bath time

It's bath time and Warrior 4 enjoys every second of it.  If he is cranky, the sound of running water tend to soothe him.  As soon as he hears the water he'll  stop crying in an instant.  

HANDS UP!

Just chillin'!

Warrior 4 looks so chubs in this picture.

All pau!  Tapos na. Nalpasen! The end!

Counting my Blessings!

Heavenly Father is real.  He lives and loves us.  He does know us individually.  He is very aware of our needs.  You know it is amazing how Heavenly Father works.  Since Warrior 4 came and since I decided to stop working, we have been blessed tremendously.  

Warrior 4  has increased his formula intake to 6oz now (even with breast feeding) and I worry a little bit about not having enough formula last until the next check from WIC.  (WIC is another blessing) Well, Heavenly Father answered my prayers.  Today after my follow up/check up to see if my IUD is treating me good and not causing me any trouble.....we (Princess, Warrior 4 and moih) went to the BANK.  The one full of FOOD =). uh-huh...da foodbank.   Anyway, we were blessed to get 4 cases of these concentrated formula.   I could've gotten more but didn't want to seem like a hoarder.   

 Hold on...Warrior 4 is awake and calling.  It is 4:03 pm.  okay I'm back, it is now 4:58 pm and bottle feeding and typing.   Ooo..he just tooted! Ooops..gas just flapped his butt cheeks.  Eeeww barf!   excuse you! Gas just passing through both ends.  Gotta love 'em.

Okay, on a more serious note.  We have received one blessing after another.  In fact, I still have people tell me that they have something for baby.  Boy, it's just like my baby shower on April 1 never ended.

Another blessing about a week or so ago...Tita 96762 had mentioned that another friend (Aunty C) was looking for someone to babysit "Kk".  Well, I told Tita 96762 that I will give Aunty C a call and let her know that I want to watch "Kk".  The next day I was awaken from my deep slumber by King handing me the phone.  Groggy with a coarse voice (I meant "hoarse") I say hello not knowing who it is.  To my surprise it is Aunty C!  Aunty C  asked me to look after "Kk" and that she will pay me.  What do you know?  After thinking about things I can do to earn some money while being home...I get an answer.

These are just a few of the many blessings we've received.  Heavenly Father does have His hands in all things.  

In the Twinkling of an Eye

Another day in the house...I was eating my breakfast, snack and lunch (all at one sitting ) at 11 and Warrior 4 started to cry in his swing.  I took my time enjoying my food.  Let him cry some  and maybe more.  Then the cry got intense.  He was getting angry so I scarfed my food down.  There goes being mindful when eating.  Okay, feeding time again.  After 10-15 minutes of breast feeding he was out.  He looks so peaceful and content.  Thank goodness for the camera on my computer.  I was able to take a snapshot in an instant.    I am grateful for this moment that i can be part of.  Cuddle and hold me so i can sleep in you arms moment.  In the twinkling of an eye, my eye, your eye.. he will not be crying and screaming for me anymore.  So, remember this time.  I {heart} being a mom.  i love my family.   Thanks Hon...because of you I can stay home and experience the *joy of being a mom again for the 5th time.   

*JOY=laundry, poopie diapers, spit ups, sleepless nights, sleeping in, bath time,  feeding time, smiles, crying time, cooing and gurgling sounds and  funny faces just to name a few.

Enjoy the Moment

I love this picture that Princess took.  I think it is precious.   Most of the time I am always behind the camera and don't really get to see and realize the things I do for my children.  I'm either running around like a headless chicken trying to get things done and not really enjoying the here and now.  Thank you my Princess for capturing this moment.

"Being a mother at any age is a blessing, but as we age and our children become interesting and productive adults we really begin to savor the joys of the harvest, the fruit of our labors.  How could we have known when they were young and the demands so constant that we would ever have the luxury of simply enjoying their loving companionship?" (Marjorie Pay Hinckley,  Small and Simple Things; pg. 82)

A good reminder and something to look forward to. They will grow up.  They will not always be here to give me a "headache".  They will not be here to bicker and tease.  The noise and the mess will diminish as each one leaves the house...so I need to remember to enjoy the present moment. 

Crying Warrior 4

  Here is a short clip of Warrior 4 crying so he/you/me/we know what he sounds like.   This was taken July 20. 2009.  

sleeping

Warrior 4 doing what he knows best.

Hmmm.  To sleep or not to sleep.

Hmmmmm.  Let me think about that.  That's a tough one!  

 I CHOOSE SLEEP!

going some place?  choose to sleep!

Sleep, it does my body GOOd!

Highlights

Well, what else can you do?  Warriors are gone...do more girly stuff with the only Princess in the house.   Princess wanted to get highlights and she got them.   What next?  One week left of school.  How about you polish my nails since I cut your hair and gave you highlights?  Let's set a date for manicure and pedicure day.  I haven't done my nails since Warrior 4 came.  I am so in need of one.  

7/27/09

*over the phone heard warrior 2 

"why does Princess have pink highlights?"

Our Growing Warrior

Uy, Aunty Grace!  More pictures like you asked.  They are a bit blurry but you can see the many faces our little Warrior 4 makes.  Funny! 

Warrior 1,2, and 3...brother misses you.  Here he is crying, smiling and cooing as Princess plays with him.  Have fun but remember to help Gramma and Grampa out.  

x0x0 Mom

Fake  shallow cry.

He loves being held this way.  

mmmmmmm. He's had enough.  Matiltil metten.

try again.

Loves it!

all pau!  for real this time.

Play Time

Our Many Blessings

It's Saturday!  I don't know what time King came home this morning.  It must have been after 4:30 am because that's when Warrior 4 woke up and he wasn't home yet.  Anyway, King works hard.  He had to leave early to set up at HUKILAU.  He didn't even get to sleep. He is in charge  of the sound system.  They had some ceremony unveiling of the big "SHAKA" sign sculpture and of  TUTU HAMANA.  

Anyway, nursed Warrior 4, gave him the bottle (5 oz. of formula), dropped Princess to gymnastics at 8:30, came home nursed Warrior 4 to sleep, took laundry off the line, took a nap with Warrior 4, he woke me up at 10 am,  nursed Warrior 4 for 15 minutes, gave him his morning bath, went to pick up Princess from gym,  came home nursed for 20 minutes and then gave him the bottle.  Went to Hukilau at 11:30 to be with the King and see what's happening....... and  learned that the shaka sign originated here in Laie.  =)    That's pretty cool.   Warrior 4 made #2.  Ewww!  

We were blessed with FREE lunch (lomilomi salmon, kalua pork and cabbage, chicken long rice, rice + chocolate cake and guava cake).  yummy licious indeed.    Stayed there and listened to some Tutus talk stories about their memories they had of TUTU HAMANA.  Warrior 4 sleeps.

Helped clean up.  Warrior 4 wakes up...short nap.  Found a spot behind the tree + stroller to nurse with some privacy...he makes # 2 again!    Nursed a little bit more...can't relax so gave him the bottle.  Finally went home around 2:30-3:00 pm.....and guess what?  MORE BLESSINGS!   

Found this basket full of clothes for Warrior 4.  

My heart is full of gratitude. 

I don't have to worry about Warrior 4 not having  clothes on his back.  These are perfect for when he is bigger.  (9-12 months)  Thank you whoever you are.  I am truly grateful.

So, what do we have here?   Another blessing.    Went to Kahuku with Plain Jayne this evening to get some produce.   I got 2 zucchini, cucumbers, green beans, plums, 3 pears, nectarines, peaches, eggplant, bananas, oranges, 2 pineapples, 4 papayas, asparagus and bitter melon.  Couldn't fit them all in the basket.  Guess how much all of these cost?    Are you ready?   $4.00  That's all!  What a blessing!

Then I come home to find out that our neighbor across the street have given us mangoes.  We love mangoes.  We love our neighbors  who shared it.  Thank you Mrs. Au.

There is no doubt that Heavenly Father is watching over us.   Being home with Warrior 4 instead of working has brought us lots of blessings.    

Warriors at Work Part II

Grandpa separates while Warrior 1 gets the spot ready.

Warrio 3 is proud of his cucumber planting.

Warrior 2 planting bush beans and cauliflower in his garden box.

Here's the water boy. Warrior 3 waters the papaya trees.

So delicate but Warrior 1 succeeds in planting the beets and lettuce.

Warrior 3 carries a full can of water...my back aches!

Is that enough, Grandma? No, count to 100.  He counts by tens!

Warrior 1 gets a lesson on separating the tiny beet seedlings.

Warrior 3 learning how to take the plants out of the pot.

Careful, don't break the stems! Warrior 3 planting cucumbers.

See, Grandpa says, push the dirt around it and press down.

The completed square foot gardens.  Big smiles, boys!

Warriors at Work Part I

The Warriors are on Kaua'i and here they are helping Gramma and Grampa garden.  *Mom emailed me these pictures of the Warriors at work.

Whoops!  Grandma's geometric eyes says 'it's not square'.

Warrior 2 pounding nails on the woodframe at every foot.

Warrior 1 keeping track of the garden tools and cut grass.

Warrior 2 constructing the woodframe for his square foot garden.

Warrior 3 watering the plants and mostly himself.

my girly girl

Princess wanted to have a new look before going back to school. She wanted to have her hair layered, she wanted bangs and highlights. I was planning on taking her to the salon over at the shopping center near Foodland but the Chinese in me didn't want to spend the money to even get her hair cut over there. So, I gave her the cut. Glad she trusted me to do it. Happy she digs her new do.