The Happiest Child in the World

My Ember is a Joy. I am lucky enough to call her my daughter and blessed to be her mother. This kid was sent to earth to make my life brighter. She is my mini me in looks and spirit.


A typical day at the beach. Still holding on to one front baby tooth.



Hiding in a stick tunnel on one of our favorite hikes in Olinda. Ember is a great explorer.


A Tea Party with Sophie and Eden. Ember is very good at looking out for her little sister.



Did I ever tell you that she is part monkey? She gets that from her dad's side of the family.


Hanging out in the hammock while camping in Hosmer Grove. She loves getting dirty, dealing with the cold and sleeping in our cozy tent.


She still wears a dress almost every day. Some fancier than others. A true princess at heart.


Finely lost that other front tooth. She waits until they fall out. This one fell out at school and she didn't even notice. One of the boys at lunch told her and she found the tooth on the floor!


Ember picked the biggest pumpkin she could carry...those were the size limit rules at the pumpkin patch this year.


Ember has also become a student of the violin. She makes it look very easy and just seemed to pick up reading notes like breathing. It is so fun to watch her learn and practice. I go to lessons with her each week and we try to practice together every day. She is gifted. I am not. She also got that from her dad. Musical talent is beyond me.

Ember does not like her hair to be "fluffy", we brush it out each night and braid it or put it into a bun so that it does not get tangled while she sleeps. She has beautiful curls and long soft hair.

Ember's favorite spot to play is up on the roof. Over the garage there is a spot where a tree covers some of the roof and that is the best spot. She is always sneaking up there with her friends.

Ember loves to draw. She makes me books, recipe's, story's, and they are stapled and given with enthusiasm. Now that she can do a bit of writing she leaves me love notes and narratives of our day. For example there was a paper left in the car this morning that said: "WE ARE GOING TO SCHOOL"

She is my Soccer girl this season. I am her coach. Our team is the Golden Princesses. Ember wanted to be the golden retrievers, but she was out voted. We are not very good, (we border on really bad) but the girls try their best and they are so glad to finish the game and have...Snack.

Ember is one of those kids that don't complain or put up a fight when they don't get what they want. She just accepts it and moves on. She is a great example to me and some of my other kids.

I am so grateful to be watching this little girl grow up. Each night she wants me to massage her legs, she says they are sore. Growing pains? Or maybe it is a creative way to get just a few more minutes with Mom. I am thankful for those sore legs so I can spend a little more time with my Emmy Lou Who.

The Princess has Turned a Royal Three

There was once a little baby born, in a hospital, to a mommy that loved her very much. This baby was sweet, beautiful and healthy. The mommy and daddy named her Sophie after her great-great-great grandmother. Her middle name was chosen to be Malia after a dear friend.



This baby decided she wanted to test just how much the mommy loved her. So for many days, weeks and even months after she was born, this baby decided to cry. The mommy loved her, carried her, nursed her, sang songs to her, cried with her, danced with her and every once in awhile...got to sleep with her!



Finely one day the baby decided that she would stop crying and just start repeating everything that she heard. She was like a little baby parrot (or a Bunny). Mommy loved hearing her talk. By the time she was two, that little baby could almost sleep through the night. She still would cry for her binky or her bedtime snack...1/2 of an apple or 1/2 of a cucumber in bed, but at least now she could tell why she was crying.


By the time she was 2 and a half the mommy suddenly noticed one day that the crying was gone. The little baby that had demanded all the love that the mommy could muster, was now a sweet, happy, fun little girl. What joy! What rejoicing! That little girl did so much so quickly...no more diapers, (not even in bed), no more binkys (we took them to walmart and traded them in for a fairy doll), no more bedtime snacks (okay now and again), and no more crying (except when she is hurt or tired or...but not just to test the mommy).



Sophie loves to play with her little friends. Go to Joy School. Wear dresses. Eat macaroni and cheese, ice cream and go to the mall for See's candy. Play with Ember, Ethan and Sydney - in that order. Play with the doll house and have the dolls act out our lives. Go to the beach and swim, swim, swim! Swing. Watch PBS Kids. Hug Licorice the cat. Giggle. Get tucked in - especially her toesies. Sleep on the floor for her naps. Be silly.



My Sophie has turned THREE! She is my baby. She successfully weaned me from wanting any more babies. But I am so glad to enjoy the four that I have. Sophie, I love you.

Deborah Cornelia Carruthers Allen...Mom...Grammy...

Once upon a time in a beautiful country called Santa Monica, there was a little family. The second world war had started and the daddy had to leave when the mother was 7 months pregnant. Before he left, they talked about what to name their baby. One day the mommy was listening to a bible study on the radio when she heard the pretty name: Deborah, and she thought, I think I will name this baby Deborah when she is born.

With her husband away, the mother stayed at her in law's home. Neither of them drove. On September 2, 1944, the Grandmother called to check in on her pregnant daughter. It was the grandmothers birthday! The baby was not expected for 2 more weeks, but the Grandmother instructed the mother to call them at any time if they were needed to drive her to the hospital. Grandmother did not drive, but, brother Russel did. The mother assured them that she would not need them that night.

Sleep was sound until the mother had to get up to use the bathroom. When she returned to bed she realized that her water had broken. The contractions started soon after and she progressed quickly. By the time Russel got her to the hospital, the baby was crowning!

So it happened that the little family was blessed with their second beautiful baby girl. They named her Deborah. Deborah Cornelia Carruthers. On her grandmothers birthday! Healthy and Happy! They called her Debbie. The mother wrote a letter to tell the father that a healthy baby girl had joined their family. It took a month for the letter to arrive. The older sister Judith was only 11 months old! Two babies!

The mothers name was Corneila, but they called her Penny...and then Nana. Nana described her Debbie as a placid, sweet little girl that was easy to be around. She can still picture her at a school festival dancing around in an organdy dress. Unaware that anyone was watching and throughly enjoying herself.

She took ballet - the Tutu series. Fell off a trike and had to get stitches in her face. Nana couldn't stand to watch and Debbie was so brave and did it all by herself at only about 15 months old. She may have tried ant posion at a neighbors house so they took her to the hospital to have her stomach pumped. She liked to play with her ear when she was trying to go to sleep!

One day she was all grown up, beautiful and a senior in high school. There was an assembly and Nana had come to the school. They started calling up different girls with outstanding qualities. These girls made up the royal court. The very last girl called would be the Cotton Queen. Deborah was the last one called!

Next she married Greg LeRoy Allen. Did some junior college. Had some healthy baby boys...only 12 months apart! Two babies! And became the wife and mother that we all love.

Many years later they added Amy and Jonathan to the family. Four lovely kids and some awesome parents.

Happy Birthday Mom! 66 Years Young!

4 Generations: Nana, Debbie, Amy and Sydney

Her first Son Greg LeRoy Allen Jr. with his 4th son Connor.
Her first son in law Troy Patrick Anderson with his 1st son Ethan Paul.

Her 2nd son Aaron Scott Allen with Sydney.
Aaron describes his mom as "Kind, Gentle, Sweet, Loving, and Compassionate. She always gave me lots of attention when I was hurt." He was always proud of his mom because she was so young and pretty. When she would come to school the other kids were jealous. Aaron also said that she is a very graceful water skier!


Her 4th son Jonathan Thomas Allen with Sydney.

The Island Grandkids: Connor Allen, Sydney Anderson, Morgan Allen, Ember Anderson, Griffin Allen, Ethan Anderson, Drake Allen, Zack the granddog

A whole mix of Trouble: Ethan Anderson, Noah Allen, Ember Anderson, Logan Serene, Sydney Anderson, Anna Allen, Alana Calandra
Owen Allen, Sophie Anderson, Luke Allen, Sage Allen and Tanner Allen


The Maui Bunch: Sophie, Ember, Ethan, Sydney, Grammy and Captain!


Jonathan and Josie's Bunch of Boy's: Oliver, Owen, Noah and Tanner.
and the Anderson Bunch with Nana and Uncle Ben and Grammy.


My mom has always been there for me and my family. She is especially wonderful when I have a baby. She does such a great job stepping into our world and routines. She cooks really good food, keeps the house really clean and plays with the kids. Maybe when I am a grandma I will be as good as she is.
She is always excited to do any crazy adventure that we devise when she is visiting. I have seen her hike, bike, snorkle, swim, sew, scuba dive, water ski, camp and horseback ride. She is always pleasant, insists that my couch is very comfortable and cleans up messes before I can say thank you for cleaning up the prior mess!


Captain, Grammy and Sophie! The 14th grandchild out of 15!

We love you lots Mom. Have a great day and we look forward to many more adventures!
Hugs,
Amy

Ichiban

My Number One Daughter, Sydney.
She is all that a daughter should be. Wonderful, Dynamic, Smart, Beautiful, Difficult, Amazing, Talented, Helpful, Interesting, Fun and growing up so fast right before my eyes.
I love her.
I learn so much with her.
She is such a good girl and a wonderful example to her little sisters.

Right now she thinks its gross when Troy and I kiss.
She is reading the Little House on the Praire Books.
She loves to read.
She loves to eat White Nectarines.
She has size 10 feet.


She still thinks I am cool.
I am still taller.
She has a big smile.
She loves her Dad.
He loves her.


Almost 12.
So ready to leave primary.
She has such a bright future.
I am excited to see what she chooses to fill it with.
Thank Heaven for Sydney!

Ethan's First Surf Competition

So Ethan mentioned that he wanted to do a Surf Competition last weekend. We looked it up online and saw that there was one this weekend! He was excited and nervous, but without hesitation, he said that he wanted to do it...here are the pictures:






The famous board shaper "ole" was there. He is 80 years old and he competed. His wife surfed too! Very inspiring.

Ethan did great. He rode a smaller board than most of the other keiki so he didn't catch as many waves, but he was happy and felt good about the experiance.

What makes Amy Work?

Happy, Busy, Optimistic, Cheerful, Overwhelmed, Productive, Driven, Playful, Hungry, More...I always want more...
I feel like I go. I go hard. I usually enjoy it. Until I don't. What is the difference. When does the enjoyment end and the drudgery begin.
I like to run on my terms, my time, I don't like to wait. I am a bit impatient, but I am learning to live in the moment and enjoy waiting. I enjoy it a lot more if I have something to read or learn or do...okay maybe I am not learning to live in the moment, but I think about it.
If I walk in the morning and do something for me, then my day is smoother. Something done for me makes doing for everyone else all day easier.
Paint, play piano, draw, sew...utilize that other side of the brain. Miracles happen. Coloring with Sophie kind of counts.
Friends are the chocolate of life. Sweet moments in a otherwise bland smorgasbord.
Husband. He makes my day better. Even when it is already good.

Ethan Maui Boy

Bittersweet

Well it is with sadness and a full heart that I write this post. Tomorrow is the first day of school for Ethan - 5th grade and Ember - 1st grade. Sydney starts 7th grade on Wednesday and I will be left home with my little Sophie. We have had a busy and full summer. We have surfed, hiked, danced at ballet, played piano and violin and swam every week. We have visited the goat farm, the tropical plantation and the aquarium. We have mowed the lawn, planted a garden, mountain biked, filled our home and yard and car with all the neighborhood kids, eaten ice cream, camped in Hosmer Grove, directed Stake Girls Camp and celebrated birthdays. Ember turned 6 and I turned 35!

So what have we learned:

Amy: My favorite thing was that I love spending time with my kids. I am exceptional at taking them on adventures of fun. I will miss them terribly when they are back in school. I learned that I am tired.

Sydney: Favorite thing was going to swimming and she learned to play "Each Life that Touches ours for Good" on the piano.

Ethan: Learned to short board and his favorite thing was surfing.

Ember: Learned how to make Phoenix Birds cut out of painted papers and her favorite thing was playing with her friend Eden at the beach.

Sophie: "My favorite thing was going to the goat farm" and she learned how to jump into the water all by herself at the pool and off a 3 foot rock at the bamboo hike!

Troy: "My favorite thing about this summer was taking my kids mountain bike riding and I learned that nothing says I love you like chocolate."

The Garden

We have been counseled and taught the importance of growing a garden, but is was not until Troy became inspired that we got to it. It helped that he got to build something to garden in. He likes the building part. So here is the story of our garden:


Here we are mixing the dirt.....those are banana plants in the background. We are also lucky enough to have guava trees, lime, lilikoi vines and starfruit, but luckly they do not need much attention.



Almost Done.

5x5 Square with a 5x5 grid. The kids made little signs for their seeds.


Radishes are the fastest growing vegetable in our garden, only 28 days to maturity!










They were beautiful, hot, red and oh so fun to pull out of the garden. We have been enjoying the lettuce and peas too! There are peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelon, kale, carrots and beets too...waiting for their big day!