Celebrating Great 8!

Nate turned 8 this month and I can't believe my baby boy is so old!!! It feels like yesterday that I held him in my arms.

He was such a sweet baby and toddler that kept me on my toes.

Even though it makes me a little sad that he's growing up so quick, I'm so happy to be able to celebrate each of his birthdays especially this year which is also a milestone.

As tradition in our family, you get to open up your presents as soon as you wake up. Also every meal is planned by you and you are able to get your favorites. For breakfast/lunch Nate wanted hash brown, scrambled eggs and sausage. Since his birthday fell on a Sunday, I was able to take some great photos for his invitation for his Baptism in nice clothes...here are a few.

After he came back from church, he put on his new "Perry the Platypus" shirt and his favorite pants. I was able again to take some more portraits photos of him.

For dinner Nate requested Salmon, couscous, corn and root beer...very Yummy!

As for his cake, he want cherry cheese cake.

He also went into Scouts...Wolf! He was so excited to join Isaac in the Scouting Program.

So Nate finally was a able to have a Birthday Party...we haven't had one with friends since we left Utah in 2006. He wanted a Detective Party and invited 6 of his friends. So I decided that the kids were going into training to become Detectives. I had 4 stations and in the end they earned their badges. We sang Happy Birthday and had cake and afterward lunch...corn dogs and chips. Then we opened presents. Nate had a blast and so did the rest of the kids.

 

Well stay turn and see who else is celebrating their birthday in January.

The New Year

We had a great time on New Year Day Sledding with the cousins at the elementary school that Dad attended as a child. It was AWESOME to race with the kids down the hill and jumping off a bump on the run and the boys had a snowball fight with their dad. We also discover Mya didn't really enjoy sledding but it didn't stop dad by making her do it again. As you can see below she's not happy at all!

 Blake decided to use the sled as a snowboard and crashed like a teenager.

She did enjoy the first couple of time but afterward she had enough.

Nate couldn't get enough and Noah joined him.

These were the best shots I got of Ike because he was jetting up and down the hill so fast that my photos were blurry.

We had so much fun with Blake's little sister's family...The Steeles.

We stayed with my mom whiled we stayed in Utah and the kids had a blast with their cousins.

 We went and saw the "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel"on our last day.

It was a great way to end our visit.

Thanks for all our friends and families for making our trip a great one...hope to see you all soon!

Farwell 2009 and Mahalo!!!

 

 The day after Christmas, we loaded our car and headed to Utah to visit families and friends. It was a long 10 hours drive especially with kids asking every 5 minutes "how many more minutes until Utah?"and car sickness from Mya.. but we survived! We stayed for a week and celebrated New Year Eve with our extended family.

The kids especially enjoyed reconnecting with their cousins.

 

Nate, Ike and Tayton had a blast playing "Sardines and finger skateboarding"

Kiarah and Mya had a Ball playing dolls and hanging with each other.

 

Over all everyone had fun being with each others.

 

 Uncle Brad with sweet Ethan. I had so much fun playing with this kiddo even though he wasn't feeling well.

 

 Funny Eli showing off his new toys that his grandpa gave him....COOL!

Auntie Clay with Aidan and Isaac, enjoying quite time. 

 Cousins playing in Nana and Papa's playroom.
 

Hanging out with the in-laws.
 

Enjoying family time.
 

Mya loving the nightgown that her Nana made for her for Christmas.

One the best part of visiting with families was seeing the new babies born in 2009

 

 Zoe Elizabeth born August 31, 2009

 

Annalicya Larissa born on October 18, 2009

 

Carly born November 30, 2009

 

 Luke Steve born December 21, 2009 

Aren't they all Precious!!!!

The another fun part of our trip is going out with family and friends for dinner.

It was Girl's Night out with my sisters and mom...we had a good time even thought the service was too long!

My beautiful mom!

 

It truly a blessing to have good friends.

New Year Eve went out with a BAM...playing Rock Band with my kids, hubby, sisters, cousins and mom. We ROCKED the Night away! It was a great way to say "Farewell to 2009 and Mahalo for a good year"!

Christmas Fun

We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas with making gingerbread houses(made with graham crackers), great dinner, opening the presents, having a great breakfast and playing games with friends. We didn't have snow and maybe the kids were bummed but I was okay with it...last year we had so much snow, that I wasn't missing it.

We were so late this year in making our gingerbread/graham crackers houses but the kids had a blast.

 

Decided this year to mix up the menu for Christmas Eve and have some Puerto Rican meat with garlic mashed potatoes and articoke salad....yummy!

Restarted our Christmas Eve tradition, kids got to open a present which had their new pjs.

 

Look the house is finally quite and Santa Came!!!

Christmas morning...the boys were up at 5am but weren't allowed out until 7:30am!

 

The kids enjoying their gifts...the boys especially loved the Afros wigs I got them!
 

  

  

 The kids with their loot.
 

  

  

 

Now to pack for our trip to Utah the next day...going to see families and friends...YIPEE!!!!