4th of July 2012

The 4th started off with a pancake breakfast and hanging out at church. 

Later, Matthew bar-b-qued for us. 

After our little bar-b-que, we did a water balloon pinata and the slip-n-slide.

And we also joined the Kynastons for some swimming and fireworks. 

may 2012

Herbs from our garden.   

Aleah and Nani watching some cartoons..

A happy Maya girl!

The Puppy Pound

These pictures are from Aleah school program in 1st grade. It was called "The Puppy Pound"

It was so cute and she did such a good job! She loves to sing and learn new songs. She is a happy girl and so easy going. 

(pictures taken March 2012)

Matthew's birthday

This is sort of sad and embarrassing, but the only pictures I have for Matthew's birthday are of his cake, but it was a really really yummy cake! Lemon raspberry. We were blessed to have friends come over on a Monday night and share cake with us and sing Happy Birthday! I guess I didn't run for the camera when he blew out his candle.

Now we have a wonderful 36 year old in the house!

(pictures taken Aug. 26, 2012)

2 Months old

Not much happening here. We're slowly getting on a schedule and finding a new normal.

After coming home from the hospital and her initial exhaustion from being born, she ate every 1.5 hours. At about 6 weeks, she was up to 3 hours between feedings. Now at 9 weeks, there have been a few times where she has gone 4 hours. She is a good sleeper, just hungry. There have been just a few nights where she hasn't slept. One night, at about 7 weeks, I was exhausted and Daddy had to take over. He was so willing. I just woke him up and he took the baby and he rocked her for the next 3 hours, and even took care of Kanani, who woke up with leg pain around 2am. 

Life is a little foggy for awhile, but I feel like we're coming out of the fog. We have moved on from survival mode, but not quite to that thriving mode.

 Yesterday as the day part of the the day was coming to an end, right before it was time to start dinner, I sat holding the baby, rocked her to sleep and then put her down in her crib. Then I headed outside to play a little soccer with the girls. It was a good time, and warm enough to be outside, about 59. Then little Sariah woke up and since, I wanted to spend time with the other girls, she screamed in her crib for a few minutes, and when I picked her up she was so upset. Anyway, the evening goes on....and as Matthew and I are trying to get dinner made, girls bathed, dividing meat for the freezer, taking calls and trying to calm a baby, I thought, 

"Man, 4 kids are kicking our butts!"

Then Matthew and I just laughed.

Life is good! We are blessed and we are happy!

Meaning In A Name

(These pictures are taken during the first and second weeks of her life)

Sariah Ku'u momi makamae Luz 

Sariah: Princess of the Lord

                    

Ku'u momi makamae: My Precious Pearl or beloved person

This is the Hawaiian equivalent of Margaret, after her Aunt and Great Grandma.

Margaret: The ultimate derivation of this name which means pearl is from the Persian meaning born of moonlight. The ancient Persians believed that oysters rose from their beds at night to worship the moon, and as they reached the surface of the water they opened their shells and took in a drop of dew which was transformed by moonbeams into a pearl. The Hawaiian word for pearl in MOMI and the phrase KU'U MOMI MAKAMAE means my precious pearl or a beloved person. 

Luz: Light (in Spanish)

 This little dear was born Nov. 30, 2012 @12:44pm

I was induce 10 days before her due date, Dec. 10, 2012

She was 7lbs. and 8 oz. and 19 inches long.

It was a very peaceful enjoyable delivery. I went in early, at about 2am instead of at 6am. I had been contracting for days and we finally decided to go because for 3 hours my contractions wouldn't stop and they were consistent and painful, but not super painful. So I called the nurse at the hospital and they said to just come in and if nothing was happening, they would just keep my until it was time to induce me in the morning. When I got to the hospital, everything stopped. No more contractions and I really hadn't even progressed. The contractions must have just been stress. 

A few hours later, @ 6am, they started me on the Pitocin and everything progressed nicely. I got an epidural around 9am. The block from the epidural was from the waist down and I was able to feel everything in my abdomen. It wasn't painful until just before it was time to push. The baby came out in one and a half contractions and the pain was gone. I then had a precious little girl sitting on my chest who accepted my embraced and settled right in. The doctor and nurses let me hold her as long as I wanted. 

Each time my beautiful babies have come into this world I have been overwhelmed with love, amazement and joy. My heart is so full and I want nothing more than to love that child as our Heavenly Father does.

I am so thankful for yet another opportunity to have such a precious soul entrusted to me and my husband. 

I love you my sweet baby.

Kanani's 5th bday

Here's a few pictures from our little family get together for Nani's birthday. Grandma, Grandpa and Great Grandma were here.

Kanani has grown so much! She continues to make us laugh and surprise us with all that she observes.

Here's a list of some of her favorites:

Food: A kid's meal with chicken nuggets and fries

Colors: Pink and Red

Thing to do: Play with Aunt Missy and Grandma and Grandpa

Book: Go Dogs Go

Movie: Flicka

Song: High school musical songs

And now now pictures from her birthday party with friends.

We decided that the girls could have a birthday party when they turned 5, 8 or maybe 9, 12, and 16. We'll see how that works out. 

Anyway here's the party.

Kanani decided she wanted to have a kid party and do a cake decorating party like her cousin Keala.

Here's Maya decked out in her apron and baker hat.

We served a dinner of chicken nuggets, tater-tots and bananas. 

And then they started decorating.

 Here are her friends decorating their cakes.

Looks like Maya got stuck in her apron. And good thing Grandma was here to help. Actually both Grandma and Grandpa came and helped a ton!!

Ta Da! 

Piñata time!

Happy Birthday to Nani.....

And now, time for presents.