Last day of First Grade! (Yes, this was a couple months ago...)

Peli sure loves Mrs. Esplin! She was wonderful and we will miss her!

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We crashed our friends' water party... 

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Water guns, pools, water balloons, and a waterslide bounce house! super-fun ;) 

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Here are a few of the roses I planted back in the spring. 

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Epeli's Patriotic Program

Dance, dance, dance ;)

This is the vid of Epeli's dance festival performance
"Kids of America"... pretty awesome if you ask me!

And this is Raini's two-night performance of "Mr. Sandman"
at Broadway Night at our high school. Pretty hilarious!

Hero Factory, Cookies and First Flower

Epeli secretly took this picture of his

faaaavorite Easter treat- a cookies and cream

bunny!

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Anyone who knows me at all knows that I'm not really... the "outdoorsy" type.

I haven't really camped since Young Womens, would rather go to the movie

than hike up a mountain, and have never- ever- gardened.

But this year... I caught the bug. I got some roses, lilacs and even

a few herbs to plant, as well as some awesome gloves... and two weeks later...

my first rose bloom! It's a purple tiger. You're welcome, earth. ;) 

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A few days ago Peli and Raini got a surprise from a special someone.

Peli got a hero factory guy he's wanted forEVER,

and Rain got a LaLaLoopsy Littles doctor set. 

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Ta Da!! Peli set up this shot, if you can tell... with the shoes and little toys

framing the oh-so-beloved "Surge" 

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Later, he put him on another guy's motorcycle 

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I've been informed we'll be sending this one in to Lego Jr. Club Magazine

for publishing... 

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Even later, Peli combined surge with another guy (splitface?) to create this lovely... 

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Meanwhile, Suka found a KILLER chocolate chip cookie recipe.

It took a few tweaks and a few tries to perfect it,

but they were yummy. 

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And finally, last night was Peli's school's dance festival. Before it starts,

you can browse some of the kids' artwork. This flower patch is from

Peli's class, and he's pointing to the one he did. 

More holiday joy

Raini "riding" her new bike (which was more about Suka pushing and

Raini holding on to her baby doll!)

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...Just wish it wasn't so FREEZING! 

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Peli loves his new bike! 

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Tada! 

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The day after Christmas, Peli said, "This was the greatest Christmas EVER!"

What a wonderful thing for a parent to hear their kid say! It was awesome.

We had a beautiful day, with a big holiday turkey meal and a couple of

afternoon naps (yes, Peli thought he could wake up at 2am for Christmas...) 

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This is one of Peli's Pirates Lego sets- the tower from On Stranger Tides.

He built them all within 2 days and has been playing with them ever since!

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Raini got some legos, too, and she's very proud of her creations... 

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New Year's Day we were able to do something we never do:

Go to the movie! We saw Rise of the Guardians (with Raini's baby doll, of course.) 

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It was super-fun. Afterward, we went to eat at Golden Corral and then back

to our Christmas presents! Great day ;) 

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This is the Christmas present Peli thought up for his teacher!

Her last name starts with E, which he reminds me is the same letter his own

name starts with ;)  He chose the polynesian-style fabric and we got it together

for her... I liked it so much I wanted to keep it!!

Halloween pics

Queen Raini and Captain Jack Sparrow, off to Braxton and Boston's 

Halloween party

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Peli swinging with Braxton 

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Raini playing games...

naked, as usual...

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Peli's first grade class doing a "Readers Theater"

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Raini decided to go pirate for Halloween night 

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She wore her pirate costume to her dance class, too 

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Peli's school did a parade, but I couldn't get

Peli to look at us! 

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The hoop earrings are the best. Of course. 

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The goods! 

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Peli at the party

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Raini at the party, before she stripped down 

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We are at the far end; That's Ursula in front (from Little Mermaid!)