Chrysty and Jeff, CONGRATULATIONS on the baby to come! It’s simply amazing seeing all of my friends having babies…MAKES ME SO GIDDY! ) I couldn’t JUST choose 3 or 4, so enjoy all 6 of your teasers!

Jorge, it was so nice to see you again, all grown up now! It was great to meet your wife and your little one. Enjoy your teasers!

..and as much as I’m a CHARGER FAN, I figured you’d like this.

After months and months of deciding if we should go to Vegas for a wedding, Thursday night, we decided on a ‘No’. Then at 3pm, Friday, our minds changed! LOL. So once we both got home from our 9-5s, we packed up the kiddos and the SUV and we were on our way. What a fun wedding it was. Great food, great times on the strip, and of course, great traffic on the drive home. In the end, it was well worth the last minute change.

The following week, my beautiful daughter turned one. In my culture, first birthdays are HUGE! So Saturday was filled with food, astro jump, food, lei making giveaway, food, pinata, chocolate fountain, desserts, and so much more. LOL. Saturday we also welcomed Kayla to a new world. So what better way to celebrate such an important part of Kayla’s life than with family and close friends!

All in all, it was fun, memorable and truly fantastic. (Um.can you tell I am so exhausted, I don’t know what to write? LOL). So let me just post two photos. One of Kayla’s 1st birthday invite, well the front at least and one from her baptism.

Jason, Frances…THANK YOU SO MUCH for having me over on Sunday! It was great to see you both and I’m soOO happy to have met Baby Jasmine.  I can’t wait to see her grow and become as beautiful as you Fran (you too Jason!)!   Enjoy your teasers!

I can’t wait until the day the kids look back and remember all the things we did, even if it was as simple as going to the beach.  Gosh, I just love being a mom (and wife!)!

GASP….Who is that on the other side of the camera? Yes, Paul braved touching my camera AT THE BEACH..and not too shabby (but you should see the pic he took prior to this! LOL)

If you notice, the handle to Keoni’s pail broke, hence the tears.  I promised we’d get him a new one before we make another trip out to the beach.
…my family…

Eight is another number closer to 12! I don’t understand why 12 keeps getting closer. 12 equals 1…YES! ONE!  I can’t imagine my baby girl turning ONE!!!!

Though she actually turned 8 months old on Thanksgiving day, we wanted to do something special just for US.  San Diego doesn’t typically show it’s Seasons.  I mean, we wear flipflops ALL YEAR LONG.  LOL.  One place I do know where you can tell it’s Autumn is at the beautiful Old Poway Park.  We enjoyed the day sitting in the grass with our packed lunch and soaked up the nice cool breeze.  I couldn’t have asked for a better day to spend it with MY family.  The family my HUSBAND and I created.  It’s an amazing feeling.  Through all the tough days being a parent has to offer, this by far makes it all worth it and them some!

Kayla, as much as I hate you growing up, you’re are growing up BEAUTIFULLY inside and out.  There isn’t a day you dont make my heart melt.  You and your brother (and yes, your daddy too) make my life complete and I can’t ask for anything more..

Ok. I’m done being all ‘Hallmark’!

Let’s start with Saturday:

Birthday 1 – Auntie Lyn’s BBQ

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!  We all got together at Fiesta Island to have a little barbecue and bonfire.  It was a lot of fun being able to just ‘camp out’ with our cars and tents and just enjoy the wonderful San Diego weather.  It was beautiful out, just a tad cloudy, nonetheless, everyone had a great time.  I wish we were able to stay for the bonfire, but for one, Kayla was over it, and second, I had my friends GIRLS ONLY birthday party to attend – this was birthday #2…no pictures though!

On to Sunday…

Festival 1 – The Art and Wine Festival in La Jolla

We were invited by a good friend, and neighbor, Walter Redondo.  I’m so glad he opened us up to this and we were able to show the kids all different kinds of art.  Of course I was looking forward to the photography, and WOW, they had such great talent, EVERYONE did.  I also came across a very cute booth that sells hair accessories, costumes, tutus and all the wonderful things for Kayla! haha.  Everything looked soo cute on her, they even took her photos in a couple of their work.  I can’t wait til they post it onto their blog!  I forgot to take a picture of the booth (as I was busy shopping haha), but you can find their great work at www.twinklebabycouture.com.

Festival 2 – Saint Michael’s Annual Festival

Shortly after the La Jola Art and Wine festival, we wandered on over to Saint Michael’s Annual Festival.  Much like a carnival, there are booths, games, shows, rides and best of all FOOD .  Keoni did awesome with the rides.  I was shocked that my little chicken butt actually rode something relatively scary AND didn’t shed a tear.  I praised him with tons of kisses and high fives to calm his nerves!  This mini festival was a great way to enjoy lunch and help them with their fundraiser

Birthday #3 – MyGym for Kolu’s 2nd Birthday

Whew, tired yet? OH WE WERE!  We quickly headed over to MyGym for Kolu’s 2nd birthday party.  What a COOL place!  If your kids are too small for Chuck E. Cheese, this place is PERFECT!  It’s like, well, a little gym where kids can jump, shout and play.  There were two hostesses that told stories, had the kids interact, sing, dance and just have a great time.  Finally, a place that understands

What a memorable weekend this was.  It’s just the way we like to spend our family time.

This weekend was the Pacific Islander Festival Association’s 15th annual luau. Paul and I have been gonig every year with eachother since we’ve met – so that’s 8 years straight. It’s a great tradition we have and I love being to now bring my wee family to it as well.  This being Keoni’s 3rd time, he knew exactly where we were and what to anticipate. Kayla, however, was a little overwhelmed, but enjoyed herself nonetheless.  We typically leave bright and early in the AM (like 7am) to get prime parking and seating since over 50,000 people go every year.  Over the years we’ve mastered what to bring and how to drag it to the beach – cooler of drinks, snacks, blankets, mini tent for the kiddos, chairs, and SUNBLOCK) all thrown into the strollers, ha! At PIFA, theres great food, music, entertainment, vendors and a lot of fun.

Can you believe it?! I sure can’t! My little Miss is growing so fast! She’s been full of smiles and giggles! I think I even caught her with a couple of coo’s today! As much as I enjoy seeing all these little things, I wish she’d slow down on the growing, just a little bit so I can enjoy it more!

Keoni has been too good to her. Always wanting to kiss her ‘brain’, and always shaking her hand saying,” Nice to meet you!” lol. I hope he/they will continue to be this good to eachother as they get older! CROSSING FINGERS. I only have a few short weeks until I have to go back to work, which really saddens me. I’ll miss all the little ‘first’ things. Granted, I know my mom won’t tell me she’s done it, I know that she’ll see it first.

I’ll admit, yes, I’m spoiling her by holding her, hugging her and squeezing her tight. I just can’t help it. I don’t want to look back and realize that she doesn’t want to be held anymore, or even worse, that she’d be moving out for college! AHHH! I just want her to know Mama LOVES HER!

I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. Kayla is now more alert and awake and ALMOST cooing back. I can tell she’s been gaining weight. She better be with how vicious of a drinker she is! She’s been so good to me during the nights. Granted I think she’s already winning me over and sometimes makes it to the bed. Sidenursing is AWEOME. Plus it gets cold at night, and I think she wants the warmth of mama, rather than her cold crib. I know, spoiling her already! I’m excited to see her grow, but it also saddens me that the faster she grows, the faster I’ll lose my newborn, and the faster I’d have to go back to work and leave her . 3 more weeks til I go back…maybe 4 . I was tempted to take FMLA, but I have to face the inevitable I guess.

Either way, I’m enjoying every minute I can with my baby girl!