Ava turns 1...

Our little priness is growing so fast!  Ava turned one on September 22 and it just so happened to fall on a Saturday so we got to celebrate her birthday on the actual day she was born.  It was at our chuch building in Ewa Beach.  Everything went great {although I was freaking out the whole time while setting up}.  It was a candyland theme and overall I thought it turned out pretty good.  Vonn Logan did an amazing job on the food as usual and so did the family who supplied the pupu's.

Panoramic view of gym

  My sister-in-laws friend loaned us her sign

  My beautiful sign-in girl

 We had a bouncy house for the kids...

 A cupcake bar with all the toppings you could want...

{We also had a candy bar which is not pictured}

We had "Sparkles a clown" do face painting for the kids...{she's awesome by the way}

We had "Mike the Magician" do a magic show and he was also awesome.  Then we also had games and crafts for the kids.  We sang happy birthday to the ONE YEAR OLD {gosh I can't believe it!}  Then let her dive into her little cake.  She didn't really "dive in", it was more like tenderly moving the icing around and looking at it.  By the end of the night she had had it and just wanted to sleep.   I couldn't blame her cause felt the same way.  I think everyone enjoyed themselves and am grateful for those who helped and came out to celebrate with us! 

Ava Kairi, daddy and I are so grateful to have you in our lives.  Your spunky spirit and fun loving, wild personality fills my days with smiles and laughter!  You are a gorgeous daughter of our Heavenly Father and I pray that he will always bless you with nothing but the best!  We love you always, always!

Love, Mom and Dad

Celebrating August Birthdays...

...At the beach.

Sometimes you just gotta...

Kick up your feet and relax!

He's a Kindergartner now...

My first baby is now a Kindergartner!  Time sure does fly.  He did awesome on his first day.  So much so that he forgot I was there.  He just wanted to be in school.  He walked right into his class, found his cubby, put his things away and sat down to color.  He didn't even have time to say goodbye.  Hope you keep up that attitude Dezi, have a great year!

Graduating class of 2012...

He did it!!  Yes my little man graduated from preschool.  It seems a little silly but it is totally adorable if you ask me.  He graduated from Seagull School in Ocean Pointe on June 15, 2012.  They sang songs, read the names and what they wanted to be when they grew up, (Dezi said he wanted to be a teacher) and then had a lei congratulatory thing afterward.  He was so proud of himself and I was happy for him!  Afterward, we ate at Highway Inn in Waipahu.  Perfect ending for a wonderdul day!

His supporters.....with a few missing.

Congratulations Dezi!  We're so proud of you and love you more than you'll ever know!

Nuhi/Au Family Reunion 2012...

*Warning:  Some pictures may gross you out*

And another family reunion has come and gone but it was tons of fun!  Every two years my family from my Great grandpa and Great grandma Kahana's side come together to catch up with one another, eat onolicious Hawaiian food made entirely by our family and to just have plain fun. 

{Naysa, Belinha, Dezi, Ian, Kia'i}

Every reunion my family makes (from scratch) the delicious Hawaiian food that everyone can't wait to grind on.  And that includes the pig.  My uncle brings a pig every year and shows the family (who can stand to watch) how to make Kalua pig from beginning to end.  Last year was a little scary with the pig running off and the men chasing it down with it's neck slit wide open!  Believe me everyone was shocked to say the least.  So this year was improved upon.  They tied up the pig, shot it in the head, then slit the throat.  I liked it much better since you couldn't actually hear it squealing from the pain.  It was already dead.

After that they bled it out, poured hot boiling water on the skin then scraped the skin and hair off using the back of a knife.  I was proud that I got in on the action too.  It stunk to high heaven but at least I can say I helped.

The remainder of the hair of shaved off using a woman's shaver.  That's Gil in the orange shirt.  Then it was torched or burnt slightly to take off any excess hair and the toenails.

Then it was time to gut and rinse.  Gil did the gutting.  It was too gross so I didn't post pictures but here they are rinsing the whole thing out.  Then they wrapped it in bed sheets, hung it from a tree for some hours (I'm guessing to dry it out?)  I never asked about that part, then put it in the Imu which was prepped earlier that day.  It cooked over night and was shredded the next day right before we served.  It sure was good.

I love that my family gets together and we can experience all these things.  I am definitely more grateful for the Kalua pig that I eat now, now that I know all the hard work that actually goes into it.  Another 2 more years and the fun can begin all over again!

9 month old Ava...

I do realize I missed her 8th month.  We've had some problems with our cameras but I'm glad I'm back in business.  Oh this princess of mine...her personality is really starting to come out and to tell you the truth I'm a little scared!

1.  This little princess finally decided she wanted to crawl.  At her 9 month check up her doctor told me, "she's just not built for crawling."  Two days later that's exactly what she did.  However, she only crawls to an object (hopefully mommy) to pull herself up to stand.

2.  She LOVES to stand.  She will pull herself up on anything that doesn't move.

3.  She spits while eating and thinks it's the funniest thing in the world.  I guess it kind of is at first, then I realize I have to clean it up.

4.  She loves to give kisses and will keep kissing you until she is satisfied.

5.  She screams to get your attention.  (You see why I'm scared?  LOL!!)

6.  She wants what she wants and will cry and scream till she gets it.

7.  Ava is quite the talker and will voice her opinion anytime she sees fit.

8.  This princess also needs to be held.  ALL THE TIME!

9.  Even though I get exhausted sometimes, all she has to do is smile at me and everything melts away.

10.  In the last few weeks two teeth have popped out!

11.  She loves to play and hit faces.

12.  I don't where she gets it from but has a REALLY long tongue.

13.  She is a self soother.

14.  Loves her "Lovey Blanky."  Can't go to sleep with out it.

15.  Loves rice and bread.

16.  She pulls her hair when she's angry and has had enough.

I love this little girl to pieces!  It's been a whirl wind 9 months but I wouldn't change a thing!  I love you Ava!