Easter Weekend

I told Kyle on Saturday night that the only thing I wanted on Sunday was a family picture (I even gave up on a nice Easter dinner and we had leftovers).  So, 15 minutes before we madly rushed out of the house for church, I set up my tripod and we took 4 quick pictures.  After a couple head swaps, this was the best we could get.  Yay! A family picture that includes our darling Akoni.  He is 2 months today : )
We did a treasure hunt for the kids in the morning, though Ikaika discovered and revealed where the baskets were hidden as they waited for Ka'imi to wake up.  At one of the clues they struggled and Kekoa said, "Mom you hid this clue too good." I replied, "What are you talking about? The Easter Bunny hid the clues, not me." Then Sepa said, "Mom, I think I noticed you are the Easter Bunny."  It made me laugh.  Oh well, at least they still believe in Santa.  Why should the Easter Bunny get credit for it all anyway : ) Here are a couple pics.

 What else could the Easter Bunny bring than soccer gear for Koa?

 Ikaika loves Legos and playing checkers :)

 Iosepa has a thing for rolly-pollys and worms, so we got him a container to collect them in. Way to go Dollar Store.

 You can tell that Ka'imi just got up. Beautiful bedhead and sleepy eyes : ) Cute girl.

The Easter Bunny only brought Akoni a tie - why bother when they won't make a fuss about it, I say.

Kyle, my thoughtful husband, even got a basket of goodies for me.  What a sweetheart he is :)

And here is a picture from our Easter Fun Day, Saturday. We did a small egg hunt with friends from our ward.  The kids had fun and we had lots of yummy food for lunch.

 

(I was trying to get Ka'imi's hair out of her face . . .)

We had a good FHE on Monday about the meaning of Easter and had a little lesson go along with the clues that taught about the Savior.  Probably wasn't my most valiant effort in making sure the kids learned something - I'm glad it is more than just once a year we talk and focus on the priceless gift of the Savior.

Keep Keeping On

I'm not going to lie, today was a hard Sunday at church.  Sacrament meeting to be exact.  It has been almost 4 years since Kyle has been in the bishopric of our current ward and so I've spent that time juggling three, four and now five kids on my own.  I decided when Kyle was first put in a bishopric when Kekoa was less than a year old, that we would sit on the front row so that it would kinda feel like we were sitting by him.  Sitting there has kept us close to Kyle, but it has also put a lot of stress on me to keep the kids behaved while rows and rows of people behind us can see their every wiggle.
Today was, I think, the third time I was brought to tears at the frustration of my ill behaved children.  It is only the 2nd time I've brought the kids to church since Akoni has been born (we missed almost 2 months trying to avoid RSV season). And as I struggled and cried, I had the thought go through my mind,  "I've already missed 2 months, it would be so easy to go inactive."  I knew as I thought it that it was from the adversary, but I didn't feel any better.
Thankfully, the meeting soon ended and we moved on to our next meetings.  I went to Relief Society as the final hour of church.  I was a bit distracted by caring for Akoni, but I heard the teacher share a story that taught me such a powerful lesson.  She talked about her time as a young mother when she found herself a single parent.  She said her boys did not like to go to church and since she wasn't very active, she didn't take them.  Now, they are grown and not in the church.  She shared how much she regretted her choice and how it affected their lives.  I thought about what came into my mind in sacrament meeting and my children and there vowed that no matter how hard it was or how crazy my children ever acted, I would not give up.  I will not give up because I love my children and want them to be happy and have the blessing of the gospel in their lives.

Baby's First Laugh

We always look forward to the celebration of our children's first laugh.  This time it was Kyle who got the first giggle out of Akoni.  He was with him on Monday morning as I slept in an extra half hour.  It was then he laughed for Daddy.  Hooray.  Because of a full week, we finally got to celebrate it Saturday night.  I looked up an article about the celebration to remind myself of it's significance.  Here is what one article wrote:   

First Laugh, Navajo  
Written By Putnam Goodwin-Boyd

According to Navajo (or Diné) tradition, a baby is considered to be of two worlds at birth: that of the holy people and that of the earth people. As weeks pass, adults wait and listen for the child's first chuckle — a sign of joy that signals his desire to join his earth family and community. In Navajo culture, it is believed that a child assumes the qualities of the person who witnesses, or coaxes, his first giggle. (So it might be wise to keep your less noble relations away!) To commemorate this event, the laugh witness hosts an A'wee Chi'deedloh ("The Baby Laughed") ceremony. Guests, often bearing gifts, file past the infant with plates full of food. With help from the host, the baby holds out salt crystals for each of them. Placed on the food or tongue, the salt is meant to rejuvenate the good character in each recipient and serve as the first in a lifetime of generous acts by the child.  At the meal's end, either the host or a community or family elder blesses the baby, wishing him a life of generosity and gratitude.


I love this tradition.  I think it is wonderful in every way.  We are so grateful to have Akoni and just as his name indicates, I know he will be the reason for much happiness in our family.

 One funny thing I want to remember - The boys knew we were having this celebration and looked forward to it very much.  The following morning Ikaika came up to me and said, "Mom, we forgot to all laugh at the Laughing Party!" So cute, Ikaika.

Michail

Tonight, while I was working on editing pictures I received an email informing me that my father, Michail, had passed away.  It was from the woman he was married to and had a daughter with.  She was very kind in her email.  I have never met my father and it was only when I was a sophomore in college did I begin communication with him through email.  English was only one of many languages he spoke and so it was at times hard to communicate with him.  We wrote back and forth a bit, and he always wanted my brother and I to visit him in Mongolia.  I always felt like I was too afraid to try.  For I wouldn't dare take my kids and I wouldn't dare leave my kids.  It was an interesting feeling, recieving the news.  Sadness because I knew I would never met him in this life, but also confusion and disconnect for not having known him very much at all.  There was a silver lining in it all - I finally connected with his wife and daughter, Ainana.  I was touched that she (my sister) cared to know me and kept the few photographs I had mailed my father of me.  I hope that we can get to know each other, though it will be difficult as she does not know english and will have to communicate through her mother.  She is in her late teens, but here is a photograph I found of her as a young girl.

And here is a photo my dad sent Kyle in an email a few months ago. 

Times like these always help me to reflect on and appreciate the plan of salvation.  I am grateful for what I have been taught and found testimony of.  I am eternally grateful for the Savior.   I am grateful for my family and the way the gospel has and will bring us happiness.

Conference

(So this picture has nothing to do with my post, just thought it set this Conference apart from the rest - happy Archuletta made the choice to serve)

 I always look forward to Conference weekend.  It is so rejuvenating, relaxing and uplifting.  I had my thoughts and questions in my heart approaching conference and it was wonderful to feel them addressed and answered in the wonderful messages shared.
One of those was about my role as a mother.  A week or so ago, I happened to watch a commercial on TV for Mirena, a type birth control.  As the commercial spoke of the product it showed a mother with her one child who was about 3 or 4 who seemed to be a handful with the messes, etc he produced.  The phrase, "Keep Life Simple" shone across the screen.  I couldn't help but watch that commercial and wonder if I was crazy to have not only two, three, but five children (AND have thoughts of having one more).  So, I wanted from my conference experience validation for my choice to be a mother of so many children.  And I did.  I loved so much Elder Packer's talk as he spoke of children and the responsibility of parents.  Instead of the guilt and confusion of the TV commercial, I felt peace, gratitude and a increase of strength to do all that is required of me as I heard him speak.
I enjoyed the rest of the messages and was amazed that even with my lack of sleep with caring for Akoni I didn't struggle once with being sleepy.  I am so grateful that twice a year we can have this great blessing of increased faith and perspective.