first day of school pics

yes, i never post any more.  but, that doesn't mean that I don't want to!  who has the time?  2 girls in school (thankfully the same one now), dance classes, soccer, golf lessons.

spring break in cabo!

this year we were lucky to jet off to cabo san lucas, mexico for spring break.  we met up with our favorite travel buddies the mcmullens, and their (our new) friends the cionis and renzis.  4 families, 8 kids and a teenage babysitter for the occasional parent's night out.  at times, 17 people traveling in a very cool 13-passenger van.  at times it was chaotic, but overall the kids got along, there was minimal fighting and the adults were all great.  margaritas and tequila can get you through anything!

we're in cabo and the kids are inside watching a movie??!?!?  (or maybe playing a game...)

 nothing better than a drink in a pineapple! 

 makena buried in the sand by christian and sophie

this girl would not leave the pool (no sand for her!) 

gorgeous view of the pool and one of the restaurants at esperanza resort (from another restaurant) 

i am OBSESSED with all of the metal lanterns in mexico.  i will own these for my patio one day. 

goosie and hannah.  the best babysitter! 

couple time at edith's 

and the girls at edith's 

ahhhhh...ice cream break by the pool.  it doesn't get better than that!

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!