Trouble

Zander: "Mom, I want to draw."

Danielle: "Okay buddy, get out your paper and crayons."

Zander: "Actually, I want to cut paper."

Danielle: "Okay, then get your paper and scissors."

Zander: (while digging in the junk drawer) "I already got the paper.....now, where are those f*$kin scissors.......?"

Danielle: "Excuse me sir, what did you just say?!?"

Zander: (with the "deer in headlights" look) "I'm just looking for the f*$kin scissors?"

Danielle: (as sternly as possible while trying not to smile) "Zander Palm, this is the only time I'm going to warn you, that word you just said is a hot sauce word. I will not give you hot sauce this time, but if I ever hear you say it again, you will get hot sauce in your mouth."

Zander: "You mean the word 'f*$kin,' Mom?

Danielle: "Yes son, that is a very very naughty word and I don't ever want to hear you say it again."

Zander: "Okay Mom."

(few minutes later while he diligently cuts his paper)

Zander: "Mom, is 'stupid' a bad word?"

Danielle: "Well, no, it's not a BAD word, you won't get hot sauce for it, but it wouldn't be nice if you called someone 'stupid,' okay?

Zander: "Okay. Soooooo, 'f*$kin' is a hot sauce word, but 'stupid' ISN'T a hot sauce word, and 's%#t' isn't a hot sauce word either, right?"

Typical Boy

Zander: "Mooooommmmm!!!!! I went pooooooooooop!!!

Danielle: "Okay Zander, hold on, I'll be there in just a second."

Zander: "Mooooommmmmmm, it's a juicy one, and I didn't even get any in my paaaaaaaants!!!!"

Danielle: "Woooohooo Zan Man, good job......holy cow, buddy, you really did have to go potty, that's a big one."

Zander: "I did it just for you Mom."

Danielle: "Oh, thanks Zander."

Zander: "Today is a very special day."

No complaints....

Things are kinda mellow right now around here, and truth is, that is totally fine with me.

We had a busy holiday season, followed by an exciting trip to Montana, and a short but hectic readjustment back to regular life upon our return, but the past couple weeks have been.....well.....pretty quiet, and I welcome the quiet.

Looking back through my pictures, I realized I missed a couple of events since our return that I thought I would mention. First was our visit to see the "Black Pearl" from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies. It docked here in Barbers Point Harbor, where they are supposedly tearing it down and building a new one for the fourth installment of the Pirates movies (due out in summer 2011). Here are the kiddos demonstrating their best pirate faces, which could also be mistaken for squinting in the bright sun.


On a different note, as most of you know, we also had a Tsunami scare following the big earthquake in Chili. This time around the state even went so far as to sound the sirens, evacuated many areas, and suggested that people institute their tsunami protocol (buy bottled water, have flashlights and batteries, non-perishable food available, etc.). Since we already had all of the above, I did as much laundry as I could (in case we lost power or water for several days), filled the bathtubs with water, and I even vacuumed my floors (maybe a little above and beyond the call of duty ;)). The tsunami was supposed to hit Oahu at 11:37 a.m., so my neighbors and I decided to head outside to the front of our houses to check out if we could see anything (we have a view of the ocean from our street)....and we were surprised to come out and find an entire crowd of people trying to do the same thing....they were even parked all the way up the street.



Thankfully nothing came of the warning, but it was an interesting experience, nonetheless.

Aside from that, it's just been the same-old same-old around here, with Brian working, kids going to school, blah blah blah. Brian has been busy planning a few trips this spring, including a short deployment at the end of March, a two-week deployment at the end of April, a trip to Michigan in mid-May for his Grandfather's funeral, immediately followed by a trip to Seattle for work training. Busy travel season for Brian, but the rest of us are going to stay put.

That is, until next December anyway. ;) Brian and I just bought tickets to New Zealand, and we couldn't be more excited! We leave New Years Eve and will be gone 16 days, sans kids....we figured they are old enough to take care of themselves for a couple weeks since Charley will be turning six this year. Okay, you know I'm just kidding.....my Mom will be coming out to Hawaii to watch the kiddos while we are gone. So now that we have the tickets, we just have to work out the details! Brian is already starting his "research" phase....not of New Zealand destinations unfortunately, but research on what gear he will need for the trip. Typical Brian....it's always about the gear. ;)

I guess that about covers our happenings. A lot of folks around us are struggling right now, with everything from health issues, to personal issues, to financial issues.....so when it's all put in perspective, we don't have a whole lot to complain about around here. I'm feeling pretty lucky these days......