some movie reviews

There have been several movies released lately that we thought would be worth the watch:
 MONUMENTS MEN - Loved it!  Hanaike family reviews awards it 5 cookies! It's a keeper!

THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY - Liked it.  Slow in some parts, but a lot of fun. We award it 3 cookies.

SAVING MR. BANKS - Eh.  I think I need to watch it again, but we found it kind of a downer.  Only 1 cookie.

Now I am on the computer, at lds.org, looking up videos in the "Media Library".  Under the "Homefronts" section there are a lot of cute ones, like this.

and then there was Luke

It's strange having Samantha gone.  So much happening in her life kept the whole family busy, and now all of a sudden - silence.  Well, she and her calender are not silent - they are just alive and well and active in Utah.  I'm so happy that she gets to be with her sisters, etc. there, getting a taste of what life will be without Mom, in a couple of years, when she moves there - if all goes according to plan.  And I know that she will learn & experience things from Hillary and Mariah that will add to the person she needs to be.

BU THIS POST WAS GOING TO BE ABOUT LUKE!  I am so grateful to the scouting and other youth programs that the church is putting on.  They are getting Luke out of the house and keeping him busy.  Thursday night there was a beach party.  It was combined with the girls, and because I am one of the girl's leaders I got to go and get a view of how Luke interacts with others.  He is not shy; he has a lot of fun.  I'm not exactly sure why the girls were pushing him away when they were lining up for the games, but he was smiling and laughing, so hopefully all was well.  I feel confident that if he or the other boys are ever truly bothering the girls, the girls will tell me all about it on Sundays.  Today the boys were up at the church parking lot to cook some dutch oven breakfasts for a fund raiser.  This, and other things they've done, is raising money for them to go to a week long scout camp in the summer.  They are also, today,  doing a service project of helping some people move. I know the leaders put a lot of time and effort and patience into these activities, to say the least, and we so appreciate it. 

Norman Rockwell did several paintings about Boy Scouting, back in the day, which I just love.

 

Dear Grandaughter #3

Just want to let you know that we are so excited for your arrival this summer!  It is going to be a crazy summer; you are coming to a house full of a lot of family - especially because you are due around the time of your Auntie Mariah's wedding.  But your room will be a little sanctuary when you need to get a way from it all.  This house has a legacy of family, and of  babies - from the 1960s up to today.  In fact, the room you will be sharing with your parents is the same room that your mom and grandma & grandpa shared back in the day, and the room that Auntie, Uncle & cousin Dobbins shared last summer. 

I recognize that the anticipation and attention from extended family given to the expecting of the second child in a family is not as vocalized as it was for the first. But the excitement is there and I know you will get all of the love and care you need and deserve. I've always told my kids that there are advantages and disadvantages to each birth order.  I think they realize that now.  Your mom became a big sister for the first time at age 17 months.  She was amazingly patient and loving to her siblings from day one.  I know that your sister Addy will be that way with you.  So please know that your big ol family loves you very much - as much as your sister and cousin, and as much as any other babies that will be coming in the future (in fact, how about reassuring any of your future siblings and cousins of that before you head down here!)

So keep growing strong and healthy, and we'll see you in a couple of months!

Our graduate, class of 2014

Samantha's cousin Kyle was graduating too - fun sitting with the family

Graduation leis - a family tradition

 

long distance wedding planning

Since Mariah is no longer a college student but a working girl, she does not have the whole summer off to come home and wedding plan.  She/they/we are doing things long distance and I have to say that, from what I can tell, things are turning out great so far! - from dresses to decorations, etc.  We're so excited!

So far all of my sons in law were completely involved when it came to their own weddings, now including Ross.  I think that might be a good sign for a long and happy life together - making decisions together, keeping each other's interests in mind, etc.  But most importantly, at the end of the day, the following quote says it all:

prom pictures

From the getting ready to the coming home, prom went perfectly for Samantha!  Exactly how she wanted it to be.  Her date is a friend of hers and a really nice kid.  They were totally comfortable with each other and were just having a great time. So thanks again to Lester & Julia for the dress shopping, Carolyn Lagerloff for helping me hem the dress and Auntie Kathy for doing her hair and make up.

and p.s. According to most of the kids we saw walking in to the prom, and according to all the pictures all over facebook, long dresses are in this year!  All the girls looked pretty classy!

Who knew I like Indian food?

Wow what a week it's been at work!  Last week was teacher appreciation week, and even though I am an aide and not a teacher, I got to benefit from the fact that all of the parents provided a potluck lunch for all of the adults working in our class.

This week it was staff appreciation week.  The PTO put together a very elaborate meal, with decorations, everyday of the week in the staff room - all surrounded by a theme, which was San Francisco.  Monday was clam chowder and sourdough bread with the room decorated like Fisherman's Wharf.  Tuesday was Italain with pasta salads and several kinds of meat (salami, etc.).  Wednesday was the big one - celebrating the mission district with a meal catered by a mexican restaurant.  Thursday was China Town in which I enjoyed the pork buns and egg rolls.  Today they finished it off with candy and cookies in the staff room and a "traveling" kind of star bucks cart.  There were 2 people with the coffee cart/stand set up in the hallway for about 4 hours; you just went up and told them what you wanted, as many times as you wanted, and they mixed it up.  Hot chocolate is one of those things that I don't like to make myself, but if someone is making it for me I love it.  I controlled myself however and only went to the cart twice.  And, as if that wasn't enough, one of our little boy's parents made the adults in our class an authentic Indian lunch.  There was enough food that the principal, secretaries, speech therapist, school psychologist, and several other people were able to take some time to come in and enjoy.  It was quite a party.  I didn't know I liked Indian food - until today.

It is also more than worth mentioning that the main decoration for the staff room all week long was a large Golden Gate Bridge made out of styrofoam painted red, which was placed in the middle of the room on the staff table.  They had red colored lights for the cables and made a road with hot wheel cars underneath.  I took a picture but I don't know if it is okay for me to post it.  I know it is illegal for me to post pictures of the kids, but I'm not sure about pictures of people's hard work.  I guess I'll play it safe and let you imagine what it looked like.

Anyway, it made this long month of May more bearable.  We are all getting anxious for summer.  Although this will be my first year working summer school.  It will be 19 days, and is only 3 hours a day, but I am hearing that it can be a little chaotic - bigger class sizes, etc.  But I know I am spoiled.  I will be home in time everyday to still get a lot of work or rest done or go on outings with my kids.

I love my job.  And I think, out of respect to the kids, I try to talk about all of the positive things about it (although at home I tend to tell my family every detail about everyday).  I will admit that I have learned a hundred times over the meaning of patience, and have a new found education of what a real temper fit looks like - especially when several kids are having one at the same time.  One of our more vocal kids has told me several times lately "Miss Nancy!  You're grounded 6 months!"  Now how can you not smile at that?  Those kids are absolutely adorable.  That, and all of the appreciation shown by the parents this week makes it bearable and enjoyable.

whale watching

Well, it's going to be another beautiful week here in the Bay Area.  After Jade posted on her facebook that they had seen whales down by the beach Luke and I rushed down there to catch a glimpse as well.  It was pretty fascinating!  They were definately right by the pier - thanks for the tip Jade!  I wish we were heading to the beach everyday, but life is calling.  But  we will certainly enjoy the sunshine somehow.

it's all about Samantha right now

The past few weeks, and the next few weeks are all about Samantha around here.  She has so many milestones coming to a head now - some of which she's been working on for years.  It's a sprint to the finish line, and even though she's the runner, I feel like I, and all her family have been running right by her side.  It's been exhausting but so worth it:

Seminary - She will be graduating from her weekday 6 am religion class soon, which she's been doing for 4 years.  It takes much dedication from the kids, the parents, and the teachers to do this day after day.  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel!  But I know it's been a great thing - a way for the kids to "put on the whole armor of God" as they head off to school.

Personal Progress - This has been a 6 year program, comparble to a boy earning his Eagle Scout.  She's done several activities and projects that have hopefully made her a well rounded person: spiritually, academically, etc.etc.  She will be earning her award  this Tuesday night and I have realized that there are so many women at church who have told her they are coming; women who have served as her leaders, helping her to earn this. 

Senior Prom - If there was anyone out there who has enjoyed the anticipation and preparation of the senior prom, it's Samantha.  I've already blogged about the finding of the dress, and how Julia & Lester really came through for her.  She has enlisted her auntie Kathy to do her hair, her seminary teacher and myself to hem her dress, etc. etc.  It is going to be quite the event.

High School Graduation - I don't mean to talk about myself so much, but I want to bear my soul and say that getting this girl through all of her classes has been - well, I don't even know what the word is.  She is not ashamed to admit that she has learning disabilities and that many of her classes have been difficult - mixed in with the usual teenage life lessons of learning to be more organized, meet her due dates, etc.  But I have seen her try and try and mature along the way.  And I know that she has had meaningful experiences from classes that I never could have taught her - things like helping build sets for the play, learning and performing in a dance show, etc.  I know I will be just balling as she receives her diploma.

 California ID - Because of her learning disabilities Samantha will not be driving just yet; and she will not be going away to school right away.  She is going to live at home for a couple of more years and do a lot more learning, maturing, and preparing for life on her own.  She CAN'T WAIT to be an independent, out of state, college co-ed, going to the LDSCB in Salt Lake City, like her sisters have done before her. But she is a good sport.SHE KNOWS SHE'LL GET THERE  and is ready to enjoy life along the way.  And as a graduation gift, she will be going to Utah to hang out with her sisters for a few weeks this June.

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Happy Graduations Samantha!  Happy Life!  We love you so much!

Happy Birthday/Happy Mother's Day

Thursday I had the pleasure of taking the day off and spending it with half of the girls in my family.  Julia, Hillary their babies and I took a cake over to my mom to celebrate her birthday.  While we were there Samantha called from her lunchtime at school to say happy birthday.  I am so blessed that their is longivity in my parents - my Dad lived into his 90s, my mom's Dad lived to almost 100, and so I hope to have many more years with my Mom, which hopefully will be spent in the comfort she deserves.  She is a real trooper.  I love her so much.

We celebrated mother's day today as Reggie will be going on a business trip tomorrow.  It was wonderful.  After dinner we sat around watching Mormon Messsages about mothers.  Here is one of my favorite.  Funny because I see Julia and Hillary in it now, as the young mother's they are; I see myself in it as the Mother of teenagers/young adults, and my Mom and mother in law as the ultimate/ never ending mothers who continue to have more family to worry about and love as time goes on.  Motherhood is forever.  Motherhood is common, but it is also the most miraculous thing in the world.

My pacifier is your pacifier and visa versa

Both my grandaughters love their pacifiers.  If Addy sees Audrey's pacifier lying around she picks it up and gives it to her.  She also likes to try to hold Audrey or have Audrey hold her, by trying to sit in her lap. Last night Reggie and I made a run to Walgreens because we couldn't find any of Audrey's pacifiers and she let us know that she wasn't about to go to sleep without one.  As I was opening the package of new pacifiers Addy was noticing and was very excited.  Julia explained "no no, those are Audrey's pacifiers".  We gave one to Audrey and all was well.  A few minutes later we noticed the girls sitting, facing each other, with Addy sucking on the new pacifier and Audrey sucking on Addy's old one.  It was priceless!  Obviously Addy decided it was time to trade.  Both girls were very happy.

"Autism Speaks" Walk

 Yesterday my family and I participated in a fundraising walk for Autism.  They have these all over the country, and ours was in San Jose.  The teacher of my class organized our team and brought us fun things to wear, like the puzzle piece socks, stickers, foam hands, etc. (The puzzle piece is a symbol for autism awareness/trying to solve the puzzles of what we don't know about autism.)

 Our team consisted of the teacher (she's Julia's age and wonderful), my family, and a behavior therapist in our class (I call her Mary Poppins because she comes in and improves the children's behavior so much!  Although, I guess the point of Mary Poppins is that she is really there to save the parents, so maybe the Behavior Therapists are really there to show us more strategies on how to help the children!).

 So happy my grandaughters were able to join us!

They lead the crowd in the "Cha Cha Slide" and my family got into it. 

Look who's here!

They came for the fog (which Hillary honestly loves) but got beautiful weather instead. We took advantage of it yesterday for 3 hours at the beach.  It's not that we don't have beautiful weather around here - it just happens times other than summer.

Thanks, Porters for sharing!

This hat has become a family beach tradition - Rocio's baby,

                                            Cali wore it a couple of years ago and then passed
                                                   it down to Addy, and now to Audrey.