Usless? Unlucky?

Ok so turns out I can't even keep this plant alive for the 2 weeks I had it. I kept it by the window, I kept it watered and this is the result. I'm so usless. I don't think plants like me. They must be like dogs and feel the negative energy from me when it comes to gardening.

BUT all is not lost as this is the plant I was given on mothers day in my old ward. She's still alive and kicking. She even is ok after the move to Moscow. Look at her. She's doing great.
I don't know what my deal is. Two contradicting plants, telling two contradicting stories. If the top on could talk I'm sure it would've told you it knew from the start it was doomed.
Yet the bottom one, dispite me, is doing great. Maybe that's the kind've plants I need, ones who are determined to live, dispite me.
I love this plant, it's my only sucess story. I'll probably cry when and if she dies.

FINISHED!!THE END!!DONE!!

DISCLAIMER: If you haven't read the last of the Twilight series read at your own risk. I don't give it away but I say a couple of things you might not wanna hear.

That's right folks. As of 10:13pm I am officially finished the Twilight series.
I haven't seen the movie, and I don't know if I will BUT I've finished the books, thanks to my mate Piper. Thanks Piper.
It's nice to have an end and I feel great about it.
I cried and laughed and was anxious and nervous and moved. I thought it was a little weird but great.
She really pulled out all the guns in this last one.
And I must say that I LOVE JACOB, I've always been a sucker for a ruggedly good looking darker man and so I'm happy with Jacobs path too. Almost relieved, because, believe it or not he was one of the most important characters to me and I wanted him to be happy. So I'm glad he's happy. It was funny cause when the last book introduced him I cried cause he was back, and I felt so happy.
I know there's some Jacob haters out there and that's fine but don't put your hater words on my comments thanks or I'll delete them!!!
This is part of the reason I dont' want to watch the movie.
I have ideas in my head of what the characters look like and I don't want it influenced by the movie. I dunno if I'm willing to give it up.
Maybe, one day, if they're cheap or a mate has them on their shelf I might watch them, if I have a few spare hours.
We'll see.
ANYWAY ............................ I LOVED IT.
Loved it, loved it, loved it.

Masaru's observation

Masaru was observed today in Head Start for his speech by the districts speech pathologist.
She seems to think that he's using his tongue too much in his speech, like sticking it out. Or something.
She seems to think things will be fine though and will be able to work with him once we get back from break.
I'm excited to start hearing Masaru talk clearly.
He has so much to say and I catch maybe 80% of it. Sometimes he repeats things to me and Dru all the time and we still can't understand what he's trying to say. I know for some kids this means a tantrum but he'll just figure out other words to tell us or act it out or show us.
He's such a good kid.
The teachers tell me his really popular in the class with many friends and he's just adored. So it's always nice to hear that about your kid cause you just never know how they'll really do in a public school setting with other kids.
Of course I think he's awesome but I'm bias.
Love you bub!

Yuki's first sour patch

Masaru found this in his Halloween stash and said he wanted it. I already told him he didn't like those lollies and he moaned a bit.
I told him we'd give it to Yuki and then he'd remember. Once he saw her reaction he knew and promptly put it in the rubbish.
Thanks for taking one for the team Yuki. You're a real trooper.

My Morning

We've all heard this before, Dru get up and says "Oh no" and then the fun begins.
Yukiko had spewed up EVERYWHERE! It was all in her hair, on all of her toys, blankets, sheets, clothes, crib. Somehow Brookes quilt was missed though. That quilt is a miricle. It was stuck to the side of her face and there were big bits all over the show.
To top it off she was sleeping peacfully amongst this spew. HOW DO KIDS DO THIS?
How do children throw up and then roll over and sleep in it?
Wouldn't the stench alone be gross enough?
Children are a mystery. I wonder if I ever did this?
Well spew makes me spew, so Dru was ontop of it.
Threw her in the bath as well as all the sheets etc into the washing machine.
Case closed.
Woah woah woah there folks we have another child. And he was happily watching cartoons while this was going on.
He marches into the bathroom to see what the fuss is all about and LOW AND BEHOLD HE'S BLUE!!!
Thanks to crayola he was blue. There was blue EVERYWHERE. On the Jesus statue, plants, coffee table, couches, books, TV, lamps, pillows, toys.............................AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.
But he's just a kid and I'm sure this seemed like a lot of fun.
And WHO was the bright spark who left the markers down so he had access? That's right folks.........yours truely. So who's really to blame here? A 3 year old or a 31 year old?
Maybe a bit of both.
So we had the talk about our bodies being temples and not drawing on them.
Hopefully it got through to him. Only time will tell I guess.
Lucky they're both so damn cute or there'd be some selling on ebay going on.
So there's my morning.
How was yours?

Drama, and it's just the FIRST exam!!!

So Dru did his exam and then saved it and was planning on coming home straight away. So I expected him home a little after noon.
So noon goes by and at 12:40pm his phone gets a text from his mate asking if they sorted out his test yet?
So I start to panic and start ringing around all the numbers I have in his phone of the people who are his mates in law.
I finally get his one mate Robby, who happened to be still at the school studying, and he found Dru.
Apparently it saved wrong and they're trying to find and open the test.
I asked him if it was just him or a bunch of people.
No, no, just Dru.
Great.
So it saves it and then has a back up save.
It's not online, it's a school programme and so the guy didn't know what to do.
Apparently they found the back up saved test but it was incripted and so they had to try and figure out how to uncript it and then print it out.
So Dru was there for 2 and a half hours waiting for them to figure his test out.
So, so much for hanging out with all for the afternoon.
He got home then left at around 5pm and came back at 10:30pm.
So we slept in this morning till 9am, thank you very much, and I'm not feeling guilty about it!!!
So I guess our prayers, this next exam need to be more specific!!!
My mate said "Lucky it happened to Dru, he's so patient, he could handle it, any one else would've been mad stressing"
This is probably true.
Ok let's hope this Friday's exam goes without a hitch!!
I guess everyone else is glad Dru took one for the team. Now if this ever happens to another person they know how to fix it.

The beginning of the end

So today is the first exam of four for Dru.

Can I just say I'm scared to death!

He's put in so much study into this ONE exam which determines the whole grade for this semester!

I think Dru's pretty intelligent, I mean I'm glad it's him in law school and not me.

I think I'd really like to do law school actually BUT there's no way I could do it with children.  Now each to their own but for me I'd feel too guilty and wouldn't do well at all putting my kids somewhere so I could study.

I'm planning on doing more schooling, as I love to learn, but that can wait until my kids are all in school.  I just can't do it.  I'd be a wreck.

I told Dru a couple of nights ago he'd have to take a day off to take Masaru to his first day of school in the first grade cause I wouldn't be able to make it without embarrassing Masaru in front of his potential mates.

Honestly I love being around my kids, all the time. I love it.  I love being a mum, and I love being a stay at home mum, love it.

Who knows, maybe I'll go to law school later on in my life.  Wouldn't that be great?  I really think I'd do alright.  I think if I dusted off the cobwebs on my brain I could actually be an intelligent person!  It's kind've dissappeared though with motherhood.  

Ok this post is turning into a ramble.

The whole point of this post was to say that I hope Dru does well in his exams.

He's studied so hard and I think he deserves this.

Like I've said in previous posts, he's the hardest worker I know, and not just physically either.  Like he can put the hard yards in the construction site but I'm talking about with everything.

He's been putting 16 hour days into his study as well.  I know he did the same with his mission.  No matter what job Dru does he does it well and he does it hard, with full effort and with all his energy.  He's the biggest example of hard work I have in my life.

I need to do the same.  Man if I worked as hard as him around the house it'd be perfect all the time.

Sometimes I wonder if he should've been born around the era with the pioneers.  They were hard workers too and never complained.

That's another thing too, Dru doesn't complain.  Man if I was working 16 hour days you'd be hearing about it!! LOL

But if he was born back in that era we would've never meet as I was not suppose to be born back then!!!

ANYWAY.....................I've been praying for him and so have the kids, and I hope he does well.

I know I'm totally bias, but I hope he hits this one out of the park!

True Christmas Spirit

Wanna feel the true spirit of Christmas?
Watch this video.
My mate Sarah had it on her blog.
It's great.
Click HERE to watch it.

Ward Christmas Party 2008

So we went to the party. I got a red Christmas plant thingi I'm not going to attempt to spell it. It starts with a P and they're everywhere at Christmas time. I was pretty stoaked about that. I just don't know how to look after it. Do they need light and much? How much water do they need?
Suggestions are welcome. I know Dru's mum can keep them alive forever. But she's good, I'm usless. I just need it alive until I leave in 2 weeks time. It looks great in the flat/apartment.
So Masaru's been talking about Santa for the WHOLE DAY. And this is all he'd do once Santa arrived. He got his present and was outta there. He wouldn't sit on his knee, nothing.

When Santa left he's like "Where's Santa mum?" I said "He's gone man, you missed out" He didn't really seem to care for too long though. I think he likes the idea more than the actual thing, I'm begining to learn.
Dru, graciously came to the activity. I picked him up from the law school and dropped him off after the activity.
So here I sit, all alone, writing in my blog. I need a good book.
I still haven't read the last book in the Twilight series. Anyone got it? With Dru gone at nights it'd be the perfect time to read it.
We thought Yuki was doing a little better and then we took her to see Santa.

Now this has to be my most favourite Santa shot of all time. I love that she's reaching out for Dru to save her and Santa's just smiling nicely whilst getting his photo taken and showing off his belt buckle.
This is a picture that says a thousand words.
Other people thought it was so good they started taking shots as well. I wonder if anyone else got a good shot of Yuki on Santa's lap?!?

I got one of her, at least, looking at me. She doesn't look too much better though. At least Santa's having a good time. She basically sat on Dru's lap for the last half an hour after this ordeal. Maybe Santa needs to come to sacrament so she'll behave a little better at church on Sunday's.
Dru and I used to be on the activities committee of our old ward and so I can honestly say I appreciated all the time and effort it took the members of the ward to put this activity together and to clean it all up. It's a rough job that people dont' think about or, sometimes appreciate until your in the front lines. So thanks guys.
We did a white elephant gift exchange. Dru got bubbles and I got some random gross jokes thing which had a fake mouse, snot, a spider and a blow thing which made fart noises that Masaru blew through the closing prayer.
Great ending to a great night.

Poor little Yukiko Mei

Yuki got her shots Wednesday. Turns out she didn't get her 4 month ones and 2 of her 6 months and she hasn't had her 1 year ones and she's due for her 15 month ones on the 19th.
So they did her 4 month ones on Wednesday and she's been all clingy and forlorn since then.
There's something about getting 6 diseases put in your legs that must be a little hard for her. Go figure!
Masaru was always awesome with his shots. After his 4 month ones I stopped giving him pain relief. He was great.
I've done the same with Yuki and she's been good with it but let's get serious here she's only had her 2 month a little of her 6 months and now her 4 month. All of this was suppose to be done before her first birthday.
So I just didn't give her anything and she went to sleep for a couple of hours and when she woke up she was in the biggest mood.
She's SUPER clingy, like I said and just goes around mostly moaning.
She's REALLY hot too.
So I've been giving her pain relief in the morning and at night. That seems to be helping.
I don't like giving my kids medication if I don't have to. But I'm not gonna let her cry just because I think she doesn't need it. Plus Dru's a big softie too. He emails me and calls about 3/4 times a day to see how she is.
Man I wish I got such star treatment.
Dru's a gonner man. Yuki has him right where she wants him.
I wonder if we have a girl next how Yuki is going to deal with it?
Anyway, back to the point, I think I'm gonna space her shots out. I think 6 all at once is too much. I might just ask if they can do 2 at once.
I know she'll be getting them till she's about 5 but too bad man. I just think 6 is too much.
I'm sure you all have opinions about this and feel free to share them, I guess, but I might take them with a grain of salt, no offense.
At least she gives me cuddles when Dru's not around. I'm her plan B and I guess plan B is better than nothing right?
My poor little Yukiko Mei.

The Door's

Yeah, of course the post about 'what's wrong with this picture' is the doors!
Dru took the picture and told me to blog it and wanted his brother to see it. So Les if your reading this please show Ryan the picture.
You're all right, Dru can't stand it. It doesn't bother me.
But like Leah said in her comment, it IS probably good he's spending so much time at Law School so he doesn't see it much.
We had dinner at the place right underneath us one night and turns out THEIR DOORS ARE EXACTLY LIKE OURS.
So maybe if it gets to be too rough for Dru he can do a swap, if the people under us are willing.
I'm actually surprised Dru hasn't already done it.
I can't believe they put them up thinking that was ok.
Who are these people?

More Info. about Blurb

Apparently if your willing you can still make a book through blurb. It's just a little bit more work.
My friend is doing this.
So she told me she copied and pasted her text from her blog into the text boxes in her book then put her pictures in from her album in her computer where they are kept.
It works still it's just a little longer.
It's still pretty easy she said though and quick.
So if you still would like to do the discount and are willing to put in a little more time, like maybe an hour, then you should still be fine.

SORRY!

So turns out I did my blurb book just in time as they DON'T do blog to book anymore.
I'm so sorry.
So disreguard the discount I guess.
If anyone knows of another company that does blog to book please let me know.
Now what am I gonna do?

What's wrong with this picture?

Blurb Book discount

So if you wanna make a book out of your blog before Christmas then you need to get in by December 5th.
* To qualify for free shipping (up to $10), you must enter the promotion code in the shopping cart at time of purchase and complete your purchase in USD. Offer is good for free shipping up to $10.00 in value. Offer expires 11:59 PM PST December 5, 2008. Limit one-time use per user and cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid towards purchase of gift cards.

Promotion code: freeshipping

My book would've cost $28 without shipping. I think that's a great price.
I wish I would've had a coupon when I made mine.
Just thought I'd share.

My Day

Dru leaves at 7:30am.
I see him for an hour at 6pm.
He gets home to go to sleep at 10pm.
At least it's only gonna last 3 weeks, then it's 3 weeks with all of us.
I hope he gets good marks.
You can all pray for him if you'd like!

Memories of Elder Wirthlin

Well Elder Wirthlin of the Quorum of the 12 apostles passed away.
So I thought I'd write a little bit of our personal memories with him.
I remember saying to Dru one conference about Elder Wirthlin and how he wasn't one of the 'better' speakers at conference, "I know, man I know I'm going straight to hell", and Dru told me that he was actually really funny.
Dru said that Elder Wirthlin was one of the apostles who visited his mission while he was there and he got to sit in the same room with him amongst other missionaries and have a talk to him.
Elder Wirthlin wanted to know how the church could improve the mission training centre and so the Elders started bashing it.
Dru said this went on for a while, with the missionaries just ripping apart how horrible the mission training centre was etc etc.
After a while Elder Wirthlin said "Ok, well, looks as if we've covered the MTC, how about we move on"
I guess you had to be there but he, obviously was being slightly sarcastic.
Ever since then Dru always enjoyed Elder Wirthlin more. Ever since Dru told me this story I've tried to listen to him a little better in his talks and sure enough, he's actually very funny.
My favourite laugh was this past talk he did in conference, this is what he said.

I remember when one of our daughters went on a blind date. She was all dressed up and waiting for her date to arrive when the doorbell rang. In walked a man who seemed a little old, but she tried to be polite. She introduced him to me and my wife and the other children; then she put on her coat and went out the door. We watched as she got into the car, but the car didn’t move. Eventually our daughter got out of the car and, red faced, ran back into the house. The man that she thought was her blind date had actually come to pick up another of our daughters who had agreed to be a babysitter for him and his wife.

We all had a good laugh over that. In fact, we couldn’t stop laughing. Later, when our daughter’s real blind date showed up, I couldn’t come out to meet him because I was still in the kitchen laughing. Now, I realize that our daughter could have felt humiliated and embarrassed. But she laughed with us, and as a result, we still laugh about it today.

I was laughing so hard at this. I think Elder Wirthlin is a great man who had many great things to say. I'll really miss him, but I hope he's having a great time being back with his wife and probably sharing a few jokes and hugs with her.

Memory #4

Now knowing me, this might seem a surprise, but I only ever told my mum to shut up once.
I was a teenager, go figure, and it was over some basketball game that I was suppose to go to or something and play.
I can't remember the argument just that in this argument I told mum to shut up and must've stormed out or she stormed out and I think I went to the game anyway.
I remember thinking it was no big deal and wondered why mum made a huge argument out of nothing?
Of course I must've thought I was in the right and mum was over re-acting.
After both of us had cooled down I went an apologized or she apologized and it turned out mum was having a hard time with me growing up.
I think I was in my last year of highschool and she was struggling with the fact that I was almost going to be out of the house and gone.
She was a little upset that her oldest was getting up there I guess.
I'm thinking this must be a tough thing for parents.
It really surprised me as my mum isn't really too emotional of a person. I would've never had guessed she would've cared about something like that.
Dad, maybe, but not mum.
It turned out to be a great talk between us. Very honest.
Mum and I didn't have many 'honest' heart the hearts I don't think. Like I said, she's not that kind've person.
So I guess this memory sticks out to me because it was one of the few honest heart to hearts.
I said sorry for telling her to shut up and never did it again and felt embarrassed that I had said it even that one time.
I have to admit I'm having a hard time letting Masaru grow up.
I really struggle with it.
But I enjoy my children and hope to be honest with my feelings towards them, not brutally honest, nice honest.
Ok I'm gonna be working on the nice honest for a while.
Wish me luck.

Thanksgiving

So this year was Thanksgiving in Moscow.
The Kent's invited us around to their place, which was really nice of them. Jake's brother and sister in law were there too. They had come all the way from Provo just to be with Megan and Jake. A 12 hour drive........now that's love.
Anyway I said I'd bring candied yams, rolls and an apple pie.
Here's Masaru helping me make them in his undies.
Don't worry peeps, he washed his hands before handling the food.
We went over to their house at 3pm and the feed was AWESOME. The turkey was done wonderfully by Megan. 5 stars!!!
I ate way too much, but it was all just so good.

We played guitar hero for the afternoon, battling each other to see who the champions were. Turns out Jake and Holly are the champs.
Masaru decided he was gonna pee his pants on the Kent's chair.
It was a full on pee too, not just a mistake. He was still peeing when I took him pants off. It was so gross. So he had a bath and wore Gwen's sweats cause we brought no change for him and he got the girls wet as well, even though they weren't having a bath.
That was the only drama though and so it was a great day.
Thanks Kents.
Now here's 10 things I'm thankful for
#1 Dru
#2 Masaru
#3 Yukiko Mei
#4 Food
#5 Jesus
#6 Gospel Principles
#7 Mates
#8 Blogs
#9 Being able to read
#10 Extended Family

Dru's perspective on Law School so far.

So last night Dru was talking to his Sister in Law and, of course she was asking him how law school was etc etc. He said he loved it, it's just intense blah blah blah
Then...............and this is why I'm blogging, cause I think it's so funny, he goes
"There's a light at the end of the tunnel though, unfortunately that light, for law school, usually means a train."
I don't know where he heard that, but I think that's the funniest thing.
I think cause it's probably so true.
He'll just get through finals and then BOOM the second semester will start and it'll be overload all over again.
Ahhhhhhhh I love Dru, and I love it when he makes me laugh.

The fun part........getting back to Moscow!!!

Ok so we're in the car on our way to Auckland. Me, Yuki, mum and #5 bro. We have a car pull out in front of us and almost kill us on the way. Then a bus decided to do the same thing. I'm beginning to be grateful for the life insurance on myself! Dru might be wifeless but he'll be rich!!
Dru asked for only TWO things when I was in NZ. Some L&P fizzy drink and a Canterbury Crusaders rugby top.
I sware I went to about 6 shops. NO RUGBY TOPS. The season was over a couple of months ago and they're getting new tops and so the old ones are no where to be seen. Sorry babe! I tried, I tried.
But there's L&P everywhere. I can sure take some of that home for him. It's the least I can do for all his hard work while I was here lapping it up in sunny old NZ.
So I get to the airport and check my bags on and being the smart girl I was I took all of the L&P with me on my carry on. Cause it was heavy and might put my check on bags over the limit. GOOD ONE MELISSA.............they don't let any liquids on the plane you moron!!
So I wave goodbye to my bags only then to realize this. So I race back trying to get them back but 'no no no sorry sorry sorry they're gone!!!'
Then Stella gets a Text from Dru saying to put my bags through all the way to Spokane. Well I don't have my Delta information so I couldn't.
Nice.
So #5 bro gets a bunch of L&P to take to his buddies at boys high.
It's alright though. I can go through security and buy some more L&P on the other side. Yep that's what I"ll do. It's all good, I can still redeem myself.


I say my goodbye's to mum and #5. Nothing dramatic. Mum was never one for making a fuss over anything. So she's like "Alright it's 6pm I'm off, good to see you Melissa, bye" and she's gone. LOL gotta love my mum. So for all of you who wonder where I get my no fuss attitude from, ask mum.
Stella and Kat were there anyway so I hung out with them and had some McD's before I jumped on the plane. It was nice to see them and hang out for a bit before I left.
I love these two girls. They always make my trip that much better. They both help me out so much. It's wonderful.
So I say my goodbye's to them and then go through security and buy some L&P for Dru.
Phew.
Then I"m going through my bag and find the Delta information. SO I COULD'VE PUT MY BAGS ALL THE WAY THROUGH TO SPOKANE. Honestly I must've left my brain in Moscow.
So now I have to pick them up and drag them around with me through the LA airport.
Anyway Yuki and I get on the plane and she drifts to sleep within the hour on the plane and doesn't get up until about an hour before we land.
SHE WAS PERFECT. Which was wonderful because my stomach wasn't so perfect.
I'm guessing it was the Macca's or the BK's I had with #1 bro earlier but I wasn't feeling good. So I got next to no sleep on the plane and felt like I needed to throw up for about 9 hours of the 11 hour trip.
So I'm back and fourth and back and fourth to the toilet. Oh hang on I"ve got butt pee as well. So now I don't just have to throw up but I'm peeing out of my butt.
Should I sit or kneel? This is always the dilema question people, where's it gonna come out of first?
In the end I just prayed to Heavenly Father to throw up. I can't make myself throw up so I have to ask Heavenly Father to help me.
Within the minute I was throwing up in a white paper bag. It's warm and stinks and I"m in a coffin box.
So I"m throwing up and re throwing up because I can smell the throw up and it keeps making me throw up even more until I almost throw a rib up and my lungs!
Well at least I feel better and Yuki's sleeping through the whole thing.

So it's enough of a throw up to make me feel better. Better enough to be able to get off the plane with Yuki and our bags and collect my checked bags and wait for Brooke and Masaru!
Then I see him.................................Masaru!!!!!!!!!! Oh how I missed that kid. He's got new DC shoes on cause Auntie Brooke broke the cheap NZ ones I left with him. Lap it up kid, they'll be the last DC's you have for many, many years.
So Brooke has to stop Masaru from running infront of 5 cars to see me and give me a big hug. We embrace and he tells me a million things, only half of which I can understand.
Then I get in the car and listen to how Masaru was for Brooke. Mostly good. So that's great. Then I start feeling like crap again. So we get some of the pink stuff I'm not going to attempt to spell for you, you know the stuff.
We do a couple of things then feed the kids at BK's.
Ok so if you feel sick DO NOT GO TO BK'S. Just the smell alone will make you throw up. My goodness. I coudln't even feed my kids. I was basically dying on the next table running back and forth to their toilets. Finally after a few butt pees I throw up again. This time half in a BK's bag and half on the toilet. IT'S BRIGHT PINK and I totally missed the toilet. So I'm spewing up because I can smell it and see it again.
I then clean it up, the best I can, sorry BK worker, and am feeling good enough to make the trip to SLC for two hours.
Oh yeah, by the way I forgot to put the L&P into my checked bags and have to throw it out going through security to SLC.
DRU DIDN'T EVEN GET HIS L&P.
Sorry babe!
I know, I know, I'm usless!
Dru's dad picks us up and takes us back to his house where the twins, Shauna were waiting for us with some dinner. I excused myself from eating it and feed the kids and hand out chocolate to everyone.
I was so close to you Laura!!
Then back to the airport and onto the last flight to Spokane. It's just a short one. A little over an hour.
Masaru decides he's gonna cry for half the flight.
I have this lady behind me complaining about crying children. I was almost gonna turn around and punch her right between the eyes when the airline hostess or the stewartess or the plane person, whatever the hell you call them now, came and asked me where I was flying from. I said NEW ZEALAND SO IF MY KID WANTS TO CRY, HE'S GONNA CRY very loudly so the lady behind me could here. The plane helper lady was astonished and felt very sorry for me and was really nice.
I didn't hear the lady complain again behind me. She doesn't know how lucky she is. It could've gotten really ugly.
For about the last 10 mins of the trip my whole body ached and I was on the verge of tears.
By the time I saw Dru I basically threw the kids and the luggage into his arms and started crying. He hugged me and was so happy to see us however I stopped shortly and just stood there hugging him for a few minutes. Acutally all of us did. We were so happy to see Dru.
He's our rock. What would we do without him?
Well I wouldn't of went to my bro's wedding to start with.
He basically carries all the luggage, me, Masaru and Yuki to the car where we talk for the hour and a half trip back to Moscow.
He throws me in the shower where I can barely stand and we finally get to sleep.
However it was back to reality the next morning when we were woken up by a phone call and business to attend to which took Dru out of the bed and we didn't even get to sleep in together!!!
REAL LIFE SUCKS.
The stresses and chaos of life right before Thanksgiving, Christmas and 4 weeks shy of finals for Dru.
Any suggestions on how to relieve a stress you've got no control over?
I'm open for options.

Last part of NZ

On the Monday I hung out with my sister and my #5 and #4 bro's for the day. We were all doing nothing so it was perfect. This is my sis with her husband. He's a great guy.
We watched a couple of movies but basically just talked all day. She seems to be doing well, which is great.
I think I've already told all of you but my sister and I can talk on the phone for hours.
I'm pretty sure if we called each other everyday we could talk for about 2 hours each day. You'd think we'd run out of things to say. But if any of you have talked to me on the phone, you all know I can carry a conversation on pretty long. I'm sure you all brace yourself for at least an hour when I ring.
LOL Well imagine two of me? That's how we can talk so much I think.
I can even get people who don't like talking on the phone to talk for at least 20 mins (right Kristin?)
Anyway the weather was rainy so it was the best day to just hang out.
#1 bro came over for a bit but he had to go to work that night.

The next day I hung out with everyone again. We all went into town and had lunch and talked. It was really nice. #1 and I then hung out for a while.
I really love him a lot. He's a really good friend. I miss him when I'm not around him. Just like the rest of them I guess. I think I miss them at different times in my life.
On Tuesday night we all had a dinner at mum's house. It was great. Thanks mum. We ate and hung out and talked. I loved it. Good food, good company. This is where I took these pic's of the cuzzies.
Wednesday was the day I was to leave.
I hung out at #1's house all morning with #5 bro. He's done a lot on his house. I think my #1 bro has the best vegetable garden I've ever seen in my life. Apart from this one brother in my old ward in Bountiful. It's amazing.
He's slowly doing his house up. It's going great. His kids are good helpers too.
We then met up with the rest of the family to say our goodbyes and hang out a bit.
Mum and #5 took me up to Auckland.

I just wanna take this moment to express my love for my family. Each one of them are a part of me and who I am. Each one of them has a part of my heart that could never be replaced by anyone else.
Each of my syblings are the only ones who know how it feels to loose my dad the way we did and hurt inside for the rest of our lives because of it.
Yet each of them are a success and have gone through hell and back to be where they are right now in their lives.
I admire all of them.
I would do anything for them.
I'd give my life for them.
I love them and are so grateful we're an eternal family and are sealed together to our mother and father. I wouldn't have it any other way. I know I was born into this family, with these people for a reason.
We may not all be active in the church but this doesn't effect our love for each other in the slightest.
I'm grateful for families. We share a bond that can't be broken by time, distance and death.
My family isn't perfect. We fight, we argue, we mock each other. But I know that at the end of the day, if I needed it, they'd all be there for me, no matter what.
I miss them.
I love them.

On the home stretch!

So I've got my money, I got into the wedding, Yuki's still got her lower lip and tooth in place so we're good to go. Mum wanted #5 bro and I to follow them home. So I go to have a shower and I have Jessie's underwear, not mine! Plus I realized I left my wedding ring at Haydn's place.
Mum wanted to go in the morning so dropped #5 off with the car to Kat's place and we waited around for Haydn and Jessie to get out of the Hotel. I kinda feel bad that I had to disrupt them but I'm sure Jessie wanted her underwear and I know I wanted mine.
So we meet them at their place. Half and hour in the opposite direction from home. Oh well. Maybe if I was a little more organized I wouldn't have to do this.
Come on, none of you are surprized.
The reason I couldn't wait is because Monday at 5am they were off on a plane to Cairnes for their honemoon for a week. Snorkling at the Great Barrier Reef and maxing and relaxing on the beach.
Now that sounds like a great honeymoon to me.
Reminds me of ours in Bali indonesia. Man now that was a great week with Dru.
So we go and hang out with them for a while and exchange underwear. They were a bit tired and were planning on going for a nap for the afternoon. Me and #5 bro looked at each other and were thinking the same thing!!! (wink, wink, nod, nod)
So we said our goodbye's and left them. This is the last time I saw them.
Dispite Haydn's look he's actually very happy, just tired. One thing you must know about our family, if we're tired, look out. Ask any of our spouses.

We went back to Tok. and #5 bro and I played games on the way home to keep each other awake. He actually really liked it. We talked a bit about his rugby and what he's gonna do until he puts his papers in for his mission. He's a good boy. He'll do great in whatever he does.
We get back and just watch TV and crash out. Mum had made some tea for us so that was good.
We then just watched some TV and that's where I heard the damns and hell's. Too funny.
Here's a pic of #1 bro's kids. So cute man. I love these guys. They're all doing great at school. All top of their classes. Actually the girl cuzzie beside Yuki was moved up since she was doing so well. Very bright children and also very well mannered and respectful. I'd babysit these guys any day of the week. They loved Yuki too. They're great with her.
Yuki went to sleep well and I think I fell asleep in seconds. The bed mum had me in was so cozy. I loved it.
By the way if you're wondering what Yuki's top says, it was her b.day prezzie from mum. She got her a book and an outfit. This is part of it. It says 'I get my good looks from my dad'
I was laughing so much, for two reasons #1 she looks nothing like her dad, and #2 it's no secret that mum thinks Dru's awesome and I'm damn lucky to have someone put up with me the way he does and I should count my blessings everyday I have him. Just a little dig from mum.
Funny!

The Reception!

Well the reception was, on the whole great. It was a little hard for me cause Yuki wouldn't really go to anyone else and wanted to run around everywhere, like the free range chicken she is, while I chased her.
I had to try and divert her from running out of the door and into the busy road.
Her cuzzies helped and my bro's and sis helped where they could but it was mostly just me.
She did fall off her chair and bang her face into the side of the table and put her tooth through her bottom lip. Now that was fun. After she did that it was basically all over and she was a mess.
But let me tell you more of the positive things about this wedding and reception. Cause it's not all about me and my drama. I mean the whole point of this trip was this day.

Now this picture just above here is of Haydn (middle) and #4 bro (left) and #3 bro (right). My #3 bro is a High School P.E teacher. I'd love for him to be my kids teacher.
My #4 bro is a crane driver. He's making so much money and can be making a lot more once he gets more of his heavier leveled credits for operating bigger cranes. Crazy man.
Haydn is becoming a primary teacher. He loves kids about 7-9 years old. He's so crazy he'll do great. He's a big kid himself so he'll know all their moves before they do them.
Anyway getting back to the reception.............It was at a school. It was done up beautifully with Christmas lights and white everywhere. It was just wonderful. The tables were great and had a CD as a gift to all of us of the music they used at the dance at the end. It's a combination of the music Haydn and Jessie both like.
Now on a side note, Haydn is really lucky Justin Timberlake didn't propose to Jessie otherwise this wedding wouldn't exist. Let's just say she's a big fan, so there were a couple of his songs on there.
#1 bro, mum and Haydn did speeches on our side of the family. They were all really good. I'll give you a couple of highlights.

#1 bro talked about how Haydn shaved his head one time and there were about 5 million headlice in there having a great time. Who knows how he could stand it. I'm itching my head right now thinking of it.
I WAS THE ONE WHO SHAVED HIS HEAD. I saw them crawling in his hair at church and told him it was time to shave it. He was growing it out for dreads. Man lucky he didn't get them!! He was gutted, but it had to be done.
Mum talked about how #3 bro and my sis were dragging him along the cricket pitch on the field across from our house one time and ripped his knee open. Mum just washed it out and scrubbed it and then put plasters on it (band aids) and that was it. I'm sure it needed stitches.
We were so hard done by weren't we!!!
Haydn came up and quoted the 'Princess Bride' movie, as that was one of our favourite movies growing up.
He gets to the mic and says "Mawage, mawage is what bwings us togeva today"
Man, me and all my family were rolling on the floor laughing. No one else seemed to find it as funny. But Haydn didn't care. It's moments like that that make me feel closer to my bro's and sis. I love it. Now days they're far and few between, where I feel that closeness between all of us at the same time.
This photo above is ALL my bro's #1, #4, Haydn, #2 and #5. #1 works at the local cheese factory. I think they're all very good looking, and they're all very good to me. I love them. Look at #5's face..........what a geek. #5 is the one who looks the most like my dad. And also #5 and I are the ones that look the most alike as kids too. If you take my hair off we look identical. My Auntie thinks that Yuki looks like his child. She actually looks more like #5's than Dru!!!
Poor Dru.

Jessie's Dad spoke and it was funny. He said 'Marriage is love, pure and simple, Jessie is pure, Haydn is simple!
Man now I don't care who you are, that's funny. Especially if you know my brother.
Then her maid of honour spoke and gave her a pair of croc's cause that was what Haydn wore to their first date to a fancy restaurant. Jessie should've guessed right then and there she was gonna have to shop and dress him for the rest of his life.
They had a beautiful video of their lives apart as children and then together which was wonderful.
The food was really nice. Just enough and well done.
Their cake was cupcakes all done up in a pile on a rack thing.
Then we had a dance and danced the night away with the kiddies. My sister kept making us do two lines and we had to dance down it. So funny. I can tell you I didn't feel 30 while I was doing that LOL.
Yuki's little cousin started crying after the video cause she thought she was never gonna see Haydn again now he was married. Haydn had to take her outside and reasure her that he would, in fact, see her again and everything was gonna be ok.
We got pic's taken and had a wonderful night. Everyone made a big line towards the door and put their hands up and Haydn and Jessie ran through it and out to the car and off to their Hotel to dance the night away a little more (wink, wink, nod, nod)
#3 bro took me home to Kat's house and I stayed up all night talking to her and her sis then finally went to sleep.

Part 3 of NZ

So when Dru worked in NZ we got a tax return of $500. So this was the money I was gonna spend in NZ, on various things for family and friends.
I needed to get Jessie and Haydn a new present. I had done a picture frame with their invitation in the middle and some vinyl with Jessie and Haydn at the top and together forever underneath and got a silver pen for everyone to sign as they came in. It looked great.
Well, as we all know, I forgot it. So my friend does the vinyl back in Moscow. I would just get her to do it again and send it over to them. My job was to get a nice frame and put blank peices of paper in where the pic and vinyl would be and try to redeem myself.
I got in and find the frame and went to pay for it.........................no money. My card came up as stolen. I reasured the lady behind the desk that it is infact my card and I didn't steal it. I was holding Yuki, come on!!!! If I was stealing a card I'd be buying more that a frame!! I use my USA credit card to pay for it.
So I find my NZ bank account and talk to a lady. She looks it up and said they closed my account months ago and there's no money or sign of any money in it.
OH MY GOODNESS. So the one time I have money going to NZ it doesn't work out.
I told mum and she was sure she'd done all the the work for it and they'd said they owed us. What a disaster. On top of this, I need to get this frame to them in time for the reception.
Ok now getting back to the Temple. We all get our pic's taken in the visitors centre infront of the Christ statue.
Haydn's gonna send me the pro. pic's. Cause I didn't take much!! I just figured I'd get them off Haydn. I'll post some others when I get them.
We then all head to lunch together as a family and let the happy couple and their 'party' go take some more pic's at the local gardens.
Yuki went with grandma and I went with my #5 bro. He's the youngest. He's almost finished High School. Acutally he'll be finished on Monday.
Lucky I went with him too as he almost fell asleep driving the car. So I drove the rest of the way.
We went to the hotel, which we finally found and met up with my Auntie and Uncle and my last brother I hadn't seen #4 and his girlfriend.

We got ready and went to the reception and I was getting the frame ready and low and behold, what should happen, the glass breaks!
So my #4 bro's girlfriend and I went to the local store to quickly get another one.
It was already late and the organizers were wondering where the frame was cause they had laid out a specific place for it.
So I spent more money I didn't have on another frame and this time it worked out.
Then finally the guests all arrived as well as the main party and we were starting.
Here is Yuki and her cuzzie hanging out on the deck at the reception place with the ribbons from the table wrapped around their hair.
There is a happy ending to our $500 tax return.
Dru rang the department and they indeed had it and put it into my mum's account.
So mum gave me the cash and we were all good.

Part 2 of NZ

So Stella takes me with her to drop her hubby off to work and go get my stuff from Haydn's place. So we go over there. It's about 10:30pm and I start talking to Haydn about the wedding and realize ALL OF A SUDDEN two things. #1 I DON'T HAVE MY RECOMMEND FOR GETTING INTO THE TEMPLE! #2 EVEN IF I DID HAVE IT, IT'S EXPIRED!
Haydn, Stella and I all start to panic but we have to get the kiddies home. So I said bye to Haydn and kept apologizing to him. See I forgot three things on this trip #1 Haydn's and Jessie's present #2 Jessies mascara she specifically asked for #3 My temple recommend
So all of these had something to do with Haydn or Jessie. Haydn said to me "Melissa, you were coming over for my wedding, didn't you think 'hmmmmm now I'm going over for Haydn's wedding, do I have everything?'
You know he really makes a great point. So I just apologized to him a few times and then left. So Stella gets on the phone to her husband cause he has internet and local phone access and start working for us. He looks up my Bishops home phone number, ring the temple to ask them if I have a chance.

The temple said I had a slim chance. So Stella got a phone card and I figured since it was already 11pm, that meant it was 2am in Moscow and 3am in Utah. There was no way I was ringing anyone right there and then. So Stella set the alarm and I woke up at 4am to start making calls. 4am meant it was 7am in Moscow and 8am in Utah. So I get up, without waking Yuki, thank goodness, and start trying my bishop that gave me my recommend. He was in Utah. But he had some block on his phone and I started to panic. So I did what any normal wife would, I rang my husband, he could fix everything, he's never let me down before. He's smart, logical and a hard worker. If anyone could save me, Dru could. So I ring him and he's at school studying. I tell him the news and I could just hear his eyes rolling over in Moscow. Jokes Dru jokes, he was actually very understanding and partly blamed HIMSELF for not remembering to do that. Man what a guy. Now I know this is all my fault, I know it's not Dru's, but just the fact he didn't make me feel like an idiot was just wonderful. So he got to work. He rang Bishop in Utah, he was at work. He tried ringing Bishop in Moscow, no where to be found. Work, home, daughters house, nowhere. Apparently it was his day off too. So he had to be SOMEWHERE!!
Bishop in Utah said "Nothing I can do, you need Bishop in Moscow to sort it out." Ok sounds good. Now if only Bishop in Moscow would pick up.

So Dru gets on the scooter and tried to find Bishop in Moscow. Well you get how this all goes for Dru, running around like a headless chicken trying to help out his wife who's, well let's just go ahead and say it outloud, USLESS!!
Meanwhile Stella's hubby rings the Temple and asks them again if I had a chance. This time they said no WHAT THE............................... but we keep trying anyway.
So Kat turns up ready to take me to the temple. I've got hardly any motivation though and text Haydn to see if he still even wants me there. He's like 'Of course' So I say bye to Stella and she wishes me luck and we're off.
Then Dru contacted Stella who contacted Kat and said that the Bishop in Moscow is expecting a call from the NZ temple between 9am and 10am and gave both is numbers to us.
Well there's a little hope right? So we make it to Hamilton and to the Temple. We had to be seated at 9:30am and I rock up at about 9:50am NO CHANCE right? I still gotta try. So I leave Yuki with Kat and Ray and head up those long stairs and there's two old guys at the front who don't even understand what I'm talking about.

Meanwhile while they're trying to sort me out I can see through the crack all the people starting to walk into the wedding. Another man finally came to the desk and rang bishop in Moscow. He must've said something great cause he come out and says "Ok, come on, lets get you into your brother's wedding" So I fly in and sit down. This is the first time I get to see some of my family. My mum, bro #1 and sister. Then we were waiting around for 15 mins. So I didn't feel too bad. Obviously there was another hold up. Then the sealer (guy who marries people) comes in and says "Ah is Jessies sister here?" A few people let him know she doesn't have a sister. So he leaves. Then he come back and says "Is Haydn's sister who forgot her recommend here?"
I sheepishly put my hand up and say "Here" Then he says "Oh ok well it was you we were waiting for, now we can get started" So I hear eveyone do a big "What the.........................YOU'RE the reason we've been waiting so long" Talk about uncomfortable.
But Haydn and Jessie came in and were sealed (married) together forever. They looked beautiful and I bawled like a baby. Partly to do with my brother and being so happy for him and partly to do with the fact that I knew Dad was there and was proud of that moment for his son and his wife. Ok let's just admit it I WAS A MESS.
So you're allowed to go up to them afterwards and hug them. Well my hug to Haydn was very long and we were both bawling while I was telling him my feelings and Jessie had to make a comment to the others that were lining up that I was his sister and we'd be done soon and laughed nervously. LOL Poor Jessie.
DON'T THEY LOOK WONDERFUL.
So I get outside and see the rest of my family apart from #4 brother and Kat had to go to her neices baptism so found my sisters husband and #1 brothers wife and left her with them and all my bags.
PHEW!!!
That's it. You'd think this would be all the drama right? Wrong. Still a bit more. So stay tuned. Thanks for reading.

Part 1 of NZ

I say bye to Dru in Spokane and we're off to LA. The kids were great on the trip. There's no direct flight to LA so we stopped in Salt Lake. It was just enough time to swap planes. They ate the peanuts and drank tons of juice and of course Masaru needed to go pee right when we got off the plane and right when we sat down on the next plane when they wanted to take off. Kids!!
We got to LA and Brooke picked us up. We settled in and hung out. I slept on a blow up bed in the livingroom listening to ocean sounds all night. Do they live on the beach you ask? No Masaru's cuzzie has this noise thing that makes those sounds all night.
All three kids slept in the same room. I can't believe it, but they all slept through the whole night and got up at around 6:30am. A little early for me, but at least it was all night.
The next day I got to see my cousin Angie for the first time in real life!! We've gotten to know each other through our blogs and I FINALLY saw her. She looks even more wonderful in real life. It was great.

We came home and went over a few things for Masaru and then I said goodbye to him. He was just watching Bob the Builder, or something like it, and said "Bye mum" and his eyes were back on the TV. I, however, got into the car and bawled my eyes out for half the ride to the airport because I was going to miss Masaru so much. Brooke patted me on the back and said it'd be ok. Thanks Brooke.
We get to the airport, say our goodbyes and it's off to NZ.
Yuki and I had our own two seats on the side, we had something to eat then she went to sleep in the cot. I watched two movies then got some zzzzzzzzz's then we were landing in NZ.
Haydn was supposed to be picking me up and was late, so I made friends with some others who were waiting around and they looked after my bags while I chased Yuki around the airport. Then who should arrive but Stella. Stella is one of my kiwi BFF's who was also my companion on the mission. She came with her brand new baby. We talked and talked. It was great. Then who should turn up but Haydn, brother #3. He looked really skinny.
Jessie was out in the car.
We headed back to their place.

His place is neat and clean and small. One bedroom, one bathroom, kitchen and livingroom. The landlord has a basement place. It's great. He has a hottub they're allowed to use. Score!
Then Haydn needed to pick up the pig for the wedding. My brother #1 was growing it in his back yard for it to be Christmas dinner, but he decided to give it to Haydn for his wedding. He's got two more piglets growing in his back yard. Poor pigs. These are numbers 4 and 5!! This is also the reason 'piggies' are Masaru's favourite animal. I don't have the heart to tell him #1 is in piggie heaven.
It was whole and frozen in his mates freezer. So we go get it and it looks like there's a dead body in our boot of the car. It stunk too. Apparently it had to thaw out for a day so Haydn wanted to put it in the bathtub. Well Jessie refused to ask her mother and so he was gonna put it in their bathroom. I said "If I wake up in the night to go pee, I'm going to faint cause I'm gonna think there's a dead body in your bathroom"
So he got tons of glad wrap and black rubbish bags and a box and wrapped it up and put it in the washing room. Yuck!
I met all Jessie family, from England, and had a chance to email Dru then Haydn and I went back to his flat and went to bed. Him ontop of the sheets and me underneath and Yuki in a makeshift bed on the floor. What a great sleep. I don't think I moved a muscle.

The next day I met up with my BFF, Kat, and we hung out with my #2 brother and his family at the zoo. It was so much fun and the kids had a great time. The Auckland zoo is pretty good if any of you get a chance to see it. This is Yuki and her cuzzie. Yuki looks like some kind of Star Trek alien. I'm not sure if it was just the lighting or what. Have a look at the second picture. It's weird. Then that night I went to Stella's for dinner. Man it was the nicest dinner. Just what I needed. That's the end of the first post.
More drama, wedding, fun to come.
Stay tuned!!!