I hate it when I check someone's blog and they haven't updated it for forever. I go to their blog all excited to read some exciting new post, and then the disappointment when it's nothing new. So if you are like me, you have probably been bugged that I haven't updated my blog. I admit it. I'm a great big hypocrite! Sometimes I just can't think of anything exciting to write. Mostly, it's just that I'm lazy.
Today I'm listing my pet peeves after which will follow ten things I am thankful for. (Just so I end on a positive note and you don't think I'm just a crabby person all the time.)
My Pet Peeves (in no particular order)
1. People who do not drive nicely. Included in this are: people who do not merge correctly, people who won't let other people in especially when the lane is ending and there is NO other place to go and what the heck do you want me to do? Go off the road?? (Ok, I'm calming down now.), people who run red lights, people who turn left after their green arrow//green light has already turned red, not yellow, red! and they take up my green arrow that I have waited forever for!, people who make a right turn on a red light when I have a green left arrow, people who don't stop at crosswalks and who get annoyed at people who do and honk their obnoxious horns at them, people who change lanes right in front of me and then 2 seconds later turn right in front of me and I have to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting them, people who take my parking place that I am obviously waiting for and I have my blinker on and everything, and finally, driving my kids and the day care kids to school. The closer it gets to the time that the bell is supposed to ring, the dumber people get. I try to avoid it at all costs, even if that means taking the kids to school 20 minutes early to avoid the crazy drivers!
2.Trash anywhere except in the trash can. Ask my kids. I HATE trash on the floor. To me that is the ultimate laziness, especially at my house where I have a trash can in nearly every room of the house.
3. Frumpled rugs. Bugs the crud out of me!!
4. People who don't say please and thank you.
5. Deciding what to have for dinner every night and when I ask my family for ideas, all I get is, "I don't know." Then when I decide on something they have toast for dinner because they don't like what I made.
6. Solicitors, phone or otherwise.
7. Actually anyone who tries to sell me anything. If I want it, and can afford it, I will buy it. If not, leave me alone!
8. Dogs who poop all over the house!
9. Kids who don't do their responsibilities.
10. Days that I don't get anything done!
Now on to Ten Things I Am Thankful For:
1. My family!
2. The Gospel (especially repentance and the temple)
3. Our home, food, and clothing
4. Lincoln's job and my daycare kids and piano students
5. Freedom
6. Hot water and indoor plumbing
7. A washer and dryer
8. Vehicles to take us where we need to go in comfort
9. Music
10. Computers and the internet so I can keep in touch with loved ones. Especially Anita in Hawaii.
That is all for now.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Friday, September 9, 2011
My Boys of Fall
Ok, so I have given up on the boys posing for me, so I am using their football pictures. Aren't they cute? I just love my boys! (And my girls, too, of course!!) So happy that Faha should be able to finally play next week! I'm very excited we get to go to the game tonight. There was a possibility that we weren't going to be able to go. I used to hate football, but I really love watching my boys play. They are playing the Jordan Beetdiggers. I hope they win! Go Cougars!! (Picture of Pasi coming later....)
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| Cody #26 Wide Receiver |
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| Faha #58 Lineman |
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Back to School
I love this time of year! I love that part from "You've Got Mail" when Meg Ryan is talking about bouquets of sharpened pencils. I love shopping for school supplies. It's a time full of possibilities. It's the New Years of school season, setting goals, and fresh starts.
Things are a little different around here than they usually are at back to school time. Anita is in Hawaii at BYU-Hawaii. Lincoln and I took her in July. She just finished her 1st Term and Fall Semester starts next week. That will be a whole other post in itself. But right now I'm in the mood to write about back to school and since this is my blog, I get to write whatever I want. hahaha
This is Cody's senior year of high school. He, once again, is trying to cram in as much as he possibly can. There is never enough time for Cody to do all that he wants to do. He is taking 2 AP classes, orchestra, is playing football, is in Madrigals, and is an SBO. (In case you, like me, don't know what an SBO is that's short for Student Body Officer. Cody is the school's Cultural Diversity Rep.) Sometime in there he finds a little time to sleep, but sadly for me, not time to do his chores or clean his room.
Faha started high school this year. He is a sophomore. So far he is liking school and is doing well. Mostly due to per pressure, he is playing football on the sophomore team. Unfortunately, he got a concussion the first week of school and so hasn't been able to play in a game yet. We are hoping he can play in next weeks game. Faha is also in orchestra. He made 1st chair viola!
Pasi started jr. high. He's a 7th grader! I can't believe it! I think he already has a following of girls at his school. He keeps telling them, "I can't date yet. I'm a Mormon!" He ran for 7th grade Senate, but lost. I thought it was really great of him to run, though. And he had the best campaign posters made by Cody, the master of poster making.
Siu is in 5th grade. It's weird to only have one student at the elementary school. It's been about 13 years since I've only had one child in elementary school. Pasi and Siu guilted me into volunteering to be the room mom. Pasi said that I need to be more involved in their schools. Whatever! Siu is still her free-spirit self. I love her to death, but she does make me crazy sometimes. It's a full time job keeping her focused on school.
A major focus of our lives right now is football, especially since all three boys are playing. I really love to watch my boys play football! So much so, that I am willing to pay ridiculous admission prices just for the privilege of watching the varsity play. I want to post pictures of all the boys in their football "stuff", but they are not cooperating. So, I guess I will have to do that later.
One of my new school year resolutions is to cook dinner every night. Due to football practice, we tend to eat late so I'm trying to use the crock pot as much as possible so I can get dinner in the crock pot in the morning and we can eat at a semi-decent time. I did really good last week. I used a new recipe book and tried 5 new crock pot recipies. They were all pretty good. One was especially delicious, Spicy Rice Casserole. Post a comment if you want the recipe. Yummy!
Other new school year resolutions are:
-read scriptures every night as a family and finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year
-have family prayer every night
-make sure Siu gets her homework done every night
-sleep early! by 10:00
-no tv on school days
Hopefully everyone has a great school year! :)
Things are a little different around here than they usually are at back to school time. Anita is in Hawaii at BYU-Hawaii. Lincoln and I took her in July. She just finished her 1st Term and Fall Semester starts next week. That will be a whole other post in itself. But right now I'm in the mood to write about back to school and since this is my blog, I get to write whatever I want. hahaha
This is Cody's senior year of high school. He, once again, is trying to cram in as much as he possibly can. There is never enough time for Cody to do all that he wants to do. He is taking 2 AP classes, orchestra, is playing football, is in Madrigals, and is an SBO. (In case you, like me, don't know what an SBO is that's short for Student Body Officer. Cody is the school's Cultural Diversity Rep.) Sometime in there he finds a little time to sleep, but sadly for me, not time to do his chores or clean his room.
Faha started high school this year. He is a sophomore. So far he is liking school and is doing well. Mostly due to per pressure, he is playing football on the sophomore team. Unfortunately, he got a concussion the first week of school and so hasn't been able to play in a game yet. We are hoping he can play in next weeks game. Faha is also in orchestra. He made 1st chair viola!
Pasi started jr. high. He's a 7th grader! I can't believe it! I think he already has a following of girls at his school. He keeps telling them, "I can't date yet. I'm a Mormon!" He ran for 7th grade Senate, but lost. I thought it was really great of him to run, though. And he had the best campaign posters made by Cody, the master of poster making.
Siu is in 5th grade. It's weird to only have one student at the elementary school. It's been about 13 years since I've only had one child in elementary school. Pasi and Siu guilted me into volunteering to be the room mom. Pasi said that I need to be more involved in their schools. Whatever! Siu is still her free-spirit self. I love her to death, but she does make me crazy sometimes. It's a full time job keeping her focused on school.
A major focus of our lives right now is football, especially since all three boys are playing. I really love to watch my boys play football! So much so, that I am willing to pay ridiculous admission prices just for the privilege of watching the varsity play. I want to post pictures of all the boys in their football "stuff", but they are not cooperating. So, I guess I will have to do that later.
One of my new school year resolutions is to cook dinner every night. Due to football practice, we tend to eat late so I'm trying to use the crock pot as much as possible so I can get dinner in the crock pot in the morning and we can eat at a semi-decent time. I did really good last week. I used a new recipe book and tried 5 new crock pot recipies. They were all pretty good. One was especially delicious, Spicy Rice Casserole. Post a comment if you want the recipe. Yummy!
Other new school year resolutions are:
-read scriptures every night as a family and finish the Book of Mormon by the end of the year
-have family prayer every night
-make sure Siu gets her homework done every night
-sleep early! by 10:00
-no tv on school days
Hopefully everyone has a great school year! :)
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The New Addition to the Family
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience.....
The past couple of weeks have been very difficult for me. We have been trying to finish up on our mortgage refinance. Hopefully that's almost ready for us to close on today or tomorrow. Drama with my daycare. Hopefully that is over as well. Problems with the kids, especially Anita. It's really hard to see your kids struggle and not be able to make it better for them. And health problems with me.
First I hurt my back lifting one of the daycare kids. That had me in pain for almost a week. Then that got better and my shoulder started hurting. My shoulder, back, and right arm were hurting so bad. It got progressively worse until finally I went to the dr last week Monday. I have a rib out of place that is pinching a nerve. I have not been in so much pain since I had my kids. Seriously, the pain was as bad as labor pains. It had me in tears. Finally got some stronger pain medication that made the pain bearable. Lincoln keeps warning me not to get addicted to pain medication. I don't think there is any danger of that because I hate how they make me feel. Anyway, now I'm seeing a chiropractor and he thinks it will take about a month of visits three times a week and it should be better.
Before I went to the dr, we tried everything we could think of to ease the pain. I put some rub on medication that is for muscle aches on it. Apparently I'm allergic to it because I now have a ichy rash with hives and welts everywhere I rubbed that medicine on. It's just lovely. Then yesterday I started throwing up. I feel like my whole body is falling apart. I'm in a pain medication induced haze that I HATE. I just want to feel good and be able to do my daily responsibilities and feel like I'm here, not like I'm in a dream.
I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to learn from this experience. Maybe to be more patient with people who are sick. I hope I hurry up and learn what I need to so I can get back to feeling good and be able to take care of my family, the daycare kids, and the house.
First I hurt my back lifting one of the daycare kids. That had me in pain for almost a week. Then that got better and my shoulder started hurting. My shoulder, back, and right arm were hurting so bad. It got progressively worse until finally I went to the dr last week Monday. I have a rib out of place that is pinching a nerve. I have not been in so much pain since I had my kids. Seriously, the pain was as bad as labor pains. It had me in tears. Finally got some stronger pain medication that made the pain bearable. Lincoln keeps warning me not to get addicted to pain medication. I don't think there is any danger of that because I hate how they make me feel. Anyway, now I'm seeing a chiropractor and he thinks it will take about a month of visits three times a week and it should be better.
Before I went to the dr, we tried everything we could think of to ease the pain. I put some rub on medication that is for muscle aches on it. Apparently I'm allergic to it because I now have a ichy rash with hives and welts everywhere I rubbed that medicine on. It's just lovely. Then yesterday I started throwing up. I feel like my whole body is falling apart. I'm in a pain medication induced haze that I HATE. I just want to feel good and be able to do my daily responsibilities and feel like I'm here, not like I'm in a dream.
I'm not really sure what I'm supposed to learn from this experience. Maybe to be more patient with people who are sick. I hope I hurry up and learn what I need to so I can get back to feeling good and be able to take care of my family, the daycare kids, and the house.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My Beautiful Girl
My favorite is the top right one that she is smiling so big in. That's the one I put up in the living room so I can see her big smile when she's gone away to college in Hawaii.
I love this girl so much and I'm so proud of all she has accomplished throughout her years in school
and I know she will do fantastic in college, as well.
I love you, Nita-girl!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Are You a Time-Starved Family?
I'm currently reading a very good book called, "The Time-Starved Family: Helping Overloaded Families Focus on What Matters Most", by Deanne Flynn. I highly recommend it if you are feeling overwhelmed and stressed out by your family's schedule, and especially if you have little babies and children so you can avoid getting caught up in the "my child has to do everything before they can even read" syndrome. These are some things to ask yourself to determine if you a time-starved family. Have you ever heard the following statements (complaints, whines, etc.) coming out of your mouth?
- Family prayer? I can't get all my kids together at the same time to have family prayer!
- Family scripture study?? Who has time for that?
- Family dinner? We are lucky to eat, much less eat together as a family!
- Family Home Evening? With all our activities, we do our own version of family home evening while driving to our next ___________ (fill in the blank, class, activity, practice, etc.).
- Family time?? Does time together in the car count? If so, we have hours of family time each day!
- If my child wants to be a superstar ________________(fill in the blank, athlete, musician, dancer, etc.) then they have to start as young as possible, like 3 years old.
- Being well rounded means you have: sports practice, music lessons, dance lessons, art lessons, after school academic classes or tutoring, voice lessons, on and on. You get the picture.
I agree with the author in her suggestion to choose one sports activity (or other activity if your kids aren't into sports) and one music activity per child at a time. That's it! I usually try to stick to that, but sometimes I go over. Like right now Siu has dance (jazz, tap, ballet) class, Tahitian dance class and Up With Kids. She also wanted to play soccer this spring. I bravely have just ignored that request. I talked with her yesterday and we decided she will finish out the commitments she has made to those activities, two finish in May and the other in June. After that I will let her choose what she wants to do. She decided on gymnastics and violin. That's not necessarily what I would have chosen, but that's what she wants to do. So I'm learning to let go and hoping that will be a good thing for our family. I'm hoping we will be able to make time to do the things that really matter and if there's left over time, then we can do the other stuff. Not the other way around! I'm trying to embrace the "simple life" and hope that by doing so our life will be more fulfilling, spiritual, and more family centered and we won't miss eternal life for the world and the worldly things that can take over our lives if we let them.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
On Being an Authoritarian Parent
I have taken parenting classes in college. I am the mother of 5 children. I am a daycare provider. I take yearly training classes in childcare. I feel I have had a little experience in working with children. Even so, I have one child that is testing all the knowledge I thought I have about children. That one is Siu. We had parent teacher conferences last night and it wasn't pretty.
I try to not interfer and do things for my children that I feel they can do on their own. I try to let them experience the natural consequences of their choices. In short, I try to be an authoritarian type parent. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't. I've made many mistakes as a mother, and probably will make many more. But I feel that I have failed Siu somehow. It is difficult to balance my daycare, piano lesson schedule, the other childrens activities, my household and church responsibilities. I think that often Siu feels she doesn't get any of my attention. As a result, she will do anything, even misbehave, to get my attention.
She has never really cared about school, but it continues to get worse and worse. She is not progressing and has even regressed in some areas. Last night was a wake up call for me and her as well, I think. I need to stop standing on the side and need to be more active in helping to direct her to do what she needs to do. She is almost finished with the 4th grade and she still hasn't memorized the times tables! She continually tells me she is dumb and can't do this and can't do that. I think she has just given up on school. I don't know how to get her to want to learn, to want to do her best. I guess I better learn because time is going on and I hate to see her struggle the rest of her school years when I know she can do the work and do well. She is very smart, but she doesn't want anyone to know that she is.
After we got home she was doing her reading and I told her that I loved her no matter what and she started crying. It broke my heart! She thought I wouldn't love her because she isn't doing well in school. I told her that there was nothing she could do or not do that would make me stop loving her. I'm praying for wisdom for this one, for sure! I know I can't get through to this girl without some inspiration and help from Heavenly Father. She can do anything, if she wants to do it. I just have to help her learn to channel her energy, focus, talent and desire into positive things!! I'm sure there was a reason why she is our youngest. To make sure we were "broken in" as parents and were patient enough to help her and teach her. I hope I can meet the challenge!!
I try to not interfer and do things for my children that I feel they can do on their own. I try to let them experience the natural consequences of their choices. In short, I try to be an authoritarian type parent. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I don't. I've made many mistakes as a mother, and probably will make many more. But I feel that I have failed Siu somehow. It is difficult to balance my daycare, piano lesson schedule, the other childrens activities, my household and church responsibilities. I think that often Siu feels she doesn't get any of my attention. As a result, she will do anything, even misbehave, to get my attention.
She has never really cared about school, but it continues to get worse and worse. She is not progressing and has even regressed in some areas. Last night was a wake up call for me and her as well, I think. I need to stop standing on the side and need to be more active in helping to direct her to do what she needs to do. She is almost finished with the 4th grade and she still hasn't memorized the times tables! She continually tells me she is dumb and can't do this and can't do that. I think she has just given up on school. I don't know how to get her to want to learn, to want to do her best. I guess I better learn because time is going on and I hate to see her struggle the rest of her school years when I know she can do the work and do well. She is very smart, but she doesn't want anyone to know that she is.
After we got home she was doing her reading and I told her that I loved her no matter what and she started crying. It broke my heart! She thought I wouldn't love her because she isn't doing well in school. I told her that there was nothing she could do or not do that would make me stop loving her. I'm praying for wisdom for this one, for sure! I know I can't get through to this girl without some inspiration and help from Heavenly Father. She can do anything, if she wants to do it. I just have to help her learn to channel her energy, focus, talent and desire into positive things!! I'm sure there was a reason why she is our youngest. To make sure we were "broken in" as parents and were patient enough to help her and teach her. I hope I can meet the challenge!!
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Ups and Downs
I know there are ups and downs in life. I know that there are good times and bad times. It just seems like right now every single day is full of ups and downs. It's like my life is on roller coaster mode right now. One minute things are great and I have really good news, the next everything has changed and the good news is now disappointing news. My emotions and feelings cannot handle it!
We are trying to get everything set up for Anita to go to BYU-H in July. We hope to be able to go with her to help her get settled and for Lincoln and I to take a much needed vacation together. Lincoln and I have not been away just the two of us for more than one night since Anita was born. In case you can't do the math, that's 18 1/2 years! Our 20th anniversary will be on December 14 of this year. So while I know that it's no record, by any means, it's still a pretty long time and we need some time to spend together without the kids. What you also need to realize is that from one month after our marriage until after our 6th anniversary I was either pregnant or nursing continuously. Now for those of you who have been pregnant, nursing, or married to someone who has been, you can imagine how that was. And my pregnancies were not a piece of cake! I think there were many times that Lincoln wondered who the heck he had married because it wasn't the same person he had dated! We have been through a lot together and we really need some time to just reconnect and I think going back to where we started our relationship together is just about the perfect place! Please say a little prayer for us that things will work out so we can go!!!!
We are trying to get everything set up for Anita to go to BYU-H in July. We hope to be able to go with her to help her get settled and for Lincoln and I to take a much needed vacation together. Lincoln and I have not been away just the two of us for more than one night since Anita was born. In case you can't do the math, that's 18 1/2 years! Our 20th anniversary will be on December 14 of this year. So while I know that it's no record, by any means, it's still a pretty long time and we need some time to spend together without the kids. What you also need to realize is that from one month after our marriage until after our 6th anniversary I was either pregnant or nursing continuously. Now for those of you who have been pregnant, nursing, or married to someone who has been, you can imagine how that was. And my pregnancies were not a piece of cake! I think there were many times that Lincoln wondered who the heck he had married because it wasn't the same person he had dated! We have been through a lot together and we really need some time to just reconnect and I think going back to where we started our relationship together is just about the perfect place! Please say a little prayer for us that things will work out so we can go!!!!
Monday, January 17, 2011
A Day Almost to Myself
I have found myself with a day that is not too structured, not too crammed with things to do and not too busy with daycare children. If you found yourself with such a day, what do you do? I'm still planning out my day, but here are some things I would LOVE to do:
1. Maintain the clean house that we worked so hard to achieve on Saturday.
2. Get some good decluttering done inside the house and in the garage.
3. Finish Rugby's baby quilt.
4. Crochet some girl baby hats for baby Bella.
5. Relax!!!
6. Prepare a really nice dinner for tonight.
7. Get the shopping done so I don't have to go to the store again until Saturday.
8. Enjoy being home with my kids today.
1. Maintain the clean house that we worked so hard to achieve on Saturday.
2. Get some good decluttering done inside the house and in the garage.
3. Finish Rugby's baby quilt.
4. Crochet some girl baby hats for baby Bella.
5. Relax!!!
6. Prepare a really nice dinner for tonight.
7. Get the shopping done so I don't have to go to the store again until Saturday.
8. Enjoy being home with my kids today.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wishing for a "Do-Over"
Do you ever wish you could just rewind your life and redo things that you messed up the first time around? Now, no comments about repentence, etc. If you have them, keep them to yourself. I mean really be able to go back and do things differently, make different choices, hopefully with better outcomes. I sure do! Most of the things I would like to have a do-over for involve my role as a mother. I don't know if it's because my kids are getting older and will be leaving home sooner than I like to think about, but I am constantly thinking, wondering, worrying. Have I taught them enough? Have I prepared them to be able to survive on their own? Have I failed them somehow? If they don't do their chores now does that mean they will not be able to keep a job? Does that mean they will never be responsible? Am I hampering their growth because I didn't encourage them to get a job as soon as they were old enough to have one?
I've been told by many people that I do too much for my kids. I guess I do. I think part of that comes from my experiences growing up. I want my kids to have me there for them in a way my parents weren't (and couldn't) be there for me. But am I hurting my kids in the process? I hope not because, of course, that was never my intention. Is it too late to change things when they are 18, 17, and almost 15? I know there is still hope for the younger two, if I don't mess them up too! lol
Here are the things I wish I had done a better job teaching my kids:
1. Cleaning is not horrible. It blesses our home and makes it a pleasant place to be.
2. Less is more and it's ok to get rid of things you no longer want and or need.
3. They are expected to help around the house on a consistent and regular basis.
4. I am not a maid, servant, or the domestic help. I deserve respect and will give it in return.
5. You mess it up, you clean it up. And along with that, put things back where they belong. (Lincoln could use some help with that one too!)
6. When you are responsible to do something, whether that's chores, homework, whatever, DO IT! And do it the best you can.
Things have to change around here and the only way for them to change is for me to change. I'm awesome at making lists. I can make some of the best lists you have ever seen! Unfortunately, most of the time that's all they are is lists. The things on the lists never get done and I carry around the guilt of not doing them. I am overwhelmed and feeling under appreciated by my family. I have to make the changes that I want for me. I want to be a happier person, a better wife and mother and that's only going to happen if I get my guilt lists out of the way. #1 right now is the state of my house and garage. We have so much stuff we neither need nor use. Some I keep in case we need them later. Some I like the idea of having, but never use. Others I just don't get rid of for no good reason. It has to stop! The decluttering must begin. Only when I get rid of the clutter will I feel that my house is really clean. I must start today, now even. I will record my progress. It's super fling boogie time!
I've been told by many people that I do too much for my kids. I guess I do. I think part of that comes from my experiences growing up. I want my kids to have me there for them in a way my parents weren't (and couldn't) be there for me. But am I hurting my kids in the process? I hope not because, of course, that was never my intention. Is it too late to change things when they are 18, 17, and almost 15? I know there is still hope for the younger two, if I don't mess them up too! lol
Here are the things I wish I had done a better job teaching my kids:
1. Cleaning is not horrible. It blesses our home and makes it a pleasant place to be.
2. Less is more and it's ok to get rid of things you no longer want and or need.
3. They are expected to help around the house on a consistent and regular basis.
4. I am not a maid, servant, or the domestic help. I deserve respect and will give it in return.
5. You mess it up, you clean it up. And along with that, put things back where they belong. (Lincoln could use some help with that one too!)
6. When you are responsible to do something, whether that's chores, homework, whatever, DO IT! And do it the best you can.
Things have to change around here and the only way for them to change is for me to change. I'm awesome at making lists. I can make some of the best lists you have ever seen! Unfortunately, most of the time that's all they are is lists. The things on the lists never get done and I carry around the guilt of not doing them. I am overwhelmed and feeling under appreciated by my family. I have to make the changes that I want for me. I want to be a happier person, a better wife and mother and that's only going to happen if I get my guilt lists out of the way. #1 right now is the state of my house and garage. We have so much stuff we neither need nor use. Some I keep in case we need them later. Some I like the idea of having, but never use. Others I just don't get rid of for no good reason. It has to stop! The decluttering must begin. Only when I get rid of the clutter will I feel that my house is really clean. I must start today, now even. I will record my progress. It's super fling boogie time!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Things That Give Me Warm Fuzzys
This morning before Lincoln left for work he gave me a hug and kiss just like he does every morning. I love that we have been married for almost 19 years (on Dec. 14th) and have 5 kids together (3 of which are teenagers) and his kisses still take my breath away and make me a little light headed.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thoughts on a Friday
I can't believe it's already November 19th! Thanksgiving is NEXT week! Holy cow, time slow down a little, can you please?? I wanted to post a photo collection of Anita for her birthday last month, but I didn't get the pictures scanned, until today. So here is Anita's 18th Birthday tribute....only one month and ten days late! Love you Anita RaNae SeiLa'A Ku'uleialoha Uhi!
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Monday, November 15, 2010
Champions!
I just have to write about Pasi's football team. They are such an amazing group of boys. I just love them! They are so fun to watch and they are such good boys! I can't help but use lots and lots of exclamation points! Most of these boys have played together since they were 8 years old. They have had the same coaches for these past four seasons. Their coaches are AMAZING! They are so good with the boys and they teach them more than just how to play football. They teach them good sportsmanship, teamwork, and to work hard to achieve your dreams. This little team has dreamed of winning a championship since they were 8. They have made it to the playoffs for the past three years, only to lose to the same team (Judge) in the first round of the playoffs every time. But not this year! They had an amazing season. They were 9-0 for the season. They were only scored on twice the whole season! They won most of their games by at least 20 points. Despite really BAD referees, the other teams cheating and taking cheap shots, they won and won and won. Their championship game was Saturday against West. They had beat West in the regular season 28-0 in a really ugly game that the referees tried to cheat the whole game, but these boys didn't let it get to them. They stayed focused and they showed who they were. Their "theme" this year has been, "This is our time." I love it! They are only 11 years old, but they are so amazing! It is so fun to watch their games because they are so dang good and they are so dang cute! In the game on Saturday, every time the refs would make a bad call (and there were many!), our boys would come back and the next play make an amazing play and usually score. West came close to scoring only once, but they fumbled and one of our boys picked up the ball and ran for a touchdown, goal to goal. It was fantastic!! I wish I had a video camera and had taped that game. It was awesome! I'm so proud of all of these boys, they have class. Despite what one of the coaches from a team they beat 34-0 (Cottonwood) said to the boys. She told them, "Your team has NO class!" Well, they have more class than she'll ever have and they also have a championship! Love you Kearns Mity Mites! And I love you, Pasi! I'm so proud of you!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
I Was Thinking.....
I have been thinking about how I can be more positive in my outlook on life. I decided to list all the things, big and little, that make me smile. Beware, a lot of them have to do with cleaning. Here they are in random order, as I think of them:
1. Fall leaf colors-I'm sitting here looking out my living room window and looking at the tree across the street. It's gorgeous! Red, yellow, and still some green leaves, LOVE IT! I love driving up to Churchill and Skyline this time of year because the trees on the mountains are so beautiful!
2. Neatly made beds- They just make me smile, especially when I'm not the one that had to make them!
3. Clean mirrors- Always so nice to not see water, etc spots.
4. Looking out the kitchen window and seeing my kids playing and having fun together, and not fighting, in our backyard. It gives me big warm fuzzies.
5. Folding towels. I like folding towels, especially when they are all warm and fluffy.
6. Finding a new piece of music that is beautiful and fun to play. I recently starting playing from a book of Primary song arrangements I've had for several years. I only had tried to play the first song and didn't like it, so I put it away and hadn't looked at it since. Well, I got it out the other day and tried some of the other songs and I LOVE them. They are challenging, but so pretty and fun. There is an arrangement of "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" that I love , love, love!
7. Listening to my kids play music So awesome!
8. My kids' smiles. I just love it when I catch them smiling a really happy, natural smile. Warms my heart! I love them so much!
9. A good shopping trip. That's defined as finding everything I need in a timely manner and costing less than I had planned on.
10. Watching my husband dance. I LOVE to watch Lincoln dance Polynesian dancing. He is so good and looks like he is enjoying it so much that it makes me happy, too.
Well, that's a start. I'm going to try to add to this list over the next few days. It made me feel good just thinking of all the things that make me feel good. lol
1. Fall leaf colors-I'm sitting here looking out my living room window and looking at the tree across the street. It's gorgeous! Red, yellow, and still some green leaves, LOVE IT! I love driving up to Churchill and Skyline this time of year because the trees on the mountains are so beautiful!
2. Neatly made beds- They just make me smile, especially when I'm not the one that had to make them!
3. Clean mirrors- Always so nice to not see water, etc spots.
4. Looking out the kitchen window and seeing my kids playing and having fun together, and not fighting, in our backyard. It gives me big warm fuzzies.
5. Folding towels. I like folding towels, especially when they are all warm and fluffy.
6. Finding a new piece of music that is beautiful and fun to play. I recently starting playing from a book of Primary song arrangements I've had for several years. I only had tried to play the first song and didn't like it, so I put it away and hadn't looked at it since. Well, I got it out the other day and tried some of the other songs and I LOVE them. They are challenging, but so pretty and fun. There is an arrangement of "My Heavenly Father Loves Me" that I love , love, love!
7. Listening to my kids play music So awesome!
8. My kids' smiles. I just love it when I catch them smiling a really happy, natural smile. Warms my heart! I love them so much!
9. A good shopping trip. That's defined as finding everything I need in a timely manner and costing less than I had planned on.
10. Watching my husband dance. I LOVE to watch Lincoln dance Polynesian dancing. He is so good and looks like he is enjoying it so much that it makes me happy, too.
Well, that's a start. I'm going to try to add to this list over the next few days. It made me feel good just thinking of all the things that make me feel good. lol
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Blah day
Today has just been a blah day. We had expected to have company this weekend, but due to circumstances beyond our control, that's not happening. My kids are very disappointed, especially Pasi. It has kind of made us all in a bad mood today. I didn't really want to do anything and everyone is bugging me today. It's the kind of day I should just be by myself so I'm not grouchy to everybody. Unfortunately, I NEVER get a day by myself, so they have just had to deal with me today.
Maybe I'm just coming off the high of parent teacher conferences. We saw all twenty-five of the kids teachers at three schools in two days. We got to listen to twenty five people brag about our kids and tell us how wonderful they are and how we must be doing something right to have kids as awesome as they are. It sure made us feel great. It really made me feel like Lincoln and I are a good team working together, trying our best to raise our kids right. Maybe today was kind of a let down?
Maybe I'm just coming off the high of parent teacher conferences. We saw all twenty-five of the kids teachers at three schools in two days. We got to listen to twenty five people brag about our kids and tell us how wonderful they are and how we must be doing something right to have kids as awesome as they are. It sure made us feel great. It really made me feel like Lincoln and I are a good team working together, trying our best to raise our kids right. Maybe today was kind of a let down?
Monday, September 20, 2010
A Lazy Day
Is it ever ok or justified to have a lazy day? I worked very hard pretty much every day last week. I cleaned and cleaned every day last week, except Friday. Of course, after the weekend with my family home you can't tell I ever did anything! I had planned to get everything back in order and looking good today, but I got up and my right hip and back are very painful and I just have no energy. It could be because I have Aunt Flo and Uncle Cramps visiting. I'm ready for them to leave. The last few years whenever they visit I get sooooo tired and painful that I can hardly function for the first few days. Anyway, so today I want to just sit, watch tv, and work on my cross stitch. Is that wrong?
LATER........
Well, I did force myself to sweep and mop my floors and tidy up Pasi's and Siu's room. I just need to do some laundry, wash the dishes, and swish and swipe the bathrooms and I will feel like I've really accomplished a lot! My goal, get it done before lunch (noon). Sometimes when I give myself permission to be lazy I actually get more done than when I have my big "to do" list and feel like I HAVE to do it. I'm doing it because I want to, not because I have to. It's a control thing with me. I have to feel like I'm in control.
LATER........
Well, I did force myself to sweep and mop my floors and tidy up Pasi's and Siu's room. I just need to do some laundry, wash the dishes, and swish and swipe the bathrooms and I will feel like I've really accomplished a lot! My goal, get it done before lunch (noon). Sometimes when I give myself permission to be lazy I actually get more done than when I have my big "to do" list and feel like I HAVE to do it. I'm doing it because I want to, not because I have to. It's a control thing with me. I have to feel like I'm in control.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Frugal Living
There is a blog I love to read. I have to check it everyday to see if there is a new posting. I don't even remember how I found it, but it's awesome! It's called Want What You Have. A Christian mom with three kids writes it and I love her practical and down to earth ideas and the way she doesn't try to make out to be perfect. She's just a stay-at-home mom who likes to write. Anyway, she posts things that she does to live frugally and simply. One of her posts was, "Twenty-five things we do to save money." So with that idea, I want to post my own list of things I do to save money. I may not have twenty-five, but we'll see how many I can think of.
"Things We Do to Save Money"
1. I make my own laundry soap. I have tried different recipes and have finally found my own version of a couple of recipes that seems to work well for me and our types of laundry.
2. I now hang my laundry out to dry. It wasn't a deliberate choice. My dryer broke and I don't have money to buy a new one. I am enjoying the feeling of self-sufficiency it gives me and my clothes smell great! So I'm saving money on my electric bill and I'm saving the money of not buying a dryer right now.
3. There are some things we VERY, very seldom buy, soda is a big one. None of us need to drink it and it is not good for us. I think it's a huge waste of money. I almost wrote that we never buy soda, but that's not true. We have bought it, but it's maybe a couple of times a year. I very seldom buy potato chips and other junk food. Now I do have a sweet tooth, so I do buy chocolate once in awhile.
4. I usually buy almond bark and chop it up instead of buying chocolate chips. I can buy a bar of almond bark from which I can make three double batches of cookies for less than the price of one bag of chocolate chips.
5. I make cookies from scratch. I have a very good chocolate chip cookie recipe that my kids LOVE! When we are at the store and they ask me to buy cookies, I just say, "My cookies taste better than those!" and they agree with me.
6. I only buy cold cereal if it is on a really good sale. We can easily go through a box of cereal in one sitting, so I save it for a special treat. We usually have oatmeal or farina (it's the same as cream of wheat and much cheaper! I get it at WalMart.) instead.
7. I set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 75 or 76 degrees in the summer. This is easier for me in the winter than the summer because I HATE to be hot. I just try to deal with it. Winter is easy because we can just throw on another layer if we are cold. We are used to it now, so it's not a problem.
8. Lincoln and I don't exchange gifts usually. We have never really done this. He didn't grow up getting gifts so he would rather have it that way.
9. Lincoln cuts his own and the three boys hair. We have pretty much always done this. I used to cut the boys hair when they were little, but now their hair is harder to cut so Lincoln does it.
10. I make my own pizza. The kids would rather have Little Caesars, but I try to make it at home from scratch.
11. I do our own taxes.
12. I love reading and I love books, but instead of buying books, we go to the library every week. I LOVE the Salt Lake County Library System! They have had every book I have ever looked for with the exception of maybe one or two. It's awesome!
13. Going out to eat is a treat. We go out together as a family about once every 6-8 weeks. Lincoln and I go out as a couple about the same. That's not to say we NEVER get fast food, but it's a rare occasion.
14. Going to the movies is a treat. When we do go, we go to the matinee, which for the theater we go to by our house that's any movie before 6:00 pm. It's $2 cheaper and with seven of us, that adds up. We maybe go 2-3 times a year and only if it's a movie we are dying to see! The last movie we went to was Toy Story 3 about 3 weeks ago. Loved it!
15. Lincoln takes his lunch to work everyday. He almost never eats out for lunch.
16. I make my kids' birthday cakes and if they have a party, it's a party at our house.
17. When things are on sale, if it's a fantastic sale I buy as much as I can. Like when Target and WalMart have their notebooks for $.15 I buy 100 or more and that lasts us until the next year when they are on sale again. Last year I bought so many boxes of crayons when they were $.25 a box that I don't even need to buy any this year.
18. We buy our bread and bagels at the discount bakery. I love Grandma Sycamore bread and we can get it there for under $1 a loaf. It's usually $2.99 in most stores. Bagels are $1 a bag too. If we can't get it there then I make my own bread.
19. I pay every bill I can online. It saves me the check and a stamp. There are very few things that I can't pay online, almost all without any sort of fee. I pay all my utilities online and pretty much everything else. I don't pay my house payment online because they charge a fee (I think it's $10) and there is a bank branch just up the street that I just make my payment at.
20. I reuse plastic store bags as trash bags for my small trash cans. I only buy trash bags for my kitchen garbage can and my recycling trash can. (They use the same size.)
21. Lincoln has several prescriptions. We order his medication through mail order. That saves us a bunch, especially since our insurance penalizes us if we don't.
22. I have pretty much stopped buying DVDs. I used to think I had to buy the DVD of every Disney movie that came out. But I soon (but not soon enough) realized that the kids didn't really watch most of them and I had to find a place to store all of them! If we really want to see a movie, we rent it. There are very few movies that we want to watch so many times that it's worth it for me to buy.
23. I try not to buy many convienance foods. I buy some, but I try to make as much as I can myself.
Well, that's all I can come up with for now. If I think of more there may be a Part 2. Now it's time to go make lunch.
"Things We Do to Save Money"
1. I make my own laundry soap. I have tried different recipes and have finally found my own version of a couple of recipes that seems to work well for me and our types of laundry.
2. I now hang my laundry out to dry. It wasn't a deliberate choice. My dryer broke and I don't have money to buy a new one. I am enjoying the feeling of self-sufficiency it gives me and my clothes smell great! So I'm saving money on my electric bill and I'm saving the money of not buying a dryer right now.
3. There are some things we VERY, very seldom buy, soda is a big one. None of us need to drink it and it is not good for us. I think it's a huge waste of money. I almost wrote that we never buy soda, but that's not true. We have bought it, but it's maybe a couple of times a year. I very seldom buy potato chips and other junk food. Now I do have a sweet tooth, so I do buy chocolate once in awhile.
4. I usually buy almond bark and chop it up instead of buying chocolate chips. I can buy a bar of almond bark from which I can make three double batches of cookies for less than the price of one bag of chocolate chips.
5. I make cookies from scratch. I have a very good chocolate chip cookie recipe that my kids LOVE! When we are at the store and they ask me to buy cookies, I just say, "My cookies taste better than those!" and they agree with me.
6. I only buy cold cereal if it is on a really good sale. We can easily go through a box of cereal in one sitting, so I save it for a special treat. We usually have oatmeal or farina (it's the same as cream of wheat and much cheaper! I get it at WalMart.) instead.
7. I set the thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 75 or 76 degrees in the summer. This is easier for me in the winter than the summer because I HATE to be hot. I just try to deal with it. Winter is easy because we can just throw on another layer if we are cold. We are used to it now, so it's not a problem.
8. Lincoln and I don't exchange gifts usually. We have never really done this. He didn't grow up getting gifts so he would rather have it that way.
9. Lincoln cuts his own and the three boys hair. We have pretty much always done this. I used to cut the boys hair when they were little, but now their hair is harder to cut so Lincoln does it.
10. I make my own pizza. The kids would rather have Little Caesars, but I try to make it at home from scratch.
11. I do our own taxes.
12. I love reading and I love books, but instead of buying books, we go to the library every week. I LOVE the Salt Lake County Library System! They have had every book I have ever looked for with the exception of maybe one or two. It's awesome!
13. Going out to eat is a treat. We go out together as a family about once every 6-8 weeks. Lincoln and I go out as a couple about the same. That's not to say we NEVER get fast food, but it's a rare occasion.
14. Going to the movies is a treat. When we do go, we go to the matinee, which for the theater we go to by our house that's any movie before 6:00 pm. It's $2 cheaper and with seven of us, that adds up. We maybe go 2-3 times a year and only if it's a movie we are dying to see! The last movie we went to was Toy Story 3 about 3 weeks ago. Loved it!
15. Lincoln takes his lunch to work everyday. He almost never eats out for lunch.
16. I make my kids' birthday cakes and if they have a party, it's a party at our house.
17. When things are on sale, if it's a fantastic sale I buy as much as I can. Like when Target and WalMart have their notebooks for $.15 I buy 100 or more and that lasts us until the next year when they are on sale again. Last year I bought so many boxes of crayons when they were $.25 a box that I don't even need to buy any this year.
18. We buy our bread and bagels at the discount bakery. I love Grandma Sycamore bread and we can get it there for under $1 a loaf. It's usually $2.99 in most stores. Bagels are $1 a bag too. If we can't get it there then I make my own bread.
19. I pay every bill I can online. It saves me the check and a stamp. There are very few things that I can't pay online, almost all without any sort of fee. I pay all my utilities online and pretty much everything else. I don't pay my house payment online because they charge a fee (I think it's $10) and there is a bank branch just up the street that I just make my payment at.
20. I reuse plastic store bags as trash bags for my small trash cans. I only buy trash bags for my kitchen garbage can and my recycling trash can. (They use the same size.)
21. Lincoln has several prescriptions. We order his medication through mail order. That saves us a bunch, especially since our insurance penalizes us if we don't.
22. I have pretty much stopped buying DVDs. I used to think I had to buy the DVD of every Disney movie that came out. But I soon (but not soon enough) realized that the kids didn't really watch most of them and I had to find a place to store all of them! If we really want to see a movie, we rent it. There are very few movies that we want to watch so many times that it's worth it for me to buy.
23. I try not to buy many convienance foods. I buy some, but I try to make as much as I can myself.
Well, that's all I can come up with for now. If I think of more there may be a Part 2. Now it's time to go make lunch.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Our Little Spicy Girl!
That's my little spicy sweetie! I love you, Siu!
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