"Jam" Packed Day!

This morning started with a wonderful play date with our friends Ella and Paige. We met at the Kroc Center, which is this fabulous work out facility/everything with the best pools! We would become members if we were a bit closer, but the 45 minute drive is a bit too far. Anyway, we are so thrilled we get to meet friends there! I mean look at this facility...

This is the baby pool and Harps absolutely adored all the small fountains, the pouring bucket, etc. The water levels were also perfect for a small baby/toddler. Harps also loves playing with Ella. They are very sweet together.

This afternoon was filled with Jam making, random I know. Our good friends live down on the North Shore and their mango tree has been producing tons of mangoes... Instead of letting them go to waste, why not create a mango lime jam? Delicious.... and so very Hawaiian of us.

Harps "helping" Kimi...

Off to watch the olympics... So so addicting. I look forward to every night just to watch them. I just have to stay off the internet with the London to Hawaii time zone difference!

xoxo,
allie

Morning, morning.

Getting ready with any infant/toddler is a challenge... I am sure all parents would agree with that! Our situation is a bit more challenging with a deployed daddy. H is constantly getting into EVERYTHING and right now her absolute favorite thing is to rip all of the toilet paper as quickly as possible from the roll. Fun for baby, not fun for mama.

I knew something had to be done so H always has her morning bottle while I get dressed, etc. I put down this blue pillow and she goes over lays down and relaxes. The sweet life of a baby. 

We had a great Saturday of shopping and catching up with some friends!

xoxo,
allie

Wordless Wednesday.

Finger Paint Fun? Or Finger Paint Mess? Either way, this little lady was thrilled.

xoxo,

allie

Weekend

We had a great weekend. Harps and I have been busy working on our garden and outdoor living (we are trying to get ready for the big 1 party!). I also love the idea of eating outside when we live in such a beautiful area. I have been patio shopping since we arrived on island and boy, it has been difficult. We finally just bought some... Furniture shopping (and shopping in general) on island is challenging because they only have really high end (that cater to the resort crowd) and low end such as Target, Wal-Mart, etc... and of course, all of that is marked up for shipping costs. We seriously thought about shipping some outdoor patio furniture from a Crate and Barrel to match our chairs but, believe me, the shipping costs are outrageous. Another odd thing is all the stores follow the mainland calendar so the stores are getting in Fall and Winter Clothes... despite the lowest lows being in the 60s. Who needs winter coats and fur boots here?

Anyway, Harps and I found some clearance furniture and bought it. It was a bargain and I think it is perfect island furniture for the next 3 years.  Luckily my good friend Margaret (and her visiting Dad!) and Jocelyn helped me assemble it (with 4 adults and Harps it still took 2 hours). I honestly don't know if I could have done it alone. Of course we had to try it out for dinner and a thank them for all of their hard work!

(Ha, that big black net in the background is construction! 

Army bases and construction go hand and hand it seems)

We also had lots of pool time...

And someone got a Little People helicopter (just like Daddy!)...

Harps has also been busy pushing her walker everywhere...

and snuggling with her favorite stuffed animals...

and this might be one of my favorite pictures of all time. This perfectly captures H's sheer love for grocery shopping. It is by far her favorite errand.

xoxo,
allie

Our Little Lady Girl

My wonderful very talented friend, Jocelyn, took some amazing impromptu photos today and I had to share. H and I were going on a run and stopped by a neighbors house to see some sweet new kittens. I absolutely adore these photos that Jocelyn took! and Harps loved the baby kittens... (don't worry Will,
we didn't bring one home!).

I have noticed this blog has become very H focused but we love showing Will our daily lives while he is deployed.  I will try to spice it up a bit, but frankly most of our day is a Harper Day!

xoxo,
allie

Where is Harper?

Hm? Do you see her? (this little one is tricky)

Oooo, there she is!

Peek-a-boo is a way of life around our house these days... It doesn't matter what the object is! Big or small...

The best part is her reaction full of tons of sweet baby giggle.. every single time!

and H is almost walking... I have a feeling it is right around the corner.

xoxo,
allie

Little House on the ... Island!

Harps is officially the first homeowner of our small family...

Through some good luck, Harps and I were able to buy this Little Tikes house; for a while now, I had been contemplating whether to get an small outdoor slide, swing, etc. Long term I would prefer a wood swing set but (a.) she is hardly the age for that and (b.) why would we move a swing set back to the mainland from Hawaii. Anyway, this seems like the perfect compromise and we love the added bonus picnic table attached! Overall H seemed pretty jazzed to have her own small place to play in our yard.

We decided to"jazz" it out a bit with a little white picket fence, some flowers, and rubber wood chips; yes, you read correct, rubber wood chips. The sweetest old man at the garden shop convinced me that the green rubber chips were specifically designed for kids and cut down on splitters, bugs, etc. Despite the odd coloring, I was sold... We just need a couple more bags to complete the project.

Harp's House

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!

xoxo,
allie

Outdoor Fun!

I have been doing less blogging because the little lady and I have been embracing the outdoors. I always think of June, July, and August as "outdoor" months; although such a notion is a bit odd living in Hawaii, yet the summer months are the perfect break from our activities and an even better excuse to "live it up" Hawaiian style. Will and I feel strongly H should be outside as much as she can be... you are only a kid once! My goal, post trip, was to go to the pool/beach at least twice a week and so far it has been happening; we have even been enjoying the on post playgrounds! Every time we step into a new adventure, I am so struck by H's transition from baby to toddler. She is very "busy" exploring and loves watching other kids! In fact, we had to put away all of her "baby" rattles, etc. because she would just throw them down when I handed them to her (early sass). She is starting to adore playing with her toys and I just love this stage. Here are some pictures from the week...

Beach Baby...

Pool Time! This is a local pool in our "community"; on post does a wonderful job with small baby pools, little splash parks, play grounds etc everywhere! This pool is just a five minute walk from our house and the depth is 6 inches to 2 feet... perfect for H.

(holding her pool toys!)

Playground Fun! 

Outside Ball and Bubble Fun!

and of course our favorite Friday music class to end a great Hawaiian week.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend... outside.

xoxo,
allie