January Wrap-up

January is quickly coming to an end and before it does I thought I better do some recording. As a family I think we are looking forward to this new year. We're not much for setting new years resolutions but it is a good time to evaluate where we are and check on our goals for where we want to be going. So that is what we have been trying to do. We hope for good health, new opportunities, and time with those who enrich our lives.

So here is how we've each started off the year so far:

Rori is RUNNING all over the place. Her current favorite activities include gathering all of her days treasures by the back door, playing with the kitchen that Santa left for both kids for Christmas, taking out all the tupperware, and attempting to throw anything she can find in the toilet- so far we've just lost 1 baby doll and Kai's PJ's to the bowl. She's using a few words more often these days-like hi, Mama, DaDa, "Ka" (Kai), Uh Oh, Wa Ta (water), Shew (shoe), and Ba (bath). Bath time is the most exciting time of the day. She will run around the corner yelling out "Ba" as she attempts to tear off her clothes.









Kai has been busy with preschool- 1st progress report and being back with buddies after the holidays. Kai's teddy bear Hamley even got to go to school with him one day for Teddy Bear Day. Hamley is the bear that Lance and I got for Kai in London when we first found out we were expecting. Kai takes very good care of Hamley and generally likes to keep him safe and sound in his room on his bed. So it was a big adventure for Hamley to make it out of the house and travel to school. Kai also started a new class at Church. He (and the other kids his age) graduated in to the CTR (Choose the Right Class) class. He has new teachers and the classes got mixed up a bit so he is now with Amanda, Andrew, Louisa, and James. He loved his teachers from last year but he told us on Sunday that he now has the 2 best teachers (the ones from last year and the ones from this year). We did have the teachers from last year over for dinner on Sunday night and he was so excited about it that he could hardly stand it. Lindsey and Blake are so nice and good with him. We also love the Blake is the primary pianist- so super cool to have a guy for Kai's benefit since he already thinks playing music is so awesome.





I've been busy trying to get used to driving Kai to preschool in the morning snow storms. It wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the big hill that everyone waits in a line on that has turned icy a few times. Nothing takes your breath away like watching cars slide all the way down it. I've also been having fun at the gym with my friend Amy while all our kids play at the Kids Club. It's great to get in a workout and great to have Rori learning that it is ok to be with someone else for a little while. We took a Yoga class one night this week which was pretty fun(ny). Amy is a great gym partner so it makes it lots of fun which helps so much. We've also hit a few of the University of Utah gymnastics meets which is fun. I love the gymnastics, Rori likes the people watching, Kai likes the marching band, and Lance likes the homemade donut holes. Good for all!

Lance has been busy getting back in to the swing of work after a nice holiday. He's also been enjoying the gym (especially working on his flip turns again in the pool). And his new Church calling has been keeping him on his toes. On our vacation he got addicted to a new family history website and has been having fun learning more about our past generations. Turns out some of my family line ended up in Nanibia, Africa. Guess I didn't end up with any African in my skin color, but maybe that makes me somewhat related to Bradgelina.......bad joke........

So if we didn't have work, or school, or other responsibilities we would like to still be on vacation...........but it is good to be back in to the swing of life. So here is to hoping that we're ready and geared up for February and whatever else the rest of 2010 brings!

From Kai's Eyes

Kai asked Santa for a camera and Leapster games for Christmas and Santa (with some help from grandma and grandpa Whitney) came through. Santa showed up at Kai's preschool one day and Kai got to put in his request. A few days later was our Church Christmas party where Santa made another appearance. Kai waited patiently in a lengthy line to see him again. When he climbed up on Santa's lap I was close by attempting to quickly seat a horrified Rori also on Santa's lap so I overheard the following:

Santa: What would you like for Christmas this year little boy?

Kai: Well I think you already know, but a camera and leapter games. (I mean he had just told him a few days before but better safe than sorry)

Santa: Have you been nice to your little brother?

Kai: Huh? Um..I saw you at my school.

Santa: That's right.


Anwyay, so the camera is the Fisher Price kind that is made for kids and supposed to be "kid tough". We read the mixed reviews online and weren't sure what we were going to think about it.

He took a ton of pictures in San Diego and HI (like 300+)and we have yet to change the batteries which surprises me. It's a nice size- big enough to not get easily lost but small enough to fit in a bag. The quality has seemed better than we expected after the reviews and keeping in mind that it is a Fisher Price camera. And it is so easy to download his photos on to our computer.

The best part has been how much he loves it. He loves taking pictures and finding this to shoot. I love that it is a creative way for him to express himself and develop a love for photography. Plus it is fun to see what he deems picture worthy and have some special keepsakes from him at this age. We'll see if it holds up, but for San Diego and HI it was awesome to have.

Here are some of our favorite shots from Kai's Eyes.

San Diego:
























*Not shown here themes of note included several individual shots of other Christmas gifts. Like all of the ones in the 1st picture 1 by one, several shots of various tv shows, and what appears to be several shots of the newspaper being read by grandparents.

Hawaii:


















*Not shown here themes of note included several shots of our rental car backseat (door handles, window buttons etc.) and lots of angles and distances of self portraits.

Looked Who Learned to....

.....SWIM all by himself!

We're thrilled.

He's thrilled.



How it happened:
1) On our first trip to the swimming pool I said to Lance that we should really try to teach Kai to swim this trip. Living it UT Kai's time in water has been limited some to summer swim lessons

2) On about Day 2 of the trip I remembered that we had brought some water wings with us. Kai had never used any before and once he figured out he could really get around with them by himself he was loving it. It was lovely for us as well since the Condo pool has no shallow end where he could touch.

3) On Day 3 the water wings had given him great courage in the pool.

4) On Day 4 a little girl named Angelina shows up at the pool. She is turning 4 this week and has no water wings and can jump off the side and swim about 5 feet to the stairs by herself. Kai sees this, talks to her, and quickly rips off the water wings and joins her in the jumping and swimming to the stairs.

5) By Day 5 he is swimming the width of the pool taking breaths with a parent near by just incase. And the water wings have now been permanetly left at the Condo.

6) The rest of the trip (including some evening swimming) we refer to him as our little fish. He can't get enough of the water and is having a blast being independent.

*We'd also like to remember: At the Hilton there is a dolphin interaction pool and we ate dinner by it one night and walked past it a few times. Thus, several hours of swimming time were filled with Kai being an imaginary dolphin trainer of 10 dolphins. He taught them several tricks and would help them jump from pool to hot tub and back.

Mele Kalikimaka

The Sunday after Christmas we said our goodbyes in San Diego and drove a rental car up to LAX to board our flight to Kona, HI. We weren't kidding when we said that we were busy over the last few weeks.



As excited as we were to go HI I had been dreading the drive up to LAX and the long flights over and back with Rori for a long time. Rori has often been lovingly called "the worst car rider ever" by members of our family. She's hated car seats since Day 1 of her life. In addition to that both kids fought a stomach bug the week before we left for San Diego so little miss had been a little extra fussy and clingy lately. But I guess Rori wants to encourage our family adventure trips because she did fabulous on all car rides and flights of this segment of our trip. To say we were pleasantly surprised would be a major understatement. Kai was also a trooper so when we actually arrived in HI we were ready to enjoy.

The rest of Lance's family made the trip over at Thanksgiving but that is a tough time for Lance to be away from work. So we missed being with all of them this time. Kai probably especially missed the cousins. But, it was really neat to just get to be our own little family on vacation for awhile though. We have been blessed to get to go on many amazing trips as a family but going to the condo where you are almost forced to just relax and take it easy was much needed and appreciated actual vacation.

Lance's Aunt and Mom did overlap with us for our last few days though so that was fun. Especially because Lance's Mom knows all the yummy places to eat and fun things to do. Plus she and Wendy volunteered to watch the kids one night so we could have a date night. That was wondeful. When we came back the kids looked like they were having a blast and Wendy had even taught them some sign language.

We flew back on the red eye Wed. night/ Th. morning and poor Lance went right in to work. The kids did great and seem to be right back in to their routine today. They both slept great on the flights. Lance and I may need a few more naps seeing as we aren't as great at sleeping on planes.

We had a wondeful time and are grateful for the wonderful memories. Many thanks to Lance's parents for letting us use the Condo which allowed us to go on this adventure!

Rori Ready For the Sun (she often isn't big on strollers either but snacks help):


We Love Riding on the Boat at the Hilton:




Fun on the Slides:




And Fun in the Condo Grass with Dad:




On Our Almost Daily Walk to the Local Shops:




Hitting the Beach:










Our 2X Day Pool Trips to Grandma and Grandpa's Pool:




And We Played in the Pugh's Pools Too One Day:






Watching the Sunset:










Our Day Trip Around the Island to the Volcano and Hilo:
(The air was too polluted at the Volcano to get out or cars so after seeing some steam coming from the ground we kept going. It was raining by Hilo which is the wettest city in the US and one the wettest cities in the world. The drive from Hilo back to the Condo was beautiful and green with occasional glimpses of waterfalls. The kids found it made them a little sleepy)








At Church Where They Sang to Us and Gave Us Each a Lei:




Going to Dinner at Tommy Bahamas:






Celebrating the New Year - no need to remove your goggles ever:


With Grandma and Wendy (Rori not wanting to take a picture):


And A Bunch That We Just Think Are Fun: