Mooloolaba

A couple weeks a go we went to up to Mooloolaba to do a school workshop for our friend's kids. Our old props guy, Will, now lives in Oz with his wife, Michele, and 3 beautiful children, Kierra, Ryder and Jay, in this cute little town on the Gold Coast. We spent two nights and two glorious days hanging out at the beach, eating fish and "cheps", watching the NBA finals, and just hanging out family style. Nainoa just loves the Wilson kids. I love watching him play with them because he is just so happy.

Mooloolaba beach playground.

Nainoa loved their turtle named Chase.

Brekky.

Nainoa loves Jay.

The kids playing pipes.

Beautiful park near their house.

We saw turtles and dolphins!

Bath time with the twinsies.

Uncle Verge & Auntie Paula

We have been spending a lot of time with Eye's best friend Verge. He is a brilliant musician singer song writer. Many nights Uncle Verge will jam the guitar with Eye on the cajon. Nainoa loves it when Uncle Verge plays the guitar. He is totally mesmerized. He'll actually stay still for more than 5 minutes and watch him play. It's been a real treat to be surrounded by such amazing talent and wonderful friends. So lucky.

Nainoa playing the shaker and jamming with Verge and Daddy.

Sitting on the cajon trying to play like Daddy.

Jamming with Verge.

Drawing with Auntie Paula.

Nainoa has such a funny sense of humor. He loves to make people laugh.

Aunty Icks

Nainoa has grown very attached to Aunty Icks (Simmy) since they spent a lot of time together in Miami and in Los Angeles. They adore each other. It's just so sad that Aunty lives all the way in London. Whenever we watch YouTube clips of Pandemonium, he always points and says, "Auntie!!!" We try and Skype as often as we can so he can see her. Thank goodness for video chat!

Americana Mall, Glendale

My favorite picture of them.

Giving Thanks

We had a great time in L.A. last weekend. We squeezed as many friends and family as we could in the three short days we were there. I loved the fact that my whole family was together for Thanksgiving. I only wish that Nainoa hadn't burned his fingers on the floor heater at the start of the night. He screamed throughout dinner. I felt terrible and everyone felt horrible for him. (Check out Dorian's face in the family photo) Thank goodness he can communicate with us. We had a cup full of ice water and he kept on asking for it by screaming, "COLD! COLD!" You saw the relief the ice water gave him. Then he was fine and then a minute later he was screaming again wanting to dip his hand. He was fine the day after. His blisters just popped today and we are keeping it clean and putting baby Neosporin.

Dorian couldn't hide the fact that Nainoa's crying was bumming her out.

Nainoa has been hugging a lot. He LOVES to give hugs and kisses. When he sees someone his own size he yells, "HUG!" He'll rush over to them and give them a big hug. Sometimes it a bit too hard. I don't think he knows his own strength. The other day at Marley's he was hugging him so hard that Marley had enough and said, "No!" If you have Facebook check out his link of Marley and Nainoa's dance party.

Nainoa hugging Kaiyayai

Nainoa met a very good friend of mine from New York last weekend also. They hit it off. Nainoa kept wanting to see pictures of himself after Wes took them. It's so funny how quick they learn everything. After every picture he took whether it was him or not, Nainoa kept wanting to see the results. Too cute!

Nainoa and Wes

3 reasons why I will move back to L.A. one day.

1. Marls

2. Dru Dru

3. Pema

Play date + Photography

We went had a play date last week with Sofia. Her cool parents are just our speed. Sofia's mom is an up and coming photographer and Sofia's dad is a drummer for Cirque's Elvis show.

They love to barbeque, hang out and talk story. It was just what we needed before Eye left for 10 weeks. On our way out Sofia's mom snapped a couple of photos with her super duper camera. Thanks for a great hang and beautiful photos I will always cherish!

36 Hour in L.A.

Celebrating Marley's blessing.

Playing with pasta with Pema.

(Check out her Chinese language skills here, plus more cute pics of Nainoa getting fresh.)

How cute is it that they are dressed the same!

Studio City's Farmer's Market. Nainoa was more interested in sitting in the chair than the cute little chicks.

Dorian and Gillian's 10th Birthday party!

1st time hitting a pinata.

Marley and Nainoa. Sharing is Caring???

Remember when Marley and Nainoa were just little fat babies? Gone are the days where we can sit them in their diapers and take pictures of them.

Nainoa had been hitting. Yes, it has begun. I seriously have nightmares about the word, "GENTLE." I know he is frustrated because he doesn't have full use of language to express himself and hopefully he will grow out of it. But his Gines temper is causing me some serious anxiety when we are around other toddlers. Why it gotta my kid hitting at the playground?

Play date at an indoor playground in Sherman Oaks. Marley is about dunk on 9.

Dejavu? Seriously one week later at Skender's party the boys are in the same position with a beach ball. 9 got so mad and sucker punched Marley in the head when he wasn't looking! (sigh..great..why it gotta be my kid???) Marley didn't even flinch. Thank goodness we are all friends and are going through this at the same time.

Happy 1st Birthday Skender!

Another beautiful boy turned one last weekend. Skender Laybourne, son of Prototokyo leader and creator of the Love Regime, Sam Laybourne and wife Herran. Skender is such a beautiful, mellow, scrumptious baby who I wished Nainoa could play with more. I dream of Skender, Marley, Pema, Dru and River running around the beaches of L.A. in the "Born in '09 Crew."

We celebrated Skender's birthday at the Annenberg Community Beach House. We got there at 11 am and left at 5pm. We had such the perfect day filled with my Proto family. We laughed in the sun, played in the pool and even had yummy sandwiches from Bay City Italian Deli. It was such a perfect day. Ivan kept saying, "Can we PLEASE move back now?" Yes honey....one day.

My boys

This taken the day before at Topanga Canyon Beach

The Band and their Boys

One day about 18 months ago Eye went to a Dan Band rehearsal in L.A. One by one all the band members outed that their wives were pregnant. Einar (not shown here) plays bass and his boy is 7 months older than all the other boys. All the boys in the band had boys of their own all at the same time. They were all born in May and June. It was so nice to finally get all the boys together. Reason 2,384 to move back to L.A. one day.

Drummer, Keys, and Guitar

Ivan & Nainoa, Byron & Wilder, Marc & River

River, Nainoa and Wilder

(look how big Nainoa is compared to the other boys)

Happy 1st River!

We were watching River devour his cupcake. All of a sudden Nainoa grabbed at his cupcake and the rest was history. Nainoa didn't even get real cake at his birthday! Oh well, one day isn't going to hurt. Needless to say Nainoa loved having his special treat.

Nainoa's Baby Luau

Song by Amy Hanaial'i Gillon

Love surrounds my body

Your smile comes with the tears

Proud in the sky blown mist

Dampening your cheeks

The fitful movement of the light

Near the three hau trees

Royal child, great child, small child

The home of the sea faring chiefs

Answer my royal one, rose of Maui

Strung with love

Bound in memory

For us to fulfill

Mahalo to all of you near and far for supporting us through this year

I love L.A.

I love being back home. Especially when my whole entire family is here for the weekend as well as my BFF.

Today we started out having breakfast at my favorite place Le Pain Quotidien with my BFF and Kaiyayai.

Auntie Michele gave us two really great books Tails and Gallop!

After our nice visit with Mish we had lunch with my brother at Mr. Baguette where Nainoa decided to drink my watered down fresh squeezed orange juice straight from the straw. It was fun watching him figure out how to drink from the straw. I think he got inspired by watching Kaiyayai drink from his straw earlier.

After everyone napped, Nainoa's Reshumasi came over. It was her first time meeting Nainoa. He loved all the the pretty necklaces she had on. It was so great to catch up with her and hear all her stories from India and London. Aaahhh what a great day. I love L.A.