The Year that was

  Here are the things that I should have posted last year.

Our trip to Cebu, my island home..
After being away for almost 9 years, it was good to be home.  We took a short trip to Cebu over Spring break.  We wish we could have stayed longer. We weren't  able to show the kids all our favorite spots of the island or Mike's areas in the mission.  But I was happy to have most of my family meet my kids, seeing some of my closest friends  and being able to enjoy the delicious Cebuano cuisine. The most special part of our trip though was going in the Cebu Temple together.   Someday we'll be back and we'll get to see more of Cebu.

with Nana at Cebu Temple

enjoying Cebu's side of the Pacific O

riding the traysikol; it wasnt stinky just dusty, says Nyle 

riding the habalhabal, Dad's favorite mode of transportation in the mission 

MJ and Dad about to experience the Busay Zipline

10 hours back to Honolulu

Mini vacay on  the West Side

A week after Nyle's birthday we decided to have a little break from our routine.  We wanted to go to an off island vacation but I was still too sick to ride on a plane.  So we decided to go to Makaha Hotel after seeing it on one of the old episodes of Hawaii Five-O.  We're glad that we did because they closed it down late last year.  That part of the island is so beautiful.  We really enjoyed laying back and enjoying what nature has to offer..

bahay kubo in Makaha

Makaha Hotel Resort

Who wouldn't want to wake up to plumerias outside their window

Mike and the West Side waves

Aunty Nikki and Uncle Chad's wedding

In June, Mike's little sister married her long time boyfriend, Chad.  We're really happy for them and looking forward to little cousins!

wedding photos were taken by Kristin McCain

the couple with the Duques 

Master Sergeant Select

The afternoon before the promotion results came out, the Colonel and the Chief made their rounds to surprise the Selectees and we got our surprise!

Way to go, Daddy!

Induction ceremony

MJ's Baptism

MJ turned 8 in July and had his baptism on his birthday.  It was a  sweet occasion shared with some family and close friends.  We're really proud of MJ.  

the program( gotta post this, I worked hard on this one)

with Dad

our ohana with Bruce in the belly

the trio with Tutu Bev

Beach and Camping    

Summer time was spent mostly at the beach.  We camped as a family for the first time and we really enjoyed that.  So we did a few more weekend campings even in my last month of pregnancy. 

We also got to take advantage of our special kamaaina passes..

Polynesian Cultural Center

celebrating number 34 at the PCC

and number 11 too

the boys version of the war dance

Wet and Wild Water Park

the boys with Chloe

our little poser

the big kahuna

Our little Sunbeam 

Naia started Sunbeam this year.  Isn't that crazy!  Where did time go?    At the top of last year she potty trained herself .  It was before our trip to the Philippines and I was hoping she would wait until we came back.  I thought it would be easier to be changing diapers than finding a clean public bathroom there.    But that's our little Naia, she's quite independent and decisive. In September she turned 3.  She also started doing kidnastics and basic ballet.  Naia loves anything girly; Dora, Disney princess, Tinker Bell, pink and purple, dresses and bows, ponies, you name it! But she also loves to play with her brothers, watch Ninjago and even sneak a few kicks and punches to Nyle when he's not watching.  She likes to take responsibilities and is very proud to be a big sister to Bruce.  She loves to sing, dance and read.  She also loves to give our family prayers.   

Iron Girl

ballerina

Ms. Fearless

Our Santino

Nyle turned 6 in May.  He thinks school is fun and that there are too many good looking girls in his class.  Nyle loves anything super hero.  He loves watching movies, reading books and story telling.  The past year he did a lot of back up support to MJ's many activities.  There's no one more excited for MJ's baptism and cub scout activities than Nyle.   They're doing Tae Kwan Do together.  We love our little Tino for being such a free spirit.  He is not afraid to express his feelings or his ideas.  He's got the coolest dance moves and he can belt out the songs from Les Miserables.  He loves to compete with MJ, argues with Naia, wrestles with Daddy, adores his Mommy and LOVES his baby brother.  

shaka

Church boy

with his favorite hero 

The Big Brother

MJ had a busy year.  He started piano, Tae Kwan Do and Cub Scouts.  He is a third grader and does his best in school and in every task you give him.  He loves his little siblings and strives to be a good example to them.  He makes life easier for us by being such a great help at home.  MJ loves to read and among the many books he read this year, he finished Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series and is now starting the Kane Chronicles.  He also loves to build legos, do puzzles and play chess.  

the cub scout with his supporters

waiting his turn for piano recital

getting his first stripe for TKD

Our Baby                                                                       

Bruce was blessed in Church today .  He is a chunky 6 week old baby.  He turns all red when he's upset and his head gets all sweaty when feeding.  He loves his boppy pillow and swing and hates his crib.  He loves being around his siblings. He actually gets all fussy if he doesn't hear their noise.  He gets a lot of love and attention from all of us.  

6 weeks

Mr and Mrs  Addington

Mike had been happily serving in his stake callings.  Early last year he was called to serve as our stake Sunday School President, then a month before we had Bruce, he got called to serve in the high council.  In December he marked his 10th year in the USAF.  He travelled to 2 different countries for work and brought us all kinds of cool stuff and stories.  Right now, he just started his 6 week NCOA(Non-Commisioned Officer Academy). He also just recently had a birthday.  Let's say he is closer to 40 than he is to 30.  

Mike with his peeps

I started 2011 attending   Zumba class 4x a week.  Then I got pregnant and spent most of the year being sick.   During my pregnancy I indulged myself with organic food, watching well rated documentaries and owning Words With Friends matches.   I'm currently serving as Nyle's class' teacher in Primary Sunday School.  

Thanksgiving was spent in the hospital, it was the day after Bruce was born.  We had our traditional Noche Buena, Christmas eve dinner.  I was pretty proud to be able to cook a big meal of pancit, my Ma's chicken curry, lumpia, Pinoy pork barbecue and even made buko salad and leche flan too.  We are grateful for all the Christmas presents and cards that we got!  

our little feast

Mike and the kids hard work

For New Year's eve we went for a drive to our favorite part of the island, Laie.   We had our ono dinner buffet at the Polynesian Cultural Center then went to drive by the temple.  We went to bed early because Church starts at 8 AM for us this year.  

Kaaawa pit stop

PCC's Samoan Santa

 Now looking forward to 2012!  We'll see what this year has in store for us.  Happy New Year to you all!.. 

  

Baby Bruce

Bruce Nazarito Kahoukua Addington came to our family early in the morning of November 23rd.  He was  a chunky 8 lbs 7.2 oz and 21 inches long baby.  After my experience with Naia,  I thought I decided that I wont even try not to go without any epidural.  But a couple of weeks before giving birth,  I had this epiphany and I became determined to go natural again.  When we got to the hospital, I was having 5 minute contraction interval at 4 cm dilation. So the Triage nurse told me to walk around for an hour before they check me again.  Forty minutes later, I told Mike I cant walk anymore.

let's take a pic before we go back to the triage

 We went back and the nurse told us that there was no Labor and Delivery room available and we should wait in the triage for another hour.  Holy Guacamole,  I was in so much pain already and felt like baby wasn't gonna wait for that long.  Then the moment of weakness came,  I asked for epidural but they told me that unless I was in L and D room they will not administer it to me.  They gave me some temporary pain reliever that only helped for a couple of contraction.  Mike was so awesome.  He paid close attention to all my request for things he can do to help me with the pain.  Half an hour after we came back to the Triage, the Nurse decided to check if I progressed. Bam! I was ready to go and too late for any Epidural.  By some miracle an L and D room became available.  I was rushed in there, 10 minutes after we got to the room, we welcomed our Brucenator.

first time meeting their baby brother

Bruce Lee

Mike and I usually have a name ready the moment we find out we're pregnant.  We knew we want to name a baby girl after our good friend, Annie but we were undecided what first name to give a baby boy.  Some names we considered were: Moses then we can call him, Momo, Samson because his second name is gonna be Nazarito(Nazarite),  Bear because that is Mike's moniker and it is a pretty cool name.  But  Bruce won because from the time we had MJ, Mike always wanted to name a son, Bruce after his favorite martial artist, Bruce Lee.  But if you ask Nyle, he'll tell you that he is named after the Hulk, Bruce Banner.  It took me awhile to like the name so did most of the people who asked us what we're naming our baby. But the moment I held him in my arms and saw his face, I felt that it was a perfect name for him.  I might just have given birth to a future Kung Fu Master.  I'm glad that we decided to give him. Nazarito as a second name.  All our children and my siblings children have either N first names or second name in memory of our father, Nonilon Nazarito.  My oldest brother, my Kuya was given that name too.  His Hawaiian name, Kahoukua is Mike's ancestor, Tutu Beverly's great-great grandfather.

Who does he look like?

We thought at first that he looks a lot like Naia.  Now, Mike thinks that he is looking a lot like him.

 His older siblings all want to claim that he looks like them.  Nyle was excited to see  Brucey's baby zits on the face because he might just have dairy allergy too. Finally, someone he can share his love for soy milk with.  Bruce is a bit colicky and loves to be held.  He keeps me up at night, wants his milk almost every hour and has a pretty good metabolism.  I'm not looking forward to changing his diapers when he starts eating solids.   He reminds me of how MJ was as a baby.   Both of them had to go back to the hospital to be treated for jaundice too. 

bili treatment

 

I forgot how it is to have a newborn.  I had it easy with Naia.  Aside from, my Mama staying with us pre birth and 3 months after she was born.  Naia was also a good sleeper.  Boy, I miss sleeping in our Tempur pedic bed! He seem to sleep better downstairs, either on the boppy pillow, his swing or in my arms.  I'm just glad our couch now is way more comfortable than the couch we had with MJ.  

So this is how it is to have 4 kids.  It is not easy but we wouldn't want it any other way.  We love our babies.  Now, I'm finished with this post and Bruce has been fed,burped and changed, maybe I can get some sleep before I have to do the whole cycle again.  

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?