teal...ladybugs?

Anna had her very first game today.

Technically, this was the team's second game, but since Anna missed last week's game (because of her cousin's birthday party...) this was her very first time suiting up and hitting the field!

And it was EARLY!

8:30 AM game, but with picture taking and practice beforehand, she had to be at the field by 7:45AM! Thank goodness for two cars! And for Mitch's day off of work so he was able to take her early!

I arrived a little after 8AM with the younger two in tow.

Which, if you ask me...is STILL early!

Here the Teal Ladybugs are practicing before the game.

What's that you say?

You didn't know ladybugs come in teal?

Neither did I.

Apparently, in the minds of 4 ~ 5 year olds, they do.

Daddy encouraging Anna to pay attention and go after the ball!


Game on!
At this level, they play 3 on 3.
It was so cute watching these little kid run around the field chasing after the ball...when they weren't distracted by their parents or their friends (or their shoes, or hair, or whatever else distracts 4 & 5 year olds!).
And right at the last minute of the 4th quarter, Anna scored her first goal!!
Woo Hoo!
We were so proud!



Here she is resting and cheering on her teammates.


I figure, so long as she is smiling and enjoying herself, it will be a successful season!
Way to go, Anna!

giddey-up!

This past Saturday was my nephew, Kashus's birthday.

And since my sister had planned a BIG birthday bash at Gunstock Ranch, complete with some pony rides...we decided to forgo the girls' soccer games for the ponies.

Soccer season has just begun and there'll be plenty more games for them to play...but how often do you get to ride a pony?! Right?

Here's Anna with her cousins Aya and Rumi petting one of the horses!

Silly me...I thought they were going to ride a "little pony" but apparently, they busted out the big-uns for the kiddos!


Here's Jolee.


Mitch was with the girls while I was busy with baby...


And it's a good thing I wasn't there to see this because, HELLO?!


Where's the harness?!


Yikes! I probably would have had a heart attack!




But apparently, she was fine.


(lucky for Mitch!)




Anna riding the pony.


She kept telling me she rode the horsie "THREE TIMES!"
Apparently there weren't as many pony riders as they thought so the kids got to ride them over and over again!

And Kela.

I apologize...though it was a birthday party for Kashus...I realized, rather belatedly, that I neglected to take any pictures of the party.

Or the Birthday boy!

Sorry...as soon as Elika uploads pics of her party, I'll try and link there if you're interested.

She had a cute Toy Story theme, complete with an uber cute cake.

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AND...just because...here's some more pics of our little boy.

Kaden is now 2 1/2 weeks old.

He is 55cm long (80%tile)

Weighs 8 lbs. 11 oz (What? Wasn't he born that heavy? Yes...but he lost nearly a pound in the first couple of days, so basically, he's gained it all back. 45%tile)

With a head size of 35.5cm. (17%tile)

Still blessed with the Seavey small head.

Chillin' on the floor...

...and possibly getting bored of all the attention.

in two weeks-

Baby Kaden has come home from the hospital...

- here at 1 day old-

With big sister Kela

He was fed by Ojichan (aka. Grandpa)

Visited with cousins...
-here with his biggest cousin, Jonas-

-and second biggest cousin, Riho-



-snuggled so nicely!-


And even ate out at a restaurant!
...Well, technically, he slept while everyone else ate...

-Jolee with her prize toy from the kid's meal. A clown nose.-

-Saying Aloha Oe to Ojichan! Was fun having him here visiting!-

And after one week...Kaden also got to take a REAL bath!

-which he LOVED!-

-see how content he is afterwards?-


And then got a special visit from Uncle Atau and cousin Luke!

And Obachan, too.

Kaden also got to eat out at a yummy Korean restaurant with just his Aunties and Uncles!

-Which he slept through, by the way. Hence, not pictured-


And then...on Saturday, got to attend his very first soccer game!

Kela started soccer this week, and WON her first game!

Yay!

GOOOOO Pink Lava!

Jolee snacked the whole time...

While Kaden slept.

The whole time.

Starting to see a pattern?

Here he's chilling with Daddy.

While Jolee dotes on him.

And now...2 weeks later!
He's more alert, more awake, and ...

...still doted on by his sisters.

and baby makes...six!

Kaden James Makoto Seavey
Arrived on January 5th 2011 weighing 8 lbs. 11 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long!

It really is quite funny how he came to be...but if you're not up for a long read, then by all means, feel free to simply browse through the pictures.

Otherwise, pull up a chair and get comfortable!

I'll try and make it worth your while.

:)

To preface-let me say that about a month ago, I had this dream. And in that dream, the date "January 5th" popped into my head. I know it sounds hokey, but I swear it's true!

Ask my family--I TOTALLY told them about it!
Simply coincidence?

Maybe...maybe not!

Anyway...onto my adventure for the day.

Well, due to my so-called "premonition" I went to bed on the 4th anticipating some action overnight. So, you can imagine my frustration upon waking up on the 5th to...nothing.

I got up at 6AM to get breakfast ready for Kela (because she's our early riser, she wakes up at 6 all on her own. Totally NOT a trait she got from me!). Then after a few minutes of wandering about, I started feeling "it." Not super hard at first...but strong enough to make me pause and count. The contractions were about 8 minutes apart.

Not a bad start.

I decided to lie down and wait. They continued at 6-8 minutes apart for about 2 hours...but gaining in strength. Then, at just after 9 AM, I started feeling the "pressure"...you mothers know the one, right? Worried that my bag would rupture at home again, and even though I was still about 6 minutes apart, I convinced Mitch it was time to head in to the hospital.

However, as soon as I stood up to walk outside...the contractions started pounding at 2 minutes apart. And with each lasting over a minute long...I barely had time to breathe in between!

For a 4th child, that's way too close, you know.

Thankfully, the traffic had died down by then so we made it to Kaiser Hospital in a matter of minutes. And this being my 4th, they saw the urgency and bypassed the admissions office and took me directly to the Labor and Delivery room. As Mitch was reparking the car, the nurse led me to the bathroom and helped me change into the gown and then asked me to pee in a cup. It was at this point that I told the nurse that, No...I wasn't going to make it.

She didn't believe me.

I was right.

*sorry for the graphic details here....

So, as I'm in the bathroom with the cup in my hand, baby crowns.

The nurse freaks out (seriously, she's a nurse, right?! I was more calm than her!) and pulls the emergency cord and yells at the top of her lungs for the doctor...or anybody...to come.

The midwife comes in, tells me to relax and so as I'm sitting on the (hopefully clean and sanitized) toilet, baby slides out and the midwife catches him just in time.

No splash, by the way...!

As the adrenaline of the event abates, I cut the cord and walked to the bed where the midwife finishes up with...you know, everything else.

And in walks Mitch.

He missed everything!

Poor guy...

But, all's well that ends well. Baby is healthy and most definitely, a boy!
After 3 1/2 hours of labor, he arrived safely at 9:57 AM.

On the 5th of January.

Just like my dream.

And at 39 weeks gestation, a very robust 8 lbs 11 oz.

Here's some more pictures of the eventful day...

After his very first bath.
It's grainy because I took this with my phone.

Baby and me.

Maybe an hour or so post-delivery.



Our new family of SIX!



With my Mom...who made it in time to babysit Anna and Jolee while we rushed to the hospital.



Our very first visitors!
And a lively bunch of visitors were they!

With Obachan.

This is grandchild #19!

Kela and Kaden.
He seems to love being held by her...

Anna and Kaden.
She still makes us nervous, so you can see Mitch's hand securely underneath.

Proud Papa and Son.

Whew!

Only a day old and never a dull moment!

Welcome to the family, little one!

...and a happy new year!

To round up 2010...here's what we did.

A couple days before New Year's, we headed out to Diamond Head to do some tide pooling. Mitch keeps saying how he wanting to take the girls to go catch some hermit crabs and fish, so after checking the tide calendar, we headed out.

Lately, it seems low tide has been pretty late...and far from low at that...so it took a while for us to find the perfect time to go. BUT, miraculously, on Mitch's day off, the tide was low (and the evening light enough) for us to drive out to town for some evening hermit crab-hunting.
It took a while for the girls to gather the courage to stick their hands in the water...

But once they did...

They kept going back for more and more!

Even Jolee enjoyed catching the tiny ones...

*can you even see it?!


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Then on New Year's Eve, (even though Mitch was in Japan for work...) we gathered together at my sister Airi's house for a big family shindig.

Here's just some of the spread. After we started eating....since lately, I can barely remember to even take pictures at all, this is about as good as it's gonna get.

And...nothing like a little "All Dogs Go To Heaven" after dinner, right?

AND...my oldest nephew, Jonas turned 14 on December 31st.

Here's the yummy jello cake that Elika made.

Sheesh, all the cousins don't even fit in the picture!
Though, this time we had our good friends, the Ah Nees with us as well!

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And...you probably can't even tell, but this is New Year's Day.

Since we had celebrated the 1st with the (practically) the same people and at the same location.
And, of course, I didn't get a picture of the food.

Just a few of the kids chowing down on the good BBQ!

With the impending arrival of our #4...my Mom and Dad are both in town!

So, New Year's Day was a happy occasion for almost all of the Sakuma's to get together.

Next year...we need to convince my brother Makoto to visit as well, I think!

And here's all the little cousins sporting their cute pajamas that my Mom made for each and every little one of them!
Can you imagine sewing 18 pajamas?!

(*3 cousins are still in Seattle... )

Next year there will be 21 of 'em!

Sure hope you all had a safe and happy New Year's celebration!

And may 2011 be filled with lots of love and happiness and all that other good stuff!