Farewell to the Harris Family

Remember how I said that my sister Nikki lives across the sidewalk from me in our same apartment complex? Well, she did. Past tense. The Harris family just bought their first home in San Clemente, CA. They moved out yesterday. Nikki and I spent the last few minutes before they left hugging and crying. I know it sounds ridiculous. San Clemente is only 45 minutes south of here, but it seems longer when you've been used to a few steps distance. I'm so happy for them, but I'm devastated for me and my little family. I have been so spoiled these past two years living so close to them. I saw them every day. Cash ran to their door and knocked every time we were outside. He considers Aunt Nikki his best friend. Their apartment was his second home and favorite escape destination. He loves their twins, Hank and Lily, like they are his own siblings. We had a great thing going here. And now they're gone. Cash has no idea that they aren't there anymore or how this will affect him. But I do. I'm tearing up as I write this. Sure, I'm pregnant and hormonal, but this really is a sad day. I depended on my sister across the way so much. I'm just realizing how much I took it for granted. I keep looking out our window expecting to see them across the way. This morning Cash ran out the door and ran straight for their apartment and knocked. I just cried. I'm just feeling a little lonely these days. Casey left us for 19 days and Nikki left us for good. I'll miss seeing cute little Hank and Lily every day. Miss having my sister within a stone's throw. And Casey will miss having his buddy Darren around. We sure do love the Harris family. Here's a look back at the good times at the Mora Kai. 

Aunt Nikki visiting baby Cash at Hoag Hospital

Aunt Lexi visiting baby Lily at Hoag Hospital

The twins helped Cash celebrate his first birthday

The twins on their blessing day in HB at our ward

Aunt Nikki and Cash doing best friend stuff

Lily, Cash, and Hank enjoying their first wagon ride

 

Hank and Cash being boys in the pool

We'll miss you guys.

Bye Bye Daddy

Casey has started the beach volleyball season. This year he is playing with Brad Keenan and competing in the international league, FIVB. He started off the year with a trip to Brazil. They went through the qualifier and made it into the main draw ending up in 9th place. Pretty good for Casey's first showing internationally. He came home for Easter weekend and then left four days later for Japan and China. He will be in Japan first, then China for a tournament, then back to Japan for two tournaments. His return date is May 15th. I'm due with our second baby boy on May 17th. Oh boy. We're praying that I'll be late and everything will be okay. I'll be in shambles if I think about it too much. I was already emotional enough about him leaving for so long. Whenever I start to think about him being absent for the birth, I start panicking. I just keep reassuring myself that everything will be okay. Everything will be okay. Everything will be okay. You get the gist.

Before he left, we spent a lot of time just cuddling and hanging out at home. We had a great four days.

Casey has only been gone four days and we already miss him so much. I started pulling out all of the baby gear and Cash has decided that the infant car seat is his own personal recliner. This sweet little boy has no idea what's about to rock his little world. It's going to be a huge adjustment for him to not be the center of attention around here. But I'm so excited for him to meet his little brother. Just hold tight until Daddy gets home little guy.

Happy Easter 2011

We had a busy Easter weekend. We celebrated the twins first birthday, then Casey’s 31^st birthday, and then had all of our Easter festivities. Misha and Adam stayed after spring break to party with us, Easter style. 

This was Cash’s first experience dyeing Easter eggs. He was not very gentle with the eggs. He kept throwing them down into the cups and splashing the dye everywhere. We managed to only crack three or four, but he had a blast.

 Next came filling up the plastic Easter eggs for the egg hunt. Casey and Cash spent most of this time eating more candy than they actually put into the eggs. As you can see, they both enjoyed themselves. Cash was in Heaven.

Nikki’s family, Misha’s family, Tim’s family, and my little family all got together at a local park for our Easter Egg Hunt. We let the little kids go first in the grass area where we just threw eggs our for them. Cash managed to get a few in his basket before sitting down and eating the candy. He spent the rest of the time going through everyone's baskets looking for candy.

We sang Happy Birthday to Casey at the park because he was in Brazil for his actual birthday. Cash loved it and thought the whole shebang was for him. It’s funny how quickly the attention turns away from you when you have kids. Now every birthday, including your own, is about them. Now that Casey is over 30, I’m sure he prefers it that way.

It was a blessed Easter weekend to have so much family around us and celebrate our Savior. One day I’ll have to explain the reason behind all of that celebrating to Cash. As for now, he’ll just enjoy his candy-induced comatose state and dream of the Easter Bunny.

Cousins

Aren’t cousins the best? Over the past few months Cash has had plenty of play time with cousins. My sister Debbie, my niece Brittany, and her new little daughter Maili came to visit soCal for a few days. Maili looks just like Brittany did when she was a baby, but with a little Samoan flair from her Daddy Trevor. It was so fun to see them and get the kiddos all together.

Brittany, Maili, Lexi, Cash, Nikki, Lily, Hank

My sister Misha stayed with us during spring break and we had a blast hanging out with all of our little ones. My sister Nikki lives in our apartment complex and is just across the sidewalk from us. She has twins, Misha has two girls, and I have Cash. We spent the week enjoying nap times. But seriously. These kids had a ball climbing all over each other. And I got to enjoy more time with my sisters. We took the kids to the Long Beach Aquarium and to see the new movie Rio. The Aquarium was awesome and the movie was a total disaster. I think I saw maybe 20 minutes of the movie and spent the rest of the time chasing around Cash or helping with the other kids. When you are playing with cousins, it doesn't matter what you do because it seems to be the best thing ever!

 

Hank, Lily, Arden, Sable, Cash

Sisters

For the first time in my entire life, all six of my sisters and I went on a girl’s trip. It was epic. We spend the weekend free from kids and sans husbands in Las Vegas. I can’t believe I’m 28 and this is the first time I’ve done a girls trip with all of my sisters. I plan on doing this every year until I die.  I love these women. There’s just nothing like a sister. They are the women that I aspire to be like and the women whose opinions matter most to me. I wish my Mom could have been there to enjoy the good times we had. I thank her dearly for having the strength to have so many kids and give me so many siblings, especially sisters. What a blessing to have 10 people that will rally behind me whenever I need them. I know I’ve said it before, but I love my family!

Becky, Jacque, Buffy, Debbie, Misha, Nikki, Lexi

Misha and I are both pregnant. I love that we are on either side of Elvis. Classic.

 We spent the weekend overeating, talking into the wee small hours of the morning, getting dessert at every opportunity, and laughing. Lots of laughing and story telling. In a perfect world, I would see these lovely ladies all the time. But in reality, I only see most of them a few times a year during summer family reunions and Thanksgiving. Two of my favorite times of the year. Now I can add the sister’s weekend into that mix and hope that we can do it every year. Cheers for sisters!!!

Erica & John's Wedding

My best friend Erica Lott married John Crismon in the Mesa, Arizona temple on March 12, 2011. It was a splendid affair. I am so thrilled for her and I was so fortunate to be a part of their special day. One of the best things about the weekend, besides the nuptials, was spending time with all of my best friends from BYU volleyball days. It was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had. 

 

The only downside was my little boy Cash was a total monster the whole weekend. I knew he was sick, but I didn’t know (until we got home from the wedding and I took him to the doctor) the extent of my little boy’s torment. Between messing up his nap and sleeping schedule and him being sick, it made for a very stressful/emotional/frustrating trip. He was diagnosed with a double ear infection and sinus infection. And by the time we had taken him in the following week, he had a bad case of pink eye. Poor little baby. Why do kids always get sick while you’re traveling?

All in all it was a fabulous weekend. We ate out a ton, spent time with our family that live in Arizona, had plenty of girl time, enjoyed the hot weather, celebrated to the full extent with Erica and John, and all fell in love with each other again. 

 Here’s to John and Erica Crismon! Congratulations and we love you guys.