Family

I feel like I have been slacking on posts. But there is a lot to get caught up with. I just have to find time to do it.
We just got back from Arizona for family reunion. It was such a wonderful weekend - I am so sad that it is already over. I just wanted to quickly put up some pictures from the trip and will write more later.

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We spent a night and day camping out at my grandparents summer home. I spent a lot of my childhood here and it was so fun to be able to take my kids and Kyle there to visit.

My mom and her grandkids (less one that was asleep at the time).

Kyle enjoyed riding my brothers horse. He was able to fulfill another one of his life goals (he has over a hundred) of riding a horse in full gallop.

I had to hold Ikaika most of the time because he was afraid of my brother's dogs. Poor thing.

Such a fun picture for me. I remember playing on these rocks so many times as a child.

My aunt Corrine was a great help in holding Sepa. Don't you love the Wrangler shirt. He actually has a Wrangler diaper cover to go with it. I wish I got a picture of it.

That's all for now, but there is more to come : )

6 boys under 4

I love being around my sisters. I only have one that is here in UT - Celeste, my lifesaver. She is usually able to help me with the boys and I honestly don't know what I'd do without her. My younger sister Jessica lives in AZ, but is able to spend her summer up here while her husband is off for the summer. I am so glad. My older sister lives in Albuquerque. I really miss having her near, but her family have been great troopers to make the 10 hour drive with two young boys at least 4 times this year already. We have a lot of fun together. It is kinda interesting that we all have boys (the race is on to get the first girl). I love my sisters so much and am so thankful for the wonderful influence they are in my life.

Hoogle Zoo

What a fun day we had. It started nice and early as we tried to beat the heat by getting to the zoo early in the morning. We were sure glad when it was so hot as we were leaving a little after noontime. We spent the rest of the day and evening visiting my older sister Kasandra in her other-in-law's home. Karen is so welcoming it felt just like home. We ate delicious shish-kabobs and hung out. It was a great day. The only thing that was a bummer was Kyle couldn't be with us. He was busy with work and school. We sure missed him though. Here are some pictures from out fun day.

Kekoa, the little stinker, wouldn't take a picture with me. I had to try and hang on to him as my sister snapped a quick one.

Here is a fun one with the rhino. I love it because you see all three of the boys (barely).

Kekoa was so excited to ride the carousel. He was very upset however to not have his zebra to ride. This was the closest thing to it we could find in round one - a okapi. He was no fool though. We had to do a second round to fulfill his life long dream of riding a zebra.

My favorite picture of the day. Sepa loved looking around at everything. And when he couldn't take it any longer he knocked out for a little siesta. Cute boy.

Sepa - 5 months (June 21, 2008)

I keep forgetting to post this picture. I did take it on the day he turned 5 months. Again - not so easy to do the picture in the teacup. Next month should better. Sepa is doing well - Yesterday he rolled over for the first time. Too bad I missed it because I was helping Kekoa pick up his toys. I laid Sepa on his back on the floor and when I turned back around he was on his tummy. I did see him do it later on in the day though. Another cute thing was he held on to my arm for the first time. I went to pick him up - he was so excited to see me - and he grabbed on to my left arm with his whole arm. The little squeeze was so cute. I love him - he is growing well.
Here are a couple others . . .

Call It Courage

Early one morning last week Kekoa let me know he was ready to do some pictures in my studio of his "daddy-dance" costumes (which are like the ones Kyle has for his Polynesian dancing). I do not get a whole lot of cooperation when it comes to pictures - so I jumped on this opportunity. It was so fun to dress him and do pictures. He put his costume bag in his room and had to change away from the studio (just like Kyle changes in separate room during a show). There were a couple times I had to remind Kekoa that Daddy did it a certain way and he was very willing. I had a blast and here is one of the pictures I was able to create. I found the tapa cloth picture online - it is from a book called Call It Courage. I thought it was perfect for Kekoa, my courageous one. I gave it to Kyle as a late father's day present. I am thinking about printing a canvas of it. . .
~m

tagged

attached or single: you could argue attached at the hip - I do count downs everyday to when Kyle comes home
best friend: Kyle
cake or pie: a little bit of both please
day of choice: any day we spend as a family
essential item: flat iorn - I really don't like my slight natural curl
favorite color: Blue and Brown
gummy bears or worms: either - the best is with a little Li Hing Mui
hometown: Ganado, Arizona
indulgence: chocolate, ice cream and my 24'' MAC
january or july: not a big fan of either - too cold and too hot - but my sweet Sepa was born in January
k ids: three sweet boys
l ife is incomplete without: my family - they give me purpose and joy
marriage date: August 29, 2003
number of siblings: three sisters and three brothers, including my twin brother
oranges or apples: gala apples, love the crunch
phobias or fears: not being prepared for a disaster
quote: Our family scripture - "But ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another." - Mosiah 4:15
Kekoa almost has it memorized.
reason to smile: the smiles of my little ones
something new: hmmm... need something new cause I can't think of anything...
tag: Sarah P, Jess T and Kyle
unknown fact about me: I only have 2/3 left of my left knee cap - gross huh?
vegetarian or oppressor of animal: meat, meat, meat
worst habit: my slight pack-rat tendency (I am getting a whole lot better though)
xrays or ultrasounds: ultrasounds - three times seeing for myself that it was a boy before the technician told me.
your favorite food: love chicken katsu and curry
zodiac: Pisces

Mommy Playtime

The other day Kekoa asked to play with some playdough. With my efforts to encourage creative play, I was happy to get it out for him. I was about to do the usual thing of clearing their table, plopping dough and a dull butter knife down, and then rushing off to use the free moment to get something done. But this time I decided to sit down and play with them. It was fun and I felt like they got more out of the activity as we talked about shapes and created a cute horse. I asked Kekoa what we needed to build it and he gave me instructions for 4 legs, a head, a tail and 2 ears (and even a saddle). It was a lot of fun and though my dishes were still waiting in the sink- I decided I need to do that more often.
m

Everyone Loves Daddy

I was busy last night catching up on the blog from Ikaika's birthday that I didn't get a chance to post my Father's Day thought.
I am so thankful for the wonderful Father of my children - I could not ask for anyone better. The boys love him so much. I often think of how blessed they are to have such a involved, loving father.
Since pictures are more fun and telling, I thought I'd just post a few pictures of Daddy and his boys : )

Here is a fun picture of Kyle and the boys on Ikaika's birthday (my nephew Kono is also in the picture). I love the silly face Kyle is making - most people know Kyle's great sense of humor. That fun side of him is partly what makes him such a great father.


Kyle always takes time to get outside and play with the boys - even when he has a plate that is overflowing.

Superman Daddy - the boys love to be carried across the floor hanging on to his legs. I don't know what we will do when Sepa gets big enough to want to join in.

A couple fun ones from my studio.

We love Daddy!

FATHER'S DAY LOVE

I awoke this morning to the smell of a wonderful breakfast in bed. Michele let me sleep in after I stayed up till 2:00am working on homework. She and Kekoa brought me breakfast on a nice little tray and Kekoa once again said, "Happy Easters." (For anyone who saw Nacho Libre, that was pretty funny). He said that phrase to Michele on Mother's Day as well. I love it. Michele hooked me up with a nice little Polynesian breakfast of rice, eggs, and spam. She sliced some peaches and had my non-fat milk on the side. It was perfect. I devoured the food and fell back asleep (and then had the wierdest nightmares about moving to Arizona to the land of snakes). After a long morning, teaching at church and keeping up with our three little tornados, Michele made one of my favorite dinners....baked rice and chicken (Colombian style). She did so much to show me her love today. Thank you Michele for a wonderful Father's Day. I felt loved and valued as a husband and father. Every day in the Reyes home feels like Father's Day.

K