First i must warn you…..

I decided to go vegan and gluten free.

I also decided to give up alcohol.

I might even home school.

Then i woke up from that nightmare and stared up at the swirling fan above our bed and breathed a sigh

of relief.

The good news is: I am still maintaining my weight and i’m feeling great.

amazing

full of life

and i feel like i’m still going strong.

I even bought some more shorty shorts in different colors….

one for each day of the week.

Two weeks ago our besties from Chicago came to visit….

they actually came with a work group and stayed at the hotel Bryan works for.

Unfortunately they were only here for 4 night…..

but let me tell you…..those four days we packed in as much goodness as we could.

Luckily for us…..these are our active friends….and i think we only spent one afternoon lounging at the

pool and the other days doing really fun things.

I’m working on a post all about the things you should do if and when you ever come to Kauai…..

{lots of them are free things}

and the best places to eat and drink.

Anyhoo….Bryan really loves to SUP…..

so we got some boards and showed our friends 

how easy it is to fall in the water.

word up

just don’t ask your nine year old daughter to get a photo of you SUP’ing….

because this is what you might get

at least i hope Bryan was thinking to himself

“hey girl…..i’m glad you shaved your bikini line today”.

After us girls had some fun paddling around the bay for a bit…

but before we would have been eaten by a tiger shark…

we headed back in for safety and let the boys have their turns.

I introduced Shannon to my famous drink….

The Hanalei

which is fresh squeezed grapefruit juice…a bit of ginger and vodka

over ice.

Then we headed over to the pier….

and i initiated her to the club.

I’m not suggesting anything…but i’m sure a few of those “Hanalei’s” helped.

Shannon came to Kauai with her own list of things to check off….

there were only a handful of things on them…

and we crossed off 2 of those that day. Sup’ing and jumping.

I threw in the “hanalei drink” as a bonus.

Kinda like extra credit.

{almost like homeschooling}

The following day we marked the third thing off her list….

hiking 4 miles of the Hanakapi’ai trail.

I’m on that trail weekly now…..

since i have no more gabby…i feel like adding in the 4 mile hike after i drop kids off at school

is helping me in keeping my lower body using all the muscles it has.

We had such a great time with our friends Chris and Shannon…..superstars i tell you.

Anyhoo….back to the H word.

Somehow…..and don’t ask me how…..

i volunteered to accompany each of my kids on one of the field trips this year.

Mason’s field trip involved hiking.

that damn h word

I actually signed up for this one because

a. i knew i could do it

b. i knew it wouldn’t involve sitting on a bus with 5th graders

c. i wanted to see mason amongst his peers

The trail we did was the Okolehao trail which starts by the taro fields of Hanalei

and switchbacks up the mountain behind Hanalei so that when you hike 2 miles up…

you reach a point where you have gorgeous views of Hanalei Bay.

The 5th graders did great….and it was fun hanging with all of them.

I don’t think i would want to hang with them much more than that….but it was good.

I interrupt the H word with this photo of Fin at sunset last week….

he was trying to touch a rainbow.

I didn’t have the heart to tell him he was reaching with the wrong arm.

Alrighty….now back to the regularly unscheduled program.

On Friday night….last minute….a friend and i decided that we should get up really early and 

hike to a waterfall.

First of all….

i was over-served that evening…because i don’t really remember saying yes…

but more importantly….i don’t remember her telling me that it would be muddy….

or that we would be hiking a total of 8 miles that morning.

All that got me through that mess was

1: that there would be a waterfall

and

2: that Buddy the dog would lead us the whole way

The only thing we know about Buddy the dog is that he joined us on the trail at about mile marker 2 

then lead us all the way to the waterfall……hanging out with us…..

and leading us the 4 miles back out.

We think he had an owner that probably lived up there.

{i only mention the living up there thing because there are a lot of gypsy like peeps that

have decided that living like normal citizens is just WACK….not to be confused with smoking CRACK

and live up in the mountains. They also think clothing is optional…..hmph}

Anyhoosier……..

we sort of fell in love with Buddy the dog.

What i love about the photos below is the perspective of the waterfall.

The photo on the right is showing the waterfall a good 1/4 mile away….

and the one on the left is showing it right up close with a nice pool to swim in.

It was pretty amazing after we finally got up and sat there.

That concluded any and all photos that involve the H word.

oops….

sheet….

there is just one more.

Mother’s Day 2012

They blindfolded me and said we were going to spa day.

Apparently “Spa day” meant we would jump illegally into the hotel next door’s hot tub

aka spa

after a 4 mile hike up the Hanakapi’ai trail.

you know you live in Kauai when you run into friends on the same trail on Mother’s Day.

I have a feeling they told their mom that they were doing Spa Day too.

I hate to end this post with sweaty photos of my family….

so i’ll show you the panzanella salad i made the other day.

It was amazeballs.

and just because i didn’t go gluten free…i did have some really good gluten free

lilikoi coconut cream cake.

I had this cake not to long ago for one of Lola’s friends birthday parties…so i got a few slices

to have with my mom.

Here is to cake!

gluten free or not.

is this thing on…..

Oh….hello there!

So first of all….i apologize that it’s been so long.

Secondly….we’ve been having a crazy wonderful last few weeks…..and i just have not had one single

moment to sit down and start typing away.

We had some Chicago besties here….then my mom arrived….and then my dad…..

and now there is only a few days left of school…so i’m scrambling around tying down all the electronics

and fastening any loose objects before the herd of children descend upon the condo in droves.

Oh…and we are also trying to pack up and go camping this coming weekend with all of our friends

as an end of the school year bash.

{i know…camping as a bash…..right. I’d rather send them over to grandma’s house for a weekend and sit

myself all alone with a mimosa in hand….but that’s not going to happen}

And also….one week from Thursday the kids and i head back to Illinois for a week to see friends and then we

fly down to Florida for another week to see grandparents. So…as you can see….life has been a bit crazy

and it’s only going to be more so in the next few.

Bare with me though……

Let me tell you….we have decisions to make in the next few weeks….hard ones.

We have two choices.

Do we 

A: Head back to chicago the end of summer…..the lease will be up at our house back there….so we can move back…

start Mason in middle school with all of his friends…Bryan can look for a job….{get a job doing what he

really should be doing} and settle back into being normal.

or

B: Stay one more year.

The reason it’s so hard is because there are so many little things we need to consider…..which you don’t think

about on a normal day. Like…..the longer Bryan is out of a job ..the harder it’s going to be to get back

into one.

Not that being a poolside server isn’t a job;-)

But we also LOVE it here.

I mean LOVE.

Kauai really is the most beautiful place.

Gah! I hate decisions like this.

Anyhoo….a few weeks ago the kids had May Day at school.

The schools here take great pride in preparing for this holiday….and the kids in each class get to

perform a dance out on the front lawn.

My mom has been here the last week and a half…. so she was able to watch as well.

{by the way….she looks great and is feeling wonderful}

I really love….LOVE Hanalei elementary school….and it’s been one amazing year for the kids to have gotten

to experience the Hawaiian culture this last year.

Amazeballs.

This is Fin’s first grade class….

One of the things i truly love is the mountain behind the school with the waterfalls….

just to have that as a backdrop has me speechless.

The kids had a blast that day……and it is definitely something going down in their book of memories.

I have so many photos to show of the last few weeks….and it’s my goal to sit down tonight and go

through them all and post them in the next day or so!

I promise.

Pinky.

Grapefruit juice and vodka promise.

who reached out to me when she and her family decided to uproot themselves to Kauai.

I love when people do things like that.

 try something different.

They found a place on the South side of the island….and so it’s hard getting together because

it’s a good hour and a half for either of us. This week one of Jamie’s friends was in town visiting….

who’s also a blog reader of mine….so we all decided to meet up for lunch.

We met at The Garden Cafe….at Common Ground. It’s in Kilauea….and if you follow me on Instagram…

you know that i eat here at least every other week.

They have the Kalua pork nachos.

{no words needed}

I’ll be doing a whole post on this place soon….i promise.

Pinky.

Anyhoo…..we were sitting there and i turned around to a group of girls…

high-schoolers i’m sure….

and i asked one of them to take our photo with my phone.

This is the first photo:

She took it and then said she should probably get on the other side of the table because

the photo just didn’t come out very well.

I thought…..good call….she’s probably a budding photographer….

and she knows all about catching the “right” angles.

I almost….and i mean ALMOST….

gave her the “two fingers up” i’ve read the Hunger Games sign…..

but i wasn’t having any wine with my lunch….because they don’t serve wine with lunch….

and because i didn’t have any wine…..i’m kind of glad i didn’t give her the “sign”.

This is the second photo she took:

and before i knew it she took another photo

{still thinking she was a budding photographer while she continued to manipulate my iphone}

So…….

the moral of the story is….

don’t ask girls who look like they should be in school at noon on a Friday but are not……

to take your photo.

The end.

Nothing makes a girl feel better then logging on in the mornings and reading all your sweet comments…..

and i just want to let those of you that were in my same shoes….that you can do it….

it takes time. Lots of time.

And commitment. 

You have to want it…..and work hard….and i promise….you too will see results.

If you are not cutting calories and burning them by exercising……you won’t lose weight.

If you are not using weights….you won’t tone.

I even woke up the other morning from a comment from Bryan….

all the way from Florida….and it made my day.

Anyhoo……this last Saturday was the Irons brothers surf contest.

My kids were up and ready by 6 am Saturday morning…..and let me tell you….it was a long day.

Mason’s bestie was in the first heat of the morning…..at 7 AM sharp.

C.J….the bestie is exactly one year older then Mason and they share the same birthday which is pretty cool…

and they are both at the exact same level at surfing.

I was happy that they were not in the same heat….i didn’t want them competing against each other.

C.J placed third in the first heat which meant he got to move on to the 2nd heat.

I didn’t know how the competitions work…

so i had to keep asking bryan to detail it out for me.

The kids in this one were placed in age groups……so Mason and his friend were in the 11-12 year boys group.

There were 4 heats that went out first thing in the morning and 6 boys in each heat…..and each heat

lasts 15 minutes.

That means there were 30 boys competing at first.

Then the top 3 in each of the first heats move on to the 2nd heat.

Then the top four from the 2nd heats move on to the final heat and in the Final heat there are 6 boys {or girls}

left to compete with the big awards going obviously to the First place through 3rd place.

So when you think about it…..there were a few different age groups going on that day.

Boys 11-12

Boys 9-10

Girls 11-12

Girls 9-10

Boys 8 and under

Girls 8 and under.

Lots of heats and long day.

I’m already tired from reading this and writing it all out again.

I don’t know how parents do this with kids that are on the surfing circuit….GOOD LORD ABOVE.

Lola did not surf…but her friends did…..

and her friend Khalil…pictured on the right in the photo below….made it to the finals and placed 6th.

It was her first competition also…..she rocked even though she was 6 minutes late in starting

the final heat because her little sister decided to take her surfboard out without asking.

It also rained on and off throughout the day…..

but that didn’t stop Fin from being Fin.

Mason in his first heat……

and let me tell you how absolutely PROUD we were of him…..

his very first competition…. he was nervous….

and in his first heat there was a kid from his class that surfs A LOT and is on a surf team.

But guess what?!

Mason placed third in the first heat and moved on to the 2nd heat.

There were so many people there……supporting our local kids…..it was fabulous.

It doesn’t take Fin long to find friends and keep busy all day long….

Fin’s heat finally came at 1….and with the 8 and under….it’s all parent push in.

That means a parent goes out and helps then catch waves.

Fin went out with his friend Anya.

Fin also had a substitute dad for the push in…..only because

1. i needed to take photos

and

2. bryan had to head to work

Anya got first place for the girls…..

and Fin took first place for the boys.

Justin also took first place for the boys…..

so did little Mason….

and Julian also came in first place.

It was really great that all the 8 and under got first place…..and a trophy.

There were 200 8 and under signed up for the contest…..

and even though i didn’t tell Fin till after his heat that there really was no competition….

they all got really great goody bags that had sunglasses, hats….stickers…wax and cool things.

Mason’s 2nd heat came around 1:45 in the afternoon…..and right after his Friend.

Once again…they were not competing in the same heat.

The friend placed 5th…which meant he couldn’t move on to the final heat.

This is Mason about to head out in his 2nd heat…..

they all wear different colored rash guards so the judges can tell who is who.

Mason did amazing in that heat….but came in 5th…which meant he didn’t get to move on the finals….

but it didn’t bother him at all.

He was so Happy to have been able to make it through the first heat and have the chance to even do a 2nd one…

and that makes this momma so proud.

He also still loves his longish hair and won’t cut it.

He also thinks he might want to live here one more year.

Go figure.

And that my friends….is what a first ever surf competition looks like.

and some cute shorts and a cute bikini.

Today i went and bought my first pair of shorty shorts.

I’m not and never have been a shorty shorts wearer…..because well….

 {some of us over the age of 26…just shouldn’t be wearing them}

but today i felt differently.

I guess it’s because i’ve finally met my goal which was to have lost 25 pounds in 6 months…

tone up

lean up

 be normal up

still drink vodka and freshly squeezed grapefruit juice up

eat lots of quinoa 

buy a juicer

cut back on cheese

still eat cheese because you won’t change what you love

and after all of that and then some

 i decided i’m going to go out and buys some of those damn shorty shorts.

I didn’t even tell Bryan.

{good thing he’s out of town at the moment…}

sheet

If you are new to my blog….i’m sorry about the fat photos you are about to see.

If you are a long time reader {i won’t quit you}………

i’m sorry about some of the phat  fat photos you are about to see.

But first…i will show you a thinner photo of me in some shorty shorts

and my new hat….and non pedicured toes.

Good thing i’m not up for an award.

This is the part i warned you about.

I’m about to show you {again} the before photo…

shoot me now because i want to lay down and die a slow death

but it’s real….and i’m real…..and well…..i was 162 pounds back on November 1st.

You wouldn’t have known what i looked like because i was always in skirts and rarely got any photos

of me waste down…..but when we had our family photos done on Thanksgiving…..

even though i was 3 weeks into Gabby’s class and working on my goal….

i still felt like SHEET and hated the way i looked.

It doesn’t help that i looked pregnant

or that i weighed more than my 2 inches taller husband.

Enough was enough.

I was heavier than i was in the delivery room birthing babies

with my narcotic of choice dripping in my arm…..uh huh…

and i realize it was a whole lot of things that had happened to make me want to just

keep on eating and not really put my heart into losing the weight i was slowly gaining.

It didn’t help that before we moved to Hawaii…..we ate pizza every Tuesday night 

while watching Biggest Loser.

It didn’t help that Bryan lost his job.

It didn’t help that i loved layers and was able to hide any weight gain.

What did help was moving to a place where everyone is wearing shorty shorts and bikinis year round.

{and the only moms in tankini’s are the tourists….honest to goodness….even the heavier set moms 

that live here will wear a bikini}

What did help was that everyone i know here is extremely active and health conscious.

The island is all about eating local and supporting the farmers markets.

It helped me tremendously…because if i’m going to be honest…if i was still home in the burbs of

chicago…i might not have made it as heavy as i had gotten….but i wouldn’t have had the motivation

that the warm weather and beach living has done for me.

I only state this because i was still going to the gym up until the day we moved….

and you don’t see a whole lot of moms in bikini’s at the local pool back home.

It’s different.

I’m not putting it down…don’t get me wrong…..it’s just different.

I needed the change to help me change.

I guess i just wanted to wear a bikini and OWN it….and work really hard so that i could say i did it.

You know the saying….”nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”….

i actually hate that saying. 

DESPISE IT

because i don’t just want to be skinny 

i want to be fit

i want to be healthy

i want to look healthy

i want to be able to run 4 miles without feeling like i am going to die a slow death

i want hike  and paddleboard.

I want my arms to look great and my thighs to not start a fire when rubbed together.

I want my family to be proud.

I want to keep up with my kids .

I want to kick ASSphalt.

I’ve made my goal.

6 months.

25 pounds lost.

I can run 5 miles. {barely….let’s not get ahead of myself…}

{and no…i have no intention of doing any half marathons….no need to kill myself}

I worked out with Gabby Reece.

I worked out with Bethany Hamilton.

I still eat things i want to eat….like brie and goat cheese and cheeseburgers….

as a matter of fact….last weekend a friend and i met up for breakfast and split a huge

macadamia nut cinny roll and a cheese omelette.

I just work harder when i do.

I also juice.

{spinach or kale, celery, cucumber, green apple, ginger and carrots every single day}

I refused to cut out alcohol.

I don’t want to change who i am and seriously….if i did…i’m sure the weight would have come off

so much faster but i’m good with 25 pounds in 6 months.

I don’t eat before i run in the morning…..and i juice as soon as i get home.

It’s what works for  me….and i eat eggs or oatmeal mid morning.

I really try and do 4-5 small meals throughout the day and i really try not to eat after 7 pm.

It doesn’t always happen….and it’s okay.

I still order Kalua pork nachos at the Common Ground every other week…..

because i love them and i like food.

I just work a little harder that morning so i can.

 I’m not going to lie….

i’m worried that now with no more Gabby classes that i will fail….

slowly fall back into my old habits.

Most of the other girls in class will move on to Crossfit classes or do more yoga…

but for me the fact that Gabby’s classes were Free…..helped me more than you know.

The closest gym is 30 minutes away….and the cost of gas is ridiculous here…..

and my hubby waits tables.

It’s the life we knew we had to accustom ourselves to for the year….

living lean…

but loving it all the way.

I might have to buy some weights…..and run stairs an extra day…..

do some planks and pushups in my living room while watching Kathy Lee and Hoda drink 

fine boxed wine

but i will try.

Anthropologie catalog honor!

I’m still going to work hard…..eat less….and love this new body i have.

I did it…..

and hopefully i’m not quite done yet;-)

I got up again yesterday morning and hiked AGAIN….but this time with a friend. We did the two miles in 

and two miles out.

Here is a decent photo of the hike today…….i thought some of you would appreciate a shirtless hiker in

toe shoes.

Go forth and lick the screen if you need to…..

i won’t tell.

{just don’t tell me you licked those shoes…..

because there is something weird to me about a man in toed shoes}

It’s like that saying……

“wow those are the most beautiful pair of CROC shoes……SAID NO ONE EVER”

But more on that in a bit….first i’m excited to tell you that today is the boys surf competition.

It’s going to be a really fun day as they get to compete with all of the friends ….

and what is also great is that this is strictly a Grom competition which means…it’s for ages 

12 and under.

There will be no kids competing if they are sponsored by a major company….and that means

it’s just a lot of fun with good prizes and goodies.

It’s put on by the Irons Brothers…..you may or may not know of Andy Irons…he was a big deal surfer

but sadly passed away a year and a half ago.

{this is Bryan’s favorite tribute to him and his ashes were spread in Hanalei bay}.

Anyhoo….Andy’s brother Bruce and their family have continued on with this local competition….

and we will all be at Hanalei bay tomorrow watching our boys compete in a fun filled day.

{there are some pretty awesome & unique names around here…just read through the list…}

We spent all afternoon at the beach while the kids practiced….

it’s so fun seeing all these kids out there.

{what do you think they would all do when a wave comes??}

Unfortunately ….Lola will not be in the contest.

She sold her surfboard a few weeks ago so she could buy a hamster and all of the equipment.

I called the only pet store on the entire island yesterday only to find out that Hamsters are

ILLEGAL

in the state of Hawaii.

Anyhoosier…..

like i mentioned earlier…..i hiked again yesterday morning…..but then after my hike i went

to my very last class with Gabby.

I thought i might cry….but i held it all together.

This last class…..which i’ve been taking for an entire 6 months happened to end on our 

9 month anniversary here on Kauai.

That tells me two things:

1. Time is flying by faster than you can say “grapefruit juice and vodka please”.

2. I survived 6 whole months of slight torture in which i have a body that kinda likes me again.

I sort of fell in love with Gabby……because i mean…..who the hell does classes for FREE

unless you do it from your heart…..and have the kind of life that you can do that.

I’ll drink to that.

I apologize for the sweaty belly photos of me….but it’s just proof that i sweat.

{or maybe i spilled my vodka that i had slipped in my water bottle by mistake….}

I also got to finally get up the courage and get a photo with Bethany Hamilton.

She will on occasion come and take the class with us…..so you can imagine  what in the world

was i was going to say to her.

So of course i asked her if she remembers surfing with Bryan back in September.

She just smiled at me…..and did not ask me to lunch like i had thought she might.

No biggie.

I would just like to state once again……for the record….and all legal purposes….

that i am indeed…..

NOT SHORT

I’m 5’7″ and a half.

5′ 8″ if i had my peep toe’s with heels on….but since it’s been a while since i’ve worn those….

just know i’m 5’7″.

but i thought since i haven’t blogged in over a week…..that wouldn’t be fair….and to just show you this sandwich

which i’ve named the 

BEST SANDWICH IN ALL OF THE LAND

would just be plain rude of me….the end.
Honestly though….it’s hard to just eat one of these…..so instead of making two…i only eat one

every single day.

It’s a roasted beet and chevre sandwich.

I bought a bunch of Beets at the farmers market…..and can you believe i’ve never once….had beets.

I sliced them up….brushed them with evoo and sprinkled them with sea salt. Then i roasted them at 375

for about 25 minutes.

After they cooled …i spread some chevre on some fancy bread…layered the roasted beets and some

spinach….then i grilled the sandwich to perfection.

I introduce you to the best sandwich in all of the land…….

I follow Colbie Caillat on twitter….and knew she was here in town for a bit…..

then i saw she posted that she was kicked out of the Westin for sneaking in their hot tub.

We would totally be best friends.

{i just hope she didn’t go in the hot tub i pee’d in…..that would be awkward}

Mr Buick and i had a nice little date the other night. We were invited to the restaurant he works at

to enjoy the Luau that they put on Tuesday evenings.

If you ever come to Kauai….i would totally suggest this one. 

The Hawaiian show is put on by friends of ours…..their whole family grew up here ….real Hawaiians….

and the daughters all do Hula for the show.

It’s authentic and intimate. Not great for little ones because it’s in a restaurant and they can’t really run around

but if you are looking for a nice evening with Hawaiian culture….i totally recommend it.

It’s at the Mediterranean Gourmet in Haena . {about 10 miles past Hanalei}

I even put on a new dress for the occasion….

There is a reason why i put my phone on silence Saturday mornings when i head out for a little

“just kasey time”…….

I made some mini Kauai lime pies for an evening on the beach…..

i might have eaten two of them….

i don’t remember because i lost count.

it’s okay though……because red wine is supposed to bring down the sugar hight.

I made sure to have a few of those as well.

I love “clean eating”….

it’s so healthy and good for you.

You really should try eating some cake while you sweep the floor…..

because you are burning calories by sweeping.

The girls and i  meet up on Friday evenings for our Friday evening club.

There are children running around…….i swear.

But if we make a circle…..and keep it tight….it seems to ward of children

Lola and i like to snorkel.

Actually we all like to snorkel…..

but Lola likes to stay close to shore….and i like to sit on the beach.

I swear you can still see a lot of fish while floating in 2 feet of water.

Fin just likes to walk around with his mask on……

it makes him feel important.

I skipped my run this morning….and hiked solo instead.

In my new to me trail runners.

Don’t let the name fool you……because there was no trail running by me…..

i just like the name….

trail runners…

they make me feel important.

about the way i parent or the way i raise my kids.

I’m a pretty open parent….and very relaxed.

I don’t always feel like i make the best decisions…..but i try.

Granted…..at times i have doubt that i made a right decision…..

like saying No to Lola having a sleepover at a “boy” friends house.

She’s only 9 and has lots of “boy” friends….but i wasn’t comfortable with the situation.

I had to listen to my instincts…..and it was hard seeing her in tears.

I also had to say No to Mason having a sleepover at a friends house where there were

going to be around 14 kids….some of them being girls….and it was a little heartbreaking…

because this group is sort of the “popular” group at school….but overall….

the decisions we as parents have to make are the hardest….and the older the kids get….

the harder it is to feel like we are making the best decisions for them.

Don’t get me started on truth or dare.

Anyhoo….back to the subject on hand.

My baby boy turned 7 on March 4. {yes…that was almost 6 weeks ago…}

He was born on a lucky day. 3.4.05

at 4:56.

{okay…totally kidding about the 4:56…it was to good to pass up}

Fin was almost named Atticus…..i really loved the name Atticus……

from the book “To kill a mockingbird”….but Bryan really loved the name Fin.

not Phin

not Finn

it’s not short for Finnigan

it’s just Fin.

{like a shark Fin}

One N not two.

{and one of these days i’m going to run into Julia Roberts and introduce our Fin’s ..her’s is Phinn…

and our boys will be best buddies and build sand castles together}

Bryan grew up by the ocean…..so we finally concurred on the name Fin.

Fin Hudson

He loves to snuggle and it kills me that he doesn’t come in in the mornings much anymore….

he has grey blue eyes…..

hair so blond it almost looks white….

and smiles every single day….

and now he is seven.

{almost 8 …since it’s taken me this long to actually take and post some photos…}

I’ve been a lucky mom this year to be able to help in his class on Tuesday mornings….

taking turns reading with him and the other kids.

The other night……middle of the night……i heard a baby crying….

and really crying.

Living here in Hawaii…..our windows are open most of the time…..and since we live

in a condo complex…..you hear a lot of things.

{be creative …..}

Our unit is more of a duplex with just us and our neighbors who don’t have kids yet….so it’s

pretty quiet except for when they bust out their jazz tunes at dinnertime. I love listening to

Jazz…because it’s not something we would normally listen to….and it’s always around dinner time

which is fun.  Mason always asks me if i can ask them to turn it down….but i tell him…

they listen to me yell at you kids all day….it’s their way of unwinding.

Anyhoo…..our bedroom faces a condo unit that is a vacation rental….and that’s where i heard 

this baby crying and crying late into the night.

It might have been a night i took a tylenol pm or two so i was in a good deep sleep when i heard

the crying. I woke up slightly hazed and started pushing bryan’s shoulders….

and said

“it’s your turn to go and feed the baby”

Bryan sat up in bed….groaning…..and it took a minute for both of us to realize that

we don’t in fact have a baby…..

and it wasn’t ours.

That feeling of knowing we don’t have to get up was comforting…..

{my babies never really slept through the night…..they always woke up for one thing or another….}

but we still had to listen to it cry for the next hour.

Quick tip: Don’t start the Ferber method while on vacation.

Anyhoo……I had some photos of my baby boy that i wanted to show off……

and i’m proud to say he is signed up for his very first surf competition in a little over a week.

or not….

what i know is that 

Thank goodness for vodka insurance.

{we went two months w/o insurance…and it wasn’t pretty}

I once said that i can’t stand running but for some reason it’s all i can think about …..

Sheet…

how do these things happen. You sit here and type it all out…word for word….telling the world that

you hate to run….but damn if you don’t step on that scale and 

ka boom

there are only 4 pounds left on the scale to lose.

I made an appointment with an Orthopedist…..

{or sports medicine…i don’t remember…i live on an island and i can’t be choosy}

but they can’t see me for another week and a half.

Which means for two weeks they have asked me to take it easy.

I took last Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday off from running…but i did go to Gabby’s class on Tuesday

{knowing there was no class the rest of the week}

and here i had been complaining….wah wah wah about my knee….and you know who shows up to class?

Bethany Hamilton.

With her one arm.

And that put my ass back into perspective that even though here i was complaining about my knee….

this girl had her arm ripped off by a shark…..and she can do push- ups like no one.

I love how things like that happen to me.

That same day i found this video…

{don’t let the girls in the bikinis scare you….it’s a good one…i promise}

and just by watching that video…..it makes me want to go back to France…{not necessarily Cairo}

and Rome and South Africa…then jump into that water.

{does jumping off my pier count??}

Did you watch it?

Have i mentioned how much i love the Kleenex with the eucalyptus infused in it?

Bueller???

Yes…i realize it’s an ad for Nike’s Fuel brand….but i love the underlying foundation….

because it is that same foundation that i am trying to live.

{wish i had a budget to do something crazy for 10 days….}

Make it count.

Make every day count.

Which is why we up and moved for one year.

Which is why we teach our children that living life to it’s fullest is something to be proud of.

Which is why i set a goal to lose some extra weight and am making it happen.

Which is why i LOVE that Lola is playing basketball for the first time EVER and her two 

coaches are gay {with kids}and we can sit and talk about girlfriends {or boyfriends}

{the live- in kind}

without having to refer back to the show Modern Family as our only point of reference.

Teaching our kids to love everyone…..isn’t it beautiful.

Please tell me how you talk to your kids about these issues…i would love to hear….

We got up early last Sunday morning {Easter} and went to Sunrise service….

on our favorite pier….

at our favorite beach…..

the clouds parted….the sun peeked through….all in time for one beautiful morning on Kauai.

Of course a donut or two helped.

The kids dressed themselves…and i thank the good lord that our Easter finery included casual this year.

Anyhoo…onto the best part of our Sunday.

{might i just mention how much i love just one Cadbury creme egg….}

We spent the afternoon with our friends at the beach….under a pop up tent…in the rain.

We managed to hide a hundred or so filled plastic eggs around the beach and when the kids were done

we were all sitting around and for some reason us girls got on the conversation of births while the boys 

played football on the beach in the rain.

{i don’t know how….and i don’t know why……seriously…how do these conversations happen}

but i brought up that i pretty much asked for my epidural a good three weeks ahead of time

{i swear…i was under the impression that all us girls liked the idea of no pain…

but then i guess that the whole idea of “no pain no gain” is obsolete and void in other areas…

so never mind…..i’m just talking out loud here…..}

and one of my friends…who is as natural as can be….teaches yoga……eats vegan….

used to homeschool……..

you get the idea…..

and she mentions how she birthed all three of her kids at home and in bed.

Well…..

it didn’t take more than two seconds for Lola to to raise her hand and ask if the reason she didn’t

have her babies in the hospital was because they couldn’t afford it.

good lord above

i wanted to dig a hole in the ground right then and there…

lightening….strike down on me now……

and all i kept thinking of was my old TIME -OUT corner …..

{damn how i miss my little corner…..it was a great place }

My friend goes on to explain that women know their bodies best….and you don’t really need a hospital.

Lola looked at me…..and i smiled and told her that some women do…..

ya know…

have their babies at home even if they can afford a hospital.

Needless to say……I obviously needed the whole hospital thing…..needles and medication…

{like grapefruit juice is to vodka…….}

nurses and formula….and nurseries where momma can get a little night night before she heads back

home to her other kids.

Here is to diversity….

and wheat-grass…..

and lucky charms.

Amen.

back to making it count….

i’m on to my last two weeks till i reach that goal….and i finally got around the other day to take 

some of Fin’s 7 year photos {post to come…}.

I wanted to get a photo of Fin and i….so i dug into my closet and pulled out one of my thrifted Anthro

dresses that i bought when i went shopping with the homies in Chicago before we moved here.

I found the dress {size 6} and i couldn’t even get the zipper up then…..but i still bought it.

I bought it because i loved it.

I remember it in Anthro…..but it was meant to be because i bought it at a consignment shop with tags

still on for a whopping $18.

I knew one day i would fit in it….but who knew that day would be on a Thursday evening at 4pm

on the island of Kauai.

……………………………

p.s. Be careful of geckos on the wall…..that start clicking when they look at you….

it means they are ready to mate.

]]> http://kaseybuick.com/2012/04/make-it-count/feed/ 29 http://kaseybuick.com/2012/04/houston-we-have-a-problem/ http://kaseybuick.com/2012/04/houston-we-have-a-problem/#comments Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:14:18 +0000 Kasey http://kaseybuick.com/?p=4016 Because i’ve already made it public that i have a goal….

and the only person who can hold me accountable is myself…..and because i write everything down…

here in this diary that goes out to the world wide web…

i need to be frank and open.

Not to be confused with Franks and beans.

Today is Monday {or Tuesday in some places}….and this marks the ‘less than three weeks’ of Gabby’s class left.

{she surprised us and added the last week of April}

I had my friend snap a quick photo of me in class last week….

here i am doing these rope things. I don’t know the correct name for this particular

exercise but it kills your arms but makes them stronger.

{it’s okay to drool while doing rope things……i have to remind myself that…..}

I also need a pedicure and a some new jeans but i’m not complaining because i have to keep reminding

myself that i’m down 19 pounds and that’s what really matters.

19 pounds!!!!

6 more to go.

The problem i’m having right now is my left knee.

{it’s actually below my left knee….not the actual knee}

It’s in EXTREME pain….and only after i run.

There are two things that might be going on at the moment.

Either i have cancer and am going to die

or

i have a tumor and am going to die.

I probably should not have run Saturday morning…..because my knee was acting up again….

but my knee doesn’t hurt when i run….it only hurts AFTER i run….so i thought…as long as i keep running

then it won’t hurt.

SHEET

sheet

SHEET

I got home from my run on Saturday…showered….and spent the rest of the day with my left knee elevated

and my wonderful nurse Lola kept the ice bags coming since Bryan was at work all day.

{we also watched “Mary Poppins” and i’m dying for some of that medicine she hands out to the kids

and herself after their walk in the rain. A woman that can carry that bottle around in her purse

is a woman that can be a friend of mine}

check check

After i popped 28 Advil and downed it with some fine boxed wine….my knee started feeling better.

I decided to take Sunday off from running.

{It was also Easter Sunday and we went to sunrise service on the beach….more on that later….}

I then woke up Monday morning and thought…..i could just walk.

I used to walk…..why couldn’t i just walk the 4.5 miles instead of run….

but i only made it about 1/10th of a mile before turning around and telling myself…

“eehhhh”

who needs to walk when i can go home and catch up on the last hour of “The Today Show”.

{cheers Kathy Lee and Hoda }

Anyhoo……

The real problem is either

A: My new shoes {but it’s doubtful}

or

B: The day i tripped and fell on my left knee after trying to take off my rain boots and now with

the running it’s probably some torn ligament

or

C: It’s a TUMOR.

Either way…..it’s a set back.

But i poured myself some red wine {from a bottle thank you very much Bryan Buick}

because as i was researching how to ease the pain

everything i was reading kept stating how good red wine is.