Easter time!

Easter was so much fun this year. Jayci knew what was going on and Danaka is still my little girl who gets excited.

On Saturday the girls went to the Turner's for their Easter Egg hunt and dinner…I love these pics

They make it impossible for the older ones to find all their eggs! Creative work guys!

We had a great Easter Sunday. I have a new calling in my ward as a teacher in Relief Society. I will post more about that later, but that made the day even busier.

I love this picture of my girlies looking at eachother.

The best part about Easter was when showed up to my Nana's, my sweet Nana who is so innocent and thought the following was an Easter shirt. She loved the bunny on it. Oh my sweet Nana.
We had a great dinner and a great egg hunt. Jayci is going to be one to watch out for in the upcoming years! She knew what she needed to do, with a little help from "PaPa" (I love that she calls my dad that).

The Easter Bunny even came on Saturday night and brought me and my girls Marley and Me and some yummy treats. Thanks!

Take me out to the Ball Game!

The past 2 years Danaka has played softball, last year was a horrible year, Danaka did great, but we just won't get in to the coaching staff, this year however was Awesome. Danaka moved up to play 14 & Up. I was so worried about her moving up, but now am so grateful that she did. She had terrific coaches, Mike, Brad, Brian and Ryan. They cared out about the girls, but also liked winning. Danaka's team didn't win one game last year, so this year to win all but 2 was so much fun.

Danaka mostly played short and second, and when they played a harder team that could hit far, she would play the outfield. There was one game where she was standing in right field and a ball came towards her, a little high, I thought no way, I know what a bad mom, but dance came in to play and she did a little leap backwards and caught the ball. She looked at her glove in amazement, then looked at me holding it up. I was so excited for her and the look on her face was priceless.

Danaka's team the "wild frogs" had an awesome season. They do this one thing were someone yells "Wild" and the all yell "Frogs" and get into position. I love it.

They came in second place, but had to play on a Saturday after closing ceremonies, because they were tied with the only team they had lost too, and we were the only team they had lost too. It was an exciting game, but they ended up losing. But hey second place is great.

Thanks to the coaches this year, and thanks to the Vandertoolen's for making Dan move up and for helping me out so much. You guys are great.

Danaka, I am so proud of you. You came so far this year, and I am so excited to continue to watch you grow in a sport that you love so much. Way to go MuNcHkIn!

Happy 80th Birthday Nana

February 11^th was my Nana's 80^th birthday. We planned a surprise Luau for her. It was my job or should I say my privilege to take my Nana to have her hair done that day, she thought that we were just all meeting for dinner. All day she kept telling me, you guys aren't planning anything other than dinner right? I will not be happy if you are. My nana has never given me the third degree, but I guess there is a first for everything.

We invited tons of family and some great friends. We rented out a building to have it in so that we would have enough room. For those of you that don't know my uncle is Tongan and does shows with this family. They are always so much fun. I use to hula with my cousins when I was little, but started to develop a little bit of a complex when I was the only white girl out there, and I have to admit I just couldn't shake it like they can.

My aunt made tons of great food, pulled pork, salads, everything you can imagine at a Luau. My cousin Nicci, made the cake and it was beautiful. I am not one to take pics of food, but I couldn't resist on this.

It was my other Aunt's job to get my nana there, and she did great. She told her that she just had to pick Jackie (mu aunt) up for dinner, because my uncle was out of town.

The grandkids each got to say something about Nana, the ones that spoke did great. My sister did the best poem about my nana. If you want to read it click here She did a great job. Since I am not a great writer and not the best talker I decided to make a video of my grandmas life. It was so fun to see all the pictures and learn a little bit more about my sweet Nana.

It was a great party, and a great way to honor and FANTASTIC woman. I love you Nana.

Skiing…

I love to ski, and love that Danaka shares in my love. A few years ago Santa brought Danaka ski lessons, she had so much fun learning it that she wanted to do it again the next year. My parents thought it would be fun for the grandkids to all learn so that is their gift to the girls for Christmas. We had so much this year. All of them (Danaka, K'Lynn and Kandace) are all so fun. It is funny to see personalities come through on the slopes. Danaka likes speed and jumps but is cautious. K'Lynn is a lot like me, take it slow and enjoy the ride, Kandace on the other had scares me. She is quite the dare devil. I remember one time last year taking her down the bunny hill, she wated to go fast, so down she came, I am skiing behind her and thought for sure she was going to hit the tree that quickly coming up. I yelled Kandace sit, Kandace sit, Kandace sit down. She did just as I said the third time, got up laughing and said that was fun. This past season Kandace came down way before anyone else in her class and when she was asked where her teacher was she simply replied "He was too slow, so I left".

Since I had Jay, I don't get to ski as much as I would like, so we all have our little party in the lodge while the girls are off skiing.

I love the mountains and I love skiing, I love being up there with Danaka, just doing something that we both love and no pressure to perform or ski a certain way.

Thanks for a good season Danaka. I can't wait for next year.

Have I said how much I love being up there.

Jayci trying to get gloves on to head out…2 more years Jay and you will be out there.

She is one cute skiing chick!!!

Updates are coming TODAY!!!

I have so much to post about and will hopefully have them all out today.

"Cheering" You On

So I know I haven't posted forever, and I will update, but I had to let everyone know that Danaka is trying out for her Jr High Cheer Squad tomorrow. I can't believe she is old enough to be doing this already!

I just wanted to let Danaka know how much I love you and how proud I am of you. You will do a great job! Good Luck Dannie!

***Update***
Unfortunately Danaka didn't make the squad this year. I couldn't be more proud of her, she worked so hard, you'll get 'em next year. I do have to so that after the meeting to find out wether or not they made it, she went running down the stairs to go and tell the volleyball coach she could play again this year. She had a hard time even deciding to try out because of how much she loved playing volleyball. She is such a great kid and always finds the silver lining. I love you Dannie!

Sigh....

I am a blog slacker again. I have so much that I need to post and fully intend on updating this weekend.

I have 2 quotes to explain my absence...

1. " I have no life, my daughter plays fast pitch softball!", and we will also add dance, school and she has a small social life!

2. You know you are wearing thin we you very nicely say to your dog, "no, no that's yucky" when he goes to get something off the floor you just dropped, and in a not so nice voice tell your sweet toddler who has discovered the art of walking "sit and stay".

I NEED more hours in the day!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Yesterday was my Mom's birthday. I hope she had a great day.

My mom is truly one of the greatest people I know, she has put up with more than her fair share from me, and some how still finds it in her to talk to me :-)

We all met for dinner last night at Chilis, and the funniest thing happened on the way home. We saw a full moon on the way home. Thats right some strange guy was mooning someone right in the middle of the intersection. What kindof FREAK would do that! Oh wait, as much I as I hate to admit that, yep that would be my brother, and I was the poor victim. I hope his Fiance knows exactly what she is getting herself into! Does he not know that you can be arrested for that! I wasn't going to post about it, because it is kindof embrassing that my 23 yr old brother would do that, but hopefully he reads this, and is a little embrassed!

We don't do birhtday presents for the girls in the family, on Friday we are doing our traditional girl's night out MASSAGES. We have a lot of fun, we get massages from a FANTASTIC spa, and then go and have dinner. I so need one, so I am very much looking forward to it. I will post about that later.

Happy Birthday Mom, We Love You!

Perfect!

WAY TO GO DANAKA!!!



(This is obviously an old pic of Danaka, but I love it....So I thought why not use it)

Danaka got a 4.0 on her report card. I am just being her mom and bragging, but I am truly proud of her. She worked so hard. Keep up the great work sweetie!

You are so my child....

So anyone that knows anything about me, knows that I love COKE (the drink that is is). I always have an always will. I drink my fair share and Jayci tries to drink her share. I walked into the kitchen and when I walked back in, Jayci had discovered my mug and was having a little treat.

Picture 1 - Jayci enjoying a refreshing sip of good old Coca Cola,

Picture 2 - I needed the rest for me!

Oh Jayci Jo

Ms Jayci is one of kind. I have been trying for a few months to get Jayci's "Look" on camera. When ever you do anything that is not pleasing to the princess she throws you a look. It is a hillarious!!! Oh sweet Jayci, I love you.

RiLeY RoSe!

We had Greg's niece Riley come stay with us for a few days. We didn't do too much, just kindof hung out. Danaka and Riley went with Angela and her girl's to see HSM3, yes they are juset now seeing it!!! We did go and see Marly and Me! It was the BEST movie. I loved the book and I loved the movie. Rose and I walked out bawling. We were going to go shopping, but we had fun playing games and watching movies. I was going through Danaka's camera to get pics of her and Jay, I came across their photo shoot, I have included just a few. YOU CRAZY GIRLS!

I love her so much, she is such a fun person and we love having her around. Thanks for coming Riley! We love you.

Ho Ho Ho Came!

Christmas was so much fun this year. Danaka appreciated all the fun things about Christmas, the lights, the music and just being around family. Jayci learned to say Ho Ho Ho so every where and still everywhere we go, she is saying Ho Ho Ho. She wasn't too fond of Santa, but did like her presents.

We had a couple of family Christmas parties this year where Santa came , but Jayci wanted nothing to do with him. Even the awesome Santa and Mrs. Claus that came that read a story, sang songs and even must have read their naughty and nice list because they knew all about each kid there. They gave each kid a gift and Candy cane.

On Christmas morning, we got up at 6:00 to open presents. My mom, dad and brother came down, to watch with Greg and I as the girl's opened their presents.

Danaka got a new cell phone, a new camera, clothes, jewelry, shoes, Itunes gift card, visa gift card and other fun things.

Jayci got clothes, a new car seat (what a smart Santa), a leap pad table, books and other things. She did not upwrap 1 gift. She saw her table and that was it.

After we opened presents here, we went to my mom and dad's to open our gifts from them.

I got $$$ for new carpet Yeah ME! and the typical Christmas stuff, movies, socks, calendar and so on.... I had a great Christmas and am so glad Santa still visits us. The girls got lots of fun and nice stuff from both sets of Grandparents, The Keddingtons, Chris and Danica, Dana, Jackie and my Nana.

After that we went to my grandma's for breakfast, then the girls went to Turner's to open presents with their cousins. Thanks grandma and grandpa Turner.

And after that WE CRASHED. We all went to sleep and slept in! Even Ms. Jayci. Here are few pics of Christmas Day.

One part about Christmas that I loved so much this year, was the chance to learn to make my Nana's famous fruit cakes that she makes at Thanksgiving and Christmas. "Yuck" you might be thinking, but they are not your typical fruit cakes. They are actually called a Poor Man's Fruit Cake. They are almost a cocoa bread with nuts and raisins. She was telling me that the receipe was her mom's who got it from her mom. How neat that I now have that I can make that a tradition with my girls. Thanks Nana for a great time. I love you!

Christmas Eve

We have a tradition that every year on Christmas eve we meet at my grandma's for a small dinner, and then head to the cemetary to decorate my grandpa's grave. We have done this every year since he passed and I love the feeling that it brings when we are there.


My sweet Nana, braving the cold Kindof!




After the cememtary we head to my mom's to open our Christmas pjs, and read stories. My mom and dad buy the girls a Christmas book and they all take a turn reading their stories. This year my brother had a little idea to throw a twist in. My parents had a St Bernard named Chopin for 13 years. We had Christmas pictures taken with Chopy every year. SO muuch fun walking through the mall with a 150 lb dog and having him slobber on anyone and everything. Anyway my mom has wanted a dog ever since chopy passed but they have just put it off for different reasons the last couple of years. My dad even told me before we went to the cemetary that if we bought them anything that was alive, that we better be able to take it back. My brother's fiance's uncle breeds labs, so my brother thought it would be great to play a joke a bring my mom a nem pup, knowing how my dad feels about getting "live" things for Christmas we were just waiting for the words to start flying. When we brought the dog in, my dad held his cool but was not happy about it. The little dog named Moose loved my dad, he jumped on his lap and gave him kisses and everything. My dad didn't find it too cute. My mom loved him, and would have kept him. When we finally told them after a half hour that it was a joke, my dad's holdai spirit seemed to perk right up, that is until moose decided to pee on everything!!! At least it was a joke huh Dad.
Mr Moose himself


After my mom's we came home, read out traditional "Twas the night before Christmas" and it was off to bed, well at least for the girls. I think it was about 2:00 when my head finally hit the pillow, just to have to wake up at 5:00. What would Christmas eve be without procrastination.

Way to Go Girls!

Danaka played on her school's volleyball team this year. It was a blast to learn the sport with her, to watch her participate in another type of team sport.

The girls made it to region and took 3rd place.

The last night the coach holds a Parent's play the players, I was grateful that Greg has a clue about volleyball because heaven knows I don't. It was fun to watch them play together with all the other parents.

Danaka I am so proud of you. You were AMAZING! I am so glad that you have the courage to try something new and to give it your all.

Christmas Band Performace

Danaka doesn't like me very much this year. She really wanted to play the clarinet last year. I told her that if I bought her a clarinet that she had to play it through 8th grade. What a mean mom huh!!!!



Anyway, she had her Christmas band concert and she did great!



Jayci loved the music and danced her little heart out.



Way to go Danaka!

Dance...Dance...Dance

I love December and all that it brings, especially knowing that I get to see Danaka dance. I absolutely love watching her dance. She grows so much between each recital, and this time was no exception. She did beautiful. We had to make some changes with dance this year and to be honest they turned out for the best. Danaka has grown more in the past 4 months than she has in the past 2 years.



My favorite performances are Care Centers. The sudio performs at them every year, and they are the performances that mean the most. The residents there are always so sweet, and just grateful that we are there. Here are just a few pics of the Care center performances. I was back stage during recital and have not yet gotten the pics yet. I will post when I get them.



The other great part about dance is Jayci is so fun to watch. She just bounces and claps, put her hands in the air and just has a ball whenever any music comes one. I for sure need to get video and post.



Danaka you did FANTASTIC! You are absolutely beautiful and I am so glad that we can share something so close to my heart.

Thanksgiving...It's Only January

My New Year's resolution was to do better blogging. Great start huh. Anyway instead of combining all posts that I have missed into 1, and I going to do short and sweet enteries about all that we have been up to the last 6 weeks.

First is Thanksgving. We had a great. I had both the girl's and was so happy to have them with me. We ate dinner at my mom's with all my cousins, my 2 aunts, my grandma my parents and my brother. We had a ton of people and a ton of yummy food.

Jayci decided that she really likes green bean casserole, and not to found of sweet potatos or mashed potates.

After dinner we went and saw Four Christmases. I love Reese Witherspoon, and this movie did not let me down! The only pics I have of Thanksgiving is Jayci eating breakfast in the morning. I guess that is better than none!

Coming Soon....

I know you are all on the edge of your seats! I have a ton of updates that I will be adding today and tomorrow!


Hope everyone had a great holiday season. Me and my girls did!