My New Tattoo

I have been thinking about a tattoo for a long time and finally decided what I wanted.  Originally was thinking of some sort of symbol, like in Japanese or something, to represent in some way my boys or being a mom.  Then Jay said to me, "why would you do Japanese?  You're Filipino!"  Right.  So started researching Filipino symbols and tattooing traditions and learned that a common trend among Filipinos is the sun and three stars, as seen on the Philippine national flag:

The sun's rays represent the first eight provinces that took up arms against Spain during the Philippine revolution.  The stars represent the three groups of Philippine Islands: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Though my dad was born and raised in Hawaii, he is not "native" Hawaiian.  The extended family is originally from the Philippines.  Sadly I don't know much about that part of my family, but I am making it my personal quest to learn more about them, who they were, what brought them to eventually settle in Hawaii and who, if anyone, may still be over on the Philippine Islands.  Thus, this tattoo is homage to my Filipino lineage.  When I saw the design of the sun and stars, I immediately thought of my boys.  The sun represents me and the stars represent my boys.  It couldn't be more fitting.  Of course, each of their names are between the stars and they are in my own handwriting.  It was painful, but not so bad that I wouldn't go back for another.  I really love what it means to me and am so happy I powered through my fears!  Thanks to Nik & Scott for encouraging me and literally holding my hand through it all! :)  And thanks to Jay for reminding me that I am not Japanese...

This photo of course is "props" to Imelda Marcos, the Philippine politician and widow of the 10th Philippine president, Ferdinand Marcos....she was known for her collection of 3000 pairs of shoes :)

Warrior Dash 2011

Their team theme was Pirates

Nice hot pants, Max!

Have you heard of it?  It is a CRAZY race that takes you through challenging obstacles like low crawling under barbed wire through mud, climbing up and over a rope wall, jumping over fire and trudging through waist high murky water just to name a few...FUN!  People of all ages and sizes ran this race and the more dressed up you were, the better!  So many fun costumes to look at.  The course is just over three miles, but the obstacles are what make this jaunt so incredibly exhausting.  By the time you have to jump over the fire pits, your legs are like noodles, according to my sis in law who just ran her first Warrior Dash yesterday in North Bend.  Jay entered the race with them when my niece and brother couldn't attend and even he had a good time.  The boys and I waited about an hour for them to finish the race and took pics as they crossed the mud swamp into the finish line.  We got muddy just standing there!  It was a very interesting experience.  Not really kid-friendly, though and I was so glad I didn't have baby with me.  Due to the icky bathroom accommodations (good ol' honey buckets that came complete withOUT toilet paper) and just the overall crowd that you're dealing with, it is best not to bring anyone that you are responsible for, least of all little ones!  It just proved to be a very long day for them, but they did pretty good considering and the best part for them was the school bus shuttles that brought us from the parking area to the race location.  They thought it was pretty cool.

The shuttles were bussing people back and forth all day before and after races, so the seats got very dirty!

The boys entranced by the runners as they jumped the fire

The mud crawl swamp just before the finish line

Welcoming a muddy daddy

Don't know this woman, but felt sorry for her when she fell into the mud...had to take a pic!

THEY DID IT!!  True Warriors!

Team Pirates

Pile of muddy shoes that people didn't want to bother taking home

I STILL HEART DONNIE

Five New Kids and Four Backstreet Boys

Okay, I won't bore you with all the pics from the concert (sorry to my FB friends who have already seen these...), but just wanted to report that the concert was amazing, the best one we've been to by far, and we had so much fun.  Front row was the ultimate....now that I've had a taste of "first class", I don't think I can go back to "coach" up in the nosebleeds, at least not for the New Kids (IF they ever decide to tour again).  At the last minute, I decided to bring the t-shirt that I'd worn to the other concerts:

just so I could hold it up and make sure he saw it.....turns out, that was the best decision I could've made.  It caught his attention THREE times - and each time he looked straight at me and either winked, smiled, pointed, and/or mouthed the words "I love you, too"!!!  NO JOKE!  Nikki and Max are my witnesses!!  Even the girl behind me said after the concert that she was jealous because he only paid attention to me.  Ha!!!  The only thing that could've topped it is if he'd reached down to touch my hand....but I might've passed out right then and there, so probably best he didn't :)  Of course I have no pictures of him right in front of me because, duh, I was busy connecting with him instead of snappin pics!  Yeah, I know, he does this every night to any girl he happens to point out in the audience, but man did he have a way of making me feel like I was the only girl in the world.  A true entertainer for sure :)  I don't care how old they get, they can rock the stage like no other and I will never tire of seeing them perform - made me feel 20 years younger!  (Good gosh, am I really old enough to say that?!?!).  Can't imagine going nutty over childhood crushes with anyone other than Nik...thanks for sharing the memory with me sis.  And Max, thanks for humoring your mom and me as we behaved like teenagers!  A night we definitely won't forget.  Afterall, Donnie said he loves me too....

Oh how I love thee...

20+ years of friendship and NKOTB fans

Max is 2nd generation fan :)

Our heels got jacked up in the grates that they had laid down on the floor - dang it!  The cost of trying to look fabulous...

NKOTBSB

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

BACKSTREET BOYS

ONE NIGHT - ONE STAGE

FRONT ROW

TONITE

WE ARE THERE



Boys Baptism

I had decided the boys would be baptized at the same church that I was baptized at 23 years ago.  Evergreen Lutheran is the chuch I call home and it is where both Scotty & Zac have attended preschool.  So when we set the date for July 3, Jay decided he would get baptized along with them since he had never been.  Thus, all four of the Wahrmund boys were the headliners in last week's service and the church had a little reception afterward.  Scott, Nik, Max, Nik's mom, Jay's mom, my dad & Vicky, and our friends Jeff & Carin came to witness and enjoy this special day.

4th of July Block Party

Yes, someone really did give Zac fire...

Had a great 4th, the weather was perfect for BBQing and being outdoors.  Set up the volleyball net, fired up the smoker-grill, and hammered together the firework launcher/stand for the evening.  Friends and family came to gather, neighbors filled the cul de sac and lots of fun was had.  No one lost their face by a spiked volleyball and no one was lit on fire, despite all the firecrackers being thrown about.  We had a ton of fireworks and it was a great show.  Good old fashioned summer fun.  Unfortunately forgot to bring out the camera til almost sun down....but owell.

The girls -

Nik, Carin, Max and friend Ashton (Scotty's girlfriend)

Volleyball warm up-

Carin, Jeff, Jeff's son Michael, Jay and Max

Neighborly fun

Bro going for a pass

Coastie friends Troy & Paulette Fryar just moved back to area and they came for the day 

Six Years Old

My six year old, soon-to-be first grader...OY!!  Scotty turned 6 on June 30 and he chose to celebrate his birthday at Chuck E Cheese with family and a couple friends.  I love Chuck E Cheese for the basketball shooting game, it is a side by side set up that you can play competition with another person.  Nikki and I played that game til all our tokens the kids' tokens were gone, breaking a sweat and forgetting about our surroundings for a good 45 minutes in the process.  Feel bad for any child that was waiting to play it....first come, first serve suckas :)  Hey, its the place where a kid can be a kid....er, an adult can be a kid?  It was a good way to work off the pizza and cake.  I forgot my camera, so all I have to share are these few shotty pics from the mother in law's camera....I did get a couple the next morning of Scotty playing with his new legos, the only thing he wanted for his birthday.  He played with them til 11 PM that first night and got up at 6 AM the following morning to play some more until all parts were put together.  Legos rule.  And so does the side by side basketball hoop game...

Party Table

Zac in the Mouse Mobile

Max & Trev in the Mouse Mobile

Early Morning Legos