Here's a little update on the family! I've pretty busy with work, school ,family, etc and haven't been able to keep up! Sorry!
Kekoa was baptized March 29. It was an awesome experience. I have pictures that I'll upload later.
Anson got into the nursing program here at Mohave Community College! It's about time! We've been waiting for 3 years! So, he'll start in the fall and be done in May of 2010. It's been a long time coming! He's mixed cause he really wanted to move up north but we'll stick it our 2 more years here.
Kelly turns 11 and Kainoa turns 6 on Sunday. How time has flown! Kelly is in the 5th grade, very smart, somewhat lazy, loves to play his DS, but a very good boy. Kainoa is in Kindergarten, smart little guy, he's going to be my smallest, active, active active!!!!!!! Anson turns 32 on Monday! He's been doing the P90X workout program and has lost about 30lbs!!!!
There is a light at the end of the tunnel for me!!! I graduate May 19 and can't wait! I can't believe it's almost over but am sooooooooo glad! All are invited!!!
I'll blog more later, just had a few minutes!

Kekai's golf accident

I've been really, really busy! Last Thursday Kainoa was golfing and got Kekai in the head by the left eye! Boy baby! He had a 2 inch cut, down to the bone, was bleeding everywhere! I was at school so mom called me there and told me they were taking him to the ER. I got there and he had an IV and they were trying to get a CAT scan but he wouldn't lie still. They gave him some Versad(sp) that made him kind of loopy and happy. As he went into the CAT scan, I told him it was going to take a picture of him and to say "cheese." He had the saddest look on his face and tried to say "cheese" between the whimpers. We got the CAT scan done and everything looked ok, except he had a sinus infection-this was the most expensive way to diagnose a sinus infection. They had to sedate him to do the stitches. He ended up with about 10 stitches outside and about 3 or 4 dissolvable stitches. He had a nice shiner!

The kids keep telling me that they are sure Kekai has brain damage because he has been so mean, throwing fits, taking things from them, screaming, etc.

He got his stitches out today. He screamed and kicked and wasn't very happy about it. There is one spot that reopened so we have steri-strips on there now. Poor kid!!!!

It wasn't me!!

This is Kekai, he's the baby. Anson gave me some chocolates for Valentine's Day and we opened them the other day. As you can see in the next picture, there are several chocolates with one bite taken out of them and then put back. When I asked Kekai who did it, he replied "Kainoa did it, Kainoa did it." Kekai was holding the chocolates and had chocolate all over his mouth! All we could do was laugh! He's such a character! Spoiled rotten but he's worth it!!!!! It's hard to deny those big brown eyes!

When I leave the house for work he always asks me to bring him a treat. He'll call me at work to remind me that he wants "donuts and bug juice." He always makes me laugh!!!

School and work!!

I took my first test for the semester yesterday and barely passed it. It was a rude awakening to the lack of knowledge that I possess. Nah, it was just that I don't study as much as I should and it really was the hardest test of nursing school. It focused a lot on ventilators and the settings and ABG's and leadership. IT WAS HARD! Most of the class failed the test and that set the mood for the rest of class, lots of complaining. My class has the biggest whiners of all! You would think we were in Jr. High again or something! It gets on my nerves because we are suppose to be adult learners, but some whine about everything!!!!!! Anyways, I am a very good test taker(or guesser)!!!! I'll move on and study more for my next test, I'm just trying to pass!!!
Nathele and I got to work together today for 4 hours and we had a good time. We aren't "allowed" to work together because we are sisters, go figure. Something called Nepatism? sp?
Tell me what little town doesn't have family working together? It happens all over the hospital but for some reason it's not allowed in the nursing home?? Anyways, we had a good time, smiling, laughing, playing with the residents, tricking them (most couldn't tell us apart)! I told the social worker that the nursing home would be a happier place if her and I could work together more often, he agreed!!!! Nani and I use to work together alot at Sandy Regional and we loved it! NOt the work, just being able to be there together! It's interesting how they pay so much attention to some dumb regulations and forget about the importance of the patients and the care they are getting!!!! Hmmmm, something is wrong with this picture! I'm really trying to stay positive about my job but sometimes I struggle! I have to do a research leadership paper and I was going to write about how one positive person can make a big difference in a negative atmosphere, but I am struggling to be positive!!!!!!!
Any advice, comments? I'll report back later on this whole positive matter!

And they lived happily ever after... Feb.15, 208

This picture was taken in June 2003 at our sealing.
11 years has flown by since we said "I do." Circumstances were awkward but, through joy and struggles, we've made it this far. We both have learned to give and take, to apologize(mostly Anson), to laugh at the little things and communicate. I've learned that husband's can't read our minds, so we need to express our feelings, if we want the dishes done, clothes folded, etc-tell them, somehow we think they were blessed with ESP or something. Good, tactful communication will solve many of our "miscommunication" fights!!!!!! (It took about 10 years to learn this)!! We are not perfect and will continue to make mistakes, but with true love and forgiveness, we can work through difficult times.
In 1995 President Hinckley issued the "Proclamation to the Family." In it, they express our beliefs and the importance of the family. IF we would heed to this proclamation, many of our nations problems would disappear. Here are a few exerts from the proclamation.
"The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalms 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, to teach them to love and serve one another, to observe the commandments of God and to be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed. "
I love Anson more today than I did 11 years ago. He has done and taught me so many lessons in life. He has wanted so much more for our family than he ever had and has had to work especially hard to achieve it. He has continually tried to better his life, to improve ours. He is my eternal companion and love of my life!!! I am blessed!! I love you Anson!!!!!
We thank all of those who have supported us for these 11 years, especially when times were tough! We hope that we all can learn to appreciate more, complain less, for we are all very blessed!!

Sweet 16 and 5 children later!!

Kid are so honest!!!! Kawai made me a birthday card and drew this picture of me! She was so cute and Nickie said she was so excited to give it to me!!!! FYI good idea, they made birthday cards out of manila folders, I am going to use them to file things and then give them back to the kids when they are older!!! Thanks!

Another Sweet 16(+15) birthday has come and gone! It was a wonderful day! I was reminiscing of birthdays of the past and how I always have loved my birthday! My very favorite part of my birthday and the thing I miss the most was the call from dad. He would always start out singing "I just called to say I Love You"!!! Of course I thought about that all day and cried, yes cried not surprising!!!!!



One of my favorite moments now is when my children sing "Happy Birthday" to me and end the song with hugs and kisses! What a joy that brings to my day! They truely put everything they have into such a simple song! They do special things like make cards, do their chores, are nice to their brothers and sisters, things that make mom happy! And with the help of their wonderful dad, they make breakfast(mom's favorites) and serve it in bed!!!! I love my husband and children! I can't imagine life without them!!!



Another highlight of the day is the phone calls from my family! It's ok if I didn't get to talk to you, I know you were thinking of me!!!!!!(I'm probably the worst)! Family is one of the most important treasures in my life! I have the most wonderful, caring, kinda weird but mostly normal, fun, loving, ETERNAL family. Thank you for being my family!



I got up early and had to go to class, was late as usual and was glad there weren't any police occifers on the road. Our teacher wasn't in a good mood but I have to admit that we have a bunch of whiners in our class! In between my catnaps, I learned about different respiratory diseases, ventilators, how to be a leader, etc. It's interesting the diversity of people in our class, mostly caucasians, one African American and me, with an age range from 20-55. I don't know where I was going with that.



I actually got to take a nap today! I've forgotten what those were like! My bed didn't want me to get up, but I forced my way out of it!!!!! Kiana and Derena had a basketball game in Kanab and it was fun! They won 22-6. They really are ballers!



Anson stayed home with some of the kids to cook my birthday dinner. We had Stuffed Chicken Parmasean with noodles and homemade marinara sauce, stuffed mushrooms(notice we stuff everything, just can't get enough food), spinach salad, garlic bread, cake and ice cream! It was delicious! Loren, watch out, Anson's the next Iron Chef!!!!! He loves to try new things, watches the Food Network and then makes it! I haven't disliked anything yet!!!!! We went to mom's, Mitch's family,Thele's family and Jen were there. The kids ran wild, grandma tried to keep them occupied by making up games for them to play. We watched American Idol, isn't that girl from Mesa(lives in California) awesome? The night grew late fast and kids were getting on Aunty Jen's nerves, kidding, so we cleaned up and came home. My kitchen was a sight from the wonderful creation Anson stirred up. He said he would clean it in the morning but I thought it was close enough to midnight and my Queen for the day pass had pretty much run out. Kelly helped me with the dishes, Koa swept and it was done in no time.



Now I sit here, it's about 11:49pm, I can barely keep my eyes open, the kids are angels(they are sleeping) and I'm going to end.



What a wonderful day! I truely couldn't ask for anything more! I have a wonderful life and am greatful for every blessing that our Heavenly Father has given me! I need to count them more often and do less complaining!! I have a wonderful life!!!!!!

Pictures

Here is Anson with the boys at a driving range. Anson has picked up golfing since we've moved here to Moccasin and the kids have learned to love it too. Kekai is the baby on the left, then Anson, Kainoa and Kekoa.

This picture was taken around Easter 2006.

Back:Kelly

L-R: Maria, Kiana holding Kekai, Kekoa, Kainoa and Derena.