November/December 2010

Multi-task girl: eat and drive.
Lyon's turn to drive
Good Morning!
Our recording studio in Lihue
Date Night with tired, red eyes
Only in Hawaii does Santa get to drive a jeep.
Lyon holds his poker face
Camping at Poli Hale
We brought the little potty for emergencies since Lyon had the runs. Here he is, early in the morning, watching the waves while doing business.
Most amazing sunset to date.

Brian and Violeta Finch
Will and Tiana with the final baby
Shooting the breeze
Ready for camping!
bowl heads before our cookie project.

2010: The Year of Entrepreneurship And The End of Diapers

Well, I haven't done a Christmas card or letter again this year (surprise surprise with two little ones). I did however manage to put up some lights and a little tree which the kids enjoy every night. Now you have me inspired, so I'm going to compose a Christmas letter right now, right here for you:

2010: Year of Entrepreneurship and The End of Diapers

2010 was a big year for the biggest to the smallest of the Foster Four. First and foremost, I'd like to focus on the most important aspects of our lives. We are all healthy. We still have a great little house we rent with a huge yard and a stream running through the back of the property. We live close to family and we have a wonderful support system through our family and church. Finally, we are happy and thankful in life and for life. Now, moving on to a little closer look of each person in our family.

After running our recording business from our house for most of 2009 and 2010, we couldn't keep up with the demand and asking two little ones to keep quiet while Ariki recorded at home. That said, I set out to look for a better, commercial location. I credit it to good timing and divine intervention, we stumbled across a vacant location in Lihue that WAS a recording studio! Because Ariki gets asked to play drums at various churches on island, he knows a lot of people. So when we met with the real estate agent managing the location, he immediately remembered Ariki and gave us the lease for dirt cheap. Thus, Dubb City Productions LLC was officially born (yes, the name paying homage to Wellington city). Due to Ariki's expertise skill and gifted ear, we are getting numerous clients and as of right now, booked through June 2011! In his off time, Ariki has taken up water sports such as surfing, body boarding and stand up paddling. He also enjoys doing an exercise training class once a week. He is an excellent father, loving husband, and popular guy on the island. I always marvel at how many people he knows that I don't know, considering I was the one who grew up here! It seems like everywhere we go, someone is greeting him with a big smile on their face.

Lyon

Lyon has had a successful year as well. After two and a half years of intervention services through Easter Seals (due to being premature), we finally decided to end services because he was caught up in all areas. No more speech and physical therapy! Lyon marked the occasion by attending a graduation ceremony at the Easter Seals office in Lihue. We are relieved to put all aspects of his premature birth behind us completely and move forward. We are grateful beyond words that he has not a single lingering symptom of being born at 24 weeks gestation. Truly a miracle we have witnessed in our lifetime. Now at three and almost a half, Lyon is a super bubbly, silly, funny, happy, loving kid. He's always into something he shouldn't be and he's always laughing about something. He carries a lot of features from the Legacy side-pin straight hair, funny forehead, skinny body, and possibly a lot of body hair (bummers, sorry kid). He takes pride in his older brother role and is quick to intervene for his sister if anyone is messing with her on the playground. He is Poppa's (my father) number one fan. I think if we gave him the green light, he would pack up his toys and move to their house in Kalaheo in a heartbeat.

Kiri

Not to be out-shined by her older brother, Kiriana was soon to walk, talk and potty train quickly after Lyon. That makes two out diapers and I can't tell you how happy we are. Our wallet is even happier. Kiriana is the reflective, observing, moody personality. She wants to snuggle all the time and be close to mom. This I don't mind as I remind myself to relish these times. One day she isn't going to want "mom" like she does now. Kiri enjoys animals and playing with whatever Lyon is into. Not so much interest in dolls and girly things just as I wasn't. Oppositely, Kiri takes on the Foster side: cork-screw curls and polynesian features. She is all over Ariki. Let's just hope not his size!

Finally a little on me. I'm still working at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in the private events department. I enjoy this job very much because it allows me to be a mom on my off time and not worry about work outside of work. This year was a tough one for everyone on Kauai. Most of the Hyatt staff was temporarily laid off and I was included in that bunch for 6 months. As usual, when life gives you lemons, you better make damn good lemonade out of it! So that I did! I've been enjoying how to make useful things- environmentally friendly laundry detergent, non-toxic cleaning products, healthy cookies, homemade lasagna. Another great thing that happened this year was time and opportunity to start my event coordination business. Through friends knowing my knack for being uber organized, planned, and already doing this at the hotel, to date I have put on four great weddings of 150-300 guests. Thus, A Perfect Day Events was born! I can't tell you how much I enjoy doing this business. I love details, I love parties, I love the challenge of getting it right and perfect. And since I already work in the industry, I have tons of contacts for everything needed. It was a no-brainer, I needed to do this business. I have another wedding coming up in April and very excited about that.

I feel like I am leaving out a lot of details but this is a good synopsis of our little world. Mom continues to work at the airport and substitute teaching during the day. Dad is retired now, just about lives in his garden with his vegetables and egg laying chickens. My older brother, Gabe, has moved home after 14 years on the mainland USA. Finally we are getting to know each other. Life is good, and we are thankful.

Looking forward to seeing you one day again.

Merry Christmas and Hau'oli Makahiki Hou!
Marie, Ariki, Lyon and Kiriana

Turning Another Corner

December 2010. After a very trying year with Lyon and Kiriana being so young and needy, I finally feel like we are getting somewhere. And by getting somewhere, I mean Lyon has entered this phase where he is so agreeable, sweet, funny, and obeying. It's amazing. It's like we have come out of a war zone into peacetime. I can't begin to articulate what a change he has made compared to the frustrations I have had with him. He finally wants to listen. That about sums it up.
As for little miss Kiri, she's always been sweet. I guess she can't help her mood swings being that she is female. She's grumpy in the mornings but sweeter as the day goes. She likes to be held and cuddled and I'll take all the cuddles I can get. One day she isn't going to want Mommy so I'm enjoying the moments together.
They have also developed a nice relationship together. They play together, they eat together, they even watch out for each other. Lyon is very over-protective of his sister. He watches her in public. Once he was sitting on my lap at the playground and I wasn't paying attention. I guess a kid grabbed Kiri's toy. Lyon silently got up from my lap, went over and fought the toy out of the kid's hands and gave it back to Kiri. Silent justice. He is kind of like Kiri's Secret Service agent and brother all rolled into one.
One more note on their personalities: right now these are scary things: robots, monsters and bugs. On the flip side, Lyon is a heavy equiptment junkie. He told me the other day (afterthoughts on our beach camping trip) that we need an excavator to move the sand around. Kiri likes to draw and prefers a balloon with helium over a doll. She already loves horses and animals. She has no problem getting down and dirty with Lyon and dump trucks. She also loves shoes, princesses and pretty things. Good mix.
Looking forward to what the new year brings. We are so near preschool time I can't believe it. Looking forward to the break it brings, but bittersweet my babies begin their journey out of the nest :(

According to Lyon and Kiriana

According to Lyon, he was the "Credible Hulk" for Halloween. Not to be confused with the Incredible Hulk.

According to Kiri she has a baby in her butt and one in her opu. It's a girl baby.

Tonight the kids were really tired from a great afternoon at Violeta and Titus's birthday party. As we lay down to go to sleep, Lyon was really irritated at Kiri because she wouldn't stop singing. It was a rendition of "Jingle Balls" followed by a medley of "Aloha Kakahiaka, My Body and Firefighters of Kauai." Lyon suggested maybe we should call Daddy to come deal with her. Daddy was at work though.

Kiri on her gurgling stomach: "Oops! did you hear the bubbles in my opu?"

Squeals of Delight

As I was cleaning the kitchen tonight Kiri took out all the can foods and lined them up on the kitchen table. "Look Mommy! A Train!" she exclaimed. She had made a train out of the canned foods. Genius.

I just love how she squeals in delight when she sees something she likes. It's the cutest thing ever.

Both kids are potty trained now. I never thought I would see the day!

Big Doodoo and Sharp Teeth

Last night Lyon went to the bathroom and made the biggest, longest, straightest doodoo I've ever seen. It was like a perfect log. "Kiri!!!" he yelled. "Kiri!! come look at my doodoo!"
"Ok" she responded as she started walking towards the bathroom.
So he got her in the bathroom and she looked down in the toilet at Lyon's request and said,
"Ohhh my goooshhh!"

Story #2:

We were driving home from the beach in the evening and Lyon says from the back seat,
"Mom, look at all my sharp teeth! I have all these sharp teeth!"
"oh yea?" I said.
"Yea, you can look at all my sharp teeth but don't touch them cause they'll give you an owweee" he warns.
"where did you get all your sharp teeth?" I quiz him.
"I got them from the man at the garage sale and the doctor fixed them"

The humor doesn't end with these two!

Summer 2010

I have finally got around to posting our summer pictures. What a great summer it has been. Kiriana turned 2, Lyon turned 3, we had some fun camping trips, Ariki opened his first official location studio in Lihue. Lyon and Kiri comparing notes.

I wake up and go to the bathroom only to find this guy in my bed. Gooooood morning!
Lyon and Ariki taking a break at the end of the road on our East side bike trip.
Kiss for your father.
Here's the rented ride from Coconut Coasters.
Lyon and Kiriana anxiously wait for the ice cream maker to finish it's job.
Lelo and Kiriana share almost the same birthday (by 3 days) so Lelo bought Kiri this new outfit and they went out to lunch. She came home so happy to have the day all to herself.
Ready to ride!
This is the face of victory for a little Maori warrior!
This summer we greeted our new friend, Kallie Akau.
When it gets quiet downstairs you know they are up to something. When I came downstairs Lyon told me they were doing their work (on Popa's laptop)
Kiri opening her birthday present
Lelo cooking Kiri a birthday breakfast
Birthday gift for Kiri
First very successful camp trip. LMC family camp @ Camp Sloggett. Soooo fun!
Kiri chillin on the steps of the lodge
Lyon is wondering how he can get in on the action
Poppa took Lyon to the local fire station and they gave him this hat.
This summer we celebrated 5 years together. Ariki surprised me with the OWNER'S suite at the Marriott. Good man!

The view from our suite
Oh my love! I wish you could hear the private musicians serenading us while we ate!
He did the set up here! so good.
They decided it would be fun to wear shorts on their heads that day.

Big brother and his little sister.
I told her, "Kiri, make cheesy face"
Lyon making his cheesy face

Love this little dirty face

Lyon back from harvesting mango at the neighbor's house
art by Ariki
Lyon's 3rd birthday. Ariki made him a pumpkin bread cake.
He's a bit of a ham

Sharing a birthday kiss

see the resemblance?