Hawaiian Style christmas fun

You can see from this picture why I don't

like my phone pics. If these is even the slightest

bit of movement, it makes the picture completely blurry.

But here is Ame with Malia, her polynesian dance teacher.

We love her and think she does an outstanding job!

She really know how to not only teach the

art of polynesian dance, but also teach them how

to be great performers and love & appreciate what they are doing!!
Ash is being so attentive in listening to the directions for the craft activity.

Here is what they made-little ornaments.

Quinn (and Ash) playing pictionary

This is one of Ash's favorite places to be with dad

(that is if he is not off somewhere sneaking dad's iphone,

so he can play bowling or Uno)

We are glad we could fit the Ili O POlynesia Christmas Party

into our schedule this year.

We had a lot of great ethnic food (of course),

and a fun time playing games and just hanging out!

A bit overdue

I don't take pictures with my phone camera very often because it doesn't take very good pictures, but sometimes when I have forgotten my camera (as I seem to do A LOT these days, with an extra child in toe) it is nice to be able to snap a few shots and HOPE that they turn out. So I was pulling the pics off my phone and found these ones from way back in October, when Ame's school had a carnival. SO I thought I would add them to the blog, just for the fun of it. There was face painting... music and dancing, games...
and even rock climbing

And here is an added random picture of Ash from the electric park. There is a new Jr. High next to our development, that was just finished at the end of the summer. There are tennis & basketball courts, as well as a little park. It is a really different one though, with all sorts of electric activities and these spinning cups (that Ash is sitting in). The kids make themselves sick, spinning each other super fast in these things. But it is all in fun!

already????

Yesterday Nalu was 4 weeks old, and tomorrow

will be officially 1 month since he was

born. How can it be, that he is already that old??

At the same time, he feels so apart of the family,

that I can hardly remember what it was like

when he was not here.

He is such a GOOD baby and

we all love him soo much!!!

PS. I don't understand how a baby this

little can have so much poop! HE has only

has a few explosions and this

morning was one of them. It seems to

happen when he sitting on my lap

burping and his poop just shoots up his back.

It was one of those...I don't even know what to do

or how to start to clean in up. His onsie had

no hopes of getting clean, so that went straight

to the garbage and into the bath Nalu went.

Now he is my sweet smelling, clean boy again :)

compare & guess

My friend, Katie, did this with her boys,

so I am borrowing the idea. (thx Katie)

I didn't have this outfit with Kaipo, so I am

only comparing Nalu and Ash. Plus Kaipo,

believe it or not, was a MUCH chubbier baby.

So tell me who you think is #1 and who is #2.

************************************
#1

#2

Thanksgiving Recap

It has taken me a few days to get caught up after taking out first official outing, with 4 kids. First we went up to Logan on Wednesday evening to celebrate our cousin/nephew Jake's Bday. My sis, Karli and her family joined us too. It is always fun for us all to get to spend time with Jason, LeAnne and their family. They are such great hosts! The kids have a blast and us adults enjoy our time to just talk and hang out.

Then Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, we made our way to Utah county. First, to have dinner with Quinn's mom. Of couse she cooked up a grand, delicious meal. We enjoyed time just talking and relaxing, and she is always good about having us share OUR FEELINGS (as much as all the siblings hate it). We each got to express what we are grateful for-Mine was that I have a wonderful husband that ALWAYS provides for our family! Then we spent time with QUinn's Dad, some of Quinn's cousins and most of the siblings. Once again another feast to enjoy. SO yes, we got to have 2 dinners and get royaly stuffed!! What great memories and fun times we were able to have with those we love. (we just missed gma and gpa Asplund-but not long until we get to spend much awaited time with them :) Here's the kids in their homemade headdresses-Ame had to make sure the others knew SHE was the chief because SHE had the most feathers! And Ash felt left out that Ame and Kaipo had a hat and he didn't, we took Ame's turkey and made it into a hat for him :)

I unfortunately didn't take any pictures, except for these ones of Nalu, with his cousin Amaya. She was just born on the 20th. I wanted to get a few shots of these two together, and didn't think they would struggle as much as they did. It was quite funny. They are already irritated with each other, and pushing each other around, at such a young age...hahaha

Grandma Asplund asked for us not to

let Nalu get any bigger, not that we can

control that (other than not feed him).

Sorry Grandma, he IS getting bigger

too fast. Already growing out of his

NEWBORN clothes :(

**********

Despite a lack of pictures from our festivites,

we did have a nice, relaxing thanksgiving.

And I feel full of gratitude and am excited

to enjoy the continued Holiday Season-with

SOO much to enjoy and look forward to!!

more firsts

(this is a little old) When Nalu had his first REAL bath,

as you can see, he didn't like it soo much.

He just hates to be undressed!

Pretty much every time I start to unsnap his clothes

to change his diaper or change his clothes, to

the second I get him all done up again,

he lets out a REALLY good cry! But once he is all cuddled and warm, he is quite content!!

And since I don't want to only write about the baby
and there actually are others around our house who are doing
things as well, even if they are small & simple things,
let me share about them.
I am trying to be a good mom sometimes, and not totally
neglect the others, so I decided after MUCH begging from
Kaipo, that I would take him and Ash outside to play
in the snow. The baby was sleeping as usual, and I
really had no other excuse, other than I didn't want to,
so we bundled up and went out to play.

Not TONS of snow, but enough for the boys to

have some fun! So another first-

the first actual bundle up & play in the snow,

since last winter.

Overflowing with humility and gratitude

I am feeling extremely grateful this morning, for soo many reasons. As I sit and feed my tiny, newborn, I am so thankful that he was born with no complications and so healthy! He is eating well and growing so much already (8oz he has gained in one week). He is just my perfect little angel-so easy, so content (as long as he is clothed and fed), so cuddley and just so incredibly precious. I LOVE how he just gazes at me. Most of the time I holding him & too busy doing other things, but then I look down at him and he is just staring up at me. Probably wondering why I am yelling at the other kids :) It is amazing the bond I already feel with him. Nalu is soo much apart of our family, after just 2 short weeks, and I love him more than I ever thought was possible. Even after 3 other children, the love just never ends. For that I am grateful and appreciative to my Father in Heaven, for sending me yet another perfect soul to care for, to TRY and teach & nurture in the right ways! The tears stream down my cheeks in humility and I hope I will always remember THIS moment (and when I don't I am glad I have written it down)!!

H1N1-Part2 and more

I have been dreading the time when we would have to finish our H1N1 vaccinations for the kids, since we had such a fun LONG wait to get the first half (only to find out we had to do it again and get the other half). My neighbor told me she went up to Weber State yesterday and didn't have to wait hardly at all. They were continuing it today, so I thought we should give it a try. Quinn was going to take them, but ended up getting really busy with work stuff at home, so I left Nalu with him and took the 3 other kids (hoping and praying we wouldn't have to wait long). Well my prayers were answered! We were in and out in less than 20 minutes. So much better than our first experience!!!! So now we are all (excluding Quinn-he is not a real believer in the need to get vaccinated-just hope HE doesn't sick) completely vaccinated against the H1N1, and just have to wait another month b4 we can get the regular flu vaccination, since the kids had the mist. And all of this in hopes to keep our little Nalu from getting anything this year. Speaking of him, here are a few shots, just because... Isn't his puppy outfit too cute?!

(thanks Katie)
We are off, in a little bit, to his 2 week check-up
and his 2nd PKU testing.
Poor little guy is gonna get poked in the foot!
I ALWAYS seem to be the one who gets to take
the kids to get all the fun stuff done, shots, etc.
Why am I the lucky one???

INTRODUCING

This will be news for everyone!

Even those who have been told a name.

You see this little guy has an indecisive dad.

Mom even called in the original name to the

lady at the hospital just yesterday, who is in charge of

birth certificates, and daddy had to call her again

today and make a change. He just wasn't completely

satisfied, but I think it is official 100%.

INTRODUCING...

Kaylnalu Alena Hanamaikai

Quinn liked Kayl (means free man in hawaiian)

and I liked Nalu (wave), so they

became one and in time HE can choose

what he wants to be called.

Alena is hawaiian for Alan, after his grandpa.

So there you have it. A week and 2 days

after birth this little guy has his name.

Flowers & leaves

I have received some beautiful flowers.

The ones on the left were on my nightstand,

from Quinn's mom, when I returned from the hospital.

The other big bouquet I got this morning

from WGU-Quinn's work.

They have both added beauty to our home

and are much appreciated!

This is our thankful tree.

I got the idea from a friend

(thanks Cindi).

Every day throughout the month of

November (we started a little late)

each of us adds a leaf to the tree.

We write something we are thankful

for and then by the time thanksgiving

arrives, we realize all that we truly have

to be grateful for!!

I have to mention that Ash's first

was Jesus. He said that with no

help at all. What a brilliant little boy!

Ash's favorite

One of Ash's favorite things to do is Puzzles.

I will find him several times a day,

doing this same puzzle. He puts it

together and then takes it apart,

again and again.

We have some word puzzles

that used to be his favorite, but now

it is this one.

I know one thing to get him for Christmas...

MORE PUZZLES!

A Trip with Grandma

Grandma frankie was kind enough to take

the kids out for the day, last Saturday, to Antelope Island.

Sad to say I live soo close to it and have never

gone there myself. But from what I was told,

after their trip out there, it is quite the place.

A definite must see! Despite the look on Ame's face,

the kids said they had such a fun time,

and Grandma spoiled them with souveniers and trinkets.

From what I was told, they had a hard time

getting Ash off of this Buffalo.

That's a surprise!

Ame hard at work, learning to sew.

According to Ame there were little cottages
that they got to go through, that were there
b4 antelope island, and you could see how they
use to live back then.

Grandma said it was hard to ever get pictures of
Kaipo. I had such a hard time believing that...hahahaha

Ash and Ame playing dress-up

Grandma trying to keep track of the kids,

and being soo patient!

Thanks Grandma for giving the kids such

a wonderful, educational experience.

And giving this mom and break!!!

Relections

This year Ame really wanted to enter the

Reflections Contest,

which allows kids to share their talents

in various categories of Arts, including Dance.

So she shared her beautiful talent of Hula.

The theme was, Beauty Is...

for Ame it was,

Beauty is in the hands.

So they had to turn there stuff in sometime in October.

Then the Monday b4 I had the baby I got a phone call

asking if she could share her talent at

the awards night which was on Wednesday,

the day I was to be induced. I told the lady I

couldn't promise anything, and explained my situation.

After having the baby on Tuesday, I left it up to

Quinn, if he wanted to take her.

He did, and of course she did outstanding.

She received the Award of Excellence

and will be advancing to Council Level-whatever that means

(but I know this is a state-wide competition).

So we are very proud of our girl, for her

confidence and desire to share her beautiful talents!

the day of firsts

Grandma Frankie was emotional as she held

our precious boy for the first time

(she has been amazing and soo helpful this whole week-

I don't know what we would have done without her)

on our way home from the hospital

we picked up Ame from school, so SHE was the

first to see and ride next to him in the car.

then at home...

each of the kids got their own turn

to hold him for the the first time

and each of them were soo proud and excited

especially Ash, who is officially no longer

the baby of the family

first day in the house full of craziness

first nap at home

and his first sponge bath at home

(this was the day after he arrived home)

and MANY more firsts to come

Baby Hanamaikai #4....naming STILL in progress

(I should be getting some extra rest, but I figure that once I get home, quiet time to get this story written down, may be hard to come by)

So here's the story of his arrival:

I had a Dr's appt on Tuesday morning and was only dialated to about 3 1/2, despite the strong but irregular contractions I had been having the day b4. So we discussed all the last minute details for my scheduled induction Wednesday. All along I have been predicting I would

have him on my own, and a mother's instinct is always right! Because around 2-2:30 I started having SERIOUS contractions, and decided I better start keeping track of them cuz they were

getting pretty regular. They were 10-15 min apart, but I was sure like the previous day

they would just go away. QUinn had class to teach up at Weber State @ 5:30 and kept asking

me if he needed to cancel class. I just kept responding I DON"T KNOW...As it got later in the day I called my sister, just to warn her of what I was feeling and told Quinn to just go to class,

but to keep his phone close. Meanwhile we had made plans for Quinn's mom to come up that night to stay with the kids, since we were suppose to be at the hospital early the next morning.

I got the kids dinner and baths early, JUST IN CASE. And then there was a knock at the door.

It was Frankie and I guess quinn had mentioned something to her about me feeling contractions and so she decided to head up early. Once again thanks for a Mother following her instincts. I finally listened to my own body and called quinn. I told him he better get home-he said "Are you sure, I can be done in like 45 minutes?"Good thing I said, NO come NOW. He made it home and we gathered up a few things, Ame said a beautiful family prayer, and we headed out the door. It was now sometie after 7:30pm. We got all the details taken care of to be admitted, and the nurse checked me-I was now at 5cm and my contracts are less than 5 min apart. They started TRYING to get an IV in me, somthing I have never had a hard time with, but for some reason today was my lucky day to get poked like 8 times. Those things are soo painful!! Anyway, Karli arrived and we got on Skype with my parents. I got an epidural, my water broke, then my Dr arrived and checked me. I am now at a 6. Meanwhile we are chatting away with my parents and quinn is doing what he does best at this point...searching the internet for NAMES :) The nurse kept adjusting the baby heart monitor on my stomach because she was having a hard time getting a constant heart beat. They decided they needed to insert a monitor in the baby's head. So they go to start that process and found something else instead...THE BABY'S HEAD!!!! WHAT? Karli and Quinn are both looking and can't believe it, as well as the nurses. DON'T PUSH is what they are telling me, as they frantically try to find my DR. I could tell that nurse was nervous SHE would be delivering this baby. Lucky for her my dr hurried in and our precious little boy slid right out!! Without even one push from me. Is that that a crazy story or what?! I mean I could have probably had this baby without an epidural and still felt minimal pain. My dad joked that we shouldn't get charged full price because no one had to do much work. I know anyone who has had long, hard labors is HATING me right now. But that is the story of how our little guy came into this world. He arrived at 9:30pm (yes less than 2 hours after we got to the hospital), was 5 lbs 7 oz and 20 1/2 inches long.

And here he is:

he was so alert, but at the same time mellow from the minute he came out

Because he came so quick, karli and quinn were unprepared with cameras. But luckily THEY remembered to pull them out, because I was still in shock that it was over. And because of the new hospital policies the kids have only seen their brother via skype. But whe are hoping to go home tomorrow to meet them! Quinn promises baby will have a name b4 he goes home????