The Show Must Go On

That was the title of Gabe's play this weekend. It was a musical revue chock full of maybe 40+ dances and songs. He was in probably 6 numbers - had several solos, duets and danced a lot. He has quite the stage presence! Will try to post pictures soon.

He leaves for Scotland in 2 weeks so this week I need to devote time to getting him ready for his trip as well as for the start of school (which he'll miss the 1st two weeks)...sounds like a money drain to me!

On the Mend

We are slowly recovering! Michelle and Hannah went back to school on Thursday, Carly is doing better, the baby is improving and I am at about 80% I think!

Gene has been so great at helping with the baby at night especially and Susan came over on Thursday night to help.

Next week is sure to be better!!

Sick Sick Sick

It started with Michelle last Wednesday night - fever, stuffy nose, coughing and vomiting. Carly got it on Saturday (minus the vomiting thank goodness). Lehua and I got it yesterday. Today Hannah came home from school with 102 fever. So this is a very nasty day - with 4 really sick kids and a sick mama...

This too shall pass.

The First Week

Well it has been more than 1 week since we became a pair of mid-to-late 50's parents with seven children ranging in age from 11 months - 22 1/2 years old. What we have learned (or re-learned) thus far:

1. Some things have changed - there's Similac, Similac with iron, Similac Advanced, Similac R.S., Similac Isomil Advanced etc. etc. etc. and they all cost about $22.00 per can! (calculate x 2 cans per week)
2. Some things have not changed - cornstarch is still as good as baby powder.
3. An 11 month old, a 35 month old and an 8 year old cannot fit the same size diaper - no matter how you alter the thing. (Believe me I've tried)
   
4. It is totally unrealistic to expect Hannah to NOT play with, touch, monopolize or break the new kids' toys.
5. Job, hobbies, sleep take a back seat to everything these days.
6. The best way for a 55 year old to get down off the hill in the backyard in one piece (while holding on to a child) is on one's ample butt (the 55 year old's - not the child's).
   
7. "Hi Mom!" are nice words.
8. "I sorry" are too.
9. "Mom - can you download another episode on my ipod?" are bad words.

But the best thing we've re-learned (and continue to re-learn daily) is that Heavenly Father is there to strengthen, uplift and cheer always, always, always.

Its all good.

They're Here

The girls arrived on Friday! They are adorable little ones. Carly is almost 3 and Lehua is almost 1.

Some challenges but lots of love and excitement.

"Reestablishing" a nursery and baby proofing the house after 8 years has been a fun, interesting and cash draining experience! But we bought the toddler bed, high chair, clothes (they came with practically nothing), the baby food and the most awesome stroller!

The other kids are over the moon about these new ones as are we. Pics up soon.

Oh also Susan is moving to Sunset Beach area - moving into a house with a bunch of friends. We will miss her (and our car which she is taking for a little while). She plans on coming over on Sundays for church, dinner and the washer and dryer.

Well Its True

Our house will be bursting at the seams. 2 new little girls are scheduled to arrive on Wed. July 1. As you may know from previous post they are almost 1 and almost 3 years old.

Hannah and Michelle are over the moon about being big sisters.

As soon as we take photos I'll post them but until then we are busy arranging, rearranging, scheduling, rescheduling and just getting so excited about the whole thing.

The Lord truly has us in mind and we continue to lean on Him for support and guidance while rejoicing the the great blessing He is about to bestow upon us.

Special News for Hannah & Michelle

Hi Girls,

I have some special news - on Thursday we will find out about 2 little girls who will soon come to live with us.

One girl is almost 1 years old. Her name is Lehua. The other girl's name is Carly Rose. She is almost 3 years old.

I know this is a a big surprise. It was a surprise for Daddy and me too. The social worker just called and asked us if we wanted more children in our family.

So after my airplane lands then Dad and I will go to the social worker's office. They will come home to us in afew days.

I know you are both ready to be big sisters. I know you will be kind and helpful to the 2 little girls. You can help today by making sure you put all your toys away and put the little toys up high so that Lehua doesn't get them in her mouth.

I love you!
Mom

Good Morning Hannah & Michelle!

I am having a very nice time learning to make books. Cousin Ally is a very good teacher. So far I have made 8 books of different sizes.

Tonight is my last night here in Portland. Tomorrow morning I will catch the plane home. I should be home by the time you get home from school.

Cousin Ally and Aunty Alo have a great big dog named Arlo. He is a Malamute. He has lots of white, black and gray fur. He has blue eyes. Aunty Alo rides her bike and Arlo runs along the side of her as she rides.

Michelle - Did you like Young Women last night? Dad said you went to see the movie "Up". I hope you will be able to go to Kamaaina Kids today!

Hannah - I was happy to hear that you read Mrs. Wishy-Washy. You are getting to be such a good reader.

I love you both very much. I know you are being good and being kind to all your friends and family.

Love,
Mom

Good Day to My Two Girls!

Hello Hannah and Michelle!

I am still in Portland with Aunty Alo and cousin Ally. Ally is teaching me how to make books! It is very exciting, interesting and fun. Above is a picture of their cat named ReeRee.

I am so glad you are both having a good time at school. How did you like going to the Old Spaghetti Factory last night with Dad, Susan, Jacob, Gabe and Aubrey? Did Aubrey like the spaghetti?

Here is a picture of cousin Ally.

I will be coming home on Thursday. It will be my birthday on that day! At dinner time we will go to cousin Micah's house for dinner because they are having a graduation party for their big brother, Telenoti.

Have a great day at school! Remember to always be kind.

Love,
Mom

Pictures for Hannah & Michelle

Thank you for your emails! I love reading them!

On Friday n ight I went to Temple Square with Aunty LeAnn and Aunty Stephanie and Vanessa. Remember Vanessa the girl who slept in your room with Sara? Here are 2 pictures - one of me standing next to a statue of a mother and a boy. The other is of the Salt Lake Temple. Isn't it beautiful?

.

Last night I went to a wedding reception. My friend Suzie's son got married. Her son's name is Jared and his bride's name is Cristina. The first picture is of me and Suzie. The second is of Jared and Cristina. The party was held inside a big red barn! It was so fun to attend a party in a barn!

Today I will drive from Salt Lake City to Las Vegas then I will catch a plane to Portland, Oregon.

Did Jacob tell you his exciting news? He has been called to serve a mission in Boise Idaho! He will be a missionary for 2 years! He has to come to Utah for training in August then he will go to Boise. So in August our whole family will get on the airplane and come to drop Jacob off in Utah. You girls will get out of school for maybe 1 week or more so that you can ride the airplane with us and come to Utah. That will be very exciting!

I love you. I know you are being helpful and obedient. Always remember to be kind too. I will be home on Thursday - that day is my birthday too! Yipee!

Love,

Mom

Jacob's Missionary Call

Came today! He's bound for Boise, Idaho! Reports to Missionary Training Center in Utah on Aug. 19! So happy for him!

A Big Hello to Hannah & Michelle

Hi my girls,

Well Thank you for the email Hannah! Michelle - I am sorry you missed your fieldtrip but that is so fun that you got to go and pet that mouse!

I got to Las Vegas last night. This morning I will drive to Utah with Aunty Stephanie. It will be a 6 hour drive. Tonight we will go to dinner at a special restaurant next to the Salt Lake Temple. It is a very beautiful place.

I will try to post a picture tonight.

Did you like the lockets I left for you? Did you like the pictures inside?

Have a great day at school! Remember to be obedient and always be kind.

Tell Mr. Brindle or Ms. Juliet to do me a favor - I don't know Michelle's teacher's name and I don't have Jenelle's email address so I hope you can tell them to allow Michelle to read the blog everyday if possible. Jenelle can email me her email address and phone - Ms. Juliet you can give her my phone number if she doesn't have it. Thank you so much.

Love to both of you girls!
Mom

Lost

Where oh where can my camera be? Perhaps in Orlando?

Maybe time for a new one...but the old one was only like 3 months old!

If you see it - CALL!!!

In 3 days

I will be flying to Las Vegas. I will overnight at my cousin Stephanie's then she and I will drive to Salt Lake City area. Am going to a wedding reception in Mapleton, Utah. My friend Suzie Bray (who moved from Hawaii like maybe 15 years ago?) - her oldest, Jared, is getting married in the Manti Temple with reception to follow in Mapleton. Suzie doesn't know I'm coming!

We'll leave Salt Lake on Sunday and drive back down to Las Vegas then I will leave Sunday night for Portland, Oregon. My sweet niece Ally is conducting a a 3 day Bookbinding workshop for me! I am super excited since I have been looking for one for almost a year and a half now.

I get back home on my birthday, June 25. My upgrade already came through for the outbound flights so things are definitely starting our very fine!

Okinawa 1945

Gabe is in a play called Okinawa 1945. It is the play that his school is going to be performing at the Fringe Festival in Scotland (after I pay the last payment of $2,248 today!- yikes!), Went to see it on Saturday night.

It is sobering - the story of high school girls in Okinawa who are studying to be nurses. They are forced to take care of injured Japanese soldiers hiding in caves on their island. It is a very sad story.

Here is a picture of Gabe - he's a Japanese soldier. (top right)

Its kind of a dream-come-true role for him.
He gets to where a uniform and carry a gun (and shoot it!)

To Michelle & Hannah

Here is a picture of the penguins from the movie Madagascar!

Today Dad went to an alligator farm and saw lots of alligators, alligator babies, turtles, and other reptiles. He watched the farm owner feed the alligators. The alligators eat great big rats! he even saw a white alligator - it is called an albino alligator.

We will be home Friday night. Have a great time in school and remember to be kind to everyone!

Love,
Mom & Dad

Hello Girls - We're in Orlando

Hi Hannah and Michelle!

How is your first day at ESY?

Dad and I are in Orlando, Florida. It is very hot here. From our hotel room we could see the fireworks at Disneyworld. Yesterday we went to Universal Studios and we saw Shrek and also the penguins from the movie Madagascar!

Last night we went to dinner at the Rainforest Cafe. They have fake elephants and gorillas in the restaurant - but they look and sound real. It was a lot of fun.

Today I will go to my meeting and Dad will swim at the pool. Here is a picture of Dad in our hotel room.

We will be home on Friday night and we will bring you special surprises.

Remember to do your work and be helpful and cheerful. We love you. And remember to always be kind.


Love,

Mom and Dad

Byodo In Temple and a Cute Cousin

We went to Byodo In Temple yesterday with the girls and and with my cousin Herman, son Steve and Steve's wife Michelle and their daughter (who is 3, sooooooooooooo smart and soooooooo cute!).

The girls loved seeing the fish, feeding the birds and playing with their cousin.

It was a nice relaxing afternoon. Afterward we went to eat Chinese food at Pah Ke's (yum).

I really enjoyed meeting Steve and Michelle and their daughter but wish we had more time to visit. They live in Pasadena - maybe we'll stop by sometime when we go to California.

An Elder Now

Jacob was ordained to the office of an Elder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints last night, June 3, 2009 by his father Gene Wright. Gene was assisted by Bro. Irving Chun and the 2 missionaries assigned to our Ward.

All in all it was a wonderful night. One step closer...

Smooth

Classic... glad we got this on video...our tuition dollars

Something Special (Olympics, that is...)

This past weekend was the State Special Olympic State Games at the University of Hawaii. The whole fam went to cheer on our two athletes.

Michelle placed first in Softball Throw and Running Broad Jump. She placed 2nd in 50 meter.

Hannah placed 1st in 50 meter, 2nd in Softball and was disqualified in Running Broad Jump (line?what line?).

Our friend Aubrey placed first in every event she participated in.

Michelle made friends with a dog named Heidi.

Both girls chose sombreros for their prizes for their awesome lawn bowling skills...which Gene and I ended up holding.

Special Olympics is da bomb! It is so unbelievable that so many people volunteer to help kids like Michelle and Hannah. It provides such a great opportunity for them to excel in an activity since in most activities they lag behind their same age peers.

Michelle at the Beach

While we were traveling Susan took everyone to the beach. Here's a great picture of Michelle. That's Cheyne and Hannah in the background.

Ryan's Wedding - Family Time

I went to my nephew Ryan's wedding in Yosemite. Left on May 6 and spent a night at my cousin Herman's house. Met his son David and friend Theresa - they are a great couple! I so enjoyed meeting David! Alo and Allie flew in as well and Stephanie too so we all stayed at Herman's (thanks cousin!)

Here are some photos of David, Stephanie & Theresa.

In the morning we left for Yosemite. We stayed in a great cabin! Tess drove up with Alo's friend Randy. Steve came up with Susie and family. Sam and Claudia got a cabin too. Bill came up with Paul too.

Our cabin for 6 people! - 2bedrooms/2 bath

The wedding was beautiful - Ryan and Megan looked so happy!

The setting was gorgeous

and it was so great being around my family!

I really am tall too - I was just standing in a hole.

We played Hi Henry - and Bill lost -

Flew home May 10 -just in time to spend a few Mother's Day hours with the fam!

Glimpses of Russia

Its really hard to fathom that we were standing in the Kremlin on May 1. On our short 4 day visit to Moscow we saw Red Square, St. Basil's, Kremlin, and many other sights. The cupolas on the churches were amazing - many made of gold.

Some church

St. Basil's

A grocery store - can you believe it?

Red Square

We saw many people - the young ones speak English. Everyone was kind - when a girl collapsed on the metro many came forward to help her.

We had a great guide named Ludmila who shared with us her love of Moscow as well as her knowledge of her country, city and people. She lived through Soviet rule, Perostroika and the current "quasi--capital" systems.

I'll post more in the coming weeks - but suffice to say - I never thought I would live to see the fall of communism - and I did! And it never entered my mind that I would travel to Moscow! What an incredible experience.

Greetings to Hannah & Michelle from California!

Hello Girls! Were you surprised to wake up this morning and see your cousins sleeping over? Vanessa and Sarah will be staying until May 18. Dean and Laura will be staying until May 13! You will have a great time with them. Maybe they will take you to the beach (you have to ask Daddy).

Hannah - thank you for sleeping on your mattress on my bedroom floor so that Laura could sleep in your room. Michelle - thank you for sleeping on the couch with Susan so that Vanessa and Sarah can sleep in your room.

Remember to not make too much noise in the morning so you don't wake everyone up.

I am in the Admiral's Club at the Los Angeles Airport. I will catch another plane to San Francisco in about an hour. Tomorrow I will drive to Yosemite National Park. I think I will see some animals like maybe a hawk or squirrels - maybe a deer if I am luck. I will take pictures.

Gabe has a Dance Concert this weekend. You can ask Susan to take you when she goes with Vanessa, Sarah, Dean and Laura and Jacob. Ask Daddy for $6 for tickets. You will need to remember to practice good audience behavior.

Be good for Daddy. You have Special Olympics practice on Saturday. And early Saturday morning there is a Mother's Day Breakfast at the Church - Josiah's dad is cooking it. I think Daddy will take you.

I will be home on Sunday night. I love you. Remember to be kind.

Love Mom!

California Here I Come

Heading to my nephew Ryan's wedding near Yosemite. Leaving tonight at 9:00 - arrive in SFO tomorrow morning and meet up with cousin Stephanie, Alo and Allie. We'll overnight at Herman's in Foster City then drive to Yosemite area on Friday. The wedding is Saturday.

We are staying at Homestead Cottages. Susie and family and Bill are getting cabins there too. It should be a fun time!

Never been to Yosemite!!

Back on Sunday night.

Windows on Russia

So my other obsession in Moscow was windows... and here are some of them...fascinating, don't you think? (I know, I'm weird)

Once upon a time in a land far, far away...

Moscow was a most fascinating place. I'll post different aspects of the trip over the next few days.

For some reason I was fascinated by patterns - I saw patterns everywhere...at cemeteries, palaces, along streets - whether I looked up or down - patterns.

Life in Moscow seemed to occur in patterns too. People descended and ascended into the amazing Moscow metro in lines remniscent of ants encroaching on food left overnight on the counter. They leaned forward and backward standing on long long escalators which took them into or out of the bowels of the stations. They sat next to one another on the metro car with nary a space between each body. They each got up in the same fashion - exactly one stop before their intended station and made their way to the metro car door where they stood in line waiting for the door to open for the brief 10 second stop...at which time they did what all Moscovites do...kept moving.