Christmas with the Hanamaikai Ohana

Our Christmas Eve Celebrations began

with the short Luke 2 video, after which

the kids ACTED out the nativity as Dad

read it aloud.

We knew Nalu wouldn't ACT the

part of baby Jesus, so we opted to

have a doll instead and let him be a

Wiseman, and a cute one at that!!

(those India costumes continue to come in handy)

Ame took her MARY roll VERY serious!

After the play, we did our LOVE STOCKINGS,
(an Asplund tradition that WE have continued)
in which we write a special note to each member
of the family. Then the kids watched
Mr. Krueger's Christmas while mom
made homemade eggnog and set out the
NON-homemade cookies (no time, energy OR
desire to make cookies this year, plus I am just
NOT very good at making sugar cookies).

Ame wrote this cute note for Santa,
to leave with his cookies and milk.

The kids opened their new jammies

and got ready for bed.

Then the last thing before hitting the hay

was to spread some REINDEER food.

A Christmas Story in bed and

then it was LIGHTS OUT.

Surprisingly they all went to bed

with not too much of a challenge,

thank goodness cuz there were last minute

preparations to be made!?!

Bright and early the kids were up-

6AM, but mom said no presents

until at least 6:30.

Then the gift giving began.......

Ame got the neatest gift from

GRandma Frankie. It was this

pretend butterfly in a glass jar, and I am not

even sure how it works (some sort of

magnetism). But it flutters, flies and

looks just like a real one.

REALLY COOL!

Quinn and I loved our homemade

gifts the kids made at school, they were

the best by far (although I am very much looking

forward to using the

massage gift certificate Quinn got me).

One of the many unexpected gifts

(we may attempt to set it up in the basement

or the garage for the winter)

the kids did get some COAL

in their stockings (thank goodness it

was only bubble gum)

grandma and grandpa joined us for breakfast

well after all the presents and craziness

were over! But they did bring some of their

own Holiday cheer, with a cute book

which they had recorded their voices reading

Twas the Night Before Christmas.

Grandpa Kimo also gave us a recorded

book of him singing Frosty the Snowman.

Wonderful treasures to have for years to come!

I think the kids wore grandpa and grandma

out just telling about and showing all they got!

But we were sooo thankful to have them

here this Christmas, and already know

we will be missing them next year!!

This awesome gift was inherited

from Jason and LeAnne when they moved.

It is awesome and Nalu is already

LOVING it!!

Ame's SANTA gift was

Biscuit

the interactive dog.
She was dying to have it!
She knows this is the closest

she will get to the real thing for

a LONG time. But seeing her

interact and play with this

thing does make me feel a little

bad she doesn't have a real dog

(but NOT bad enough to get her one)!

Kaipo got his #2 choice

Motor Skooter
#1 was a DS, but mom just wasn't

down with that one, and glad Santa decided

against it as well, since Kaipo is already

addicted to the Wii, I-phone, computer.

He just doesn't need anything else electronic

to waste time with!

Getting the skooter worked out perfectly

since his push skooter broke just a few weeks ago.
Since it was SNOWING outside he

was trying the NEW one out in the basement...

as was Ash and his new basketball hoop.

The hoop will stay here all winter

and bring him (and the others) hours

of exercise and entertainment. We

will have quite the players come summer time!!

And there you have it...

a peek at Christmas with the Hanamaikai's.

We did join my parents and sister (and her family)

for a WONDERFUL dinner, dessert and more

presents later in the evening.

My parents also shared a beautiful short video

of Christ that I had never seen before,

but definitely want to find (they got it from

neighbors as a gift). It was the perfect

ending to our CHRISTmas day!!

We definitely had a grand day and are very thankful

for the generosity of our families. They

truly made this a WONDERFUL Christmas

for our little family. Not just for the gifts (and money)

but for the love and memories made!!

And most of all we are grateful for this Season

we have been able to reflect on and grow closer

to our loving Savior. We really tried to help our

children focus on HIM this CHRISTmas!
WE are truly blessed to know of HIM and feel of HIS love.

Happy New Year to all!
Hope YOU have found the same happiness this Season.

PRE-Christmas FuN

The kids were out ALL week from school,

so mom had to find some things to entertain them

before we all went stir-crazy!!

Since we hadn't made gingerbread houses,

that was first on the list.

Mom picked up a few things at the store,

but we also tried to just use things we already had

1/2 eaten around the house.
Ame wanted to do a BIG house

but Ash got my vote for the BEST LOOKING
house (maybe cuz mom helped just a little)

Grandma took us GIRLS one day, for

a little spoiling. I was pampered with

a pedicure (something I have only been

treated to a few times in my life; never

just done it on my own)

And Ame got her NAILS done. They were soo

cute (for a FEW days anyway), painted all Christmasey!
******

Didn't get any pictures of it, but Ame, Kaipo and Quinn

all went and saw Narnia with Grandpa Asplund

on Christmas Eve (day). The showing they saw

was actually in 3D and Ame got sick part way through
so Dad had to take her out for walk in the mall for a while,

but Kaipo LOVED, LOVED it. He has seen the others and

is very into that series. Ame even reads the chapter books to him.

Dad said he was soooo into the movie that

he kept yelling things out like: No! don't!! or watch out!!

I am pretty sure it was high light of his Christmas Break.

Ame on the other hand, I don't think so...

its funny cuz originally Ame wasn't going to go because it was

a BOYS outing, but Kaipo really wanted her to come,

so last minute she did?!

At least it wasn't a total waste of $$$ for everyone!!!
So FUN has been had, with

many more Christmas memories

and times of Joy on the way!

Lots of Celebrating

Last night we had our annual neighborhood Christmas Party.

I was gabbling and enjoying myself WAY TOO MUCH

and didn't take one picture (even though I did have my camera).

LOTS of yummy food, LOTS of playing and LOTS of good conversation!

We were there for almost 3 hours, and still had to drag everyone away,

so we could get up, bright and early, for church this morning.

**********************

Then tonight we had our

Hanamaikai Family

Party and gift exchange.

This was suppose to happen on Christmas

Eve, but because of too many conflicts

we moved it to today.

We ate AND ate, exchanged gifts, watched

The Grinch, ate Yummy Peppermint

Chocolate Snowflake Cake, the kids the

played with their new gifts, us adults

talked & talked and had LOTS of laughs.

Just what family time is all about!!

Ash was sooo thankful to Olivia for
the gift she gave him!

Amaya is such a cutie, walking all over
the place (wish she would teach Nalu a little of that)

Nalu loves opening presents!

I think Kaipo was happy about his gift?!!

(he's pretty easy to please)

We were sad not everyone made it.

Some live out of state and others just had conflicts.

But fun WAS had by all who came!!

It's out!!

A few weeks ago we noticed Kaipo's BIG tooth

growing in behind his baby tooth.

The baby has gradually gotten looser,

and of course the anticipation for

his FIRST tooth to come out has been

BUILDING for the past few days.

Well today with the help of his sister,

it came out.

I don't know how many times he

announced how HAPPY he was

but he has been super excited all night!

The tooth fairy better

REMEMBER to visit our house tonight!?!

Hayride and Santa Wishes

Yesterday was our Annual Ward Christmas Breakfast.

Of course I forgot my camera, but we had a

great breakfast (oven omelets and cinnamon rolls)

and a surprise visit from an

AWESOME Santa and Mrs Claus

(their helpers of course).

Then last night we went on a Hayride that took

us around the Layton City Park light display.

We chose a great night, because it was quite pleasant

and all bundled up we weren't really cold at all.

afterwards we went indoors for some hot cocoa

and another visit with Jolly Ol' St. Nicholas.

It was interesting to hear the kids express their

wishes to Santa (twice in one day)
and the different things they asked for each time.

Way to confuse Santa and HIS HELPERS!!!

(this a funny picture of Kaipo giving bunny ears

to Ash and Santa catching him being naughty)

Ame is definitely at the age of embarrassment

with sitting on the Jolly Man's lap.

*******************

We are trying to enjoy this Beautiful Season and

remember it's TRUE meaning!

Much Overdue...But none the less thankful

Although this post of Thanksgiving is MUCH overdue,

I feel no less thankful for my abundance of blessing!

We have not been without challenges

(financial strains have been the greatest),

but those we have faced seem minimal compared

to challenges of those we know and love.

Family

(both our own little family and

all of our extended families on both sides)
means so much to us!

We were grateful to spend time with

the Asplund's and the Hanamaikai's during

Thanksgiving (thankfully on seperate days).

We have such special bonds with our

siblings, parents, in-laws and our kids with

their cousins, aunties/uncles & grandparents.

Another great blessing we cherish

is that of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and

our membership in HIS church.
We TRY to teach our kids of its importance

and hope that their own testimonies grow

and can one day stand strong.

Life is GOOD and amidst life's MANY challenges, we feel blessed!

Friends, Friends and more Friends

Ame's friend Layla invited her to join their family

to see the Nutcracker.

They got to go out to dinner first

@ Wingers. Ame was soo excited to have

ribs and asphault pie. Man that girl can eat!!

(when it is something she actually likes)

Ame LOVED the show, even though it was quite

long and she didn't get home until VERY late.

She even bought a crystal ornament as a souvenier

(with her own money).

The week of Thanksgiving, when the kids had a few days

off, we decided to let them have a movie night WITH friends.
Kaipo had Campbell over and Ame invited Layla (of course).

Mom tried to find a friend who could join Ash, but no luck.
He didn't seem too disappointed though.

Ramona and Beezus

was the movie of choice

(cute, cute show)!

Complete with pizza, homemade hot cocoa

and lots of treats.

Nalu didn't want to miss out on all the fun

Ash is content just havin' his Mickey Blanket and pillow,
while hangin' out with the BIG kids!

These two are best pals and pretty inseperable.
I am soo glad they clicked so quickly this year
and have become such great friends, especially
since Ame had a bit of a hard adjustment
at the beginning of the school year,
with joining the Spanish Immersion Program
and not knowing anyone/feeling out of place.
Layla's mom teaches at our school
and is the English teacher in the
Spanish Immersion Program for fourth grade,
so Ame and Kaipo will each get to have her.
(Kaipo has the little sister, Marina, pictured in the
nutcracker pic above, in his class this year).