Happy Mother's Day - a day late....

Sorry this post is a day late.  I really meant to sit down and write last night but I was so tired I fell asleep by 8:30!

I hope all of my mom friends were able to start their day as sweet as mine was with a whipped cream covered red velvet donut and an apple fritter - yum!!

I love donuts!!

After breakfast we headed out to Poway Lake to work off a little energy.  For those of you who know us well know that Nate is a bit difficult. I love him fiercely but boy can he be challenging.  This particular picture was a five minute process.  Grant was bound and determined to get Nate in the picture.  On the hike Nate tested my love for him over and over again.  Ben had a very hard time listening during the day and Piper whined - a lot.  By the end of the day I have to admit I was getting a little frustrated with all of the Mother's Day posts.  Why couldn't we have the "wonderful", "amazing", "gifted", "well behaved"  all you could ever ask for in a child children?  

So after little thought I decided to look at the positive and here it is:  

• my kids are far from perfect but they love with all of their hearts 
• they are not the #1 students in their class but I can tell their teachers and fellow classmates enjoy them and some of their teachers probably love them with all of their hearts
• they get cranky but they are resilient - they are able to move in the middle of the school year and take it in better stride than I can
• finally they are healthy - what more can I ask for...

I love you Benjamina, Miss P, and Nananiel

Now settled in a CA town near you - San Diego!

It has been a long time since I have blogged.  In Japan I blogged constantly.  I loved keeping my family and friends updated with the happenings of our life.  Then life got really busy, we moved to Hawaii and I quit blogging.  Well my mom mentioned to me yesterday how much my cousin enjoyed my blog and keeps asking if I will re-start.  Well here goes....

As many of you know, we moved to San Diego in March.  The move was very bittersweet.  We LOVED Hawaii and it will always hold a special place in our heart.  We chose to leave in March so Ben could start school in San Diego before the end of the school year and possibly make friends and get settled.  On the day I registered we found out we would have to take Piper and Nate to a different school for K because our neighborhood school was full.  No biggie - the other school is quite close.  Funny thing happened - we have ended up loving Piper and Nate's school and now plan to switch Ben there next year.  So much for moving early so Ben could get settled here.

This was taken in the limo as we left our hotel for the airport.

In other news Grant is getting settled at his new job.  He is doing something completely different from what he has ever done.  As I write this though I think about hos that pretty much happens though any time we move.  I find in the Navy jobs change all of the time and you really don't follow and single line of work.

Speaking of work - I am trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up!  I'm in the process of transferring my Family and Consumer Sciences certification from MO to CA.  It has been a long process and will probably take awhile but I'm working on it!  Right now I feel truly blessed though as far as options.  I have also been offered the chance to go back to work at Children's Hospital here in San Diego in Child Life.  There are a few other opportunities I have in San Diego as well.  I can't believe how lucky I am right now to have the power of choice!  I'll keep you updated on what happens!

Hiking in San Diego

Ben has started swimming here in San Diego.  He is still extremely skinny but he tries so hard!

















This is it for now....  My new goal will be to post as often as possible.  We'll see....