to give and to receive...oh what joy!

We were soo excited to RECEIVE a package in the mail a few days ago, from India.

The kids each got a personalized postcard from grandma and grandpa Asplund, and a Pass-Along card with a special message from Jesus (via gma and gpa). Thank you for the unexpected mail, the kids were soo excited to get it and read their messages-Ame read everyone's to them!

We are also making a few deliveries ourselves today. Kaipo's sports teacher gave away HUGE zuccini's on the last day of class, so we decided to make Zuccini Bread. I even found cinnamon chips (they are hard to find), which my mom uses in her recipe and they make it oohh soo good!

Kaipo's nursery teacher has been sick,

so we are taking some to her.

It always feels so good to GIVE and

find ways for the kids to show simple acts of service.

Sports Intro

I signed Kaipo up for a 4 week Pee Wee Sports class, which was an introduction to 3 sports.

T-ball

(while waiting his turn he is practicing his SHAKA, trying anyway)

Soccer

Football

I was really happy with this class. It was a great way for Kaipo to be introduced to these sports (since he is too young to join a team sport), and hopefully gain an interest in them. The only thing I thought was a bit negative was the waiting your turn period, for each kid to try and kick or throw or whatever they were working on. I tried to be interactive as much as I could, which wasn't always easy since I had the other 2 kids there with me. And it was also fun to learn a little bit more about Kaipo's personality too, in a different setting. I think he has some GREAT athletic potential! We shall see which direction his interest and desire goes.

2 days of NON-stop Fun

We had my brother Jason's family over...minus Jason (we always seem to plan something when he is gone, this time it was YM-Priest's camp) for dinner and fireworks, in celebration of

Pioneer Day. Their boys are soo cute, but Ella has gotten even cuter since the last time I saw her. Unfortunately, I didn't remember to get out the camera until it was too late for her.

After a WILD night, I told LeAnne the 2 older boys were welcome to have a sleep over

(plus I knew SHE could use the break, having Jason gone).

They watched a movie and most were up until after MIDNIGHT!!

My kids don't get the opportunity for sleep-overs very often, so I figured why not???

It is the memories that count, right!?

This morning Ame's Primary teacher, Sister Larsen (who happens to be one of the sisters

I visit teach as well), came to watch the video from Ame's Hula Performance. We invited her,

but she was soo sad she couldn't make it that night. She has had such a positive influence on Ame's attitude toward primary. She is so cute with Ame-invites her over to color and

spend time together.

We are SOOO sad because they are moving away, her husband is going to Medical School. I sure hope Ame doesn't revert back to her old attitude of I don't want to go to Primary, since Sister Larsen won't be there. We shall see how this Sunday goes??
We heard about this place not to far from home called Splash Pad.
So we went with our friends today to check it out.
Ash had a BLAST!
I LOVE taking pics of this boy!
He is just so easily entertained and I can almost always count on a smile from him.
The older kids just thought it was OK.
They seemed to like the park next door much better and eating their picnic lunch even more!

Spare Time???

So I don't feel like I get very much SPARE time, but these are a couple of things

I have done in the past couple of days.

HAIR CLIPS

I have also made a few baby headbands, for a couple of recent friend showers.

(don't be surprised if you get one as a gift, sometime in the future)

I was somewhat motivated by my friend Katie, who mentioned she had been updating her

72 hour Kit

my ward has also been posting in our newsletter weekly things that we should add to out kit.

THAT has helped me a ton! I am not very good at food storage either, so I thought getting this ready would get me going a step in the right direction.

A few simple things, but I feel so much more accomplished when I see my results!

The Annual Luau

Saturday was a BIG day for Ame and her Hula group.

They have a annual performance every year, in July, and they worked so hard to be ready for this day. We were soo glad our good friends, The Robinson's could come and support Ame, as well as Quinn's mom Frankie and her husband, Jeff. We so appreciated them coming and hope they enjoyed some great authentic food and entertainment.

Ame's age group got all new costumes this year.

This is her Tahitian costume...

and the beautiful performance

Here's her Hula costume

Aren't they so authentic looking?!

I was asked to be in charge of the raffle. I said sure, not realizing the committment I was getting into. With selling tickets before the show, then having to draw tickets & pass out prizes all through-out the show, while trying to helping Ame and other girls dress back stage, attempting to get some pics, chasing the 2 boys around AND sit periodically to ENJOY the show...wow I was tired! Yes, Quinn was there, but he was filming. And there isn't a lot of multi-tasking when that is going on.

I finally got to eat my GOOD food when we got home about 10:30.

But at those few moments while Ame was performing,

it was all worth it and I was such a proud mom!!

For such a LONG night, Ash was such a GOOD boy and full of smiles!

Kaipo got to join some volunteers on stage, to shake HIS okole'.

He was so darn cute, and was not the least bit shy about showing his stuff!

Here's his LIVE performance

I am so glad Ame has learned this unique and cultural form of dance.

I just hope she WANTS to continue for years and years!

We plan to start Kaipo in a few years, when he is old enough to join the boys.

The group ranges from 3yrs (girls), 6 years (boys), to adults. I have wanted to start taking lessons myself, but unfortunately it just hasn't ever fit into our busy life schedule.

Hopefully some day in the near future it will!!

Over-nighter

Quinn has had a conference in Salt Lake, Wednesday-Saturday. Twice a year, at the same time as their graduation, they have a conference for all the mentors, etc. If they live more than 30 miles away from downtown then the school pays for a hotel stay (at the Radisson) for them. He came home Thursday Night because he had to teach class AND had a church softball game, but he stayed down there tonight cuz he had mtgs until late tonight and then has graduation early in the morning, so it wasn't worth coming home.

We met him down there on Wed. evening and the kids had a fun swim and REALLY thought it was cool to be able to sleep on the 14th floor of the hotel too. ANY adventure away from home always fun! They all, surprisingly, slept really well-Ash in his porta-crib in the bathroom, and each of the kids in a bed with quinn and I. The kids loved it even more when daddy SUPRISED THEM, with breakfast in bed (from the hotel). Since we were already downtown we spent a few hours at Hogle Zoo.

We weren't too far from home, but still had quite a two day adventure!

Worth Trying

I picked this up at Smith's last time I was there, and thought this looked good.

If you like curry, with a little spice, it IS DEFINITELY worth trying.

We really like it!!

Another Talk

I am posting this, not to bore anyone else with yet ANOTHER talk of Ame's (I swear it feels like we are doing this EVERY month, and she keeps volunteering, so I willingly, without complaint, continue to help her share her testimony), but to make a gma and gpa proud, AND of course her parents are ALWAYS super proud of their oh so smart girl!! Where does she get SOO much confidence, and that memory??

Grandma and Grandpa we instantly thought of you and

HAD to include you in her talk!

cuz we are soo proud of YOU!!

Happy ME Day

Well as the YOUNGER kids say it these days, MY day was pretty CHILL.

Birthdays just aren't what they use to be as a kid. All the HYPE isn't all there anymore.

But I still appreciated all the LOVE I felt this day!

I got to sleep in a bit and woke up to Kaipo banging dishes around in the kitchen

( I knew QUinn was on calls for work).

A few minutes later this is what I was presented with for my

Breakfast in Bed.

Thanks buddie, you're such a sweethheart!

(the PLATE was actually full when I got, this was after HE had eaten most of it)

Then Ame didn't want to be OUT-DONE by her brother,

so she brought me another addition to my Breakfast in Bed!

Thanks for the OVERFLOWING bowl of somewhat soggy cereal.

Ame LOVES doing the SUPRISE Breakfast in Bed, but the only time she is ever really

out of bed b4 me and actually helps with a REAL meal, is on Mother's Day.

But I LOVE all the thoughtfulness from my kids.

My neighbor also sent over some YUMMY zuccini bread, of which I ate at least half of B4 10am!

I also got a surprise phone call from my MOM and DAD, that just MADE MY DAY!

thanks you two, for remembering me (before you went to bed)!

Here was ONE of my birthday SURPRISES.

Ame and I tried it out a bit already. I love that this system is so interactive and my kids WANT to do it. I think I will REALLY like this, but I am still testing it out, and learning how to use it.

After trying out my gift and hangin' out with my family, I decided to take some ME time and go somewhere all by myself (which rarely happens). I just headed to mall to do some browsing, with a few things in mind. I came away with only a pair of earrings, but much more relaxed!

Later in the day I had one of the cute YW in my ward drop this card off.

Isn't it sooo cute... I just loved it!

Another friend brought me over a gift certificate to

Ben Franklin Craft (can't wait to use it).

Quinn had class in the evening and couldn't miss it cuz he cancelled class

last thursday-the night b4 the 4th

(if it were me I would have thought ahead ...saved the day off for something

MORE special, but whatever)

He did let class out early though, so we could all go out to eat.

He also said he tried to get a baby-sitter, but it didn't work out.

That was OK cuz I really didn't mind having my kids there to celebrate with me.

And what better place than OLIVE GARDEN, one of my all time favorites.

We just rarely go there, cuz it gets to be so expensive! Especially with 3 hungry kids in toe.

But it was soo delicous and soo worth it this time!

The girls on one side

Ash in the middle

Big boys on the other side

(for those who don't know, QUinn got braces a few months ago.
He's never really been one for a "teeth" smile.
I guess he is getting more comfortable, now that he's got straighter teeth)

And to top the night off, we had this delicious mousse cake!

I am looking forward to one more of my gifts.
QUinn's sister works at a Spa, as a Massage Therapist, down in Provo
and she is soo GOOD. I can't wait for the next we time we head down there...
I will be feeling OOHH soooo good!

Fun Center

We went with my good friend, Jodi (the one I did the 5K with) and her kids to

Classic Fun Center today. They have several different inflatable slides and bounce things,

a "Pirates Cove" filled with lots of climbing area, and all the typical arcade games.

And then of course roller-skating,

which my kids have never done at an actual roller-rink.
Here's Ame's skating pose

Kaipo didn't enjoy it so much, probably because he was wearing the kind meant

to be worn WITH shoes and he didn't have any on (he wore flip flops).

These ones were just borrowed from the fun center, and quickly returned.
They also allow kids to ride skooters, belive it or not.

So Kaipo rode his skooter instead, and continued to ride the WRONG way,

no matter how many time I showed him which way the RIGHT way to go.

Here's Ame with her buddie, Lindy

Watching this brought back memories of my YOUNGER years @ Roller Towne.
Anyone else remember that place?

We got there just in time for the lights to be turned down and the strobe lights to come on.

Nothing like IT

We hadn't made any homemade ice cream yet this summer,

so I decided we couldn't go any longer! We got out the OLD machine and she still

runs as good as ever. Just doesn't quite know when to stop, so I finally just unplugged her.

(One of these day I guess I need to break down and just buy a new one)

This was our family home evening treat.

There's Nothing Better !

It's always a little soupy at first, but a little freezer time takes care of that.

(We made mint oreo and it was oh so good)

OUR 4th of July

I started out the morning with a 5K Run, with some friends. Here are a few (right-Jodi, my good friend and YW president in my ward; left-Jamie, my cute friend and neighbor...she's a BIG time runner, so this was a breeze for her; and then her sister-in-law came too).

Last year I walked the 5K and felt much better about running it this year.

I couldn't believe how many people from our small city of Riverdale ran it.

I would guess somewhere around 200.

I thought it was actually a FUN way to start my day of celebration!

After the run was our BIG city parade (it lasted just about the perfect amount of time-40 minutes or so). The kids LOVE getting lots of candy and seeing a few familiar faces pass by.

We headed down to Utah county later in the day and spent the evening with Quinn's family.
Ame and cousin, Ella


Momma and her boy

Ash loved grandma's old small trampoline

And once we started lighting fireworks...the mischief began
(can you just see it in his face)

He kept trying to get to the firecrackers, from EVERY angle

all the kids took turns CHOOSING which one they wanted Uncle Kaleo to light next

Once in while Kaipo took a front row SEAT to check things out

We had tried to (last minute) get stadium of fire tickets, but had no luck.

The BIG draw this year was Miley Cyrus. Ame was VERY bummed she didn't get to go!

But we still had a FULL day of FUN, with friends and family.

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

I tried to take a few minutes and explain the importance of this day with my kids,

why we celebrate and what FREEDOM really means. It is a huge concept for kids to understand, and appreciate.

I did a little googling and researching, myself, to spend a little time contemplating this

momentous day and its oh so important meaning.

Here are few thoughts that touched me:

The story of the birth of the United States is thrilling and inspiring,

full of heroes and their words and deeds.

With these memorable words, Thomas Jefferson, at the age of 33, laid the cornerstone of

the United States of America.

We hold these truths to be self-evident,that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,

that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

John Adams said this in a letter to Abigail Adam:

I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward for evermore.

AND SO WE DID!

To all those We love ... Hope you had a Happy 4th of July
(we missed you Grandma and Grandpa Asplund-WE LOVE YOU)

MORE swimming

On Tuesday, we packed a lunch and met my sister Karli to enjoy some fun in the sun time together! The aquatic center by my moms house, in North Ogden, really is KID friendly. The only thing it isn't really is MOM friendly. Maybe just not so much when you have 3 kids all interested in a different spot of the swim area. I told Quinn after returning home... it was fun, but I don't know if I will try that WITH all 3 kids again, without an extra hand (or two)! I realized this was the 1st time I had taken all three adventurous kids swimming this year.

I have taken Ame and Kaipo, but not WITH Ash too.

Ash LOVED the water and did NOT want to sit still to play too long with cousin Kaiya.

She was such a good little girl. Just sat there with Karli and splashed in the water.

My experience was somewhat different...

Following Ash's EVERY exploring move, while trying to keep a watchful eye on Kaipo-who kept going deeper and deeper into the other side of the play area. Ame TRIES to keep Kaipo in close range to her, but that just turns into a pulling and pushing experience between them.

The pool doesn't allow arm floaties, so I felt somewhat less stressed about Kaipo when

I found the FREE life-jackets to borrow.

Ame was disappointed to find out that she wasn't quite 48 inches,

which meant she wasn't quite tall enough to go on the BIG twisty slide.

But everyone found lots to explore and do.

And most importantly...we ALL kept cool (and NO sunburns)!

This was the biggest HIT for Ash

All in all, it was a VERY enjoyable day (just NOT relaxing)!

more swimming

Thank goodness for generous friends, with all the heat we have been having, who have invited us over for a swim! In addition to swimming with Katie and her kids on MOnday, we (along with another family) were invited to our Previous Bishop's house, for a fun family home evening activity of swimming and treats. We had such a great time...we just missed daddy, who was teaching.

The kids loved going down the slide

swimming with friends

and jumping off the diving board

The kids loved it when mommy even took a dive off the board and

recued their goggles from the bottom of the pool.

Didn't get it on camera (a little hard to when you are doing the dunking and the picture taking), but Ash loves to take a plunge UNDER the water too.

I kept dunking him under the water. He couldn't get enough and was having a blast!

We were so grateful for the great time we had swimming TWICE in one day!!

Robinson Friends

We have been so lucky to get together with our great friends the Robinsons, twice in the last week. Unfortunately BOTH times I forgot to take pics. How could I do that with all the fun we were having. They came up to our house for dinner last week and then we went down to their place to go swimming this week. It is perfect for our kids to get together, they are almost exact ages and have such a great time together.

Ame and Savannah are inseperable the second they get together and are such cute friends! Kaipo and Cooper are SOO much alike, maybe a little too much!

They both get a "taste of their own medicine", while playing together.

Luckily we didn't have too much fighting, mostly playing.

And Julie and her cutie pie daughter, Ava, joined in the fun.

Ava just fits right in with both the older girls AND the boys (who are close in age, with her).

Such fun times we have had with our great friends. We hope to be able to see them a little more often, since we have such a good time together with them.

Quinn and Ryan "conveniently" fit in a round of golf too,

while Katie, Julie and I got to chat AND juggle ALL the kids.

Nothing better than sharing good food, with great friends!

(since I didn't get any pics, I borrowed a few from Katie's blog...thank you)