pickle eater

Most babies, when given a pickle, pucker up right? Not our Mason. He grabbed it. Sucked on it...and wouldn't let go of it. He didn't pucker once. Never made a face. He loved it. He must be his Mama's boy! (:

Reunited

...and it feels so good! Maybe for Harmony! Monday morning, Harmony and I headed out for a day of shopping and to pick Astro up from the airport. It was a long day and suffice it to say, nothing went perfectly! However, the two were finally reunited. It looked like Harmony was going to cry when she saw him again!

He is now here at my parent's home and is also trying to get acclamated to the weather. He loves having so much room to roam. Although he doesn't have any gecko's to chase, he has found plenty of squirrels and birds!

Park Fun

(my new favorite picture of this kid!)

(no matter what he is doing, Connor always stops to pose for me! )

(trying to keep his balance on the "plank")

(She did this over & over)

(cousin-ly love)

(I made them pose for a cousin picture)

Yesterday, the weather was a balmy 60 degrees. (: So we decided to take advantage of the weather and head to the park. The kids liked the one by our house on Guam, but absolutely LOVED the "Castle park". There was a lot of playing Knights, being pirates making others walk the plank, hide and go seek and tag. It was a lot of fun to watch the kids run around and play. Instead of sweaty heads and sunburns, there hands were cool and their cheeks were pink from the play. We love OREGON/WASHINGTON!!

Sharp Shooters

The kids are having so much fun with their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. However, the other day Grandpa Kennedy took the boys out to shoot his bb gun! Harmony felt that was a little to "boy" for her and so she didn't do it. The boys thought it was very cool!

culture shock

(my new toy)

(view from my parents deck)

On Monday Ivan and I went to go and pick up my new car. Afterward I wanted to stop and get some groceries and a few other things. So we stopped at Fred Meyer.

Ivan, because of good behavior on the plane, was allowed to pick out a Lego set. We started walking into the store he asked me if this is where we got Legos. I said yes. Then he asked where we had to go to get food. I told him in that store also. He looked at me like I was from Mars.

In Guam, the BX and the commissary aren't next to each other. So you have to drive from place to place.

Then as we were walking into the store, Ivan stopped and said, "Mom! They have phones outside!!" Apparently he had never seen a pay phone before!

As we were grabbing a few groceries, Ivan was looking at all of the different choices and said, " I like the food here better than the ones on Guam."

The cutest however, was on our drive home. We drove on a highway next to a damn. His eyes were huge as he asked what it was!

Then he was so excited to see a train! He hadn't remembered ever seeing a train in his whole life.

The best was when he was able to go in 2 tunnels!

My son who has seen carabou's walking down a highway, many, many different cultures represented at his school/housing, wild boars being chased by boonie dogs...had never been in a tunnel.

It is like he is discovering a whole new world!

a quicky

It is 10:20 on Sunday evening. We have traveled, what feels like, halfway around the world! I am exaughsted and getting ready for bed. I did want to let everyone know that we are here. Tired...but here.

Pink Sunset

The other night, I was trying to rock Mason to sleep. Harmony & Ethan were watching tv. I looked outside and noticed that the sky was almost completely pink. We all jumped up, grabbed our cameras and got some pictures of a cool pink sunset!

who is this?

(my little spring flower)

(is that not a cute little tail?)
(uhm yeah, just ignore my fatness and focus on the cuteness that is Ivan!!)

(Ivan and his friend Fallina)

What a difference a year makes!

Last year, Ivan had a Mothers Day program in his class. He stood in the back and hid. Then laid on the floor and screamed and cried. Eventually, we took him out of the situation. It broke my heart in a million pieces.

This year, he did a Spring Concert. And he was a rock STAR! One of the loudest singers. He sang, he danced, he shook his "tail". He was not happy with the spotlight in his eyes, but other than that...it went so well.

I am so glad that he is getting over some of his "issues". That boy makes me so proud with all he has accomplished!! Go Ivan!!

Bye bye

(Stephanie, Line and I)
(so cute! Harmony and Freddy were wearing matching shirts...and they are the same height!)

(Line and Grace..." we only sing at church"

(singing Livin' on a prayer!)


(I can't get my pictures to rotate! This is our total island baby, rockin' out to the music!)
( 2 of the Moran boys rockin' out!)

(ok so not the best picture of Stephanie! lol She is Mason's "Phillapino Mom")

( I interrupted them mid conversation!)

(Such a fun group! Love you all! )

I wanted to have a going away party, but decided it wouldn't be good manners to throw a party for myself. Luckily, my friend Stephanie had one for us! We had a great time, laughing, talking, eating pancit, and doing video-karaoke. The kids had a blast staying up late running around with their friends. By the time we got ready to go, Ivan was half asleep on their couch! We are going to miss our fun Guam friends! Thanks for the memories! (:

9 years old!

Now that our time is down to a week, I have found a little bit of time to update my blog. Amazing isn't it?!

This week my "baby boy" turned 9! I can't believe it. Ethan is such a sweetheart and he just melts my heart.

So here are 9 reasons why my 9 year old is the BEST!

1. He has no problem admitting that he is a Mama's boy!

2. He is an amazing big brother.

3. Even though at this age, he finds church "sooo boring", he goes because "I love you Mom and I will do what you ask me to do"

4. He is very, very smart.

5. He is a fabulous artist.

6. He has a tender heart.

7. When he gets in trouble for something, he cries more about what he did then about getting in trouble.

8. He is very responsible.

9. He writes me the sweetest notes!

Ethan decided that he didn't want to have a party, but just to go to Tarza ( a local waterpark) with his best friend. So we arranged for a babysitter for Mason, and spent the day having fun in the water. We came home extremely sunburnt, but we had fun. It was a great way to spend one of our last weekends on Guam!