Kalena Plays a Sport?!

We have given our children the option to play at least one sport and one musical instrument. Kalena has never been into sports of any kind. She loves to swim and we tried to get her to swim competitively, but she didn't like it. Swimming is for fun!

She absolutely refuses to play basketball, so we told her she would have to golf. She DID NOT want to golf, so one of her friends told her to come and play tennis. When she came home and told me, I am sure my jaw dropped. I was so shocked to hear tennis because she has never touched a tennis racquet in her life! She did though, she went to the summer practices and enjoyed going.

I was ecstatic that she had found something she enjoyed doing besides reading a book all day huddled on her bed.

Then she got her uniform and her perspective changed. She doesn't wear tank tops and especially doesn't do short skirts! She was so mad, she threw the uniform in the car and didn't touch it for days until I made her retrieve it. I talked with her about it and told her to ask her coach if she could wear basketball shorts instead. She did, and came back disappointed that she couldn't.

The first time she put her uniform on, I loved it!!! She looked like a cute, tennis girl. She just snarled at me. I told her to just take a change of clothes for after her matches and she could change as soon as she was done playing. The coaches even said they couldn't believe how fast she could change clothes. She was like "The Flash." She make me laugh!

She did end up loving tennis and is taking lessons and continues to enjoy it. She hates playing with me because she can't beat me. I have had to stop playing her and just help by feeding balls to her. Anyway, I am glad she had fun and enjoys at least one sport!

Tunoa's 7yrs Old

I can't believe how fast time goes by. This kid is still tiny to me, but is growing up so quickly! We all can tell he is the last child because he definitely gets away with more than the rest of them do (well, at least him and Leilani do).

We took him out of school to go to lunch. We went to Wendy's and then to the store to pick out his gift. He decided this year he wanted to get Black Panther costumes (yes, 2) and uses parts from each of them. Tunoa also chose to have the same cake, raspberry chocolate, as Maika. He loves the cake part, but not the frosting and Leilani loves the frosting and not the cake part. So, they got to eat what the other didn't want to eat.

This kid drives me crazy with his energy. He is always going and never stops! I feel sorry for his teachers. I try to get him to sit still to read and focus, but he CANNOT do it! There is always some part of his little body that is moving. Tunoa love to play with swords and guns. He absolutely enjoys the Xbox. He still loves to sit on my lap at church and at home. I love his tight, squeezy hugs! He drives everyone crazy, but also gets them riled up to play as well. Kalena loves her little brother and tries to get him to sit by her on Sundays, but he won't have it most of the time. He also pouts a lot about everything. He doesn't like to be corrected or scolded in any manner. When he is happy, he is great to help out and lend a hand. But beware of his switch, DO NOT flip it!

My mom sent him a set of yard turtle ornaments. His reaction was priceless. He opened the box and said, "Why did she send me turtles?" I just chuckled and told him that we needed to call her and say thanks. When I told mom his reaction, her response was that she thought he liked that kind of stuff...Oh, my dear mother!

I absolutely love that this kid has always gotten excited for his birthdays! Yes, even his first birthday he was excited about it and it has continued every year since. I better not ever disappoint this child on his special day.

Poison What?!

NOT ONLY do we have to deal with ticks on a constant basis out here, we have to really watch for those poisonous plants. I didn't really think anything of it until this happened to the two littles, Leilani and Tunoa.

I first noticed the afternoon that we took all of the kids to the tennis courts to play tennis and pickle ball. Leilani and Tunoa decided to play with sticks and walked down through the weeds where there was apparently poison ivy/poison oak (not sure which one). When I first saw him scratching his face and his arms I thought it might be chicken pox because they can still have an outbreak if given the vaccine, but not a very bad case. I gave him some Benadryl and told him to go shower. Later, I texted pictures to my mom and sisters asking them if they thought it might be chicken pox. I also texted Kami, a nurse, to get her opinion. I decided to wait until the next morning to take him into the doctors office (because that is what mothers do). We wait to see what will happen, worse or subside. Well, it got worse. These pictures were only the beginning. He had to be put on a steroid and had to get calamine lotion. Leilani ended getting it on her tummy pretty bad. I thought it would scar them both. I actually kept Tunoa home from school because his face looked so bad, I didn't want other kids to freak out!

Needless to say, we have become more aware of not only ticks, but poison ivy and oak. These are the joys of living in Pittsburgh. It is right in your back yard.

Not Quite a Teen, Tula’i is 12

This boy is going to break hearts with his big brown eyes!!! This guy would play Xbox forever if we would let him. He is not quite as tall as I am, yet. He will be there quickly, though. He AMAZES me with his athleticism. He has reflexes like a cat and is very quick! One of the boys in his grade was even talking about him to his own mother on the way to a tennis match. He farts a lot (it usually smells really bad and can clear the room real fast). He loves to give his momma hugs! I love it, most of the time. He loves his sleep & hates sharing a room because Maika’s breathing wakes him up.

The day started off with me teaching step aerobics at the YMCA. Then we had to go to the school orientation for the middle school kids. Afterward, we went and watched “Angry Birds 2.” I got a decent nap and saw the beginning and end. When we came home, they played Xbox for a while. He requested Taco Salad for his dinner and chocolate molten lava cakes. Luckily, this year his birthday was before school started! Poor kid always has his birthday either the first or second day of school. Although, Kalena had school orientation that night as well. We walked through it pretty fast, then left and had  his dessert.

Not once did he complain either about life happening on his birthday. There are just some things you can’t control.

Leonardo DaVinci

I bought a year pass (with someone else in the ward and really not worth the money)  to the Pittsburgh Carnegie Science Center. It is one of those things that doesn't really change. So, if you have been once, you don't need to go again.

The one cool thing they do have is an exhibit that changes throughout the year. Even though you are a member, you pay to get in at a highly discounted rate. The one I wanted to go to was the Leonardo DaVinci exhibit.

While Cliff and I were walking around, reading about his artwork and a few of his inventions the kids were at the interactive stations trying things out. They were at this take flight one for a while. When they were done and I got there, some of them came back and rejoined me and made more paper helicopters.

Another interactive station was drawing/stamping a face, like DaVinci's Mona Lisa. They were all silly and just had fun, knowing that they would not get a good result with any of it. Because let's just face the facts, we are no DaVinci's around here.

Another station was trying to move rings from one peg to another with the biggest one being on the bottom at the beginning and at the end. They tried to have a race with this one and I don't know who had the best time on it. But, Cliff had to really concentrate to get the job done.

Maika putting together a bridge contraption that DaVinci had put together. 

I couldn't believe the inventions that this man came up with: tanks and canons for warfare, flying contraptions, building underground sewage systems, bridges, etc. He journaled all of it-- things that worked, things that didn't work, how he could improve his inventions...AMAZING!!! The one thing that struck me more was that Leonardo did ALL of this so he could support what he really LOVED to do...PAINT! 

Let the Birthdays Begin

I absolutely LOVE these two boys of mine. Maika’s birthday, of course, is first. He chose to go to Top Golf. Did we ever make it? No and he had the best attitude about it! We were going to take him, but before headed to Top Golf, we had to stop and visit a couple who had just given birth the previous day. Their baby ended up in ICU with a collapsed lung. Not all of us could go in, so we decided to sit out in the lobby and wait. The waiting was finally too long, so we left. As we drove out of the parking lot, Adam Hansen called asking where we were. He wanted Cliff to help with a blessing for the baby, Wesley. We dropped Cliff off at some of the doors and drove to some random street to wait to pick him up. By the time we were done at the hospital, it was too late to go to Top Golf. We decided to take him out for lunch of his choice. He wanted Red Robin. We didn’t even have enough time for that, so we ordered take out. Not once did he complain about any of it. He did discover that the Mad Love burger is really yummy (and this is what he orders now).

We went home and let them play Xbox. That is the kids desire very birthday. One day they will realize there is more to life than video games...OR maybe not and it is just a wish of mine.

He requested a raspberry, chocolate, layered cake. As soon as we got home, that is what I had to make, along with dinner (Kalua pork).

Traits of Maika: He is taller than Kalena and myself, putting him around 5’8” tall, his voice is always cracking (he hates it, but is able to laugh about it), he has a hideous mustache and refuses to shave it, he has a soft heart, likes to hang out with his sisters (and brothers, but I am astonished about his sisters), he usually does what he is asked to do without complaint or argument (unless he is tired), he is just a good kid.

Back West Part 4: Kalena off to EFY

We went to church in the Lindon 16th ward and I miss everyone there a ton!!! We were able to spend dinner the Eastman's and boy it was nice to sit and catch up with them. We stayed into the late evening and it was so relaxing. The kids had a blast hurting each while playing red rover, the first time ever that my children were introduced to the game. the little kids were getting killed by the older ones, but they tried to hold on tight and not let anyone pass.

The next morning, we dropped Kalena off at Especially for Youth (EFY). She was so excited and anxious. I was excited for her!!! We met her roommate in the elevator on the way up to the room. The conversation went as follows:

Roommate: Hello, my name is Liz. What's yours?
Kalena: Kalena
awkward silence for about 5 LONG seconds (I almost stepped in and asked the other girl in the elevator what her name was and where they were from, but decided not to because this is her time)
Kalena: So, what is your name?
And, all was well...

Kalena did know how to talk and make conversation with someone else. It may have taken AWKWARD SILENCE, but she CAN do it! After dropping her off in her room, I got a picture of them together, and a hug and kiss good-bye from Kalena and left. She was off on an adventure that she would cherish for the rest of her life.

She would text and call us on her free time while her friends were hanging out, to make sure we knew she was doing well. One day, I remember asking her if she didn't have anyone to hang out with. Her answer was this, "I do, but I wanted to call and talk to you guys first." What a sweet child! I told her she could get off the phone and go hang out and that was all it took.

Back West: Part 3

The kids were excited to hang out with their cousins. We got in on the Friday night and dropped our bags off at the "Snake Pit" loft that Jamie and Ryan Gardner so graciously let us stay in the whole week. It was so nice not staying with anybody else. The reason being that we were able to chillax when we wanted, just our family after being with everyone else during the day.

Early Saturday morning, I was so excited to golf with Cliff at the Cedar Hills golf course. Jethro and Bernard came with us as well. Cliff and I challenged them when we got to the last 5 holes and made it more fun. Cliff and I took it on the last 2 holes because he upped the ante.

Later in the day, we went swimming at the Lindon pools per request of the kids. And we stayed for a good 4 hours there. By the time we left they were exhausted and hungry. All the cousins came to hang out as well. It was a beautiful day to swim and really nice that I didn't have to worry and be in the water the whole time because Tunoa can now reach the bottom and is getting better at swimming
I was excited to golf with Cliff and go to the temple. I miss having the temple within 10 minutes from where we live. So, I take advantage of it and attend at least 2-3 times while in Utah.

Leilani LOVES to hang out with her cousins...Camilla and Evalani are her favorites on Cliff's side of the family. So, favorite cousins + swimming = Very Happy Child

 Little Miss Talia was done and ready to go. Her trying to stay warm after getting out of the water.

 They weren't happy to be done, but Mom was and sure ready to go relax. What was for dinner this night? PIZZA!

 

Back West Part 2: Delicate Arch

On the way back from Colorado, I decided to take the kids on a hike to see the Delicate Arch in Moab. We left early enough to get to the hike around noon, the hottest time of the day. Everyone had their own bottle of water for the hike. Just an FYI, it wasn't enough for how hot it was.

This is beginning of the journey, smiles and excitement on their faces. I didn't think it would take as long as it said it would, but I was COMPLETELY wrong!

 At the bottom of the trail before getting onto the sandstone path up the red rocks. Still smiling!

The blue sky with clouds against the rock, so beautiful! Maika waving hello as the hike is still at the beginning.

As we continued the hike, it just got hotter and hotter. I would take their bottles of water and pour some onto the nape of their neck which allowed them to cool off a little bit with a slightly wet shirt. Leilani didn't have her hair pulled up, which made it even worse. We stopped a few times to let them rest. Leilani was in tears because she didn't want to finish the hike.

Once again me being the wonderful Mother I am, pushed her as she walked very slowly. The rest of the kids were still good.

Tunoa was pretty hot at this time, but he still was going like the energizer bunny. Kalena still had a smile on her face, the other boys were all good, Leilani was miserable at this time. She didn't want to smile for nothing, so her pictures are grumpy cat pictures.

The last picture before we make the journey the rest of the way. At this point, I told them we must be almost there. Once again, I was COMPLETELY wrong! It took another 25 to 30 minutes. Had I known the truth and been able to tell them, I don't think any of them would have wanted to keep going.

Just before getting to the end of the hike, Kalena and Leilani decided that they weren't feeling very well. So, the boys and myself ended the journey and saw the beauty of the arch. Even smiles on their faces!

After seeing the beauty and feeling the wonderful breeze, I walked back down to where the girls were and helped them finish the hike. All reunited with smiles on all of their faces! The journey of "Mom, I don't want to do this," while shedding tears and offering to them that they can stay put while the rest of us finished became one of joy and beauty!

After all of us finished the hike up, a few of them had to go to the arch and take pictures next to it. Of course, the girls were all for that one! The grand creations of our Heavenly Father, beauty is all around us!

After spending about 30 minutes up there, we headed back down with a skip and jump in their step. What a glorious day and a huge accomplishment for the kids!

Kalena and Leilani held hands the whole way down. I thought it was so cute how big sister takes little sister under her wings and makes sure she is ok the trip back.

Back at the beginning, filling up all of the water bottles to get re-hydrated. Just like there were smiles on their faces at the beginning, there were smiles at the end! 

Now it was time to get to Subway to fill those bellies and finish the drive to Utah Valley. My heart was proud of those kids. They accomplished something that was very hard for them! What a day and after their bellies were full, they slept almost the whole way back!