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!!!