Be Mine, Valentine

I LOVE the holidays.  It is a mild obsession I guess.  I stay up way too late every holiday & birthday eve to decorate the house and make sure the details are in place.  This valentines eve was spent doing to  cards that I procrastinated on.  Everything was cut out for Tevita and Malia and they just had to write their names on them.  It was late, I was getting tired and was rushing them along.  Malia happily drew a heart and wrote her name on every card, red marker for the boys and pink for the girls, naturally.  Tevita was not happy about it at all (he hates writing and the thought of having to write his name 25 times was not gonna happen).  Malia shouted out "I'll do it", and she did!  In true Malia fashion she lined up 6 cards at a time, decorated each heart different with smiles, polka dots, plaid etc and signed Tevita.  He decided to pay her a quarter for all her hard work.  They were both happy.

Signing Tevitas Valentines

The finished product

After that, all the kids were asleep except Malia.  I told her she had to go to bed cause Cupid was coming.  Malia asked "Whats Cupid?", so I took her to the computer and showed her pictures, and told her to go to bed.  She did.  This Valentines was a particularly special one for her cause she got her ears pierced for christmas and this was they day she had been waiting for to change her earrings.  She was the first one up, beaming with excitement as she saw her little valentines basket, rushed over to open it, and then decided that she wanted to wait for everyone else.  One by one the kids woke up and the excitement grew.  Tevita would not budge so I told her to go wake him up.  In the room I hear her explaining to him all about Cupid, the naked angel that goes around and shoots people.  He didnt budge.  Then she told him about the goodies that were waiting for him and he bounced right out of bed.  Everyone ran to their baskets.  Malia, my little angel grabbed Linas basket first and read her card to her and then took out everything one by one and showed it to her before opening her own stuff.  Ooh, the excitement as my kids opened their baskets.  They were so happy.  Malia was elated with her new red heart earrings that Cupid brought her.

 

my baby lina, 8 months old already

 After baskets we enjoyed our favorite breakfast of crepes filled with fresh strawberries, brown sugar and sour cream and rushed off to school.  Shortly after that my husband surprised me with a singing telegram.  It was totally unexpected and such a fun treat from him.  He also surprised me with a bunch of new orchid plants cause he knows they are my favorite!  Love that guy!  At lunchtime, Shalye, Lina and I went back to the school for the annual Valentines Lunch.  After that, I helped with Tevitas class party.  I had Lina and Shalye with me.  The party was a hit.  Afterwords we walked to the car and Shalye told me she had to go to the bathroom.  With hands full, Lina in her car seat and toilets far away I told her to just go right there by the car.   So she did.  I looked down and she had crapped right there in the school parking lot.  I laughed, cleaned it up and headed home happy that I got to spend nearly the entire day with my little valentines.

The Peeper

So, I look out my bedroom window yesterday only to find a ladder perched up to my tenants bathroom window.  I yell down to Tevita and his friend and ask them how it got there.  Apparently, Tevita put it there.  Later when I asked Tevita what he was doing with the ladder he responds (in his cutest Tevita voice) "Well mom, I was just looking for a baby ant.  A tiny, tiny baby ant.  He really needs to be with his mom right now."

Really?  Really!  You think I am gonna believe that one?  I called him on it and now I know I have a peeper in the house.  Takes me back to the peeper Sharon and I had when we lived in Provo.  After some suspicion and a whole lot of investigative work, we learned that we did indeed have a peeper, and he was our friend!  Creepy!  And now my son is the peeper.  Wow.

Homemade Halloween

I hope everyone has as much fun on halloween as we did.   This year I ended up making all the kids costumes, starting two days before halloween, and LOVING it.  It gave me a great reason to be creative again, and it is completely possible that I may make my kids costumes every year! Is there an age that homemade costumes are totally lame?

Also, last minute we pulled together our annual meet-at-our-house-to-eat-then-trick-or-treat.  It was due time to get the Uluave family together again, and we had such a blast.  Not to mention delicious food. It is so wonderful to see the cousins together, all ages, just hanging out.  After trick-or-treating they all took their candy upstairs and decided it would be a good idea to "share" which meant that each of them poured their entire bag on the floor into one large pile.  There was candy everywhere!

Moana street is THE street to be trick or treating on if you live in the Hauula, Laie, Kahuku area, and 1,000 pieces of candy is never enough.  It is incredible, more like a street fair.  Everyone brings tables and tents to the end of their driveway, along with spooky music or whatever other decorations or part of your house you may feel is necessary, and they pass out candy from there.  There is none of this freezing, walk up every long driveway kind of stuff.  Just walk down one side of the street and come back on the other and thats it.  Bam.  Done.  Pretty amazing if you ask me.

Today was a Good Day

Always love it when Sharon comes to town, and as a surprise makes it nearly perfect!  Sharon and I pulled it off, and shocked Wendy and the kids with Sharon in town and a night at the Sheraton!  It was so much fun.  Weather was sunny but not too hot, view was incredible, room was HUGE, and it was priceless to see my three littles in their goggles splashing around the pool together and allowing me a minute to relax!  The kids are so excited to have their auntie back for a few weeks, and Im excited to have one of my best friends back.  Thank you Sharon for a fantastic day.

Today I cried.....

Today Sharon sold her car.  As I went to pick her up from giving it to the new owners, I totally cried.  I realized what a staple item that car has been around our house the last 5 years.  It was the horn, really.  That horn could make my kids dive undercover from anywhere in the house.  They would squeal at the top of their lungs, "Sharons here.  Hurry, hide.  Now!"  If Tevita was playing in the neighborhood and he heard that beep-beep, he would come running down the street, all dirty with a stick or two in hand.  He would give Sharon a big hug and kiss and then run away.  We will sure miss that car, but we will miss Sharon more.

My Shalye

Oooh how I love this girl.  She is maybe the most quirky thing around.  Every day she has me laughing, sometimes not even at what she says but just how she says it or the voice that she says it in.

For the last few months she will only refer to Malia as 'Shalye'. 

Nearly anything you tell her will get a squeaky response of "Welcome Mom". 
For example: 
ME:  Shalye, I just love you so much.
SHALYE:  Welcome Mom.
or
ME:  You look so adorable in that outfit!
SHALYE:  Welcome Mom.

It never fits, and I laugh every time.

She will always stand at the bottom of the staircase and say, "Tall, tall mountain.  Too big.  Carry you!"

Truth is, it really does not matter what she says.  It is that squeaky voice and the mannerisms that go with it.    I love that she gets to spend so much time home with me!

IT'S A(nother) GIRL!!!!

Now that we have all grieved just a little, I am happy to announce we are having another baby girl.  She is due June 16th. 

We were all CERTAIN that it was a boy.  I cried a little and was in shock a lot, but am alright now and am really excited to meet this baby girl of ours.  When we were telling the kids what we were having, Tevita started beating his head into the pillow grunting things like, "uuh, I really wanted a brother."  He left the room.  A few minutes later I went into the living room and sat down by him.  He expressed his frustration that he REALLY wanted a brother.  I explained to him that I understood and that daddy and I really wanted a boy too but at this time Heavenly Father has decided that we needed another baby girl to join our family.  Tevita stands up and shaking his fist to the sky, yells,  "Heavenly Father, you are going to pay for this.  You owe me a million bucks."

Christmas Morning

I LOVE CHRISTMAS MORNING!  I always have.  I love the look on my kids faces as they see the surprises that Santa Claus left for them the night before.  I love a full house of friends and family to celebrate together.  This year I decided instead of buying much for the kids I would surprise them with a trip to Disneyland.  I was totally craving a rip off the rock, and thought the memories made would far outweigh the toys they would receive.  

Because I knew the surprise the kids were about to receive I was extra excited this year to see the faces of my babies.  The house was decorated with all things Disney, but the kids did not get it, they just thought we were having a party. 

The minute Tevita finally "got it" was priceless!   It was not until he opened the suitcase present with a toy airplane in it, along with some spending money that the wheels started to turn in his head.  We told him that he had to "Solve the Mystery".  A minute later he threw both hands in the air and exclaimed "WOOOOOO HOOOOOOO".  If only I had a picture of THAT face!  Once he started yelling about it Malia and Shalye started screaming too!!  I love when I can pull of a great surprise.....

We left for Cali the next day and had a blast! 

The rest of Christmas day was great too.  Hours of it was spent playing the Wii that Sharon bought the kids.  If I had any idea that Sharon would be spoiling them with a Wii, I do no think we would have been going to Disneyland.  And of course there was Silly String involved.  

Six More Sleeps......

Til Santa comes.  My kids can hardly contain themselves.

This month, like the others, has completely flown by.  So much has happened.  First off, for those that dont know, I am PREGNANT.  Again.  Due in June with our fourth and final baby.  The kids are so thrilled, especially Tevita who insists that we are having a boy.  No questions asked.  He is 100% confident that Heavenly Father wants him to have a boy.  His words, not mine.  But I sure hope he's right.  I will let you all know.

Thanksgiving was a blast with my family in town.  We played cards and Ticket to Ride for about two weeks straight.  For those of you who have never played that game, it comes highly recommended from the Duffin Family.  My mom spoiled us rotten with her cooking, cleaning, and babysitting.  She is just so cheery about it all and does not ever complain.  I love when Dad comes to visit cause there is always something about my house that drives him crazy that is broken.  This trip it was the lack of any light in my kitchen.  He went to the store, picked out a light and installed it right above my kitchen table.  Thanks Dad.  It made it so much easier to kick all your butts in cards!

My husband has been working like crazy.  I swear he sleeps like three or four hours and is right back out the door for work.  Lately he gets home after I am asleep and gone before I wake up.  I am so proud of him for all his hard work, but am totally ready for his boys to come back and help with the company for a bit!  Hurry home boys!

Today is December 19th.  I cannot believe that we are seriously only six sleeps away  from Santa Claus.  A few years ago I bought an advent calendar from Pottery Barn, with pockets for every day of the month.  It has been SO MUCH FUN to see my kids bounce out of bed in the dark wee hours just to see what the elves left them.  There is always a treat accompanied by a note.  Whoever is up first will bring me the note with a flashlight so I can read it to them.  Tevita even told me he needed an alarm clock so he could get up to check the pocket. 

Other than watching the joy this calendar brings, I have been in a serious bah-humbug mood that I have not been able to snap out of.  Not grumpy about the holidays, but just completely neutral to them this year.  If it was not for mom I am not sure if we even would have decorated cookies.  I sure hope I snap out of it by next year cause I usually really LOVE this time of year.  We have another little grinch around here named Shalye who pushes our christmas tree over at least once a day while yelling about christmas being finished at the top of her lungs.  She will climb up on the fireplace and throw all the stockings on the floor.  Then she will tear down the garland from the fireplace.  She will climb down, kick the fake firelogs then cross her arms, let out an "Umph" with a look of sheer satisfaction beaming across her face.

This year I tried shopping and decided it was such a waste of time.  I would just walk in and out of stores aimlessly shopping just to buy the kids presents that they don't need.   Since I have no desire to shop, and my kids do not need a thing, I have decided to suprise them with a trip to Disneyland for Christmas, and just make memories instead.   Ssssshhhhhhhh, it is a SUPRISE!   Thanks to my wonderful mother again who is going to meet us there and help make it possible, since my poor mans gotta stay home and work.  And thanks to Hawaiian Airlines for having some serious cheap airfare last minute.

So much to do before we go.  Wishing you all days that are merry and bright! 

Life as Usual

I dont know why I wait for something BIG to happen in order to blog about it.  Cause not much big and exciting is happening around here.  Most days are usually the same old grind.  Wake up late, rush the kids out the door (hopefully brushing hair, teeth and eating breakfast.....but not always), come home, clean house, do bills, watch Fox news while I fold laundry, go to work, pick up kids from school, fight for an hour about homework, soccer practice, dinner, baths, bed.  And of course all the little things that go in between.
But today was different.  Today I was reminded about the little things and just how important they are.  I don't know why it hit so hard today, but it did.  I was sitting at the beach bundled up in the towles cause I was freezing.  As I sat back and  watched my kids I was so overwhelmingly grateful for them.  I was just in awe as I watched them truly ENJOYING one another.  So very much.  There was so much love.  Just me and the kids and a setting sun.  Nobody else was there.  It was peaceful.  It was magical.  It was a moment of joy, pride, gratitude and so much love.  I am so grateful for kids who really love eachother, who protect eachother, and who completely enjoy eachother.  Who can build sandcastles together and make sand angels, can splash in the waves and dig tunnels while laughing their little hearts out.  That is absolutely what it is all about.

Birthday Wishes to my Princess

My Dearest Malia-

You are magic.

You are a bundle of quirks and giggles and brains.

You get under my skin like no other, so fickle and exact.  And so, so persistent.  

(Grandma says it drives me crazy cause we are so the same)

But then you giggle again, or cuddle up with those huge brown eyes and tell me that you love me.  Or sometimes you just bark.... and I know what that means.

I wish you all the love and happiness this year!!!  

You truly are a princess.

Love, Mom

Always laughing....

As much as Tevita can drive-me-crazy, he sure can make me laugh.  Loud.  We have had a few good conversations lately.  This one was walking out of church last week.

Tevita:  Mom, did you know that Jesus and Santa Claus are brothers?
Me:  (laughing out loud)  No they are not.
Tevita:  Yes they are.  I am a really smart boy.
Me:  Ok Tevita, why do you think that?
Tevita:  (very confident)  Cause they have the same beard!


And last night I was trying to talk sternly to Tevita about how I needed him to listen more and blah, blah blah.  I was totally serious and pretty upset at him.....and what does he do???  He gets a real pouty look on his face and starts playing an imaginary violin!  What the heck?  How does he know this stuff?  I cracked up, and he got away with no spankings that night.

Back to School and so much more.......

Oh my gosh, where did the summer go?  It went so fast, and I am a tad bit sad that my house is so quiet.  Tevita started school last Monday.  He is in 1st grade and his teacher is Ms. Elkington.  Aside from a quick moment of panic on his face, followed by a tough face while fighting back tears, he jumped right in.  His teacher is amazing and three times now I have had to wait for Vita to finish the book or painting he was working on before we go.  I am so proud of him.  It seems all the fear and worries of last year are gone and he is beaming with confidence and excitement.  Today was actually the FIRST day that he walked to school all by himself.  He was tinkering around in his underwear as usual, me begging him to get dressed for school when he saw Jordan and Jason walking to school.  He literally jumped up, brushed teeth, dressed, and tied up his hair and was out the door in less than two minutes. As proud of him as I was, I was still totally sad.  He is big, and so completely independent.   I adore him.

And Malia........she has been begging to go school for a YEAR now.  I get the hugest smile on my face when I think of her and school because she absolutely loves to learn.  The day before school started we had a mommy-daugher-date and went shopping.  She is seriously the best dressed kid in her class.  Shopping with her was so fun cause it really was that first step from baby girl to big school girl.  She is rocking the skinny jeans, ballet flats, pink chuck taylors, leggings.....I just cant get enough of her!  When I went to drop her off on her first day she just put her backpack on and headed for class.  Shalye and I were left in the dust.  She was so ecstatic that her big day had finally arrived.  She is loving school!!

Schools OUT!!!

I love summer!  We have had so much fun already and it has only been two weeks.  I decided not to put Tevita into Summer Fun cause I wanted him all to myself.  I love the late nights, lazy days, every day at the beach, movies, family and friends. 

Right after Tevitas Kindergarten Graduation we went  to see Shrek 4.  The kids loved it, and Tame and I enjoyed it too. 

The next week we went to Hukilauland and crashed every day of Laie 7th Ward Camp.  We did not know we would spend the entire week there or we would have set up a tent. 

but. it.was.just.SO.fun

I had no choice! 

The week was full of  all things Disney. 

They even had a light parade with the kids dressed up holding their glow sticks.

The highlight had to be Game Night!  If you have never seen Minute to Win It, you should.   It is such a fun gameshow, and so easy to incorporate into family night, reunions, work parties etc. 

Tevitas highlight was the nerf swords hands down.  He walked with sword and shield at all times, ready to battle any one that got in his path.

I personally loved the slip-n-slide!

We set up the big screen projector last night and watched Alice in Wonderland and Fantastic Mr. Fox.  The yard was full of friends cuddled in blankets on the grass.  It was such a beautiful night.

In two weeks we will do it again, and hopefully every Friday after that til school starts again.

Next week we go to Laie 8th Ward Camp at Kakela. 

We are so excited.

DESTROY NERVOUS

For the past few weeks Tevita has been singing the Beatles.  "All You Need Is Love" was their song for May Day this year and I have watched Tevita practicing their dance for weeks now.

I knew Tevita was so completely freaked out that I have really tried to downplay May Day.

So without too much pushing or prodding I would let him practice his dance when he felt like it, and casually say good job at the end, trying not to psych him out for the big day.

Well the big day came, he got dressed, grumbled a few times about being nervous and scared, and got in the car.  As we were driving he yelled, "DESTROY NERVOUS".   It was not until we got to the PCC that the nervous really kicked in.  Once I found his class he completely freaked out, fell into a ball on the floor, and did not move.  I made sure Mrs K saw him then snuck away.  I watched from a far distance to make sure he did not run, and after about 10 minutes just went to my seat, having no idea what to expect.  When the kindergarteners came out,

SO DID HE.  

I was so proud of him and totally teared up!

For him, this was

a. HUGE. step!

Here is the picture to prove it.  (I did not bring my camera because, quite honestly, I did not expect him to get up there.  So, forgive the picture phone)

(he is in the very back row wearing an orange bandana.  I am sure you cannot see him at all)

Have I ever told you that Tevita is

ABSOLUTELY, TOTALLY, COMPLETELY

SCARED.TO.DEATH

of anyone watching him do almost

ANYTHING!

I am not completely sure where it started, I believe it was somewhere between May Day and graduation his preschool year. 

(these pictures were taken at his preschool graduation)

He has recently said, in his own words, while talking about this years May Day, "I am just really nervous mom.  I just don't like people watching me at all.  Its like there is a fight going on with me and my nervous and the nervous has been doing a lot of exercises and is stronger".  He said this while clenching his teeth and tensing up every little muscle in that body.  I KNOW how scared of public attention is because I am the

exact.same.way.

I feel his pain, and yet it completely drives me crazy.   No bribe works.  Not even the light-up sword that he had been begging for for weeks.  (he told me he would wait for Santa Claus)  Basketball games, christmas concerts, Super Citizen.  You name it, he will run.

He had his first baseball game last Wednesday. 

Would not go near the field. 

He told me he had to "ease" his way in while taking one slider step closer to the bench and then realizing it was just TOO much for him to handle before running back to the fence.  By the end of the game he did pose for a photo shoot because he thought I would let him go home if he took his picture. Wrong!  During the last inning he did muster the guts to bat, but instead of running the bases....he ran to the fence again.

So imagine how PROUD of my little man I was during his second game when he hit that baseball and ran ALL the bases,

twice! 

 He even played the outfield!

(and tackled his teammates multipe times football style for the ball)

WAY TO GO VITA!!!

I have so much going on I have no idea where to start.  Mostly cause it is nothing big, just a bunch of little moments passing me by that I HAVE to write about or I will forget......and that would totally suck!  April has seriously kicked my butt.  We started the month camping for the easter weekend at Malaekahana.  (I still crack up that in Hawaii we camp only a mile from our house, but whatever!)  It was so fun.  I am mad that I did not take a single picture to prove how much fun we had.  The weather was beautiful and the kids were really good actually.  Tevita spent the majority of the time digging in the sand or body boarding.  He would wait at the beach until I was down there before getting in the water.  We walked the beach in the mornings while the sun was rising.  The crabs were everywhere and the tide was so low.  The afternoons were spent at the beach of course.  And the evenings were spent roasting hotdogs and marshmallows with the cousins.  On Saturday night we decided to do an easter egg hunt for the kids since easter was the next day.  Jerome and Berenice and Sai and Ipo and the kids hung out for the evening.  Once it was dark we hid all the eggs and had the kids do the easter egg hunt with their flashlights.  It was so much fun except that there was a quick rain pour just before we started so some of the candy in the eggs got a little soggy.  I doubt the kids noticed.  They probably ate it all anyways.  And after the egg hunt, more smores of course!  Sunday morning we woke up, enjoyed the sunrise and went home and enjoyed General Conference.  What a wonderful weekend!
After camping I spent the majority of my time thinking about filing my taxes.  It took me til the 15th to actually get them done.  I have never procrastinated so bad in my life, but I also never have had to pay $7000.00 either, hence the procrastination!
The rest of the month has been full of birthday parties, work, planning Tevita sn Shalyes birthday bash, running to town over and over again.......and baseball! 

The Boss

The only real boss around our house right now is our one year old.  She is SO demanding and so bossy.  Every morning she will wake up and make her way to my bed (if she is not in it already), pull my blanket off while grunting, grab my hand and pull with all her might while screaming "Oclate Ilk".  And then when I get out of bed to get her chocolate milk she insists that I put her on the counter so that she can open the cupboard door all by herself and pick the cup that SHE wants.  Then I have to carry her to the fridge so that she can be the one to take the milk out of the fridge by herself.  Then she will get a chair, push it over to the island and 'help' me pour the milk.  If I happen to pick the wrong color straw, or pour too much milk or if I missed step one and picked out the cup by myself then she will pick up that cup and throw it across the kitchen with all her might while yelling at me.  She is into EVERYTHING, climbing on EVERYTHING.  She will pull that cheezy grin when she knows you are getting mad.

After breakfast she looks like this!  You cannot feed this boss.  Absolutely no way!

 

Three minutes of unsupervision she looks like this!  Yes that is a Jell-o packet she is covered in.  You know the kind kids used to dye their hair with in junior high??

After making cookies she looks like this.  Yep, thats butter.  Try bathing THAT off.

The girl is always naked and will fall asleep anywhere.

After a hard days work! 

Today was the laziest day EVER!  I only left the house to go to church and go visiting teaching.  It was kind-of wonderful.  Sharon was up all day.  Yay!  I enjoy her.  And my kids fight over her.  The other night they were sharing a chair at the computer, playing a game, when I yelled from the other room for them to go to bed cause they were going to Sharons house the next day.  Then I hear Malia say that she is excited cause she gets to go visit her best friend Sharon.  Thats when the battle began between Vita and Malia over who is best friends with Sharon,

 "Shes my best friend" 

"NO, she is my best friend"

"Nope, Sharon is my best friend"

"Well Tevita, she can be both of our best friends"

"No she can't.  Well OK fine"

What can we say?  We like her....

A LOT!

And as I am writing this Tevita says, "I love you Sharon.  I am sorry we did not have a pillow fight or play other games or play outside.  So I thought we could play outside when you come again.  And we can play bubbles, and Sorry!, and thats all." 

Malia Puppy Curly

That is the name she gave herself 

---WHEN SHE DECIDED TO TURN INTO A DOG----

First off, totally un-unique name! 

But seriously she has decided that she wants to be a dog.  She has been insisting on playing fetch in the house with the tennis ball (which of course she will bring back in her teeth), but she also sniffs all her food before eating it, barks at you when you ask her a question, and drinks her "pink chocolate milk" out of a bowl on the kitchen floor.

I thought that was enough! 

I was wrong!

She insisted on peeing like a dog too....

in the front yard, one leg up.

And she had to lean down to hold her balance.  Do you know what that means?

Pee dripping all down her stomach and legs!

( I tried to hose her off and she kept barking at me)