MOTHER'S DAY WEEKEND.......

(above) Picture taken in our front yard before church with my kiddies

(above) Mother's Day BBQ @ Mana & Keers House

(above)Baby Tony enjoying some Island Style Breakfast.....

(above) Anton too.............

(above) Me & Aryn at Mother's Day B-fast.......

(above) The Twins fanning each other instead of the food...hehehehe

(above) Mana, Keers & Jeron

(above) Tony & Ephraim takin a break, gettin ready to serve the MOMMA'S....

What an Awesome weekend we had spent with family & friends for Mother's Day......Saturday morning started off with a 7am temple session along with our Kona 2nd Ward Relief Society sisters in celebration of Mother's day.....After an inspiring morning, we headed to our Stake Center where the men & young men prepared a delicious breakfast for the women which consisted of pancakes, sausage, eggs & rice. Entertainment & decorations went hand in hand with an overwhelming supply of hugs & kisses from not only our children, but other ward members as well...... MAHALO!

The other half of the day was a special treat made up of pedicures, foot massages, 5-minute body massages and sewing handmade bags.... After all was said & done, Tony & I treated our kids to the movies to watch WOLVERINE... I must say, it was very good. Since our tummy's were full of popcorn, skittles, & goobers, we decided to head home to rest for the evening....however........my sister called & invited us over to her house for a BBQ dinner to spend with our Aunty Queeney visiting us from Oahu. We enjoyed an evening of laughs & stories...... It was a good night!

Sunday began with my kids giving me hugs n kisses, a card & lei's, Fou baked some chocolate chip cookies too.....At church the mother's were greeted with single long stem roses along with tons of hugs n kisses from everyone there. My husband spoke in Sacrament on the true meaning behind "Mother's Day".....he did such a great job and I was proud his time he spent on his preparation (1 week). We stopped at the Farmers market on our way home so I can prepare my fruit salad & tossed green salad to my sisters house for Mother's Day dinner. We played "How well do you know your MOM?" and our kids did Great! we ended with prayer and made our way home.......

I am sooo appreciative for the opportunity that I've had to know my MOM. She has taught me everything I know today. Her guidance & counsel shared together with Love, concern and genuine support in all I did throughout my life is what I'll treasure the most. She accepted my faults & still Loved me unconditionally. The talents, skills and dedication she had as a mother will remain with me for the rest of my life. She was full of zest for life, and always strived to do her BEST in all she set out to accomplish. Being goal driven was one of her best assetts not to mention her tenacity, her smile, her laugh and her unbelievable cooking skills that she inherited from her mother........our grandmother. Although she is no longer here with us, I continue to talk about her to my own children in hopes that they will have the chance to meet her in person someday. I Love you Mom, Thank you for giving me the most precious gift of all............YOU!

MAY DAY 2009 KONA.....

Jonah & his sister Kaliko (above) at May day...

Ephraim & his May Day Partner rep'n Maui (above)

Ephraim Alofaio Unauna Semo (15 yrs old)

Morianton Kiwi Palepoi (12 yrs old)

Alafou Lynnette Palepoi (11 yrs old)

Anthony Matua Palepoi (8 yrs old)

Kealakehe May Day Court 2009 (above)

Alafou's class performing for May Day Intermediate

It's that time of year again.............MAY DAY CELEBRATION!!! My day was full bouncing around from one school to another watching our children perform for May Day... For those of you who are not familiar with May Day in Hawaii, The first Lei Day was held on May 1, 1928, and everyone in Honolulu was encouraged to wear lei. Festivities were held downtown with hula, music, lei making demonstrations and exhibits and lei making contests.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin reported, "lei blossomed on straw and felt hats, lei decorated automobiles, men and women and children wore them draped about their shoulders. To the city Kamehameha's statue extended a garland of maile and plumeria, which fluttered in the wind from its extended hand. Lei recaptured the old spirit of the islands (a love of color and flowers, fragrance, laughter and aloha)."
In 1929, Lei Day was made an official holiday in the territory, a tradition which was interrupted only during the years of World War II, and which continues today.Many celebrations are also held at local schools. Elementary schools hold celebrations crowning Lei Day kings, queens and princesses. Here are a few pictures for you to enjoy...........WE LOVED IT!

OLD FAMILY PICS....

Beautiful picture of my mom in high school senior year

Handsome picture of my dad (lower right) in the military

Uncle Douglas, Grandpa & Uncle Moke Hiram

(above) Grandpa Hiram and Uncle Douglas Hiram

My cheerleading days back at Oakley Middle School 1986

Me & Jill at the Hauula House ............a long long time ago!

MAKAHIKI......

Baby Tony & his first Pinewood Derby race.........

Tony's qualifying derby car.......

(L-R)cousin Amari, baby Tony, cousin Elias at the Boys Scouts Derby Makahiki

It's that time of year again when the cub scouts and boys scouts gather together for their "MAKAHIKI" event. Their Pinewood Derby race is also held during the same time... Our boys (Ephraim, Anton, Amari, Elias and Tony) had fun today... Dressed up in their uniforms, our boys began the day at 7am...ready to solute during the flag raising ceremony held at Hale Halawai in downtown Kona.... What a Beautiful day it was with blue clear skies and sunny warm temperatures to match..... everyone came out to support this yearly event.. Tony & baby Tony had quite a bit of Father-Son bonding time working on baby Tony's pinewood derby car. During the sanding & painting process all the way down to screwing on the wheels and giving it the last finishing touches it needed to qualify for the race.... It was a success and our kids had fun and really enjoyed themselves!!!

KONA BULLS STEAK FRY FUNDRAISER....

Fou & Makana helped out by selling drinks at the Fundraising event... Good Job girls!

PROPS

STEAK FRY FUNDRAISING EVENT.......

Our boys on the Kona Bulls rugby team has been working so very hard to earn their way to Oahu next week for their team's championship tournament. Between their practices, they've somehow managed to sell their tickets needed for their steak fry event.

It was an awesome evening full of hard work, enjoying friends, and not to mention Awesome entertainment put on by friends & families and also Island Breeze entertainment....from the maori haka, to the samoan & tongan taualuga, tahitian dances and even the fire knife dance. Thanks to our good friend Trish who headed the kitchen, we served over 300 plates just in the first round... Steak plates consisted of:

*Steak

*Rice

*Corn

*Salad

*Cake

*Bottled Water

The monies made was over the amount that we needed to send our boys to Oahu next week.... Yipee!!! Enjoy the pics!!

ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!

Handsome son Ephraim and niece Aryn

Ephraim & Aryn again......

Aryn FINALLY got her Cotton Candy!!!

The 2 Rascals are like 2 peas in a pod... always together!! Tony & Audrey

The family paused for a quick pose!

Me & Hubby....holding kenan as he was soo scared of the cotton candy...hee hee
Fou & Tony had a ball.....everything was FREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

Ephraim & Honey-bee.....

Couldn't believe our ears when we heard that the "Kids Free Day Fair" today would be FREE.........everything! From face painting, to keiki ID's, to cotton candy, shaved ice, cake, chili & rice, hand outs, jumper castles, hot dogs, entertainment and sooo much more.. Our kids had a blast! We met up with Kierstin and her kiddies and they enjoyed themselves so much. We then went to the movies to watch '17 again', and 'Hannah Montana' (again). It was a good day.

SWEET TOOTH........

KONA FARMERS MARKET SWEETS

Here in the islands we are blessed to be surrounded by an vast array of colors, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. After all, we do live here in paradise, where just about ANYTHING can grow. Here in Kona, we have a few Farmers markets here & there where the local farmers grow and harvest their own crops and bring it all to one place to sell it to the public........WE TOTALLY LOVE IT!! It gives me the chance to be creative with my cooking in and to keep my kids eating healthy.........Stir fry's, salads, grilled, raw, or just to snack on....MMMMMMMMMM ONOLICIOUS!!

Reflections........

This weekend was full of reflecting, relaxing and remembering.......On Saturday while Tony, Uncle Raymond and the "boys" were away in Hilo for Anton's rugby game, I had the chance to sleep in, eat breakfast in my pajamas with Ephraim, Fou & Tony and enjoy the cool breezes and sunrise over Hualalai as we sat on our back patio that overlooks the ocean...
we got ready and went to watch the Hannah Montana movie that was just GREAT! I haven't really been a Miley Cyrus fan........till now! Her new movie was definitely worth taking my kids to see and also had me reminiscing about my childhood years growing up and how important FAMILY really is and knowing & remembering where you came from!

After the boys came home, we ended our day throwing some Steaks and potatoes on the grill with steamed veggies, and since we have started gathering together around our dinner table to sit & eat our meals instead of everyone sitting where they want to sit, it's been absolutely entertaining!! Our kids have stories after stories to tell, and while we're eating we talk about upcoming family events, and it simply brings our family closer together! After dinner we watched a very good movie with our family......."FAITH.......LIKE POTATOES" which was very inspiring, motivating and uplifting!!

The kids woke us up by crawling in our bed. EASTER SUNDAY........we attended our church meetings and remembered the Antonement & Sacrifice of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. We wanted to keep the true spirit of Easter alive throughout the day so as we enjoyed our dinner (pork roast with gravy, steamed zuchinni & carrots, bread & butter and fresh papaya and tangelo's, caramel brownie cups and chocolate devil's food cake with home-made frosting & chocolate chips... Fou's new developed talent in baking!! Great job Foufou! and we watched a church movie then had an awesome Family Home Evening!! I'm loving these times we spend as "family." and especially while the kids are still young....

Jeron & Kenan (my twin nephews) developed their own version of the Maori "Haka." They learned it from a rugby movie they've been watching and so every now & then (when they're not shame) they'll do it for you..........Anton seems to bring it right out!

BUSY WEEKEND.........

Fou & Anton at Lokela's baby party 4/4/09

Ephraim & Jonah...........hangin out at Lokela's baby party
Fou sporting her temporary "Tatoo"

Baby Tony was soooo tired, he fell asleep while he was eating his hamburger & fries...

With all the happenings we have going on in the Palepoi home, it's amazing how I even find time to blog... We had a fantastic weekend filled with family visits, a rugby game, a baby luau, cleaning house and even to grocery shop!! YEAHH!!! Last week, I had some time to spend with my kids and also get them ready for school starting again after being off for Spring Break for 2 weeks... I've had fun..........now it's back into the GRIND... Love you guys!