Pretty in pink . . . polish

A fun milestone - Ka'imi and I had our first little fingernail polish party.  I think it is funny that it took longer to polish her nails than it did to pierce her ears.  Oh well.  But she was excited - a bit nervous because of the smell.  I cherish the fact that I have a little girl to do fun things like this with.  It has only just begun : )

Ikaika Loves Grandma

My mom was out visiting us while Kyle was gone to Hawaii for his family vacation.  It was nice to have her here to distract us from missing Kyle.  Yesterday she had to head home because she needed to get back to work.  Here was a picture I printed on a huge canvas for her to hang in her office.  I wanted her to have something to look at to cheer her up if she had any bad days.  We all love grandma, but Ikaika has a special place in his heart for her.

Happy Birthday Ikaika!

 Today was my sweet Ikaika's birthday : )

 

 He requested a carrot cake.  Though it was not decorated more than some sprinkles, it was super yummy.

 

And my big surprise for the day - homemade Angry Bird toys :)  We will be using them on Saturday for the party he is having.  I stayed up late working on them so he wouldn't know about it.  I think it was a good sign, when he took them up to bed with him at bedtime.  He loved them and I felt like super mom : )
We also took him to get frozen yogurt ( I forgot to take a picture there), and made him his favorite dinner - Char Su. We look forward to the official party on Saturday with his cousin Kaipo (who is turning 3 in a couple weeks).  I love drawn out celebrations - a day goes by way to fast : )

Finishing First Grade

 With the last day of school, summer vacation has officially begun!  I can't believe how fast the school year went.  Kekoa had a wonderful year with a wonderful teacher.  In fact, as he got off the bus after school I met him outside to congratulate him for officially becoming a 2nd-grader.  I asked him what his favorite part of first grade was.  He said in a choked up voice, "Mrs. Hulme.  I am really going to miss her."  I am so thankful for such a wonderful teacher who helped Kekoa feel loved and know that learning is a wonderful thing.  I still remember attending a parent-teacher conference and after giving Kekoa lots of praise saying that what we need for Kekoa was deeper and wider.  She knew he has great potential.  We are so proud of Kekoa and excited for his lifetime of learning. 

 Here is a art project Kekoa brought home one day that I never blogged.

End of Soccer 2012

Today was Kekoa's last soccer game.  It was a beautiful day and we had lots of fun watching Kekoa play with such love for the sport (and score a few goals).  It has been so fun to see him find something he enjoys so much.  And I am thrilled it is something outdoors that keeps him active.  It seriously is his life right now.  He slept with two mini soccer goals, his cleats, shin guards, several soccer balls and his uniform all tucked at the foot of his bed for months.  I finally cleared out a drawer for him to keep some of his things in.  I sincerely hope his love continues.  Here are some shots we took during the game as well as a team picture.  Maybe one day this will be seen as the beginning of a great soccer player: )

 

Go Kekoa!

Mother's Day

I love being a mother.  I have my husband to thank for his support and love.  My mom to thank for her wonderful example of what a mother should be.  I truly have had joy and rejoicing in my children.  Love you Kekoa, Ikaika, Iosepa, Ka'imi and Akoni.

It's Pary Time!!!

We had Kyle's graduation part today.  We held nothing back and invited all our friends and family.  My mom was amazing and did an incredible amount of food for the Navajo Tacos we served.  The weather was a bit chilly, but we still enjoyed ourselves.  Amidst all the chatting and working, I never pulled out my camera except after everyone left.  Here is my instagram shot.  I like the old school feel of it :) Love our little family.  I made the kids t-shirts that said, "Dr. Daddy Fan Club."  We wanted everyone to know just how proud we were of Kyle :)

After the clean up, my mom and sister, Jessica went up to Salt Lake to meet my oldest sister, Kasandra.  She had flown into town to attend her sister-in-law's endowment session.  Only 8 hours in UT, we were so glad we could visit for a bit and let the newest cousins meet : )

Graduation

I am exhausted - but so happy.  Today was a wonderful day.  Two graduation ceremonies keeping a 3-month old happy. Whew.  But we decided to save ourselves a headache and leave the rest of the kids at home.  We'll show them pictures instead.  Now on to preparations for the big party.

Kyle was selected to give the student graduation speech for the school of Ed. Here's his great speech :)

Checking Our Lenses
College of Education Graduation Speech
Kyle A. Reyes

Ladies and Gentlemen, Aloha.

After the first year of study in my doctoral program (nearly four years ago), it

was glaringly clear that I needed glasses. I noticed that the volume and depth of

required reading was more than my eyes had been used to and headaches were

becoming frequent and intense. I received an eye examination and subsequently,

my first pair of glasses. I still remember the first time I put them on. I was

captivated by the clarity of the world around me and felt empowered with this new

expansion of ability and vision.

About four months ago, as I was putting the finishing touches on my

dissertation, I realized that headaches were returning and that I could not see

things quite as easily again. I returned to the eye doctor to find out that my

eyesight had been shifting and that same day, I received new lenses and once again,

experienced a dramatic shift of clarity.

There is no question that these lenses [pointing to my glasses] have affected

every aspect of my visual life, however, these tangible pieces of plastic have not

been the most significant lenses I have received over the past five years. Thanks to

rigorous readings, robust classroom discussions, and most importantly, Socratic

faculty members, I have had to check and re-check my lenses on numerous

occasions. These lens-check moments have collectively built clarity of perspective

and vision about my role as an educator and lifelong learner. Allow me to explain.

For the majority of my nine-year career as a staff member, adjunct professor,

and administrator in higher education, I have focused on the development of

services and programs that create access and opportunity for underrepresented

students and communities. Fortunately, the bulk of my years as an educator have

run parallel with my enrollment here as a doctoral student. From my first classes

with Dr. Amy Bergerson and Dr. Enrique Alemán, and in nearly every class that

followed, I learned to check my lenses and in turn, invited others to do the same.

Through research of asset-based educational approaches, culturally relevant and

responsible pedagogy, and critical policy analysis, I have had the wonderful

opportunity to put into practice a host of initiatives focused on student inclusion,

access, and opportunity. Many of the decisions I have made have been influenced

by information I have gleaned from readings, classroom dialogue, professors’

insights, and reflective journal entries. Much of my professional success can be

attributed to the wonderful research, teachings, and influence of professors and

peers in this College of Education.  

But perhaps the most poignant lesson I took from this experience was the

way my professors and classmates engaged me to check my lenses daily. Their

passion, experiences, and stories helped me clarify my professional goals and the

arc of my life pursuits—that is, to invite those within my sphere of influence to

check their lenses and to seek the improvement of educational conditions and

outcomes for historically marginalized populations. In this context, lens checking

refers to being honest with ourselves about the assumptions, biases, privileges,

prejudices, and convictions that we bring to the table. This is not a one-time event

but rather an ongoing journey. Our eyes and perspectives shift and often, we do

not even realize that we have, once again, been viewing certain populations

through murky or deficit glasses.

As an educator committed to quality opportunities for all students, I must

confess that I am simultaneously discouraged and hopeful as I look to the future.

My discouragement stems from both a general sense of societal apathy towards

building inclusive educational institutions as well as the prevailing and growing

educational opportunity gaps. However, when I see this graduating class, I feel a

great sense of hope. I am hopeful because of the graduates who will enter

classrooms and establish an asset-based culture of achievement for all students. I

am hopeful because of those who will counsel with students and families to work

through hardships and challenges of educational navigation. I am hopeful for the

graduates who will actively advocate for greater critical understanding of our social

and civil contract as participants in a broad community. I am hopeful because of

graduates who will be educational leaders and administrators who are committed to

inclusion and diversity.

As my current boss and mentor has said many times, “I can think of nothing

more noble or enriching than the profession of being an educator.” My mother

and my mother-in-law, both of whom are here today, have spent their careers as

educators in Los Angeles and the Navajo Nation respectively. The legacy these

women have built over the years has influenced the conversations I have with my

wife regarding our sense of responsibility to reframe or rescript what society has

projected about our indigenous and Pacific Islander communities.

If, in our capacities as educators, we do not constantly check our lenses, and

become champions of opportunity for ALL students, I argue that our education

will have been a waste. I hope that you will not let it go to waste but that you will

have the courage to continually educate and be educated. Thank you. 

At the main graduation ceremony.

Announcing . . .

When I imagined creating this card, I envisioned each of us doing the "toyota jump."  This was what actually materialized.  I think it turned out pretty darn cute.  We couldn't be happier to tell all our friends and family the great news :)  And the wording on the card was all Kyle - love it.