Grandma Jeri and Papa Terry's visit

The other big event in April was the long awaited visit from Mom and Dad. We had fun being together and visiting the blow hole, Pali lookout, the Zoo (Herbie's request), the beach and more. You will notice jackets in many of the pictures, because Mom and Dad brought the cooler weather with them! We did finally get to the beach a day or so before they left. The boys had a wonderful time getting to know their grandparents better, and I was happy to show them what I do each day and where we go etc. It was a really good visit and we miss them a lot. The boys still talk about them and ask about them. Love you mom and dad!

More graduation pictures

The rest of the photos!

April (I know it's June, but this is my attempt to catch up!)

So the first exciting thing that happened in April was Hapaki's graduation from BYU-H! He got his associates degree on April 11, 2010 in business, and we are so proud of him. Here are some shots from that, he even got to shake Elder Cook's hand. I thought many of you might like to see all the leis he got, this is standard for an occasion like this--they were all they way up to his ears.

Hi everyone-

Just wanted to post this recent picture of the Franco boys! As you can see they are all getting bigger. Herbie will be finishing Pre-school shortly and is getting smarter by the minute. Kahana is our growing "little man" and Hinckley, well, he's just our little cutie.

Our family is doing well and we hope to see everyone one day soon!

With love,
The Franco's

Favorite Things

Now that we seem to be back on track, I wanted to do a post about my boys favorite things!















HERBIE

Herbie loves animals! One of his favorite things to do is to play with his extensive stuffed animal collection. He loves books, shows, games etc all about animals! At 4 1/2 he is quickly draining me of my limited knowledge of animals! Thanks goodness we have Go-Diego-Go to educate us.










KAHANA

Kahana loves balls! Anything he can throw he will. He also really enjoys playing with cars and trains. When we see a basketball game on TV he will actually watch it and will yell BA (ball) if we change the channel. He continues to yell it until we turn it back. He is not dressed in these pictures because anytime I tried to dress him after Church he yelled NO (another favorite). Hopefully running around almost naked is not going to become a new favorite. At almost 2 (may 1st), I figure he is probably asserting his Independence.












HINCKLEY

As you can see by these pictures Hinckley loves to eat. He is over 16 pounds at almost 5 months. When he is not doing that he loves and, I mean loves, to smile. He has an infectious smile that can light up a room. While he has started to be interested in toys, his favorite thing is always to look at people's faces and smile at them. He is my people person. He is very patient and generally be talked out of crying with smiles. He has started teething already, but he smiles through most of it.









HAPAKI

Yes it can be said for both of us--our favorite things is sleep, or I should we would like to sleep more. This is Hapaki have a very rare and well deserved nap. He is still going full steam at BYU=H, commute and all. I love you, hun!









CODEE

As you can see, my favorite things are my boys--all four of them (Hapaki is not in picture because he was sleeping). I also like to slip in an occasional good book and of course reading all of your blogs. I love to see pictures of my niece, nephews, and cousins kids etc. I do like to watch the cooking channel as well.

So now you know a few of our favorite things (not just rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens).

SICK!

This is the 4th week that someone, and sometimes all of us have been sick. More details to follow when I can get everyone well.

Internet down

Sorry there hasn't been any new posts, we haven't had internet consistantly and we are still getting everything figured out. So when we got it all arranged, I will update you!

Dad

This post is dedicated to my father, Terry Lee Cope on his 59th birthday. Happy birthday, dad! I was hoping to get to this sooner, but at least it is still your birthday in Hawaii for a few more hours...

Here are few things that my Dad taught me:
-The right way to clean a toilet (and if I didn't do it right the first time, I had to come back and do it until it was right)
-That yard work can be fun when the whole family helps
-That passing out fliers for TLC window fashions can be fun because you get to ride on the running boards or in the bed of the truck, and at the end you get to have a slurpee at 7-11
-How to be a good sport and play any game or jump on the trampoline as activity for family home eveing
-How to waterski (he always believed in me but never pushed me too hard)
-That a car should be clean (he washes his every week, even if the ice is forming before he can dry it!)
-That there is no man's work or woman's work, just work and we all need to help so it can get done
-That you gotta do what you gotta do to support your family (at one point he had four jobs so mom could stay home; Pace, the Paint Store, cleaning grease vents and acting)
-Most of all he taught me that where you come from and the mistakes that you may have made, don't define who you are; we all can change and become better with the Savior's help.

As you can see most of what my dad taught me surrounds that fact that you have to work, but that you can have fun doing it. And when you are done doing it, you can have more fun! I love you very much dad! I hope that my little Terry Lee will grow up to be as good a man as you are--he has large shoes to fill.

P.S. The comments are working now, thanks for the help Eli!

My first post!

The long awaited day has arrived! I am finally posting on my christmas present blog--which I love! I have to admit that now that I am finally posting on my very own blog, I am nervous. Once i put this up, it will be out there for all of you to read! What if I miss spel somthing (ha, ha) or if I have forgotten all proper grammar? At least I know that you all love me and will be kind.

So this blessed moment has arrived because all three boys are actually alseep at the same time! (Insert round of applause here.) And no, mom, I am not sleeping because I had do the dishes, eat, fold laundry, and by that time I was sure Hinckley would be up to eat. But he gave me a few extra minutes to start this. I say start this, because now he has woken up and I am feedind him and typing with the other hand--definately increases my chance for error, sorry.

So our life has been full of the usual excitement that comes with three small kids: dirty diapers, feeding everyone and somehow feeding myself, washing buckets full of laundry (which we hang dry to save on electricity--its Hawaii 80ish every day, we can do that!), dishes, cleaning up toys, dishes and did I mention cleaning up toys? All the while breaking up fights and usually with a child clinging to my leg or in my arms or the baby carrier. Now that you know what I do everyday, you can stop reading--its all the same. Oddly enough, I love it. Being a mom is what I always wanted to do. I just try to find the good spots like laughing and playing with my kids.

Hapaki has started school at BYU-H about one week ago. If he completes his 18 credits on campus plus 2 independent study courses this semester, he will be all set to take full loads for the 3 summer terms and the fall and then he can graduate in december! It will be a big push and hard (the 1 hour and 10 min. drive one way), but we want to do it so we can just finally be done! Go Hun, you can do it!

Well, now I have two crying and so ends my first post, with hopefully lote more to come! Love you all!

Merry Christmas My Love, Mommy, and Everyone......

This is mine and my children's thought gift to Codee this year... The creation of our family "Blog..."

Speaking of the word "blog" what kind of a dumb word is that? Where did it come from and exactly what does it mean? Nevertheless, here is our "BLOG." (Maybe we'll name our next child that, "BLOG" FRANCO). Sounds like a nice name for a boy or a girl..... just kidding. I'll think we'll save that name for our dog. Come here "Blog," come here. Good "Blog."

Enough of that.

For most of you who may be wondering (which may be none of you so, oh well, I'll tell you anyway...) Codee's been wanting a blog for a while so I am finally creating one.

The Cope Family "name picking" angels were nice to us this year (or maybe they were concerned for the rest of the family) and Codee and I got each other for thought gift giving. Oddly enough, as soon as Mom told me who I had, I pretty much knew who Codee had. Maybe it was the recession - to save on postage - that caused us to receive each other..... In any case, it all worked out well cause now I had to actually "think" or have in depth "thoughts" about my very inexpensive "thought" gift for my wife.... and it had to be good, otherwise she would know that I didn't "think" about it... You know, me and "thinking" don't necessarily go well together... That's why us husbands have wives :) Therefore, I am thankful for my wonderful wife and her ability to "think" for us all... :)

Anyway, to my love, Merry Christmas! Have fun "blogging!" (I'm sorry, but what a dumb word!).

I'm sure the rest of you will hear and see of us much more now that Codee will be "blogging" whenever she has the chance... Or maybe I'll receive "blog" creating instructions from her since she always has her hands full with our three children.

With love to my wonderful wife... Merry Christmas... I hope you enjoy your "thought" gift...

With love,
Your "thinking" husband,
Hapaki