Easter

A little out of order, breakfast came in the middle

of these pics, but I didn't feel like trying to reorder these.

Caught 'em before their mad dash

to see what the easter bunny brought...

the EB always brings flip flops for all the kids.

Too bad the weather hasn't allowed

for wearing them yet?!
I think Ash had most of his candy eaten

BEFORE breakfast...he is a candy junky for sure!

Nalu was excited to be apart of the
craziness, even though he didn't quite get
what was going on.

this year the EB brought each of the kids
a new church video. Since church movies
are the only thing allowed in our home
on Sundays, the video supply needed some
new additions.
It was an EARLY morning, but once the
baskets were devoured and breakfast was
had, all by 8am, videos started and all was quiet.
(thank goodness we don't have church until 11)
And mom could take a shower :)
Here's the kiddos all ready in their Easter attire.
Ash got to give his first prayer in Primary,
so he was extra excited!
We tried really hard this year (despite the
small amount of Easter treats & prizes)
to help the kids remember and focus on the real
reason for our celebration at this time.
As Kaipo put it-
all the eggs and candy and stuff don't really
matter...It's Jesus who does!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture of Nalu.
Just too cute.

Have to share a quick story about Ame
and the hat. SO I was out shopping and looking
for other things, and saw this hat. She already had
the dress. I called her and asked if I got a hat would
she wear it, and she said a BIG excited YES.
She LOVED her outfit, until she arrived at
church and NO one else was wearing a hat.
She became very self conscious and did not
want to wear it anymore. I finally convinced
her it MADE her outfit and its OK
to be unique and different.


No pictures, but after church we headed down
South to spend the rest of the day with QUinn's
family. His sister doesn't have grass in their yard
yet, and we heard it was going to rain, so we
did an UNTRADITIONAL pinata.
As QUinn overheard me discussing the idea
with his sis a few days prior, he commented
You know we are not hispanic, RIGHT?!
The kids don't care how they get the candy.
It's great no matter how it comes!
*************************
It was a simple, but crazy day.
I am thankful for the brief moments
I was able to spend in contemplation
of my Savior and HIS sacrfice and death.
And then HIS amazing resurrection.
For each one of us.
I feel truly blessed and grateful
for my knowledge of the Plan of Salvation
and the peace it can bring,
amidst life's challenges.
HE LIVES!

Hola!

On Friday, Ame went down to BYU for the Language Fair.

A few select students from each grade level, in the

Spanish Immersion Program were selected

(they had to try-out)

to join a team to represent our school.

Each student had to do something independent,

Ame did a "show and tell", all in spanish of course,

and they were also involved in a group skit.

They have had to go to school early 3 days a week

for the past 6 weeks to practice, and she

has spent a lot of time at home memorizing as well.

They had to be at the school bright and early

in the morning, 6:30am!

She was sooo excited for this day.

Here's Ame and Taelynn, on their way...

waiting for their turn...

getting ready to perform their skit

She had 2 parts, here she is one of the bugs,

and she also had another cool mask to play the part of The Wind.

Ame and Emma (she is one of her good friends in third grade)

Grandpa came with dad to support Ame.

Mom just thought it would be TOO MUCH to

drag all our boys to this even EARLY in the morning.

I was sad I couldn't go, but grateful QUinn was able to.

We are SOO extrememly proud of Ame!

She worked so hard to get ready for this,

and unlike the majority of the other students involved

this is her first year learning spanish.

She got a rating of EXCELLENT-they were graded

on projection, clarity of speech, pronunciation

and a few other things I can't remember. Ame you are OUTSTANDING!!!

We love you precious girl

PIzza and Movie night with Friend

The kids were promised as part of their SPring Break fun

that they could have FRIENDS over for Pizza & a Movie.

The kid got to MAKE their own pizza.

Ame also made a Yummy ice cream treat, which everyone of course devoured (despite the fact that there was a blizzard outside). Kaipo invited a boy from his class named Braxton and Ame invited 2 friends Olivia and Taelynn. I felt kind of bad not arranging for Ash to have a friend over too, but he didn't seem to mind.

7 kids=CRAZINESS!!!

In addition

We have been getting some much needed

SPRING CLEANING done during spring break,

but also Ame and I have been doing some baking and crafting.

Ame checked out some books from the library

with kid friendly recipe's.

She is just like her mama in that she

likes to try new recipes, especially when

they include chocolate!

And we made some new hairclips.

I sure enjoy our GIRL time together!

Our day trip Logan

Today the kids and I took a drive up to Logan

to see Karli and her girls.

Much needed sister time and fun with cousins.

We ran into a little snow driving up there,

but mostly rain. As the day progressed

though, the weather turned blizzardy

and we were found running from one activity

to another. Thank goodness we had no OUTdoor plans?!

We ate lunch aat McD's and let the kids

run wild there a bit

(along with the millions of other kids who's parents

had the same idea as we did),

then we went to a FunCenter, and let them

RUN, CLIMB and SLIDE some more.

Despite the age difference, my kids were super excited to see their cousins and they are very good to play so gently with the little girls. Ame was saving all the little kids when they got sad, scared or hurt. Boy is she going to be a wonderful babysitter soon!!

Nalu had more fun dragging everything

out of the diaper bag than anything else.

That little CUTE stinker!

Notice Ash's shirt.

I saw it at the store and HAD to get

it for him, he is ALWAYS asking for

music to listen to, and loves to have an

MP3 player in hand.

He is quite the singer AND dancer

(and this kid can remember the words

to songs like no other).

Thanks Kar for venturing out with

your little ones (especially Avery).

We had such a fun day!

There is nothing better than spending time

and making memories with family!!

Wonderful!

The past two days have been outstanding!

I have always looked forward to watching conference,

but this year I wasn't the only excited one.

Once I found these packets, I had a house full

of excited kids too! We have always done

Conference Bingo, which held their attention

for a bit, but these were wonderful!

Now did it keep the kids occupied and focused

during the entire 4 sessions, of course not!

But much more than it normally does.

Thank You Sugardoodle, thank you!!

I feel renewed and uplifted, with some new

personal goals in mind and areas to focus & improve.

At the end of this conference weekend

we ALL feel well fed, both spiritually

and physically (way too much of this one I am afraid).

Now let Spring Break begin...and I guess the spring cleaning as well?!

He's the BIG 4!!

Our BIG boy Ash turned 4 yesterday.

He had a little friend party on Friday,

mostly his Joy School friends and a couple

from our neighborhood.

LOTS of games...

Mickey says (like simon says)

Meeska Mooska Mickey Mouse (duck duck goose)

toss the mouse

freeze dance w/mickey tunes

treasure hunt

Ame LOVES taking charge with these! Kaipo just likes to join in with the kids

what is a party without SNACKS

and fun drinks with colorful (Koolaid) ice cubes, in sprite of course cupcakes

presesnts

this cute girl, Abby, is in his Joy School group.

She reminds me so much of my niece Ella.

After they were all tired out, we watched an episode of

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse while waiting for mom's to come.

Saturday we just had a relaxing day

eating chocolate pancakes,opening and playing with presents,

getting baskin robbins and eating out for Ash's birthday dinner.

Don't ask me WHY I don't have pictures of THIS day

(maybe it was the tiredness from my BUSY week of

working, teaching, organizing.... I just plum forgot).

But I think Ash had a great few days of celebration.

He sure is our special kid, who is growing and changing tons!

Boy does he have extreme attitude. One minute he is pleasant,

happy and oh soo sweet, the next he is throwing a fit about

anything and EVERYTHING! Here is a bit of

Ash at age 4:

*amazing with sign language (thanks signing time)

*writes and says letters & numbers, including his name & his siblings

*pretty incredible at basketball & golf (natural athlete)

*LOVES to play the Wii, computer and his new leapfrog explorer

*likes to sing (always asking to listen to music)

and can remember words to soo many songs

*is FINALLY starting to play well with his older brother

and they like to play legos & "make-believe" all sorts of things together

*super excited about his new BIG boy skooter

*is soo sweet and full of compliments all the time

for example: "mom, you look beautiful today" or

"Ame looks soo pretty", "Kaipo and dad are handsome"

he is definitely going to be my heart-breaker as he gets older!

We love Ash soo much. Can't even imagine our lives without

his sweetness and sometimes not soo sweet attitude.

He is constantly amazing us and cracking us up by the things

he says and does. He tries soo hard at everything, and always

does his very best! We couldn't be any prouder of our

4 Year Old BIG Boy Ashkiilani

Celebration continues

We had Quinn's family over Sunday for a JOINT

bday celebration, belated for Kaipo and a little

early for Ash. Things were just really busy

around Kaipo's bday so we never got

to celebrate with the Hanamaikai

side of the family.

We did a little pirate theme for the boys.

With a mexican twist on the menu.

I HATE when the camera runs out at the just the wrong time...
I love how Kaipo sings and dances during the song and Ash

just grins and looks around at everyone singing TO HIM!

We had a blast with the cousins and family playing
JUST DANCE. It really is a great party game!
Unfortunately the camera was out of service, because I
didn't plan ahead and empty the memory card,
so no pics or video of the great dancing entertainment?!
But I am sure there will be many more future opportunities.

A LiTtLe GREEN

We tried to have a little fun with green

for St.Patricks Day...

Breakfast: lucky charms, green muffins and leprechaun juice

Lunch: mac-n-cheese leprechaun style, rainbow fish,

green grapes and green koolaid

Dinner: I actually made Corned beef for the first time,

and it was actually well favored.

I was going to do GREEN mashed potatoes

but decided against it (I think that was a good choice),

coleslaw and I even made homemade french bread.

Topped off with green jello poke cake w/lime sherbet.

That was the best I could come up with ON THE SPOT,

besides thinking ahead and buying corned beef brisket.

Kaipo got a nice cut under his eye,during recess,

the day before class pictures.