Calling All Crafters - Boy Ideas Wanted!!!

I used this super easy video tutorial off a fun blog that I like, and made these cute little crocheted flowers. They seriously take about 3 minutes to make and I did not have any idea how to crochet before watching the video. I can think of a thousand fun things to embellish with them: blankets, sweaters, hats, clips, headbands, leggings, shirts... pretty much anything little girl related! Here are some clips I made for Vela. The whole outfit turned out a bit to matchy, I guess I just got carried away. But all in all, it was fun to make - and she looks sweet in pretty much anything. Here is a picture of the kids before church today.
There are about 10 other things I want to try off that blog too - like the scratch-off tickets. Wouldn't those be fun for something for primary? What about these adorable covered-wood bead bracelets? Man are they cute. And I want to go back and decorate all of my canning to look like this. I can't wait to make some of these adorable wands for Vela. This ruffle skirt is so cute out of tulle! Vela definitely needs one or two. I've always wanted to make some of these binkie clips. Okay I could go on all night.... they just have a lot of great ideas on there.
Speaking of great ideas... I find myself making so many fun things for Vela. There are so many cute craft and sewing projects for girls. What about boys? Other than the flannel PJ's and quilts and such, I really can't think of anything that I could make for him that wouldn't be much better store bought. I guess that is just how boy stuff is. Do you have any sewing ideas or craft ideas for boy stuff? I would love some suggestions! And I'm sure little Hema would too! Thanks!

A Temple Dedication and Migraine Relief!

I wanted to write about the Oquirrh Mountain Temple Dedication that we attended on Sunday morning. Wow! It was incredible! We went on Sunday morning and the speakers were so good. It's amazing how much easier it is to really pay attention when you don't have 2 little wiggle bodies squirming around next to you. (Don't get me wrong, I am soooo grateful to have those 2 little ones keeping me busy - but they really are still working on their reverence skills!) I loved all the talks, but especially Elder Bednar's talk. I really love talks that compare and contrast things.

World vs. Temple

hectic, hurried - stillness

noisy, loud, unruly - quiet, orderly, peace

self-centered, selfish - selfless service, love

good as evil, evil as good - all good comes from God

pollution of ALL types - purity

influences to break family and marriage - families bound for eternity

differences in class - equals, unity

elite learning to few- mysteries to all who seek

philosophies of men are answers - restored gospel

It reminded me of one of my favorite talks ever. It was The Joy of Womanhood by Margaret Nadauld.

Remember this quote:

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

Love that quote! Okay, back to the temple dedication. I love the temples so much. I love that I am sealed to my children for eternity because of them. I love that my children have been inside the temple and that many times Hema has talked about Vela's sealing - he remembers it! That is so awesome to me. I am so grateful that right here in Utah, we have had 2 recent temple open houses that our children could go to and 2 dedications that they opened up to those if us who live around here an never would have gotten tickets otherwise! What an incredible experience it is to see the Lords work moving forward and temples truly dotting the earth.

Now about the migraine...Yesterday, I woke up and felt so sick I was certain that I had some terrible strain of flu. My head ached, my left eye felt like it was going to pop right out of my head and I was so nauseous I threw up. My mom informed me that that I had a migraine. Yikes! I am going to be much more sympathetic to people who get migraines from now on. Anyhow, after some meds and a 4 hour nap I woke up feeling fantastic! The kids were dying to get out so we hit Thanksgiving Point Children's Garden, The Farm and the Dinosaur Museum. What fun! We LOVE living so close to TGP!! Little Hema took this picture of Vela. He loves using the camera. Vela is old enough this year to ride the ponies by herself. We also found 3 more gnomes at the dino museum. Fun!

(You better look close they are tiny!!)

Then after I got the kiddies in bed, I decided to take on a couple sewing projects that I've wanted to try. I made Hema and Vela flannel PJ bottoms and they turned out pretty cute. I didn't even have a pattern. I added a little ruffle to Vela's because I thought they didn't look very girlie. Then I made one more of those cute skirts for Vela.

I feel like I got so much done yesterday, maybe I should get a migraine everyday! - Then again maybe it was the 4 hour nap!

Vela was in the Newspaper!!

The daily Herald did an article on the kid's swim teacher and swimming safety. It was online on Friday and in the paper on Saturday. I don't take the Daily Herald, but if you do and have Saturday's paper, I would love to get a copy for Vela's scrapbook! Here is a link to the online article. If you click on the video tab, you can watch a short little Vela that has mostly Vela in it. Also, if you click on the image tab, the second and third pictures are both Vela. I was surprised there were so many pictures of Vela because the photographer was there for several hours and saw lots of kids. I guess it's because she is so dang happy in the water - and cute too! JoD really is a great teacher and my kids sure do love to swim! I can honestly say that these swim lessons have been one of the best things I have done for my children. They are so confident in the water and can seriously swim better than I can. Someday when my kids are all in school I am going to take lesson fro JoD too!

Raspberry Jam!

On Friday we went over to our friend Kathy's house and picked a bunch of raspberries! She has such an amazing yard and garden and it was so generous of her to share with us. Then on Saturday morning, I went to my momma's and we bottled 8 pints and 11 half pints of raspberry jam and 4 pints of raspberry peach jam. There is just something extra yummy with food you pick and can yourself! Yum! I'm thinking of doing some applesauce next week.

Cal-i-forn-I-A!!!!

We had sooooo much fun in California! I know it is late, but I am finally getting around to posting and there are LOTS of pictures!

We actually drove down and went to an Diego first - but somehow this picture ended up here and it can be such a pain to move them.

This is Laura, Brynlee, Hema and Vela at the beach in Huntington Beach. We went there, while Hema went fishing on the Monday that we left California.
Okay, now back to the beginning... We drove down to San Diego and went to Sea World for 2 days. We absolutely LOVE Sea World. Daddy Hema's favorite thing ever is feeding the rays and little Hema loved it too! We spent quite a bit of time there!

Little Hema was big enough to go on this fun ride this time.

This was the only ride Vela got to go on - she loved it so we did it several times.

Hema, Vela and me in the Polar Bear cave.

Hema and Dad pretending to kiss the manatee.

Vela and Hema loved the Skyride. They couldn't stop smiling!

Watching the Sesame Street 3 D show.

Hema's favorite part was walking under the sharks!

We love Shamu! But Vela obviously hates people dressed up as animals!

Vela looking down from the top of the tower.

A photo with Cookie Monster. Hema had no idea who these characters were. We NEVER watch Sesame Street.

Getting a little souvenir drawn. Hema wanted to be surfing on a shark.

After San Diego, we drove up to Huntington beach and stayed with my brother Josh and his wife Laura and adorable daughter Brynlee. They cooked us wonderful food, allowed us to take over Brynlees bedroom, tolerated very patiently our rambunctious children and were amazing tour guides! Thanks guys we had so much fun!

Here we are doing a little fishing off the pier.

Laura and Josh posing in front of the surfers.

Hema walked right up to this bird and didn't even see it until it hissed at him. Yikes, it looked like it could have taken a bite out of him!

Dad and Hema at the pier.

We went with Josh and Laura to Wahoos and had some yummy fish tacos and other tasty treats! Fish tacos never taste fresh in Utah.

We loved the park down the street from Josh and Laura's.

Josh took this "action shot" of Little Hema. Pretty cool! Remember Josh did take some photography classes back in the day. Hema went out fishing on Monday and had so much fun. He caught a bunch of fish, but none of them were keepers! He still said he could do that everyday and be a happy man.

After picking Hema up from fishing out of Balboa, Little Hema was starving so we bought him this mondo slice of pizza. The picture doesn't even do justice!

The is the famous big chair at the gas station in Beaver on the way home.

We had such a great time! Thanks again Josh and Laura for being such gracious hosts! We had such a great summer! But now it is definitely time to settle back into our normal routine. Hema's back to work and little Hema starts preschool, swim team and a music class in the next couple of weeks.

Hema's Birthday Festivities!!!

Hema had a great birthday! He pretty much reminds us every day that now he is big because he is 4. We took him to his 4 year old check up and he was nearly 45" tall (95th %) and 38 lbs (70th %). He was also very happy to find out that there were no shots at age 4.

Here he is with a doughnut (no cake) on his birthday.

He wanted to open his presents first thing in the morning.

He is suddenly loving anything Batman. He got these 2 Batman toys and the video game Batman Legos.

For his birthday dinner he wanted "squid" from the "grapies place." We luckily were able to figure out that he meant calamari from Olive Garden (they do have grapes on the sign). Hema is definitely not a mac and cheese kind of kid!

We had his party on Saturday August 15th at backyard Adventures. It was so much fun and lots of the family from both the Katoa and Hawkins sides were able to be there.

He decided the day before his party that he wanted a Batman cake. Luckily I found these little pictures to put on it!

Aunt Jessica was still in town from Virginia and she helped Vela bounce and bounce. It was Jessica's birthday and we were glad that she was able to come celebrate with us. We sure wish they lived closer, we had so much fun with Jess, Sterling and baby Sterling!

It is always nice to be with family!

The highlight of the party was watching both sets of grandparents climb up the inflatables and go down the big slides!! They are all so young at heart!

Jessica, Mom Hawkins, Baby Sterling, Me and Vela

Grandma Katoa and Hema

The kids: Sioti, Fau, Sterling, Vela, Little Joe, Hema, Saane, Ana, Lote, Joe and Ava.

Thanks to everyone who came and made the day special for Hema!