Swimming

Summer is almost here, which means swimming has started for us. Jonah taking his first swim lessons ever. And Caleb and Noah both participating on the recreational swim team!

School's Out for Summer!

But not for long….we head back on August 1st  For now….let us enjoy.  The boys had a half day last Thursday for their final day of school and we headed straight to Ko'Olina to the Marriott Ihilani to crash on Dad's hotel room where he was having a conference for work.  We headed straight to the pool and didn't leave for 48 hours….so much summer fun already!

Jonah was obsessed with the phone in the bathroom! He thought that was too cool!

 Jonah always wants to jump to someone….even though he is a giant and almost clobbers Caleb moments after this picture. :)

 Dad was done with meetings and on his way to dinner! Thankfully he came by the pool to see us. :)

More pool fun on Thursday. 

 Bushia took this pic right after she dropped the boys and I off at the hotel.  Let the summer fun begin!

 The view from the room…up the west coast of Oahu.

 Nice lighting with the setting sun :)

 Picturesque. 

 Friday was spent much the same way as Thursday afternoon….

THrow in a poolside lunch and it was a mighty fine day. 

The resort had some hammerhead sharks and stingrays.  We watched a feeding later in the day and those things were going crazy!   

 We took a long walk around the grounds...

 …and headed up the coast for a bit to search for some turtles.  We did see a few but missed out on any photo opps.

 We also found a heart in the rocks. <3 p="">

 Saturday morning while Dad golfed, Jonah and I walked over to Aulani, the Disney resort to snap a picture with Mickey.  He stood in awe at the sight of him. "Mom, that's the real Mickey?"

 But he would go nowhere near that thing.  Not even with mom.

 He said, "I want to take a picture from over there!"

Afterwards, we headed straight back to the pool and met Dad and his coworkers and some of their families.  Mom got lots of baby time and Jonah had to get in the middle of all that. 

Uncle Tom was a good distraction for Jonah. 

 Dad, got to be Uncle Eric and give piggy back rides all over the pool!

 And by that afternoon, our boys were sunshines out and ready to head home!

 Especially this home body...

Only 8 More Days Until Christmas

Let's just pretend that I have been continuous and consistent on my blog and the fact that there are pictures from Thanksgiving on a post titled Only 8 More Days Until Christmas is not weird at all.
In fact, Thanksgiving was glorious.  That morning we spent lots of time looking out the window watching the hundreds of surfers out enjoying their holiday.  Bushia then made a giant breakfast and Eric poured mimosas while I tried to watch the parade with the kids.  No one seemed to be as interested as myself in that.

 They were interested in swimming though!

 And in lieu of a super early, crazy but oh-so-fun day of shopping on black Friday, we headed to Sports Authority around 8:30 and then to Waimanalo for a BBQ around noon.  The boys got to play soccer with Uncle Tom,

 and Dad found a new partner for his sand ball tossing game....which usually ends in tears as sand ends up being thrown inappropriately. :)  That partner, by the way, was the lovely meal planner and preparer for our Thanksgiving dinner the night before.

Much more serene than the chaos of a long Target line.  Not that I like it any better.  I truly LOVE black Friday shopping.  Just different.

 We've actually gotten to break out some pants....for when we go to the park later in the evening.  Okay, so it was only one night.  But I am counting it!

 And there are Christmas lights outside our building!  Always a good distraction for Baby Jonah on a crabby night.  The trick is getting him past the GIANT Christmas tree in the lobby that shouts, "TOUCH ME JONAH!"

Noah's First Triathlon

Last weekend we had the LONGEST. Saturday. Ever.

It began around 4:30 a.m. when Mr. Noah Selter awoke to jump in the car en route to his very first triathlon!  Ko'Olina was hosting a sports fest the entire weekend and one of the events was a kids tri.  A 100m swim, 5k bike ride, and a 1k run.  Very manageable, we thought, so we signed him up!  And he was awesome.  He wasn't first.  He wasn't last.  Right in the middle of the pack.  And I think he gained a ton of confidence in himself through doing the race.  

Check him out....

after a LONG, CHATTY car ride...we made it!

Sunrise over the marina was looking pretty nice! 

At this point, I think he was just a bit overwhelmed as he was looking over the course.

 Dad helped get all his numbers set.

 And we're finally settling in.

 But still taking it all in.  It was a lot for this 32 year old mama to take in.  Can't imagine being only 9!

 The transition area before the race.

 The organizers talked the kids through the race before it all began....even coaching the parents on laying off their kiddos.  Here you can see them showing the kids how to get from the water to the bike transition area.

 Caleb was ready to begin!

The kids huddled for a group stretch before they began.

 The waves were huge causing large swells in the usually VERY calm lagoons where the swim was held.

And it begins!

 Noah is the orange cap, black goggles, in the middle.  Looking good.

 Coming out of the swim...

Rushing to the transition area...

 Such a sweet face...getting ready for his bike ride. 

 He was MOVING on that bike!

 Off for the run now.  After this picture, it was so cute.  He attempted to sip the water while running and failed, so he simply tossed the water in the air and ran through it.  It was done so playfully with such a huge smile.  I know that something as simple as that made him so happy.  It really made him feel like a "real" racer!

 By the end of the run, you can see that most of the kids were pretty spread out.  

FINISH LINE!  Lots of proud mamas and papas waiting here....especially those of this boy below. 

 He is so stinking cute....and happy that it is over!

 So proud of this guy.