I heart faces weekly contest ~ yellow.

I am so excited! I found this photography site http://www.iheartfaces.com/ and I am in love with it! It encourages photographers of all skill levels to enter their photos in contests. It's exactly what I've been looking for to help me improve on my beginner, amateur skills. I really love taking pictures and seeing other photographers unique and inspiring photos too! I have been browsing over the site for a month or so and now am ready to take the plunge and enter the weekly photo challenge.

The I Heart Faces challenge this week is yellow. Here is my entry. This photo is of my son, Keoni, he is 7 months in this photo. 

I'm looking forward to getting better and more creative with every contest! So come check out the other entries at http://www.iheartfaces.com/ !

Off to Great Grandma's house.

Several months ago I started to think about Keoni and my Grandma. I thought Keoni is learning so much right now and just growing into such a boy and my Grandma is missing it! Even faster than I could ever have imagined he is turning into this little boy with attitude and spunk. I thought of this and my Grandma and how I really wanted her to see what I get to see everyday. I get to see his crazy and moving faster than life little feet run down our hallway, I'd like to say pitter-patter but there is no pitter-patter about him! How he copy's us when he hears us laughing and to hear him laugh! It is the sweetest sound. Melts my heart everytime. She'll get to see him get excited when he meets his cousins and to see that he loves animals, even though he's not so sure about them at first, thank goodness for that!

As soon as I told my Mom I wanted Keoni to visit Grandma we came up with a date and a month or so later we were all off to Grandma's house. All but Bryan unfortunately. He had to stay home and work. We really wished he could of made it. I missed him and I'm sure he missed jamming with Uncle David. That's my musician man for ya!

 Keoni playing in the perfect spot, in the middle of the walkway of the front door. :)

Keoni and his cousin Kekoa enjoying a juice box. Keoni thinks he's saying "Ahhhh" like how refreshing, but it comes out more like a monster trying to scare someone, like "Awrrg."

We listened to Auntie Laura talk of what's new as Keoni played for at least 45 min. right there next to her. He took out and put back these markers over and over. In the box, out of the box, one by one. I was so impressed that he stayed occupied on one thing that long! That's a whole lot of focus for a 21 month old!

He was done with the markers and needed some Grandma time.



Kaliki and Grandma chit chattin' at the kitchen table. Many laughs have been had at that table! Lots of little ones have hit there heads on that table, not realizing they were just a little too tall to walk under it, including Kaliki who's 6'5 now. Then there's all the great food that has been served on that table. I love that table. ;)



Keoni cornered the cat! He really does love animals.



We spent one afternoon outside. So much warmer in Nevada. Keoni ran all over! Played with his Grandpa blowing bubbles and teased me by running right up to the road (very, very little traffic if any on that road) and then stopping and turning around in circles as if saying, I'm not touching it. . .already a smarty pants!

In this photo: Mom, Lucas, Grandma, and Kaliki

Keoni and me.

Samantha, my cousin holding Kekoa. Kekoa loved the bubbles too!

Mmmm, nothing better than a popsicle in the desert.

We had a really great time visitng all the family in Nevada. It was such a relaxing and quick little vacation from the usual. I do wish we could have visited my daughter from another mother but we just couldn't quite fit that in with her being in a different city in Nv. Next time for sure Kayla!

A beautiful weekend.

Here are my favorite photos of the weekend.

(yes, he does have a diaper on )

Hope you enjoyed them as much as I did taking them.

Another Fender fan!

Guess what Keoni's favorite toy was yesterday? His Dad's hat, Fender hat, WHITE I might add.

He ran around the house wearing the hat and pushing one of his toys around. He wants to be just like his Daddy. =)

Look at that great smile! I love it! Look at all those teeth!

The video below is 3 or so minutes long but I couldn't help it. He either just learned to put the tools of his Handy Manny toolbox in their spots or I just noticed he knows where they all go. It's cute that he likes to turn it on and then try to put them in when it's moving.

He is so observant! He is so curious and really good at not getting frustrated when he can't quite figure something out. Most days at least. Lol. I love watching him discover new things. He's so amazing!

Oh! and don't pay attention to that goofy jumper he has on, I got it at a garage sale and it looks like it's going to Goodwill. . .

Finally an Easter Egg Hunt!

On the final day of Easter weekend was Easter! Kaliki and I hid eggs enough for one little boy to find if he looked just a little bit. We hid eggs and a few extra treats all over the living room of my parents house. We weren't sure if he would get the hang of looking for eggs. Well, boy did he! He loved it and now I can't wait until next year!

He found one in a shoe.

This is just the beginning of the hunt. Notice my enthusiasm. Yay!

Behind the picture.


He didn't want no yellow peeps in his basket! So I picked them up after he threw them on the floor! Silly boy!

His egg collection, he painted most of these eggs.

Aw yes! Chocolate. Grandma and Grandpa got him a chocolate covered marshmallow egg. Looks like he loved it. He also got some bubbles and a push toy. He has a lot of fun with that toy, especially when his Daddy is trying to take a nap! Haha!



Oh yeah, chocolatey goodness!

He says bubbles now, well it sounds more like he's saying bubs, but I know what he means.



AND of course it wouldn't be a baby boy event without him destroying something.

So the eggs got it!

There you have it! Our Easter weekend!

Keoni's 1st time dying eggs for Easter!

Keoni seemed to have a good time dying eggs. I think it was more interesting than anything. Grandpa Extremo and Keoni were pretty serious about it all.

Got a lot done real quick!

Aunt Mary and Grandma in the background dying the few Keoni didn't get his hands on. =)

Kaliki and Lucas, join in on the fun!

Auntie Iris dyed an egg too.




Cutie pie Keoni's dyed egg and hand.


The works of art. . .

and fun was had by all!

Easter continues. . .family comes to visit.

My Mom's sisters and one brother came to visit.

Auntie Laura was the first to arrive. Bryan went and picked her up. She stayed with us and we had a lovely time. :) She came with many gifts from Hawaii. The muu-muu I am wearing is my gift. I love it. She gave Keoni a children's book telling all about what aloha means.

We got pedicures done by Kaliki in honor of my birthday the previous weekend.

Uncle Ernie came next. They both had been in Hawaii on business and vacation. They came through Portland on their way home.

On Saturday after the Easter Bunny sighting and once Auntie Iris and her daughter Megan arrived we went to eat at where else? a Hawaiian restaurant. Great food but I can't remember the name. . .darn it. It was the first time I had been there.

More Easter to come!