Two Thousand and Twelve

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. 

MSgt Addington

visiting with President and Sister Whatcott, Mike's Mission President in Cebu

Sylvia

my 4th of July Rice Puto

celebrated 12 years

check out Naia's ballet bun

Celebrating Christmas

decorating our little Christmas trees outside

where they are safe from Bruce the little Hulk

Noche Buena feast

Christmas morning

let the fun begin

  

Maui

We went for a nice, short Maui vacation.  We left Oahu on Friday morning and came home last night.  We had a really great time!  Maui is now our favorite island in the state.  Let me share with you our little adventure..

waiting to board the plane/ Honolulu to Kahalui

We arrived on Kahalui at 0830.  With hungry stomachs, we were ready to devour some ono Maui breakfast special.  We headed to this place called Tasty Crust over at Wailuku as suggested by our good friend Ryan Okimoto, a Maui native.  This place did not disappoint.  

for reals, they're World Famous

melt in the mouth pancakes/ double thumbs up for dat

With stomachs full, we were ready to explore!  We had a few hours before we can check in to our hotel.  So, we headed to the West Maui mountain.  The drive was beautiful, delicious and dangerous.  Breathtaking views, yummy island  produce bites and narrow, one lane roads that can lead you off the cliff if you're not cautious. 

wow

view of the Haleakala

giraffe on the road side

Mike, Me and Da rock

didn't I say breathtaking!

fresh off the oven banana bread was onolicious

One of the many Ululani Shave Ice in the Island.  Not da best kine but we love  Pink!

Bruce was napping away in the car

Bruce and his dada

with 2 of my babies

I forgot what this spot is called but doesn't it look like a big shaka sign

he's too cool

I have to make this photo a little bigger so you can spot Oahu in between Lanai (on the left) and Molokai(on the right)

After a couple of hours of driving adventure, we got to check in to Aston Banyan over at Kihei.  Which we highly recommend to those who don't want to spend that much!  They let us check in as early as 1200  and we got a free upgrade for being a military family.  We also loved the old Hawaii feel of our suite. I wanted to take home some of their furnitures and paintings home but that would be too much excess baggage to pay!  After resting a little bit and freshening up, we went to have some lunch.  Kihei was a perfect location for us.  The beach was right across from where we were staying.  There were plenty of reasonably priced eats, farmer's market, craft fairs, Times Market and Foodland.  Basically everything that we need!  Plus we didn't have to deal with traffic going to any of our destinations.  

Shaka pizza and Subs for lunch/  Another of Ryan's recommendation

After some exploring around Kihei, we decided to head to Makena's Big Beach.  We witnessed the most beautiful sunset.  The downside though is that there are no showers  and only porta potties if you gotta go.  Adjacent to the Big Beach is the Little beach.   Unless you plan to enjoy the sunset with a bunch of moonings and more, no need to go there!  Not that we went, we just heard..

Naia is always the first one to brave the waters

no, that's not one of my boys surfing/ I thought it was a cool photo

just beautiful waves

waiting for sunset

the waves, setting sun and Kahoolawe and Molokini in the background

Mike did a great job capturing this great sight with our smart phones

Day two..

Started with early morning General conference in our suite and Foodland breakfast special, cereal, milk and toast.  After the morning session, we headed East side to Makawao.  Makawao is a charming little town with the world famous, Komoda Bakery.  They're famous for their cream puffs, Long Johns and stick donuts.  You can also find a lot of organic stores and produce here.  

Maui gas price

Don't judge the place by it's signage

walking the streets of Makawao

Minit stop special is a must

visiting this place where Mike spent some school breaks as a kid  

and the kids got to play on the renovated tree house that Mike used to play on

Makawao Union Church

Now, it was time to head to Kahalui so Mike can attend the Priesthood General Session. 

Queen Kaahumanu Mall/ waiting for Dad

Then it's beach time at Kamaole , which is located just across from Aston Banyan. 

Mike and the boys/ and that's Kahoolawe island in the background

West Maui mountain

sunset at Kihei

because I can

the boys 

with my Boocey

Day Three

Last day of General conference.  We were glad to incorporate watching the sessions with our trip.  With our spirits lifted we headed for Hana drive.  One of the most beautiful drive in the world.  I tell you, Maui is a really world class island from pancakes, gorgeous sunsets and breathtaking scenery!   

Listening to Elder Hales

Not the most reverent audience during the conference

Now on our way to Hana..

A must stop/  you can find many of these shacks a long the way/  We had this deliciously refreshing pineapple, lilikoi
smoothie

tall bamboo/ everything was so green and lush

Hawaii untouched

I enjoyed the view for Mike since he has to keep his eye on the road

at one of the lookouts/ Bruce napping away again

yay halfway there

one of the many waterfalls we saw

and another one

Mike and the kids liked it more than I did.  We have better coconut candies in Cebu

on our way to Waianapanapa(Black Sand) beach

Nainai inside the cave

It was challenging to do this pic.  Bruce wouldn't stand still but I still got to capture one of his little feet

Daddy and his little mermaid

Hana Bay

After reaching Hana, instead of going all the way back where we came from like most tourists will do, we decided to go all the way around to Kula Highway.  This was after we talked to some locals about the drive and knowing that we rented a 4 wheel drive vehicle.  The drive was way too awesome or should I say narley as what one local lady described it.  We didn't get to take a lot of pictures though because number one it was getting dark and number two we had a puker. 

totally narley, dude

Day Four

Originally we planned to leave Kihei at 0330 to get to Haleakala in time for the world famous sunrise.  But the Hana drive wiped us out.  So we left after 0600 and saw the sun rising on our way there.

Noooo, wait for us!

After stopping by Pukalani Superette for some ono grindz, we headed to Haleakala..

above the clouds

After Haleakala we headed back to our home away from home.  Rested and packed.  Now for some one last Ululani shave Ice and the 'Iao state park.

Ululani in Kehei tasted much better. Make sure to order the macnut ice cream add on

Warning Falling rocks

Our GI Jane, Naia was first one to brave swimming in the river with Daddy

Nature calls/ High five for that Tino boy!

'Iao 

Now back to Oahu..

Good bye Maui, maybe we'll see you again next Fall break