May 2021

Because Kyle waited until the last minute to decide to go to Prom, we had to shop fast.  He wanted to wear something different than just a plain black tuxedo.  We found this one and I think he looked pretty darn fly.  It completely fits his personality.  

Kyle and Kami before Prom.  They had a fun time, but Kyle is more of an extravert that Kami, so they didn't spend the whole dance together, but they enjoyed their night.  Then Kyle went to some a party and Kami went home.  

At about 2am on April 27th Monty got a phone call from Maree letting him know that his father had passed away.  We knew it was coming so we were relieved that he was out of his pain.  

We were lucky to find cheap tickets so we could all go out to Tini's funeral.  I was glad the boys got to go to their Grandpa's funeral.  Tyler was even able to video call for a while and listen to some of the funeral, so he felt a part of things.  

The funeral was nice.  There were over 20 people who spoke at the pre-funeral service.  I thought it was nice that Seresia and Lu came to the funeral and helped in the kitchen.  There was Samoan Koko and french bread from the pre-funeral then a huge meal afterward.  Cindy did an amazing job with the food along with Seresia and Lu.  I just helped serve and wash dishes.  They really pulled of the meal that Tini really wanted to have at him funeral.  Costco Chicken, Sausage, meatballs, sapasui, potato salad, rice, and full desert plates with donut holes, and something else.  I can't really remember.  But he would have been happy and that was the point.

Instead of flowers the pallbearers wore lei's with Tini's two favorite colors.  I agreed to make them and enjoyed putting them together.  I'd never made ribbon lei's, but am glad I now have this skill. 

After the funeral all the cousins decided to have some fun in the pool at the hotel.  Thankfully the hotel had an indoor pool because it was a chili day.   

The next day we went to a Korean BBQ place for Mother's Day.  For some reason I don't have any pictures of this, but everyone enjoyed it.  We don't have Korean BBQ at home, so it was a new experience.  Later that day we flew home.  

I did my student teaching with Elkhorn Public Schools and then took on a long term sub position for the second half of the year in hopes to be hired on with Elkhorn, but one the week before my sub position was going to end I got a phone call saying I was not being hired with Elkhorn.  It took all I had to not cry in class, but when I got in the car at the end of the day I cried the whole way home.  I struggle with feeling good enough about myself.  I always feel like I fall short and always feel like I need to prove myself and this was just a real blow.  I'd worked so hard, not even taking a day off even with two funerals to show my loyalty.  When I came home the following day Monty had left me a gift on the counter.  It was basically just a note that said, "I love you and am grateful for how hard to work for our family."  It really was sweet and meant a lot.  Monty is not a gift giving kind of guy, so maybe that made it even more special, because that day I really needed a pick me up as I felt like a complete failure.  

Trey, Kory and Kyle enjoyed their track season. Trey decided to do try high jump for the first time and ended up being really good!  Kory was injured for most of it, but had a few really awesome runs. Kyle did well and even made it to state.  I do love track because it allows the boys to work for their personal best in a sport.  Going to their meets are always fun, but often COLD!  

Trey trying to do a back bend to help them with high jump.  He can't really bend very well.  But, he is flat as a board. 

Kory was a little more flexible that Trey.

I'm not as flexible as I thought I was!  

Kyle at state.  It is an honor to make it to State.  Kyle had a huge goal, but didn't quite hit his goal, but it was just an honor to go to state.  We were so proud of him.  

Happy birthday TREY!!  Trey is officially 14 and it is impossible to keep him full.  We had to eat outside because of COVID, but he enjoyed every bite.  He was still hungry when he was done!  

A fun birthday gift from Mammy and Grandpop.  Perfect for his new found talent!  Happy Birthday Trey!  Love you!!

My lei's for Tini's funeral were cool, but Aunt Cindy made this cool Lei for Kyle for graduation.  This lei put mine to shame.  

Makai didn't understand why I didn't want him to wear these pants to Kyle's graduation.  He tried to dress nicely, but his pants were so short!  He is growing like a weed.  I didn't want him wear them for a couple reasons.  I knew he'd be so hot he'd be miserable and he was just too tall for these pants.  

Kyle standing in line.  I'm not sure how these students wore these robes because it was SO HOT and HUMID.  They decided to let them have a graduation as long as it was held outside and we didn't even have to wear masks because we were outside, so that was nice.  

Nice job buddy!  I made Kyle a lot of candy lei's so he could give them out to friends like Tyler did.  I love the tradition of giving candy lei's to friends at graduation.  

And our second Graduation!  Makai had an elementary school graduation.  He is so much taller than some of his classmates.  I was proud to be his Mom.  I brought him a lei, but because of Covid we were not even allowed to got hug our kid.  I was not happy about that.  

He looked so nice for his graduation and we had found him pants that were long enough for his legs.

End of school art projects come home!  

Kyle's Rhino

Makai's 

Kory's self portrait--Amazing!

Other drawing from Kyle

My friend Jennifer got me this letter board for my birthday, so I put an appropriate saying for the kitchen.  This is going to be fun.  

We decided to take the kids to Worlds of Fun to celebrate Kyle's graduation.  The morning didn't start out so well, but while in line for the first ride everyone became friends again.  The lines were so long we only made it on about 3 rides the entire day.  So we spent the day talking in line.  The plus side was it wasn't horribly hot, but the downside was it was too crowded to enjoy it.  

I learned that I don't do roller coasters as well as I used to!  After the first ride I didn't feel so well.  I was dizzy and light headed and a little nauseous.  We walked to the second ride, the Mamba, and Makai didn't want to go on it. We told him he didn't have to but he needed to stand in line with us.  To make a long story short, we stood in line for several hours for this ride and in the process I got a pretty bad headache.  The closer we got to the ride the more scared I got and the more I just didn't feel well.  Makai tried to drop out, but I told him he could do it.  Once he was locked it, we were told that Monty couldn't take his sweatshirt because he wasn't wearing it.  I got off the ride to put his sweatshirt in a basket and then didn't get back in.  Makai looked at me like--you trader!!  I can't believe you would do this.  I felt horrible and even cried as I watched the ride take off.  Makai was crying and I did in fact feel like a trader!  I didn't keep my word.  I did take a picture at the end to show just how proud of himself for surviving the ride.  I was so proud of him and he'll be able to hold this over my head for the rest of his life.  I failed him, but he was did it.  The chair in front of him is my spot!  Sorry buddy.