First solid foods

Well, the girls ate their first solid foods Sunday. They both did very well...I only had to put each mouthful in about 20-30 times. That's good right?

Sion first....Before and After.


Sion wanted to play with the spoon and since she did so well I let her. This is the same spoon my mom fed me with.


Hana next. She did well, but enjoyed blowing bubbles in her food rather than eating it. Before and after.


She saw Sion playing with the spoon and had to try, too.



That afternoon, we went to the local park for some relaxation. It was only about 103 out, so it felt rather cool.






The end of a long day. I love this family.

4th of July

As we gathered at our friend's house to celebrate the 4th and the great blessing we have to live in this country, we thought of family and friends. We also thought of those who were away from family and friends, fighting to keep this country great and to give the same opportunities to others that so many of us take for granted. I would ask that we all try to remember the opportunities we take for granted and how we might, in the future, take those opportunities and make this world a better place.

Now for the cute kids...


Sion and Hana looking cute in their 4th of July, patriotic headbands made by their mom.



Us imposing on the Rodgerson's hospitality......again. Thanks guys.



Ted got Tate some weird shark pool gear that Tate enjoyed. He also tested it to see if it would stay on while jumping off the diving board. Tate told me that he didn't want any help today so he and his waterwings spent a few hours enjoying the pool. He only "almost" drown once, so I think things went well.



Everyone had a great time.

Just in case you forgot the girls...

After all the attention shifting to Tate the last few weeks, the girls thought they would be especially cute tonight and try to get some more publicity...



Hana on left, Sion on right (both pictures)

Birthday party report: From Tate

I just wanted to give everyone an update of my party. I had a lot of fun and a lot of my friends came. Here's what happened...

First, I got my gifts from Uncle Ted.



Thanks for the lacrosse gear and the blanket, Uncle Ted. The blanket's on my bed and dad finally took me out to play lacrosse. Cashus likes it, too. I can use the lacrosse sticks to pick up Cashus' ball and throw it without getting slobber all over my hands.



Dad told me that if I didn't mow the lawn, I couldn't have a party......



My friend, Mr. Sean had his buddies from the Yuma Fire Department stop by for my birthday. I got to climb around on the truck and play with the gear. It was a lot of fun. Thanks YFD!



Dad rented an inflatable waterslide for the backyard. It was awesome. I think I might be the only four-year old who had to kick the teenagers out of his party after three hours. My mom LOVES the remote control tarantula that the Rodgersons got for me....Cashus hates it. It's awesome!

"Can I be five tomorrow? I want to have another party." (Actual quote from Tate)

Tate's Birthday

Well, Tate turned four on the 12th. His "party" is next week but we had cake (from our home teachers) and presents on his birthday. Thank you Grandpa for the Red Ryder BB gun. Mom and dad got him some Lego's.




Sion (pink) and Hana (green) had a good time at the party, too. We just couldn't get them to smile at the same time. We even tried the "one good one for your mother" line, too. It didn't work.



On Saturday, we went to see UP, in 3-D. Tate had already seen it, thanks to his great babysitters, but Sachiyo and I needed an excuse to go see it. It was a great movie. If you haven't seen it, GO. The parts about traveling with kids and the talking dogs had Sachiyo and I laughing hysterically, even if Tate didn't get it.

Then we went to the lake to let Tate and Cashus swim. Tate is doing really well in the water. He didn't want any help. He just wanted to kick around with his water noodle. Cashus was also having a great time in the water, chasing his tennis ball.



Cashus was really tired by the end of the day, and we had to pull Tate out of the water before he got hypothermic.





Tate woke up early on Sunday and finished his Lego car. All in all, it was a good birthday weekend. We'll update on the party next week.

Lots of catching up to do

Sachiyo's computer got a nasty virus so we've been down to one computer and I haven't been able to get the pictures downloaded for a while so the next few posts are my attempt to catch up. Here is the low down on the last few months.

Dan got his night SAR pilot certification. Still working as the Ward Mission Leader.

Sachiyo started a Master's Tax class for her accounting. She must have been bored with all that free time. She also got called to be the Young Women's secretary.

Dan and Sachiyo celebrated their 7th wedding anniversary.

A trip to Sea World and the Zoo.

Sion and Hana have both learned to roll over both ways and started inching around.

Lots of wet and dirty diapers.

Tate finished pre-school (We immediatly found a babysitter to help Sachiyo a couple times a week).

We've purchased Mother's Day gifts for both mothers that are still sitting in our house.

Dan and Tate went on a Fathers and Sons campout.

A lot of swimming for Tate.

and a lot of other things I am sure that I am forgetting.

Enough of the typing, here are the pictures.

Sion and Hana at the Hotel in San Diego

Tate holding a sea star (no longer allowed to call them starfish...they aren't fish) at Sea World

Tate playing in the Sesame Street play area at Sea World



Tate and Dad in the 'Spin and Puke' at Sea World



Tate beat dad at the Shamu game so he got the Shamu



Sion (white/yellow....the clothes) and Hana looking cute



Tate's drawing of his sisters (I don't know which is which...take your pick)



Hana being independent



You can't fall asleep on the floor when your kids know how to crawl

Hana will never live this down...I'm sure her future love interests will enjoy this picture



The girls....plotting (Sion on left, Hana on right)


I am really hoping it is a camera trick and that she really didn't inherit Grandpa's eyebrows...please!

Sometimes the kids just have to make due. (Hana)

Sion's favorite position, on her side. It lets her see everything.

Thank you Aunt Ruth

Sion and Hana just want to say thank you to their Aunt Ruth for the beautiful headbands that she made. We had a lot of people ask where they could buy those headbands. Sounds like Ruth has a business opportunity on her hands that she can take up in all her free time.

Girls' Blessing

The family was in town over Easter weekend in order to participate in the blessing of Sion and Hana. It was really nice to have everyone over that could make it. A few members of the family were unable to make it and they were greatly missed. There was a lot of talking, eating and passing of the babies over the weekend. Sachiyo really enjoyed the opportunity to cook, her first love, while someone else watched the kids. I am still trying to get the recipes so that I can post them here, for those who want them.

Thank you again to those who were able to make it down here. We know that it wasn't easy or cheap for any of you. We love you and look forward to seeing you all soon (at someone else's house).

Of course, like most Moench family events, the weekend was capped off by the boys going out and shooting things. Tate got his first chance to fire a real gun and did very well. He keeps asking me when we get to go out and do it again..... Grandpa he might need his Red Ryder BB gun a little early.

The Fair was in town.

We took Tate to the fair at the beginning of April. This is about as big as it gets here in Yuma. The girls stayed with a babysitter so Tate could have our full attention. We had a great time. Tate got to ride a lot of rides and eat a lot of junk. He got to have his caricature drawn and got to pet the pigs and cows and goats, etc. It was nice to just have a night for Tate after all the focus on the girls.