Makoa’s 4th Birthday Party, and Welcoming 2011!

We had a simple 4th birthday party for Makoa. He wanted to Jedi party, so a Jedi party it was! ;) He got Star Wars pajamas, a Yoda figurine, Star Wars coloring book and a really cool Star Wars tent from my parents… all wrapped in Star Wars paper. He also got a really awesome remote control car and a nerf gun from Aunty Emi and Kiki. We decided not to get a pinata, so Cameron made a board with balloons on it. Inside the balloons were a couple of pieces of small chocolates. The kids got to throw darts at the balloons and get their treats. They were all surprisingly good at it! We played a few other balloon games and the kids had a blast and were laughing so hard - it was awesome!

Aunty BriAnne made Makoa’s cake and we got the little figurines for it. I think the cake was perfect and Makoa sure liked it! I think the Anakin looks likes Willow… what do you think? It was a delicious chocolate cake! Makoa wanted a lightsaber on his piece, so when I cut his piece, I asked him if he wanted the “light side” or “dark side” lightsaber… he chose the dark side… hhhmmm… not sure what to think about that quite yet. We had “Playdough” flavored ice cream which was actually really good and looked like it was off of the movie “Hook” with all the bright colors!

After his party, we continued the get together into the wee hours of the morning to celebrate and end of 2010 and welcoming 2011! We played Mario Smash Brothers on the Wii and the New Super Mario Brothers until we couldn’t keep our eyes open, drinking sparkling cider at midnight and eating cheese balls, chili dips, and carmalled (sp?) popcorn… Good Times!

Sorry I don’t have many pictures of the party, and none of the New Years Eve celebration, but I just enjoyed myself without the pressure of documenting it. Another way I’m trying to simplify my life… :D

Ka’imi and Kiki playing in the many balloons we blew up!

Cousins, Makoa and Kiki. They have a lot of fun together!

Dart Game with treats in the balloons. No one was injured and our wall only got 2 holes in it despite our efforts to protect it.

Happy 4th Birthday, Makoa!

Yesterday was Makoa’s 4th birthday! Yes – 4! He opened a few gifts in the morning, played some Wii and then after Cam was done with work, we went to the Dinosaur Museum for his day activity (instead of doing a big friend party) because that’s what he wanted to do! He loves “digging” up the dinosaur bones in the sand at the end. Then, Cameron took him to his favorite place to get a corn dog – Weinerschnitzel! (I think Makoa just likes saying “Weinerschnitzel”!) Then we hung out and watched Land Before Time and Up. Makoa said he had a good birthday! He’s very excited to be 4! He now has to get himself dressed, and put his own socks and shoes on! (I know, rough. But with #3 on the way, I feel like this is a priority!) We’re having cake and ice cream and a few more gifts on Friday night when family can make it!

Makoa woke up this morning and the first thing he asked me was, “Mom, am I still 4?” I told him yes, and he explained that he doesn’t feel big. :) Cute.

Here are a few pictures and videos taken with my trusty phone!

Birthday boy by some dinosaur bones!

Ka’imi sitting on a Triceratops Statue (it’s such a cute statue! I would totally put something like this in my home! LOL . He didn’t want to get off of it!)

The biggest, ugliest shark ever. This is what my nightmares are made of. But, Makoa looks cute!

Makoa “digging” up dinosaur bones! His favorite part! They have brushes for them to dust off the bones with. Ka’imi lasted about 10 whole minutes before he got bored and started throwing the sand… go figure.

Merry Christmas, 2010

Christmas this year was PERFECT! I wouldn’t change a thing… except not get so much candy. The little boys slept in until 8AM! Crazy, I know! I don’t think either of them really knew what was coming. That wont be the case next year, I’m sure! Our big family gift was a Nintendo Wii! Makoa’s toy was a Clone Helmet and Ka’imi’s was a Buzz Lightyear. Lots of books, pajamas, clothes… and each of the litte boys got Buzz Lightyear snuggies. Here are a handful of pictures from the morning after. Makoa really didn’t want his picture taken, that’s why there are more of Ka’imi; he just didn’t care either way.

Testing out the Nintendo Wii… with misc piles and candy wrappers everywhere!

Ka’imi with his Buzz

Makoa with his Star Wars Clone helmet.

Little boys with their Snuggies… They love them.

I made them take a moments break from the Wii to say cheese… or whatever.

Eating candy…

… and trying to get to more candy…

“No, mom, I have not been eating candy all morning…” (He did have breakfast beforehand, in my defense… :)

It was fun to Skype with my family, and I got to say hello to my brother on his mission when he called them. Then, Cam’s dad and some of his siblings came over for cheeseballs and crackers, cookies, goodies, White Elephant and games!

The day was a 10 out of 10 if you ask me!

And a video...

Temple Square Lights :D

Last night we went to Temple Square to see the lights and nativity! We met up with some good friends and 2 of Cameron’s sisters. We had a pretty good sized group braving the crowds. There is something about being there with good friends and family that just makes me happy. It wasn’t as cold as I had anticipated. When we went 2 years ago it was ridiculously cold, so this time I came prepared with hand warmers, gloves, extra layers and such… but really it wasn’t bad.

There were a lot of people there though. Ka’imi just wanted to run away and explore so he was a handful – but go figure Makoa is the one we lost. Yes, you read that right. A big fat DING on my mom record – we turned a corner and no one had Makoa. I calmly panicked and we went back to the last place we saw him – and there he was… crying… in the arms of a stranger standing up on the wall with him to look out for whoever might come looking for this distressed, lost child. We couldn’t have lost track of him for more than 5 minutes but it was traumatizing on many levels. You hear it all the time that something happens to kids when they are with a big group and everyone assumes someone else is watching him… and  here we were with 10 adults/teenager and 5 kids… I know it could have been so much worse, but I just thank my Heavenly Father that he is alright. Thankfully, it was an experience we can all learn from and it brought up lots of things to talk with Makoa about.

He recovered pretty quickly and we continued meandering around Temple Square – The life-size Nativity they had set up was great. The narrative and music really got me emotional and the feeling  of the whole place with the Salt Lake Temple right there was pretty incredible. No hustle and bustle with shops and gifts to buy… literally the true Spirit of Christmas. I would go again soon… as long as it is not in the negative degrees… that’s just distracting.

Here a few shots I did get. I’ve determined I’m not so good with low light shots. And I need to remember to change my lens. But really, sometimes, I just need a point and shoot for nights like this.

   

(Lets just pretend this one is in focus)

Oh yeah…Halloween.

(My  sister-in-law, BriAnne, had a ward party  she was helping with  and invited us. It was 2 weeks before Halloween, and mostly a test-run for costumes. :)

Makoa at the Halloween Carnival  the Youth in our ward put on  (no masks or weapons allowed, which left him with this. lol)

 

Trick or Treating on Halloween Eve Night (here in Utah, we celebrated Halloween on Saturday Night, so we could keep the  Sabbath. :) Nevermind that I didn’t absorb the flash well AT ALL. You get the idea. We went out after the rain stopped when realized we missed the trunk-or-treat. We still scored… I mean, *ahem* the  kids still scored. The only  group shot we got (2 Master Jedi, a Navi (Avatar), Storm Trooper, Faerie and Yoda-without-his-ears)

 

 

 

My  sister-in-law, Emi, did my face paint – I think it turned out incredible!

 

I realize I don’t have pictures  of my kids – weird, I know – but you have to understand that they  wore their costumes everyday  for at least 2 weeks. I’m not even  exaggerating. When  it was finally time to Trick-or-Treat it  was no big deal to see them in their costumes. I’m sure they’ll be in them  again  soon, I’ll sneak  a few  pictures then, k?

First Snowfall of the season!

Both Makoa and Ka’imi LOVED playing in the snow this morning. And by morning, I mean as-soon-as-breakfast-was-over–we-had-to-find-the-winter-clothes-and-play-in-the-snow-or-a-certain-3-year-old-was-going-to-have-a-really-bad-day.

It’s super nice to not be super pregnant or have a new-born/little toddler this winter. (Is it really winter? It’s not even Halloween yet…). I mean, it might actually be FUN because Makoa and Ka’imi can have fun! They were both very cooperative while we were putting their snow gear on… and got along really well (after the “No throwing snowballs into faces” rule was set.)

Makoa is a snowball making master!  He is also pretty much a professional snow scraper, and as soon as he can actually reach the windows I will be extra  happy. Ka’imi just did his own thing making snowballs, snow angels and eating the snow.

This morning was undoubtedly a success, particularly after we finished our hot chocolate.

End of our stay…

Here are a few pictures from the end of our stay on Kaua’i. My parents are so good to us! Makoa and Ka’imi adore their Papa and Grandma! The plane ride home was pretty rough (not gonna lie) but we made it back to Utah safely! It’s nice to be home, but I can’t help but wish Hawai’i was much much closer so we could visit more often.

 

And now… I have to catch up on all the pictures I’ve taken since I’ve been home!! Never ending pictures… and I love it!

Cram Family Pictures

When I was on Kaua’i, we got a family picture with Sianni (my niece) but  we’re missing Cam! (Always  missing someone!)

Here are a few that sum it all up…