Remembering

I have been getting Ka'imi's room put together.  It is fun to do.  I decided I wanted to put up some vinyl lettering on her wall.  I was thinking of all my options, and fell upon this poem.  I have read it before (I wonder if I have even posted it somewhere on my blog before), but it was a great reminder.  Lately, I have been super excited about all the progress I have and can make with photography.  I decided I need to re-evalute and set some boundaries for myself.  I don't want to regret anything.  My babies won't keep.  I love this poem, though it might be a bit much for a wall !

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew
And out in the yard there's a hullabaloo
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo
Look! Aren't his eyes the most wonderful hue?
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
- Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Pretty in Pink

Tonight as Ka'imi grabbed my hand to chew on (definately her thing lately), I felt that she cut her first tooth!  I can't believe it is already time for that.  That might explain the rough nights we've had the past few nights.
Here is a picture a friend of mine, Jamie took at the photography workshop I attended a couple weeks ago.  I worked hard on creating this outfit - isn't it darn cute!  My friend, Sarah helped me with the flowers.  They were the prefect finish.  I think I'll put a picture of this up in her room - we just finished painting it today.  I am hoping to get her set up in her own room this weekend.  In so many ways, too many ways, she is growing so fast.  Love this little girl.

4th go around

This morning as I were getting ready for church Kyle yelled up the stairs, "We got the call, Honey." We knew the bishopric was being released today, with the calling of a new bishop and thought we were in the clear with no phone calls from the Stake all week long.  We hurried and got dressed so we could be in Provo a half an hour before church.  Though we didn't know for sure, we talked about the real possiblity that Kyle would be recalled as a counselor.  I will be honest in saying that I was really hoping that I would finally arrive at the point when I could have my husband to help me get the kids ready before church, sit by me during sacrament meeting to battle the crazy kids and that Sunday wouldn't feel like another work day with Kyle gone for 8 hours of the day.  The comforting thought was that I had did it before and I could just keep doing what I was doing.  So, we prepared for what was to come.
He did get recalled, though now first counselor.  And though I did my little rebellion within myself wondering why young families are called to time consuming positions, I am okay with it.  I trust that there will be blessings come from it.  I actually depend on it.
When we were driving down to Provo the thought came to me and I spoke it to Kyle, "If this is how we are going to save our children, then we will do it."  I know our little family will be blessed by Kyle's willingness to serve.  I am thankful for my wonderful husband.

Ka'imi - 6 months

Ka'imi at 6 months:

• in the 50th percentile straight across the board with weight height and head circumference.

• loves to be around people - mommy is still her favorite, but now gets really excited to see Daddy too : )

• travelled to Canada with mommy and did wonderful on the 4 plane rides and with her sitter.

• loves to play on her belly

• reaches for everything she sees and then tries to put it in her mouth.

 • refuses to eat rice cereal or baby food - though she doesn't mind some soft table food.

• still takes a pacifier (though only when she is going to sleep).

• does great in the car now - only fusses when we've been out doing errands for hours.

• enjoys playing in her exersaucer

Saying Hi : )

I just thought it would be fun for Kyle and the boys to see a picture of Ka'imi.  I worked for days on this outfit - knowing that I'd be doing this workshop.  Well, without Ka'imi sitting up or standing, it was hard to show the beauty of the outfit.  Other photographers got pictures of her standing with my help, so I couldn't really take those pictures.  Oh well . . . I am excited to take what I learned and do some fun things with her as soon as she is sitting up well  - in my own studio : )
We are coming home tomorrow and I'll post later about my trip.
All I can say is that it has been an amazing experience and I miss my boys (all 4)!

Heading to Canada

I usually don't like to post when kyle is going out of town - makes me nervous that some random person might know I am all alone with the kids.  But this time it is me heading out, so I think it's ok.
I have been looking forward to this day for months.  I am going to Fort Saskatchewan, Canada for a photography workshop.  It is with one of my greatest photography idols, Shellie Secretan of This N That Photography.  I really feel like it is an opportunity of a lifetime for devloping myself in photography.  I am taking Ka'imi with me ( not ready to wean).  Pray for her to do well travelling and staying with a babysitter while I am at the workshop :) 
Here are some pics of this international traveler :) 

A Week In

Kekoa has now had a week of school.  He seems to be enjoying it.  I usually wait for him outside and watch him come up the hill from the bus stop.   Of course I always ask him how his day went.  Well, today he said that it was not a very good day.  When I asked him why he said, "Because my best friend turned into a bully."  He explained that this boy in his class threw dirt at people and pushed people off the monkey bars.  I asked him if he was okay and he said yes.  Then he said, "Maybe I should do what you did and give him gum." To understand that comment we go back to before school started and Kekoa shared with me his fears about there being a bully at school.  In trying to show him I could relate, I told him of when I was a little girl and in first grade, there was a bully in my class named Anslem.  I told Kekoa that he would load ants on a stick and then put them on the other kids clothes.  I finished my story by telling him what I did - I shared a peice of gum with the boy, so that he would like me and hopefully not share the ants in return.  Kinda funny story and it made me laugh to think that Kekoa remembered it enough to think of doing the same thing.

1 down, roughly 2,549 to go . . .

Today Kekoa started his first day of kindergarten.  It's amazing to me that I am actually saying that.  This morning I did a photoshoot of an 8-week old boy.  I as I looked through my viewfinder at the cute little boy, I told the parents not to blink or they'd find this little boy starting his first day of kindergarten.  It sure feels that way sometimes.  But Kekoa was so excited to go.  He was doing a countdown everyday.  I can't believe how grown up he looks in this picture.

Last week on Friday, we went to the school to meet his teacher, Miss Funk.  He found his cubby and where to hang is bag and jacket.  Ikaika and especially Sepa loved going into the classroom with him : )

Kekoa was definitely more excited than nervous. He only had two fears.  One, that there would be a bully at school and two, that he would miss us.  I told him their usually were not bullies in kindergarten and gave him a miniature family picture to put in his pocket so he wouldn't miss us.

Greeting him at the front was the school mascot.  I guess Kekoa is now a Cedar Ridge Cougar : )

It was strange to have Kekoa not at home, but after Sepa went down for a nap, I was excited that I might have a time in the day to have some one-on-one with Ikaika.  He sure needs it : )
Before I knew it, it was time to wait for Kekoa to get off the bus.  Here is the picture I took with my phone as we were running toward each other:

It was a sweet moment for me. One I don't think I'll ever forget.  He ran to me and I picked up my big boy.  I was so happy to have him home.
I was a bit nervous about the whole bus process.  Kekoa wanted to ride the bus and it actually works out great for me to not load up the other kids one more time (and interrupt naps).  I was worried about him knowing when to get off, but my neighbor ease my fears letting me know her kids would look out for Kekoa.  I laughed when she told me that there was only one bus.  What a different experience than the school I grew up in with the 30+ buses that lined up.  Kekoa told me that the busdriver sad,"Next stop, Bayhill."  He got off just fine.
So there we are.  We have a child in school.  A new adventure for sure.

PS.  What's 2549? - that is my rough guesstimate of how many more days of school Kekoa has before he graduates from college.