Getting that perfect picture, with kids

How hard is it to get 3 keikis to look at the camera at the same time? Extremely hard! Last week we went to Honolulu for a visit and got to see Ka'iulani and baby Kahala, who was turning 1 over the weekend. Kahala and Colin (18 mo.) are about the same size. The kids are so cute!

Alex's 4th and Colin's 1st Birthday Party

Alex and Colin had a Thomas the Train themed brithday party.

Colin with his Percy smash cake


What?! I have cake in my ear!

I'm super cool! We wore Grandpa out at the party. Woo hoo!

Kids

So cute!

Alex takes a picture of Mags

Alex the photographer

Valentine's Day Party at school

Nishime

This was my first attempt at making Nishime, a Japanese vegetable stew traditionally served at New Year's. I've grown up eating it every New Year's, but this was my first attempt at making it (usually my mom or grandmother makes it). I had to go to Ranch 99 Market, because no other store around my house sells the ingredients. While recipes differ, I made a pretty simple Nishime which included kombu (seaweed tied in knots), bamboo shoots, lotus roots, gobo (burdock root) and chicken (I left out the pork for a healthier Nishime). Some people add shitake mushrooms, daikon, carrots, konnyaku, or tofu. My Nishime turned out great! While it was cooking, my kitchen smelled like my grandmother's kitchen during New Year's Eve. I made the kids sit with me while I was cooking so I could keep an eye on the two rascals.

Alex

Colin



Nishime!

Sea Life Park and Obamamania!

Mike took the boys to Sea Life Park, while my mom and I went to fight our way through the after-Christmas sales at Ala Moana. Mike had a special surprise, when Barak Obama showed up with his family at Sea Life Park (guess Barry heard Mike was going to be there)! Alex, oblivious to Obamamania, was way more interested in the dolphin show and the sea lions. Go figure.

Christmas Photos

Alex's First Gymnastics Class

Since Alex loves to jump around like a monkey, I decided to have him try out a gymnastics class. He had a lot of fun trying to do handstands, walk on the balance beam, swing on the low bar and tumble.

Halloween

This year for Halloween Alex and Colin both dressed up as Tigger. So cute!

Animals at Alex's school

Alex's school has all kinds of animals on campus. They started out last year with 3 horses and a pig, and the animal population has grown considerably.

Sheep, Goats, Pigs (see that huge pig with tusks?)

More sheep and piggies

Alex and a Rooster

Bunnies! Alex loves the bunnies because they are so soft.

Turkeys - there are 3 of them

Here is one of the 2 donkeys

There are 2 Emus

More Bunnies

Some fancy chickens

Chickens and Bunnies

Quack, quack the ducks

One of the piglets

That's one big pig!

Alex gets a card in the mail

Random Photos

I wanna be like Mike (Phelps)!

Alex getting ready for his swimming lessons

Alex's Halloween Costume

Stitch, Tigger and Mags!

Colin on the quilt made by his Great-Great Grandma Teruya

Mr. Blue Eyes