Halloween!

One of Liam's favorite shows is the Octonauts.  He loves Captain Barnacles, Kwazii Kitten (the pirate lieutenant), and Tweak Bunny (the Engineer), but his favorite character is Peso Penguin, Medic.  So that's what he wanted to be for Halloween.  And of course, we all had to be characters, too.  He chose Captain Barnacles for Dad and Kwazii Kitten for me.  And I chose Tunip the Vegimal for baby brother.  No one will ever mistake me for a crafty creative, but I did my best.  Our friends Dave and Malissa (with Liam's buddy, Brent), invited us to go trick or treating in their neighborhood in Nu'uanu.  That place goes all out for Halloween!  There were elaborate decorations, musical events, and properties that were so large, we actually went in the back way of one house only to realize we had already been to that house from the front!  We had such a good time!

Yeah, I made the collar a little too small...

Here's the Octonaut Family!

Tunip's greens kept falling down!  Dad held them up for the photo op.

Here's Liam checking out some of the decorations.  Something dear to my heart...  And the reason Baltimore is my football team.

As for Halloween?  There's always next year!

Fall Fest at Queen Emma

Our friends Wimmie and Kiriko invited us to attend the Fall Fest at Queen Emma preschool, where both of their younger children attend.  We had such a great time with all the activities specifically designed for the preschool set.

First, there was digging for treasure.

Then Feeding the Witch!

And a fun egg hunt.

Afterwards, Liam and Dad shared some shave ice.

Liam earned tickets at each game and then used them to buy little prizes.  He got a green pirate bear for baby brother and a little stuffed penguin for himself.  He loves that little penguin.  His name his Peso, after Peso the Medic of the Octonauts and he goes everywhere with us.  He even goes to school with Liam everyday.  I sure hope we don't lose him!

Time to Catch Up -- Waimanalo Country Farms

We've been a bit behind here at Team Monkey, but I'm sure that comes as no surprise.  So, per usual, in honor of Chinese New Year, I begin the annual beginning of the year catch up from the end of last year!

Let's begin with some of our activities for Autumn...

We continued our one-year tradition of visiting the pumpkin patch at Waimanalo Country Farms.  Liam was much more interested in the activities this year.

He rode the cow train -- modified drums pulled by a small tractor

Nothing says fun like a cow train ride and a snack!

While he actually went in to the petting zoo this year, he still covered his ears because he was scared.  So proud of our brave boy!

Then he walked the field to look for a decent pumpkin.  Also new this year, since last year he chose his pumpkin from the little general store.

Liam and Dad even tried their hand at the air cannon.  Punkin Chunkin!  Okay...not quite.  But still fun!

Clearly, the pumpkins were riveting.

Ewan Makes One!

Today marks Ewan's first birthday!  It has felt both longer and shorter, depending on which day the asking was done.  Two is infinitely more challenging than one and I can't say that we've always been successful, but at least we're here!

Ewan is quite a bit different than his brother.  Where Liam is cautious, Ewan is cavalier; where Liam is cerebral, Ewan is physical.  It's been quite the journey.  So here's a look back at Ewan over his first year...

Newborn -- Ready to roll

One Month -- Arr...Pirate Ewan!

Two Months -- Busy, buzzy baby

Three Months -- Hanging with Fox

Four Months -- Tasty fingers!

Five Months -- Oh, those lashes!

Six Months -- Why yes, I'm ready for my poi now...

Seven Months -- Mama's gone artsy again...

Eight Months -- I'm ready to see them now.  Wait.  Who, exactly, is "them?"

Nine Months -- With the clothes

Ten Months -- Brainy Baby!!

Eleven Months -- In the Flair...

One year!  We made it!

Happy birthday Daredevil Man!!

Happy Birthday!

In July, we celebrated Liam's third birthday with his cousin Abby, who is one day older.  We are so lucky that Abby's mama, Liam's Aunty Cathy, is one of the most creative and talented people we know.  She did most of the work to make their birthdays super special.  Liam even got to pick the theme: Mickey Mouse!

There was a cool Mickey Park jumper.

Ewan and Papa watched the goings on.

Liam and Abby posed for the camera in the cool birthday hats Aunty Cathy made.

Liam, true to form, was content to play inside while everyone else was outside.

But his buddy Nica came in to play with him.

We had cake!  Each of them got their own.  This was Liam's.  Yay Safeway!

Liam and his buddy Luca enjoying the sweets.  Incidentally, that cupcake was pretty cool.  It was white with chocolate Mickey baked right in the middle.  I still don't know how Aunty Cathy did it.

And Liam, at home, enjoying his gifts.  What generous friends and family we have!

And here's the favor Aunty Cathy made -- Oreo Mickeys!

Happy birthday Mr. Liam!

This Party Just Don't Stop!

This past weekend was a full one for Team Monkey.  Good thing we're getting the hang of this two-child thing!

On Saturday, we went to Ava's 1st birthday party.  With a Lilo and Stitch theme and a location right on the water, it was set to be a good time!

Talk about an entrance!

The tablescapes were pretty incredible.

As was the cake!

And doesn't that dessert table look inviting?

Of course, the pool was the bigger temptation because, man, was it hot and muggy!

Some of the Iolani boys had a chance to hang around and catch up on the latest news.

Liam had fun playing with the little beach zen garden on the table.

He also had fun watching the candy-maker sculpt his lollipop.

See my octopus?  Just like the Octonauts!!

Ewan spent much of the party napping.  There are no more pictures of him because once he woke up, he just wanted to eat and be held.

But oh, how that pool was calling to the boys!

On Sunday, we were lucky enough to be invited to Brent's 6th birthday party.  Brent is cool because he and Liam have similar temperaments and he doesn't mind hanging out and playing with a 3 year old.  And...they finally got the chance to enjoy the water...

...in the form of an 18-ft. high water slide!!

I didn't manage to get a picture of Liam and Mikey as they splashed around, but apparently Liam went down the slide by himself several times.  That's my brave man!  Good thing it was Mikey out there, too, because I don't think I would have let him go by himself.  Mostly, though, it was the kids and the dads out there having a good time.

Once he was pau swimming (primarily because he wanted to play in the sand box and I wasn't about to let him mix sand and water at a place other than the beach), Liam enjoyed watching the other kids in the pool.  He paused to say hello to one of the grandpas.

He also enjoyed the birthday cupcake!

Ewan continued his courtship with Ava.  Way to go for the older women, there, dude!

And he amused himself by trying chew off the bottom of the water bottle.

Overall, it was a busy weekend.  But everyone had a great time!  (And we still managed to get naps in on both days, which meant that Mikey and I also had a great time!)