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. 

Mother's Day

I have such mixed feelings about Mother's Day. For so many years it was such a day of sadness, really more a day of feeling empty. Now I am so grateful to be a mother, but at the same time I know that there are many who have empty arms and sad hearts on this day and I feel for them. I sat in church and my heart ached for those dear to me who long to be mothers, but aren't yet. I hate how they pass out flowers or whatever and even thought they give one to everyone, it still is a painful reminder of what you don't have. One of the counselors in my primary presidency hasn't been able to have kids and the other recently adopted. They are such amazing women, sometimes it is so hard to understand the why to infertility! Also, I love my sweet birth mothers and know that this day certainly has a bit of an extra sting for them. 

Now that the kids are getting older, they really love to spoil me and are constantly planning and scheming with their dad all the things they can do. Vela told me about a week before Mother's Day that she told her dad he should take us all on a cruise for the holiday, but said the wasn't going to happen. Thanks for the awesome suggestion though Vela! Maybe one day! 

I may not have gotten the cruise, but I was spoiled nonstop for about a week, and really am so grateful to get to be the mom of these sweet kids that I feel loved and spoiled every day! 

On Friday Vela had her Mother's Day program at preschool. It is their big, end of the year program and she did so great. Here she is with her teacher Mrs. Yates, who has been wonderful for Vela. 

 Vela made the cutest card for me and gave me this cute plant. 

 I told my husband and kids I didn't want to go anywhere to do anything big on Mother's Day. Things have been so busy and I just wanted to take a nap on the trampoline and snuggle my kids and relax. My mom insisted that we come to her house for dinner and that we couldn't bring a thing. I'm so glad we went. She made ribs and sauerkraut and all kinds of tasty stuff.  I really am blessed to have her for a mother and to live close enough to be spoiled!  

 Hema made this cute little candle holder at school. He brought it home a Friday and asked me about every 10 minutes if I wanted to just go ahead and open it early. So I did, and we waited until it got dark and burned a candle with all the lights off for about 30 minutes while the girls oohed and awed about how talented he was for making it. He is so sweet! 

 Hema got me chocolate covered strawberries and pretzels from a ward fundraiser our Young Women did. They were gorgeous and yummy! 

 I haven't ever really been the type that loves flowers, but it is so fun to see how excited the kids are when I get them. It has made me love to get them. Vela always insists that Hema gets me flowers. I love these beautiful roses I received! 

I also got a great date night out on Saturday with my love for sushi! Yummm! 

Hema and the kids also cleaned the house, massaged my feet, planned a fun movie night with chinese take out on the trampoline in the back yard, gave me a 1,000 hugs, kisses and compliments and were basically pure angels all week long. 

Honestly, I was spoiled rotten! 

My favorite gift of all was an awesome video that Hema and the kids made for me telling me how much they love me and why I am a good mom. They did some sweet dance moves on it too! I'm keeping it close during their teenage years, just in case they are anything like me or Hema were as teenagers. It was so thoughtful and sweet. I can't figure out how to load it, but maybe when Hema gets home he can do it. 

I am beyond blessed and grateful to be a mother and for a loving family that makes me feel like the luckiest girl alive!  

And of course I am grateful beyond words for these 3 brave women who share the title of mother with me! My children's birth mothers are the best!! Love you women to the moon and back! 

A Thankful Fathers Day

It's fathers day and I am so thankful!

I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to be a father to three of the most beautiful children in the world and for providing me with the opportunities and resources to care for them. I love them so much!

I am thankful that I share the responsibility for these little ones with the most beautiful and amazing woman whom I absolutely love and adore and look forward to spending the eternities with. Thank you for everything sweetheart!

I am thankful for the divine plan that brought my little ones into my life and for the birthparents and families who made the courageous choices that allow me to be a father.

I am grateful for my father, for showing me what a father is supposed to be and do, and for making so many sacrifices for our family. Only now, as a father myself, can I fully appreciate what you have done for me. Thanks for showing me how to be a good husband and father.

I am also grateful for my father-in-law, for his wonderful example and support, and for raising the most wonderful woman in the universe. Thank you sir!

Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there and may God bless us with everything we need to care for the people who call us father.

- Hema

Spring Break

We had a great Spring Break.

We had fun at Classic Fun Center bouncing with cousins Brynlee and Beckham. Cora cried if I got her anywhere near the bounce houses. She is funny because sometimes she loves stuff and other times it freaks her out. She was tired so maybe that was why she didn't want to play.

Vela, Josh and Brynlee coming down the slide.

Brynlee and Beckam showing a little love.

Brynlee and Vela

Vela and Brynlee again.

 We went to Trafalga with some friends. 

Brooklyn and Vela on the airplane ride. 

Jaxten, Hema and Brooklyn

Hema took a day off work and we went back to Trafalga as a family.

Cora has been dying to ride the Frog Hopper. We finally let her and she didn't like it much.

These 2 could ride it all day long. They go over and over 10-20 times in a row!

Dancing was a little more Cora's style. 

The carousel.

Cora ready for a nap. I have pictures of all my kids resting on dad's head.
Adorable!!

We had a late movie night at our house. The kids each invited a couple friends over for treats and a couple movies. They had so much fun. Hema asked if we can do it every Friday.

Hema, Conner, Jaxten, Brooklyn, Vela and Breelyn. 

Getting tired, but not falling asleep.

We went fishing to Utah Lake State Park and over to Highland Glen park. Little Hema was excited to catch a fish. He loves to eat what he catches. We took the rest of this big bucket of cheese balls which my kids hated and the kids tried to feed them to the ducks, even the ducks didn't want them. They threw half the bucket in anyway. 

Went with to Neptune Park with the Palepales. We had a picnic and the kids played. Once again blurry photos! 

Vela twirling. 

Hema climbing.

We also went to the Monte L Bean Museum, set up the tent and tried to sleep out in the yard (but came in during the night because it was too cold), did lots of spring clean up in the yard, played for hours in the neighborhood, Vela and Daddy had a daddy daughter date, Me and Daddy had a dinner and movie date, we went to Thanksgiving Point gardens and lots of other fun stuff. 

I am so sad that tomorrow everyone goes back to regular schedules. I can not wait for summer!! 

Last Week...

Last week was a good one. Here are a few highlights:

Hema and the kids blowing out his birthday. Check out Cora's sweet PJ bottoms.
She literally changes her clothes or adds to her outfit 50 times a day!

One afternoon the girls were talking and laughing and it suddenly went silent.
I went to check on them and they had both fallen asleep at the same time. THey went from laughing to silent
in like 5 seconds. It was so funny!
I hope they are little BFFs always! 

Hema making himself scrambled eggs for breakfast! He is getting to be a great cook! 

Party favors from my friend Kira's baby shower. Me and my friend Rachel made these. 

The adorable Kira due with baby boy Rocky in a week! 

The weather has been warm and sunny and we went to the park nearly every day last week. We went to Olympic Park, the park at Hema's Elementary school, Discovery Park in Pleasant Grove and the New park in Saratoga Springs called Neptune Park. It was by far the kids favorite. 

Neptune Park has this cool climbing thing. 

Hema made it all the way to the top.

Vela was a little more cautious! :)

We are loving the spring weather! The kids are all at such fun ages and all 3 play and get along so well. It is so cute to watch Cora follow Hema and Vela everywhere and try and do everything they do! I am grateful every single day to get to be the mom to these three little sweeties!

Playing Catch Up

Boy have I fallen of the face of the blogging world! Time to play a little catch up!

I can not get enough of these two little girls! They are so much fun!  

 Sweet Vela loves to carry her scriptures around all the time. It is so cute!

 We have finally had a few good snow storms and Hema has love playing in the snow. 

 Vela started gymnastics. She LOVES it! It is so cute to watch. 

 She loves everything she does in gymnastics and is always looking up to make sure I am watching her. 

 Cora is just 3 months away from being two and she is BIG BUSINESS! She walks around like this all day long. She is always carrying a baby. She is so adorable!

 Vela's St. Patricks Day hairdo. I was going for a 4 leaf clover. 

 We took a trip to St George last weekend and Grandma Katoa came with us.

It was so much fun to spend so much time with her. 

 Elder Bill Katoa returned home form his mission in the Philippines. He is such an amazing young man and a great example to my kids. Here he is with his grandpa Paul Katoa.

The kids loved the warm St George weather and wanted to swim every single minute we were there. Vela is a little fish and she literally would swim al day every day if she could. 

 Hema loves doing all kinds of tricks in the pool. His favorite are the ones that splash everyone. 

 My three little sweeties! 

This hunk of burning love had a birthday on Tuesday. I feel so very blessed to have him as my eternal companion. He makes me happy every single day and still get butterflies when he smiles at me. 

Well that's a little catch up for now. All in all life is fabulous and I've got nothing to complain about.