Sweet Frances Elaine

Well I am finally getting back to my blog. It is not that I haven't had anything wonderful to blog about... but because there is so much to blog about that I have felt overwhelmed, and while I was pregnant I just felt too exhausted to get back into it. But now that that is all

behind me and I am ready to go again. SO much has been happening around

here and my world has totally changed (for the better of course).

Our sweet Frances Elaine was born July 10 and we all love her so much!

I think she totally looks like a Patten. In fact her Grandma Elaine showed me

a picture of herself when she was a newborn and they look so much alike.

It is so sweet especially since that is who she is named after.


Josie wasn't so sure about having a baby sister at first.
But it sure didn't take long for her to absolutely adore her!

I am hoping that she will have more of Charles

coloring in her hair and eyes. So far she does.

Josie LOVES to hold her baby sister.

Charlie LOVES to share things with his baby sister.

This is his beloved duck and his cuppy.

He is always putting his things near her... to share of course.

He also loves giving her kisses on her head.

And when he does he gets this high pitched coo and aww in his voice.

He knows how you are supposed to talk to a baby. It is so funny.

Josie is very helpful and always wants to do things for Frances.

Anytime I put Frances under her "jungle" Charlie dives under it with her.

He talks to her (his gibber talk) and points to things for her, it is like he is just telling her all about what they are looking at. She just lays there and listens. She is always really calm and attentive when Charlie is by her. The other day he was telling her how to say all the words he know. He was holding her hand looking at her and in his high voice saying "mommy, daddy, scout, juice..." it was the cutest thing. I think they will be really great friends as they grow up.

She is such a happy, mellow, sweet natured baby and we
are all so in love with her and happy that she is part of our family!

Our first family vacation!

We had the best family vacation EVER! We went to Hawaii for the first time and took the kids for a family vacation. Charlie is 18months and Josie is 3 so it was a little crazy but so worth it!

(sorry this is so long, but it is like my scrapbook/journal)

Josie got her own suitcase and had been "praticing" pulling it around the house for a while and she did a great job pulling it around the airport. She was so excited to go. Anyone she would see she would ask if they were going to go to Hawaii with us and when they would reply No she would say "Well you should because we are going to have SO much fun!" It was hilarious!

I really did try to pack light... oh well.

Josie at the airport with Drew and Eliza. They were all pretty excited!

Welcome to Maui! In the lobby at the Marriott. It was a beautiful resort!

Charles was just as giddy as the kids.
Here he is doing the hula on the balcony of our condo.

First time on the beach with the kids. Josie had been asking for so long

if we can go to the beach, so she was really happy to finally be there.

Josie picked half the flowers there. She just couldn't help herself!

The kids loved playing in the sand!

An afternoon walk on the boardwalk.

We were on our way to our beach spot and Josie figured out

how to hang her bucket on her necklace so she could

still eat her snowcone. It was so clever and funny!

Charlie didn't seem to be bothered at all

when he was completely covered in sand.

Charlie is learning early to have his toes on the nose!

He loved playing with the boogie boards.

Melissa and Andy enjoying the sunset on the beach.

Drew was so great with Charlie.

He looked out for him and is such a great big cousin!

Josie and Eliza stripped to their undies (that happen to be matching)

when their dresses got soaked. They had SO much fun!

This was on Sunday outside the church in Laihana.

Josie loved her water shirt.

Drew and Josie just chilling by the pool. SO cute!

Charles took the kids on an early morning walk

everyday and they always had so much fun.

Charles and Chalrie boogie boarding.

Charles doing the Disco roll dance on the beach. lol

We all loved being on the beach and playing in the water.

Grandma Elaine all decked out in lai's.

Drew holding an octopus that someone had caught. Gross!

What a brave little guy!

All together cruising the boardwalk to the beach.

Just playing on the beach with Charlie.

We took turns snorkeling out to the black rock

(in the background)and we saw turtles and a lot of cool fish.

Josie fell asleep on the walk to our spot on the beach.

That girl can sleep anywhere.

Clark and I heading out snorkeling. He was screaming through

his snorkel when he saw the turtles. It was hilarious!

The family playing in the water.

One morning early Charles and Josie went out for a walk

and when I went out on the balcony I saw them on the beach

buliding a sandcastle. It was really cute to see them having

so much fun together on the beach.

I have always wanted to go on a whale watching excursion and we just happen to be in Maui during the tail end of the whale watching season. One morning we got up super early and took a boat out and saw some whales and it was AMAZING!

Here is Charles and Josie on the boat.

The kids had fun.

Here are a bunch of males fighting for the breeding rights of one female.

It was unbelievable to see!! Clark took these pictures while

I held a sleeping Charlie. Good pics Clark!

Josie and Eliza had so much fun together!

They played non stop! I love this picture of them.

We took a ton of pictures one night of all of us.

The sunsets were beautiful!

Clark liked having his picture taken! Alot!!!

What a great picture of Andy, Melissa, Drew and Eliza.

The brothers on the trip! What a great picture of all of them!

Me with my sweetie!

The whole clan

I love this picture of Charles and Charlie.

On our last day we went to the Aquarium.

It is one of the best in the world and it was so amazing!

We were really glad we went. Of course Josie LOVED it!

This was the best trip! The weather was perfect, our hotel was amazing and all of us together made it so much fun! Josie asked Charles the day we got home when we were moving back to Hawaii. She hasn't stopped talking about it. It was a great experience for all of us.