Kauai For Spring Break

For Spring Break we went to Kauai with four other families - the Verhasselts, Pannonis, Huhmensons, and Josephs. Pretty much everything went as we predicted. Parker and Conway did fantastic on the flights. Monroe did okay, but definitely reminded us why we continue to tell ourselves that we won't fly with a 9 month old (and then do it anyway). Kauai was beautiful and sunny most of the time and we got to enjoy pool time, beach time, and a great time all around with some pretty awesome friends! Here are some photos of the adventure...

{Monroe looks pretty excited for the airplane. Ha!}

{Naptime on the flight}

{The time difference was a bit of a transition, but the sting of being woken up early was softened by finding Parker reading to Conway in bed}

{Morning game of soccer - adults versus kids}

{Pool time was the name of the game most mornings and afternoons,

a lot of pool time}

{And hot tub time}

{Waterslides!!)

{A stop by Safeway on our drive in from the airport had David prepared. Tuck this in the basket under the stroller and he was set by the pool}

{And of course the boys requested their own cocktails by the pool so virgin lava flows for them}

{Tuesday was beach day and crawling in the crevices of that row of rocks you see in the background were little black crabs. Pretty cool!}

{Yep, Jesse made all the kids mocktails and then followed those up with shaved ice. Coolest fake uncle ever}

{Dinner out together for four of the five families. Kids at one end of the table. Adults at the other. Such chaos. Such fun!}

{And when the dinner goes longer than the kids can handle, just prop a device up against water glasses}

{Or snuggle up together and watch sports highlights}

{Or cat videos}

{Or just stretch your legs outside}

{All the kids took naps each day...and sometimes the adults did too. There is one adult and one kid napping in this picture :-)}

{Sometimes during naps the grown-ups went for walks on the beach (Treva) or runs (David). Thanks for the photo bomb, Nico.}

{Post naps generally meant more pool time}

{Parker and his new friend Nico}

{Parker being pushed around the pool by Nico and Mollie}

{Monroe and his friend Tatum}

{David's not-so-new friend Ty. Seriously, we spotted the whole Pender family walking by us at the pool. Apparently we had to go all the way to Kauai to see the Penders!}

{Playtime and then dinner with the Huhmensons on our last night in paradise}

{I think Soo-Jin is ready to go to bed}

{The whole experience tuckered Conway out and he proceeded to fall asleep on the way to the airport}

P.S. Spring Break Photos: Maui, Spring Break at Maison Rouge

Monroe Is 10 Months Old

There haven't really been many major changes for Monroe this month. He just seems to be getting better at his current skill set. He pulls himself up on anything and everything without much regard for what it is - table, chair, person. He can also cruise along these objects (or people) like a champ and he especially loves to stand and push boxes or other objects that will slide around the house.

He now has six teeth and he's still quite the biter. He thinks it's super fun to put a stuffed animal or pillow in his mouth and give it a good shake. It looks a bit like something you'd see an animal do to it's prey out in the wild. I continue to be less happy when he chooses me as his prey.

One development I do love, though, is that he has been spitting up less and less. I still get doused every once in a while, but usually it's predictably if he bounces or gets too excited shortly after eating. And on the topic of eating, Monroe has sampled most foods now. He's even eaten many of the foods that have a higher risk of allergic reaction (eggs, peanut butter, shell fish) and so far so good! He does usually prefer finger foods that he can eat on his own these days so he isn't eating pureed food as much.

Monroe loves watching his brothers, getting into whatever they're doing, and climbing all over them. He's been pretty sturdy from day one, but his size and increased mobility is a little deceiving to Parker and Conway. They often need to be reminded that while he loves their attention, he probably isn't ready for full on tackles yet. Gentle: a term that continues to be lost in translation at our house. Oh the joys of a house filled with boys!

P.S. Conway is Ten Months Old

Relaxing with Papa

 

Yay For Boxes!

Two boys in diapers means they both get their own box to play with after

a trip to Costco. Ha!