics to her favorite nursery rhymes. It's funny and something that I definitely need to capture ... as soon as I get my flip in the mail ;)
• "Where's my daddy?" Anytime Brian goes into another room of the house I am asked this. She loves her daddy so much and tells me all of the time. Every morning when she wakes up we have this conversation -

Ruby - "Where's my daddy, mama?"

Me - "Daddy is at work"

Ruby - "Oh" (frown) "I love my daddy"

Me - "I know. I love daddy, too"

And now for your viewing pleasure ... our big girl in action. You can see what we're in for with this little lady towards the end of the first video. T-R-O-U-B-L-E.

so long (for now)

Sooooo in 29 days we will get on a plane and when we land (about 19 hours later) we will spend 16 days in paradise ... where I will be in a swimsuit everyday. The thought makes me want to crawl under a blanket and hide. I cannot even imagine showing off any parts of my body right now. Living in the UK has turned my already fair skin even paler - as if that was even possible. After two weeks in Fl I can honestly say that I did not come back with any color other than a few more freckles. And yes I was in a swimsuit daily there too, but with just my family and on a beach where there were very few people. I am generally very good about using sunscreen, which is good considering I have just had some skin cancer removed from my face (a topic for another post), but I do want to have some color, just a little. Self tanning does not really work for me because I have NO base color for the selftan to blend with. I'm in a real predicament here don'tcha think? And then there is the other problem - I'm not in my 20s anymore. Or even my early 30s. And my metabolism seems to be on hiatus. It is time for me to take it to the next level, which for me is a difficult one to grasp. What more can I do? I exercise regularly and I eat pretty healthy for the most part. I don't eat meat, I limit my dairy intake, I love pasta but have even cut back on that, I do like sweets (a lot) but don't indulge often, and so on. I do love wine and fruity cocktails and Belgian beers and English ciders. And after spending a full day on Saturday at a beer festival I have decided to take a break - no alcohol for the next month. Can I do it? I have no doubts but I think it will be an interesting month. I hope you don't think I have a drinking problem b/c I absolutely do not - I just really enjoy a nice glass of wine or a beer in the evening. And on a sunny afternoon. Or a rainy day ...