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!!!

Damn and Hell

Ok so I'm still in NZ, at mum's house. I've got a little quiet time with no one around and so I thought I'd better take the opportunity to tell you all what I watched last night on TV.
I'll be home late Wednesday night so I'll get stuff organized and probably blog on Friday about things.
But this is funny, and proves I don't make stuff up just to sware to you all.
We were watching the NZ news. The reporter was interviewing a member of parliment. So she was and important lady to NZ.
This is a public channel, not cable.
He said in part of the interview "How the hell are you going to do that?"
And she said "I'm going to do a damn good job for all of you"
So this, my friends, just goes to prove that to us kiwi's damn and hell are part of formal people's language, EVEN when they're being interviewed on national TV AND represent the government AND are a reporter for the national news.
LOL so funny man. Can you imagine americans on holiday watching the local news. They'd be having a heart attack.
What a crack up.
Ahhhhhh I love NZ and I love kiwi's. The country that won't give me that 'face' when I say damn or hell around them!
So if I say damn and hell in this post does it count since I'm in NZ?
How the hell are all of you?
I miss you all, damn it!
Come on, that's pretty funny.

Entertaining on a rainy day.

So it's been raining for the last couple of days. Friday, Masaru had no school and was inside all day. Later on in the afternoon he decided he wanted to get outside. I told him it was raining and he didn't care. He wanted to ride the big wheel bike! I told him he needed to get some pants on and he didn't want to, so whatever. He wanted to wear his 'cat in the hat' top, a hat, gloves, and my helmet. So I thought, what the hell.

He had a blast, of course and raced up and down the footpath for a long time. I told him I'd watch him from the window and he'd wave at me every time he went past.
I love this kid, and I love that his clothes don't have to match and that he's happy with whatever. It would wear me out if he was fussy with what he had to wear and if it matched. I don't think it'll last though. Kids seem to get fussy with what they have to wear. So I'm gonna lap it up while I can.

And lastly I'm outta here tomorrow. Down to LA to stay with Auntie Brooke and then off to NZ for a week. I'll be back on the next Wednesday with pic's of the wedding and my family.
Wish me luck with Yuki on the plane without her favourite parent, Dru Nakaya!
Dru needs some luck too, he might have a bit of fun but I know he's gonna miss us. So if your reading this and live in Moscow, check in on him please, invite him to a movie and dinner.
I hope you all have a great next week and a half and I'll look forward to catching up with all of you when I get back.

First time!

So the hairdresser told me that if I got rollers it'd be an easy hairstyle! "You just put them in and forget about them for half and hour and then take them out and walk out the door"
So I thought, 'Well I can do this' So I got me some rollers!!!

Well it's not as easy as that. And after a couple of burnt ears and locking Yuki out of the bathroom this is the result. Maybe with more practice it will get better.
I also dyed my hair a little lighter as well.
Dru's just happy I'm wearing my hair out.

Baptism

Tonight I attended a baptism.
She's one of the first years in Dru's law class.
She's a single mum of 3 kids! I can't even imagine going to law school WITH a supportive husband, let alone doing it alone.
It was the first baptism I've attended in a long time that wasn't a child.
She's the same girl I mentioned earlier when I said I went to a discussion.
She basically researched the church before contacting the missionaries and had decided it was for her.
Now why wasn't she on my mission, in one of my area's, waiting for me to knock on her door?
Hmmmmmmmm if only.

Anyway, it was really nice.
The talks were great and it was just nice to be there witnessing something so special.
It reminded me of my favourite scripture from the Book of Mormon.
It's in 2Nephi 31:5
'And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy to be baptized, yea, even by water!'
I love this because it's so true to me. Jesus Christ was baptized. He was perfect, but did it to fulfil all righteousness.
Me, Melissa Nakaya, as hard as it is to fathom, is not perfect! If it's good enough for Jesus, then it's more than good enough for me, and it's good enough for this girl last night.
Her example and faith is a beautiful thing.
I'm grateful I could attend.
I'm grateful for this great plan Heavenly Father has given us to return to him.
I'm grateful for Jesus Christ, his perfect example, and his patience.
I love him and his father and I hope I can continue to be faithful to his example.

"I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it"
This is the quote, in vinyl, I gave to this girl last night.
It got me through many days, as I hope it get her through hers.

New Haircut!

So I got a new haircut last night. K8 went ahead and booked me an appointment with the girl that does her hair. She came with me and stayed there and was my moral support. Thanks K8. I didn't know what I wanted. So just went with it.I had a few ideas and this is the result. I'm still not sure. My problem is, is that I don't know how to do my hair. So even though that night it looked good, I get stuck with what to do with it the next day.
I'll try my best to do it but it might just end up being in a ponytail again, much to Dru's disappointment. He said "I don't care what you do but just do it so you wear it out, I like it out."
I like my hair up. I think out, makes my face look really fat and that, as well as not knowing how to style it, is why I like it up. I don't like my hair on my face either.
But because I always pull it back I get these little horn type tuffs on the side. Hence the fringe/bangs now so as to hide or work with those little 'bits' at the side.
We'll see.
I'm thinking maybe more layered, or just shorter and crazier. Blonder, I'm going blonder.
I had a pic with K8 but it was HORRIBLE of me, there's no way I was posting it. My face is just so round and big that pictures lately have been embarrassing.
Except for my signature pose (top) That's my best side, and best look.

Yuki and I are famous

Thanks to my mate Camille, who found this, I've found out my FIRST VOTE was documented by the Moscow paper. See us on the right there. So now I have a picture and a newspaper to prove it for my children and theirs. Thanks Camille, it means the world that you found this. I'll have this clipping forever.

Auntil Yiyan

This is what Masaru calls his 'Uncle Ryan'. This is Dru's brother, for those who don't know.
It's the oddest thing but 'Auntil Yiyan' is the person that Masaru has consistently talked about the most since moving up to Moscow.
I'm not sure why, as he has plenty of family who love him to bits and show him consistently.
He talks about all of them, but Ryan has come up in the most bizzare ways.
It's weird.
For instance, we were at the pool a month or so ago and Masaru was playing on this digger and it 'broke' and it was 'Auntil Yiyan' who Masaru called to come fix it.
He came straight away and him and Masaru fixed it, then 'Auntil Yiyan' left back to work.
LOL It was so funny. No prompts, nothing.
We don't talk about Ryan at home much. No offense Ryan. But no more than the rest of the family, actually I talk about others A LOT more than Ryan. Dru's only talked to him a few times on the phone.
But usually when Masaru's pretending to be on the phone Ryan is one of the people he's talking to.
The other day we were in the car and Masaru was laughing and saying 'Mum Auntil Yiyan is following us in the car, go faster'
Is this weird?
Of course I just went with it, but in my head I'm thinking 'What is this obsession with Ryan?'
I don't get it.
When he's playing with his cars it's Ryan who comes and helps to fix them or race him.
This afternoon he mentioned him again saying "Mum Auntil Yiyan has come to visit" and went and opened to door and let him in.
I just thought I needed to blog about it so Masaru, later on, could read about it.
Ryan is an important part of our family.
He's one of Dru's best friends and I'm thinking he's one of Masaru's as well.
This picture of him with Masaru is typical of Ryan with our kids.
He very good with children, ours included. He always holds them, even when they're new borns, and a little grumpy, he'll take them off your hands when your tired and play with them. He's treated Masaru, and Yuki, really well.
Masaru has seen his father and Ryan helping each other over the years, whether it be with their cars, houses or some other 'important project'.
I'm guessing Masaru can feel how important Ryan is to Dru and what a big part of his father's life his brother is.
Maybe this and all the reasons above, is why he's talking about him so much. I just don't know.

I don't quite understand it, but for these reasons I'm grateful for Auntil Yiyan.

Didn't you love being a kid?

I did. I loved being a kid.
Now there were hard times you know. But nothing like the hard times of being an adult.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not looking to be a kid again and gonna buy some crazy metal time travel thing that just electrocutes me, Napoleon Dynamite styles, but it was fun times.

Hanging out with my mates all day, playing, dressing up, sports, biking around.
Just all the fun I had as a kid was amazing.
It was, truly, a wonderful time of my life.
It's a pity it didn't last a little bit longer.

I didn't really have a care in the world. Maybe my views are distorted a little but my cares didn't seem to last too long and I was back to being happy.

Maybe this is why I enjoyed being a school teacher.
Maybe this is why I enjoy being a mum so much.

A lot of the reason I had such a great childhood was my parents and my brothers and sisters.
We were all the best of friends and the worst of enemies.

I learned how to win and how to loose.
I learned how to adjust to a new city with new friends.
I learned how to play a few musical instruments.
I learned that a bike was my best friend as it was the only mode of transportation for me getting anywhere.
I learned how to speak in public.
The list goes on and on and on.
I learned so much. I was learning all the time, pretty much constantly.

I dunno if I'm learning as much daily.
Maybe I should work on that.
Maybe my learning is different now but still as much.
Maybe I'm getting old and rambling in my old age, however, getting back to the point, wasn't childhood the best?

I loved my childhood.
I think my childhood is a lot of the basis of my testimony of the gospel as well. I would pretty much ask God for anything. I would talk to him all the time.
I knew he was there and I knew he could help me. Looking back my faith was amazing.
Maybe I should work on that as well.

Where did that faith go? Maybe it went with my childhood, just like my imagination LOL
I've become a little sinister in my old age. Maybe that's why we need to be around kids. When I truly look at my kids and get lost in them, I see that light.
I hope my kids are loving their childhood.
I hope, one day, they can say they loved it.
I know Dru loved his. He has the best stories with him and his bro and sisters.
Good times, good friends, good family, good faith equals
GREAT CHILDHOOD!

I VOTED!! DID YOU???

You don't have to answer that.
But I just wanted you all and my posterity to know that today I voted for the first time in USA.
It took a grand total of 10 mins. to register and then vote.
Yuki and I got stickers that we're proudly wearing........................well hers is gone, but I'm proudly wearing, and I'm glad I did it.
Now I need to vote in NZ as their elections are going on as well.
I think it's great I can vote in two countries. Thank goodness for the internet to make our world a little closer.

Anyone wanna place bets on who's gonna win tonight?

Memory #3

I'm pretty sure my 11th birthday's was one of the best birthdays in my whole life.
This is the birthday where I got to have a bunch of friends over and party like it was 1999.
They even brought me gifts.
This isn't the highlight though.
The highlight of this birthday was the two gifts I got from my parents.
The first was that I finally got to get my ears pierced.
Man was I scared when they took out that gun. It wasn't as bad as what I thought it was going to be though and have loved having my ears pierced!!
The next gift was LP records that I got to play on Dad's precious record player.
Now I know these are almost in museums now but that's all we had.
I'm only 31 but with memories like these I seem about 51 don't I?
Anyway it was the best.
I got these three albums: Thriller and Bad by Michael Jackson, back when he was a little more normal and Milli Vanilli.
Man we rocked out to that music so much. I thought I was the bees knees I'm telling ya.
I'm not sure of much else I did that night or too much around it but I know it was one of my best birthday's ever.
I still have all three albums by the way, as well as my Dad's stellar collection of LP's. They were his pride and joy.
Now if I just had a record player.
One day, and then you'll see me rocking out like I did when I was 11.
Ahhh I love memories.
Well good ones, at least.