To all the families with actually, REALLY picky eaters: What I have learned about hearts and bellies

No one really quite gets it.  People mean well, but trying to help me or give me ideas on feeding this bunch seems really very pointless.

So, as you have probably figured I have a family of really picky eaters.  This includes my husband, although he has come a very long way since we first met and even since we got married.   I have heard the gamut of advice on how to handle them all.

Be a hard nose, make them eat what I put in front of them.

Call the veggies by superhero names or give them superpowers.

Just call the onions polka dots; all kids love that.

Hide veggies in the recipes.

Occasionally, one of those things (and whatever else I might have tried) has worked with ONE of the bunch, but never more than one at the same time.

Not only are they picky about what they eat, and each of them are picky about different things, but they are all particular about how things are prepared.  Jackson in particular, will turn away food that does not taste the same as how I cook.  My goal is to get him to do this politely at least.

Don't get me wrong, I would really love for this bunch of mine to eat everything I like to cook, but that is just simply, probably not going to happen, at least until some grown up taste buds make an appearance and even then I have my doubts about them eating just anything I put in front of them.  I am used to them now.  I used to hate being a short order cook, but now I roll with it.  I cook regular meals about three times a week and the rest of the time we eat leftovers or easy prep things.

In the end, what I have come to is that I am a lot more concerned with their hearts than their bellies.  I want them to tell people their preferences politely and be appreciative for whatever is offered to them and appreciative of the spirit it is offered in.  I want them to say "No Thank You" sincerely and kindly.  And I want them to understand they have it SO much better than so many other kids around the world.

They drink clean water every day.  Even the water in our toilets is cleaner than the water kids in third world countries drink.  They have food that they like at their whim and it fills their bellies so they are almost never hungry.

I want them to one day look around at the home they have been PRIVILEGED to grow up in and want to make a difference for those who have had less than they.  I want to teach them that Jesus gives much to some, and because of that much given, much is required too.  I want them to love Jesus so much that they love His people the way they are loved by Christ.

This is a hard undertaking.  I struggle and worry that I am not doing enough each day to teach them all these things, from being polite to how big Jesus' love is for them.  And I pray.  I pray that God will equip me and their Daddy to teach and show them what love looks like, love from a parent to a child and love from our great big God to His smallest and most needy child.

A little Christmas fun

Grandma Clemens came to visit, arriving here on Thanksgiving day.  She helped us decorate the Christmas tree this year, but we didn't get her in a single picture.  Jackson and Max had a great time helping get it all together.  

We liked the final result, but I didn't get a picture with the topper!

Mom got a gingerbread house and saved it for decorating with Grandma.  They spent a good long time on it.  You can definitely tell which side is Jackson's and which side is Max's, ha!

We saw a beach bum Santa at the squadron kids' holiday party.  All three boys were excited about that:)  Jackson and Max were even more excited when they opened their gifts to find Pokemon cards. 

Grandma Clemens' visit

Grandma Clemens came to visit, arriving on Thanksgiving day and staying more than two weeks!  She was a welcome addition to the house.  We felt so bad for her, when she got sick for about the first four days she was here.  Mike and me, Jackson and Max had something similar right after arriving back from the Big Island and it was some kind of awful stomach bug.  

When Grandma was feeling better, we hiked the Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail, this cool, paved trail on the side of a mountain from which you can view a beautiful lighthouse.  Whales are often able to be seen during the months of December till March.  We were not lucky enough to see any, but we had a great time on the walk.  Some other hikers were kind enough to take a family picture for us at the top of the trail.  Pretty good one!  Not to mention the view!

After the hike, we hit up Bellows Beach.  It was so windy there though, that Grandma and I opted not to get into the water.  Jackson loves the boogy board though, so he caught some waves.  There were some jelly fish on the beach that day too, so Max was not interested in being in the water.  Even though he has not heard many stories about them stinging, he is still nervous. A friend of ours son got stung last summer and we know it is painful, but tolerable.  But he is also 10 years old, so I think he would handle it better than Max!

We went to our favorite breakfast place and then our favorite beach the next morning and Grandma braved her swimsuit and getting totally into the water.  She said it was wonderful, but I know what really nice Hawaii ocean water temps feel like, so I could not bring myself to get into the water.  

We went to the Honolulu Zoo one day, which is a fun place and of course, the boys will go to the zoo anytime.  We got our exercise walking around!

Grandma spent a good bit of time out on the porch in the sun with her feet up.   We also made it out to the Dole Plantation and rode the little train, during which you get a little lesson on pineapple farming and the history of the pineapple.  Pretty fun, but I never took out my camera.  Grandma took a picture for us though!

We tried to get some family pictures for a Christmas card, but getting three boys to look at the camera at the same time is like a cruel joke on parents, or in this case, the Grandma, the person holding the camera.  We got a great one of her with the boys though.  

Jackson and Max would not stay for a picture with Daddy.

Baby Clemens 4: Ultrasound

All the pictures...

24 weeks and a heart rate. I have my own guess!!

24 week belly.  This is the first belly picture I have taken this time around.  I think I look just like I did with the boys.  And at the midwife appointment the baby's heart rate was 140.  

Jackson and Max's heart rates were always 143-144.  Thomas hung out at 134.  

I have a feeling it's another...  

The Big Island!!

When Mike and I knew we were moving to Hawaii for real, we talked about the fact that we would like to travel to see some of the other islands.  We did not do that in the Azores, mostly to do with the boys and not wanting to travel with them...  But we decided we would pack a suitcase full of food for these picky young people if we needed to and get out to see something new here in Hawaii.  Of course, we didn't need to do that b/c we are back in America, the land of Walmart, chicken nuggets, and french fries, and drive thrus.  

Baby 4 threw a little wrench in our original plan to head to the Big Island in January or February.  But we decided to roll with it and head out there in November.   We have some friends who had been before and stayed at the military camp, Camp Kilauae (try and pronounce that!) at Volcano National Park and had a great experience.  We decided we wanted to see as much as possible of the island though, so we decided to do two nights at the military camp on one side of the island and two nights at a resort on the other side of the island.  

ps.  Camp Kill-away

Max and Thomas hamming it up at the airport waiting for our flight off of Oahu

Mountainside drive out to camp Kilauae.

We flew into the Kona (west) side of the island and rented a car.  We had about a two hour drive to Camp Kilauae, much of which was through the mountains.  We stopped at a Walmart and got a few things to eat and snack on at the camp and then hit up Burger King for the aforementioned chicken nuggets and fries.  Unfortunately, the windy mountain roads paired with a car heating system we weren't used to as well as playing games on the Kindle did not go well with Jackson and he got totally car sick.  All over the place.  

It was a beautiful drive in spite of the sicky little person.  

Pictures of the coast and the boys from the southern-most point in Hawaii, as well as in the USA.  

To get to the south-most point of the Big Island, we had to take a little detour-drive.  Mike and I were a little hesitant to lengthen our drive to the camp, but we knew we would not be coming back this way, so we decided to chance it.  Jackson was feeling much better by then and Thomas was ready for a break from his carseat (not that he wanted to get back in there after the break!).  

The sign showing us where we were going

Thomas, enjoying being out of his carseat and able to play at the cabin we stayed in at Camp Kilauae. 

The day after we arrived, we decided to head to the Thurston Lava Tube, an old tube inside a mountain where lava used to flow.  The mountain is part of a rainforest and is so beautiful.  However, it was pouring rain as we walked along and while the boys liked the tube, the other part of getting wet and muddy was not their cup of tea.  No more outdoor exploring at the national park for us that day.

Hoping for no rain in Hilo (east side of the island) we decided to try out the little zoo some friends recommended.  The boys loved it, especially all the benches and animal statues they could get pictures on.  There were lots of different tropical birds to see and many other small animals as well.  There were two places for tigers, but we did not see the tigers at all.  

We found a little local diner to have lunch at and then headed back to our cabin to give Thomas a nap (which I think he took in the car, lol).  

Later, we decided to head out to the black sand beach, which is supposed to be a great place to see sea turtles.  Sure enough there were about 14 turtles we saw.  11 turtles in a circle together in one area and two other individuals in little tide pool type areas.  Very cool.  

The black sand is a result of volcanoes, but it feels nothing like the sand on other beaches in Hawaii.  It is much more coarse.  We were definitely glad we had gotten the recommendation to wear our sneakers rather than sandals.  Our feet might have been hurting if we had walked directly on the sand!

Picture of how the lava looks once it has hardened.  Lots of gray and black type colors, mixed in with random green and yellows.

To see this, we took a drive the day we were leaving the camp on Crater Rim Road, which leads down the mountain to the coastline.  You can see these huge craters that have had lava flowing in/through them at some point in the past.  

After our drive on Crater Rim Road, we headed out over a different mountain range on the middle part of the island back to Kona.  This time, Max got car sick.  No joke.  However, we were much more prepared for it this time.  I had actually been sitting in the backseat with Thomas and we had put the big boys all the way in the very back.  Max wasn't much help with Thomas during all the other driving, so for this long drive, we thought we might save ourselves from some crying if I sat back there with him.  We also saved ourselves throw up all over the back seat because I was able to get a bag in front of Max.  Whew!

We checked into our hotel and the boys were in love with the huge pool and long, curvy slide.  We spent the rest of that night playing in the pool and then ate dinner at the Rays on the Bay restaurant in the hotel.  The Sheraton where we stayed was a place where you can view the giant manta rays after dark when boats take snorkelers out there to swim with them.  

Jackson and Max were fairly impatient and Thomas was tired too, so I headed back to the room with them and got them a bath and Thomas down for the night.  Sleeping with three kids in unfamiliar surroundings was probably the biggest challenge we had.  Thomas likes his own crib, dark room, and sound machine for sure.  

The next day we decided to take a boat ride for some dolphin watching fun.  This is the view from the boat.  Hard to tell how beautiful because it was a little foggy in the background, but the mountain really looked awesome. 

We saw both bottlenose and spinner dolphins, which was really cool.  We even got to see three pairs of Mamas with babies.  So cool.  

This time, our last little guy was the one who tossed his cookies...  all over me.  Poor thing.  I guess he couldn't handle the boat rocking motion.  And that was true pretty much the whole trip, as I tried to give him some juice and he couldn't keep that down either.  

Despite the beauty of the water and view of the coast as well as the fun of seeing the dolphins, we were all glad to get back on land.  

Slightly different view from the boat.  

We spent basically the rest of the time playing in the pool and hanging out at the resort.  Thomas napped and the boys and I got food from the little place at the hotel.  The boys and I waited till dark and went down to see the Rays on the Bay and this time they were rewarded for their patience.  We saw 5 rays!!  And they were doing flips in the water too.  

The next and last day we wanted to be chill.  Daddy took the boys for some last swimming fun in the morning and I packed up the room and played with Thomas.  We found a really fun place to eat near where we got on the boat the day before and then had some frozen yogurt before heading to the airport.  We were there a little early, but the boys were not wanting to walk along the boardwalk, nor did we want to take them anywhere else, lol!!  

We decided next time we will get a night at a more local hotel/resort and let them enjoy the pool, as that seemed to be the most satisfying part of the trip for them.  We had previously thought about taking them to Kaui with us as well, but I suggested to Mike that maybe after Baby 4 is out and weaned I could make a girls' trip there with friends.  He was surprisingly agreeable to that.  What a husband!  Not to mention Daddy who is willing to stay with four kiddos while I am gone!  That is a long way off, so we will see about it actually happening.  It is definitely on my radar though.  After this trip some time to read a good book and put my feet up at the beach with a drink in hand sounds really lovely!

Thomas at 11 months

We are approaching Thomas' one year birthday and I realized that I never made an 11 month post about this sweet little guy.  Always smiling...  Well, except when he is mad about something, lol. 

At 11 months Thomas:  

• Still only had two teeth, but two more seemed to be coming in, the top front left and the incisor right next to that
• Was taking multiple steps in a row, but not steady
• Trying lots of new foods, but getting a little more particular and vocal about what he liked and didn't like.
• Can still wear some 9 month clothes, but moving into 12 months
• Still loves his paci
• Wakes usually once in the night, takes some milk and goes back to sleep
• Is in bed between 5 and 6 pm, my earliest sleeper!!
• Will not sit still for a book
• Won't talk!  He has no words and just continues to grunt, sometimes in a rather obnoxious way
• He doesn't babble much.  To my chagrin, he will not even say Mamamamama.  
• He is not a snuggler and is super wiggly, pretty much all the time.
• Has hair just like Jackson's was at this age, but his body type is just like Max's.  Mike and I keep saying he might be the cutest boy yet. 

Poor Thomas, standing on the inside of the screen door watching the big boys play outside

First Oreo!!

We were loaned this little walker toy from a friend.  He loves it!

Red polar bear jammies from our sweet friend Miss Angie.  We have been waiting a whole year to wear them:)  

Thomas was insistent on playing on the floor of the airport...  Gross!!  

On our visit to the Big Island.  Probably one of few times in the next few years that Thomas will get to wear warm clothes.  This was one of my very favorite outfits of Max's when he was the same age.

My boys have this insistence on take pictures on every single animal statue type thing at any zoo.  This was the first time Thomas has been included in their fun. 

Thomas spent a lot of time in the Ergo on our trip to the Big Island.  We didn't even take the stroller, which in hindsight, would have been handy for this ball of wiggles.

Helping us decorate the house for Christmas.

\

Climbing on the stage to see Santa

Checking Santa out.

Decided he is not afraid

The other cute jammies that came with the red polar bear ones:)

Exploring the grass.  At first he wasn't sure about it, but he quickly decided that being outside is one of his favorite things.

Not really all that happy.  Very tired and then Mama just had to have some 11 month pictures.