Halloween

I know it's early, but the kids are excited about the ward activity on Saturday and their costumes I finished yesterday, so I thought today was a good photo day. When Mere's Tua/Grandpa gave the kids $20 as a gift she decided Halloween costumes would be a good use after Tithing of course : ) so a quick trip to JoAnn Fabrics and we had stuff for all 3. It worked well since we had most of the parts already at home!

Mere chose to be Strawberry Shortcake, I think because she got a dress with a strawberry on it-her only exposure to it is a puzzle and a book and of course it's lots of sweets and desserts, so it's appealing to my little sweet tooth. Who by the way lost her first front tooth last month!!! By the way--Mere chose the fabric and designed the costume...her taste is different than mine, but I try to let her have some say... we made the cat too. I guess Strawberry shortcake has evolved over the years, and I did the more modern hat, while she liked the strawbrim shape hat which I can't really sew.

Glenn had a time deciding between shark and blue whale and went with the blue whale, "it's bigger than any person/animal" "it's bigger than an elephant" "biggest animal in the world" as his eyes glow with excitement. I was glad he liked his costume cause it was the hardest to make look real-he chose the turquoise color.

Nasui is Tintin cause his hair often flips up like this in the front and because I always adored Tintin's character when I read them growing up. The snowy dog my dad bought for me some years ago : ) It was a fun way for us to learn French when we moved to France. Mere and Glenn and I call Nasui Tintin sometimes, and Nasui says more of a Dindin-which he also says when he sees something dirty...

THE GROUP PHOTO IS WITH OUR FRIENDS WE DO A LITTLE PRESCHOOL WITH ON TUESDAYS : ) Caroline and her sister Sophia, Dallin, and Will was sick.

AUG-SEPT

Saki and I just realized we've almost been married 8 years! How exciting! It feels like no time at all and I look forward to eternity with him and relish every moment we have together-it's never enough! Saki is still working night shift, which while not ideal has some advantages: I get to bed at a more decent hour in general since there's no one to spend time with, we still get time together after the kids go to bed since he doesn't start till midnight, I am able to use our one car during the day if I need to, more day time play with the kids, Saki is available to watch the kids if I need to go out alone or with just one kid, more overtime. Cons---I miss Saki at night and he does have to sleep sometime during the day/eve : ) 

Uncle Robert came to visit for and evening then we went to eat with him at Google : ) Always fun to see my amazing older brother and the kids and Saki and I always enjoy the free food :P

Cool sun!

Summer reading program hats! Two thumbs up must be from seeing dad do that!

At John and Allie's wedding reception in San Anselmo! They had these fun fans for the guests so we figured we should take a picture!

John and Allie (ring ceremony) It was hard to get a shot of Peni's kids doing the Fijian escort. 

Old photos--Joe Niumatiwalu with Nasui at the restaurant when Aunty Mei and her husband came. 

Meresiana and Saki's mom. 

Nasui and grandpa (Nasui's first name is Sakiusa like my husband and his dad!)-John and Allie's Fijian Reception

Old photos-digging for veggies at the fair!

County fair

county fair

Painting in apron that Grandma B. sewed for his birthday!

Playdough-Mere wanted to do cake decorating as a school subject so we did playdough cakes to "practice techniques"

Mere in her ballet costume-shoes and leotard $5 each from craigslist left something to be desired so I used some stuff I had to dress it up---ribbon roses and made a sparkly skirt to and sleeves to make it more modest. 

Google doughnuts!

More photos from this summer 2013

We've been busy with the kids and I've started homeschooling Mere more officially. We've been doing class for 2 years already, but now I'm getting more structured and longer lengths of time, it's very fun (most of the time) and we're learning lots! Mere is really growing to be responsible and likes to pack her backpack with toys and clothes for her and Nasui and Glenn when we go out and to bake things for the neighbors. She is still very social and always "making friends" at the parks. Glenn is still shy until he warms up, and then he can be a bit rough and rambunctious, testing limits but still very sweet, loving animals and good to his little brother as Mere is. Nasui is growing and saying some words like cocoa, uh oh, baa baa, moo moo, da, mom, truck and the most us "whas tha" what's that! I guess I ask him that a lot. He's into playing with Mere and Glenn which can be hard cause he usually breaks things, but it goes with the age! Saki and I are just so happy to have each other!!!!!!! I love being married! He is amazing!

Been busy with new Vonu Designs Products (www.vonudesigns.com)

Visit with relatives-we took Aunty Mei to walk on the Golden Gate which is quite an experience!

Marin County Fair-all the rides are free  and lines we one ride wait. EXCEPT the last ride of course-bumper cars, which they REALLY wanted to try so Nasui was melting down by the time we were halfway through the LONG line but it was Glenn's favorite, he went on the carousel and was terrified-it was sad-I couldn't lift him off the horse since I was standing between his horse and Nasui's , and the fun house (mirrors and slide and maze) but no other rides until bumper cars. 

Glenn's birthday-he chose those store bought frozen bean and cheese burritos and Saki's parents came over. We also had pot pie and the kids helped decorate an airplane cake. I like things to look nice, but am realizing sometimes it's more abt the kids learning and enjoying what they're doing...

Kristin Hoffman's wedding in WA : ) my sister!

Nasui and Kristin

Visited Pate's Rugby shop http://www.serevirugby.com/

and guess the famous rugby players below : ) 

Glenn's been loving his dog from Lisa's family.

A tiny but fun beach/bay in Sausalito

Bradshaw Family Reunion and misc before and afters

Turn your head sideways-I found that Mere and Glenn made a partial alphabet with our fruits and vegetables

Kristin Hoffman's wedding! So glad we could go-I consider her and Andrea my sisters : ) and we are spirit sisters : ) I babysat them and their siblings since they were tiny!

Kristin, me, Andrea

Grandpa Peterson at Grandma's 80th birthday celebration at Suzanne Elise

cake and balloons-Grandma Peterson's 80th

Couldn't pass up a stop at the Astor column (John Jacob Astor? early settler of Astoria) You climb up all the steps and see a beautiful view! Glenn cried much of the end steps as I carried him, he's a bit afraid of going too high...Even driving up the hill he thought it was scary. 

The boys loved the water shutoff? near the cabins, luckily they couldn't really turn anything on or off. They liked putting rocks in the hole of the ground panel. 

Yes Thomas, Saki got you in a photos

which started a competition

at the beach

Mere and Glenn made their first fused bead things-thanks to Lisa's sister Morgan. Glenn saw some in a craft magazine and I told him I had some so they tried it, took them abt 1 1/2 hours to do the first one, all on their own though! I was impressed!

finished product, Star Mere, square Glenn

99 cent folder, sheet protectors, paper, 3 brads makes a great gift

below-saying goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa Peterson!