Our Ohana: January 2013

Welcome year 2013! I can't believe that we said goodbye to 2012 already. It was a busy full year for us. Never the less we enjoyed the ride and grateful for everything we experienced and learned. Here's our Two Thousand and Twelve:

Bruce-er

Our first full year with our little Bruce and he made sure it's a busy one especially for me. Bruce started crawling at 5 months old. Through his siblings coaching, he learned to climb up the stairs at 6 months. A week after he turned 9 months, he started walking. Now at 13 months, Bruce is a real bruiser. He likes to run, throw and smash! He LOVES to eat and will eat any kind of food. When he is tired and cranky, we take turns singing his favorite song to him which is A Child's Prayer. We figured out that it's his favorite because it was the only song that calms him down or gets his attention. It might be because Naia and I sang it a lot when he was in the belly. Even though he acts all tough, he is one sweet boy who loves his Mama and enjoys all the love and spoiling he gets from Daddy and his siblings.

at 4 months old, chillin' in the yard

grocery shopping with Mama

fancy first haircut

MMA training with big sis

oh yeah, this is Bruce!

Naia Matina

Our little Naia is not so little anymore. This year she turned 4. Naia enjoys going to gymnastics and ballet/tap dance classes once a week. She likes to draw and write notes for me and her Dad. She loves to give our family prayers. Her prayers are always thoughtful and full of thanks. Naia is MJ's little princess, Nyle's police, Bruce's protector, Dad's little adoring fan and my little Buddy. In the Fall of 2013 she will start Kindergarten and it makes me sad thinking about it. I'll miss my little bestfriend when she goes to school.

cool trick, cool trick

working hard at the HITS gym

Naia: this is Wolverine and Storm, they're about to fight the bad guys

one of her notes to Daddy

after their Christmas Dance program

duck face

Nyle Santino

Nyle turned 7 a week before he finished 1st grade. In the Fall, he started 2nd grade and has to learn to be more independent since MJ is now in a different school. He continues to attend Tae Kwan Do twice a week and just recently got his full yellow belt. He may not always be serious and focused but Nyle is pretty intense and it's really fun to watch him do their drills. Every now and then when his coach is not watching he breaks into a dance. He also started piano in May. He plays with a lot of gusto. He dislikes having to do the homework part but really enjoys playing the songs and even making up his own. I never have to remind him to practice. I lost count of all the crushes he has and had this year. He seem to always think that he is in love. When he heard about the announcement that Young Men can serve their missions now at 18 years old he was quite excited and told me that he can now get married at 20 right after he comes home from his mission. Nyle has a great talent in remembering and enjoying books he read, stories told to him or movies he watched. At Church he makes me look like I taught him a whole lot. I do the best I can but most of his knowledge comes from reading all the scripture stories book and watching the DVDs most Sundays. I love that even though he is an independent reader, he still very much enjoys reading time with me.

working on his new song

2nd Grade

2nd Grade Fall picture

waiting for The Nutcracker to start

Chin and Kring's visit

Belt ceremony with MJ and Sensei Charles

MJ Briggs

MJ had a good year. In third grade, he came home with a lot of free kids meal certificates and coupons for different class awards and for getting high HSA(Hawaii Schools Assessment) test scores. Among almost a thousand applicants, MJ was one of the 64 kids that got picked for Kamehameha Schools class 2021. MJ is enjoying and thriving in his new school. He just recently wrote his first Golden pencil book entry. Rick Riordan might cry plagiarism but MJ LOVES his books that I wasn't surprise when his main character, Scott sound so much like Percy Jackson and the love interest Annabelle.. hmm that's almost like Annabeth daughter of Athena. And yes, in MJ's story Annabelle is Athena's daughter too. MJ continued his piano lessons this year and participated in Spring recital and the Christmas program. In Tae Kwan Do, he just recently advanced to purple belt. He received his wolf badge in Cubs Scout and is now with the Bears. MJ is a responsible young man and takes his role as the big brother to heart. What we love most about him is his thoughtfulness. He always thinks about how he can help me and his Dad or what he can share or give to his siblings.

first time participating in Pinewood Derby

impromptu singing Happy birthday for Auntie Nikki at Nico's Restaurant

paddle boarding with Dad

jumped off the Waimea Bay rock in July

practicing his recital piece while watching Bruce

his first Kamehameha School Founder's Day

Mike and I

Mike travelled more than usual. He went through nine states and three countries. He used to have time for Wednesday racquetball but with his new work responsibilities he has to make do with just paddle surfing whenever time and the surf permits. As for me, I have learned to do a ballet bun, made donut bun out of socks, tie a Tae Kwan Do belt correctly, perfected a rice puto recipe and go about my responsibilities each day even when I'm sleep deprived.

Mike and I both enjoyed serving in our Church callings. I still teach in the Primary while Mike continues to serve in his stake calling.