learning outside of school

one of nanea's homework assignments this week.  have someone take a picture of you learning outside of school, and write about the picture.

(1) this is an example of... 

(2) i want you to notice that...

she wanted to take a picture in her gymnastics clothes, but since dance class was today, it had to suffice.  i have to say, taking pics was the most fun part of the assignment, for both of us.  trying to decide what she wanted to write, not as fun.

first grade!

today was nanea's first day of first grade!  she so nicely obliged me by posing with my sign this morning and even took a closeup of her missing two front teeth, one of which she lost yesterday.  this year her class name is the "dazzlers."  her teachers had all the kid's names written on the windows of the classroom to welcome them.  it's so great because her class moved as a whole from kindergarten (they were the explorers last year) next door to first grade, so although they have new teachers, they have all they have all the same classmates.  i think this will make for an interesting move next year when they are all split up for second grade, but i know they will have a great year.

posing at topanga plaza mall

when it's a bright outside...

...use mom and tutu's sunglasses

happy 4th birthday makena!

photo shoot!

for the 2nd year in a row nanea was part of the annual intex shoot in hawaii.  intex is an above ground pool/blow up pool inflatables and toys company that shoots their catalogue in hawaii each year.  last year she went to a cattle-call casting.  this year she was requested!  here are a few shots that noa took.

makena had to get in on the action!

pics from last year's shoot.  look for nanea on the box in a store near you!

little princesses

the girls in their element...

may day is lei day in hawaii...

although may day has always been "lei day" in hawaii, this is the first time that either of our girls have gone to a school where they have held an annual may day program.  punahou's is no joke!  their k-2 program consisted of each grade level performing their own song and hula, with all grades singing songs and/or chanting in between.  students from each grade went up to present the classes and songs, and to tell the stories behind them.  overall, very impressive!  of course, we thought the kindergarten students did the best job.  they not only chanted in hawaiian, but did a hula with kala'au (hula "sticks'") that they made themselves.  They even broadcast a live webcast for those that couldn't be there in person.  You can see it here (you can see her near the beginning of the song "May Day is Lei Day" and again briefly towards the end of their performance.  the webcast is 45 min long, but she's all done after the first 12 min or so).

walking into the gym barefoot in their aloha attire

waiting for the program to begin.  the kids made their lei the day before (with the help of parent volunteers)

let the performance begin!

the 2012 explorers!
room 2

the dream team of teachers

mrs. ditzel

mrs. fa'atea

nanea and her bff, rylee

and last but not least, daddy!

kupuna day and a class visit to hickam afb

nanea had special visitors that flew in for kupuna (grandparent's) day at school.  they did a special program in the chapel, and then invited all the kupuna to their classroom for a tour and refreshments.  so happy that they were able to make it here!

this month noa organized a field trip for the entire class to hickam air force base (his former full time, now part time job) to see the C-17 that he flies.  the kids got to see a brief video presentation and then took a bus to the plane for a tour.  nanea was excited that all of her aunties and uncles were on board to also give the tour and explain the different things they do.  thank you to uncles rico and makaio and aunties kerrie and joleen.  all the kids had a great time, and i'm pretty sure noa did too!

with tutu and grandpa

must have been windy!

haircuts for christmas

by the wonderful aunt lennetta. the only person who cut my hair for 20 years before i moved 2500 miles away...

flying "home" (for mommy)

the key to a good flight? keeping them occupied! iPads, schmypads. give me a tv in the seat and i'm happy!

this sorta sums up my 2011

thanks maggie for the card. it kinda made my year...

on to a better, and healthier, 2012!

a day in the life of a kindergartner

a little playdate with jr. high school/high school friend's kids • a picture pillow christmas gift for nanea's teachers • nanea goes to work with mommy!

christmas ornament making • chinese new year • painting

making char siu bao for chinese new year • eating/showing off char siu bao • homegrown butterflies

nanea's teacher took a few days off to visit her son in D.C. always thinking of "her" kids, she brought back a little something for all of the children after visiting thomas jefferson's home. a note and a nickel, an actual pine cone from his home/property and a pencil which listed all of the president from washington to obama. how lucky nanea (we) is/are to have such an amazing teacher!

posting slump...

so many pictures. so much to talk about. completely unmotivated. 2012 has started off with a bang. lots of work (good and bad), lots of school commitments (carnival? h o l y • h e l l). and now taxes. between having to complete our personal 2011 tax returns by TODAY it turns out for financial aid applications (i thought i had until the 15th!) and being audited at work and dealing with the cpas and old, old, old paperwork, i'm a stressed out mess. so, eventually i will post all my old pictures from christmas at disneyland. stay tuned my 3 readers...

a little no more...

nanea leah

1.10.06

8:47am

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today, my older "little" turns 6. i can hardly believe it! i know that all parents think that their kids are great, but nanea truly is (ha! yes, i do know that i am biased!). she is, for the most part, pure joy. smart, witty, outgoing, fun, responsible, loving, and of course as with most bright kids, can be sassy, opinionated and definitely a little miss know-it-all! i wouldn't have her any other way, and i am lucky to be her mom.

below are some pictures taken for Pacific Weddings Magazine last year by the uber-talented Frank Amodo. these are the shots that didn't make it into the magazine. they are all amazing!

happy birthday my sweet goosie-girl!

uncle frank had nanea chase him down the path, while running backwards shooting these photos. so. much. fun. !