Morning Mantra

Life is GOOD...

like the picture perfect sky put on display on the drive to work,

when you discover that the thing you worried and fretted about isn't as bad as it seems,

you find your passion, live your passion and overcome all obstacles in the way.

Life if GOOD...

whenever you get back in the "groove" of anything and everything you once loved to do,

like the help to turn that mountain into a mole hill,

like your favorite song from long ago that you find once more :)

Life is GOOD...

when you find your "second wind" and make it all the way,

like the perfect gift that makes you say, "How did you know?",

when you have hope, charity, keep the faith, and learn to forgive

May we always remember and never forget that "Life is GOOD!"

Special Delivery!

I finally got the chance to pick-up the package my awesome friend Becca sent me in the mail and now have a complete set of cute, colorful cloth diapers! Thanks so much Becca for taking the time to sew these for me! She gave me special instructions about stuffing them with microfiber (the stuff that will aborb the shi-shi) before using them, but of course I couldn't wait to try them on Mika...so during our little photo shoot she peed in them and I got to see just how that PUL stuff works ;) Here's a few shots of Mika modeling her new garb...

They're edible too ;)

Yummy, Yummy!

We just got back from Kaneohe...Sam took me for a pre-birthday lunch at "Pahke's" where we ate some onolicious Honey Glazed Walnut Shrimp (my favorite), Local style Chow Fun and Minute Chicken.  Elia enjoyed each of the dishes as much as her mommy and daddy did ;)  Then we went over to Cold Stone for dessert, and like always, Sam liked my flavor better... I've told him many times that he should always just let me order for him!  

So on Wedneday, January 14, I'm going to be 28 years old... I definitely don't feel 28, or 27 for that matter!  I can hardly believe that this year will be my 10 year High School reunion, or that I ve been out of college for nearly 6 years now!  Where has the time gone???  I promise, each year seems to just whiz by faster and faster...it feels like everyone around me is getting older, but I'm still just 21.  

Well, to keep my outside looking like how I feel inside, I went and got a little pampered this past week... got my hair cut and flat ironed and had a pedicure.  Oh, and I'm also ditching my glasses and got my contacts back (which I'm really loving).  I'm feeling good about getting "older"...as long as I don't look like it too much ;) 

  

New Year news...

I originally wanted to name this post "Up for grabs", but then I remembered that there are other things I wanted to include in this post, although we are only 6 days into 2009!  So here goes...

  

We spent New Year's Eve at the Duke's house and had a blast eating Filipino food, playing pool and playing Guitar Hero, before finally doing small kine fireworks to officially welcome in 2009!

Then on Jan. 4, the first Sunday of the year, we got to finally bless Mika!  We wish we could have gotten mor

e photos with friends and family who came, but our thanks go out to them anyways!  Mika got really FUSSY right before it was time, so Sam ended up feeding her a bottle while he blessed her!  It was multi-tasking at it's finest!  

My sister Lauren also came to this special occasion, which meant a lot to us!

   

So here's why I wanted to name this post "Up for Grabs"...

Our little Mika is now "Ms. Sticky Fingers" (literally, because her fingers/fist are always in her mouth!)  She hasn't yet found anything as good for sucking as her fingers, but she's willing to try anything... Elia's hair, mommy's glasses, the keyboard... whatever is within reach!  She continues to have the CUTEST smile and saddest p

outy face.  I'm also happy to report that she is still sleeping through the night (better not jinx myself) and I have those sticky fingers to thank for that!

As for my little lady, Elia, she is so PRECIOUS!  It is cute and funny to hear her expanding her sentences, asking questions, and being a big sister!  Now that day time potty training is

mastered (after many mishaps and setbacks), we've moved on to the night time training.  So far, so good.  We did have one really bad night where I had to change her clothes and all her bedding TWO TIMES, but my attitude is "Hey, whatever it takes to say bye-bye forever to those pricey pull-ups"!  All kidding aside, this is hard work!  Sam and I are each taking one "bathroom break" during those sleeping hours!  It really helps that there is a bathroom in the girls room (despite the smallness of our home).  For any of you mothers out there on the same trek, I have one word for you... CONSISTENCY. Give those pampers/pull-ups away and never look back!

The Best Christmas!

No, I didn't get a 2 carat diamond ring or anything "grand" like that... This Christmas was simply the best because we spent it together as a family... PLUS ONE! It was a peaceful and happy time with memories to cherish...

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Our Special Day

The Soliven Ohana

The Cheney Clan

Mommy & the girls...Elia tries to make shaka ;)

On Saturday, December 20 we had our sealing at the Laie Hawaii Temple!  We got to the temple a little after 7:00am and we're ready to go by 7:30am.  Our sealer's name was Bro. Au and he was a sweet old man, who almost started before our family and friends arrived, even though we were scheduled to begin at 8:00am.  By 7:50 am, our friends and family began to arrive...we happily welcomed Laurie Flores, the Solivens (my parents), the Cheneys (Sam's parents & Yee Man), Buckinghams, Cifuentes, Richs, Allreds, Caseys, our special angel Sally Lee, and Mika's birth grandparents who flew in just to join us for this special day!  We send our love and thanks to each of you!  If I forgot anyone, please forgive me! 

The ceremony was short, but very special.  Mika was so adorable as she held onto Sam's thumb and she even held out and didn't start crying until the very end ;)  I felt so full of gratitude, love, and happiness!  Being in the temple is always such a peaceful and happy place and to be there surrounded by loved ones, is just awesome!  

Afterwards, we had some breakfast at the pavilion next to the temple and got to enjoy each other's company some more.  You'll notice that Sam isn't in any of the photos because he had to hurry off to work :(  It was a beautiful day and an amazing experience...truly, our God is a God of miracles!

A Blessing and a Miracle

Christmas has definitely come early for our family this year!  Back in July when we found out the news that we would be welcoming another baby girl to our ohana, we surely felt this!  Then just about a week ago, we had another great blessing given...we were given an early court date (early by 6-8 weeks, which is usually how long you have to wait) to finalize our adoption, which will enable us to go to the Laie Hawaii Temple to have Mika sealed to us before it closes at the end of December for 18-24 months!!  Next week Tuesday, Mika will legally be ours!  Then on Saturday, Dec. 20 we make it for all time and eternity!  We truly feel blessed beyond measure and feel so grateful for the tender mercies that the Lord has shown us...