Happy Thanksgiving

This year, we spent Thanksgiving down with my family in Arizona.  It was a long 8 hour drive with Ka'imi sick and throwing up, but we made it.  We loved the time we had to spend there with all my family.  Unplanned, but happily, all 6 of my siblings were there at my mom's house.  There was a lot of food, kids and fun packed into a small space - it was great.  The boys had a blast playing outside with their cousins. 
We have a lot to be grateful for as a family: health, our needs met, love within our family, and a new baby brother in a few months.  We know our blessings come from a loving Heavenly Father and we hope to always recognize and give thanks for those blessings :)

Leaves

Fall was way to short this year.  On this day we went out to enjoy good weather knowing that a cold front was coming it.  The boys rode their scooters, played in the leaves and took turns riding with Uncle Uwe on his quad he had brought to the house. I love taking pictures with kids and fall leaves, they seem to just go together like peanut butter and jelly :)

Happy Halloween

The boys have been looking forward to Halloween for so long and they were so excited it was finally here. While Koa went to school in his costume, I took the other kids to UVU to visit Daddy and some of his co-workers.  I really just wanted to show-off how darn cute Ka'imi was.  She was the most adorable ladybug ever.

I am happy to say that I made her cute polka dot shirt and shoes.  I pulled the rest together from here and there.

And here the three of them are - as we left to UVU.  Sepa is such a cheese-ball : )

For the real trick-or-treating, we took the kiddos out before the sunset and it was beautiful weather - hooray a year without freezing!  We just did a couple streets and decided they had enough candy.  Here are pics of the darlings :)

And to get ready for the holiday - some of the other projects we did included carving our pumpkin and creating a haunted gingerbread house.

Thanks to Aunty Celeste who did the terribly tedious task of putting the house together so we could decorate it.

I love Ka'imi's expression here.  Even with her wild hair, she looks darling.
It was a great Halloween - we are so excited for the rest of the upcoming holidays  :)

Pigtails : )

I need to do better at posting just a bit more of the everyday before I forget it all . . .

So here are some pics of Ka'imi sporting her hair style of late, pigtails.  I love how cute it makes her.  Her hair looks so long when it is tied back.  And her short hair in the front style into perfect side-swept bangs.  I have put her hair in pigtails myself a couple times (How?  By saying, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, until I get it somehow), but it is not the easiest thing for me.  So, who is her master stylist? None other than her uncle, Uwe : )  He often fixes her hair right before leaving for work in the morning.  He is very gentle and meticulous in getting it done just right.  Ka'imi has gotten use to the routine and this morning even handed him the water-spray as she sat down.  This little girl, at 19 1/2 months continues to charm us all : )

Koa's Birthday Bash

This year, we kept things simple for Kekoa's birthday.  He got to invite three friends (sadly only one came - Fall break was to blame) and we went to Pizza Pie Cafe and to a dollar movie to watch Cars 2.  We used some coupons that Kekoa earned from school to get the kids fed (Kyle joked that Kekoa earned his own party). I think Kekoa enjoyed himself and the presents he got : )

He was so excited to get this Ninjego book that he had been eying at the book fair.  I told him we could only get one book and he choose a Cars 2 book.  But after I sent him to class I went back and got him the Ninjego book as well.  It reminded me of something my mother would have done for us as kids.

I love my oldest baby boy.  I can't believe he is already seven!

We sang to him again at night with Grandma and Grandpa Reyes who were visiting for the week.  Not the most impressive cake, but at least it was low stress for me :) 

Happy Birthday Kekoa! Your family loves you so, so much : )

Comin' Up

Kekoa has been so excited for his birthday.  Though today he came home brokenhearted that his best friend in his class is going out of town for 10 days.  The disadvantage of having Fall Break right around your birthday.  I promised him it would still be fun and we'd take him and his friend, Kyle another time.  Can't believe my oldest is turning seven!

Fall Foto

I have not gotten a picture of these four kiddos all together like this since February.  Long over due.  I was doing some pictures for a friend of mine and decided to just snap one of them together.  Well, by this time Ka'imi had decided on her newest best friend (my friend, Katie) and was devestaed to leave her side.  So, this was the best picture we could get of them.  I love the realness of it all with her crying and Sepa in his snowboots.  Yes, he has worn them from time to time all summer long - sometimes you're just happy a kid has shoes.  Ikaika is also very real with his attire.  He's the third hand-me-down for those worn out shoes, but he loves them. Regardless of our lack of style, I love this picture because it is of my four darlings I love so much.

General Conference

I always love Conference weekend.  I have to confess a lot of it has to do with just being able to be home with Kyle and the kids.  But I especially love the inspiration and spiritual rejuvenation that comes with the various talks.  And this conference did not disappoint.  There were thoughts and even whole talks that felt relative and so meaningful to the questions and concerns of my life.
The most memorable moment was undoubtedly the moment of the announcement of the Provo Tabernacle to rebuilt and turned into a temple.  I don't think I ever blogged about it (maybe??), but the both Kyle and I were devastated at the fire that destroyed the tabernacle.  It was where we attended stake conference from the time we were first married.  Kyle even gave a talk in Stake Conference a couple weeks after Kekoa was born.
When I heard President Monson announce that it would be Provo's second temple I couldn't help but get emotional.  I always knew the church would rebuild it - how could they not restore such a historic place.  But I never imagined a temple.  To me it was a perfect example of how Heavenly Father can take a tragedy, trial or weakness and make something more - something beautiful and amazing.
We were also excited to hear that Kyle's mission, Barranquilla, Colombia will also be getting a temple.
What a happy, happy day : )

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 :)