I am still alive, but is anyone sitll out there?

So I don't really expect anyone to read this, because when I haven't updated in over 8 months, why would anyone check anymore, right? But I am pleased to finally announce the arrival of our fourth child. Kali'inani Alene Franco was born on June 26th, 2011 at 11:59am. She weighed 7 lbs. 8 oz. Her name means "my little beautiful". Her middle name is the same as mine, and we are named for my wonderful grandmother. She is two and a half months old now, and truly is a beautiful baby. She is also a very, very good baby. She has been sleeping through the night since 3 weeks, give or take a night here or there, and she basically only cries if she is hungry, tired or needs to be changed. She also takes a pacifier, and goes to sleep on her own in her own bed. All of this very different from my wonderful, yet somewhat more challenging, boys. Speaking of them, they all love her. Herbie is 6 and in 1st grade, Kahana is 3 and Hinckley will be 2 next month. We have our hands full, as you can imagine, but we are very blessed!

The picture is a month old, but it is the only one I had on the computer for now--she likes to stick her tongue out like that.

I now send a out a fond farewell, for who knows when I will post again...I certainly don't!

Think Pink! (Do I know how?)

It is true, we are having a girl! We found out on Jan 25th that we are expected our first little girl, and we are very excited. Herbie, however, was not the least bit surprised. He has been assuring me from the beginning that we were having a girl. Others were not so easy to convince. One person was so sure that Hapaki was trying to trick them, they made Herbie get on the phone and tell them what the dr. said. Another called me a few hours later and said, "Hapaki isn't joking right? You are having a girl?"

All kinds of new ideas have been crossing my mind now, like how I get to use cute little frilly dresses etc. Then other thoughts have been coming, like, "will I know what to do with a girl?" and "Oh man, I am actually going to have to comb her hair everyday!" For Hapaki it has been more thoughts of the future. He is already dreading her wedding day. It is definitely a new idea for the Franco Family, but one that we are excited to embrace.

Another Franco

Most of you have already heard this news, but for those who haven't, we are expecting our fourth little Franco. I am due June 25th, 2011. I have just finished my first trimester, and have been feeling okay. I definitely have my sick moments, but they seem to be less than with other pregnancies. We won't know what it is for another couple months, but I am just thinking a boy because of past history (ha, ha). I know that I have once again been silent for months, but that is all I have time for now, sorry.

A moment (or a few months) of Silence

So I just checked the blog and realized that the last time I posted was over two months ago! I have no good reason for this, except for life. As an example of this, as I type this Hinckley has just yanked the mouse to the floor! So if there is even anyone left to read this, I will attempt to update you qiuckly on our life of late.

Herbie started Kindergarten, and that has been exciting/challenging in its own way. He is doing well and enjoying it. Part of the challenge has been not napping. He doesn't fall asleep during their 20-30 min nap time, so if he sleeps when he comes home, then he is up all night. It has been a battle trying to figure out a new schedule. His writing has greatly improved and he enjoys inventing all kinds of projects to do that involve wiritng his letters and numbers. He also has several sight words he can read, and started to sound out words as well. So hopefully reading will be next.

Hinckley will be turning one in a few weeks as well (Oct 14th)! He is very busy, as the "mouse" comment shows. He is getting all over by crawling, cursing along the furniture, and even taking a few steps here and there. I am sure the will be walking soon! He is also very verbal little boy. He love to yell, and is very good at it (that is code for, he can be really loud!) He also can wave and say "hi" and "bye" and his newest one is "gook" for book. He definitely keeps me on my toes.

Kahana is also growing up quickly, He is talking much more clearly, and prefaces most words with "a". Like "a ball", or "a guy". He also likes to look for a snack or movie or toy, and while looking repeating over and over, "I pick..., I pick...." Then will insert whatever he picks at the end. He loves to dance right now, and danced to the same christmas song about 20 times today. He also really enjoys playing anything with a ball, and jumping on the couch.

Hapaki is busy working, he was just in Seattle for convention the 10th-15th, and he is also gearing up for our annual Christmas devotional. Practices start this Sunday and he writing the theme song again. I have such a talented husband.

I am surviving. I spend most days just trying to get the food bought, put away, cooked, eaten/fed, and then cleaned up. That along with laundry, doing school pick up/ drop off and getting some warts on my feet frozen, I have kept pretty busy. I wil try to blog again soon and this time with pictures and maybe some video soon too. I am sure you are all thinking, "maybe we'll see something by the new year!" I will try hard to make it before then! So if anyone is left out there to read this, left me know!

Herbie's Aloha Day Performances

These are a couple of videos from Herbie's Aloha Day Ceremony. This first one is of him when they introduced each student. We have no idea where the pose came from, but it was really cute. The second video is of him singing and you will see the little girl stepping in front of him. These videos come to you courtesy of my personal blog guru--Thanks Eli! My family history will be technologically advanced because of you.

Herbie's Aloha Day Ceremony

Continuing on with the month of May...Herbie finished his year with Kamehameha Preschools with an Aloha Day Ceremony on May 20th. They performed a whole program of songs, mostly in Hawaiian, with actions and everything! The pictures are of us at the ceremony, including his two brothers there to cheer him on, and one of him singing. It was about a 40 minute program with at least 20 minutes of singing from the children. Herbie did excellent! Now I realize that I may have a slight bias, but I think that Herbie was one of the most attentive children. He sang every song and did the actions without getting distracted or tired. Plus he doesn't need the teacher in front of him to remind him of all that either, because he constantly sings them at home. Some of the other kids would just sing, or stare out the window etc--it must be something he really enjoys because he did so well. The little girl next to him kept stepping in front of him, and it took all of my control not to yell at her--she wasn't even singing half of the time. I wanted to yell out "That's MY baby!" But I held it in. He also got a speaking part, and I will post that video next. Of course he did so well. Okay, enough of the irritating and gushing mother praise. You'll just have to see for your self.

May

Terry Lee Kahanamaika'i celebrated his 2nd birthday on May 1st! We went to Chuck E. Cheese, where he spent most of his time on (I mean literally on) the skeeball game. He loves balls, so this was heaven to him. We could hardly get him to eat, and when he did, he yelled for "BA, BA" (ball). He got a new bike for his birthday. He loves his bike and would probably sleep on it if I let him. We have had some adventures on this bike, including flying down the hill at our complex, past the mail box and off the curb into the parking lot. I was running with the baby on my hip and yelling "Kahana stop!", and Hinckley was screaming because he was bouncing all around. I finally caught up with him in the parking lot and stopped him. I thought he would have been scared, but instead he threw a tantrum because I stopped him! We still ride that route on his bike almost everyday, but Mommy waits at the end to stop him. Being 2, he wants to be very independent, and tells me "Self!" a lot. He also loves his shoes and wants to wear them all time. This is a problem because in Hawaii you always take off your shoes before you go in the house. His talking has gotten more clear and he is using 4-5 word phrases. He loves his brothers and always wants to play with them. He is very cute (as you can see in the last picture) and overall a very active and happy boy. Love you Kahana!