July 2013

 I'm still trying to play catch-up so here is a run-down of what happened in July........
We spent the 4th of July at Cherry Days in North Ogden. Ron played in the volleyball tournament and the girls and I watched a little and then went over to the booths. Reese found an umbrella and a bird whistle at the booths and then she was ready to go back. I wanted to go back to the volleyball games as well because it was 105 degrees.  I love these pictures of Nora. This was the beginning of her rolling days.

We also had our Kawaguchi Family Reunion in July.  Most of the extended Kawaguchi family hadn't seen Nora yet, so lets just say she was a BIG hit at the reunion. She was smiling and blowing bubbles at everyone. Here is a picture of my dad and Nora. We call him Papa Gichan. (My niece started calling my Dad Papa Gichan when she was little and it stuck. The funny thing about it, is that Gichan is grandpa in Japanese. So the grandkids are calling him "Papa Grandpa".

Reese has loved swimming this summer and she is a little fish with no fear. She loves jumping off anything into the water. The higher the better. She is just a natural and holds her breath really well without holding her nose and can swim with her life jacket on.

Nora Boo is 4 months old and is just that happiest baby. She loves to smile and laugh and watch people. She loves her thumb and goes to town sucking away. She loves to snuggle and sleeps through the night. She tries to eat everybodys food around her. She loves it when you blow on her face and she loves to take baths with Reesie and they splash away. She loves to watch movies in the theater room and she wants to do whatever Reese is doing. Reese loves to make Nora food in her kitchen and have Nora lay in her bed with her. Nora loves to help me with the laundry and just lays in the warm clothes while I fold them. She is just a perfect baby and we love her to pieces.

Ron has started playing the cello and Reese loves to play with him. Of course it only lasts about 2 seconds before she if off to the next thing. She has loved playing dress up this summer and is always in a tutu or has high heels on. Her favorite thing is to put her tutu on and then jump on her little trampoline.

 Our neighbors let us pick raspberries from their raspberry bushes and Reese has loved stuffing her mouth full of raspberries.

 Reese loves going to Home Depot with Ron so she can ride on lawnmowers. Yes, she is in a dress on the lawnmower:)

 Reese went to her cousin's train birthday party and they came back with conductor caps, bandanas, painted ceramic train banks, and a train whistle. She had a blast and looked so cute!

Sisterly love!!! Reese loves to let her hair dangle above Nora and Nora loves to grab it. They laugh and do this over and over. I love to just watch my girls play together or snuggle together. They are best friends already.

Reese making Sushi for the first time. Look at her skills. I discovered that Reese LOVES soy sauce. She will just drink it out of the bowl if I let her.

My little thumb sucker!!

 I love her sweet smile. She really is such a happy girl! I get to see this face all day long!

Last swim at North Shore....

We had our final North Shore swim and Reese was so excited to go swimming with her bestie!! It is amazing how much Reese loves the water. She is completely fearless and so natural at swimming. She will jump off an pretty much anything in to the pool and can kick her way over to the side of the pool. The other day, Reese was in the bath tub and said, "Mama, watch this." She then stuck her head under the water, (without plugging her nose) and stayed under for 10 seconds. It's interesting to me how natural it is for her to go underwater or kick her legs or float on her back. I don't mean to boast about my child, but it's pretty remarkable. 

Nora also loves the water and she loves to kick and splash. Nora's face would get splashed quite a bit when we would be at the pool and she didn't seem to mind at all. We had fun swimming this summer, but I have to admit that I'm glad I don't have to pack up a toddler and baby again swim swim diapers and sun screen until next summer. 

June 2013

I was trying to catch up on e my blog by blogging events and quickly realized I am just too far behind. So I will  update with monthly posts for now. June was a busy month. We have gone swimming a lot and played at the splash pad. Reese and Nora love the water so we have gone there a lot. Ron's sister's family came and visited from California for 3 weeks and Reese had a lot of fun. We went to the zoo, trampoline park, swimming, bowling, and just had fun with cousins. We also added hair extensions into Reese's hair. I have to add that it only costs me $3.00 for the hair. It kinda takes a long time to do, but it is so much easier to do Reese's hair and it is supposed to help her hair keep in moisture and grow. It's also a lot of fun. I love my girls and love how much fun they have together. So there is June in a nutshell.

Family Pictures 2013

I wasn't sure how our family pictures would turn out since the day didn't go real well. We went up to the peach orchard and it was really windy. It was not only really windy, but Reese was not in a good mood. She was throwing a tantrum from the very beginning. I even brought marshmallows, but they didn't seem to help at all. Luckily, Reese is the most ticklish and photogenic two year old I know. I was excited when I saw that the pictures turned out so well.  I love my beautiful family and our beautiful pictures. 

May and 2 month check up

    I am trying to catch up on my blog and it is a little difficult with two little ones. They change everyday and it seems like there is even more to update. On May 14, 2013, Nora turned 2 months old and it was also my birthday. A lot of people hate birthdays because it means that they are getting older, but I love getting older because every couple of years I have been able to celebrate my birthday with another beautiful child. Both Reese and Nora were born in March and so a brand new baby for my birthday is more than I could ever ask for. I love to snuggle with my little family on our bed and watch " The Robisons" ( one of our favorites) or just watch Reese and Nora play together. They were truly meant to be sisters. They may not look alike, but I am constantly amazed at how connected they are. I remember when we adopted Reese, I felt it such a blessing that I was not only a mother, but I was meant to be Reese's mother. I have felt that same way about Nora and now I am seeing this same thing with the girls. Reese has specific qualities that make her the perfect big sister for Nora and vice versa. They are so cute together!  Nora is growing so quickly and just keeps getting cuter and cuter. Her expressions are the best and she is just a happy baby. She loves being held, but likes to play on the ground by herself. She eats well and sleeps well and is just a 

little piece of heaven in our home. Here were her 2 month check up stats.....

Weight: 11lbs 13oz     55%       

Height: 23.5 in   83%

HC: 40.5cm     95%

                                                                                                                                           

My Happily Ever After.....

 A little while ago, I was watching "American Idol" and something caught my attention that I thought was interesting. It was still the auditions and there was a young couple featured who were newlyweds and in love. The husband had supported his new wife and helped her to audition. Anyway, I watched as these famous judges, who appear to have everything in the world, covet the love that these 2 young college students have.

The love you create in a marriage and family is not something that you can buy with money, but it comes from patience, love, forgiveness, selflessness, and is worth every sacrifice. I may not have all the fame and fortune, but I have a marriage and family that bring me so much happiness. I truly thank my Heavenly Father everyday for my life. I am SO happy and I have so much to be grateful for.....

-We have the gospel

-I have an amazing husband who I love and is a great Daddy

-I have been blessed with 2 amazing girls that are the light of my life

-I get to stay at home with my girls and cuddle and play with them everyday

-Our family has been able to enjoy the blessings of health

-I have an eternal family and we will be able to be sealed to Nora in 4 months

- I am grateful that Ron has a stable job

- I get to work with the most amazing young women and leaders

-I'm a mom

There are lots more things I could add to the list, but these are just a few.

I was reading in the April Ensign the other day and something kept sticking out to me. It was the talk by Elder Nelsen and he says, "That righteousness, that power, and that glory—indeed, all of our many blessings—stem from our knowledge of, obedience to, and gratitude and love for the Lord Jesus Christ." 

As I read this, my first thought was that Heavenly Father does keep his promises and will always be there to guide us if we let him. I think I am the happiest I have ever been and it is from those 4 things.......knowledge of, obedience to, and gratitude and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.  I have thought a lot about all the small decisions I have made throughout my life that has brought me to the happiness I enjoy today. There are so many blessings that I enjoy from obedience and then I think of my girls. I don't know if I could be obedient enough to deserve them, but our Heavenly Father's love is all encompassing and he blessed up with our beautiful girls.  I wish I could adequately express the feeling in my heart, but just know this....this gospel is true and Heavenly Father wants to bless our lives.  I hope to teach my girls this throughout their lives as well as the young women around me. These 4 things truly bring about great blessings and eternal happiness. 

Oh, I love them!!

Reese loves to touch Nora every chance she gets. She is always holding her hand or kissing her on the head.

She definitely loves her sister.

This picture is the best!! The cutest girls and Reese's afro looks amazing!!! After bath afro's are the best!!

Morning snuggles in "Mama's bed"