Year in Review

I had wanted to write a year in review at a time when it seemed more appropriate (say, New Year's?) but better late than never. I chose this picture because I think it sums up our year: the world went a bit topsy durvy, I look like I was going mad, but we're still hangin' in there as a family. ;)

Elysse was born February 3rd. Since then, she's learned to do all the baby things: smile, eat, poop, crawl, put gross things in her mouth, gabber, and win hearts. Her favorite discovery this year has been her lungs. She loves to use them to her greatest ability, often combining her cries and yells with body thrashing and wiggling. Funny thing, I gave her part of her middle name, "Wailana" meaning "calm waters", with the hope that she will take on the challenges of life with the patience and gentleness of calm water. But it seems like this will be more of a goal than a description at this point. Nevertheless, we all love her and are so happy she is part of our family.

Ivy continued her music classes on Wednesdays until April with her friend Rylan and loved going-- it was her class. Ivy has been a joy to have around, always full of hugs and kisses. Her favorite thing to do is snuggle with her blanket, which I have learned is an art form: rubbing the bottom of her nose with a corner of her blankie while sucking two fingers on the other hand. She often says, "I want to go home and snuggle", or "Do you want to snuggle with me?"

Ivy has found her place quite comfortably in Kezia's play world, that of pretending to be different animals (dogs, usually,) mommy and baby, Dancy the Dog superhero, or anything else that uses a very active imagination. Ivy took swimming lessons this summer (with me as teacher) and she loved that, although she was a bit nervous about the whole "not holding onto the wall" idea. Ivy began Joy School and Great Beginnings preschool. She loves to be with her friendsIvy's vocabulary and speaking skills have sky-rocketed this year, beginning with being a "not-yet- 3 yrs old babbler" to "will this child ever take a breath between words? almost 4 year old." Ivy has been our fearless one, when it comes to movies, stories, etc., and more fearful when it comes to physical things, like swimming or coming down from something high. (Funny thing, because Kezia is not as fearless about physical things, but imaginary things frighten her terribly.) But by the end of the year, this fearful side has been quickly shedding. She decided she loves hula, and is very good at it, too, performing after only a few practices (and practices at home).

Kezia finished her last year of Joy School and Great Beginnings. She also took swimming lessons and loved being in the water. Her imagination is still so strong, and I have recently asked myself why it is that we have toys and games when all the girls want to do is run around the house imagining different situations.

The biggest news about Kezia is that she started Kindergarten! And she loves it. She began at Hale Kula, a school on an army base, and although she loved it, I was not happy with a lot of things at the school. And then came a big blessing for us when she switched schools and now has a teacher who really enjoys what she does, has a personal care for each student, encourages students instead of put them down, believes that naptime is necessary for 5 year olds, and is teaching Kezia at her level! She used to come home with these silly assignments, like "color all the T's green" -- way too basic for her. Her new teacher immediately put her in a more advanced group and now she is reading and writing and the whole jazz. (Yes!)

Kezia also joined a soccer team this year (check out http://www.rainbowsoccer.blogspot.com/) and loved running around kicking the ball around. Kezia loves her hula class and likes to pretend to be the hula teacher at home.

Nate has been amazing this year, stabilizing Immediate Property Solutions and Stand Up Paddle Surfing Magazine, as well as beginning numerous other businesses, taking on transcribing work from 4am to noon several days per week, and being in the Bishopric. Nate has really enjoyed entering surf competitions this year. Since beginning stand up paddle surfing, he has turned into an amazing surfer, taking on big waves at breaks I'm too scared to go to. One great blessing is that despite lack of sleep, high stress, and 90+ hour work weeks, we have been blessed with great health this year. Nate swears by his MaxGXL that that is why he is able to keep up such a demanding schedule.

Heidi: I had a poignantly difficult year, and am so grateful for my "angel-sister" Janae who has been there for me for a good part of the year. I have felt a great deal of stress and anxiety this year, and that has been compounded by a baby who loves to cry and scream, and doesn't understand the reason for taking good naps or sleeping through the night. I have been learning to be verrryy patient, a lot more empathetic, and even more grateful for the little things in life. I have found some things to be quite relaxing, such as blogging, (so now you know the reason), reading to elderly people through an organization I started called Tutu Stories, sitting on the grass cheering Kezia on with the soccer ball, teaching swimming lessons, reading chapter books to the girls at night, and, of course, surfing.

We have been blessed with so many things this year, more than we can count. Of course, Elysse joined our family -- that was a big one. On the forefront were these, in no particular order:

One of the new businesses we started is Rainbow Watersports (http://www.rainbowwatersports.com/.) We opened up business in October teaching stand up paddle lessons in Haleiwa, and we absolutely love it. We have such a good time taking people out on the water and teaching them something that we love to do, and then opening up to them the beautiful world of the ocean and river. What could be better than making new friends while doing what you love and getting paid for it?

We have been blessed so, so, so greatly this year through a miraculous move back down to the North Shore, our "home town". We are so happy here; one more day in our old place and I think I would have cracked. I think about being here and I feel all warm and happy inside. We are so lucky to live where we can see the ocean from our back door, walk to the beach and to a friendly playground, enjoy silence outside instead of roaring motorcycles and cars, be in a good school district, be close to our surfing spot and our SUP surf lesson location, and be surrounded by happy people. So so lucky and blessed, and we are so grateful for it.

We have also been so blessed to have so much company this year: my parents and brother Shaun and nephew Nathan, Nate's log time friend Andrew, my long time friend Amy, and friends the Schields, my cousins Stacey and Craig, Nate's aunt and cousin, Nate's other cousin, Nate's mission companion and wife, and I am sure others who slip my mind at this midnight hour.

We were also miraculously blessed with the opportunity to go to the mainland in the summer for my family reunion and to visit Nate's siblings and grandma as well. After thinking we weren't going to be able to go, it all came together last minute and it was so good to be with family again.

This year we are particularly grateful for supportive friends and family members, good health, a great place to live, nutritious food to eat, light switches that work, and our family.

Have a very happy 2009 and may it be a wonderful, prosperous year for you!

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