What about our boys?

Dear Life,

I have been thinking a lot about International Girls Day. As a woman, I totally understand and appreciate such an empowering day. I am so glad young girls are being taught they can do anything. Because they absolutely can. However, I am a mom to five amazing boys.

  I wondered why there is no day to celebrate boyhood, to teach what it looks like to be a strong, amazing boy that can do anything. As we teach little girls that they are in charge, that they can do anything, we might be changing the role of boys. As much as I appreciate an empowered young lady, I also appreciate young boys that are taught to be gentlemen, to be kind and sensitive, to work hard for their families, to know that they are valued and important. Girls can do anything.....and so can boys. Let’s empower all of our youth. Let’s teach them all how valuable they are, regardless of gender. I think then the world might be a better place.

The men in my life

Dear Life,


Have I introduced you to the men in my life?  It's about time I think.....


Let me preface this by saying how very blessed I feel having so many fabulous men in my life.  Growing up, I didn't have very many boyfriends, and I come from a family of girls.  (Two sisters and one girl cousin on my mom's side.)  So I am feeling very protected and loved by the amount of strong men around me.  I could live without the testosterone, wrestling and fighting that goes on.  The holes in the walls are not so awesome either. But at this point I am thinking God knew I probably wouldn't do too well with everything that goes along with a girl.  I would LOVE to have a girl to play with, dress up, and all of that.  But it's not to be....and I have come to terms with it.  But all of my friends with girls watch out...I am totally in the process of matching up my boys so I can pick my fabulous daughter in laws.  (Just kidding...sort of)


Anyway...back to my boys....


First and foremost...my sweetheart....

He's amazing, loving, sweet, giving, and a great father.  I thank God every single moment for Stuart.

And then there's this handsome kid.  Keoni.....my almost grown up...moving to Hawaii....Eagle Scout....future film maker.  He's an amazing kid....I'm happy to see him grow and get to see some really cool things in his life...but I'm sad he's leaving us.  It's hard to see your kids sprout their wings and fly away.

Here's Kekoa...my future lawyer.  This kid can talk his way out of a paper bag.  One time he got so mad at us he wrote out a letter pointing out every reason we were wrong.  Pretty hilarious.  He's a sweet guy and really cares about others.  He's also a budding surfer and knows how to be quite a dashing dresser.  Love his smile....it melts my heart!







Here is my Mr. Tenderheart Kalani.  He has been a total nurturing sweet boy from birth.  He's always the first to hold a baby, help with a toddler, and hang out with his little brother.  He's  quite the athlete....and has big dreams.  He loves basketball....wants to play for Duke University and of course he wants to be a Laker!  Isn't he dreamy?

Hilarious?  Yup...that's our Kawika.  He wants to be an actor, a hip hop dancer, and possibly a football player.  He's fierce...and sweet all rolled up in one little boy.  He gives us a run for our money....he's all boy and all play all the time.  His laugh is hilarious....makes you crack up!  

This is Kumaka.  Sunshine in  a boy.  He's more than we bargained for in many many ways, but we wouldn't trade any of it.  He's the reason our family knows there are miracles...and he shares his sweet spirit with anyone in a mile's radius.  And of course right now he's in a giant green cast.

I never would have guessed in a million years that this:

Would end up with this:

Blessed....yes....

Slightly crazy..... definitely!

Wouldn't change a thing....for sure!

A Proud Moment....and then a sad boy :(

Dear Life,

Thank you for today.  Today was an amazingly wonderful day.  The very first memory that I never want to forget is that of my four year old hearing me blast music so I can clean my house and racing to me wanting to dance.  I of course put out my arms, he slipped his adorable little arms around my neck and we danced cheek to cheek.  There is always housework....there will not always be sweet little arms around my neck.

I don't ever ever want to forget how fast he scurried when he heard the music....as he climbed up in my lap I thought...well there goes the laundry....and the joy when cheek to cheek we moved back and forth to the music.  He is my baby....what I wouldn't do to keep him small.

The second thing that was amazingly wonderful was...drumroll please.....after 7 years of scouting, our oldest son is officially an Eagle Scout.  What an honor and privilege it is to say that.  I am so proud of him...it is a very long road to haul and he has had his moments of ambivalence towards it.  The men on the board that interviewed him were so kind, and said really amazing things about him.  I hope he realizes what an amazing young man he is and what an amazing accomplishment this is.  Yay Keoni!

The sad part is that my freshman sang in his first choir perfomance....and we were unable to attend....because of the Board of Review.  He came home devastated.  Which put a damper on the good mood we were feeling.  I thought he understood....but he didn't.  And mama angst was going full force.  But a little later he came to me and we talked.  I apologized and told him how much I wanted to be there and if it wasn't such a monumental event I would have been there.  He forgave me....after much pleading and begging.  Oh yeah....and I promised him a one on one date.  So, thanks life for such an amazing day.  And thanks for the principle of forgiveness and the promise of a date with my boy.