Makai—Great to be 8

Eight is such a great birthday!  In our home it is the age in which you are considered accountable.  We can’t believe Makai is already 8. He was super excited to be baptized. In his interview with the Bishop when the Bishop said he was worthy to be baptized Makai threw both his arms over his head and brought them down with a lloud, “Yea!”  He tried so hard to pay attention during the interview which was hard for him and to make it more difficult the bishop had a bunch of candy in his office for after the interview which were rather tempting the entire time.  At the end he got a big handful of gummy bears.
His primary teachers had a wonderful towel made for him. He loved his teachers this year. Brother Haughawout and Brother McKay. We are thankful for their love for him.

Such a nice towel for Makai to remember his special day

This man is a goof off and a perfect friend to Makai.  He just gets Makai and their relationship was so sweet.  Makai knows Brother McKay loves him!  He was one of the witnesses at the baptism and cried as Makai went under the water. 

Makai decided he wanted his Dad to baptize him.  Monty gave Makai a wonderful blessing when he gave him the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

 He had several friends come to his baptism.  His grandparents came all the way from California.  Mammy wasn't feeling very well, but still made the journey. 

Grandpop was the second witness.

The Harrison's from Bellevue

The Primary President and her husband, but he had to leave before we could get a picture.  He skipped out on a meeting for just enough time to be there for his baptism.

And Even Paul and Pat our across the street neighbors.

Pat made Makai a sweet gift for his baptism

 Makai and Grandpop gave Makai a journal which he spend several hours writing/drawing in.  We had some of his favorite soup for dinner and enjoyed the evening at home. It was a pretty cold day so we didn't venture out of the house, but enjoyed his special day.  When I asked him about his baptism he says the water was decently warm and he felt the spirit when he came down and up and just felt like he was clean again. 

Mammy and Grandpop couldn't stay long.  They came out for just the weekend, but sadly, all good things have to come to an end!  We were thankful they came.

Christmas Break and a Photo Shoot

The pictures I had hanging in our front room were over two years old.  I haven't taken pictures of the boys since we moved to Omaha.  Two years ago I just bought the pictures from school and I am glad I did, but it was time for an update, so I had the boys get in the Christmas Sweaters my mom sent them for Christmas and we played around.  Here are a few of the photos.  Make no mistake about it--it was cold.  For some of the photos it was about 2 degrees outside, but for a few of them it was more like -11.  We will always remember this photo shoot as a cold day, but thanks boys.  You are all so handsome and wonderful. 

-11 and worth it!!

-11 and SO COLD!!  But I love this picture!!

Love you Makai!!  Thanks for being a good sport even though your ears almost froze off!

I wasn't happy the the glare on his glasses.  Next time I will make him take them off, but when it is so cold outside you don't have time to be picky.  Good thing he is so handsome.  

New Year's Eve!!

We are about to roll in 2018!  Another year down and our family is happy and healthy.  We have been so blessed this year. 

Today church was cancelled due to cold weather.  The temperature was suppose to be pretty cold!  It dipped clear into the negative 20s!!  We enjoyed the day and home and were very happy not to have to leave our warm home. 

I made some Pani Popo with some hot chocolate and we enjoyed the night.  Oh, and I made some cinnamon rolls for Tyler because he doesn't like Pani Popo. 

Here's to a wonderful 2018!!

Happy Birthday Makai

Makai turned 8!  He is excited to be 8.  Makai weighs about 100lbs and loves food.  We are working on having a healthy relationship with food, but the boy just loves food.  For his birthday he wanted a lemon cake like what Kory had, but I just didn't have time after work to make him one, so he got a cake from Costco.  It was so rich we ended up having to throw some of it away, but it was good.  Makai is a typical boy and loves all things BOY.  He loves Lego's and star wars.  The day after his birthday we took everyone out of school early and went to see the new Star Wars Movie.  He got Legos for his birthday and a Nerf gun.  He was happy as can be.

Basketball for Kory and Trey!

Once football ended for Tyler and Kyle basketball started for Kory and Trey!  It was the first time either of them had played on a team and we learned a lot about both of them. 

Trey's season started first.  He plays on a team with three other boys from our ward which was nice. He learned a lot about himself.  His first game he was ready to go out and rock the game, but within a few minutes he had traveled and gotten a foul called on him and he kinda froze.  As  a mom it was so hard to watch.  I saw the fun zapped right out of the game.  He was holding back tears.  They lost their first game and at the end he lost it.  Tears streamed down his face.  My heart broke.  He also didn't score any points which didn't help. 

The second game Trey could hardly even play!  He spent the game biting his nails. His nerves just got to him.  But he did make a free throw which was a plus. 

Came to dad for a pep talk!

Game three the team won!!  The smiles were huge!!

 

Jacob, Trey, Ethan and Scott

Makai was excited for his brother!!  

It was the only game they won all season!  Trey struggled with some anxiety, but learned and grew from the experience.  He is excited to play again this winter.  He did reach his goal of making 20 points during the season.

Kory started play basketball for the first time this year.  He made the C team which was good because all his games were home games and he played with a lot of his friends.  

Low five!  Kory enjoyed his team-mates and even the other team-mates.  Often after the game everyone would just laugh and talk about everyone's good plays.  It was a good experience for him.  

Kory had fun on the court.  They won most of their games and got second place in the final tournament.  It was great to see them learn from game to game.  Kory had a few amazing shots.  

Trey was excited after Kory's first win!!

Thanksgiving!

We had a fun Thanksgiving this year. All the Salanoa side came!  Minus Helene and Tini.  They were going to come, but last minute had to cancel.  However, everyone else made it.  We were worried out house would be too small, but it all worked out.  Tj, Dora, Yaya, and Adonis came in November 18th late in the evening.  James, Cindy, Emjae, Julie and Samuel came in the 19th in the afternoon.  And mom and Lu came in on the 26th at about 3 in the morning.  Monty had finals that week and the kids and I had school so the real vacation didn't begin till after school on the 20th, but we had a good time.  We did a lot of eating and played a lot of scrabble and Monopoly Go.

Cousins were happy to be together again

Adults were happy to be fed

And Samuel was happy to have a cozy aunty to sleep on.  It was so sweet to watch him just crawl into her lap and within a matter of minutes he was out!

I now know where the boys get their good looks and need to pose

For Thanksgiving we decided to go to the zoo.  We had planned to go to the zoo because we were going to wait to have dinner then Helene and Tini came, and didn't want to change plans.  It proved to be a great day to go to the zoo.  It was practically empty!

It was the first time Yaya had been to a zoo!

TJ enjoying the pengins!

Trey enjoying the aquarium. 

Makai resting with the gorilla

Later resting with our gorilla

Kids are go cute when they are sleeping

We also ate a lot.  Twice we ate out.  I've not sure how the restaurants felt when they saw us all walk in.

Nana and Lu with all the grandkids

Saturday we had our Thanksgiving.  It was perfect. 

Thankgiving 2017.  Thanks for coming everyone.

No one left hungry.

We also went to the botanical gardens one day and took everyone to the Trail Center at winter quarters and looked at all the gingerbreads for the holidays as well. 

Sweet moment!

Samuel saying he didn't want to leave

Till next time!

Fun time was had by all.

TJ and his family left a day after everyone else so we took them to the one other fun thing to do in Omaha in the winter.  The ferris wheel in a Scheels.  A first for Yaya again.   

We got everyone get on.  We may or may not have broken it, but they had to call someone over to look at it after we all rode it. ???  

Memorable events from the trip:  James really wanted Sushi, but Cindy doesn't like it so we never got any.  The night they left we went to get Sushi, but it wasn't good so James got the final laugh.  

TJ was on some diet during the trip so he wouldn't eat bread, but he would eat 2 honey buns every night.  That was kinda funny.  Noble effort.  He did go to the gym a few times during the trip which was more than any of the rest of us went.  

Cindy brought a SCRABBLE bible.  That girl is serious about her scrabble and she usually always wins too.  

James and Monty both left the football game on Thanksgiving with limps.  But the Turkey bowl was loads of fun so they would both do it again.  

We never went to bed before 2am at least. 

Lu wore his headphones the entire trip!  Not sure what he listens to, but he listens to it all the time!

A very memorable Thanksgiving!