Kaipo's bday survey

Kaipolani Keli'i-Age 7
How are you like your dad? I have brown eyes
How are you like your mom? We like to take care of Nalu
What's one thing that your dad has that you'd like to develop? basketball
What's one thing that Dad always says to you? I love you
What's one thing that you and Dad did together that you'll always remember? Father and Sons outing
If you had a million dollars, what's the first thing you'd buy? DS
How do you know that I (mom) love you? Always take care of me and making sure I am protected
What's your favorite cereal? Froot loops
What's your favorite movie? Spy Kids
What's your favorite vegetable? Corn on the cob
What personal item that you would never give away? Star wars toys
What's your favorite game? Poptropica
What's your favorite book? Star Wars Clone Wars
What food would you eat every day if you could? KFC
If you could choose a different name, what would it be? Luke
What's the scariest thing you've ever done? Getting lost in Walmart
If you could eat at any restaurant for the rest of your life, where would it be? Asian Buffet
What's your favorite candy bar? NerdRope
What's the last thing that you did that you were proud of? Read 5 chapters in my book today
What's the best age to be? 8, because you get baptized
What's your favorite holiday? Christmas, because we celebrate Jesus’ birthday
What's the best present you ever got? The puppy grandma and grandpa just gave me for my birthday from Finland

Birthday Boy

We were lucky this year that Kaipo's birthday

fell on a LONG holiday weekend. So we got to

spend lots of time together and have some fun.

He requested bisquits and gravy for

Breakfast in Bed (of which he took about 2 bites of).

Then it was time to rip open all the presents,

that he literally picked out himself.

This year that seemed like the easiest thing

to do and he was happy with that idea!

That afternoon, Karli and Kaiya came down,

and we took Ame, Ash, Kaipo and two of his friends

to Planet Play. I found a great discount online

and it seemed like a great plan

(but so many other people thought the same thing).

Duh, it was a holiday...what was I thinking?!?

they all still had a great time stuffing their faces

with All you can Eat pizza and doing as many acitivities

as out 2 hour pass would allow.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to do everything

and had to wait it long lines for

Lazer Tag and Bumper Cars, we didn't

even get to go on the Go Carts, but did get

to play mini golf/glow in the dark with no wait time.

Vincent, Kaipo and Aiden.

Vincent is a sweet boy and helps to balance out

the other two crazy boys!

Don't like Ash sticking out his tongue but had

to throw this one in there to prove that Kaiya

(and Karli) were actually there.

Didn't even get a picture with Ame in it.

I spent most of my time trying to keep track of

5 wild, active kids. Kaiya was probably worn out

by the end of the day just watching and trying to keep

up with the energy of this WILD bunch!

Karli thank you soo much for making the

drive down and then spending most of

your day with us (longer than I am sure

you anticipated). Hope Kaiya had a little fun

even though most everything she was just a bit

too small for. Love and appreciate you!
**************************************

Oh my Kaipolani.

This boy is the reason I am getting gray hair.

But as hard as he may be, I can't imagine my

life without him. He is soo sweet (when he wants to be)

and loves to cuddle, he is very emotional and passionate

(sometimes this is good and others times...aaahhhh),

he is soo incredibly smart. Doesn't love to read, but

is soo good at it! He has more energy during

a few hours of the day than I can muster

up in a whole week. He memorizes all the

articles of faith last year and was soo

proud each week in Primary to go up and

share what he knew. Everyone was amazed, to say

the least. He grows faster than the weeds in my

yard and I can't keep up with his growth

clothes and shoes wise. He wears a size 4 shoe

and is in the first grade!

I just LOVE Kaipo soo much and know that life will

be full of challenges with him, but also know that

not a day will go by that he won't say he loves me

and his giant hugs just make each one of my days

soo much better!!

a bit to share

So I wasn't really going to discuss my personal situation on here, but I think, if anything, it would be healthy and good for me to do so. Quinn and I seperated last month, in January. A decision that has been needed for some time now. To put it nicely, our priorities have just grown far too distant and I am beginning to understand what "Irreconcilable Differences" really means. Going back to teaching this year was one of the hardest decision I had to agree to make. I was not happy about it, but at this end of it, I can't imagine if I wouldn't have done it. It has kept me sane. It has given me space and seperation when it was very much needed. Life has continued to become very overwhelming, just trying to juggle and balance everything. I always feel a few steps behind, and I am still trying to learn where to draw the line between what NEEDs to get done and what has to get done. I just can't do it all, like I use to. I have learned to let a lot of things go that use to drive me crazy if they weren't done. I am learning to be OK with things not being perfect (or even close to it). Quinn continues to come to the house during the day and work from here and continue our arrangments of him taking care of Nalu and Ash during the day while I work. There are things that he chooses to do during his time with the boys that I don't agree with, but that is another battle I am choosing to not fight. He leaves when I come home from work and I remove my teacher hat and put back on my mom hat. Although the two of them intertwine quite a bit. I feel frustrated with the heavy responsiblity I carry to TRY and get my kids (mostly Kaipo) to get his homework done, fix dinner, juggle schedules when needed, and that is probably a big reason why my kids are not in any after school acitvities except Ame in Hula and her activity days. I know they want and should do more things, but I feel overwhelmed as it is. I am though, finally starting to feel like this is my NEW life, and that I can do this single mom thing, so maybe soon enough I will feel like I can add more to my plate. Not only am I challenged with my job, and now my seperation from Quinn, but Kaipo I am sure has ADHD. I went to a seminar a few weeks ago and everything that was talked about as signs, I could just shake my head and said yep, thats Kaipo and oh that is definitely how he does things,etc. I am in regular communication with his school teachers about behavior issues and have also contacted the school psychologist for additional help. This is definitely a characteristic that Kaipo inherited from his father, and yet I am the only one who sees it has a REAl challenge and will be (I am convinced) the only one who seeks out help and does something to help Kaipo deal with it.
So to say the least life feels overwhelming and I would be lying if I didn't have thoughts that this is soo not fair and why did I get all of this...
But I am constantly praying and trying to have patience to one day see and understand the need for this challenge in my life. I know for sure patience is a quality I lack greatly, so that I am sure if one area I need to learn and grow in. I definitely am making it, one day at a time. My kids and the tremendous love and support I feel from my amazing family and close friends is what gives me strength to keep fighting, trying and hangin' on.... At times I felt soo alone, but have also felt my Saviors Love more than I ever have before. My down times have not lasted too long because I am quickly comforted by the spirit. I am realizing that my Heavenly Father truly know ME and what I am going through. My Savior suffered the same sorrows I feel and that lifts me, then helps me pick myself up, put my head and say tomorrow WILL BE a better day!

indoor swimming

I remembered why, after taking the kids

swimming indoors, why you just don't

go swimming in the winter.

They have been begging to go for

a while now, so I finally agreed one

saturday if they got their jobs done

I would take them.

Yes the water is somewhat heated

but I was cold the whole time, and

was ready to go after about 10 minutes.

If I didn't have Nalu I would have just

let the kids take the plunge themselves, but

that wasn't an option this day.

Thankfully was taking on her

big sister roll quite well this day

(doesn't always come so easily).

Seeing these pictures Ash was just asking
me when we are going to go again...
um, in about 4 months (if we are lucky)
when the sun is shining bright and it
is FINALLY warm!!

How Ash looks in this picture is about
how mom felt the whole time.
And the kids kept drying off
every 10-15 minutes saying they were done
and then back in again they would go.
I am sure after a while their towels were no longer
warm and inviting?!

Thankfully Nalu was entertained by this thing
for quite some time. The pool has a big
climbing spraying thing, which
to this mom who didn't want to get
wet in the first place, it was just annoying,
all the kids (not just mine) running around
splashing didn't make my attitude any
more postive...can you tell.
But the things I do are never really
about ME most of the time (as I am sure
it is the same for most mom), it is
all about...the KIDS!!

And a bag of fish can occupy quite a bit
of time as well!

Another adventure...just me and the kids!

random

I know you may be thinkng, who is that cute

girl with the curly hair?

That would be our darling Kaipo, wearing his sisters

hairpiece from dance, as a wig and her robe.

SILLY boy!!

Ash laying my the heater vent

in the kitchen cuz he was cold.

Another silly boy!!

And Nalu just copying his big brother, cuz that

is what he does best!

Moms and Munchies

The kids school had dads and donuts a while back,

well can't forget moms, right?!

Well, it was a quick visit but I made it for a short

time before I had to race off to my own school.

Ash isn't officially a Sand Springs Stallion yet

but he was feeling left out, so he tagged a long!

(I hate close ups...you can see my aging lines)

My phone camera, which all these blog post

pictures come from doesn't take

as good of pictures as it clames.

The start of many...

I have A LOT of catching up to do.

So here goes the whirlwind of many posts!

Ame, Kaipo, Ash and I spent an afternoon at Boondocks,

over a long weekend in January, just for fun.

Ash's favorite-mini bowling.

This is one of the kids favorite new attractions.

It is called Typhoon. It is a virtual ride that

feels like they are on a roller coaster, airplane

ride or one of the other cool options.

I must say it is quite fun!!