Back to school

I know, I know it's been forever. I don't know why-either I was to busy or when I had the time I just didn't feel like it(does anybody else ever feel like that?) The kids went back to school this week. They were all really excited, all of them were up at the crack of dawn and ready in no time. I was really excited to get back on a schedule. I just work better that way. We had a fun summer mixed with "Mom, I'm bored".

Kawika started Junior High this year! Yikes! I' m having a hard time with him growing up. I suppose all mothers do. I took him to the 7th grade kick off(an orientation) and tried to not be one of those moms that stayed and hovered over him. I told him I'd pick him up later and let him go in the auditorium and then I just had to go and peek in there to make sure he was okay. I know pitiful!! He is enjoying it and feeling oh so grown up-not too fast buddy! He reminded me the other day the he will be able to drive in 3 1/2 years!!!

Kalani started 4th grade and is now taking over the role of the big brother that takes care of Kaili. He was is excited to go back and loves being able to see his friends everyday.

Kaili is in 1st grade this year. It's been a little different now that she is gone at school all day. Kalei and I miss having lunch with her everyday and playing. Kalei especially miss her princess partner. :)

Kalei started Preschool and is enjoying learning new things and playing with her friends. She's growing up too fast.

He's how old!?!?!

I can't believe it myself-Kawika is now 12!!!! Aaaaah! Where has the time gone! I don't know if I'm ready to have a kid in Junior High!! Despite mom having trauma, we are really proud of Kawika!! He is such a great kid! He has a great sense of humor, loves baseball, reading, video games, basketball, and being outdoors just like his dad! He also is such a great help to his dear old mom!!

He got laser tag, that he was so excited about!

His friend Kyle gave his this fun candy gram-what kid would not love to have that much candy all to himself!!(It was really cute-click on it to read it :)

With Kawika turning 12 there is a whole new realm of things -being ordained with the priesthood, passing the sacrament, graduating from Primary and moving up to Young Men's, Mutual, Scout Camps, Junior High. . .What in the world!!! All of that with just one birthday!!! I'm gonna need some help here! With all of this exciting stuff we were able to have a lot of family visit for the special occasion of Kawika being ordained a Deacon. My dad came from Hawaii, Dave's dad came from California, my 2 sisters Kahi and Nia from Utah with Kahi's oh so cute kids, and Jason and Anna from Taylor with their fun bunch that keep us laughing! Needless to say we had a full house for a couple of days which I loved!! I miss being close to family! It was so nice of everyone to take the time to be here with us-we really appreciated it!

Papa and the girls watching the boys at their baseball game-my dad was really getting into it! :)


Here are the priesthood holders that were able to be here
(Grandpa B, Jason, and Papa)

We had a fun camp fire in the back yard and roasted hot dogs and smores!

Nia with cute Chloe!

This is how the kids kept themselves entertained!

Kahi and her kids!

Sweet Abbi who did not like the long car ride either way-poor thing!

Grandpa B, Anna, and Jason

I was mad at myself for not taking a group picture-oh well! We had a wonderful time visiting and spending time together!! The weather was perfect and the company was even better!

Happy Mother's Day!!

I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day! I had a wonderful day of being pampered by my family! I know I'm spoiled! :) (I'll post pictures tomorrow) I wanted to say how grateful I am for the moms I have been blessed with. My mom is amazing!! She is such an example of strength, kindness, and a willingness to help in anyway she can. My mom has the best sense of humor! She loves to laugh and it's quite contagious! One thing I have always admired about my mom is the complete trust she has in the power of prayer and in our Heavenly Father. I am so thankful for my mom and her love!

My other mom(mother in law just doesn't sound right) is wonderful! I definitely miss her. Even though she is not physically here with us we still see her influence in our lives every day. She was faithful to our Heavenly Father and put everything into her family. She found true joy in living the gospel and loved sharing it with others.
I have been so blessed with these unbelievable moms and am so thankful for all that they have taught me and continue teach me. We love you!

Easter 2009

Brace yourselves, here comes another post with a lot of pictures. Each Easter helps strengthen my testimony and makes me more grateful for my Savior. Here we have the Easter Pageant, it is a huge production that shares the life of Christ and the reason we celebrate Easter. The spirit is so strong and I love being able to help remind my kids of the true meaning. This is a picture of the end where Christ appears(at the very top) triumphantly as our Savior. I am so grateful for my Savior and his willingness to suffer and atone for our sins. There is a primary song that is one of my favorites called "He Sent His Son" in it says "How could the Father show the world the pathway we should go? He sent His son to walk with men on earth that we may know." That says it simply we have it all laid before us and so many things to help us along the way given to us by a loving Father in Heaven. What a blessing!

Kaili was very cute during the performance. She kept saying "Oh I learned about that from my teacher in primary!" And then she would proceed to tell us all about it. Aren't primary teachers wonderful?!!! At one point it shows Christ being baptized and then you hear the voice of Heavenly Father saying that he is well pleased. Kaili leaned over to Dave with wide eyes and says-"Dad, that's just a speaker, right?" She wasn't sure if she was hearing the real deal. :)

The girls and I got to spend the Friday and Saturday before Easter with Dave's brother and his family while Dave, his dad who flew in from California and the boys went on the Father and Sons camp out for our ward. The Easter bunny comes on Saturday around these parts. :)

The girls with their cheesy smiles.

We love going up to Taylor and spending time with family! The boys enjoyed the camp out but were a little cold and wet. It snowed and rained, but they had a fun time anyway!!

Kalani and Grandpa shooting the air soft gun.

Kawika in the falling snow.

They stopped on their way to his brothers house at the Red Onion for some tasty burgers.

The Easter bunny left eggs for Kawika and Kalani to find when they got to Uncle Jason's house.

Before the boys got back from camping Anna took the girls and I out to lunch at a cute little place called Celebration. The girls dressed up in princess clothes and got to sip lemonade out of their tea cups. We had a great time, thanks Anna!!

After we ate our delicious lunch and sipped our lemonade with our pinkies out, the girls played dress up with the hats they had there. They had too much fun and it was cute to watch.

April Fool's Day

So last year I went a little crazy with April Fool's day, I was playing tricks all day! Dave thought I had gone crazy. I froze the milk in the kids cereal bowls and gave them mashed potato ice cream just to name a few. I had a great time :) The kids were very leery of me all day-not really sure what mom was going to do next. This year I was going to be gone all day so I didn't do as much but we had fun anyway. Dave was able to be home that morning and made pancakes-and the kids got a little surprise when they tried to cut into their pancakes. :)

I put saran wrap across the boys door so they couldn't get out. I was hoping they would be sleepy and run into it but not this time. :)

We'll see what we come up with next year! :)

Spring Break in Califonia

I know these next few entries are all old news-but better late than never. :) Get ready for a crazy amount of pictures. I tried only pick a few but that is impossible when we had so much fun! For part of Spring Break we went to southern Cali to visit family. Dave's grandparents live there in a little town called Ojai in a beautiful picturesque valley with lots of orchards. Ojai has a lot of memories for Dave and now it has become a place our kids love to go! Grandad and Grandma Owens have been so gracious to let us come and visit and invade their home. We love it!

Dave's sister Amy and her husband JR live in the next town over. His dad and sister Melanie and her kids came down from northern CA and his brother Stephen flew in from school at BYU Idaho to join us too!! We were so excited to get to spent time with family!

Grandad and Grandma Owens

They have the perfect grandparent backyard-lots of room to run and a very cool tree house.

Dave's family is a hunting family, hence the reason there is a stuffed grizzly in their living room. :) The kids think it is so cool and love to sleep out by the bear when we come to visit.

Stephen grew antlers while we were there

Melanie is a FABULOUS photographer and was nice enough to take our family pictures for us. She did and amazing job! We were excited to have them taken on the beach(we would have loved them on the beach in Hawaii but that will have to come another time). Thank you so much Melanie!! And thanks to the rest of the family who sat around waiting for us and making our kids smile!

One of the main reasons for this trip was for Dave and Stephen to go surfing. We also wanted Kawika to be able to try it out. So Grandpa surprised Kawika with an early birthday present-his very own surfboard! He was very excited!

We went fishing on Ventura pier.

Grandpa, Jacob, Lydia, and Kalani

Horse back riding with Amy

We went to Aunt Patti's farm and rode Amy's horses. The kids loved it and Amy was so nice to take each kid riding till their heart was content. Thanks Amy we had a great time!

Melanie with her daughters Lydia and Elise.

The girls and Jacob

A Day at the Beach

We got to spend a day at the beach while Dave and Stephen went surfing. Amy and Kaili had fun building a mama and baby sea turtle.

The kids loved playing in the surf. I still can't figure out how they weren't frozen popsicles-that water is soooo cold. I steered clear of the cold water.

We found 3 cute little mermaids on sunning themselves on the beach.

Kawika tried to catch a couple of waves and got up on his knees!! Wooohooo! He was freezing after this wave and promptly got out. He had fun but we'll have to try again in warmer water.

Dave and Stephen had a great time surfing. Dave loved being back out in the ocean-that is something we definitely miss being land locked in the desert.