These two. *sigh*

They left yesterday, sort of unceremoniously, in the late morning. They had deflated their aerobed, started a load of laundry with their sheets, and left all of their delicious munchies in our pantry. And, I think that they did the dishes more while they were here than we did. I am so glad that I have an amazing sister- and so sad that we don’t enjoy one another’s company on a daily (golly, or even weekly) basis. And of course, I was just thrilled that she and her so-much-like-my-husband husband came to stay for the week. The studio was not ready so they spent the week sleeping in the kids’ room- but we were rarely at home. We did our favorite things on the island (Matsumoto’s! Cinnamon’s! Thrifting! Beach!) and checked out a few new places that we’d never been (Kau ‘aina burgers, yogurtland, and Waimea Valley).

And between all the fun they helped Garth and I hang two of the (seven!) doors and get a whole lotta siding up on the studio. I made them promise to come back to enjoy it since it’s going to be awesome and they totally deserve to sleep out there. And, they have to come back just for the custom stationary that I’ll make for guests who stay in our yet-to-be-named studio (xo inn? Plouzeks Practically Perfect Paradise? elle & gee’s ohana unit? – we’ll work on that).

Miss them already and can’t wait to see them and all of the cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents this summer.

xoxoxo
Mrs. Bigsisterpants.

ps.  the “pretty much” in the title of this post comes from the known truth that my Mom once came to visit me in Florida and when she left there was a self-watering container garden on my porch, a fridge full of planned meals, and the front yard decorated with big blue bows for Jack’s arrival.  So- mom Mom?  Best houseguest ever.  And Julia and Cody?  Taught by the best houseguest ever.  Now we’re all clear.

This sweetie little boy is now a three year old. Holy smokes. It was a simple and sweet little party in the backyard with a couble decker cookie cake and a tableful of presents.

I am one lucky lucky mom, and I realize it everyday.

My sister and her clever husband are in town so we are pretending to be on vacation and enjoying Hawaii like tourists. I’ll check in once we’re back to real life next week.

xo
elle

There seems to be no limit to the things that you know how to say and do. You’ll repeat any word or phrase that we ask you too (this morning it was, “rolling with the homies”, “alright stop, collaborate and listen”, and other funny rap songs. You’re always astounding us with your new vocabulary and your Dad and I have had to start spelling things out to one another so that you don’t know what we’re talking about. Current catch phrases include, “that’s funny right there”, “that’s not funny right there”, “breakfast? yucky!”, “going to school? yucky!”, “it’s my birfday? yucky!” (everything is yucky sometimes), “gigi, not nice. not nice gigi.”, “where dada go? Dada at work?” “rub a back mama”, “mama, nuk a’dis!”, “you do it”, and in increasing frequency, “I do it myself”. Your skill set has improved by leaps and bounds. You can undress and mostly redress yourself. You are part Spiderman because you can climb things rather quickly (a 5 foot stack of pallets in 15 seconds and the stove with the help of a chair are examples of recent feats) and you love being so tall when you’re up there. When you’re done with a meal you know to put your dishes in the sink and with each little accomplishment you want to inform us and celebrate. We always comply. We are so proud of your abilities and your curiosity.

You are pretty much a Mama’s boy- you like having me around and can’t really go to sleep without me tucking you in half a dozen times. I don’t really mind. Although- sometimes you do call me into your room after bedtime (and several tucking-ins) in a panicked tone and then quietly say, “rub my back” when I arrive. You know what you want. You also adore your Dad and often ask me where he is if he’s not with us. You like to do what he’s doing. You love to be involved and help in the projects that we’re working on and you insist that we explain what we’re doing as we go along.

You are a picky eater, and I wish that I could blame it on you, but it’s really my fault for using cheerios and fish crackers as the first reponders to your toddler cries. Foods that you will eat: pizza, crackers, cookies, cereal (you always demand milk and a spoon), cake, candy, popcorn, nuts, cheesy roll ups, chicken nuggest, fries, dired fruit, raisins, yogurt, peanut butter sandwiches, donuts, cookies, and most recently fresh pineapple and apples. Everything else you usually reject without hardly a glance. We’ve been blending fruits and veggies into smoothies for you to give you something healthy for at least half of your life.

For a three year old you have lots of hobbies. They include putting stickers and band-aids on yourself, watching “nudies” (your adorable name for movies) on Mom’s iPhone, playing with cars and trucks, and figuring out how things work.

And you love the trampoline. We went to visit Grandma and Gramdpa (you know them as grammie and gram gram) last summer and played on their trampoline everyday. When we came home we bought one too. You spend some time out there almost everyday and love pretending to be a dinosaur. This might be a good place to tell you that you’re kind of a wimp too. I mean, we knew that we were jinxing you by naming you Danger- but we could never have forseen this. You’ll climb on things and run fast and fall down and not cry- but if Ginger leans on you, you’ll fall over sobbing that she’s hurting you. If she holds onto your shoulder to stabalize herself you’ll turn red and in face and cry. If she falls on you on the trampoline you’ll lay there under her, not moving, shouting to me for help. I guess your little sister is your kryptonite.

We feel so lucky and blessed to be your parents and it is exciting to rediscover the joys of the world with you. Here’s to another hundred or so years cute pants.

ps. As requested, I am now going to the kitchen to make your HUGE HUGE cookie in place of a birthday cake.
pps. look how far you’ve come! When you were two, one, and the day you were born

love you a million times over, and more.
xxxoooooxoxoxoOOOOOOOOOOOxxxoxoo
mama

I’ve done my darndest to take a photo of each one of the kids each day of their life. Nothing specific or crazy, just a visual documentation of them on that day. Sometimes I forget about it until after they’re sleeping and so I have to sneak into their room and use my little pop-up flash to capture their cuteness. It’s quite a departure from the photos of them that I like to take- but golly it’s real life. I have quite a little collection of them and they make me so happy. They are so full of energy during the day- and I just adore gazing at them in this one moment where they are calm and serene and sweet. And Ginger- with her Dad’s hat and the bottle still in her sweet hand? Classic.

p.s. The xoelle studio is coming right along- there’s a floor and 3 walls! I’d planned on posting about it as we go along- but it’s hard to sum up when we are right in the thick of it. Hopefully we’ll be in the thin of it later this week.

xo
elle

Monday the kiddos had their first dentist appointment ever and they did so great- so we took them to the Dole Plantation afterwards for a little Dole Whip and train riding. It was drizzling so we had the place almost to ourselves- there were only two other people on the train and five frat boys in front of us in line for the whip. You can see that the kiddos loved it- we need to go more often, it’s just up the road from our house a mile or two.

xo
elle

I know! This is 6 months to 18 months in a dozen or so photos- but you know what? It feels like it happened about this fast as we were living it. Thank goodness we take photos and videos like crazy people so that they can fill in when our memories fail.

You loooooove candy & sweets. Just like Mama. In fact, you always ask for candy when we sit down at the kitchen table- and you seem to just know when I have some in my pockets.

Being that you’re so recently planted on this world there are so many “firsts” that we come upon just about daily. I love being there to participate in the fearless way that you throw yourself into life. You’re sensitive and sweet. You love exploring and are rarely sitting still.

We traveled a bit this year and you get to spend some quality time with cousins and grandparents. They adore you!

You love the water. The pool, the bath, the daily puddles in our driveway. You also love to be chased around the trampoline and you ADORE doing whatever Jack is doing. He’s not a fan on the attention. In fact, your very touch makes him come screaming to me in shrieks of percieved pain. He’s sort of a sissy, but you don’t mind at all.

This summer, at a family reunion, we raided a box of old photos and were sort of shocked to see a tiny Ginger look-alike in many of the photos- a little me! I was as pleased as punch to see that you look like your Mama.

And of course, we celebrated your first birthday in August! It was a very low key celebration. We went to the aquarium and had ice cream at Waikiki Beach- then we had strawberry shortcake and presents in the backyard.

Oh how we love you little darling. You are so so sweet and I am amazed everyday at how fast you’re growing and how quickly your learning. It’s pretty common for me to shout to your Dad across the house, “hey Garth! Ginger just said ______ (cupcake! you’re welcome! owie! chocolate!)” and he’s never very surprised. You’re a smart cookie. Yesterday you swiped my card at the checkout and then picked the pen up to sign for the purchase. Today you carried your flip flops around the house just in case you might want to put them on- in the swing, in your crib, and even in the car. You are certainly bringing adorableness and joy into our everyday lives.

We love you sweet pea.

Mama.

We celebrated the new year the classic way- fondue (cheese for dinner and chocolate for dessert) and sparklers. That was pretty much it. The kids went to bed at the normal time and Garth and I probably would have retired early if it were any other night. Here’s a little of our front yard popper and sparkler fest.

A few days later we celebrated Garth’s 33rd by going on our first date of the year while the kids were at school. We just had lunch and went to a movie but it was so sweet and nice and it sorta felt like it did when we were dating/newly married. We were even able to drive around with the top down since Jack wasn’t in the back to complain. We were sure excited to see them later that afternoon though! Cutest. kids. Ever.

There are some crazy exciting things happening in the xoelle bow tie world right now- but nothing that can be spilled just yet- and of course, crazy awesome things happening in real life too (like a dishwasher!!!! after a year of handwashing in hotel rooms and bathroom sinks we have a dishwasher! I just got a few extra hours each week!).

I can share with you the awesomeness that is the xoelle swatchbook though- they’ve been in the works since last summers Indie Wed, when my parents skipped almost an entire night of sleep to help me assemble them. They have been fine-tuned and tweaked and are now in the shop to delight and seduce potential bow-tie-owners. I lub dem.

ecks oh.

elle

Happy New Year! 2012 is going to rule.

kisses at midnight: xxxooox

elle

Christmas is magic. We had such a sweet little understated Christmas. Strawberry shortcake & orange juice punch for breakfast. Cars, choo choo trains, accordians, pettiskirts, and ponies for the kiddos to open. Lots of candy & snacks. And an afternoon, dressed in red & green, trying to keep the little ones quiet for an hour of church, almost successfully. I’ve included the last photo just in case there’s too much sweetness and cuteness here and you miss the real lifeness. Garth still had his pee bag to carry around on Christmas and there’s a ripped-up couch (more on that later), broken a/c unit, and moldy high chair just hanging out in our front yard, waiting for the bulk trash day. This’ll be our life for the next year or so while we try to renovate this tiny home, raise two sweet kids, and keep our jobs. Thank goodness for these sweet & happy times.

Hope yours was just as sweet friends.
much love,

elle

…a little bit like Christmas. Although it’s warm/rainy/sunny here everyday and we never close our windows and it’s just about always too warm for hot chocolate. We picked out a tree the other day at Helemano farms, just down the road from our house and brought it home with the top down. It is decorated and in the living room (that is ALMOST a real living room- we have a couch and everything!!) and the flocked deer and budding Christmas star collection is out. And there’s a wreath or two up. Most of our holiday decorations will remain in their sweet little totes since our house is inches away from chaos (who’s idea was it to try to renovate so many rooms at once?) and I am all but alone in the day-to-day tasks.

Oh golly. I have not mentioned that the mister is an invalid. He has been laying in bed or creeping very slowly around the house for almost 2 weeks now, recovering from a urethroplasty. Poor dude. He’s doing well, considering, but I know that he’s ready to get back to real life. You know, and pee like a regular guy. Hopefully he continues to heal and recover well and we can enjoy Christmas all cuddled together in jammies.

golly, I love this time of year. Hugs to all you, internet friends, real friends, and family that I adore!

elle