Hopoate Happenings: March 2012

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Marvelous things happening in March

A few of my favorite Gold's gym daycare workers. We decided we needed a girl's night out and headed to a place in Orem called The Chocolate. It is a casual setting where groups choose a room to themselves to chat and eat/drink chocolate. I had THE BEST cup of cocoa ever!

Happy Birthday!

Cody and Jess invited us over to their place to celebrate the March Birthdays. Jess broke out mustaches for everyone in honor of Cody's infatuation of facial hair. It was so fun to watch all the boys pick up accents... and Chris looked like a natural! The only one not wearing a mustache? Aubree. She was FAR to girlie to sport a catapillar under her nose. :)

Auntie Jess, Samara, and her unibrow. :)

The birthday kids... Katie, Cody, and Jess

Tino had bishop duties and had to take off early... but we werer sure to bring home a stache for him to try out. He LOVED it and started considering growing his own... Reminds me of Luigi. :)

Samara was able to stay with her Aunt Jess while I went to the doctor... and I came back to a little princess! She looked and felt very pretty.

I woke up on my 32nd birthday and started the day off right. Donuts and orange juice. :)

Siona and I went and got our toes done at Walmart (of all places), and I loved the company and the time the workers spent pampering me.

Continuing on with the pampering... I had the night off from making or cleaning up dinner and we headed out to Texas Road House. The girls were so fun and the food... so good. :)

Thanks for a lovely day Tino!

We were able to watch the Vea cousins perform in their dance team at uvu... The girls were glued to the stage and loved all the performances.

It is warming up in Utah, and you know what that means... BBQ time! Tino, Louis, and cousin Mapeli cooking... Stamis, well... he's just waiting.

Cutie cousins playing on the tramp

Hungry no more...

-Accomplishments-

Samara has been trying to not suck her fingers anymore... a hard habit to break. We created a chart, sticker, reward system and WOW is she doind well! SO well that she already got to go ride the Merry-go-round at the mall and get a candy from the machine. Amazing what $1.75 can help he acheieve.

Some of the BEST news of the month??? Tino received his LCSW - He is now a Licensed Clinincal Social Worker! This has been YEARS in the making with many attempts, frusterations, and growing oppurtunties. How sweet is success. This month Tino also passed his CPAT test for applying for becoming a firefighter. He is physically fit enough to become one. :)

I made it! This baby should be more than ready to come out... My due date was March 25th, today is the 28th. Come on lil' man... we're all waiting!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

It's a boy - baby shower

I had a few people ask me if I was going to have a baby shower... and I responded no, and that I really didn't like a situation like that where all the attention is turned on me, and gifts are pretty much expected. Some sisters in my ward still decided to do a baby 'sprinkle' after Samara's music makers class that the RS sisters hold together. It was sweet, simple, and I felt so loved. :)

Siona, my dear friend since college wanted me to have a shower as well, and together with two of my friends in the ward planned a beautiful baby shower.

My family that was available, and my friends from work and church were all there to offer their love, support, and presents to me and this little baby boy. The food was AMAZING, and the place was decorated so nicely. I have great people in my life.

The hostesses with the mostesses... Jessica Pauni, Siona Tejada, and Belki Tolman

It was so much fun to have the girls carry up, and then re-open all the gifts that were given to their baby brother. It was better than Christmas! Although I was a bit uncomfortable with the idea in the beginning, the shower, and sprinkle were both such a blessing in our life to get this baby diapered, clothed, and strollered in style. :) Thanks everyone!

Jackie was in town for a funeral and was able to stop by on her way home. She is such a sweet friend and I was showered once again with presents for baby, and me... I am now a 32 year old woman. :)

Feeling the love in February

February is a month for love... When kindness and sweet gestures of affection take place.

Valentine's Day doesn't exist in Tonga! :)

Believe it or not, the girls LOVE this torture, and Tino is somehow VERY willing to dish it out. It typically takes place after a long day of work, and a busy and noisy family dinner. Such a sweet dad to play with his kids...

Valentine's Day

We were going to create heart pizza's like all the other years, but the day before Valentine's day I was VERY tired and declared it a pizza night. I didn't want to feed my family pizza two nights in a row, so we made heart-shaped meatloaf, asparagus, and rice instead. Siona and Kaiona joined us for dinner to make it EXTRA special.

Cheers!

In the summer of 2011 a wonderful family, the Sharps, moved in across the street. They had 3 girls, and were expecting their first boy... Sound familiar? :) We all hit it off right away and the girls would play together daily. They loved to be outside, but also enjoyed making crafts, dressing up, playing house, and dancing. They just moved, and we all miss them terribly.

Snow?!?!

When we went to California, I decided to stay longer... to stay out of the snow and enjoy the family. Funny thing... the snow never really came. December was dry, and January seemed to be following the same trend. Until...

It snowed on a Saturday! It wasn't alot, but it was the perfect amount for playing in.

The kids were out playing by 8:30, building the first successful snowman of our family's history. :)

Too heavy for Samara to carry, the girls had to call in 'the big guns' to get the snowman put together.

Daddy and daughters creating the only man he wants to see with his daughters for A LONG TIME!

All done!

Time to sled! It is so nice to have older kids. Fun to see them enjoy each other too.

And he says he doesn't like snow... This boy just likes to play. :)

Just a couple utah peeps.

Nani and Mommy hitting the slopes together.

It wasn't a lot of snow, and we really only got snow 2 times after this... but it sure was fun!

December: California Edition

What a fun, and beautiful day in San Diego, California when we were all able to be together as friends and family and witness Cody and Jess get sealed for time and all eternity. December 17th, 2011

My life-long friend, Jackie Burdick Williams.

The entire Crippen family... all 6 children now have their eternal companion.

Aren't we cute?! Gotta love the posed wedding day pics. :)

The original Crippen Clan.

The Hopoate Family, December 17th, 2011

Little Miss Katelyn (Jackie's oldest) and Miss Samara, our youngest. :)

All the Crippen Cousins looking good...

Pretty in Purple

My love and I... looking good!

Wedding is over... Time for Christmas!

We had a round-robin Christmas craftmaking with the Crippen cousins.

The kids loved making gingerbread houses, decorating cookies, and painting ornaments.

Date night!

Tino and I were able to sneak away to Newport Beach and enjoy Cheesecake Factory, a walk on the beach, a ferry ride, Christmas shopping for the kids, and each other.