Valentines Day fun!!

So this Valentines Day we started celebrating early. Our Grandma Hansen is currently nearing the end of her life and we have been able to go down and spend some time with her. My kids have realized, I think, how important it is to say "I Love You" because they see her having what is probably her last one here with us. So, we decided to really enjoy our time together and not dwell on sad, but happy things.

Lani wanted to bring some cookies to her teachers at school on Friday, so on Thursday we started, by making huge, soft sugar cookies. The girls got to decorate and eat some cookies. So much fun!

So, last night I decided to treat them to one of their favorite meals, burgers, fries and a vanilla shake. I know most kids would think nothing of that, but since we rarely eat out, that is a real treat for our girls! They were so excited!!! haha!

Then, we came home and they got part 2 of their Valentines gift, Hannah Montana jammies! They were so excited until I said, "Okay, bath-time!" They didn't want to bath, but they didn't know what was coming next...I filled the master-bathroom jet tub with warm bubbly water, lit candles around the tub and brought them in to enjoy a bubble bath together. They were jumping up and down...Lani even said, "This is the best day of my life!" haha! It was hilarious!!

This morning they woke up to find more valentine treats on the couch in the living room. Chocolates, peeps, gum, etc.

An hour after eating some candy, they got a special breakfast of Cream Cheese filled heart-shaped french toast with Strawberries, syrup and powdered sugar...yum yummmmm!!!

We had a great Valentines Day and hope all the rest of our family and friends did, too!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY EVERYONE!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!!

Okay, so I know it isn't quite Valentine's Day yet, but it seems like we've been getting ready for it at our house for a while now. Of course, having Lani in school this year makes it even more fun! She had to have a special Valentine's box so that her class-mates could deliver all their valentines to her. This is what we came up with, and I think it turned out pretty good! Anyone that knows Lani, knows that she is just a special little "Princess", and I think this box says that all over it! We sure had a great time decorating it!

Lani proudly shows her finished box.

Our girls are so excited about Valentine's Day this year, and it will be very busy for us on that actual day. Unfortunately, a good friend of ours and our former Bishop from StGeorge passed away two days ago and the funeral is scheduled for Valentine's Day. So, we will be making our cookies and taking our "Friend Treats" around today and tomorrow.


So we want to wish all of you a wonderful Valentine's Day!!! We love you!!!

My Girls and their latest "thing"!

Kiara's "Valentines" project. Not bad for a 2 year old!

So, just lately Kiara and Lani have been way into creating stuff. They say to me, "Mom, can I do a project?" Then they proceed to take out every kind of paper we have, all the crayons, scissors, glue and everything else they can think of and make our house look like a tornado has hit! I have to admit that they come up with some pretty creative creations! I haven't thought about blogging about any of them until tonight when Kiara decided that she wanted to do another project. I sat here watching my 2 year old and thinking about how fun she is to watch. I hate to admitt that before I know it she will be grown up and I will only have the memories of these precious times with her! So even though this won't impress any of you very much, I did this post for me! I sure love being a Mom and having these special moments with my beautiful girls!

So proud of her beautiful finished product!

Missing Pictures Now Revealed!!!

Haha! So, here are the pictures to go along with the last post that I did. I finally got my computer to co-operate and let me upload them!!! yay!

Here's Audrey trying to enjoy her millionth cup of ice, yum yum! Poor thing was so hungry!

Here's Charles intently watching his football game, occasionally glancing over at Audrey to make sure she's okay!

Beautiful Audrey just trying to be patient. She was so cute, you could tell that she was so tired, yet she kept on worrying about me and trying to keep me entertained. I love her, she's such a great sister!

Of course our Mama was there, so excited to see little Aryahna...

And we can't forget Uncle Jon who had to stop by to entertain us! In this photo, he's pretending to be the doctor, only he is scared to death,

"Aaaaaahhhh! is the baby out yet?"

I even got a shot of myself with Audrey, just to prove I was really there!

Audrey and Charles-Do ya think she's getting a little tired of this? (about hour 12)

About 7 hours later........

She's finally here!!!!!! Little Aryahna Mary Ellen Sanders. 8lbs, 2oz and 21 inches.

Yep, she's beautiful!!!

The proud papa admires his little princess...

Aaaw, mother and daughter...

The first official family photo! Look at that smile on Aryahna's little face!! Amazing!!

Of course, I had to have my turn holding her. It was a long, long night, but this little angel is worth every second!!!!

And of course, Grandma and Papa

"The spoiling begins!" haha!

They're just doing their job, right?

Here's the little girl that kept us all waiting...

Isn't she gorgeous?!!!!

This just feels wrong!

For those of you who have been following my blog, I have to appologize for not updating in what seems like forever!! It isn't for lack of things to put on here, that's for sure! It feels so wrong to not have posted in such a long time! Almost a month, I'm having withdrawls!!! haha!

I actually have had problems with my camera and getting pics that I have on my computer! Ugh! It is so maddening!

I guess I'll just have to fill you in on what has all happened lately.

Lani's Special Week

The week Lani went back to school after the Holiday break, she was "Kid of the Week". That means she was kind of honored for that entire week. She got to sit at the front of the class and be the teacher's special helper, she got to pick what happened at different times during that week and on Friday all the kids told her what they liked about her and she got to show a slide show of herself from birth up until now, telling about each one as they were shown.

The whole class had to guess details about Lani, her favorite color, favorite food, favorite movie, song, etc. At the end, Lani gave treats out to the whole class. What a fun day that was! Kiara and I went to school so that we could be there with her on her special day. What a wonderful way for a teacher to make her students feel loved and important!

A week later, Lani came home with a bound book full of well-wishes from her class-mates and they had all drawn pictures of Lani. It really made her feel loved! Thank you Mrs. Topham for all the extra time you take for my child, you truly are the best teacher ever!

Aryahna is here!!

This week has been quite eventful for my family. My little sister, Audrey was due to have her baby. On Sunday, I got a call informing me that she had gone to the hospital. I rushed down to StGeorge because she had requested I be there. I guess after being with her on the last two, she couldn't picture it without me and to tell the truth, I couldn't picture not being there!

The whole family was there, so it was kind of a party! You know us Polynesians, it's just not the same without food! The nurses could even smell it from their station! haha!

I got there at 5:00pm and the baby didn't get here until 9:46am on Monday! It was a long, sleepless, drawn out night and scarey too! Audrey wound up having some problems with her heart rate and right at the end, the baby was almost lost! It was very draining both physically and emotionally! I'm so glad everything turned out alright!

The baby was 8lbs, 2 oz and 21" long. She is a beautiful little curly haired baby named Aryahna Mary Ellen Sanders. She is so beautiful! I am so happy for Audrey and Charles! They finally have the little girl they've been anxiously waiting for!

I talked to Audrey the other day and she is doing well and really enjoying motherhood! She is going to be the best Mom!

Lani and Kiara can hardly wait for Aryahna to be old enough to come and play with them!

I took so many pictures at the hospital and someday, when I get this mess straightened out, I'll post them.

That's my update for now!

Sledding!!!

The day after Christmas, with our house cleaned and all the new toys put away, we decided to venture out and do some much needed snow sledding with the new sled Gene bought for the girls. We are lucky to live so close to Canyon View High School and they have some great hills for sledding.

This first video is just your normal type of sledding which is usually exciting enough for "normal children". Not my 5 year old, she has to be the "dare-devil"! Check out the next two videos after this one and you'll see what I mean.

Let's just say that her cousin Big Lani needs to take her Snowboarding now!!

Good job, Lani!

We all had a great time and the weather couldn't have been nicer!

Christmas Morning

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve with Grandma and Papa. We are so happy that they made it in the snowy, cold weather for yet another Christmas Celebration. The girls and I cooked our big dinner and it turned out delicious despite the fact that we forgot to put salt in our roll dough!

We ate and the girls opened their Christmas eve gifts, the usual PJ's and slippers. I guess Lani's growing up because this year she wanted nothing to do with Princess stuff, it was High School Musical instead! We read in the scriptures and talk about our Saviour, Jesus Christ and his humble birth.

With that done and everyone bundled up, we piled into the car to go looking at Christmas lights. So with Carols blasting on the car stereo, we carefully made our way around the town of Cedar on the icy roads and through the falling snow, checking out all the best light displays.

Tired of looking at lights, we decided to go home to eat some Pumpkin Pie, smothered in whipped cream and boy was it good!

Christmas morning my little sis, Audrey and her husband Charles came up to watch the kids open their presents and have breakfast with us. I enjoyed being with Audrey, I don't get to see her enough!

We all had a great time watching the little ones get so excited about their different gifts.

Lani and Kiara so excited to get their blankets from Aunty Tiare.

Breakfast was served and then everyone started heading home in the snow storm.

Our Christmas was a success and I am most thankful that I was able to spend this special time with some of my precious loved ones!