Kids

 I tell ya, this boy is NEVER clean.  Like if I can get him in the bath and PJ's on and in bed then he'll be clean while sleeping, but then it's breakfast and the cleanliness is over.
I can't keep up with it.
But I do the best I can with wipes when I change his nappie.
Lucky he's cute with food on his face and cereal in his hair right?

 I did Yuki's hair all crazy this day.
This girl likes to pose.
This is the reason I took these pictures actually, she asked me to.
If you've got a camera, she's your model.
I was doing her hair the other day and she goes 'Dad's gonna love this mum, he's gonna think I look beautiful'
She cracks me up.
If Dru's home, she'll run out to show him what's she's wearing and how her hair is done and wait for him to tell her how beautiful she is.
He always does well with her.
Actually if he'd tell ME that many times I'd be in heaven.
Maybe I should do my hair, get dressed up and stand infront of him.
He'd probably think I was weird.
Hmmmmmm what's gonna happen if we have another girl?
Let's hit that milestone if we get to it aye.

 90% of the time Masaru is pulling some kinda weird face in photo's.
I never thought this would happen cause he was so cute, but maybe kids just get to a certain age then get all weird in front of the camera?
In the first two I said he wasn't showing me his teeth so this bigger one is him showing me his teeth.
Go figure.  It's just as 'funny' as the others.

 I don't do my boys hair.
They're on their own.
It's why keeping it short is probably a good idea.
They're actually in need of a haircut.

 Hey, there's a decent pic of Masaru.
Notice the kiwi badge on Masaru's T-shirt mum!!

 Then they wanted all of us in it.
Look at Masaru's face!

It's pretty funny how Yuki is looking at Masaru here in this one and how Takeshi is basically cut out of this one.
I think Masaru and I look alike in this picture.

Anyway I haven't been 'quality' blogging much as of late.
I'm writing too much on my 12 week blog and this ones getting pushed behind.
I find I don't have much to say really.
I know, I know, gasp, shock, horror!!
Lucky I got kids.
Otherwise I might only blog like once every 2 weeks.............which would be nothing for me ;)
I think all my bloggings been about my kids as of late.
Good for the family.
Maybe boring for everyone else.
Oh well.

First report card

Most of you can ignore this post.
This is really just for my mother since she's not around and doesn't ring me much, and if she did I'd probably forget to tell her this but I know she'd want to know.
And for the rest of my family who might like to know.
Hence the 'public' post.

I got Masaru's first report card today.
In a nutshell he's doing fantastic...................ignore the 'proud' mother syndrome.

In P.E he's doing excellent.  All the teacher put was that he had 'good kicking skills'
I think that's pretty funny.
Must be a woman of few words.
I can only imagine how many report cards she has to do.
So apparently Masaru is a good kicker.

He's at Mastery level for non-verbal language, visual discrimination (letter recognition)  and writing.
There's four columns in this report card and mastery level is the forth column.
In everything else (math, learning behaviours, social skills, physical development and personal knowledge) he's at the 'almost' mastery level.
Except for maths.  He's at the second column.  Looks like I need to work with him on his maths. 
I kinda knew that though.
Sorry mum.

I guess they do testing on the kids here.  It's called 'The Idaho Reading Indicator' (IRI)
For Letter Name Fluency he scored a 39.  They have that anything above a 33 is 'at grade level'
For his Letter Sound Fluency  he scored a 31.  They say that anything 17 and above is 'at grade level'.
Here's the website mum http://www.sde.idaho.gov/site/reading indicator/

Here's what she said about him................

'Masaru is more comfortable at school now.  He has many friends because he is just so nice. (awwwwww) He is very sensitive and can be worried about many things that might seem small to others. (man I didn't know this) It is getting easier for Masaru to talk to me about what is bothering him.  We are practicing talking to peers about problems.
Masaru is making good academic progress in both math and language.  Masaru names all letters and knows all letter sounds.  He got a 3 on the IRI.  He is so cautious that it is difficult for him to name letter sounds and letter names quickly.  You could help him at home with this. (alright) It should only take some practice for him to be able to 'show off' all he knows.  He regonizes number to 20 and counts to 29.  All his hard work shows in his achievements.
Masaru is a charming student and friend.' (awwwwwwwwww)

He's missed 5 days of school and he's been tardy (late) 10 times!!!!
Good one mum!!

That's it, the first report card.

I'm so proud of you Masaru.
I think you're awesome.
I'm glad you're my oldest and firstborn.
You're a great example to the other kids and to your father and I.
You work hard at home, and it seems like, at school as well.

Journal Entry Nineteen

Did any special events happen in your area of the world when you were growing up?

Click HERE to read mine.

'A journal is a continuing record of meaningful experiences that affect our lives. Through his prophets, the Lord has commanded each of us to keep a journal. As we record our activities and feelings, we can more clearly see the Lord’s influence in our lives.'

Family Home Evening Manual

Youth

So at church I just got called to work with the 16 and 17 year old girls.
I.LOVE.YOUTH.
It's all I worked with back in NZ but for some reason America doesn't trust me with their youth.
I've been here 10 years and this is only the second time I've worked with them.
The first time it was only for 4 months.
It's been 2 weeks, so fingers crossed I last a month.
I love these girls, love this calling.
Love it.

Tutu

 The word 'tutu' in Maori basically means mischief.  If you have a tutu kid then they're into everything, can't keep still, always up to some kinda trouble.
Well that sums up my Takeshi completely.
Here he is being resourceful and getting himself some bread.
Don't be fooled he had a hardy breakfast people, he's not starving.
Although it seems that way with all this effort he's putting into a single piece of bread.
He just likes to eat about half a fridge worth of food for breakfast.

Now that he knows that chairs will get him, pretty much whatever the hell he wants, he uses them to their fullest capacity.
I'll often here the noise of chairs being pushed around during various times throughout the day.
He throws off the cushions, WHICH DRIVES ME NUTS, and then proceeds to get whatever he wants.
Give him around 2 mins and he can have my kitchen looking like a hurricane blew through it.
This also means he can get up on any table he wants, try and climb up to the cupboards to get any food he thinks he needs or just stand there and jump and almost kill himself by pushing the chair forward while he's laughing about it.
I just have to be on him all the time, and it's tiring.
Oh well, I give him A+ for problem solver and another A+ for keeping me on my toes.
His only saving grace is that he's so damn cute that I can't stay mad at him and even in the middle of telling him off he'll pull this face and I'll start cracking up.
I'm in trouble and I think at the young age of 18 months, he knows it.

Journal Entry Eighteen

What experiences have taught you to trust the Lord?

Click HERE to read mine.

"Get a notebook, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it your goings and comings, your deepest thoughts, your achievements and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. Remember, the Savior chastised those who failed to record important events."

Spencer W Kimball

4 years and still going.........

 Dru started his own private journal.  I think that's awesome.  They're short posts, but full of his personality which is awesome.
I have my journal blog and we both have the family private blog for warm fuzzy stuff that no one is interested in.
Here's the blurb book for our 'privates'
LOL
I love saying that.

 And here's our 2010 blog book for last year.

 Look at that bad boy.
Blurb only allows book that are 450 pages.  Well I think this was around 400, I think, maybe more.

 Now my book isn't gonna get 'prettiest book of the year' awards.
It's not 'cute' 'fashionable' 'designer' it's just the plain of the plain.
I can't be bothered with all the fluff.  It's not me, I don't view it as important, and so simply don't do it.

 Here's my point.
If you're NOT making a book cause you think it'll take too much time, I'm here to say that's FALSE.
If you're not doing the book cause you're stressed about how pretty to make it and are worried it'll be plain Jane, WHO CARES.
Just do it already and stop mucking around.

 I'm gonna need a whole shelf just for my blog books soon.
And that's awesome.

I had a problem with my signature at the bottom.  So I'm trying to delete it.
Remember that 'Melissa' at the bottom with flowers on the side?
Yeah well blurb doesn't like that when printing out your book.  So if you have that signature at the bottom GET RID OF IT.

If you want to know more about this EMAIL ME............ melissa.nakaya@gmail.com
OR make a comment OR call me and I'll walk you through it and we can do it together.
I'm not gonna give you a lecture about how important it is to do this.
One of my mates sister LOST her blog for a few days and she was FREAKING OUT!!
Imagine if you LOST YOUR BLOG?
I don't stress about that, cause I got these bad boys.

Yep, that's right, we're awesome!

 So we've got a new toilet, but not a new lid.  Take a closer look, I'll wait.
Yeah see that?  Looks stupid aye.  Who gets a lid with this pattern on it?
Are we like 80 years old?
Anyway Dru and I are in the running for best tenants ever!!
They got this toilet and dropped it off to us and Dru put it in, free of charge.

 Here it is in our garage until Dru can break it up and put it in our rubbish bin outside.
I was thinking of telling him to keep it in tact and I'd plant a cool plant in it and stick it out the front for the whole street to see.
Maybe that won't help us in our 'best tenants ever' race.

 This was leaking as well, so they brought a new one and Dru put that one in as well.
Yeah, that's right, we're awesome.

 So what do you do when you have a massive toilet box just hanging out in your house with no toilet in it?

 Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm I dunno.
Any ideas?

 Yep I've got nothing, I'm stumped.
Maybe I should find the kids and ask them.

Masaru's face in this picture (above) is awesome.  Not even noticing me, eyes forward with determination to do whatever it is he's imagining he's doing.
Flying a plane?
Going over a waterfall in a raft?
Attacking pirates in another toilet box?
Fleeing from monsters?
The possibilities are endless......................
Wish I knew............
Wish I asked...............

Siblings

 I know my kids look like aliens with their red eyes but I thought this picture of them all watching a movie was cute.
It's been this way around the house the last few days........................all getting along like best mates.
They played outside for an hour the other morning, then Takeshi came in, Yuki and Masaru stayed out there for 3 more hours.  They didn't even come in for lunch!!
They play in the back and in the front, the discover together, get muddy together, the laugh together and get into mischief together.
When they're inside they run around and laugh and play a lot of imaginative play.
This morning I heard Masaru say 'Schmee go get the pirates ready for battle'
'Ok hook' was the reply heard from Yuki as Masaru tried to get a coat hanger up his sleeve so he had a hook in his arm.
I love it.
I love how much they entertain themselves.
I think in my whole 'motherhood' of these guys I've only ever heard Masaru tell me once 'I'm bored, what should I do?'
I love this about my kids, they discover and find their own things to do, without me having to plan it.
I'm not a planner and maybe they just know this.
They'll ask me to be a part of their games, and I will, it's pretty cute.
They're just such good mates and it makes me happy, especially since they're getting along most of the time.
It makes my job so much easier that's for sure.
I love them.
I hope they're loving their childhood.

Tired

Someone needs a nap.

Play time

 Dru, because he loves to online shop, found these kids sleeping bags for cheap, so we got them.
They arrived the other day and the kids are having the best time with them.
We set up Yuki's tent and give them their torches and they play and have fun for hours.
I love it.
I also remember doing the same thing as a kid.

 Then they've been going outside to play.
There's no snow, just mud, so it's a mess but they love it.
The other day they found these ice blocks from a couple of buckets.  They thought that was pretty cool and played with them for a while.
Even Takeshi got in on the action and stayed out there almost as long as Masaru.
Yuki always comes in first.

Then here's Takeshi playing it cool, posing for a picture.
Little does he know that he's got food in his hair.
He ALWAYS does this.
He's eat and then wipe his hands off IN HIS HAIR.
It drives me nuts.
He honestly needs his hair washed every single day.
I'm a twice a week baths kinda mother, so it's enough to get me worked up.
I don't think it's good for his hair to have it washed everyday.
But I also don't think it says much for my mothering if he has hard sticky hair when we go out.

Temple Square

 Yeah I know, I know, this is way late, but too bad.  I just got the pictures so I need to blog it for journal purposes.
We decided to go to Temple Square and see the lights.
We took the Frontrunner train into town and the kids loved it.
I knew they would.  It was a great idea.  They were all free but Dru and I had to pay $4 each for the whole ordeal!!  Bit of a rip off if you ask me.
But it was only once and was worth it.
We went into downtown and it was dead man.
We had dinner, thanks Mas, and then moved onto the lights.
Here's all of us except Chris.

 We got the kids infront of the Japanese nativity set.
Always a winner.

 Then we got them infront of the NZ nativity set.
Always a must.
I guess Luke didn't wanna be a part of the cuzzie shot.

 

I love everyones faces in this one.

Anyway the Johnson's wanted to get a shot of just their kids.

But my kids weren't having a bar of that and just ran in and posed for the shot.

Well, Takeshi was pushed in, but he didn't mind.

I dunno if they ever got their solo shot!

Probably not.

Masaru really wanted to see the Christus statue so Grandpa took him up there.

There was also an awesome display of the inside of the temple in one of the visitor's center.  It's like this tiny replica that's been chopped in half so you can see inside.

I liked that.

The kids had tons of fun and even though it was cold they ran around and had fun.

I love the temple lights.

It was Dru and my first 'date'

Journal Entry Seventeen

Did you ever get a crazy haircut, style or colour?

Click HERE to read mine.

"What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved?

Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity."

Spencer W Kimball

12 week blog

My mate had a good idea.
For the next 12 weeks I'm gonna post stuff about this challenge.
I'll get into specifics.
Pretty embarrassing specifics. But I think it's a good thing to post about so I can look back on it.
I don't post about it on this cause it's open to the world and I just don't feel comfortable.
So it's gonna be private.
Sorry peeps.
I'd keep it just for myself but there's been a couple of comments from peeps that wanna know what I do and how I do it.
So here's your chance.
I wanna know who's looking.
It makes it easier for me to be more honest about everything.
You wanna follow me on this blog for the next 12 weeks?
Let me know and I'll invite you.
Otherwise, it's business as usual people, nothing to see here, carry on, as you were.

Exersise

Have you ever worked out so hard that you can't get enough oxygen for the next minute?

Have you ever felt like you couldn't keep going cause you're so exhausted and your hurting?  Yet something inside of you clicks and you push through it and finish, when you didn't know you could?

Have you ever started sweating in places you didn't know you sweat?

Have you ever finished working out and had a natural high?

Ever woken up and hurt all over?

Ever thought that because you could do this, maybe anything REALLY IS possible?

These are some of the feelings I've had through out my life, but more recently since being back on the wagon or off the wagon I guess, however you view it.
There's something about exercising that I truly believe we need as women.
There's an empowerment when we have control over our bodies.
When we're treating them well and being healthy, I think it helps our focus and spirituality.
There's something about that 'high,' something about believing in yourself, something about pushing forward when you don't think you can, something about knowing YOU'RE doing this, something about having that rush of oxygen and adrenalin that we need, that helps our esteem, helps our views on life, helps us focus on us, even if it's only for an hour a day!
Sometimes it's the only chance I get to think, without interruption!!
I believe we need it, that we owe it to ourselves and our bodies.
Maybe it's just me though..............................
Anyway it's a rush.
I love it.
I highly recommend it.

Trouble with a capitol 'T'

Here's the double cuzzie threat.
Look at Takeshi standing there with his hand in his pocket as if to say "Yeah that's right, me and Zeke are up to no good, what are you gonna do about it"
My hope is that these two are great mates through out their lives.

I think out of all my 12 cousins I'd know AT BEST about half on the street.
Pretty sad.
The last time I saw ANY of them was YEARS ago.
My goal is to not have it that way on either side of my families.
So far, so good.

Comparison

This is me in Dec 2009 standing in front of the NZ Nativity scene at Temple Square.

This is me in Dec 2010 standing in front of the NZ Nativity scene at Temple Square.

Don't worry, you don't have to comment, I mean what would you say?

Dru told me that the top picture is a bad angle and that I never looked like that, which is nice.
You know how you often think you look better than what you sometimes do, then someone gets a photo of you and you almost fall over?
Yeah, that's what I felt like after seeing that top picture.
Maybe it helped with my changes. Who knows.
All I know is I love the 2010 Dec pic of me and Dru.
I took it FOR THIS VERY REASON.
To compare the two.
And 'I'm a look'n and I'm a like'n'

Come on, what movie's that from?
Who's the first?

Wrong place, wrong time.

 Takeshi had a bit of a rough morning.
Believe it or not he DIDN'T DO THIS.
It was actually Masaru.
Yet it's Takeshi that looks like this, NOT Masaru.
First of all I heard a "Whoops, whoops" and a scurry of feet and I turned around to this.
I asked Masaru what happened and he said "It wasn't my fault"
I said "Well how did all that strawberry milk powder get all over Takeshi and the floor?"
He said "It opened by itself"
I'm like "Really?  It just opened with no help at all?"
Masaru "Yep"
So I told Masaru no more strawberry milk for a week and proceeded to changed and bath Takeshi then vacuum up the mess.

Then today we were at the bank.
Masaru was at school so it was just the two younger ones.
Well when I was done I turned around and couldn't find Takeshi.
Turns out he'd locked himself in the mortgage guys' office.
No worries right?  Just unlock the door.
"Oh we don't have the key to that door, the guy is in Meridian, so it'll be about 20 mins"
"WHAT? MY SON IS LOCKED IN THIS OFFICE FOR 20 MINS?"
"We could call a locksmith"

The good thing was that it was all glass, apart from the door, so we could see Takeshi the whole time and he remained happy and didn't get into anything.

The guy rang and told them where a hidden key was.  The lady didn't think it was there but checked anyway, just incase.
They said "Let's just try this key and see what happens"
AND IT WORKED.
It was only around 8 mins of locked time.
Takeshi didn't even know what was going on.
Thank goodness.

Sorry bub.  Wrong place, wrong time I guess.

Weigh in

So I started my 12 week programme yesterday and weighed in.
I maintained my wieght over Chrismtas.
So I was over the moon.
Dru and the kids met Chris, so that was nice.
I got my front and back picture taken, not as bad as I thought, and now let the games begin baby.

I guess I should take a before pic of me, but you all saw me over the break, and I posted a couple of pics anyway.
I'm excited.

Woodpecker/Grandpa

 Masaru came in all excited this morning because there was a woodpecker, pecking away at his Grandparents tree, RIGHT IN FRONT OF HIM.
So I came out and tried to get a pic of it.
They're not too decent.

 I wonder why he wasn't scared?

Masaru came in and told me this was his 'twoth' time seeing one.
What he meant to say was it was his 'second' time seeing one.
For a moment I didn't know why he was talking about his teeth....................then he held up two of his fingers and I understood.
Auntie Kristin and I gave him a quick grammar lesson.

 Another 'stellar' shot.
It's harder than you think.

Then I couldn't resist taking a picture of Grandpa last night like this.
This is how we find Grandpa and Grandma some nights.
They're night owls and like to stay up late and watch their shows.
Sometimes Grandma will read and fall asleep, but for Grandpa the TV's on and he got the essentials around him.
In Grandpa's defense he has sleep apnea like Dru.  It's hereditary.  Thanks Grandpa.
Let's play a seek and find game aye.
Try and find these things.
#1 Phone
#2 Remote (in hand)
#3 Nut and fruit medly
#4 orange peels
#5 Nacho chips
#6 Crackers
#7 Wipes
#8 Ensign
#9 Blanket
#10 Soda

Grandpa knows how to set up for a night of good old fashion TV watching, that's for sure.
Love you Mas man.

Journal Entry Sixteen

What was your favourite food as a child?

Has it changed now you're grown?

Click HERE to read mine.


"A journal is the literature of superiority. Each individual can become superior in his own humble life."
Spencer W Kimball

Olive Garden

I had a wonderful time tonight with an old workmate.
We caught up, shared stories and had a blast.

The only trouble was we ate at Olive Garden.
If I never eat at that place again, I'll be a happy person.
Talk about WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY overpriced for WAAAAAAAAAAAAY crap food.
I would've rather made myself dinner and had my mate over at my place.
Maybe I'll do that next time.

I remember last time I went there thinking the same thing..............and the time before that.
Actually the only time I go is when I'm invited.
I need to start doing the inviting and beat these people to the punch.
Cause eating Olive Garden is like getting punched twice, once in the guts and once in the wallet.

Hide and seek, kid style

So Masaru and Yuki had some mates around today and they had a good time.
Amongst other things they played hide and seek.
EVERY.SINGLE.TIME...........the kids would hide in the EXACT SAME SPOT..............and EVERY.SINGLE.TIME...............they laughed and had fun with it.
It was nice to sit and watch the kids just playing so simply.

Personally I'd get sick of the same spot but not these guys.
Just goes to show that sometimes it's the simple things that make our kids happy.

Stuff we've been up to.........

 Dru and his brothers went snowmobiling last Friday and like Flight of the Conchords say 'conditions were perfect'
Dru came back on a high and just had the best time.
Now these guys don't go 'trail' riding, they put their whole back into it and do some crazy stuff.  I'm sure if you youtubed snowmobiling you might see what kinda stuff they do.
I'm glad they came home alive and injury free as well as all of the snowmobiles.
They deserve a good time.

 I know I said I wasn't going to crochet again but I forgot I needed to make this for family.  So ones for my sister in law and for my neice.
Takeshi was my model.  If he was a girl, it'd be perfect right?

 Here's a few more random shots of Christmas and Christmas Eve.
There's the hat I knitted my nephew and my sister in law opening her purse I made.  I had to get these on here.
Then there's Takeshi hanging out with Uncle Ryan who always gravitates to the babies.

 Then, like every New Year's Day, Dru's family, so my family I guess, celebrated the Japanese holiday called 'Shogatsu'.
I love it man.  Dru's Dad stayed up till 1am the night before prepping all the food then his brother came over early, early the next morning to get started on the sushi and other favourites.
OH.MY.GOODNESS...........................can I just say YUMMY?
Man all the food was FANTASTIC and TONS of people came and it was a HUGE HIT.
It was fun to see extended family and mates and just have an awesome time.
I LOVE that we do this as a family.  It's the only traditional thing we do and I think it's so important for the kids.  Sometimes I think they forget they're 1/4 Japanese, and this is a wonderful way to remind them of their Great Grandma as well as their culture.
Love it.

 Auntie Brooke set this up for the cuzzies and we made these cute reindeer yesterday.
Good idea aye?
Here's Yuki's at the bottom with a few more antlers than the rest.
The kids loved it and it was over in minutes.
Now that's our kinda 'fun'.

Another wonderful thing that happened on Boxing day (Dec 26th) was our cute nephews where baptized.
I spoke and here's Dru helping with the confirmation blessing.
It was wonderful and I can't believe these guys are this old!!
Where's the time gone?
Who knows.
We had a great dinner before and then got to celebrate this joyous occasion.
Love you 'twins'
I still have to look HARD to know which is which.
I know, I'm a bad Auntie, but I do love both of them tons and tons, heaps and heaps.

Side tangent :The exact etymology of the term "boxing" is unclear and there are several competing theories, none of which are definitive.^[3] The tradition has long included giving money and other gifts to those who were needy and in service positions. The European tradition has been dated to the Middle Ages, but the exact origin is unknown and there are some claims that it goes back to the late Roman/early Christian era; metal boxes placed outside churches were used to collect special offerings tied to the Feast of Saint Stephen.^[4]
In the UK, it certainly became a custom of the nineteenth-century Victorians for tradesmen to collect their "Christmas boxes" or gifts on the day after Christmas in return for good and reliable service throughout the year.^[5] Another possibility is that the name derives from an old English tradition: in exchange for ensuring that wealthy landowners' Christmases ran smoothly, their servants were allowed to take the 26th off to visit their families. The employers gave each servant a box containing gifts and bonuses (and sometimes leftover food). In addition, around the 1800s, churches opened their alms boxes (boxes where people place monetary donations) and distributed the contents to the poor.

Family

 

Every year, at Christmas time, we all get babsitters and go to the Market Street Grill.  

It's been going on for a while now I think...........................right guys?

Anyway this year was no exception.

Dru's sister wanted to get a picture of the occasion this time.  So here it is, taken by an iphone.  It's the best we could do.  The ones up the back are a little blurred but, oh well.

It's always fun with great food.

I liked what I ordered this year and we eventually end up eating from each others plates cause it's way too much food.

It's nice to get out, just us adults, and there's always things to talk and laugh about when we get together.

I like this about Dru's family, we can talk and laugh all night long if you'd let us.

They're all good friends and I'm glad we all get along as well as we do, especially for the kids sakes.

The kids all adore each other, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Cuzzies make the best mates, hands down.