18 Month Beauty

I have been neglected taking pictures this summer so much that when I look at these Ka'imi looks all grown up.  She turned 18 months this past Sunday - though I didn't take her into nursery since I was teaching Sunday School.  This next week we'll introduce her :)  This pink and gray dress is one I made for her after seeing one for sale at Farmer's Market in Provo.  I decided I could make it and I loved the way it turned out.  The pictures don't really show it well - I chose these by looking at her cute face  :)
Ka'imi is growing up well.  She loves to explore and climb, sing and dance, and do anything her brothers do.  She loves to talk her her cute little gibber-gabber.  I love driving in the car and hearing her talk and giggle to herself.  Not quite hitting the terrible two's she is my angel child :)

Three Musketeers

One Saturday we were at Farmer's Market in Provo and saw a booth set up to advertize for the upcoming play, The Three Musketeers.  The boys were so excited we had to make them outfits (they had outgrown the ones I made two years ago).  It was good motivation and the best part was being ready for Halloween by September : )
It was fun to get them dressed up for the play - they got plenty of oohs and ahhs from the other people attending the play.  They were actually the only little kids there, because unbeknown to me, they do not allow children 8 and younger to play's in the Covey Art Center.  It wasn't written anywhere in the advertizement when I purchased the tickets.  I even talked to employee to choose our seats (front and center) and I told her it was for young kids.
Anyway, they finally let us in, though I had to sit in the back near the exit with Ka'imi.  The boys had fun and were sword fighting and calling each other Athos, Porthos and Arimus for days after.  They also decided that our new baby brother should be D'Artagnan, since he becomes the 4th musketeer in the play.

Number 5 - and it's a . . . .

We went in this week to do a gender check  : ) I am too much of a planner to even wait until my regular ultrasound.  I have no idea how people can wait until the baby is born to find out.  Not in my willpower and ability to do so  - either way it's a surprise right? Anyway, so here is baby reyes #5 : )

Yes, we are having future missionary number 4!!!!!  I told Kyle that night that we better get saving.  A $40,000 missionary fund is going to take some time building up! 
So, I have to confess that I was completely surprised and stunned at the news.  I really expected it to be a girl - partly because of deep hope that Ka'imi would have a sister to grow up with, but mainly because the pregnancy has felt just like Ka'imi's with the degree of morning sickness and similar aversions (I could not do sweet at all with the last two).  But lo and behold we have another boy and now I am trying to refigure all of our life's plans in my head (why I do that, I don't know - it never goes as I think it will).
So, after a day of just being stunned we are getting use to the idea of another little boy joining our family.  We had to have a talk with Kekoa who was probably the most confused at why the twin girls he thought were in mommy's tummy is now another brother.  But he seemed to take it ok. I just wanted to make sure he didn't lose faith in the effectiveness of prayer.  We had a good laugh at imagining together just how crazy it would be for us to be trying to take care of two babies at once.  We talked about how heavenly Father knows what is best for us.
So, there we have it - another baby boy for the Reyes family  :  )

PS. I loved the reactions of my mother and sister - my mom said there must be a reason Heavenly Father wants so many righteous young men and my sister mentioned the blessing of being able to influence 4 young men that would be future missionaries.  No pressure though : )

5 years and 3 months - Ikaikaokalani

I usually try to take pictures of the kids around their birthdays.  But starting morning sickness postponed these pictures until last week.  I guess three months later doesn't make that much difference at this age.  When I am in the middle of doing pics I remember why I only make a goal of once a year - my kids are always grumpy to take pictures.  Boy, was Ikaika not in the mood for pictures.  No matter what I bribed him with he was not happy with me.  Like his courtesy smile with one side curved up?  Oh well.  He is such a handsome boy regardless.