Christmas 2008

We were fortunate enough to be able to spend Christmas break (including Christmas day and New Year's eve) up north with family. It was such a nice break. And silly me, I really didn't take much pictures. Kono and Nahoa helped their Grandma Sarah make this gingerbread house. Last year, when we made one as a family, it was a disaster with the big mess Kono made and with all the candy he ate not to mention the ridiculous icing that wouldn't harden (it was a kit), so the house kept falling over. I decided not to do it again until Kono was old enough. But Grandma was strict with the boys and reminded them just about every minute that the candy was for the house only. The boys enjoyed it very much. Kono is doing a fake smile on the first picture, he can never smile normal when you tell him to (but what kid does?).
On Christmas day, we only took the pictures you see on the bottom. How lame of us!!! That's because we did more recording on the camcorder and tried to keep Kono busy as we did the opening of presents which took a decent amount of time. I mostly love how we drag it out when it comes to opening gifts with the Tano's. It makes it last longer. Their tradition is to have numerous riddles prepared (the same amount of presents) on small strips of paper (with our names on them) that are placed sparatically amongst the tree. We takes turns choosing, and you have to read the riddle out loud and try to figure it out. The answer is always some place or thing inside or outside the house. That is where the gift is hidden and if you want your gift, you have to get it even if it's some place outside. But this year, Granite's Dad came up with something new. He asked questions that have to do with the gospel. It really was fun. It was a mixture of easier ones and harder ones which was nice cause we all learned new things. And this time the presents stayed under the tree. If you got the answer right, you got to open one of your gifts, if not, another person gets a chance to answer the question.
Orem was dumped with snow. At least two feet of it (I think so, anyone know?)! It was so pretty and yet so cold and scary on the roads especially with all the crazy last minute Christmas shoppers (hahaha- us!! We always do last minute shopping and vow to do it early the next year.)
I am mad at myself for not taking any pictures in the pretty snow. Especially when Kono and Granite made a snowman while I was out shopping. Kono wanted to make a snowman for weeks and finally did. All in all, we had a great Christmas with Granite's family and with mine. I am thankful for this beautiful season to remember others and most of all to reflect upon Our Savior's birth.

Fun in the Snow

It finally snowed today (it hardly snows here in this part of AZ). Kono was getting so antsy being inside all the time. I hadn't done anything fun with him recently (probably only a couple of things) so I started to make snowflakes with him to hang on the window. We only made two and he wanted to go outside. He had so much fun with the snow even though it had just barely covered the ground.

Here are more things that he has done or said that is cute or funny:

~While we were up north over Thanksgiving, he found a K-mart flyer with all the toys that would be on sale for Black Friday. He spotted a Batman toy and REALLY wanted it. He carried that thing around faithfully for about three days and even had me remove my scriptures from the nightstand so that he can set it there. His Grandma told him, "Well Kono, if you want that toy, you have to be a good boy so Santa Clause can get it for you. You have to eat your food, brush your teeth, and go to sleep when you are told". Kono quickly put the flyer down and put out his hands while saying "Where's my food!!?". It was so funny, he thought that he only had to do it once.
~ He got really sick one night and wanted his big Batman to sleep by him. I put it on the bed but noticed that it was barely on the bed so I went to scoot it over, Kono said " Don't wake up Batman Mom, he's sooo tired". It's funny he said this even when he was really sick, I think he meant he was really tired.
~We were really laughing while visiting with family when Kono said "That's not very funny!"
~Kono was retelling a story to me about a time when he and his cousin were being mischievous, and he said that I walked over and said "What's going on!?"
~He likes to say: "Whoa, easy man!!" when he almost drops something or almost falls or in similar situations like it.
~Kono is ALWAYS saying: "What happened Mommy, what happened!!?" or "What Mommy, what!!?" He says the second one when I don't give him information about what I'm doing, it's his way of saying what are you doing.
~Kono was stalling from brushing his teeth and I said "Santa Clause said to brush your teeth so he can bring you presents." He said "Santa Clause, I'm tired!!" as he looked up to the ceiling. I started laughing and said" Come on Kono!" He said, "I'm looking for crumbs!" as he dug through his bed. :)
This little boy makes us laugh pretty much on a daily basis, I just need to write these things down as soon as they happen so I don't forget.

My Cute Toddler

Granite took this picture, it was Kono's request. We told him to make a tough face.


I need to write these cute things down before I forget. I usually write in his journal but haven't been too good about it lately. I thought I'd share them with you.

• When Kono is really enjoying a movie, he wants me to watch it with him. He says "Sit on my lap Mommy!" I tell him I'll sit by him and he just keeps asking me to sit on his lap. I tell him I'm too heavy and slightly put my weight on him to satisfy his request. He then says "You're not too heavy!"
• One time I was changing his diaper on the couch and his cousin Nahoa started to walk over to observe. Kono quickly put out his hand as if to shield his eyes and said" Don't look Nahoa, it's disgusting!!!" It was so funny, he didn't even go #2.
• One time Kono was watching a commercial with a baby doll advertisement. After it was done he said" Ooooh baby, I like baby." He then noticed that I was watching him and heard what he had said. He immediately corrected himself and said "No, that's for girls!" with a shy smile on his face.
  
• We always tell Kono that we love him soooo much, and this is what he says to us now, at least once a day" I love you tooo much!"
• Whenever Kono asks us what he is doing, he says "What you sink you're doing?" He means what do you think you're doing. I have no idea where he got that from. Most likely from me, I probably always say that to Granite, "What do you think you're doing!?" without really realizing it.
  
• When Kono makes Nahoa cry (ahhhhh, poor thing) I ask "What did you do to him?!" He says " He acting the baby!" And he got that from me too, that's what I tell him not to act like whenever he starts to cry and pout for no real or some silly reason. I tell him not to be a baby, and that he's three now. Also, Kono thinks he is Nahoa's other parent. He tries to correct him and other stuff. That boy!!!
• Kono can't say the word church by itself. He always says "church-a-ommorrow" meaning church tomorrow. He thinks he's right too with this one.
  
• When Kono was younger like between ages 1-2 and a half and he would see Granite and I show any affection whatsoever, even the slightest thing, he would run away crying! That was so funny and cute at the same time. Now, when I play with or make Miya laugh, he gets jealous not because I'm giving her attention but because he wants to be the one to do it. He get's this very disappointed look on his face and slouches his shoulders dramatically and sighs, this boy has such a personality, it's hilarious!
• He can now say his full name- Kono Kanakamakua Tano. But sometimes he'll say Nakamakua Tano or just Nakamakua or Kanakamakua. We both we're very surprised he learned his middle name and we never would teach him to say it, but just call him by his middle name and he caught on. He's such a cutie!
  

Kono's Three Year Pictures

My sweet sister did these pictures for us while we were up north for Thanksgiving. They turned out really nice but I do regret not being fully prepared. For one thing, Kono needed a haircut. On the "cowboy" pics, I forgot a belt. The first two pictures were taken last on a different day. He had just gotten up from a late nap and wasn't cooperating too much. He's face looks dry too which is my fault. He was suppose to take pictures in his little sunday's best, but refused to so I just decided to postpone. I'd like to re-do the ones in his sweater, I didn't even realize his sleeves were rolled up, it looks a little funny. And the Asian outfit barely fit him, silly me for not trying it on him (he wore this when he was one and a half). All in all, I am grateful for these pictures (the last time he took pictures like this was when he was a little over a year). I love my cute son, he is such a handsome boy! Thanks Michele! By the way, my sister specializes in infant and child photography her website is: michelereyes.com
and her photography blog is: michelereyes.blogspot.com
She is an awesome photgrapher.

Fun Times

It was so much fun to spend extra time with family during Thanksgiving break. I was so happy to be back with my family since we aren't able to travel a whole lot anymore due to Granite's new calling and mine even. My sisters, Mom, and I took the kids to Jumpin' Jacks, a place where there are these huge blown up vinyl things that you jump on, climb, slide down and play on. The boys had so much fun that we decided to go there a second time to celebrate Kono's birthday again but this time with my family. I am either not good at taking pictures or my camera is just not as great as I thought it was (even though it's pretty new). Anyway, the first day we went there, after we were all done with that, my Mom and brother willingly watched six of the boys while the three of us sisters (excluding the youngest) who are mothers went out to eat (that was a treat, not having to worry about anything for the most part!) We even made time to stop by Victoria's Secret for a new bra! Hahaha!

This is how we found the four older ones when we came home.

Sorry it's blurry, but I loved his smile in action.

Kono's Birthday

Kono's New Best Friend

Kono got one of his birthday gifts early, this big stuffed Batman. He absolutely loves it. Sometimes he'll sit on his couch with it and watch t.v. He says it's his friend. The first night he even wanted him to sleep by us. Yeah, Kono sleeps by me still and Granite moved back to the couch. Although Batman doesn't sleep by us. I figure I don't mind at all that Kono still sleeps by me cause he's only young once and never again!