to give and to receive...oh what joy!

We were soo excited to RECEIVE a package in the mail a few days ago, from India.

The kids each got a personalized postcard from grandma and grandpa Asplund, and a Pass-Along card with a special message from Jesus (via gma and gpa). Thank you for the unexpected mail, the kids were soo excited to get it and read their messages-Ame read everyone's to them!

We are also making a few deliveries ourselves today. Kaipo's sports teacher gave away HUGE zuccini's on the last day of class, so we decided to make Zuccini Bread. I even found cinnamon chips (they are hard to find), which my mom uses in her recipe and they make it oohh soo good!

Kaipo's nursery teacher has been sick,

so we are taking some to her.

It always feels so good to GIVE and

find ways for the kids to show simple acts of service.

Sports Intro

I signed Kaipo up for a 4 week Pee Wee Sports class, which was an introduction to 3 sports.

T-ball

(while waiting his turn he is practicing his SHAKA, trying anyway)

Soccer

Football

I was really happy with this class. It was a great way for Kaipo to be introduced to these sports (since he is too young to join a team sport), and hopefully gain an interest in them. The only thing I thought was a bit negative was the waiting your turn period, for each kid to try and kick or throw or whatever they were working on. I tried to be interactive as much as I could, which wasn't always easy since I had the other 2 kids there with me. And it was also fun to learn a little bit more about Kaipo's personality too, in a different setting. I think he has some GREAT athletic potential! We shall see which direction his interest and desire goes.

2 days of NON-stop Fun

We had my brother Jason's family over...minus Jason (we always seem to plan something when he is gone, this time it was YM-Priest's camp) for dinner and fireworks, in celebration of

Pioneer Day. Their boys are soo cute, but Ella has gotten even cuter since the last time I saw her. Unfortunately, I didn't remember to get out the camera until it was too late for her.

After a WILD night, I told LeAnne the 2 older boys were welcome to have a sleep over

(plus I knew SHE could use the break, having Jason gone).

They watched a movie and most were up until after MIDNIGHT!!

My kids don't get the opportunity for sleep-overs very often, so I figured why not???

It is the memories that count, right!?

This morning Ame's Primary teacher, Sister Larsen (who happens to be one of the sisters

I visit teach as well), came to watch the video from Ame's Hula Performance. We invited her,

but she was soo sad she couldn't make it that night. She has had such a positive influence on Ame's attitude toward primary. She is so cute with Ame-invites her over to color and

spend time together.

We are SOOO sad because they are moving away, her husband is going to Medical School. I sure hope Ame doesn't revert back to her old attitude of I don't want to go to Primary, since Sister Larsen won't be there. We shall see how this Sunday goes??
We heard about this place not to far from home called Splash Pad.
So we went with our friends today to check it out.
Ash had a BLAST!
I LOVE taking pics of this boy!
He is just so easily entertained and I can almost always count on a smile from him.
The older kids just thought it was OK.
They seemed to like the park next door much better and eating their picnic lunch even more!

Spare Time???

So I don't feel like I get very much SPARE time, but these are a couple of things

I have done in the past couple of days.

HAIR CLIPS

I have also made a few baby headbands, for a couple of recent friend showers.

(don't be surprised if you get one as a gift, sometime in the future)

I was somewhat motivated by my friend Katie, who mentioned she had been updating her

72 hour Kit

my ward has also been posting in our newsletter weekly things that we should add to out kit.

THAT has helped me a ton! I am not very good at food storage either, so I thought getting this ready would get me going a step in the right direction.

A few simple things, but I feel so much more accomplished when I see my results!

The Annual Luau

Saturday was a BIG day for Ame and her Hula group.

They have a annual performance every year, in July, and they worked so hard to be ready for this day. We were soo glad our good friends, The Robinson's could come and support Ame, as well as Quinn's mom Frankie and her husband, Jeff. We so appreciated them coming and hope they enjoyed some great authentic food and entertainment.

Ame's age group got all new costumes this year.

This is her Tahitian costume...

and the beautiful performance

Here's her Hula costume

Aren't they so authentic looking?!

I was asked to be in charge of the raffle. I said sure, not realizing the committment I was getting into. With selling tickets before the show, then having to draw tickets & pass out prizes all through-out the show, while trying to helping Ame and other girls dress back stage, attempting to get some pics, chasing the 2 boys around AND sit periodically to ENJOY the show...wow I was tired! Yes, Quinn was there, but he was filming. And there isn't a lot of multi-tasking when that is going on.

I finally got to eat my GOOD food when we got home about 10:30.

But at those few moments while Ame was performing,

it was all worth it and I was such a proud mom!!

For such a LONG night, Ash was such a GOOD boy and full of smiles!

Kaipo got to join some volunteers on stage, to shake HIS okole'.

He was so darn cute, and was not the least bit shy about showing his stuff!

Here's his LIVE performance

I am so glad Ame has learned this unique and cultural form of dance.

I just hope she WANTS to continue for years and years!

We plan to start Kaipo in a few years, when he is old enough to join the boys.

The group ranges from 3yrs (girls), 6 years (boys), to adults. I have wanted to start taking lessons myself, but unfortunately it just hasn't ever fit into our busy life schedule.

Hopefully some day in the near future it will!!