Ammon's Preschool Program May 2009

Ammon's preschool had an end of the year/Mother's Day program at school. I always thought Ammon was an over active kids until this program. I notice that Ammon was about as crazy as the rest of the kids. It's always nice to know your kids isn't the only one (even when it feels like he is). I was so proud of him, he remembered his lines and sang the songs (most of the time :))

I love being a mom!!

Mexico and the Orphanage April 14-19, 2009

Well this last spring break Paul, Emma, Jacob and I headed down to La Mission in Mexico with a Child's Hope Foundation to work for 4 days at an orphanage. The experience was awesome, Paul and I worked at the new nursery being built, we mix cement, plaster and mortar for the workers. I even got to plaster some of the walls, worked on rebar and I also got to lay mason stone. It was great to feel so useful and helpful. We slept in bunk houses with our family and other families as well. (Well we kind of got stuck in the teenage and preteenage boy room, boys are kind of stinky). Every night we had a large bon fire to have kind of fireside with all the families and talk about our experiences of the day and the things we were learning. It a was great to have this time to reflect on our lives and how much we are blessed to have families. I discovered on this trip that we don't need very much to be happy and that we are extremely blessed and that we need to give more for other to have better lives.

Jacob was usually right by our side the entire time trying to get in on the action of building a building. It was difficult work and usually we had him help out with running things around for us. He did slip away to play soccer or basketball with the orphan boys.

Emma spent her entire time playing with the little girls, especially the one who were about two years old and younger. She wants a little sister so bad!! She asked many times while we were there if we could bring one of the little girls home with us. We were wishing we could of.

I did finally brave a visit to the nursery, I had been trying to avoid seeing the little babies. I was afraid of how I was going to feel seeing these little innocent babies with no mommy to love them like I loved my babies. I finally worked up enough courage (and a little prompting from Paul) and made my way down to the nursery. I was able to hold and play with each one of them. They ranged in age from 4 months to almost 2. When I finally left the nursery I went back to my bunk and cried for a while. It is a very strange feeling holding a child who you know has no one to be thier parent and find yourself thinking "why not me, why can't I just take them". Trust me, if the Mexican Government would allow the adoptions to Americans I would have been going home with a little girl. I prayed alot on that trip for strenghth through the emotional ups and downs. It was an eye opening and inspirational trip, one that I want to repeat again and again. Sometimes doing the hard things are worth every minute of the pain and joy.

WE all loved our trip there and we are planning on going in the fall again with the kids. Both Emma and Jacob ask all the time when are we going back... I can't wait until the other kids get old enough to go too.

By the way Paul and I were horrible at taking pictures so we asked a friend of ours to go take some pictures for us, these were kind of all we ended up with....I promise when we go in the fall we will be better at getting pictures of the all the kids.

Emma's a Tenth March 3, 2009

Emma had a great day on her birthday. She had a great time with friends swimming and having an indoor beach party. She is such a wonderful little lady, we are so proud of her and who she has turned out to be. I love you Emma. I remember the day we brought you home and we sat up all night watching you sleep in your car seat, we didn't want to wake you by taking you out. You have been a great blessing in our lives and I thank God everyday for you. Happy Birthday!!

Oh Man Am I Lame!!!

Okay, I know I have not posted in like FOREVER!!!! 6 months, YIKES!!!

So tomorrow I am hoping to post some pics and update everyone on what's up with the Magnificent Seven!!! I have a lot of catching up to do. :/

Great Mommy Song

I was sent this video and I had to share it with all the moms.

The Mighty (Bat Boy) Isaiah!!!

I know It's a little late...but better late than never...right? Well anyway, Isaiah turned 3 and was very excited to celebrate his birthday for 3 days. We were gone for his actual birthday day, so he receive happy birthday greetings from his siblings and Nanna. On Sunday everyone in the extended family sang happy birthday and he got some cake. When we returned on Monday from our trip we had a proper birthday party with cake/candles and presents. Wahooo! Great Day For Our Sweet Little Isaiah!!!

Kauai Highlights

The Powerline Trail had great views but was very hot to hike, it was up in the mountains and too far from the beach to get a decent trade wind. Plus the sound of, not too distant, gun shots made us a little nervous, there were hunters up there getting boar.
'Opaeka'a Falls and the Wailua River, were very pretty. The falls were inaccessible from the bottom (somethings about death or getting severely hurt kept us from trying).:

We hiked to a little falls, I don't know the name of it but it was a great little hike and a very beautiful place to just hangout.


We headed up to the north shore to go to Queen's Bath to enjoy a little dip in a beautiful tide pool, but the waves were a little too ferocious. We sat and enjoyed the power of the waves and watched sea turtles feeding in the surf. On the hike down to the beach there is nice little waterfall as well.

And we of course visited the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific", Wiamea Canyon. I was amazed at how huge it is. We also took a hike along the ridge of the Napali coast line on the Pihea Trail. (Great views everywhere we went)

We were able to get up and watch the sunrise over the ocean every morning (well, we may have missed a couple of mornings).

That was our trip in a nutshell, most importantly we were able to relax and take everything at our own pace.

Much love to you and

Aloha!!