Tuesday, January 26

PAUSE

yesterday evening we went over to our bishop's house for dinner and Family Home Evening. during the lesson we talked about "grumpy or glad" and what we can do this week to be happy. ivy said i could put her toys away for her. perfect. i said "i won't let the small things bug me." to which ivy replied "like us?" she is a jem that little ivy, we all had a good laugh at that one. at times velzy and ivy are the small things, or the causes of the small things that bug me, it's true. but for the most part, they are the small things that bring me so so much joy in life. at least 1,000 times in the last week i have taken a step back and just watched them thinking how great they are. i am not, or at least i don't think i am, one of those "put my kids on a pedestal" moms but, they are pretty great little girls. then again, i am biased- i did birth them.

saturday morning while it was luke's turn to surf went for a walk down the beach. it was simple. it was nothing grand. but i had the best time with them. we jumped, belly and knee sided and tackled each other down the sand bank. we climbed the little and big rock formations- it's amazing to watch them learn. the first time it took a while but after that they were climbing up and down and jumping off the rocks, it was so fun. then we found some crab sheds (ya know, when the crab sheds their exoskeleton) and talked about that for a while, taking them apart and keeping the pinchers for my collection. we found the top of a baby coconut to use as a bowl to hold them, velzy was very impressed by that. then we walked down to where there is a little area protected by the reef that you can swim in and we swam. we found green, purple and black urchins on the side of the reef. ivy was so brave and took one off by herself. their little sucker legs stuck to our hands and we laughed as they "crawled" on our hands and held them by the rocks where they could find good hiding places again. we walked out on the reef a bit and then decided to go back to our starting point (chun's) for lunch and my turn to surf. ivy rode on my back and velzy and i trotted in the sand. it was so fun. i love their little comments and their conversations with each other are even better. i love that a long walk on the beach is fun to them. i love so many things about them.

and this happens all the time- this evening when the four of us went for a walk on the beach to swim and play on the reef before dinner. it was the most beautiful evening, i can't even start to describe how cool the clouds were. we found crabs (with eggs!) and sea cucumbers and shells and sea glass. they have so much fun doing these things and it's go cool to watch them learn and love the things we do.

this summer velzy will start school, which is just crazy to me. but she is ready and she is so stoked. i have been thinking a lot about what i want to do for school. do we send her to the elementary school here, or to sunset? do i keep her at home and home school? she really wants to go to school. when we were talking about it the other day i was saying she could stay home and do school with mom and i could be her teacher, to which she replied "i think i have a lot of friends i have not meet yet." and later said "i think i should go to school and meet new friends and see what i can learn there." i agree with that, and it's cute. but i also don't. ah. it's a frustrating topic for me right now. there are so many options and i don't know what is best. the one thing that i am allowed to complain about here in hawaii is the school system....

anyways, what i am trying to get at is i wish i could press pause. i know we have so many good times ahead, but i really like the life we have right now at this moment. i love the stages and ages of velzy and ivy. they are full of life and curiosity. they are full of laughter and love. and sometimes they are just full of it. but they make my life full and i like that.

so, where is that pause button?

21 comments:

Stephanie said...

i dont know why you ever say you are not a good writer or whatever- that last paragraph especially blew me away and at the same time could be something i could and have thought about my own little family (which is the sign of great writing too- people can identify).

anyway, such a sweet time of life. thanks for the reminder to keep soaking it up and not let the little things ruin the day.

liko said...

i still struggle with that, and faith is already in the school system. sometimes i get overwhelmed that the bulk of her day she is being influenced by peers and older kids. and malik will start preschool in august. sad. anyways, i think that sunset is a really good school. at least from what my mom observed. the faculty and parents work together nicely, unlike a lot of other schools where the administration and teachers lose sight of the goal - the students succeeding. anyways, those are my thoughts on that part of your post.
i also enjoy raising my children to enjoy the simple pleasures in life and appreciate the beauty all around - in nature. i love how a trip to the beach or a hike in the trees can satiate their curious, adventurous little minds. and it's free. and i think it's important. i'll take that over video games any day.

liko said...

oh, and we are NEVER gonna own any video games. cross my heart.

.Ang. said...

You are great!!

I agree with Stephanie, you've got a way with words weather you see it or not.

This was wonderfully written.Just so real and sincere.

I love the picture you painted in my minds eye.

I had the same struggle when I realized Brylie needed to start school soon. It was REAL hard on me. I was a little dramatic about it... But really. The go off to school where they are in the hands of teachers we hardly know and they are influenced by other kids we know nothing about.All we get is evenings, weekends and summers.(ok, maybe a little dramatic was an understatement) We just have to trust that we taught them all we could in those short years that they were JUST ours.

and you, my friend, are doing a WONDERFUL JOB!!! you are such an amazing mom!!!!

I want to be just like you!

.Ang. said...

and for the record it was supposed to say "whether"... how embarrassing.

Erika said...

What a great post. I totally know what you mean about the pause button. It's pretty obvious that you're doing the one thing we can do which is enjoying this time with your girls and completely soaking it in. Sometimes I think we (read "I") forget to enjoy the little moments and let the less important things get in the way of the MOST important things. You're such a great mom. Your girls are so lucky! Man, it sounds like you guys had a perfect day together.

chanel said...

this is amazing. you always make me want to live in hawaii and i never even thought about it before. what incredible experiences you get to have.
you are such a wonderful mom and you will know what is best when it comes to school. i think it is adorable and wise of velzy to want to "try it at school". i don't know the probs there, but if things don't work out you can always bring her home. we just switched schools, when you're involved and aware you just know when it is working (&when it is NOT) and what is right for YOUR child.
sorry there is no pause button, but you sure are maximizing the PLAY time.

#4 came about SHOCKINGLY the day after Thanksgiving! crazy!!!!!!!!!!

Carrie Braunalicious said...

If you find the pause button, send it my way! Although how you describe your time with your girls makes me think I'd wait a while to use it, so we can hunt and play and chat. These are going to be such great memories for them- you're an awesome mom.

Matti said...

If you ever find that pause button...let me know. ;-) And those photos of Velzy on your next post...priceless!

Kristen said...

I struggle with this ALL.THE.TIME. Until school starts to down Lillie's spirits, I'm going to let her go. Through Elem, that is. Kahuku interm. is a diff story....
If it makes you feel better, kindergarten is not required by the state. she could start at first grade. :) That's sorta a pause button.

Jane said...

A few thoughts...as someone who has spent time in both mainland schools and Hawaii schools, there ARE good schools here. Not sure how far you live from Sunset, but are you sure you want to drive that everyday? Why go there? We happen to live in an area made up of many, many different people, isn't that part of the beauty of living here? Kids learn so much more at school than just "book stuff". How to get along with everyone, walk in a line, listening, etc, etc, etc. This is what they can't get from staying home and being home schooled. I know here there are a lot of people that do it, but that doesn't always make it the best for the kids. One last thought, there are lots and lots of people that went through the public (an private, because there are so many big ones here) schools here that have gone on to get scholarships, etc from mainland schools and done really well for themselves. If home and school can work hand in hand then it really does work out. Stay involved! didn't mean for this to be so long, but just some observations.

Jane said...

btw...this was a great post!!! so well written and from the heart.

Valley Girl said...

I love this post... it makes me want to pack my kids up and move to the beach....
as for school... I had a REALLY rough time deciding on home school or public school... in the end we decided on a great little Christian private school. I am happy to report we love it... and it is not too pricey...
It is crazy all the emotions and worries that come from sending your kids to school.... Good luck!
keep us posted.

Valley Girl said...

I love this post... it makes me want to pack my kids up and move to the beach....
as for school... I had a REALLY rough time deciding on home school or public school... in the end we decided on a great little Christian private school. I am happy to report we love it... and it is not too pricey...
It is crazy all the emotions and worries that come from sending your kids to school.... Good luck!
keep us posted.

Autumn said...

OH GIRL I HEAR YOU! LOVE LAYNE'S AGE RIGHT NOW! ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW TO SAY, LEARN OR EVEN TEACH ME! SO SAD SHE WILL BE IN SCHOOL FULL TIME NEXT YEAR, MY BABY 1ST 5 YEARS FLEW BY!
MAYBE LOOK AT SCHOOL AS A SOCIAL GROWING EXPERIENCE WITH HER AND OBVIOUSLY CAUSE OF HAWAII'S EDUCATION YOU WILL HAVE TO DO THE EDUATIONAL PART AT HOME!
YOUR AN AMAZING MAMA!

Sally Jackson said...

What a wonderful post! It sounds like exploring and discovering is part of your lives!! I always tell myself that the world is our classroom and the people are our classmates! There is so much to learn and do and discover when your not behind a desk all day. I think I will let my boys try public school if they completely insist, but will be happy to pull them out and show them the world as soon as they discover how bored they are at school. ha ha.

Missy said...

I love loved this post. It's pretty much exactly what I want to write everyday trying to explain how much fun I have with my two girls and I struggle. This was perfect.

Sidenote: did you put V in preschool? I'm torn.

heidi said...

I ment to tell you this via email, but this reminded me... #3 is made easier because #1 is in school part day. :) i worked at laie elementary for 2 years--honestly i think at least the first few years are fine there. definitely not any worse off than here (not that lodi is #1 school town) i think you are blessed to have a lot of the LDS crowd--o is the only in all of kindergarten (3 classes!) School is also good for the social skills. i know you and luke could easily make up for the rest at home. and i agree with whoever else said--are you sure you want to drive all the way to sunset everyday--twice?

Greg and Diana said...

I understand your thoughts about public vs. home school...Karyl doesn't start for another 1-1/2 years, but I refuse to send her to preschool (it's just overpriced daycare) and i'm debating on whether or not to home school or send her public...private school was never an option...I refuse to pay for her to go to school. The public school she would go to is, ummm, diversified and she would be the minority (which I don't mind) but the teachers apparently spend at least an hour a day focusing on the ESL kids and the rest of the class is left to do busy work...not cool.

We can transfer her to another school in the area, but part of me remembers being bored in elementary school and I know she's going to be bored to tears. Besides, public schools are ALWAYS asking for money...I might as wel just spend it at home and teach her.

I'm like 60% - 40%, with home schooling ahead right now. I'll be interested to hear what you decide!!

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