Life with kids and a dog...

Spoiled kids...
Just because it was Boys Day, my kids expected gifts. It's my fault, I have been spoiling them with too many gifts for each little holiday and of course birthday's and Christmas.

They are older now and I thought I would be a little more practical. Slippers!

Ever since we adopted our dog Ginger, we have been losing slippers almost monthly. Grrrrr!!!

She will chew up anything. Yesterday I scolded her for taking the swim fin and biting into it. Ugh!

Besides the dog, my boys don't even want to wear slippers or shoes most of the time, and often track in dirt into our house. The dog already leaves muddy paw prints all over my floors, I don't need the boys adding to it.

This is why I no longer have carpet. My other house had white carpet, believe me, I have learned my lesson. Kids and dogs plus white carpet don't mix!

House slippers are a funny thought for our family, but I am desperate for cleaner floors. I gave everyone a pair and we will see how long it lasts.

Honestly if they just wear something on their feet and are better about wiping their dogs paws, they would mop the floor a lot less.

Someday they will learn. Until then, I'm just hoping the dog doesn't eat these new slippers.

The joys of family with a dog. Wishing you a beautiful week ahead.
Love Always,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Happy Easter Sunday

I have always loved Easter. As a kid, waking up to find a beautiful Easter basket filled with presents and colorful eggs was almost as exciting as Christmas morning.

My mom was crafty and artsy about it and we would enjoy making big messes while coloring all the Easter eggs. Then waiting while my dad hid the eggs in the yard, and finding more than my brother, was always fun.

I did the egg coloring and egg hunt with my own kids when they were smaller to, but now they are older, and lately we have been discussing the meaning of the holiday.

The beginning of Christianity was the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There were no egg hunts at the crucifixion, that was more of a pagan ritual to celebrate fertility and spring.

Isn't it nice how time has changed the holiday to add gifts, the Easter bunny, marshmallow peeps, and the very popular Easter brunch buffets that require reservations days, weeks, or months in advance?

It doesn't matter how you celebrate or why. As long as you are enjoying your life and living each day, including holidays, the way that makes you happy, then the journey is memorable.

We are all on this lovely crazy journey of our lives, I wish you many blessings and lots of fun.

Hope you get lots of crazy colored Easter eggs and maybe a chocolate bunny to. I always bite the ear off first, for some reason, I think it hurts the chocolate bunny a little less. Ha ha.

Love and Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Spring Break Finally!

It's Aloha Friday and the last day of school! Our family is happily celebrating Spring Break! Well, technically, right after school today. A mere six and half hours or so.

My older son has been asking me what are we going to do? I think he keeps hoping I will answer something about travel or spending everyday at the water park.

Seriously, my only plan is to sleep in a little later, and let them make their own breakfast.

I would like to get them started on a fitness routine and maybe get more physical activities in their day. Most of all, I really want them to have fun.

As long as they don't get homework assignments, really that usually impacts my fun time and I don't really want homework.

Happy Friday!!! Happy Spring Break!!!

Aloha,
Maile

Aloha,
Maile
@mailemmm
@hilegacybuilder
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/foreveryoungandfithawaii.html
http://www.hawaiilegacybuilders.com/mailemitchellakita.html

Seriously!

Alright it's Wednesday, we are halfway through the week and my children are wishing it was the weekend again! I was so happy to come home last night from hula and see they had the sink cleaned and the dishwasher going. My boys were already in bed for school and the dog, having heard that I was home insisted on attention and a dog walk. While I waited for the dog, I refilled my water and noticed this empty container in the fridge. Why do they do this? When my brother and I were kids, we knew if you emptied a container in the fridge, you had to wash the container. My mother would not have allowed it to sit in the sink.

My children, however, do pile dishes in the sink. And although, I have asked them to load their dishes into the dishwasher as they make them dirty, it wouldn't look overwhelming when I ask them to load the dishwasher at night. I think they prefer it to be a chore that they can't stand to do. I remember standing at the sink for what seemed like forever, washing the dishes at night when I was a kid. It was just one of my chores. I wish it had been as easy, as loading it into the dishwasher, back then.

So four teeny tiny grapes, left in an almost "technically not empty" container, warranted it's continued presence in the fridge, taking up valuable space. Ugh! I can't be completely irritated, because they did everything else. I'm so tired of nagging and repeating myself. The life of a mom, this is when we start to nag, it's because of children! I can ask myself over and over again, why I wanted to have kids, but then, I reflect on all our family moments and how amazing it is to watch them grow and develop into their own individual people. I am blessed to have them, and I love them so much, even if they leave the "mostly" empty containers in the fridge. Of course, I will nag them about this, it's in my job description…MOM.

Happy Wednesday Everyone.

Aloha,
Maile

Warm wishes for your 3 day Weekend!

Clear starry night skies mean cold weather. Freezing cold weather dropping into the low 60's! Alright, cold is relative to where you are living, but for me, acclimated to warm Hawaiian tropical weather, its layers of clothes and fluffy feather filled comforters.

I do love it when I'm warm under all my blankets, but the thought of having to get out of my bed, is dreadful. The hard wood floors are chilled and my thoughs of warm fuzzy house slippers near the bed are an afterthought that is too late.

The weekend freedom allowed me to wake up with the sun and let it warm my bedroom and start my day on my own time. That is how I want to wake up everyday, if only my kids could get themselves up and make their own breakfast, then get themselves to school on their own, ahhhh I may still be dreaming.

Enjoy the long weekend! It's finally warm enough to get out of bed.

Aloha,
Maile

Tacos, kids, and early bedtime!

What could be better than Family Sunday? It started out as an afterthought of Saturday nights family bbq, no one wanted to stop playing or talking the night away. As it got later and later we decided we would definitely need to continue the weekend fun the next night, and maybe start just a little earlier.

Taco night is always great. Make it yourself and a few ingredients feeds a big hungry family.

I love how our family has grown and seeing my boys and their cousins play all night reminds me so much of my keiki days in the neighborhood with my friends. Staying out late playing under the stars until we had to finally go home, dragging our feet so slowly, when just a few moments before we were racing around so fast.

Playing stops when we tell them, "Its a school night, and we all have to go to bed early." Its funny to hear the kids argue, "but its still early!"

Grateful for the sunshine we had today and the exhausting playtime, I know we will all sleep good tonight, ready for the opportunities that await us all tomorrow. Happy wishes for your Monday!

Sweet dreams.

Aloha,
Maile