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 :)

We tried to SPOIL our daddy on Father's Day-

starting with BREAKFAST IN BED

A NEW Rocker-Recliner
(perfect addition to our new home)
Leis and precious homemade cards,
all of his favorites for dinner and dessert,

and a family home evening just to honor HIM-

each of us sharing all that we love and

appreciate about our daddy

Ame took a pretty good picture of Quinn & I.

We don't get one of US very often, so I am glad we remembered.

(you can even see my growing belly)

We are so grateful for Quinn-as our father.

He ALWAYS thinks of our family needs first

and foremost. He works so hard and never makes a decision

before thinking about what is best for all of us!
He knows just what makes each of us HAPPY-

both the bigger and even simple things.

He is definitely the FUN parent and such a

thoughtful daddy & husband!

We LOVE you Quinn and hope you felt

special on your day, because you truly

are one of a kind and we are so lucky to have you!!

fun way to meet new friends

I was grateful we moved into our new ward,

just before this fun event... The home of this event was soo neat.

The yard was to die for (maybe if I was

older and more time to attend to it)

and she even has a pool, which I found out

is OPEN swim every Thursday. I know

what we will be doing now once a week :)

I met some fun girls and am really feeling

better about our move and leaving so

many dear friends in our old ward.

As part of the night there was an auction

that everyone brought something to give away.

This is what I came away with...

very cute homemade burb cloths and a travel wipes case.

I was soo excited!

*Perfect for our new addition coming in November*

Couldn't ask for a better evening:

new friends and fun baby accessories!

What is your guess...baby #4

For those who haven't already heard...

First off, the baby seems to be growing right on track and everything looks good, according to the DR. Second, it seems as though Heavenly Father thinks we need just a little more CRAZINESS around our home because we are adding another boy to our family! Surprisingly Ame was OK with it, Kaipo on the other hand (throughout the whole ultra sound), kept saying NO IT'S A GIRL every time the nurse or dr said anything about a boy. And even sincwe then, he still talks about the baby being a girl. He is so funny-he says "you know girl baby's can look like boys when they come out." Hopefully we can get all this clarified b4 our little BOY comes :) I am sure he will get over it all real soon, once he has another brother to pester and roughen up! I asked Ame when we got in the car after our appt. if she was sad, and she said "no not really". We reaffirmed to her that just meant SHE was going to be the special (spoiled) only girl! So the news wasn't quite what we had been anticipating, but we are happy and know this little boy will bring even more life, joy, love and insanity to our home :) SO there you have it-baby #4 is a nameless Hanamaikai boy! What does boy #3 have in store for us?

These two have packed quite the punch.

And cuteness, how could he get any better

looking than these boys?? SOmehow

each one just does, and blends right in!

****

We are all in for quite an adventure!!!!!!!!!!!

Luckily all these boys will have a BIG sister to keep

them in line. She is definitely good at being the BOSS!

We're in...

This tour doesn't give any kind of a REAL tour, but since

Gma and Gpa Asplund won't be here for several more months

this is for them. Everyone else, just has to come

see it in person!

Through the front door to your right is the office FINALLY Quinn has a REAL office, with
closed doors!


across from the office is the living room

then straight ahead is the family room


and to the left of the family room
is the kitchen (I love my cabinets and
GIANT pantry) beyond the kitchen is a laundry
room, 1/2 bath, mud room and then the garage

the Master is off the family room to the right
here is a view from our closet into the
bathroom and our room is beyond

a view down to the family room

from the stairs

up the stairs is an open area,

straight ahead is a bathroom,

to the right are two bedrooms-

currently one is Ash's and one is Kaipo's

when the baby comes we will put the 2

older boys together and the baby will

have is own room

Ame's room is left at the top of the stairs
We are also putting in a bonus room,

which will be on the same side as Ame's

(the bonus room was already framed

in by our builders, and quinn's already has guys

starting on that room as of now)

Ame is excited about her new hawaiian-girl

bedding, flip flop pillows and all

So there you have it NOT a very good tour,

but you now can get somewhat of an idea how

the house is layed out and hopefully

when you get home, it will actually

FEEL like a home!

where did this come from???

Last night, not long after I had layed my head down (I wasn't even asleep yet) I heard Kaipo crying-nothing unusual, because he does it often if he wakes up and has to go potty or has maybe had a bad dream and is scared. Often if I just wait a bit he goes right back to sleep. But not long after, quinn is carrying him in our bathroom and informing me that Kaipo threw up in his room and now he is doing it again in our toilet. Oh yeah, just what I wanted at the end of a LONG tiring day! I got Kaipo all cleaned up and put him in my bed, then headed down stairs where quinn and I took bedding off his bed, threw it in the washer and sprayed the carpet with cleaner to sit all night (I could do a deep cleaning in the morning). I finally got back to bed, but of course could not sleep most of the night because with every move Kaipo made I was afraid he was going to throw up or he actually was. I think we got a few hours of sleep before everyone else was up and at 'em, and then Kaipo took like a 2 1/2 hr nap this morning, feeling quite a bit better, just no appetite. I think we might be in the clear (other than one episode this afternoon). I am so hoping it was something Kaipo ate that upset his sensitive stomach, and that NO one else gets sick. That will not make this week ahead of packing and moving very fun! And I hope tonight we all get a restful night sleep!! Kaipo was DEFINITELY not looking or feeling like this last night
(ps...sorry for the somewhat gross detailed story)

oh Ash

ThIS happy-go-lucky guy is definitely grow into his own.

He is developing his own distinct personality, likes and interests!

And is very good at making them known!

He has learned to throw quite the fit, to

express his feelings and is even becoming quite

stubborn, with bedtime specifically. He has

always been an exceptional independent sleeper and has

been so easy to just put in his bed, and he will go to sleep

with hardly a peep at all.

Until recently! He fights going to bed, no matter

how we do it. Usually we will put Ame and Kaipo

to bed first, just to let Ash see that everyone else is

doing it. He still has to have his MILK and BLANKEY

(as always), but now he yells and screams all he can

to try to stoll the process of going to bed.

So different than what we are used to with him.

Luckily after not too long he lets go of the fight,

and just goes to sleep. oh Ash...but we LOVE you so much and love to see you

learn and grow everyday!

You are our ray of sunshine!!!

Last Day as a Kindergartener

My OLDEST is no longer a kindergartner, but on to 1st grade.

Ame was quite sad to finish school, and would have been

happier if she were continuing through the summer.

And I think even more scary for her is when she

returns to school in the fall, it will be at a NEW school!

But we will jump THAT hurdle when the time comes :) I joined her class the last few minutes just to snap

some in class pictures. Two of her friends, both named Breklyn.
And some more classmates

Ame, Mrs. Amy, and Irelyn

Ame was so funny. She insisted on wearing

THIS dress on the last day, because it was

the dress she also wore on the first day of school.

Oh what a girl!

We couldn't be prouder of Ame and all the

accomplishments she has made this year,

considering she was ready for 1st grade, even

b4 she began Kindergarten. She has been an

outstanding peer mentor and helper in her class.

She has also become quite the reader and has

done so well in the Accelerated Reader Program-

not typical for a kindergartner. But thanks to

grandma Asplund, Ame started out with quite an advantage.

Ame is extremely self-motivated and LOVES school.

We sure hope both of those continue for years to come!