Trip to Hawaii

These two pictures are my favorite from our trip. 

We spent a lot of time swimming and playing together as a family. 

We ran into one of Anna's good friends from school at PCC. Small world!

The kids loved spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. They had sleepovers and played games and went on outings and just hung out together. 

We were married in the Hawaii Temple 12 years ago!! 

Four kids later, we are still very happy and in love.

Joel's favorite part of the trip was taking the big girls horse back riding up behind Gunstock Ranch. They are pictured here with Anna's best friend from preschool when we lived in Hawaii.

My favorite outing was taking the two big girls to explore the tide pools at low tide at Shark's Cove. We caught little fish, hermit crabs, opihi, shells and spotted lots of big fish.

On our last trip to the beach with some friends we saw a Hawaiian Monk Seal resting on the beach! 

Visiting Betsy's Family in Washington

We stopped in at the American Girl Doll Shop. All of the girls loved wandering the store and picking out a small purchase. Three of the girls got their doll's ears pierced at the store.

We went to the Seattle Aquarium on our last day. It is an amazing place. We all loved it.

I love my sister!

Anna and Rachel are the same age. We got to attend church there where Jose is the Branch President of the Spanish Speaking Branch. Betsy put Joel and I on the program at the last minute and we sang a hymn in spanish with Betsy on the piano. 

Washington is a beautiful place. We really enjoyed our visit. The weather was really nice while we were there. Betsy said that it was unusually sunny. No rain at all.

Eryn's Baptism - July 7, 2012

Eryn was baptized this summer by her dad. It was a very sweet day (even though we were all a little jet lagged from returning only the day before from Hawaii). 

We sang "When I am Baptized" as a family during the program with a short solo from Eryn. I got emotional when she sang because of the strong spirit in the room and because of the sweetness in her little voice. I love opportunities like this to be together with my family. It was a very happy day.

Both sets of grandparents were there as well as Eryn's Great-Grandpa Anderson.

It was a special treat to have all of the Kongaika grandkids together. Rob's kids were here on a visit from Egypt.

Happy 8th Birthday Eryn

We arrived at my sister Betsy's the day before Eryn's Birthday. So we were able to spend Eryn's special day with cousins in Washington. Her favorite part of the day was probably spending time with Betsy's two dogs and four puppies. We made a big breakfast for all of the kids in the morning. Then we went sight seeing and ended the day at a Chinese Buffet.

Trip to Texas

I took a short trip to Texas last month to visit my brother and his family. Mike and Shawna were generous enough to take in my sweet friend, Damaris to live with them. I got to help get her settled and ready for school to start. I knew Damaris as a 12 year old on my mission in Guatemala. I can't believe she is now a returned missionary going to college. It was wonderful to reconnect with her and to spend time with Mike's family in their last few days of school. Joel and I feel blessed by the opportunity to help Damaris on her way to getting a great education. Mike and Shawna are also making a huge contribution to her growth and her goals. I am so grateful for their support.

We put this little desk together from a kit one afternoon when I was there. She needed one in her room for studying. It looks so easy and simple to put together from this picture. Not so simple in real life. :) I'm just glad the drawer actually opens and closes.

Support Group Bowling Party and more . . .

Lily, my mom and I went to our Spina Bifida Support Group's Bowling Party over Memorial Day weekend. I always love being with other SB families. I get so much strength and encouragement from being with them. Lily had a great time bowling with her grandma.

Anna performed with her class in a melodrama play about Timpanogos and the Moon. I spent hours volunteering for this: teaching the boys dance, arranging costumes to be fixed, practicing narrations with the kids and running the entire play multiple times.

Here's an action shot of Eryn playing soccer in her last soccer game.

Tongan Dance Recital

The girls continue to learn Polynesian dances through ATOP Dance Studios. This week they performed three different Tongan dances. Joel and I are so pleased that the girls learned to sing and dance in Tongan. I have to admit, I got a little teary-eyed watching them. They looked so beautiful and I just felt so happy, knowing that they were learning about their culture. Thank you to Liana for making their shirts and feathers! They looked great.

Anna sitting and performing in the opening group number.

 Eryn dancing the Tau'olunga.

 They performed with their cousin Ileina.

Aunty Liana even made Lily her own costume. She was proud to wear it and cheer her sisters on.

Here is a link to a youtube video of part of their performance. If you don't want to watch the whole thing, go to 1:50 and watch Eryn for about a minute. Very cute of her singing in Tongan and dancing.

http://youtu.be/kMENfer2skM

School is almost out. That means a lot of activities are happening and things are finally coming to a close!

Jojo and Eryn finished soccer. 

Jojo finished preschool. Here he is with two of his close preschool friends. All they did every day during playtime was play Power Rangers. They are all obsessed!

I went with Anna's class on a field trip to Red Butte Garden and Utah's Natural History Museum. I loved spending time with Anna. Didn't love the noise on the bus . . .

These are pictures of the nature hike we took behind Red Butte Garden. It was beautiful. I love nature. :)

Wheelchair Dance Recital

Lily performed with her wheelchair dance class in a big recital last week. It was a great experience for her. She loved all the support she got from family and friends in attendance. Her class danced to a piano version of Snow White's wishing well song. Totally made me cry. Eryn was her helper on stage. She had been practicing with Lily and her class for weeks. I was proud of her for supporting Lily so well. All of the girls in the class have Spina Bifida.

Thanks for your examples!

Today I am grateful for so many great mothers in my life who are good examples and who inspire me to be a better mother. My own mother is my ultimate example. She has dedicated herself to our family with great love. I often look back on how she raised our family. Even with all of her imperfections (my own have become all too clear), she has provided a strong example of motherhood and gospel living. I count myself very blessed to have such a good mother and to have so much to draw on from my own growing up. 

Thank you to so many of you for your examples to me. I am a better mother because of you! Whether or  not you know it, I am watching you. I see the way you talk to your kids, the way you care for your families and the way you prioritize your lives. I absolutely have changed the things I do with my children based on your good examples! Thank you!

To my Spina Bifida Moms - You are my heroes. I am so grateful that I know you and can draw on your strength and ideas.

To my children - I LOVE YOU!! You each bring me great JOY. Thank you for your love and your goodness. Your smiles and your songs and your kisses delight me daily. I am proud of your accomplishments big and small and of your good choices. I pray for you daily and ask that you might be safe, healthy and gain a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel.