Lani and the Giant Peach

Today we went to the Farmers Market in Murray with Jeni, Arie, and Zoe. (Did I mention my brother moved back here? It is so nice to do stuff with my family. Plus, it seems Arie and Ian are similar in many ways, meaning they are both bouncing off the walls most of the time.) So, Jeni and I bought a box of peaches and a box of pears and split them both so we could have yummy fruit. My kids love fruit (see above). So, I left the box of peaches on the floor to deal with later not even thinking that Lani would notice and get into them. Well, she did. She ate that whole peach all by herself. Notice that smile.

Skater

We ran over Aaron's bike a little bit ago, so he's been able to practice on his skateboard a lot lately. He had his first field trip last week at school and he had so much fun. I dropped him off in the morning and they didn't come back until 2:30. (His kindergarten is just half-day.) I felt a little bad that I didn't go to help chaperone, but he survived the whole day without me. He came home with an uneaten sandwich that I had packed him. That means he had a healthy lunch of fruit snacks and a capri sun. He says his bestfriend is Amethyst and they play Transformers together at recess. He loves his teacher, but he comes home with 2 pages of homework somedays. I think it's excessive, but I make him do it anyway and we made a deal so he doesn't complain too much anymore. He was all torn up last week because we sold our fish. I had to explain that Po Po was going to a better home. Koi fish just need more room than a 10 gallon tank. It was a little traumatic, but I think he got over it once the lady gave him a 5 dollar bill.

Buddhist Monk

Brad buzzed Ian's hair a little close this time. But it's okay because we all feel very lucky when we rub his head. He also volunteers to pray a lot. Sometimes I try to convince him to meditate, but he just doesn't have that one down yet. I'm trying to get him in a Samarai class. He'll look so cute in that gi or keikogi uniform and hopefully get some exercise. He is a ball of energy that sometimes explodes on his brother and sister.

Table Painting

This is Lani's new art form:

We call it table painting. It's easy, really. You just take some food, like yogurt, and paint the table with it. Masterpiece. She's also really into her daddy these days. She can't get enough of him. She even calls him dad. Not da da, dad. She's so funny. She's a little smarty too. She has added "uh huh" and "bye-bye" to her vocabulary. We rarely have communication problems because she likes to take my hand and drag me to whatever it is that she wants.

If you haven't seen this...

it's very funny: SNL video

Who doesn't love Saturday Night Live?

Palin VP nominee

Okay, I think serious concerns have been raised about the Palin nominee. I've been an Obama supporter since I first heard about him. I like his idealism, his attitude toward change, and the fact that he opens up the subject of race in a country that sometimes tries to hide the existence of racism. (I'm not necessarily a democrat, I just like Obama.) I don't know that he will be effective in the White House, but I am willing to give him a chance. On the other hand, McCain does have experience, military and otherwise. But, Palin? I'm not sure about her. Matt Damon also raises some concerns about Palin.
Did anyone else know that Palin was mayor of about 7000 and governor of less than the city of Salt Lake? Anyway, I think she is very inexperienced. I admire her showmanship and Glenn Beck's view here paints a nice picture.
Still, apart from her lack of experience in foreign policy, I have other concerns as well, but in that department maybe I'm just too traditional for modern America. Anyway, I think everyone should seriously look at the candidates this year. Do some research and make an informed decision. I doubt my vote will make much of a difference in Republican Utah, but I will cast it anyway.

No, no, no

Little Lani is learning to communicate very effectively. Mostly, she likes to shake her head no at me a lot. But really, it's like a whole head and shoulders movement where she twists and turns. It's cute and I thought you guys might enjoy seeing the "No" dance.

Speaking of dancing, here's another cute one.

Vegas Baby

Friday night we arrived at the California Hotel which caters to Hawaiians. It's like going to Hawaii without the ocean (especially since all my cousins and some Auntys were there). The kids were tired, but we dragged them to Freemont Street anyway to enjoy the lights and the crowds. After a little dancing to the bands and over stimulation of lights we called it a night. Saturday we went to Town Square Mall where we did some shopping and the kids enjoyed a really cool park with fountains and a treehouse. Aaron could've stayed there all day. After some breakdowns, we decided to go back to the hotel for some "quiet time." Unfortuneately, my kids decided to show their true colors and not sleep. After another buffet, we set out for the strip. There are kid things on the strip, but so much walking and if you have a stroller, you have to take about 5 elevators to get anywhere-kind of a hassle. So after M&M World and the Coke Factory and Gameworks we were done and more than ready for some shuteye (after another 5 elevators back, of course). Sunday provided more rest for the kids. After breakfast with the family we found a sacrament meeting, then headed back to the hotel where all the kids fell asleep together. Instead of sleeping like we should have, the parents watched 1/2 a season of the Justice League on Brad's laptop (If you know what that is, then you know it was a little ridiculous and yes, my family is full of geeks, Brad now one of them). We finished the day on the bus with my cousins who payed for it to take us to the different attractions on the strip-this is the way to go. We visited Ceasars Palace, the Bellagio fountains, and the Stratosphere (the ride was closed, thank goodness!) Monday was kind of sad due to our impending departure (except for when I won $60 on a machine). It's interesting to get together with my Father's side of the family. I don't know them very well, but they are very open arms and I feel like I find another piece of my puzzle around them. I'm glad that my kids are able to meet them at a young age and grow up knowing a little more of their history. But next time we go to Vegas, I don't think it will be a kids included trip:) For all the kid-friendly hype, I don't think it really is a kid place. Plus, the casinos all smell like smoke.

Kindergarten

It's official. Aaron is a kindergartener. I'm afraid because of our broken camera, I did not get a "first day of school picture." But, I already had to order school pictures so that's the same, right? Anyway, I think Aaron has mixed feelings about school already. He doesn't seem particularly excited about it, but I think that will come after he makes more friends. While Brad's family was in town, Aaron gave a fantastic talk in church. As his mother I think he is the smartest kid in the world and too smart for kindergarten. I guess that's why I wasn't very teary eyed when we said good-bye on the first day.