MORE swimming

What else to do all summer but SWIM!

There is another aquatic center nearby

that was even more perfect for the kids (mostly Ash).

The pool is only 2 feet deep, and it has a splash pad.

So everyone was happy!!

And so much less stress for mom!!!

There is an indoor pool as well,

but we only got to spend the last little bit there,

because it was closed for swim lessons.

Which was fine for me, cuz I would much rather be outdoors,

than inside where it is soo stuffy, and no sun.

Kaipo wanted so badly to go on the BIG slide all by himself,

but he was just a few inches too short to ride alone.

Friends Forever

We were lucky enough to have the Maxfields come visit us this week. Jamie and the girls came up for the afternoon. My sister karli and her girls joined us too. The kids played and played (with just a few fights), while the moms gabbed and gabbed! It was perfect and so enjoyable!! We received many a dance performances as well.
Jamie and Katie (Robinson) came up on Wednesday evening, and met karli and I for a GIRLS NIGHT OUT! It was soo fun talking and reminiscing. I think we were together like 4 hours. We were definitely the last ones to leave the restaurant. We talked about the good ol' days of our younger years, life with kids, being a mom, all of our good and bad times, and so much more. I only wish I had these girls to talk with, like this, every day! Thanks girls for such a fun night. I soooo needed it :)

lemonade anyone???

So Ame has been BEGGING to have a lemonade stand all summer, so I finally helped her do one. She made all her signs and got mostly everything ready. She has been very anxious about it all week and just couldn't wait, and she woke up the morning of...soo excited!! Because we don't live on a busy street, we even put up some signs on the corner and into our development. I don't know if they helped, but she did have a few generous passer by's and some gracious neighbors. Her daddy threw in a $20, so she thought she made soo much money. I think she really made about $8. She said she would give her brother a little of the profit, since he was her helper part of the time. I don't know if it was quite as exciting as Ame anticipated, but this definitely cured her anxious desire. Ame's little neighbor friend said her family is having a yard sale in a few weeks, so the girls may just try making lemonade slushies to sell, one more time!

a little taste

I got a little taste this morning of what it will

be like a few months from now.

Tay Tay came to visit us, while her mom and dad

went to a sealing in SLC. The kids were all soo excited

and were actually really good with her,

except for the being QUIET part.

As with 3 kids, 4 I can see will take just the right amount of juggling.

Which I realized I will have to make some major

tweaks and adjustments with our schedules and timing.

Ame was great with helping to feed little Taylor,

and the boys, well they were good at poking her in the eyes

and yelling really close to her.

We LOVED having this precious little girl

in our home and her grins just melt you!

I don't know if I am ready for 4 quite yet,

but I now know just a little of how it will feel :)

*SCARY*

Thanks Kar for letting us have little Tay Tay this morning!

Pioneer Day FUN with friends

Part 1:

Our day started out pretty dull, because Dad

had a big project he was trying to finish for work

and roped mommy into helping ALL morning.

Lucky for us, our friends Ben, Cindy and family

came to the rescue & headed our way for a surprise visit.

They were going to the Dinosaur Park, so dad

stayed home while Ash napped, and mom

ventured out into the HOT sun with Ame and Kaipo,

to join the Jordyn Family for some dino adventure.

We have been several times, so our kids got

to be the tour guides and show the way to

all the cool things to see...

Ame and Skylar

Nick and Kaipo

trying to do a train on the dino slide

what you will ALWAYS find Kaipo doing

these girls don't look very dangerous

Part 2:
the Jordyn's had some extra tickets to a

baseball game, and fireworks show at UVU.
So later in the evening we headed down to Provo

had some L&L's (local hawaiian food-this is a chain

in hawaii that has made its way to Utah), we don't get

it very often, so this was a treat for us!
Then we made it a little late for the game,

but just in time for the fireworks, which is

what we were most interested in.

This was Ash the whole time...
the firework show was superb!

the boys enjoying the show together

still got the ears covered

Ame was a bit disappointed, when the fireworks were

over. Although they were very good, she said

THAT IS IT????

I guess it was kind of a long drive, just for that

20 minute show. But we did get some

yummy grinds and got to chill with

family and friends too.

AND stay up extra, extra late!

(mom wasn't as excited about that part)

ALL in a DAY of FUN!!!

appreciation & necessities

So our Sunday was extra exciting today.

Quinn got to lead the music in Sacrament Meeting.

*Just a hint: be careful what you volunteer for on those

ward informational sheets-he thought he was saying

he could substitute lead in Elders QUorum.*

I guess that really means wherever/whenever you

can use my help!! He said he was WAY more nervous

to lead the music, than to give a talk last week.

He gained a much greater appreciation

for the chorister, that's for sure!

Kaipo also got to give a talk in Primary,

so our Sunday morning was much more

action packed & crazy than normal!

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

Then what do you do on a Sunday afternoon,

when the kids are bored and you need a

treat for FHE?

ICE CREAM IN A BAG-

mix it, toss it, chill it, eat it

It definitely did NOT cure my craving for
HOMEMADE ice cream, but I didn't
have all the necessary ingredients to make
the real stuff. I may be making a run for the
store today, just for those necessities!?
Plus a NEW ice cream maker... which I did
NOT get for my bday :)

Another way to beat the heat

Saturday was a scorcher, so I tried to think of something to do, to cool off. Quinn VOLUNTEERED (being out in the sun is not really HIS thing he says, what HE doesn't need a tan???) to stay home, while Ash took a nap, and I took Ame and Kaipo swimming at the Aquatic Center. It was NOT the most ideal time to go, because it was sooooooo crowded. But when you don't have your own pool, or even grass (for a slip and slide) there weren't a whole lot of other options. The kids had a blast and despite the crowd, it really did help us to beat the heat!

what a boy

Here's Ash with his freshly shaven head,

and his two favorite things:

MILK and his BLANKEY.

Nothing makes this kid happier!

I wasn't sure about shaving his head, but

dad convinced me to do it.

Like father...Like son!

One way to beat the 100* heat

Either we are heading down the street to the Shave Ice Shack

*OR*

making our own at home. Nothing like a little team work,

to make some yummy snow cones. These little things

give your arms quite the work-out, for just a little ice.

But the kids are happy, and that's all we can hope

for in the summer heat :)

Family Pics Addition

I am VERY amateaur when it comes to creative decorating,

but I tried this and am pretty pleased with the results.

This is part of our family picture wall.

I have bigger ideas floating (thanks to Kar), for my BIG family room wall

but haven't gotten them quite underway yet .

Start with the small and simple things like this first, right?!

a copy cat

Ame always loves to put on her dance CD(which is actually pretty good, they combine several dance songs onto one & of course sell them at an over-priced cost), and practice her dance routine. She always seem to have a COPY CAT right at her side, trying to do the dance too. This wasn't his best show (of course when the camera comes out, they don't do it quite the same), but you can get the idea. Ash is quite the funny kid. Even when Ame isn't around, and the music is on, I see him trying to dance and remember the routine. It always gives me a good chuckle!

sand

After being cooped up in the house for a few days, with the flu, we ventured down the street to the park. We are lucky to live right across the street from the Elementary School, which has several playgrounds to choose from and there is another great city park just down the street. The city park has sand at the playground, which the kids love to play in. I don't think I could handle having sand in my backyard, and having it everywhere all the time, so it is nice that the kids can play in it whenever, but then we can leave the SAND at the park!

The UN-FUN birthday

This is a boring post with no pictures again.

But I just had to make note of the birthday I had.

I THOUGHT it would be fun (for the kids) to go

down and stay with QUinn in SLC at his hotel Tuesday night.

He has graduation this week, for WGU, and that means a

full week of meetings, meetings, meetings, for him.

He has come home most nights just to sleep

(& then turn around and leave early the next morning), but I thought

to at least get a little enjoyment out of the free hotel stay he had,

even if it was only 30 minutes from home. There was a nice outdoor

pool and hot tub. These kind of over-night trips are often more work

than they are worth (for mom), but its all for the kids, right?!

Even if they don't show much gratitude for it :)

Quinn did bring back delicious food to our room for dinner AND

I did get breakfast in bed ON my birthday.

So that little bit made it nice for mom!

The kids gratefully slept quite well in the hotel,

but then the fun began about 5am, when Ash

woke up-irritable and restless. I took him out of the porta-crib and

put him in bed with me and Ame (QUinn was in the other bed w/Kaipo).

He rolled around a lot and maybe slept another hour total. So we were

ALL up early, ate some breakfast, and headed to the pool about 9am.

Ash continued to be irritated and didn't even want to swim. I let the

other 2 swim for awhile, then we headed back to the room, changed, packed

up all our stuff, and headed home. So the flu started with Ash

Wednesday and has taken its rounds since, Kaipo started yesterday,

and now this morning Ame. So with Quinn gone all week, and sick

kids, I can't say it has been the most ideal birthday. I even had to

buy my own birthday cake, after Ame asked if we were going to have

cake & ice cream to celebrate my birthday.

I am extremely grateful for the unexpected

visits from friends and new neighbors,

and lots of birthday wishes via facebook and email.

And a call from my sis and parents :)

Those little thoughtful gestures

meant so much more this year!

*I just hope quinn and I don't get this flu,

since we get to speak in church on Sunday.*

(the added bonus to my un-fun birthday, haha)

So if I pretty much skipped CELEBRATING this

birthday does that mean I don't have to turn a year older???

Cherry Hill with great friends...and a little more

Monday we met Katie, Julie, Becca, Karla and all our

kids at Cherry Hill for some FUN in the SUN!

Everyone LOVED the water, and

just couldn't get enough of it.

these two always have so much fun together

This was Ash's lunch. Amidst all that we
did bring, this was all he would eat!
all the kids (minus Luka)
buddies

we didn't get pics of it, but after lunch we

headed to the other side of the park

and rode on the waterslides.

Thank goodness Becca, Julie and Karla

were all there, between all of us adults

we were able to assist all the kids

with partners to go down the slides.

Even Ash rode a few times and LOVED it!

Kaipo kept insisting he go alone, but

mom just didn't think that was a good idea.

We also all loved the LAZY river, unfortunately

Kaipo got stung. Good thing we were about done

by that point, and after gettting him taken care of

we were able to pack everyone up and head home!

*******

This week is graduation and all kinds of training,

meetings etc. for WGU. SO that means Quinn is spending

pretty much the whole week down in SLC.

Last night I was able to get a baby sitter and go

down to meet him, along with about 10 or so other

couples (of whom most are managers like QUinn).

We had dinner at the Market Street Grill on the

Southeast end of the Salt Lake Valley. It was

enjoyable adult conversation and an awesome dinner!

Also fun for ME to meet many of the people

that I hear QUinn talk about. Put some faces

with all the names :)

4th of July Weekend

Friday night we headed up to Logan, to my brother

Jason's house. Their boys were gone, but Ella was

home, Karli & Chris came (with their girls of course), plus

Jason had invited some friends from work and their families,

so there was no lack of children around to play with.

Jason cooked up a great BBQ, everyone brought dishes to share

and LeAnne was a great host as usual, provided all the other necessities,

including HOMEMADE ice cream! The weather was perfect

and it was great to just sit around, eat, chat and relax.

Thanks you guys for a GREAT start to our weekend!!

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

Ame got to be in a parade BRIGHT & EARLY (after a late night)

Saturday morning, with her dance group Studio 48.

It was in Riverdale, the city we use to live in.

The parade there is just right.

Enough to get the kids excited and filled

with a bunch of candy, but not too long that it last FOREVER. Grandma Frankie recently returned from a trip

out East and brought all the boys back shirts

that say FUTURE PRESIDENT.

Our 4th was actually pretty low key.

We had pizza and did our own fireworks at home.

Ash missed the excited fireworks.

He retired b4 it all began.

2 late nights and early church doesn't do

well for a little two year old boy!

He didn't even know what he missed :)
************

(Again no pics) Sunday afternoon we headed the other

direction to QUinn's mom's in Provo for another celebration.

Our nephew/cousin Koa turned 18 so we had a relaxed

BBQ and hang out for him. It's always an entertaining

and fun time to be with the Hanamaikai family.

all of a sudden

We really did go swimming this morning

AND it was warm & sunny.Looking out our back window you would never know

that now. This storm just blew in, all of a sudden!

Our crazy weather!!

A Promotion changes everything

So QUinn was recently offered a promotion with Western Governor's University. Which comes with bitter sweet changes. A pay increase in ALWAYS appreciated, but his flexible schedule has also taken a bit of a turn as well. He now is commuting to SLC 3 days a week, and the HOME OFFICE that he finally has now in our new home, is not needed quite as much. He is now going to be the operations manager, assistant to the provost. Instead of being a mentor as he was, he is going to be advising, training and overseeing mentors. Eventually after 6 months or so he may be able to do most of his work from home again, but for now his/our flexibility has been slimmed back a bit. So much for Quinn being able to golf nearly EVERY day! We ARE grateful for this job opportunity and where is could poentially lead Quinn's future career. He was flattered that he was the only one they even approached about this job. I am soooo

proud of Quinn-

for his ambition, his sacrifices, his hard work & continued desire to ALWAYS do whats best for our family, and especially for providing the opportunity for me to be able to stay home with our children (although somedays I don't act very grateful or see it as a blessing). We truly have so much to be thankful for at this time. I thank my Heavenly Father & my husband for all that I have been blessed with, which is so much more than I deserve, but am truly humbled and appreciative!

Our Weekly Swim

We were excited to find out that one of the older couples

in our ward has a pool and offers OPEN swim to anyone in the

ward or neighborhood every Thursday. So can you guess

where the kids and I have been the last 2 thursdays??

Yes at the pool! Its the next best thing to

having our own pool, I would say :)

Ash LOVES the water, but as a typical 2 year old

doesn't love any kind of flotation device.

We alterate between the life vest and sit in flotation device,

or just sitting on the steps and playing.

Ame is getting a little more brave after jumping off

the diving board a few times, with NO assistance AND

the 2nd time sinking to the bottom, then finally coming up
very frantic! I am trying to keep away from arm floaties

with her (she only wants them in the deep end) as I think

she should be past that?! She vows she will NEVER jump off

the board again :) Its just a little hard for pregnant mom

to lend a helping hand to her in the deep end, with Ash in tow.

But I do my best!!

Ame and her NEW buddie Brynlee
Kaipo, on the other hand, has NO fear. Ame says it
is because he does have floaties (which is probably true)
but he is swimming all over the deep end, off the board, diving for
everything under the water...

I wish I had the energy and $$$ to put all my kids in
swim lessons this summer, but I just think that is one
thing that will have to wait.
***********
We are trying to get at least grass in our yards
(don't know if it will be seed or sod),
finish our bonus room and I WANT to do some
decorating in my house, one of these days !
(Anyone who has built a home know this
feeling of sooo much to do all at once)
With everything coming at us all at one time,
expense wise, we just can't afford it all. Hence no vacations,
or expensive fun adventures right now. So hopefully the kids
are happy with the little things that cost nothing, or close to it...
like swimming with the neighbors :)