Hawaii Life

We are here in our new home and we are settled (except for those stray items and boxes that are so patiently waiting for a place).  Every day we get a little more comfortable with our surroundings and learn the ins and outs of the culture of Hawaii.  We have found a church, a Classical Conversations community to support us in our homeschooling, neighborhood kids for the boys to play with, Costco is close (really this made my day!), there's an ice cream shop not too far, beautiful scenery and hiking trails, and the beach is readily accessible.  Yes, there are so many good things we have been given here.  Though we long to be home on the mainland and close to family, we are embracing this incredible opportunity.

This blog update has been long put off.  The first trimester of this pregnancy I was lucky to make it through lunch without a nap most days.  Thank goodness we were staying with my parents much of that time because I needed the extra help.  We are here and now almost into the third trimester of this pregnancy.  It seems that if we weren't packing we were unpacking or organizing the last almost six months.  Now we are settling into our routine and anxiously preparing for and awaiting the arrival of our little girl.  Stay tuned for updates on this little lady's bed, custom built by her daddy.

I make no promises, but I am going to make a conscious effort to keep this updated more because we are living so far from family and friends.  So check back every once in a while and see what we are up to over on the island. We have had a lot going on, but the camera has not seemed to be out to catch all those moments, here are a few of the highlights:

This boy turned 3 and thought it was pretty cool he got to have his birthday at the hotel.  We celebrated before cake with a picnic at the beach.  Zeke had big plans for turning 3.  He told me he would be bigger than me when he turned 3.  Who knows maybe that growth spurt will happen for him.

Zeke changes who he is daily even by the minute sometimes.  We have a lot of costume changes going on.  Sometimes, he just likes to go by a different name, like Jerry.

This guy has a perfect blend of sweetness and spunk.  He keeps us on our toes and reminds us to smile daily.  

One of our first trips to the beach.  

Hans tried out surfing.

Hans had his first birthday in Hawaii and let me tell you it is a challenge to make an ice cream cake in a warm climate.

Our first hike in Hawaii.  We enjoy the rugged side.  This terrain was quite a challenge with kids in tow, but they all handled it well.  No injuries, but lots of smiles. 

Yes, they have a few pumpkin patches.  It just didn't feel like fall with shorts and sunglasses on.  We missed the crisp air and the beautiful autumn leaves. 

We (maybe it's more like I) really wanted to find out the gender this time.  The news that there will be another female in the house was very exciting.  These boys have no idea how this little girl will change their life.

Sam has been drawing a lot lately, mostly trucks adorned with blinking lights.  I love seeing his creativity bud.

Mr. Sam also put on his brave pants and tried surfing.  He didn't want to stand up this time, but thought maybe next time.  I prayed he would at least go past the wave break with the instructor.  He did go past the waves and even rode one in.  It is a start, but, hey, I am not even sure I would have gone that far on my first try.  He may be a little cautious like his mama. He was all smiles coming out of the water.

We drove all the way around the island recently and experienced so many breath taking views. 

A New School Year

Sam officially started Kindergarten in September.  We began our school year out of a suitcase in Texas, to a hotel room in Hawaii, and finally have found routine and a place for our homeschool at our new house.  It is so nice to be unpacked and to have a routine for our day.  Homeschooling has it's challenges, but it also has it's many blessings.  The greatest blessing has been a sense of stability for both boys during the many transitions in our life the past few years.  What we know is that right now in our life this is what is working for us and we trust that God will continue to show us the best direction for nurturing and educating our children.

The Great State of Texas

I was not looking forward to driving to Texas.  Hans was already there and that left me to drive the boys, lucky for us my sister, Makenzie, was more than willing to ride along.  Having those two extra hands in the car was a life saver for snacks, an exhausted toddler, or just someone else to answer questions while I focused on the never ending highway.  Aunt Makenzie also got to stay with us for a week in Texas and soak up some sun.

While we were residing in the Lone Star state we went tubing down the river, visited the Alamo and river walk, spent a weekend in Bandera, went to Sea World, and spent nearly every afternoon at the pool (the only place outside the air conditioning of our apartment where this pregnant mama felt cooled off).

Our last weekend in Texas my brother and his family came to visit before the last leg of our journey to Hawaii and the flight over the Pacific.  Our time in Texas was a bit of respite.  Although frustrating to have only what we could carry in suitcases, it is a blessing to live simply and to take each day as it comes.

It was a blessing to have family visit us one last time before our big move.  These two boys rode in their first rodeo in Tejas.

The boys did so well on the flight.  It was honestly more of a challenge for me to sit for that long.  Notice the glimpse of our pile of checked baggage.  We looked like the circus traveling through the air port!

Blake and Clare

We planned our trip to Iowa with the intent of being present to celebrate in Blake and Clare's wedding.  The hardest part about living away from family is that you miss out on a lot of family celebrations, but we have tried to be able to be back for some of them.  Mr. Zeke rocked the ring bearer role and Hans made it back just in time for to be a groomsmen.  We were able to see lots of my extended family that we had not seen in a long time and celebrate with all of my siblings before taking off for Texas.

So handsome!

Zeke with Uncle Blake before the ceremony

A few of the cousins all ready for the wedding.  It is a chore to get all 6 in a picture.

Time with special friends at the wedding.  Zeke and his god-mama Tracy striking Zeke's choice of pose.

Time with this wonderful friend, miss Sara Jane.

Tennessee

For Christmas Hans and all his siblings gave their mom a trip to her choice of destination.  All she wanted was time with her kids and this is what we hoped to give her.  All of her six children and their families together for a long weekend.  It was wonderful to spend this quality time together.

All 8 Breitbach cousins together.

Some Time in the Country

Hans absolute favorite place in the world is just across the Iowa boarder into Illinois.  A horse farm that's a little piece of heaven on earth.  We all were excited to spend a night over there breathing some fresh air and enjoying the wide open.  Hans always says that riding a horse lifts his spirits.  I am not an avid rider, but I will agree that these animals create a sense of peace when you are in their presence.  Our boys, although enjoyed the horses, were most enthused with the tractors and farm vehicles.

Cousins and Aunt Gretch came to spend some time with us at the farm.

First shooting lessons for both boys.  Gun safety was a priority.  You couldn't wipe the grin off their proud daddy's face. 

Homeward Bound....For a Little While

Even though we were only passing through for an extended visit, we were heading home to the heartland.  Wide open spaces and endless fields were calling our names.  Our journey would take us to Iowa for about a month, on ward to Texas for a few months, and then to our final destination in Hawaii.  It has been nearly a full time job keeping up with the details and all parts of this move.  The blog seems to have become the very bottom of the to-do list.  A list which I never reach the bottom of.  While in Iowa we  were able to spend time with cousins, friends, and show the boys some of our favorite things about where we grew up.  There's never enough time to see everyone we want to see and to take quality time to visit with everyone.  Even when we do not have the opportunity to catch up with  someone while home, we always carry our friends and family with us in our hearts.

Here's a little bit of our time in Iowa in rewind:

We "moved into" my parents house for a month and increased the noise level there.

Celebrating Grandma's birthday. 

We can not go to Dubuque without going to the warehouse for a forklift ride with Grandpa Bob.

Time with Wallace cousins at Nana and Papa's.

Great Grandma Dorothy.

More time with Wallace cousins!

Tour of the brand new Cedar Rapids fire station.  They were in AWE.

Nana and all her grandbabies, it had been a while since they were all at the same table.

This boy took off on two wheels while we were in Iowa.

These two spent a lot of time playing in the back yard at Nana and Papa's with Papa's old red wagon.

This boy almost perfected the look of shorts and cowboy boots.  He was preparing for the hot weather in Texas.

Grandpa Bob and ice cream, you can't have a visit with Grandpa without a good chance of ice cream.