turning a new leaf

Well, I'm gonna do it...

Masters of Education, in Learning and Technology

starting April 1st.

I'm nervous to go back to school, it's been soo long and to do an online program makes me even more scared. But Quinn has persuaded me and I'm just gonna do it! He convinced me it was a good time to get my Master's and with half tuition, it was hard to pass up the opportunity.
When I do decide to go back to teaching, this kind of knowledge (in technology) will be such a valuable insight to stengthen my teaching ability. Who knows where else a Master's Degree could take me, someday???
*WISH ME LUCK*

Her VERY own

Ame has been quite the $$ hagler. She has sold some old toys and has just saved money given to her by the toothfairy, allowance, and gift money. One of the things she sold was her old LITTLE bike. She thought she was too grown up for the princess bike, plus it was a smaller bike. And now she has a new bike that she bought all on her own. She was very excited and quite proud! The bike happen to have a sticker on it that said Amethyst (I guess cuz it was purple). Right away she recognized HER name in that word, so we carefully peeled off the extra letters, and now her bike is even personalized just for AME.

SOrry Pops

OK, so now I have viewed the last post

and realize that it STILL isn't working properly.

Sorry Dad, but I am done trying to make it work.

It's the thought that counts, right?!?!?!?!?!?

Enjoy what you can of it.

Try them all, maybe it is my computer.

Video-REDO for our SPECIAL Grandpa

Grandpa, we know this will get to you a bit BELATED, (we had some video technical difficulty and had to redo the video clips) but our thoughts are filled with just as much love for you! Hope you enjoy our creativity. This was mostly all thought up by little Miss Ame. Gotta love HOME movies, you get the real thing, with NO editing :)

*Hope you had a Happy Birthday*

We Love You!

Hope you enjoyed the show!

Update

Just to update, it was NOT strep, but we are still going to finish out the antibiotic just in case there is any other infection in there we don't know about. But Ame is back at school and doing much, much better (thank goodness), and no one else has gotten sick.

Is it strep???????

Ame had to make a visit to the Dr. yesterday morning, after a long weekend of having a sore throat, fever and just being soo uncomfortable. The Dr. did a swab test, which came back negative for strep, but with the symptoms Ame has had, and the eye infection she woke up with Monday, the Dr. decided it would be best to start her on the amoxicillin, then when the lab work came back in 2-3 days she would call and let us know if Ame needed to continue the anibiotic. If it was negative, then at least it would have cleared up her eye-infection, and if it was positive then we would already be 3 days into the 10 days of taking the medication. Ame has HATED having to miss school, but we stopped off and get her homework, and to make things a little better, she got a SMOOTHIE. That makes anyone feel better, right?!

A Great Lesson

Ame is soo great at coming up with lessons for

Family Home Evening.

This week she got out her

Picture Book of the Old Testament and

made a lesson about the Creation.

Here is the picture she drew to go with it.

She constantly amazes me at her

creativity and detail.

Kaipo's FIRST

Today, our handsome 4year old gave his FIRST talk in Primary.

Our TRUE lamanite, with his mohawk and all :)

He did really well, minus not being able to hear him.

Of course today was the day there was no microphone,

for all the little sunbeams to be in charge of opening exercises.

Kaipo, much like his older sister,

jumped right up there with no hesitation and FULL of confidence.

Mom did have to whisper the talk to him,

he didn't quite have the same drive & ambition

as his sister-who memorized her first talk.

We don't know who was more proud,

Kaipo or his parents!

We love you BIG boy and are so grateful for

the strong, intelligent, amazing young man you are!!!

I didn't catch him b4 he undressed after church,

but I did get him to sit still long enough, so Ame could

video him saying his talk. We wanted to share it

with Grandpa and Grandma, who we know

wanted to see it. And just in case you didn't understand

all the words of his talk, here is what he said:

(Each Family Member Has Important Responsibilities)

My home is a place where I feel loved. My mom and dad work hard to make our home a happy and safe place. They teach me and help me learn to choose the right. My sister teaches me too. She also plays with me and helps me do nice things for others. My little brother is learning to be a good helper and is really good at putting everything in the garbage. I try to be a nice brother. I also try to be a BIG helper. I am really good at showing love, by giving lots of hugs and kisses to my family. I want our home to be filled with love, so I help us remember to say family prayers. I love my family and I know that I am special.

we are LOVIN' this warmth

We spent the afternoon enjoying the beautiful warm weather.

We had a nice walk, enjoyed some cool refreshments, skateboarded
golfed

and rode scooters

It really couldn't have been more

PERFECT

60* weather

a BELATED birthday thanks!

Grandpa & Grandma...

I haven't officially received my birthday money,

(Aunt Karli says she has it right on the desk).

But I got this today, with the $$ I am getting from you.

It completely CAPTURES my attention,

and anything that does that for me,

obviously must be pretty fantastic!

(I have been playing with it ever since I finished lunch)

I kept telling my mommy that she was the BEST

for getting it for me, but she reminded me several

times that I needed to send my thanks to YOU!!!

So, I am telling YOU...

YOU'RE THE BEST

thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

please don't

As much as I want my Ashy Boy to become more independent and not SUCH A MOMMA's BOY, I really don't want him to grow up so fast either. Ame was reading on the calendar today and realized that Ash's birthday is THIS month. I know...he will be 2 soon!! I wanted to document something that I have been stressed about with him, of which he has made some great development in. That would be his speech. For the past several month I have been worried because he wasn't speaking much, definitley not as quickly as his siblings.

Here is a list of the words he is saying (that I can think of, off the top of my head), some may not be understood by others, but definitely by most of us here at home:

-MILK (by far his MOST favorite word-would drink it all day if I let him)

-apple

-eat

-ball

-bu-bye (bye, bye)

-more

-bath

-mom

-dad

-aipo (Kaipo, but doesn't pronounce the K)

-Ame

-all done

-uh huh (not quite sure how to spell it, but that is his yes response)

-nose (it sounds like no, but I figured out he was wanting me to wipe his runny nose-which has been running a ton lately)

I'm sure I will be adding to this list as I think of more, or as he develops more of a vocabulary :)

Way to go my growing boy!!

Pine Wood Derby

QUinn is STILL the elder's quorum president and as such was in charge of the Pine Wood Derby again this year. They had one last year and it was such a hit, that they hosted it again. Funny thing though, Quinn didn't make a car this year or last. Lucky for Kaipo, one of the Young Men brought an old car and GAVE it to him. Oh was he ever excited! The boy who gave it to him, said his car was awarded for being a cool lookin' car, not for its speed.

As you can see, Kaipo was no winner, but he didn't care about that, he just loved that he had his own racing car!
SOme of the racers, with their cars (Ame is peeking through to show off Kaipo's car). We didn't have as good of a turn out as we would have hoped for, but we had LOTS and LOTS of Nachos to enjoy (and are still eating, maybe not so enjoyable the 3rd or 4th time around)! QUinn was behind the scenes in all these pictures. But he pulled off a fun night, enjoyed by all who came :)

Flirty Aprons

This was one of the Valentine's Gifts Quinn gave me.

He was pretty impressed with HIS ability to find

yet another CREATIVE gift.

I told him, not to seem ungrateful,

but it is soo much easier for a Husband to shop for his Wife,

than the other way around. He reminded me how

much effort he spent finding this and the yummy

chocolate covered strawberries that came with it.

But...to back me up...how many wife's out there

AGREE WITH ME???

Here's the baking girls, stopping for a quick

picture, during our hard work in the kitchen!
You've seem Ame's apron b4, and isn't mommy's
new Flirty Apron soo cute?!

Ame and I tried this recipe out for our FHE treat tonight.

If you like peanut butter AND chocolate it's a great one.

I couldn't find the swirled chips, so I actually

used Reeses mini baking chips.

My kids LOVED the candie pieces.

Of course they aren't hard to please,

but this crowd gave a big thumbs-up!

Brownie SWIRLED™ Peanut Butter Cups

Estimated Times: Preparation - 20 min Cooking - 13 min Yields - 12 servings
Ingredients:
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 tablespoon water
3/4 cup NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 2/3 cups (10-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® SWIRLED™ Milk Chocolate & Peanut Butter Morsels, divided
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
Directions:

PREHEAT oven to 350º F. Grease 12 muffin cups. COMBINE sugar, butter and water in medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute or until butter is melted. Add semi-sweet morsels; stir until melted. Add egg and vanilla extract and stir well. Add flour and baking soda and stir until blended. Allow to cool to room temperature. Stir in 1 cup Swirled morsels. Spoon a heaping tablespoon batter into each prepared muffin cup. BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top is set and wooden pick inserted center comes out still slightly wet. Place muffin pan on wire rack. Centers of brownies will fall upon cooling. If some do not, with back of teaspoon, tap center to make a hole. PLACE peanut butter in small, microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; stir. While brownies are still hot, spoon a scant tablespoon peanut butter into center of each brownie. Top with remaining Swirled morsels. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Run a knife around edge and carefully remove from pan.

oh yeah, feeling good!

While we were down in Utah County yesterday, I got to slip away for a bit, in between all the craziness, and enjoy some R&R. Quinn's sister works at this Spa/Salon and Quinn had gotten me a gift certificate for Christmas. I finally got to use it and oh my... was it ever incredible! I don't pamper myself very often, not even a manicure or pedicure, so this was quite a treat! The whole experience was just fabulous. Haruko has given me a few massages in the past, but this was the first one at the spa. I soo didn't want it to end, and especially didn't want to return to reality. But I did and came away much more relaxed and a much happy woman :) I hope quinn continues to get me incredible gifts like this one. thx honey!

one last bit of fun

We didn't really do any BIG party this year. Quinn agreed that things were just too crazy for us, and other family members right now, so we decided that Kaipo's birthday would just be a family celebration this year. Which really for the Hanamaikai's is not the norm. This is the first time we haven't had some huge feast and big to-do. I don't think Kaipo felt cheated, and I tried hard to make HIS day special for him. But we did decide last minute (since quinn already goes down to Orem on Saturdays to teach) that we would take the kids to JUMP ON IT. We had some of our cousins in Orem and the Jordan's (who are practically family) come join us for some fun! I think Ash had the most fun!

cousin Ella, Ame and friend Skylar
friends Nick & Kade with Kaipo

Ash havin' more fun

what?

this isn't what I am suppose to do??

cutie girls

After playin' some Rock Band with the Jordan's,

we had dinner with some of the Hanamaikai's at MiRachito.

They sang to the Birthday Boy & gave him some yummy Fried Ice Cream.

It was yet another great, fun-filled day.

And now Kaipo has more action figures he knows what to do with.

Thanks so much to those who joined us, and gave Kaipo such fun gifts!

He (and I) are very grateful :)

The Birthday Continues

We pass the Hill Airforce

Aeprospace Museum

like every other day (its right off the freeway,

just minutes from our house), but we have never been

so we went on Kaipo's Birthday. The kids thought it was pretty cool,

for about the first 15 minutes and

then they got somewhat bored of it, but we kept on.

From this picture, it looks like we have something to work on :)

The boys trying out the PILOT's seat

Luckily, we found this FUN room.

It made it all worth it!

Give THIS kid some crayons and he is HAPPY!

The kids got to try out this cool flight simulator.

And also try out LOTS of other fun & interesting stuff

We even stopped in the gift shop on our way out

to let the BIRTHDAY boy pick out a souvenier.

He's 4!

Thursday was a BIG day for our Kaipo.

He turned 4!

Ame, the best card maker ever,

made this special one for her brother.

We opened presents first thing in the morning

B4 Ame left for school, cuz we had a lot going

on and Daddy was going to be gone during most

of the day. Besides how long can a 4 year

old really wait to open them??

Kaipo saw this Pegasis several weeks ago,

and has been DYING to have it!

Daddy thought it was a little to sparkley

and girly looking, but mom got it anyway!

He is very much into Knights these days,

so we had to get one to go with the Pegasis.

I picked these games up a few months ago,
because they happened to be on sale at Target.
I wasn't sure how good they would be, but
they were definitely a GREAT purchase.
The kids love them!

Of course what else would this boy pick for a cake,
Narnia's Prince Caspian.

No, mom was not ambitous enough to MAKE his cake this year. Although it wouldn't have been hard to make a better one than this Walmart cake. But the birthday boy was happy with it and THAT is all that matters.

~Happy Birthday Handsome~

This mom LOVES her Kaipo for soo many reasons. I love how affectionate and emotional he is. He loves to cuddle, give hugs and kisses (even his friends and fellow-preschoolers who don't really appreciate the invasion of personal space). He often tells me throughout the day YOU are the best mom in the whole world. That phrase may come not long after he has thrown a tantrum, and screamed at me you're mean! or I don't love you anymore! He is so full of life and energy, and enjoys the simple things (something I could definitely learn from). Yes, he does try my patience ALL day long, but at the end of the day, I wouldn't want my boy any other way. He loves action figures of all kinds & is incredible at make believe play, because he has such an imagination! His smile is soo BIG and BRIGHT, and his eyes just sparkle with excitement (and mischief) about soo many things! I am so grateful for my Kaipo and the special, unique boy that he is!!!

A bit of a SCARE

I went to the Dermatologist a few weeks ago, for an overall skin exam. I had heard it was a good ideas, to have a professional look. I ended up having 2 moles removed. One just because it was in an annoying spot (on my pant line) and the other because the Dr. said it needed to be tested. I came home with a pamphlet and discussed it with QUinn. The mole showed serious signs of melanoma and we became VERY nervous! We were convinced it was cancer. It has been a long two weeks!!!! We went in today for the test results and to our surprise and much relief, I am in the clear. This has been a big awakening for me and I am dedicated to not WORSHIP the sun, as I always have, with not much precaution. I am determined to be much smarter, and never again think it won't happen to me!!

he did it!!

I was SOO grateful for this note from Kaipo's preschool teacher, because most days I don't get such a wonderful report. Next year I will be looking for a different setting, more fitting for his personality. I think the small, confined, basement space just doesn't work for Kaipo. His teacher has been soo outstanding and patient with him this year. After Christmas I had explored some other preschool options, but there were no opening. And at this point, what is my alternative? Keep him home???? No way! He needs an out, as much as mom needs the time of peace :) So THIS week has been a much better one and he had a FABULOUS day today. I guess bribery isn't so bad after all!! I hope he has turned a corner and is headed in a better direction, so Ms. Michelle can enjoy my boy more, and not just tolerate him :)