Boston, you're my home...

It’s probably no surprise to anyone that visits this blog, but our family is moving to Hawaii… in less than 72 hours now. I’ve avoided blogging about it for the last five weeks that we’ve officially known, because I’ve been extremely busy with all the preparations, but mostly, I’ve been too sad to sit down and write about it. Maybe that sounded wrong- I’m not sad at all to be moving to Hawaii. It’s a great move for our family. James is really excited about the new job at BYUH, we get to live near extended family for the first time, and you really can’t beat the scenery, beaches, weather and outdoor activities in Hawaii. I’m not complaining at all. I know it’s really lucky to have found a job there without even really looking; especially one takes care of the move, but despite all of these things… I’m leaving Boston. And that what is making me so sad this week (and making me sob audibly while watching ‘Fox and the Hound’ with Louis, I’m turning into such a sap). There are several things that make me sad about leaving. Below is just a recap of some of the biggest ones.

I find myself trying to psych myself up for the move by repeating phrases like ‘you’ll make new friends’ or ‘you don’t need friends to be happy’, but that’s really not the point, is it? I’m going to miss the friends I’ve made here, that in the absence of family have become like family. I will always miss these people that have been there for me and my family through school, miscarriage, surgeries, broken down cars*, house buying, babies, potty training and all that life brings. They have shown me how to do new things. They have circled my children with love and acceptance and let me come over in stained pants and t-shirts. They have listened to me complain, laughed at bad jokes and shared play dates, holidays and sacred family moments.They talk to me about the Gospel and housecleaning and have challenged and expanded the way I think. I honestly cannot fathom replacing them with better. I feel like my close girlfriends here have really taught me what it means to be a woman and a mother.

*Did you know I got 4 flat tires in one year, 3 in places that were not near my house with hungry, screaming children inside and two resulting in a car tow- totally not fair!

I am going to miss our house. It’s really not much to look at, just a white, three store little town house that is only 950 square feet with a tiny front and back yard, but I have loved it since the moment we bought it. I loved it when it was just James and I and a sledge hammer, banging out a wall for renovations on the day we closed. We (probably should be more like James) pretty much remodeled and redid the entire house, from an entire redo of the kitchen from the studs up to finishing the basement portion. I loved it when we got to turn our office into a little nursery, and brought home a tiny, sleeping Louis into the living room. I loved it when we cooked together in the eat-in kitchen and made countless mistakes at the stove. I loved its pull down attic, the desk we built under the stairs and the tiny yard I planted a pathetic garden in every year. I have countless pictures of our kids against the living room’s hardwood floor, the grey bedroom walls, and the scratched up kitchen table. I know that objects do not have feelings, but I can’t help think that the house might miss us a little too.

I will miss Boston. For close to four years I went to the city every weekday for school and then work. I loved the walk from the T to my office, down cobblestone sidewalks and past beautiful brownstones in the South End and my short walk through the hospital to school. We have many memories of plays at the Boston Opera house, meals at interesting and varied restaurants (those were pre-kid days!), and countless times on the Freedom Trail. I have gotten stuck on the T once for over 3 hours when someone who shot at a bus ran into the subway tunnels during rush hour. James and I once spent over two hours trying to get out of the city when there was a fire on the green line. No shuttles were running yet and every taxi in the city was full- we walked from Wang Theater to the North End and then south again trying to hail a cab, all in terrible heels, yet that was one of my favorite nights. I will miss the museums, the Big Dig, concerts at the Hatch and picking up vegetables and fruit at Haymarket. And how could I forget- I will definitely miss the Red Sox. Having never had a team before and having them win the World Series the first year we moved here, we could not help but become loyal fans. I have loved this city and its mix of rugged New Englanders with recent immigrants and young professional transplants from all over the country.

I am crazy about the church ward we attend here. It is so diverse and different. People there have served us so much, in so many different ways. I loved working with the youth and watching them grow and blossom into such beautiful girls and I loved working with the kids and learning how to navigate their crazy energy. I loved watching people’s lives change as they started to come to Church and follow Christ. I felt it was a restart for my own spiritual growth every time I witnessed someone embracing Christ for the first time. I couldn’t help but cry as we left on Sunday watching building that I loved get smaller in my rearview mirror. It has been a wonderful place for me to worship and grow closer to God.

This has been my home for almost seven years and I can honestly say I have loved it and tried to experience all it has to offer. James and I both agree that we were definitely guided in coming here for my graduate school just shortly after we married. We feel like Boston is the place that our little family was really formed and solidified. So as I say my goodbyes this week to places and people that I love so much, I’m not trying to hide my emotions or tears like I normally would. I’m letting myself tell people how much they’ve meant to me and trying to say goodbye to all the little things that have made me feel at home. I want to feel like I’ve said my goodbyes and at peace with leaving this wonderful place.

Goodbye Boston, we will miss you.

Weebee and Ah Ah Bustino

We've added a few more interesting nicknames that our children call each other. Elsie calls Louis Weebee and herself Ah-Ah (in a really high pitched voice). And Louis thinks his names is Louis Bustino. Funny thing is, when our kids try other people's names they are remarkably close, but for some reason with their own names they go completely off the reservzation.

Life in January

Life is clicking right along here and we are slowly (very slowly) adjusting to life with three kids. I get nothing done. Our house is pretty cluttered, but we're having fun just hanging out together all day. The kids love Pearl.

Louis loves to hold her and does so several times a day. He's turning into a great big brother, but still has him moments- like when he scratched her a few weeks ago. I asked him why and he said "Sometimes I do naughty things and sometimes I don't." Well that explains it then, doesn't it?

Elsie is in full on baby mode. Everything is her baby and needs wrapped, wiped and put to bed. This is seriously what she is up to most of the day when she isn't eating or yelling at James to hold her.

Pearl is a such a good babe. Her hair is awesome, even though it kind of looks like it might be a toupee in some of the pictures. She puts up with a lot of loving abuse from her siblings and some traditional third child neglect from her parents, and takes it all in stride. We all adore her.

I just had to include this one of her screaming. Though she doesn't scream often, she's like all of our kids in the fact that when she does cry, she screams like she's going to die. My sister Lori commented this morning while hearing her cry in the car that she was screaming 'like a stuck pig'.

Here's our scraggly haired, half dressed crew. Sadly, this is what we look like a lot of the time. Louis just learned how to dress himself (which is great), but he wants to change in and out of pajamas and clothes about four times a day (hence the pjs here in the middle of the day).

And here's what happens when we try to take Pearl away from them... full blown mutiny and mayhem. Elsie in particular gets offended when you tell her its time to stop holding Pearl.

Sisters

I am very behind in posting pictures of Pearl, and my only excuse is that I seem to get no free time with a newborn and the other kids. I did take a few of Elsie and Pearl that I am actually posting though. Elsie loves Pearl, but I think its mostly because she thinks she's another baby doll. She wants to hold her and gets mad when we won't let her. She also tries to wrap her in blankets. We don't leave them alone together much.... or ever really.

Did I mention how glad/relieved I am that Elsie has a sister? Even before we started having kids, I was so worried that I would only have one girl, and they would never know what it was like to have a sister. Knowing how much I have love having sisters (four to be exact) I really was hopeful they would know what that relationship was like. I hope they still like each other when they are older.

Baby #3!

IT'S a GIRL!!!

Pearl Kenley Kamoani Faustino was born on Monday, December 13th at 8:28 in the morning. She was 20 inches long and 8lbs, 1oz. After two babies 11 and 12 days overdue and having to practically force them into coming, I was shocked to go into natural labor 12 days before my due date. I am not complaining- I know what an additional 24 days of pregnancy feels like, and it was great to welcome her early and spontaneously. James said he knew it was a girl all along- I kind of thought it was a boy.
The only bummer was I actually had the flu all day Sunday, then when I was feeling just a little bit better, my water broke and knew we were in for a long night. Labor seemed a lot harder than with Louis and Elsie, and even though the really active part was still under four hours, I was pretty exhausted by that point from being sick all day and it felt pretty rough. I love the birth center and midwives there, they get you through no matter what. Here's a few pics from the day...

Calling Grandma and Grandpa Alaska to let them know they have another granddaughter.

Heading home from the birth center at about 6:30pm.

We had some great friends that kept Louis and Elsie at their house that evening and through the next day. James, Pearl and I came home to peace and quiet and spent a lot of time in bed and beat the last of the flu out of our systems and woke up the next day feeling much more like ourselves.
On Tuesday the kids came home and met their new little sister. Louis loves her- it is so darling how he talks to her and holds her. Elsie likes her, but is also quite jealous if you hold her too long or don't pay enough attention to her. Poor middle child.

Sweet kisses for Pearl

Finding her nose and eyes.

Louis yelling about how much he loves Pearl. James is great, he has been taking care of everything since we've gotten home and makes taking care of the kids look easy and makes it easy for me to rest and recover. I love this guy.

I look at this picture below and realize- this is now my life. Three little kids, three and under. I have no idea what I'm doing and how I'll be able to manage all of their needs and household items, but I look at this picture and think, we look happy. Tired, but happy. I think we're going to make it.

The Quintessential Apple Picking Trip

Fall just keeps on making me happier and happier. Despite my growing belly, decreasing energy and slower mobility, the weather and outdoor activities this fall has put a smile on my face almost everyday.

Apple picking is one thing that you have to do, every year. Its just one of those things that is so New England, you can't pass it up. So we didn't. On a fine Friday morning we met several friends at a nearby orchard and picked away.

In our family, we definitely had the pickers and the eaters. Not really hard to tell who they are.

They are both cute though, so we'll keep them.

New England Falls

New England falls are seriously wonderful. The weather is warm and pleasant, the colors are amazing and there are a ton of farms and venues to spend time at. A few weeks ago we ventured to a corn maze and small farm north of us for the festivities.

Racing rubber ducks

One of the only times we get them to to actually sit together.

They both use the bounce pillow in different ways.

On the home stretch of the corn maze-- after our double melt down and recovery. Louis thought we were looking for dinosaurs.

Elsie would have been happy to stay here almost the entire day. There is something about filling up and emptying things that just really makes her happy.

Twenty nine weeks pregnant and chillin on the hayride. Sad that this is basically the only picture of me in the last two months- I like being behind the lens.

Shooting the apple gun. The target was a pirate ship, but Louis wanted to aim at the ducks.

Unfortunately these are the faces we get out of Elsie most of the time. Lately her attitude has changed... and not for the better. We're entering that lovely phase where she knows what she wants, but doesn't know how to communicate it.

Luckily, she still loves her Dad to death and will follow him mostly anywhere he goes.