Brigham City

Hema is back in school full time. He started in January at Utah State University working towards his Administrative Endorsement. To say he has been busy would be a total understatement. Between work, school and church - he has been crazy! But the upside is he is really loving his classes, learning a lot and will be done by next May! This summer he is doing classes at the USU extension in Brigham City. Each of the sessions runs 2 weeks and he is taking classes for 3 sessions. His first 2 week session ended on Friday and we decided to take advantage of 2 days off and celebrate!! We packed the car on Thursday night and got up with Hema and headed up to Brigham City at 6:30 am. We got there just in time to drop Hema off for his final at 8 and then the kids and I headed over to the McDonalds where they played in the play center for about 3 hours. At 11 we picked up dad and were ready to party!!! Our first stop was the Brigham City Museum. They had a small area with all kinds of tools and household items from the pioneer times that the kids could try out. They kids loved it and thought it was really fun for about 10 minutes. They also had a display of old photos of homes and building taken in the pioneer times with current pictures of the houses or buildings next to them. I thought it was really interesting, but everyone else was ready to do something "fun." 

We headed over to the KOA there in Brigham City where we had reserved a camping spot. It was our first time ever camping at a KOA. It has a decent pool and was nice and grassy with lots of big trees. The kids were so excited to camp and play in the water. We set up out tent and headed to the pool. The water was a little chilly, but it didn't slow down our water babies! 

After swimming we ate dinner and headed over to a big park to play and do a little fishing. The kids were exhausted and ready for bed by 7! The campground was so quiet and we all slept great. 

Saturday we got up, cleaned up and headed over towards home. Our first stop was Smith and Edwards. What a store full of everything. I swear I've seen an old picture of Smith Edwards and Hawkins. Do any of my Hawkins relatives remember seeing that picture? I believe that my Grandfather was at one time in business with them. He might have served in the military with them?

We also stopped at the Hill Aerospace Museum. We all loved it! There are so many planes there and the kids thought they were amazing. The kids were sporting there 99 cent Smith and Edwards glasses in all the museum pictures. Such goof balls! 

Kids showing their muscles in front of the atomic bomb. 

We had a great weekend and loved spending every single minute with our sweet Hema! He is the absolute best dad ever!! We miss him while he is so busy at school, but are so grateful that he is willing to work so hard for our family. 

Family Camp 2012

This year we held our Katoa family camp at Rockport Reservoir. Fun, fun, fun!!!

The kids always want to be the first ones there but then it is just torture 

waiting for all of their cousins to get there.

Camp is all set up and the kids are jumping for joy.

Vela and Nita enjoyed playing with the dirt in the shade.

Joe, Fau, Hema, Joey, & Gene watch a movie and stay cool in the shade.

Cora was spoiled by all her cousins. Here is Loseli, Joe, and Tiara fighting for her attention. I don't think she had to walk more than 5 feet before another family member swooped her up.

Vela and Daddy spent some quality time together fishing. Here she is showing off her prize catch.

 Uncle Pita spanked everyone in chess.

 Aunty Salote found a new way to store our plastic cups.
Uncle Misi and Pita were awesome BBQ chefs. Thanks.

 A grill full of yummy meat and corn. We had lots of good things to eat.

 Cora lounging by the fire eating a treat. So happy!

We have plenty of professional smore makers in the family 

and a bunch of professional smore eaters too!

Grandpa Katoa relaxing in the shade. He loves to just sit there and watch all the grandkids run around.

Nita, Hema, and Sioti chowing down on one of Hema's fish. These kids love fish!

We love spending time with our family. This is such an awesome time for our kids to associate and strengthen their family ties. Can't wait until next year!

Camping at Jordanelle

On Monday we didn't have anything going on so we decided to do a fast one night camping trip. It was so fun and relaxing! 

The fishing was awesome and the kids and their dad caught lots of fish. There were a couple big ones worth taking a picture of! We even brought one home to eat. Yumm! 

Vela loves to pose with and kiss every fish that is caught. If they ever throw
one back before she kisses it she is so sad!

Little Hema LOVES to fish and nothing could make daddy Hema happier! It is so fun to watch the two of them fishing and getting all serious and also laughing and playing. 

Hema posing with a good catch!

The kids love to play in the tent! Especially if there is an air mattress to jump on. I used to constantly be telling them don't jump it might pop, now I just enjoy the joyous laughs. It is a lot more fun for everyone. 

Sweetest little monkeys!

 Vela is a mermaid in training for sure! If there is water this girl will find it and play in it all day long even if it is freezing cold. It is definitely her happy place. She is such a cute little swimmer! 

A little posing for the camera!

 The kids couldn't wait for the sun to go down so that they could roast marshmallows. None of them like to eat them, but they are really fun to roast anyway. I love Cora's face in this picture, total concentration putting the marshmallows on. 

 Hema has become obsessed with roasting the PERFECT marshmallow. He is getting really good at it too! 

 Check out this awesome smore creation. Graham cracker, marshmallow, banana and peanut butter cup. 

AMAZING!!! I won't say who ate it to protect the guilty. 

 Ooops! I guess you know who now!!

 We picked up a pizza in Heber so we didn't even have to cook dinner. It was great. Here is Hema warming up a slice. Total lazy camper's meal. 

We had such a great time, we will for sure be doing a lot more camping this summer starting with the Katoa Family camp this coming week! Wooo Hooo for summer! 

Katoa Family Camp 2011

We always have so much fun at Katoa family camp. This year all of Hema's siblings and their families were there except his sister Milika, her husband and 2 of their kids. This year we camped at Deer Creek and the weather was perfect. 

 Hema and the kids after the tent got set up on Wednesday. 

 Gorgeous view from our tent.

And looking the other direction. Utah is so beautiful! 

 Thursday was all about the water! 

 Lots of swimming. 

 Fishing and playing in the sand.  

 We stayed and played in the water for hours. 

Here is Leilani as a mermaid.

 Aunt Salote and Uncle Semisi made lots of sand art.  

 Ilaisaane as a dolphin. 

 T Rex being attacked. 

 Fun games for the kids Thursday night.

More games. 

 Friday more swimming. 

Hema riding an alligator. 

 And of course more sand! 

 Salote buried Gene, Leilani, Joey, Hema and Loseli here. 

 Vela and Ava as a heart. It got pretty hot and they weren't sure they were having fun. 

Talo and None with Cora.

 Hema's mom cooked up all kinds of fabulous food for us every minute and we played and laughed and visited until the wee hours of the morning each night. All the kids played so well and never fought at all. Our kids were so sad when it was time to go home. I am so very grateful to have married into a family that I love so much! Can't wait for camp next year! 

Summer Vacation!

I just realized that I never posted about our amazing vacation we took about a month ago. It was sooo much fun! Warning: his post is a LONG one, prepare for a picture overload! 

St George

We spent the first couple nights in St George. We saw The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn. They can do so much with water at the Tuacahn theater. It really was awesome. 

Me with the kids at Tuacahn.

Our little posers!

We didn't see Grease, but the kids wanted us to take a picture anyway. 

Our family during the show. 

Tuacahn had changed their policy after we bought our tickets and no longer allows kids under 2 to attend. We didn't find out about the change until we got there. It took some pretty stubborn arguing on my part, but we were eventually allowed to take Cora in with us. The kids did so good during the show. I was surprised how long they actually stayed awake. It didn't end until almost midnight. 

Swimming at the hotel.

Vela's favorite spot - on her dad's shoulders. 

San Diego

Sea World

Vela, Dad, Shamu, Hema, Mom and Cora.

Hema with the Cirque de la Mer Sea Creatures.

Hema and Little Hema on a ride. 

Cora and Hema checking out the Star fish. 

The kids and Dad on a kids ride. 

Cora loving her churro.

The kids and Shamu. 

The Ocean

Our family at Cabrillo National Monument. 

Hema and the kids. 

Vela discovering sea life.

Our family at Coronado Beach. 

Vela LOVED the water!

Me with the kids. 

Hema buried in the sand. 

Cora didn't love the sand or the water. 

Sight Seeing

Cruise of the Bay. 

Hema stealing a smooch at the Bali Hai Restaurant. 

If you are ever in the area try the Tempura Soft Shell Crab BLT Yummo!

The 'Pirate Ship' at the Maritime Museum. 

 This was really cheap (the kids were free) and we spent hours there. Our kids didn't want to leave they loved all the ships and submarines. I was totally surprised by how much fun they had.

Our little pirates.

At Seaport Village.

Super Creepy Sword Swallowing guy at Seaport Village.

We LOVED the recently redone Mormon Battalion Visitors Center in Old Town.

Vela panning for gold.

Hema trying out the covered wagon.

Vela and dad inspecting a gun. 

Hema and the kids in front of the USS Midway. 

Good Friends

We met up with my dear friend Dima and her family. It was so good to see them and catch up. Our kids played so well together. 

Paul and Hema jumping making a splash!

Dalia just loved Cora and was so good with her. 

Dalia, Dima and Dima's sister Hala at the fish market. Yummm!

We had such a great trip and made so many memories! I loved spending 24/7 with the people I love most!

This is pretty much how we all felt by the end of 10 very fun and very long days! 

(And probably how you are feeling if you made it to the end of this marathon post!)