*happy 2008*

for those of you who are visiting for the first time---welcome! we hope you will bookmark this site and visit often...it may spur me to post more of our fun-filled (!!) days.

the kiddos were really excited to help me with all of the cards this year (it's a privelege, you know). you should feel extra special if your sticker or stamp is upside down, or if there are a few drawings on it---all compliments of caden! he has recently discovered how to write his alphabet, and he's been practicing on anything he can find. prepare yourself for his genius and sell those "one-of-a-kind" pieces on e-bay.

santa is watching you. so you'd better be good. in our house, santa and jesus work together to make sure all of humanity is doing the right thing. we celebrate jesus' birthday on christmas, but he wants us to have presents, so santa is his helper in passing everything out. make sense?

all this myth-creation makes me tired. we hope you get our cards sometime before 2009 rolls in. sorry for the delay, but well.... lots of things don't get done on time. plus, i'm on "hawaiian time" and i'm always running late!

have a great christmas and a happy new year. the photos are of keahi visiting the manhattan beach mall santa. caden took a few more weeks to warm up to the idea of talking to him, so he visited a different "santa helper." enjoy yourself today!

love to you all!

*merry christmas!*

‘Twas mere days before Christmas, and strewn over the floor
Were papers, toys and clothes, food crumbs and more…
No motivation to do much, even less to create this rhyme
There are no presents bought or wrapped---we haven’t made the time!

Our year has been awfully busy---quite similar to everywhere on Earth,
There’s time to spend with the family, and for official Kindergarten homework
I can read books and write sentences, and review sight words all on my own
Don’t count on my parents to assist me; I’m pretty much doing it alone.

“Why not talk to your teacher about that?” and “It’s not my work, it’s yours”
“Are you okay with that decision?” and other familiar-themed discourse.
I’m learning to be compassionate, responsible and polite..
I’m expected to act nicely, wait my turn and not to fight

Caden loves going to pre-school; he can even write his name!
We read together, color pictures and play computer I-SPY games
He helps fold our laundry, shovel snow, and clean up toys
Everyone who knows him, says he’s a sweet & caring boy

We like to ride bikes, drive our cars and play with friends
There are lots of kids in our cul-de-sac & the fun just never ends!
But we’re getting older now, and we like to stay up late
Since mom works in the afternoons, the plan works out just great!

Dad clocks in with Microsoft now; he joined them late last June
Mom is teaching Science & Math, to 3rd graders at my school
Kuma and Taiko, each celebrated a 10th birthday
…still looking after us, and making sure no danger comes our way

Dad likes to play racquetball; there are times he shoots some hoops
Mom prefers to relax in the sauna after running a mile or two
We run, play soccer, and climb through the adventure maze
Then we all get to go swimming to complete the exercise day.

As always, we are thankful for so many blessings here
Our dear family and friends---the most cherished ones this year
We wish you beautiful things; all that is perfect and right
“Happy Christmas to all, and to all…a good night!”


Much love,
Keahi & Caden, John & Lori

*the pier*

we love to visit the beach and the pier whenever we're in california. aunty julie probably wants us to go early in the AM to look for dolphins, but we're not early risers! maybe when there is a passion for such sea mammals, we'll make it down there at the break of dawn. otherwise, we amble down to the sand and just splash in the waves. it's GRAND!

*the dune*

sand dune park, manhattan beach, california.

uncle brian decided to take me and the kids to play at the dune. it was great fun and we enjoyed trudging up, and racing back down! i enjoyed my trip up and stayed there WATCHING the kiddos get wiped out. we had the dune entirely to ourselves for quite awhile. caden made it up & down twice; keahi gave it her all and completed 2.5 trips. caden enjoyed a lot of digging, and keahi figured out why it's not a good idea to play too close to him.

the people of manhattan beach had a great idea when they invented the park. everyone had a smashing time!