Last One For 2010

Here's our last update for this year...

Our Boys

Kuya MJ( da Big bruddah)

MJ is Mr. Reliable.  He is as responsible in school as he is at home.   You will often find him with a book in his hand or building things with his Legos.  I made a mistake in telling him at the beginning of school year that I'll give him a dollar for every perfect test score he gets from school.  Now I owe him a lot of money.  He enjoys boys time with Dad and Nyle.  Let it be biking, watching movies, tinkering with tools or working out to Billy Banks video ( P90X is too soft for Dad )... 

comparing his brother and sister

He likes to share his knowledge and learned skills with Nyle and just pampers Naia with love and attention.  He embraces his role as the big brother and most of the time he doesn't mind that he does more chores than the two younger ones.

His future plan

Believe it or not, one of my boys favorite topic to talk about is who they're going to marry someday and how many children they're going to have.  Nyle wants 3 kids but is still undecided which girl to marry.  But MJ on the other hand has a set plan.  I found the above drawing one day.  It's an unfinished picture of the future of our family.  MJ( which he labeled Me) is going to marry his long time crush and they're going to have 7 children( 4 boys and 3 girls).  Nyle made him promise that they'll be neighbors when they're both married and have their own kids.

MJ's Christmas present for us. He made this in school.

Nyle, Da Entertainer

A few days ago, I discovered that  Nyle is a natural runner and a fast one too! They had a Jingle Fun Run in school.  Nyle's class was 3rd in line to run.  The moment they started running, he just sprinted and passed all the kids in front of him.  They're suppose to do only 3 1/2 laps.  On the third lap all the kids were walking except for Nyle. He kept  going even if he saw Santa giving out candies in the finished line.  He did 4 1/2 laps and he only stopped because I told him that the Santa might run out of candies.

love notes form Nyle

Nyle  is a sweetheart and a big Mama's boy.  Despite his  dependence on his big brother, he steps up when MJ is not around.  He keeps Naia in line and helps me out.  Nyle is also a good student in school.  He is one of the advance readers in his class.  His teacher commends him for being a good leader and example to his classmates.  But recommends that he speaks a little more louder in class when expressing his thoughts. Really? That couldn't be our boy who can't stop talking at home!

Nyle's Owl project from school

He takes pride in his work.  We love him for being unpredictable and he always has something funny or heartfelt to say.  We don't do TV anymore at home.  For news, there are plenty of Apps for that and for our entertainment, we have a Nyle for that!

My Stripling Warriors a.k.a Da Mama's boys

Little Boo

Little Miss Cutie

Our Nainai turned 2 in September.  Despite the tantrums, the curiosity,  and the attitude that comes from being a two year old, Naia is sweet, funny, smart and lovable.  We all love and adore her and sometimes she would use that fact to her advantage.  She manipulates with her cuteness and she totally knows how to put those tears to use to get her way.

Naia's artwork

She loves to follow her brothers.  MJ's helpfulness and Nyle's naughtiness.. Like them she also loves books and would sit down and listen when I read big kid chapter books to Nyle. She has her own favorite books for me to read  too.  She loves Hello Kitty, Princesses and Dora.  She is scared of any adult in masked costumes and hats(e.g  Chuck E., Clowns and  Santa).  

Daddy's girl

As much as she loves Mommy, she adores her Daddy.  She gets so excited when he comes home.  The moment Mike sits down, she is already untying his boots. Needless to say, he is wrapped around her fingers...

Mike and Naika

 Da Mom and  Da Dad

For the first time in our 9 years in the USAF, Mike has to go on TDYs.   The first one happened the day after our household goods were delivered.  I'm pretty proud of myself that I was able  to unpack most of our stuff  and even put a couple of Ikea bookshelves together.   Less than a month later he left again for another couple of weeks.  I'm not looking forward to more TDYs.  I have a more profound respect now for those wives whose husbands are deployed.  

We came back to the Islands just in time for the Laie Hawaii temple renovation to be done.  We were able to serve as tour guides during the temple Open House.  We also had the opportunity to take some of our friends and family inside the temple for the first time.

Despite some health issues this year,  Mike and I are determined to be strong and healthy and hopefully we'll be blessed with another little Addington.

Our Ohana

We love being in Hawaii!  Our family pictures this year were taken by our good friend, BJ Liau.  We had the photo shoot at Bellows Beach, in the East side of the island.  There is so much beauty that this Island has to offer.  We are grateful that we have another opportunity to come back this way.  We're looking forward to more beach days, hiking, boogie boarding and enjoying all the island cuisine...

Maayong Pasko sa mga taga Pilipinas!  Mele Kalikimaka!  Merry Christmas Everyone!

A Month and a half later....

Since my last post we have moved to a house.  We're happy to be where we live right now because it's only a 3 minute walk to the boys school and 5 minute drive to Mike's work.  Our household goods came last Friday. What a perfect timing,  Mike  had to leave for a TDY the next day.  It's not so fun unpacking by myself but someone has to do it. I'm just grateful that our stuff are here.  No more sleeping on a futon! Here's what we've been up to this last month...

The boys started school and loving it.  We have a 2nd grader and a kindergartner.

Church boys

They both sported a missing front tooth for a week until MJ lost his other one too.

war face

We continued to spend a lot of time on the beach. We also had family and friends who visited the island, so we were really at the beach  a LOT.

some swim tops are not made for boogie boarding

Uncle and Mike trying to sync paddling the kayak

working together

poor Nyle got stung by a jellyfish :( but he was okay after  the spray, crying then taking a nap.. no peeing happened

Makapuu Lookout, with Aunty Shena and the little uncles

K-bay in the background, we're on our way to the beach again

Maka throwing a shaka

somebody's having fun while I'm watching the kids :D

our little BOO

look at that water... this is on K Bay Marine Corps base beach

Super Tan and Stink Eye

Enough with the beach, let's go down  memory lane. 

 A decade ago was when our journey together began.  Who knew that a 2 week courtship-engagement-wedding will work this well!  It's been  crazy, exciting and fun!  I'm grateful to be married to my bestfriend. I know that is so cliche and it sounds like a Jason Mraz song but really this guy is my best buddy and I'm really grateful to be his missus now and forever. 

Welcome to the Rainbow State

After 14 hours of traveling, it was nice to be welcomed with the smell of flowers, fresh Hawaiian air, and people looking like us everywhere....

back to being common


It all started at SFO waiting to board our flight to Honolulu, Naia noticed other kids that looked like her brothers.  She went over to them to say hi and just stared at them, as if asking, "are you my brothers too?" Since our arrival here, she's been calling local people, Dad, Papa(for Grandpa), MJ, Nyle and even Julie, my Brazilian friend who can pass as a local Hawaiian.  Here, people know I'm Filipino... Nobody will think I'm  Korean, Chinese or even Laotian like some people did in MD.   Now to work on my  pidgin...


the rainbow state

We were welcomed with a nice light rain... and what comes after the rain, a rainbow!  The boys were so excited to see one after another, we've seen  a rainbow each day since arriving.

the FOOD

Mike and I skipped the airplane meal because we were so excited for all the local food we were about to eat.  Dad picked us up at the airport with his boys and treated us to local McDo food: local cheeseburger with extra pickles, local fillet-o-fish, local nuggets and local french fries.  Later after checking in, Grandpa wanted to treat  his #1 grandson for his birthday, so we had some local ChuckECheese for dinner! So that started our local food binging. YaY!

loco moco: spam, egg, and rice

portuguese sausage, egg, and rice

musubi, mandoo, chix rice bowl, and lumpia

bbq Pinoy style

John's store musubi

shaved ice

And we're not done yet!  After their first local plate of spam, egg and rice, my boys declared that that was the best breakfast ever.  They've been requesting for musubi for lunch everyday.  I get to threaten them with no shave ice if they misbehave and it always works.  BTW, I'm not missing my pots and pans yet.

the beach

sigh.. need I say more?

The Graduate and the Birthday boy

I didn't have time to post about two special events that happened recently. So here it is before it gets over shadowed with Hawaii posts...
The Graduate

The graduate and the blog author

This year, the word thesis was added to my children's vocabulary.  Our Dad has been working hard to finish his  thesis and his hard work finally paid off.   He graduated and got his Masters Degree.  We're really proud of him!

skeet shooting

One of the things he missed the most while slaving away with his school work is shooting.  Here, he is celebrating post graduation.. poor birds ;)

Birthday Boy 

at 6 months old he crawled up and down the stairs all by himself; walked at 9 months old..

then he learned to dress himself up, open doors, climb everywhere, fix any loose screws around the house

he became a big bro; puzzles expert and Mom's big helper

He transitioned from an Island boy to East Coast boy.  It's time to wear real shoes and put some shirt on...

He learned about friendship and had his first crush..or crushes

As a school boy, his teachers commend him for not only being smart but also for being respectful.

What a blessing to have this boy in our life!

Our Kuya is another year older.  Last year he asked for scriptures for his birthday.  This year he wants a watch but not a digital one because he wants to learn how to read the hands. He also asked for books.  A few months ago, he asked me if he can have a Nintendo DS for his birthday.  I told him, I need to think about it because it's an expensive toy.   When he learned how much it costs, he told me he doesn't want it anymore.  I just wanted to give him a hug and tell him that for someone who is such a good helper at home and a consistent honor student, he deserves one.. I gave him a hug but didn't say anything. He wants books, why would I insist on the NintendoDS. Last night he asked, how old is he going to be when he can have an iPad.  :)