Our Christmas Eve Visitor!

By the time Christmas Eve rolled around, Sa and I were getting a bit overwhelmed with all the things to do, so we decided to take a quick breather and go down to the beach. Living as close as we do to Alligator Pond, it's easy to run down for 20 minutes and come back home totally refreshed and ready to face it all! So, we take all 5 youngin's down there and look who was there waiting for us:

Look at him, sunning his belly!

I LOVE it!

4 day's till CHRISTmas!!!! WOOHOOOOOO!!!

8 kids + 10 cans of shaving cream =

SOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!

We've been lucky enough to have Brandi's kids over at our house a lot lately and so I've been trying to think of fun ways to entertain all these kids. My mind flashed back to the old days in Biazza Ridge and the super fun shaving cream fights we would have on the last day of school. Memories...

Well, the next generation loved it just as much as I did.

Kainoa and Reedy

(Is it just me, or does Kainoa's head look photo shopped onto his body here?)

Brooklyn and Teija

Teija, LOOK OUT!!!! Toa's got THAT look in his eye!

AHHHHHH!!!!

Such a good sport. Still happy after all that hair yankin'

Deacon and Kati (the Mr. and Mrs.)

Reed and his shaving cream bomb.

I'd hate to be on the receiving end of that bad boy.

Good ol' Eli. Making that face that just get's me every time.

Seriously, how can you NOT smile when looking at him...

and also wonder what he just did

or what he's about to do...

the damage...

While cleaning, I came across a note book that one of my kids uses to draw in. Since it's supposed to be a secret, I won't say who. I'll translate for you.

Dear sekrit (secret) book

Ihavea crase(crazy)

Brethr(brother)and his

nam(name)is Deacon.

(amazingly, Deacon is spelled right!)

Apparently, that's some super duper secret...as if we don't already know he's crazy. Well...Eli's probably more crazy.

Goin' to the chapel

Super busy day, but I just wanted to pop in and let you know that last night I got asked to do a cake for a wedding...a wedding cake y'all! That's ME making the cake!!! I'm super excited. I've never done a cake before for anyone other than family. Wish me luck!!

Hello, Hello, Hello, Is there anybody in there? Just nod if you can here me...Is there anybody home?

AAAAAAAANNNNNND I'm back! I know, I know, I don't even want to THINK about how long it's been since my last post. First our internet went down, then our computer went down, and then my camera went down. So far I've fixed 2 out of 3 of the problems. No good camera yet, but I've got my video camera that takes pictures...lame, grainey, fuzzy pictures...which may not seem like a big deal to some of you, but if you've seen some of my friend's blogs with their AMAZING picture taking skills, well, let's just say it's a wee bit intimidating! Life has been so busy that I haven't had more than a few moments to my self lately. BUT, I'm changing that. I'm taking charge! I'm simplifying everything around me so that I have more TIME. I've taken up sewing again and I'm in love with it all over. I have a special project I'm working on and I'm all sorts of excited about it. Here's a preview...

I'll post the final product later.

So, long story short, I'm back. I. AM. BACK.

ps...bonus points to my peeps who can tell me what song is in my title...come one...if you're my kin you've got to know this one...

A woman's worth

Do you know this woman?

You really should. She's smart, funny, amazing, creative, thoughtful, classy, honest, loving, gracious, beautiful and she's my mom. I am one lucky girl, I can tell you that.



She has been on my mind a lot over the last few weeks. I saw this and it really got me thinking.

Actually, it got me more than just thinking, I was crying by the end of it. I actually felt like I'd been struck by a brick with the realization that this summer marks the 10 year anniversary of my mom being diagnosed with breast cancer. That's right. My senior year of high school my mother was diagnosed with cancer just a week or so before I graduated. I have been through some scary times in my life, but not knowing if you would lose your mom or not is right around the top of the list.


My mom is such a strong woman. If you saw her, besides her little bald head, you'd never even guess the battle she was fighting. She had such an amazing spirit about her. All of the doctors adored her and the nurses would often come into her room to relax because of how soothing it was to be in there and to be around her. She was strong for us and it was what I needed to badly to get though it all.

It wasn't until watching that video that I really sat and thought of what she must have been going through during it all. She was always so positive and confident, it saddens me to think of what she must have been going through behind closed doors. Was she scared too?

I am so grateful that I still have my mom.
I speak to her almost everyday and often calling my mom is one of the first things I do for the day.

She has always been there for me and she helps me to be a better mom.

There are many times as a parent where I find myself asking, "How would mom have handled this."

My kids are head over heals for her and they would all move in with her in a heart beat. She really is an amazing Grandma.

She never does anything half way. Everything she does is spectacular, down to the tiniest detail. She has such an eye for decorating and party planning. She thinks of things most people wouldn't dream of and she always finds a way to pull it off.
Every time she cooks it's the best meal ever.



She is so generous and loving. She has taken in SO many people to live with us over the years, with out even really knowing most of them, just because they needed someone to help them, love them, and show them the way. She has always taught me to leave things nicer than you found it and she truly lives that way. She has a way of helping people be better than before they met her. She only sees the good in people and would never speak ill of anyone.

I am so grateful that I still have my mom. I'm not done needing her yet.

How to be a perfect wife...

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. When I think of the ideal wife, this is pretty much what I picture:


Yes, I know...many of you may scoff at this. I've got to warn you all now, this post may not be for everybody. For me though, this is what I want to grow up to be. It's what I've ALWAYS wanted to be when I grew up. I want to be the skinny little wife in the cute apron with home cooked meal.
I came across this and I felt like it suited my ideals perfecty. I've been using it lately as a measuring stick of how I'm doing.

How to be the Perfect Wife.
This was taken from Helen B. Andelin's Fascinating Womanhood, published by Pacific Press in 1965. The course was designed to teach women how to be happy in marriage.

GET YOUR WORK DONE

Plan your tasks with an eye on the clock. Finish or interrupt them an hour before he is expected. Your anguished cry, "Are you home already?" is not exactly a warm welcome.

HAVE DINNER READY

Plan ahead, even the night before to have a delicious meal, on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed.

PREPARE YOURSELF

Take 15 minutes to rest so you will be refreshed when he arrives. This will also make you happy to see him instead of too tired to care. Turn off the worry and be glad to be alive and grateful for the man who is going to walk in. While you are resting you can be thinking about your Fascinating Womanhood assignment and all you can do to make him happy and give his spirits a lift. When you arise, take care of your appearance. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

CLEAR AWAY THE CLUTTER

Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc. in a bucket or wastebasket and put them in the back bedroom for sorting later. Then run a dustcloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order and it will give you a lift too. Having the house in order is another way of letting him know that you care and have planned for this homecoming.

PREPARE THE CHILDREN

Take just a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small) comb their hair, and if necessary change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them look the part.

MINIMIZE ALL NOISE

Especially give heed to this if your husband has to join rush hour traffic. At the time of his arrival eliminate noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet at the time of their father's arrival. Let them be a little noisy beforehand to get it out of their system.

BE HAPPY TO SEE HIM

Greet him with a warm smile and act glad to see him. Tell him that it is good to have him home. This may make his day worthwhile. If there is any romance left in you, he needs it now.

SOME DON'TS

• Don't greet him with problems and complaints. Solve the problems you can before he gets home and save those you must discuss with him until later in the evening.
• Also, don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this as a minor problem when compared with what he might have gone through that day.
• Don't allow the children to rush at him with problems or requests. Allow them to briefly greet their father but save demands for later.

MAKE HIM COMFORTABLE

Have him lean back into a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to massage his neck and shoulders and take off his shoes. Don't insist on this however. Turn on music if it is one of his pleasures. Speak in a soft, soothing, pleasant voice. Allow him to relax - to unwind.

LISTEN TO HIM

You may have a dozen things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first, then he will be a more responsive listener later.

MAKE THE EVENING HIS

Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and to relax. If he is cross or irritable, never fight back. Again, try to understand his world of strain.

THE GOAL

Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. Then add to this the application of all the principles of Fascinating Womanhood and your husband will want to come home. He will rather be with you than with anyone else in the world and will spend whatever time he can possibly spare with you. Try living all of these rules for his homecoming and see what happens. This is the way to bring a man home to your side, not by pressure, persuasion or moral obligation

Ok, ok, ok, so some of you may have just ran to the bathroom and lost your lunch. Like I said, it's not for everyone and it's definitly an out dated way of thinking, especially since the whole woman's lib movement. I honestly think though that a lot of men still value these things in a wife, and whether my husband values these things or not, I value them. As you can see, this was a summary from a book, "Fascinating Womanhood". I bought the 2007 version of this book about 2 weeks ago and wow, I really really like it! It's given me a deeper appreciation for what I bring to the relationship as a woman and what he brings to the relationship that only a man can. As women, we have come so far and worked so hard to be equal to men and make sure that they know we can do everything they can do, that sometimes I think we've forgotten to appreciate the god given gifts that make us DIFFERENT. The author is also a member of the church, although she doesn't say it outright in the book, it's clear by the terms she uses and the things she places value on. I've enjoyed the book so much and the change that it has brought about in me that I'm even considering attending the webclass that starts this September!

Barbie + Sharpie =

Nude barbies, beware! You're gonna wear clothes and you're gonna like it!

Sa laughed at me the other day because we got a few new barbies in our house and I immediately grabbed a sharpie. Anyone who knows me knows that if a barbie wants to live here, she's gonna have to put on a sharpie bathing suit. It's just the way it is. Not even Ken is safe. He started out with a sharpie speedo, but with the way his torso is cut, that just looked REALLY wierd. No offense Ken, most guys can't pull it off either.

Poor mangled hands...Lulu got a hold of them

If you're gonna have sharpie suits, you need to make sure you always have a sharpie handy because after enough wear and tear, THIS happens...

The marker will eventually wear off in the very spots you were trying to cover, accentuating the "busty-ness".

I know a lot of you may not let your daughter play with Barbies, and that's cool too. This is my compromise. However, Bratz dolls...ugh, there's not enough sharpie's in the world to let one of THOSE in my house!

Don't drink and drive

On Saturday night, Sa was on his way home from having dinner with his brothers and sister. We spoke before he left the restaurant and he insisted that I go to sleep, that he'll be home soon and that he loves me. About 20 minutes before he should have been home, I recieved a call from a strange number at 11:52pm. "Is the molly? Your husband's been in an accident. Please talk to him". She gave Sa the phone and all I could hear was his pain and he kept trying to tell me he loved me. It killed me to hear him crying out for me and I wasn't there for him. I started panicking. I'd heard something about "crouching lion", which is a restraunt by my folks house, so I ran accross to a neighbors house to borrow a phone so I could call my mom with out hanging up with Sa. Finally the ambulance arrived, the woman took the phone back and explained that the crash was by the Coral Kingdom, which is in the opposite direction of crouching lion, and then she hung up. I called mom back, got her headed in the right direction. Thank heavens for a wonderful neighbor, Tupu, who I called and she came running to be with the kids as the slept so I could go to the accident.
When I got close, the line of cars waiting was so long, I had to park and run to the accident. It was the most horrific sight. I couldn't even recognize the car Sa was driving. The door was ripped off, the bumper was on the road and firemen we cutting the car apart so that they could get my husband out. They wouldn't let me near him, wouldn't let me go in the ambulance, and they didn't really tell me what was wrong with him.
For those who aren't familiar with our island, where Sa and I live there's just a little two lane road in and out. The ambulance headed off to the hospital, going towards Kaneohe. In that direction, it would have taken them about 1/2 hour to get to the hospital. However, they wouldn't let me through the reckage to follow the ambulance. My folks and I had to run back to our car and drive the other way around the island...a drive that's almost 1 1/2 hours...
I called my sister mindy and she took her family up to my house to watch the kids. I had no idea how long this may be, and although I really wanted her there, I knew that I wouldn't be able to solely focus on Sa unless the kids were with family.
By some miracle, Sa made it out with only a broken arm and some lacerations. The nurses confirmed that he was hit by a drunk driver, driving an SUV. Sa was in a little civic. He had his seatbelt on and his airbag deployed and it saved his life. Over the next few days at the hospital, some nurses would comment on how they couldn't believe how minor his injuries were.

Thank you all so much for all your help. Thanks mom and dad for getting there first and then helping me handle the horror of it all. Thank you Tupu for waking up and coming. Thanks Min for waking up your whole family in the middle of the night to come watch my kids. Thank you Mikey, becky, Peter, jolena, Joanne, and Dai for watching my kids so that Sa could come home to a quiet house and rest for a few days. Thank you to all the friends and family who came to the hospital to check in on us. Thank you all for your prayers on his behalf.

I know with out a doubt that we have been SO blessed. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father preserved my husband's life. I am so grateful that my kids still have a father and I still have a husband. I can't even describe the gratitude that I feel.

Here is the airbag that helped save my husband's life

This door was cut off, as well as part of the roof so that they could get Sa out. They've had to tie it back on so they could transport the car.
Can you believe that he made it out of here with just a broken arm and a few lacerations??? I'm telling you, it's a miracle.

Here's a link to the article that was in the paper. However, I think they got the description of the other car wrong because it was an SUV that hit him and it's been confirmed that it was alcohol related.

http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090628/BREAKING01/90628016/Two+seriously+hurt+in+head-on+collision+near+Kualoa+Ranch

Kids and General Conference

With 5 little kids, general conference hasn't really been something I've looked forward to the past few years. Don't get me wrong...I really enjoy general conference...it's trying to get through it withe kids part that was a struggle. This year, we decided to try something new. Here, the first session begins at 6am, so I don't wake the kids up for it. I woke up and got to enjoy the first hour in peace, and then the kids came out around 7 and just kind of sat around and watched the second hour. They didn't make much of a fuss because they were still groggy.

In between sessions we watched home movies. That was a blast! I think that is definetly a tradition keeper!

I don't know where I read it...maybe an ensign or LDS site...but someone wrote an idea about how they buy a bunch of different little candies, put them in bowls, and assign each bowl a different word. Then when the speaker says that word, the kids get to take one candy out of the bowl. We decided to give it a try but with the kids making their own trailmix.

Here's what we bought: goldfish, pretzels, peanuts, rasins, m&m's, white cheeseits, graham cracker fish, kimi balls, and craisins


Then we put them in little bowls with labels: savior/Jesus, Commandments/covenants, Holy Ghost/Spirit, love, family, scriptures/Book of Mormon, faith, bless/blessings.


We also had priesthood and temple on a piece of paper and these words were freebies...they could pick what ever they wanted.

The kids had to call the word out, so we knew that they weren't just grabbing what ever, and that way the other kids would pick up on a word they may have missed. In the beginning, I was really involved and told them the words I heard, but then they got lazy and waited for me to say the word. So, I moved away from them and all I would say is "oops, you just missed a word" but not tell them which word. This really forced them to pay attention.

Of course, it took some adjusting. We had Savior/Jesus Christ by the pretzels, but then their bags were getting full of pretzels, so we switched it with the raisins...much better!

Surprisingly, love and family weren't used very often. I think I'll subsitute one for pray/prayer...and maybe prophet.

So...what I really want to know is, how do YOU survive conference with kids???

Email to Daddy

Today while at work, Sa sent the family the sweetest email letting us all know that he's thinking about us and missing us.

The kids decided to write him back...

Blue=Reedy Purple=Brookie Green=Eli Orange=Deacon

Dear daddy
thank you for writing a letter to us. We love you very much. thank you dad for letting us play and play and be the best kids for the whole day of my life. Thank you for saying all this good stuff about us and we love you. Thank you daddy for trying to keep us safe and sound. Thank you for fixing computers and thank you for letting us have the xbox360 if we be good. I love dad. I love daddy because I love daddy. Thank you daddy for taking us to the doctors and seeing Charlotte so we could see her eyes open and thank you for doing a good job being nice and playing with us and being kind. Thank you for making money for us. I love you daddy 'cause you make money and you make me feel very very good inside. Thank you daddy for taking us to our cousin's house and letting us go to grandma's house sometimes. Thank you for letting us play our DS so many times and be good children and be the best kids in the world and thank you for letting Reedy have the preisthood. Thank you for doing a good job and being nice and playing soccer with me and being good and love mommy. I love you because you are a great man and you play with me a lot. Daddy, I love you 'cause you work very hard and you try your best to work and not miss your work you have to do at where you work.

WE LOVE YOU DADDY!

-love-your kids

Underthings...tumbling

Have you seen the hilarity that is "Dr Horrible's Sing Along Blog"? My sister introduced me to this a while ago and I'm so thrilled I just found it on Hulu.com It stars Neil Patrick Harris. Please give it a gander. I promise you'll be hooked after the first number! It even made Sa laugh, and I'd say he's a pretty good measuring stick for what's funny in the world. And this is, people...this is.

dead filter = dead fish

Rest in Peace Lucas, Gravy, and Sunkist...

Chuck, you beast, your the only one left now...

Coming soon...Reed's Baptism!!!

Reed is getting baptized THIS Saturday! 2:00pm at Temple Beach!

(Reed and his best friend Kainoa at Kainoa's baptism)

One Month Old

Super Citizen, Valentines Boy and the Great Aloha Run...

Ok, so I've got some catching up to do....where to start?

Brooklyn was Super Citizen for the month of January. She was SO excited. She's been hoping she would be chosen ever since school started. They hold an assembly every month to honor the super citizens. It's kind of a big deal...



Next up: Reedy's Birthday!!! Reedy turned 8 on Feb 14. I can't believe my little boy has gotten so big. He is such a special kid. Having Reed has changed my life in so many ways and has made me strive to become a better person. He is the most amazing big brother and such a big help around the house. He's so tender and caring and such a complete goof ball. Just the thought of him makes me smile. I love him to pieces and I can't believe he's growing up. I am so proud of who he is.For his birthday, he wanted to go out to his favorite restaurant, The Old Spaghetti Factory. He loves it there because he is positively bananas for their tortellini. You know they are getting old when the kid's menu no longer cuts it. We took all our kids and my dad, sis, niece and nephew. It was a perfect way to celebrate.

Last of all, on Feb 19th I participated in the Great Aloha Run! It's a course that runs from Aloha Towers to the Stadium...8.15miles. I thought it would be a great way to celebrate Charlotte turning 4 weeks old! My dad and I went down together and I walked the course with my sister in laws, friends, and nieces.

Before the Race:
The girls...Nanu and Teyana (my 12 and 13 yr old neices), friends:Emily, Tiffany, Sister in Laws: Samantha and Jolena. That's Charlotte in the stroller.

Charlotte and me.



THE BIG FINISH!

We made it!!! WOOHOO!!!


My Dad, Charlotte and Me...he beat us big time!