Happy Birthday Kiana!!!

It's a major blogging faux pas when you wait one whole MONTH to post your baby's first birthday!!! However, I am back in business and ready to devote this whole post to my darling little one year old. Kiana is the happiest baby ever. Her smile is constant and very contagious. She loves looking at books, and playing with anything other than her toys...that means she is in the bathroom and kitchen drawers all the time!! Needless to say, any organization that I once had is long gone. That's okay, she's well worth it. She is almost walking (would you want to walk if you had 5 other people who would carry you???), has her two bottom teeth, laughs hysterically when tickled, looooves books, puts up her one little pointer finger when you ask her how old she is, points to her eyes on demand, loves to eat
bananas, cheese sandwiches, oranges, and any piece of candy she can get her chubby little hands on. She truly is the light of our home....it's impossible to be in a bad mood around Kiana. She is learning how to throw little tantrums which are still cute, for now. She will give kisses (the kind that come with lots of slobber) and pats your back. She dances to any music and will push her little toys that play music until she finds her best "groove out" tune. She is a joy!!!


Birthday Balloons from Dad!!!

Ladybug cake made by Mom....mysteriously missing some chunks of cake...mmmmhmmm...wonder who sampled??? Of course everyone is innocent!
>

Oh yeah...bring it on over!!!


The face and hands say it all...



Lots of presents with lots of helpers!


Happy Birthday, Little Kiki!!!

The Most Recent Kid Conversation Starring....You Guessed It, Malia!!!

Malia(getting in the car after school): Mom, do you know what I decided today?

Me: No Malia, what did you decide?

Malia: I decided that love stinks when you're six.

Me (smiling): Really? Why?

Malia: Because, today Ilan broke up with me. He told me he is too young for a girlfriend.

Me: Well, he is too young, and so are you.

Malia: Well, now Micah likes me. But I am just going to be friends with him.

Me: Really? That's a great idea.

Malia (after a long pause and sigh): Yeah, but love still stinks. Because I feel sad.

Me (thinking): Get used to it! It only gets worse the older you get in school.
What I actually said: I know honey, but you'll meet someone else.

Malia (brightening up): Yeah, I told Ilan we could be "together" when we're in high school. He said okay! Now I have to wait ALL those years.

Me(thinking again): WHAT AM I IN FOR????

Two days later at parent teacher conference:

Malia's teacher: Has Malia mentioned anything about boys to you?

Me (cringing): Ummm...yeah.

Teacher: She really likes them and they like her.

Me (cringing, panicking and thinking again): WHAT AM I IN FOR???

Another Malia Story...

This is so cute! So, the boy scouts dropped bags off this week at every home in our neighborhood to encourage everyone to donate to the food bank and leave it on their front porches to be collected Saturday morning. Malia promptly took charge...she filled the bag with canned beans, tuna fish, soup, and boxed macaroni and cheese. When I went to put the bag on the porch tonight I was poked by something inside. I looked in to find that she had also included forks and napkins just in case they needed paper products as well. There was one fork per item and one napkin per fork. When I told her how thoughtful it was of her to include these items she replied, "Well, they need to eat it with something, and I'm sure they don't want dirty mouths and hands." Too cute! She's such a sweetie, well, most of the time...call her home from her friend's house and watch her blood boil! But if you are in need of compiling items for the food bank, she won't miss a beat!

This One is Hard...

I have a very sad little boy at my house. We had to get rid of our little dog, Kawai. He kept running away and had come close to getting run over WAY too many times. So, after much thought, consideration, and questioning what was "right" we gave him to a friend and her roommate. We feel so lucky to have him there because they truly treat him like he is their child and he gets to come visit us for a few hours every now and then. BUT...even though my little guy understands why we had to do this, his heart is broken. He. Is. Sad. Sooo....Sad! And, in turn, that makes me get a lump in my throat and silently shed some tears behind closed doors. What do you do when your little boy tells you that he feels like his arm has been cut off after his dog is gone? Do you take the dog back and risk him getting run over...or is it just one of those hard life lessons we have to learn when we're young that will make him appreciate and grow in his life? Sometimes I totally question what I am doing...Ready for the REAL heart clencher??? Here it is...

A Boy and His Dog...

What. Do. I. Do???

Happy Birthday, Kione!

Today Kione turned the ripe OLD age of 37...yikes!!! Fortunately, he only gets better with time! When I went to Kione's 10 year reunion a few years ago everyone at the table proceeded to tell me how lucky I was to have married him! Most of you don't know that Kione used to be in the most famous boy band of the 80's in Hawaii. If anyone has an old record player I can bring the music over to rock out on! He also was a famous hula dancer in his day, basketball player extraordinaire, and once even danced for Dolly Parton who affectionately referred to him as her little Hawaiian cowboy. Sorry Dolly, he's my Hawaiian cowboy now! :) Kione is a great friend to anyone who knows him and is so faithful in everything he does. He ALWAYS puts his family first and we are so lucky to have him as our Dad and Husband! Love You, babe!

Kione and Malia hitting the beach in Hawaii!


Kiana and Daddy having another bonding moment.

Kione and Tai jamming on their ukulele.


Kione and Tiare in a friendly little game of whipping each other with the towel...doesn't that sound fun (NOT)


Nope...there is never a dull moment in our house with this awesome guy around. We are so lucky to have him and we love him!!!

This Little One...

...And she keeps on growing.

Winter Days (thank goodness they're almost done!) :)

Well, we did it! We made it through another freeezing cold Utah winter, and I am soooo glad that Spring is almost here. However...we really did have some fun moments and now that I can crawl out of my seasonal depression and have the life in me to post again, I thought I would share some fun times! Now...BRING ON SPRING!!!
Showing some moves on the ice...


Showing some moves as a spectator!

My Handsome Fellas!

A Real Life Snow Angel...

Awww...c'mon, T...it's not that bad! Okay, maybe it is!

New Year's Eve in Vegas with Bumma and Papa!!


Practicing for the big hill!

Malia and Frosty

Ready to hit the slopes!

Ready for Bed!


There you have it! Winter days. Now that the sun will be shining on a more frequent basis and my body will be enjoying the natural form of vitamin E, hopefully I will post more often and leave the cozy hibernation of the walls of my home!