Pure Awesomeness

So my sister in law introduced me to 'pure awesomeness' when it comes to your years supply of food.
It's a spreadsheet which you just punch in your family and it DOES EVERYTHING FOR YOU so you can figure out what you buy.
So NO MORE EXCUSES.
Plus it does 1 month, 3 month, 6 month AND A YEAR.
So for us 'apartment/flat living peeps, it does the job too.
YOU'VE GOTTA CHECK IT OUT.
Just hit download and it'll bring it up.
http://www.simplylivingsmart.com/calculators-spreadsheets/article/11-calculators/36-food-storage-spreadsheet.html

3's company?

So I guess Masaru and Yuki thought that these two dolls could keep Takeshi company while he jumped.

I dunno, does he look comfortable to you?

Yuki

So I guess if she has curly hair it doesn't seem so thin.
Maybe I should try proper curls instead of just doing her hair up in a bun the day before and taking it out and it end up like this.

I thought it looked cute.
My mum never curled our hair. I remember trying it on my own hair. I don't remember the outcome though.
I crimped my hair. That was the cool thing to do when I was a kid back in the 80's.
I notice a lot of girls get their hair curled on Easter Sunday. Is there a reason for this other than just to look pretty. Does the curl mean something? Does curl mean MORE dressy?
Maybe I should do it.

6 months

Masaru at 6 months.
I know, I know, he's skinny as, it was because I didn't know my milk was drying up and basically starved him for a month or so, lucky I started feeding him solids at a young age or who knows what would've happened. He looks a lot like my brother in this photo.
Here's Yuki at 6 months all nice and fat, cause I learn from my mistakes people!
She looks like me.

Here's Takeshi at 6 months. I'm not sure who he looks like. It has to be Nakaya cause he doesn't look like anyone in my family. I do think he looks similar enough for a sibling though. There are resemblances to the other two for sure.
He had a WIC appointment and they said he was 50th %tile for everything.
I don't know who these big kids are for him to be average. WIC is always their own ballgame though. His doctor's appointment is next week. So we'll see then I guess.

Piggie Eight turns 2 and a half

So yesterday Masaru got up and informed me that it was 'Piggie Eights' birthday today and he was turning 2 and a half. Now I'm not sure about 'piggie' years but he received Piggie Eight for his fourth birthday last year, so it hasn't even been a year LOL. But that's not the point, Masaru's knows more about piggies than me.
He wanted to do a 'surprise' birthday party for him and said he liked fish cakes. I had these big plans to make a cake in the shape of a fish and got to sewing and plum forgot. But my mate (thanks Chels) brought me a loaf of poppy bread (I think) LOL and so I used that as the cake. My other mate Natalie even brought Piggie Eight gifts, now that's love for ya. Strawberry jam and a piggie card. Look how happy Piggie Eight seems. Do you think he was surprised?
I couldn't find a 2 1/2 candle so I opted for this 1 candle I had on hand. We sung happy birthday and the kids helped Piggie Eight blow the candle out.
Here he is getting some of his cake.
Piggie Eight has been a wonderful addition to our family and hope he survives for many more 2 and a half years in our family.
LOL Kids man, gotta love 'em.

My Kangaroo

The best is right at the end.
So stick with it.

Around the world in 4 nights

So here's me going around the world in 4 nights.
I had this 'great' idea to make Masaru a quilt.
Yuki has a beautiful one (thanks Auntie Brooke) and so I thought I'd give it a go, and try one out for Masaru.
I found this world pannel and was gonna do the apron I made for 'super Saturday' out of it, then got thinking and decided to do a quilt for Masaru instead.
Dru helped me out with various parts, thank goodness as it would've went A LOT slower had he not helped me pull the quilt through the machine while I sewed it together.
Adhesive instead of pinning it was A LIFE SAVER as well and made it go much less puckery than had I stuck with the safety pins.
Dru also helped make the 'stary' border as well as I wanted a mitered corner.
As for the 'outter space' binding I looked up you tube and learned how to miter that corner and I think it worked out great for a first try.
For some reason this panned out easier in my head you know.
'Oh yeah sure, I'll have this quilt done in a night'
I'm not sure why I thought this, probably because the last quilt I made I had Dru's two sisters helping me out and so it seemed a hell of a lot easier and quicker than this bad boy.
Well here it is, the finished result.
I made the mistake of telling Masaru about it so EVERY SINGLE DAY AND NIGHT he was hassling me about when it was gonna be done.
I love it and so does Masaru.
It's snugly and enough for a person to get all cozy on the couch with you know. Plus it was nice to be able to sew along the grid lines and not just 'make it up' as I go.
That's another project another time in the VERY distant future.
So after making this quilt I need to give a shout out to my sister in law Brooke.
She's made us two quilts so far and I can't believe she did. I also can't believe that after making us out FIRST one she agreed to do a SECOND one for Yuki WHILE SHE WAS PREGNANT.
Cause I don't think I'd make a MASSIVE quilt for anyone else but my kids.
It's a lot of work.
So thanks Brooke. I don't know why you did it, but I'm grateful, even more so now that I've made a simple one.
Here's the happy camper.
Now I'm gonna get started on a baby one for my little niece who's gonna be born at the end of Feb.
It'll go faster man I know it cause it's smaller, plus I've already done one................right?!?

And the winner is...........

No one.

It's a rainbow turkey and he put the word 'mum' underneath as it was for me.
I wonder if this is how he views me in some small way.......... a colourful turkey?
Hmmmmm I'm alright with that.

10 gold stars to the person who can.....................

Masaru worked REALLY HARD to do this picture for me. I think it's beautiful, ESPECIALLY once he told me what it was.
So here's the challenge..................what is it? And what's the word he wrote underneath it.
If you get it in one try I'll send you a prize.

Memory #22

Are there experiences in your life that have molded your character to what it is today? Choose an event or experience to record and then write about how it has helped mold your character.

There's two experiences that come to mind.
You probably already know what I'm going to say.
The two BIGGEST, rock my world, CHANGE my life, experiences that I've had are as follows:

*Dad's death.
*Marriage to Dru.

I've written about Dad before so I'll keep it brief.
Dad's death was sudden and I wasn't expecting it. Life was normal and good. When he died it changed my life, forever. Nothing else has done that to me in the same way that that event has, in my life.
It changed my outlook on EVERYTHING.
It strengthened my testimony of the plan of salvation.
It's helped me in my planning as a wife and mother.
But it's also changed in a sad way.
My dad was the best story teller ever. I don't know of anyone else who was better. I miss it, and my kids don't get to hear the tales in this earthly life.
Dru doesn't get to know him until much later.
Mum and dad aren't together any more and she's married again, which has been a hard adjustment for all involved.
I often wonder what life would've been like, had he still been around.
I don't dwell on it for too long though as it's depressing and I can't change events.
Every father's day sucks for me.
Every time I hear the song 'Where the streets have no name' I get teary eyed and sometimes bawl like a baby (U2 was one of it not his favourite band ever and he used to sit and listen to it on his record player and sing to it at the top of his lungs)
Every time 'death' is brought up my mind goes straight to my fathers death.
I hate funerals.
I also am not a fan of the hymn 'God be with you till we meet again'
I gained more respect for Elder Ballard who wrote a tiny book on suicide which helped me big time.
This single event has changed my life forever, who I am, how I approach things, and sometimes my emotional state.

My marriage to Dru has changed my life because I had to change countries. This has been a HUGE adjustment for me, and let's get serious, still is an adjustment, even after eight years.
America just isn't my country. Sorry America.
Never in my wildest dreams was I planning on living here in the states.
Whenever I thought about my life in the future, it was in New Zealand. EVERYTHING was in New Zealand.
So when my brother asked me if my life has turned out how I thought it would I simply answered 'No it hasn't, as my life never had America in it'
So the minute I got married I had to let all of my plans go as I had NO IDEA what life was going to be like here, cause I'd never lived here, I didn't know the culture, the people, the life etc etc.
It's changed my life.
I had to move away from everything I know my family, my friends, my culture, my ward, my country.
If I wanna be around it I need to pay $1000 and sit for 15 hours to get it.
But it must be an adjustment for Dru as well, I imagine. He had to take me on board, not knowing how things were going to work out in the future and where we would be.

Think about it.........................when you were sitting there and thinking about YOUR future..........did it involve living FOREVER in another country? My guess is 8 out of 10 of you NEVER imagined living in another country, cause you all thought you'd marry someone from your own country right?
Imagine living in another country and those changes!!
It'd change your life FOREVER right?
Well that's me.

HOWEVER.........................would I change it? Not for a second because of Dru. He's my partner in crime, my BFF.
It doesn't matter where he's from, he's it, and I'd live anywhere in the world, if it meant I was with him. I'd hope he'd feel the same way. I know he does ;) Most days LOL
Would I prefer he was a kiwi and brought up kiwi? I've thought about it and sometimes I really wish he was brought up a kiwi and we met and just lived there you know.
But my life is what it is and the events that have happened have been good ones.
Living here has brought opportunities to my family and friends to come over and visit, where I don't think they would've had Dru and I not been here.
My opinion of Americans has changed a little....................jokes man jokes..............A LOT. And I even find myself sticking up for American's in New Zealand (I never thought there'd come a day)

So there you have it folks The two events that happened in my life that has CHANGED ME FOREVER.

Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuum

"Muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum, we made your bed for you, come and look"

Friend magazine

For those who don't know, the church puts out a magazine for the kids once a month. It has stories, games etc.
I often read it to the kids as part of their scripture study.
I think 8 times out of 10 I'm CRYING in these stories I read them.
Today Masaru went and got me a couple of tissues.
I wonder if they understand why I cry?
I wonder what they're thinking.
Maybe next time (most likely tomorrow) when I cry I'll ask them and see what they come up with.
I feel like a dork, and I try REALLY HARD to compose myself.
Sometimes I just fold like origami though and let the tears spill.
I think I have problems.
My kids must think I'm loosing it.
Wait................I think I've already lost it. Maybe my goal should be to get IT back, whatever IT is.
Sanity, reason, my emotions under check.
Who knows.

The new favourite

There's a new favourite around here and it's the new art easel that Yuki got for Christmas this year. Here she is doing her first painting. LOL Look at that apron man. You think it's a little big?
I'd like you all to note that Yuki still has all her hair.
Awwwwwww look at that face! Best $20 we spent this Christmas man. I just need to sew a pocket to hold some stuff in the front and it'll be all good. The kids love the painting, drawing, chalk and so on. I love that they're drawing all the time now.
Here's the master piece. We stuck it up on the back of our front door, where all the art work goes. She was very proud of it.
Just like her mother was.

This into this!

We got this entertainment unit from Dru's brother when we were first married. It's served us well and is still serving us. Dru got a great deal on a new TV and so went for it. Our old one was making weird noises (right K8 ;)

But, alas, it wouldn't fit. So he took the top off, cut the sides off then put the top back on.

And here it is. I think it worked out perfect.
Once we get that draw painted black I don't think anyone will be the wiser. One of our mates said "I think it looks better!"

Thanks babe, you always amaze me with your vision and how awesome you are with all kinds of stuff.
Unfortunately it makes me feel 'not so talented' oh well. I've got my strengths ....................... right?!?

No privacy

Am I the only one who doesn't get an ounce of privacy, while the kids are up, ever?!?
I tried to close the door while going to the bathroom yesterday and had the two kids banging down the door.
I had little hands coming in and eyes peering in. I even had Masaru say "I can see your feet under the door mum"
Sometimes while I'm 'on the pot' Yuki will place herself down on the rubbish bin and just talk to me.
Masaru will come in and need his pants buttoned up or just a questions answered or just general chit chat.
The bathroom doors don't have locks on them. So they can come in whenever they feel like it.
It makes it hard for certain times of the month, where I don't feel like explaining what I'm doing, thank you very much!!
When I demand they 'get out' they get all forlorn and sad and are like "but why mum, why do we have to get out? Why are you closing the door on us?"
So do other mum's pee with their kids watching?
Or is it just me?

Kreativ Blogger

I was nominated for this Kreativ Blogger award from Missy. So here is what I need to do.
Reveal seven things no one knows about me. This is getting hard as I think I've revealed a lot.
Let's see how I go.
#1 I hate my hair down. I RARELY can wear it without at least ONE little clip in. I just can't stand the hair all in my face and around my neck. Maybe I should shave my own hair right?
#2 Never had braces.
#3 I'm seriously contemplating getting a boob job later on in life.
#4 Before I die I want to visit Jerusalem.
#5 I have bunions.
#6 I almost threw up, was shaking and more nervous than I've ever been teaching the lesson yesterday in Sunday School about the CREATION in front of one of the TEMPLE presidency!
#7 I'm secretly competitive but try to never let it get to me.

Now I have to randomly name seven (kreative) blogs I like.
#1 Mandi at LouLou Photography
#2 Carrie at Day to Day pictures
#3 K8 at Kate Jennings Photography
#4 Krystal at Turquoise and Chocolate
#5 Evette at Bella Photography
#6 Stacey at Loud Mouth Babies
#7 Stacey at Schmath knits

There's seven rules if you wanna pass it along.
Email me (you seven girls) if you wanna do this and I'll tell you the rules so you can play.
Otherwise just enjoy the award and keep up the great work with your 'kreativ' blogs.
I love them.
Thanks Missy.