Family Adventure Day

We had another great day today--actually it's been a super weekend. A little piece of joy in all this deployment preparation are the 4 day weekends that we will have every weekend up until he leaves.

Having Mike home has been great. The babies really have changed everything. The 2 months that he was gone would have been a nuisance but still a breeze without the babies--but with the babies it was sad. They changed so much in those 8 weeks--it makes me not want to even think about how much time we'll miss as a family during this deployment. Now that Mike is home i appreciate our time together so much more. I just drink in all the moments we're together and i love watching him with the twins. They are lucky to have such a sweet, loving and involved daddy.

I don't want to be sad here though--i want to focus on all the good. And there really has been A LOT of good. The babies are at a fun age--little by little we are finally starting to get back out and do some of the things that we used to. Granted its all much different now! The beach is no longer for lounging around and getting a tan--but about family time--playing and making new discoveries.

Today we went to Ko Olina Beach Resort to spend some time at their lagoons. The lagoons are man-made and very pool-like...a great place for the babies to take their first ocean swim! Also a good thing about the lagoons is the grass. I'm all for sand--i mean it's part of the beach experience--but i can do without it with the babies. So we set up our blankets on the grass under two beautiful palms for some shade. The weather was slightly overcast with moments of sun and there was a good amount of wind--a very comfortable day to be outside. We brought their new bouncer chairs--and they were great for the babies to sit in and watch their surroundings and take little cat naps. Personally I'd like to have a bouncer seat my size!

During one of the sunny patches we took the babies down to the water for their first "dip". It actually wasn't too cold, although from the pics it probably looks like we are torturing them. We didn't keep them in long--about 5 minutes each. Nora was doing her usual crazy bird-like scream that had everyone within a 100 ft. radius staring at us--so i thought it would be best to cut our first swim short in fear of CPS coming for us. Holden on the other hand started to get used to the water and calmed down after the initial shock, i was really quite surprised he did so well.

Daddy and Nora...before the "dip"
and the torture begins

"i can't believe you're making me do this"

Holden alone on the big beach

she's not too happy with either of us

Mommy and Holden --before!

preparing for the dip...Mommy is assuring him that everything will be fine

he did not agree!

again

calming baby down

not too sure about this ocean stuff

family picture

After the beach, we had lunch at a restaurant that overlooks the lagoon. Again...Mike and I were venturing out beyond our comfort zone--hoping the babies would be good. And miraculously they were. I'm sure it had something to do with wearing them out from all the crying at the beach, but Holden slept in my arms the entire time we ate and even more amazing is the fact the Nora hung out in her car seat the whole time, mostly looking around and sucking on her paci. Everyone commented on how calm and chill she was. I just had to laugh!

After the long day at the beach, Holden was so tuckered out, he could barely stay awake on the walk back to the car....

here he is "cold-kickin' it"

Mike's already said we're going back next weekend. Maybe we'll try another beach! But for now, babies are all in bed and Mommy and Daddy need some sleep too! Goodnight!