Zombie's

 I went shopping and dropped my kids off at the play center.
When I left, they looked like this.
When I came back to pick them up, they looked like this.
My own little zombies...........
Works great on long plane rides and things of this nature ;)

Stuff.........

So Saturday I think my kids played the best games they've played so far in their short soccer season.
You should've seen them.
Yuki is like a shark circling her prey the whole game.
She never let's up.
She follows that ball like there's no tomorrow.  She never let's the other team have a rest and is always fighting for the ball.  It's amazing.  Dru and I just sat there in awe of our 5 year old daughter and her mad soccer skillz.
Of course I am somewhat bias but that doesn't change the fact that she was amazing on Saturday.
She also scored four times.  So since we promised our children $1 per goal she's soon going to make us poor.
I can't believe she made $4 on Saturday.......................I took 40c for tithing so felt a little better and now her piggy bank is getting fuller by the week.  Thank goodness soccer is only a six week season or Dru and I would have to start selling things off, such as our last two children!!
Masaru did amazing.  Every week he gets better and he does so well.  It was a rough game this week with fists, elbows and trip ups as well as knocks.  Masaru got kicked in the knee and got taken off the field for a while, but after some rubbing and walking around, got right back on the field. 
I couldn't have been more pleased with his bravery and efforts. 
Masaru's soccer team usually gets beaten every week and not by just one goal either, but a landslide.  I feel bad for him but it is what it is you know.
They don't get beaten due to lack of effort on the kids behalf, it's just team skillz.
They have a great coach and the kids are good kids, it's just gonna take continued practice to work together to make themselves play better as a team.   Once you get to this age, no matter how you play, you can't take on another team on your own. 
Every week they play better and better together and pass and look up for each other now.
Masaru was so good.  Like Yuki, he stayed on the ball, never let up, stayed beside the other team.
He's lucky he's fast enough to keep up with everyone.  I've yet to see a child outrun him on a stretch.
He even got the ball on the other end and ran with it all down the field dodging the other team and scored one of the teams only 2 goals for that day.  It was brilliant!!!
Dru and I sat there in amazement as Masaru showed us how it's done and we couldn't have been prouder.
We were talking about it for the rest of the day and the kids were basking in the compliments they were getting hand over fist from their parents.
It was wonderful.
I remember my wins and losses as a child and learned from both.  The disappointment when you lose is so hard to deal with especially when the other team was cocky.  But the wins were amazing.  Both are important to deal with.  But whenever I lost, I always felt better when I'd known I'd tried my best, which is what I try to teach my kids.
They don't 'keep score' on their games just yet, but if they keep playing, one day they will and I hope my children will be able to handle their wins and losses with grace and understanding.

I seem to be out of my depression of being back in Boise.
It only took basically the whole month of April to get over the whole month of March!!
I'm starting to get back into the grove and feel like my mind has gotten back to the place it needs to be to be happy here again.
I started a 2 week diet plan that Chris gave me to stick to.  He said 'Just give me 2 WEEKS MELISSA and let's see what happens'
So far I've done SO WELL and am ALMOST in the 170's FINALLY.  By the end of this 2 weeks I'll be there FOR SURE and say GOODBYE to the 180's FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE...............!!! Whooohooooo
I'm going to have such a great body as I work hard and eat right.  I'm pretty excited for it to tell you the truth.
Emiko's walking (freedom) I'm heathier than I have been in over a year and it's beginning to look a lot like summer around here.
Things are looking up and I'm 'one lucky buug'

Hanging out

Here's some video's of my kids being crazy.
As you can see we're looking forward to warmer weather so we can wear our new swim suits or togs as I call them.

Restoration

So I'm teaching the youth on Sunday.
The topic is 'Why a restoration was necessary'
It's been a really good week of study for me and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
I hope I can give to the youth the same experience as I've had this week.
I had a special experience that I WAS going to put up on my private blog since it was seemly sacred to me.
I had opened it, put the title up and tried to begin to type. I was told I should be putting it on my public blog.
I'm not too sure why but my goal this year is to have the spirit with me always and listen to it's promptings and more importantly act on them. 
So I heeded the spirit, clicked out of my private blog and made a note to write this down on my 'kiwi' blog.

So here I go.
After studying for a couple of days and taking pages of notes I watched this video {below} and after I'd finished watching it an overwhelming feeling of truth filled my whole body like a huge wave.
The Holy Ghost testified to me with assurance that this is what happened.
There was no doubt in my mind that I was being taught truth straight from the spirit,.and I appreciate the experience so that on Sunday when I testify to these girls of the truthfulness of the restoration I can have a burning conviction in my voice that will, hopefully, penetrate their hearts.
I want my few readers but more importantly my children to know that I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God and that the world was being prepared for a restoration of truth.  It's here and it's wonderful.

Don't mind me...............

 Just putting up some more soccer pic's of the last game a few days ago.
Here's Masaru.

 He's good at defending the ball.
They got taken to school by this other team though.  The other team played better.  They were all spread out and passed to each other and made some great plays.  It was quite amazing to watch.

 When Masaru gets fitter he'll be better also.  Soccer is a pretty cardio sport since you're always running around constantly.
He's doing well.

 Here he is trying to foot trip the other team........................that's what it looks like anyway ;)

 He actually (by mistake) took this one kid out.  They came together to get the ball and the other kid didn't have a chance, Masaru totally bumped him off and kept playing like it was nothing.  The kid went down like a ton of bricks and had to be taken off.
Once Masaru realized what he'd done he went over and said sorry.
He's just quite big.
Where's a rugby team when I need one?
I'd consider putting him in football except for the fact that football is HOURS AND HOURS AND HOURS of time and I'm not doing that, sorry bub.

 Here he is trying to get a goal.
The kid behind him is pretty awesome,the one with the black hair.

 If they could work together, the team wouldn't be that bad as the kids aren't bad players you know.  I think they're still in the individual mode though rather than looking up for someone to pass to.
But they're doing better.

He shoots he...............................just misses LOL

 Then we've got sweet Yuki who runs around after the ball like a greyhound to the rabbit.
She's committed that's for sure.
Wherever the ball is, there'll be Yuki right there kicking away trying to get it.
It's been quite cold so she basically has all her normal clothes on and we shoved her soccer top on over them.

 Happy to be kicking it in.
She's actually playing for the other team here since they didn't have enough girls.

 I like to call this the cluster play............

 Concentrating on kicking it in.  Pretty funny.

 Get it Yuki, get it.

 Now she's switched sides.

 Is it just me or does she look like she's being a little 'handsey?'

 We like to call this the 'karate kid' pose.

 Great shot Dru.

 Who's that girl with the elbows?   Yuki aye........................way shady.......

 Committed, that's what we like to see.

 Emiko's giving the mexican wave for all Yuki and Masaru's efforts.
Well done Emiko.

Straight back to more important stuff like how to get this hat on...................

3 more games and we're done.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't looking forward to it being done BUT that being said I'm glad we're doing it and I'll put them in again in the Autumn season.  They love it, so it's worth it to me, plus, like I said, I LOVED sports and want the same for my kids.  I think sports is part of what made me strong mentally and physically.

Two birds.......one stone

This past week I had some 'womanly issues' so went and saw the nurse at my OBGYN office.

So today was Stake Conference for our ward.
My OBGYN just happens to be in the Stake Presidency.  He's the first counselor.
So I'm sitting in a row with my children while Dru is ushering people in.
My OBGYN see's me and says hi and shakes my hand and asks me how the kids are.
I need to preface this with the fact that I don't think or assume to think that my OBGYN knows who I am.  I'm sure he sees my face and I look familiar but that's about all I assume.
Then he bends down and starts whispering about whether or not his nurse had gotten back to me about my appointment on Wednesday to which I reply no and then talks to me about what further steps we can take.
I thank him, he smiles, stands up and walks away.
I was thinking a few things......................
#1 I think it's safe to assume that he IN FACT DOES know who I am which is slightly scary as I hold onto the fact that my OBGYN's have no clue who I am, therefore can't link me to anything they've seen.  Stupid accent .......................
#2 How it was a little odd to be having the conversation in that kind of environment.
#3 How cool it was to be having that kind of conversation (for free) in this kind of environment.
Two birds, one stone people...........................odd yet seemly satisfying...............

Thanks Mum

So yesterday Dru left to go mountain biking for the night. 
After he was gone Masaru said the following to me.
"Mum I really like Dad a lot.  He's the best Dad in the world and I'm really happy he's my Dad.  He can do anything and is really nice to us and to me. I love him.  I'm really glad that you picked him to be my Dad."
Then walked off.
I wasn't in the best of moods with Dru leaving and stood there doing the dishes thinking about what Masaru had just said to me.
First off he's glad that I picked him to be his father?  So Masaru always knew he was going to be with me, but his father was up to me to choose?    That was my thought which I was laughing about.  I'm glad Masaru always knew I was going to be his mother no matter who was choosing..............
It also softened my heart slightly towards Dru and who he is and the impact he has on me and the children.
They love him, and for good reason, he's the best father they could want.
Which then switches my thoughts to children/wives who are less fortunate and have these loser fathers/husbands, which then switched my mind back to being grateful for my life, my marriage, my kids and how much love there is in our family.
Dru loves me and his kids and we know because of WHAT he does for us daily.
This is how come Masaru must feel the way he does.  I'm guessing he had a surge of feelings/thoughts for Dru which, fortunately,  he happened to express to me at the time.
If Masaru turns out like his father, I'll be one pleased mother.

Such a small moment that said so much...........I knew it needed to be written down.

Emiko's first walk

Pretty cute right?
For the first time Dru acknowledged that time is passing us by quickly with Emiko yesterday with her beginning to walk.
The time is going past fast but, for now, I'm not sad about her growing up.
I start getting sad when they go to pre-school and school and start losing teeth and getting baptized.  Things of this nature, but you all know I've never hidden the fact that I don't mind my baby growing into their first year as it's the hardest time for me, so far at least.
Still no feelings of wanting another child.  I'm actually relieved to be done to tell you the truth.  I'm excited to watch my kids grow and learn and for me to get my body back and stay back.
I love my kids and parenthood and hope I can do a good job.
I'm excited for Emiko to start walking so she doesn't rip up her knees or the pants covering her knees.  She wants to be where the siblings are and it'll be much easier for me if she's walking.
People say "Oh watch out cause once they're walking ............blah blah blah"
I don't see any down sides to Emiko walking and encourage it and look forward to it.
So cute.
Love you bub xox

Yuki playing soccer

She's doing great and we're really proud of her.The weather again was horrible, but we have fun.


Dru's more vocal than me which is weird right?

She ran after the ball the whole time she was on the field and even scored a goal.
Masaru scored a goal this week as well and played really well. He's so huge compared to his team mates.
Soccer's not bad

Like father like son.......

 Remember this cheeking face?

 Well here's another cheeky face.
My mate Kat gave Takeshi this Tupenu and he was really excited to wear it yesterday to church and be just like his father.
So Dru wore the exact same outfit and Takehi wore this yesterday.
It was pretty cute man and entertaining to say the least for the ward.
Dru and I both got a lot of comments about Dru wearing a 'skirt' and how great it looked.
One guy asked if I was letting Dru raid my closet........................
I'm sure people thought it was slightly weird but pretty awesome and that about sums up our family I think.
Then people started sharing their Polynesian stories with us as well as their Scottish kilt stories.......... I think we made people smile.

 

At least Takeshi has decent sandals to wear.  We need to get Dru some nicer ones since he's probably going to be wearing this Tupenu to church over the course of the entire summer with Takeshi at his side.

I had some people say to me so WHY does Dru want to wear this?

To which I replied 'Dunno really, he's always thought they were cool and now he's finally got one, maybe it's the cool breeze up his legs?'

I guess if you want the answer to that you'll have to ask Dru and see if he replies.....

I'm happy that Dru finally has it and he can wear it whenever he wants.

I'm also happy that Takeshi LOVES his and is keen to wear it, although once during sacrament I had to tell Takeshi to keep his legs down and together cause we could see his undies............maybe he can wear shorts underneath next time................

Date

First of the cruiser dates.
Me trying to record it for posterity and not quite getting myself in the pic.

There we go..........I'm in.

We ended up finding a groupon to a place to eat for half off, so we did that in downtown.
We were a little hot actually so had nothing to worry about with biking at night.
The food was good and the company was top notch if I do say so myself.
I LOVE summers in Boise partly due to this fact.
Love cruising and love Dru.
Welcome back cruiser dates, I've missed you.

Soccer

 So we're at it again....................that's right soccer.
This season we put Yuki in as well.
I always told myself that when my kids turn 5 I'd start putting them in sport. 
Well now I have two kids five and over I'm thinking things are gonna get busy once all four are over the five year mark............
Anyway last time Masaru played soccer he basically gave up, so we had a year off last year.
Mostly it was because I had a baby and I wasn't about to do anything that year since I go into shut down mode when I have babies.
But Emiko is over her one year and I'm starting to dress daily, shower daily and even do my hair.  Things are looking up in the world.
Back to point though, I changed soccer teams due to the fact that these guys practice close to a block from our house.
Masaru told me he'd go to practice himself last week on his bike, now that's the kind've soccer practice I'm talking about people!!
He has practice twice, but it's fine since he can basically go himself, and Yuki has practice once and we take her, so don't start calling social services on us yet thanks!!
So last weekend was the first game.

 The weather was miserable.  Here we are, after Yuki's game, supporting Masaru in his.  Our good mates have their son in the same team and they happened to get some shots of Masaru playing.
HOW AWESOME ARE THEY?
So thanks to Rachelle, here's some shots of his first game.
Pity they weren't at Yuki's game.
But as you can see, between the kids, chairs, jackets, pram and blankets I kinda forgot my camera.......

 I'm proud to say that Masaru did really well.  He tried hard and even scored a goal.
He needs to get fitter and when he does he'll be even better.
In my bias opinion I think he's pretty good with a load of potential if he keeps trying his best.
I enjoyed watching his game and he seemed happy with how he played.

 Yuki's game was SO CUTE!!
They basically form a cluster of little girls and kick and kick.
There's a ball in there somewhere and every now and then Yuki will look up from the cluster and give us a huge smile and wave.
CUTEST THING EVER!!!
So she's loving it as well which I'm really glad, cause it makes it all worth it.
I sat there watching her game laughing and saying how cute she was.
I'm sure when Masaru first started it must've been the same scenario right?  I guess I'd have to go back in my blog and see.

Anyway the season is only 6 weeks and I can do that right?..............right?...............

I also forgot that Masaru is in cubscouts now, which took me by surprize.
So Mon, Tues, Wed, and Thurs are full with soccer, cubscouts and church callings as well as piano practice.
I've come home from NZ and hit the ground running and I don't like it.
But there's nothing I can give up..................maybe my church calling?  Or force Dru to quit his? ;)
At any rate this is not me, I'm not a busy mum and that's how I like it.
So I'm a little out of sorts with all this stuff we have to be doing.
I'm telling myself though it's only 6 weeks and then it'll calm down to busy and not super busy.
I was brought up with sports and it was SO GOOD for me and I believe in it 100%.
I feel children learn so much from sports and being in a team,so much so that I'm going to leave it there, otherwise this post would get pretty long.

Masaru's piano is getting pretty good too.  I LOVE hearing him playing and he loves it too.  I don't have to be on him to practice and he doesn't complain about it either.  He's having a mini recital at the end of the month and I'm excited for him.  I'm even getting a little better at my mad ninja piano skills due to helping him out.
It won't be too much longer, however, when I won't be able to help him cause he'll be a lot better than me, and that's what I'm going for................maybe he can teach me later on who knows.
I've even started playing a little again and it makes me happy.

On a side note it's been good and hard being back in Boise.
Good because I'm with Dru and we've got Masaru back in school and have a routine and such but bad cause I simply miss my family and Kat.
I miss the ease it is to be around them.
I miss the company to be honest.
I miss the understanding.
It sucks not having them here.
With them it's effortless and there's no second guessing and I can handle the drama.
But drama with anyone else I have zero tolerance for.  I'm too old for drama and so if drama occurs I'm out the door and not looking back.
Drama is for the 20's. 
30's is for sorting crap out, knowing who you are and learning you don't have to put up with drama and can say no to people, and I love my 30's for that.
Dru and I are going on our first cruiser date for the season and I couldn't be more excited.
With how busy life is at the moment these cruiser dates are precious to us.
Dru also told me we have a goal of 5 mins genealogy in our ward and said my blogging counts.
So score for me.............................love blogging.

Want a laugh?

My brother in law sent this to me this morning and I had a good laugh.
It's pretty funny.
I miss these guys.

Sweet moves dude

So we were hanging out with our neighbours last night and had the best time cause of this game.
 I did a few songs and broke out in a sweat.
This is a lot of fun.
So while Dru was at a priesthood meeting we were partying hard at Shannon and Bo's place.
Out of ALL OF us though Masaru was the ULTIMATE champion.
Here he is doing some of his sweet moves. I just laughed and laughed. It was awesome.

My brother Haydn gave Dru a dress lava lava as well and so he wore it to priesthood last night.
So here he is.
Cutest guy eva!!!
Now what guy who isn't a poly would wear this?
My husband that's who.  Love him and all of his self esteem wrapped up in a great looking package.
That's why he's the only guy for me.
Love you babe.