Chores

Malachi has taken a huge interest in doing chores lately. Why? Beacause he discovered the wonders of the dollar store after Gigi gave him a dollar to spend. His third chore was to put the flatware into the droor.
After he was done he said, "that only took me like two minutes." Gotta love him.

New Family Photo Shoot

Ashley has become a dear friend and I was pleased to shoot her family photos, even more so when she offered her 50 mm lens to me for the shoot. Love that lens. To see more, click here.

So much has been going on in our little world. Someday I'll catch up on it all, but right now I am too busy living it.

Waikiki Meatball Recipe

Sometimes I can still here the wind blowing the leaves of the coconuts trees outside of my bedroom window. I long for the days of laying by the ocean shore watching the waves roll in. I can't be in Hawaii anymore, but I can bring the flavors of the island to my kitchen table. Ready for the taste of Hawaii . . . here it is . . . (This recipe is from my friend, Lori)
Waikiki Meatballs:
You can make homemade meatballs if you like, but I like the shortcut better:
1 32 oz bag of home style frozen meatballs

4T cornstarch
1 c. packed brown sugar
2 cans pineapple tidbits
2/3 c vinegar
2T soy sauce
2/3 c chopped green pepper (optional)

Place frozen meatballs in the crock pot.
mix other ingredients in a medium bowl and add to crock pot.
Cook on low for 4 hours ( I stir it once or twice the second two hours)
Serve over white rice . . .
Enjoy!

Waikiki, Black Eyes and Flowers that Adorn

A little taste of Hawaii from my own mainland kitchen. Waikiki Meatballs. So yummy. Make them in a crock pot and serve them on a hot bed of rice. Your taste buds will thank you. I'll post the recipe soon:) Not enough time right now.
WE had a bit of adventure the other night. Our Friend Lori is heavy with child and spent the night at the hospital (false alarm) and we had her kiddos for a big chunk of time. They had fun jumping on the trap, building a fort outside underneath the palm trees and running around like lunatics. They settled down in the evening with a movie. The girls watched The Night at the Museum

And the boys watched Thomas the Train.

It wasn't all fun and games though. Malachi got another black eye. He fell on the metal ring of the tramp after being bounced a little too enthusiastically. This was the first night. (You can't really see how swollen it is. He kept saying he couldn't close both eyes)

This is day three . . . less swelling more color.

Malachi and Raia actually took a nap at the same time today and slpet for a long time. So I had time to be creative! I made this bib necklace:

upclose:

and this headband:

Tomorrow is Kai's last basketball game for the season and we will be so happy to have him around the house again. Life is always better when he is around. He has been happy to be coaching a winning team this year. It's been awhile.

P.S. I am really missing Hawaii right now.

Valentine Craft Tutorial - Cute and Easy!

I just wanted to let you know that I am featuring some cute and easy Valentine Craft How-to's on my craft blog. My kids helped me do all three and we had a great time! Family crafting is a good way to spend time together:)

Good Questions

I saw this on my friends blog tonight and I loved the idea. She got it from a friend who thought that instead of making a resolution that she would instead ask these questions of herself ever night. I thought they were so simple and yet so profound and could very well make the world a better place to live. So for me it is decided. I am going to join her and make this routine a part of my life. I hope I can live my life as an answer to these questions.

1. Did I feel the spirit today?
2. Did I show my husband love and gratitude?
3. Did I enjoy my children today?
4. Did I take care of my body today?

5. Did I perform a random act of kindness today?

The Hulk Impersonator

Malachi loves superheroes. He spends most of his days trying to imitate heroic acts he's seen in the movies. Malachi has a little sister who adores him. She would rather play with Spiderman than My Little Pony. At the dinner table Kai will sometimes pretend that something has made him mad which causes him to turn into the hulk. He looks just like this:
Yeah, that isn't Kai. But you can tell she has picked up on the action. She is about to turn into The Hulk. Raia is truly hilarious.

Cambria participated in Skipper of the School today. Can you jump rope for a hour? I can last three minutes. The girls timed me. Then I had to run to the bathroom. Cambria lasted seven minutes. The boy who won in her grade lasted just under an hour. Amazing.

Cambria was so funny because she was totally trying to have multiple conversations while she jumped. She was talking to me about her day and talking to other kids about who they all thought would win. She really didn't seem to be exerting any effort.

But, alas, the rope got caught on her hair. She wasn't sad though thank goodness. She was just having a good time:)

We were happy to support her.

Cambria and her friend

In other news, Kiera lost another tooth and now we can't find it. We are thinking that she swallowed it since she noticed it's absence while eating pop corn. I told her I would give her a dollar since the tooth fairy would have no tooth to claim.

And also, I think it is strange where one can find comfort. Today Raia had to take a nap holding a bottle of her Dad's shaving cream. She must miss him. He has been away a lot since it is basketball season:)

Lastly, Kiera had a friend over from school today and we made some quick and easy Valentine's Day crafts. 1. a decorative plate 2. Heart Shaped Crayons 3. Wooden blocks with tissue paper and paint:) It was fun. I used to do this kind of stuff with my kiddos all the time. I need to start doing it again.

First Ever Fashion Blog Post!

This season the hottest thing in footwear is the boot! Can't choose the pair you like the best? No problem, mix 'em, match 'em, anything goes in 2012! Don't forget that a girl is no better than her best accessory. Bracelets and necklaces are a must, but the absolute hottest item to tote around with you, dangling from the mouth is your big sisters toothbrush! Go ahead! Be bold! Work it!

Did I tell you how much we loved New Year's Eve? WE celebrated the New Year at 8:00 with fireworks and went to bed at 9:30. It was wonderful:) I guess that is a symptom of old age, being excited about going to bed early.

Do you love our old water heater in the background? What about our pool ladder? The kids use the pool ladder to jump on the tramp . . . the water heater has no excuse to have over stayed it's welcome for so long.

We also threw snap caps and Raia was so pleased to get in on the action! It was so cute to see her throw them from her high chair!

We step on these for days after.

I also made a fun New Year's resolution book for us to record our resolution's from year to year.

Here is where we stand:

Kai: read all of the standard works before 2013

Amy: Exercise at least 3 times a week/Finish BOM again/Read Ensign Each Month

Cambria: To play volleyball in Hawaii for one year/To eat more French Toast than Daddy and to beat him at every game we play.

Kiera: Do fireworks every New Year

Malachi: Do fireworks every New "Thor"

Raia: To learn how to talk/ To turn 2 year's old

I just wanted a better shot of the cute little stockings I made- for posterity's sake:)

I will also miss how cute this shelf is . . . I'll have to find other cute things to replace the xmas decor.

Raia's hair is now long enough to put in a little rubber band. It is also getting very curly. It is doing exactly the same thing as Cambria's did which means that she gets lots of fuzzy tangles and she already cries every time she gets her hair brushed. I can see the future laid out before her and it involves lots of tears and detanglers.

She loves to play peekaboo

We went to an awesome birthday party for one of Bubba's little friends. This little friend shares and affinity for superheros and so the theme for his party was a superhero training camp! It was awesome. You had to jump threw hula hoops, crawl through a tunnel, then . . .

punch down a wall and then run straight through to the bounce house! It was so fun for the little guys!

Jodie did this to her pantry door and I so want to copy her! Maybe I will do it to the door that leads to my master bathroom.

I have also recently fallen in love with the 50mm prime cannon lense . . . my heart goes pitter patter just thinking about it.

Do you see how beautifully blurred the background is . . . sigh.

We also went to my nephews birthday and his mama made these cute little barn yard cupcakes!

Bodee, one of the boys in Kai's YM's program made some chain mail (sp?) and brought it over for Bubba to try. Look at that smile! Isn't he precious! That chain mail was so heavy! It was way heavier than Raia and she way 26 pounds!

Kai had to try it too . . .

I also made these little journals for my two oldest girls. I was looking for away to increase the communications between us in a fun way and I saw this great idea on pinterest! I will be featuring the idea tomorrow on my craft bucket blog, but for now here it is. We write little notes to each other every day and the book is left under the girls' pillows. I will take the opportunity to write all the positive things I love about them and all the positive interactions I see the do throughout the day. It will be our little love book and I hope it will bring us closer together:)

That is all for now!

P.S. Shannon is hosting a fun blog hop give away on our craft bucket blog. There are prizes like TGI Friday's GC, hair accessories, Shannon's cloth diaper, cute children's bedside , bracelets and more. It is open until Feb 8th

Double Feature

While I am contemplating new strategies to get my picky eater to be, well, less picky, I thought I would let you know that I have a few new items to feature.
My dear friend, Jodi, has agreed to let me featrue her on my blog, "Amy's Craft Bucket." She is a wonderful hairstylist and she agreed to give a few helpful hair tips to my readers.
And on my photography blog (why don't I just have one blog?!) are pictures of the Brummet Family shoot. They were so much fun to be with.

Have a nice day! Oh, and any picky eater advice would be appreciated:)

The Hustle and Bustle of it All ( And Baby Name Ideas for Chris and Sarah)

The Holiday season seemed to come and go in the blink of an eye. It was busy to be sure. With the Festival of Trees that I had to produce a million crafts for, to Raia's myriad trips to the doctor's office to take care of the toe she all but severed, to the electrical fire in our security light, the minor flood in our laundry room that alerted us that our water heater needed to be replaced, ward parties and school reports, shopping and more shopping . . . we actually had a wonderful time. All those events made life difficult, but they surely didn't damper our spirits. I feel like we are a t really good place in life right now. As long as we have each other, it seems we can get through anything. Come what may and love it. (not that I am trying to tempt fate- knock on wood)

We were so excited for my family to come and visit us over Christmas break. Any time we get to spend together we cherish because it happens all to infrequently. It was also exciting because Chris and Sarah were going to be with us for at least one day before they went on to visit with Sarah's side of the family in Utah and then onto Idaho. Also, Sean and Shannon were coming to bless little Aarilynn, so it was a week of special occasions for our family.
Years ago, I showed pictures of demolished tile in our master bathroom and didn't show anything of it after because , well, frankly , it still isn't done. The tile of course went up right a way and I love it, we got a new mirror (which I would like to frame) and we had to get a new shower door because our contractor accidentally broke our old one (which was okay because it was ugly) but it still need to finish some areas that need the floor board put back up and Maybe a few more decorations here and there, but this is what it looks like now on one side of the room.

I think I want to put a gassy looking wreath above this picture the color of raffia.

This little plaque was a souvenir from the BYUH bookstore . . .

I also made a few gifts to give . . .like this headband:

and this headband:

and this headband:

And this temple picture for Chris and Sarah that I took and the aged and then personalized and then modge podged onto a tile:

I also made these thumb print cookies topped with raspberry jam and Natalie's delicious homemade vanilla spice pear jam and then drizzled with white chocolate! MMM! And I also made some coconut macaroons.

The thumbprint cookies were easy because you start with this bag and then add three tbls flour. The recipe was on the back of the bag if you want to try it!

Then Christmas morning . . . Ahhhh. The best thing about it is the anticipation of it all. Like the little girl on kid history who said that "Christmas is a time of joy and wonder . . . like you wonder when you are going to open presents."

Oh yeah, I also made the two pink and white polka dotted stockings:)

Someone adopted us this year and spoiled us with presents and food.

Love these expressions:

Cambria wore this hat for a week straight.

We had 9 am church so we let the kids open their present from Santa and their stocking before we got ready and i have to say, we could have stopped right their. The kids were so happy and so content with their ONE present. I thought it was so great that they didn't keep asking to open more because they were so happy with what they had.

Thank You Grandma!

We went to Jim and Cathy's house for Christmas dinner and had a wonderful time, although Malachi did spend some of his time hiding behind this blanket for some unknown reason.

Cathy read the kids a Christmas story . . .

And later that night we got some visitors!!! It was so fun to have a full house!

Chris and Sarah shared their exciting news with us . . . they are expecting in August!

Baby Aarilynn was blessed at our chapel two days after Christmas and I got to do a mini photo shoot with her.

We took a family picture because we are NEVER all together.

The Davis Clan

Brothers (minus one who was taking care of his baby)

Mom and Dad - they just celebrated their anniversary . . . um, 22 years I think??

Siblings

And since Chris and Sarah are expecting and we found ourselves with a lot of time on our hands we (as in the Kai DAvis Family) compiled a list of baby names that celebrate the Island that they just left and the Hawaiian links that this baby has:

For a Girl: Oahu, Corra, Coral, Roxy, Misty, Oceana, Summer, Sunnie, Waverly, Kahana, Isla, Lani, Coco (as in coconut:)) China (as in China Man's Hat), Pali, Lilo, Lolo

For A Boy: Finn, Oahu, Rusty, Sandler, Ocean, Boarder, Current, Kawela, Sonny, Cannon, Palmer, Mana Pua, Kalua, Loco Moco, Tide

And if they Want to use the initials of TVA, where they lived:

For a girl:

Tylee Vanessa Anne

Tiana Vivienne Agatha

Talullah Violet Abrielle

For a boy:

Tyson Vance Adam

Terrell Verden Aiden

Thor Vilhelm Ansel

Or If they Want to use the BYUH Initals:

For A Girl:

Brielle Yolanda Urania Helene

Blythe Yasi Uma Hadley

For A Boy:

Brett Yardly Umberto Horrace

Brennon Yosef Ulises Howard

You are welcome guys. I know you will study that list nightly until you pick exactly the right name.