Kids

 So the other day, Jobecka and I decided to take, ours and some mates, kids for a walk in the foothills.  I forget that  you can WALK in the foothills sometimes, as I'm always biking in them.
It was a great idea for the kids to get their energy used.
It was funny the difference between the girls and boys though.
The boys, instantly, ran around like crazy people, up, down, round and round.  Emiko tried for a bit and then sat with me and ate.  The other little girl played a little then would ask when we're going home, then play a little, then ask when we were going home.  I'm sure Yuki would've played the whole time though.  Emiko never strays too far from me.

 We told the boys to keep running down the track till they found the rock that looked like an elephant.  You could hear Takeshi screaming from 100 metres away man................."I FOUND THE ROCK THAT LOOKS LIKE AN ELEPHANT, I FOUND IT, I FOUND IT"
Good stuff.

 Masaru also lost another tooth a couple of days go.  I've lost count.  I think he also lost it.  So maybe no tooth fairy this time.  We'll see.

In other news, it's Emiko's birthday today.  She's three years old.  Three years since I gave birth to her.  That's amazing to me.  In some ways the time has flown and in others it feels like it's been forever since she was born.  So much has happened in my life since then.
She's having a couple of friends over tonight for breakfast/movie night and we'll do a pinata.  That's it.  No decorations, cupcakes instead of a cake.
Dru pushed and pushed to do a cake, says we're breaking tradition with Emiko since we haven't made much of an effort in her cakes.  His statement is true, however, I don't think she cares, so I'm not going to make the effort.
 I've learned, in my old age, to eliminate unnecessary things where possible, and doing this cake isn't necessary.  It would hardly get eaten, and no one will really appreciate it except for Dru and I.  So after much discussion he finally relented and I'll be making simple blue and white swirled cupcakes tonight with 'Frozen' toppers.  She'll LOVE that and it'll be easy to eat and it's WAY less effort considering I'll be doing it all.  Dru didn't expect me to make the cake on my own, he was going to help last night, but I didn't even care, I just didn't want to do it.  So sorry Emiko.  I'll put in the effort when you care, promise!!!

It's also Masaru's birthday on Monday.  He wants the day off school.  So I told him that was fine.  His classmates also requested I make ANZAC biscuits for his birthday treat to bring to school.  So since he's missing his ACTUAL day, I made them yesterday for him to bring to his classmates today.
I had no idea that his mates loves those cookies.  I'm trying to remember when I made them for the children to even remember.  Anyway they're easy to make and I'm happy to do it.  Dru was laughing that I'm a legend baker amongst Masaru's friends.   'And it all begins'
More about his birthday another day, however.

Today I'll try to do whatever Emiko wants and treat her super special.  She's already in her Elsa outfit, prancing around the house all proud of herself and the fact it's her birthday.
She is so cute I can't even handle it sometimes.
The things she says and the faces she pulls and her body movements all combined are priceless.
What would I do without her in my life?  Not be as happy that's for sure.  She learns and grows right before my eyes and I love that I've been a part of every day of that.
I will never, and have never, regret/ed being a stay at home mother....................ever!!
Emiko is a light in all of our lives.  She cracks us up and takes advantage of all of us, with her cuteness and it almost, always works on us.  It think being the youngest helps.  She's my baby, but I know she's not a baby.  Sometimes I still call her a baby and I need to slowly move away from that.  I'll say "Where's the baby?"  or "Can you get the baby's shoes for her"
I think turning 3 will push me into less of that and more toddler things.  For instance, at some stage I have to potty train her............................I also need to get rid of her binkies!!!  There's two, growing up, things I need to figure out.
I love Emiko.  I'm glad she's turning 3, I'm glad she's my 'baby' and I'm glad to be her mother.
Love you bub xxx

Yves Amaia

So here's some of the best news ever.
Remember my youngest brother and his wife who lost their first son at 34 weeks?  So, so sad.
Well they JUST had their first daughter yesterday.  How's that for BEST NEWS EVER!!!!  Am I right people?
She was born at 4am yesterday and the labour was pretty good.  Well we all know that labour sucks, but relatively speaking, it was pretty good, not too long and the recovery is going well.

Here's what they said:
Here is our little dumpling, Yves Amaia Wright! Yves pronounced Eve and Amaia is maori for halo/rainbow. Middle name because she's our little rainbow baby,(next baby after a stillborn).7.9 pounds.  I feel like I've waited an eternity to feel this way again, I have no words. 
We are SO inlove!

How cute is she right?  Honestly, it's such a blessing for these two to have this beautiful girl in their arms and I couldn't be happier for them.
They are going to be the best parents and Yves is very lucky to have them.  I'm sure she'll be very loved and will love them in return.
That's a piece of flax plaited (braided) on her bellybutton.  It's Maori tradition.  I think it looks way better than the peg they put on my kids.

It looks like she's sucking her thumb here.  But I dunno.

She's feeding well and things are going great, well as great as expected.  I know mum's tired and a little sore, but hey man, that's birth for you.  Poor Dior.
How cute is this girl?

Bevin said her head wasn't too coned and so that was nice.  She's almost out of this newborn hat already.

They're at the birthing center at the moment and will go home to their own place tomorrow.  I'm sure they can't wait.

I think with the birth's of my other brother's two babies recently and then Yves, it's the first time I've had any feelings about a baby since Emiko.  Babies are quite the emotional thing aren't they?  I was getting emotional about the struggle they've been through and the joy they must be feeling and was looking at Yves and thinking how beautiful she was and had a little pull at the old heartstrings about how we'd never have another one again.  It didn't last long, but it was there and totally happened.  I surprized myself.
I think I'm simply elated for them.
We've got some cute babies coming into the Wright side of the family at the moment and I'm loving watching them grow up.  Yves won't be any different.

So little, so sweet.
So that's my good news everyone.
Love her to bits and am so, so happy she's here.  I'm sure Job (her brother) will be one of her guardian angels.

Weekend fun

So this past weekend I celebrated my mates 40th birthday with her.
On Friday I dropped my two youngest off to my mates place and had my eldest two walk to her place after school with her daughter (thanks Jo) and then headed down to Utah in Dru's work truck.  Cheap on gas.  Only cost $20 for a tank and a tank gets me to Utah.  Totally doable.

Dru had made a rack for his truck a while ago but never has had the opportunity to get it onto his truck and bring it back to Boise........................you're welcome babe!!!
Dru's father did all the work actually, of getting it on there, I just showed up where I was told and lifted what I was told to lift, then sat in the car after making small talk.
First words Dru said when I got back was "Now it looks like a real work truck"  hahahaha  Good job babe, it looks perfect.  I should've taken a picture of it.  Mad skillz.
Moving onwards.

4.5 hours is a long time to be left with your thoughts.  It was really good.  The truck is loud too, so I was left with my thoughts but with a lot of outside noise as well.  I stretched out the best I could so I didn't have to stop.  Yoga's paying off.

I got to my mate, Evette's, place around 6pm and we all hugged and kissed and had dinner together.
It was nice to finally be there and to be able to celebrate with her for the weekend.

History time.
Evette and I go way back to NZ before I was married.
I was back from my mission and looking for substitute work and she worked full-time at a school.  Her class was a bit of a rough class and I was the only sub that could handle her kids.  Others went running for the hills.
You gotta have a thick skin with these kids man, and I did.  I handled that class like no one's business.  The kids didn't like me though and would complain when Evette told them I was coming to sub.  I consider that a great thing.  They knew with me there was no mucking around and didn't like that.  I mean kids thrive on giving a sub a hard time right?  Not this sub mate!!!!  They were always grateful when she came back.  It was nice for her and helped me in my teaching skillz.
Honestly the classes I've taught over the years.............................I think I could almost handle anything!!
Anyway............I marry Dru move to USA, she marries the missionary who baptized her and moves over about 4 months later.
She's in west valley and I'm in Bountiful.  I have a job as a second grade teacher and guess who I get as my sub?  That's right...........Evette.  It only took once for her to sub for your class and you were hooked, so it didn't take long for the school to be using Evette all the time and she eventually got herself a full time job at that same school.  It was really nice to be teaching with her.  She kept me in line, and it's what I needed.
One example was this.................................. I'd be teaching my kids and she'd pop her head in and say to me "Are you coming to the assembly today?"  I'd be like "Yip, when is it?"  She'd say "Right now"
Hahahahaha and so I'd stop teaching, line the kids up and follow her class.
Details, details right?
I was a good teacher, I'm just not the best at all the other stuff, like detail stuff you know.  If you know me, you're probably nodding your head like "Ah huh, yip, sounds like Milz"

Anyway, so we've been friends forever.  We were talking on the phone a couple of months back and I asked Evette what she was going to do for her 40th and she said nothing.  I'm like "I don't think so mate" and we planned on me coming down and us celebrating and doing whatever she wanted.

Turns out her hubby did a surprise dinner party with her family on her actual birthday, which she loved to bits.  Her husband and I are friends too, as he served his mission in Tokoroa where I'm from!!!  So it's always good to see him.

Ok so back to Friday night.  I gave her two kids hugs and kisses and well and got to know them a little better.  I hadn't been to her place in a few months and so her kids had grown so much.  It was really lovely to be with her kids.  I love them both and wish I could see them more.
We went out shopping for food and make up and had a nice catch up.  Then we came back and talked and talked till around 11:30pm
Evette goes to bed around 8:30pm and so it was a BIG DEAL for her to stay up with me!!!  But eventually she folded and went to bed.

Saturday we woke up and I made cookies with her daughter while her son went to a birthday party.  It was fun.  Evette doesn't bake and so her family were thrilled that I was making cookies, FROM SCRATCH, at their place. They didn't turn out that great, but to all of them they were perfect, so that's good enough for me.

She wanted to take me out to lunch at a local sushi place.  I wasn't going to say no to sushi!!!!  So off we went.  It was an all you can eat place.  I can't eat that much sushi though.  By the time you have a few and drink some water your tummy starts filling up pretty quickly you know.  It was nice to sit and talk and catch up and just be together.
We did a little more shopping then headed home to be with the kids and play games, hang out and talk some more.
I eventually showered and got myself dressed to REALLY go out for the birthday dinner/party with some other girlfriends.

Evette was doing my nails and I received a text that said "Emiko's freaking out. She misses you.  Do you have time to talk to her?"
I sure did.  So while I was getting my nails done, I facetimed Emiko for about an hour to make sure she was ok.  She just wandered around with me in her hand and had the best time.  Thank goodness for facetime right?
Here's my nails, after they were done.

They're called jamberry nails.  They're like sticking, paperthin nails, that with a little heat, stick right on.  They've got tons of cute patterns.  Their website is https://www.jamberrynails.net/  if you wanna check it out.
I put on some make up and once I was done Evette and her children were shocked.  Hahahaha.  I guess I look a lot different when I put make up on.  I told all of my blogging readers the time I wore make up to church one Sunday and the RS Pres. asked me to introduce myself cause she thought I was new?
I simply said I was wearing make up today and had been in the ward for 2 years and it was me, Melissa Nakaya.
She was stunned and embarrassed.  I thought it was funny.  I scrub up well.

Evette wanted to go to Olive Garden for her dinner with her friends.  There were 5 of us.  Her one girlfriend came and picked us up, which was really nice, and we headed into downtown to dinner.

It was nice to get to know more of her friends and to talk the night away.  She has nice friends.

Then Evette wanted to go dancing.  So we headed out to a place to dance the night away.

Here we all are.  Hahahaha
It was fun to be together and to go out dancing.  Evette had a really good time and that's the most important thing.
The crowd was a little..............how can I say it.....................Sleazy?  hahahahaha
One guy touched me on the arm and asked me how I was doing?  I told him to get his hand off of me and to keep moving buddy!!!  Then I would've paid good money to have some sanitizer rubbed on my arm!!
It was fun to be together, and it was fun to dance, don't get me wrong, I LOVE to dance, but looking around at that crowd of people and such made me so grateful for my life, my children, my happiness, of course my husband and the relationship we have and the life we have together you know.  I'm so completely satisfied that I don't understand the appeal of going out, drinking and that stuff.  I almost had a feeling of sadness, looking at all the people and thinking about this kinda lifestyle and some of the heart ache that must come with it.
But that could be me judging, maybe it was all of their first times right?  And they were celebrating a mates birthday and didn't plan on ever coming back?
Maybe I was just in the wrong dance club?  Maybe there are some 'nice' ones out there?  I'm no expert that's for sure.
We left around midnight and laughed and talked all the way to our homes.
Then I fell into bed and tried to get some sleep before I had to wake up at 6am to head home before church started at 12:30pm!!

Sunday I woke up and sneaked around trying to get things together.  Evette woke up and we ate a little something together and talked for a little while.  I hugged her children then headed back.
I talked to Dru the last 1.5 hours and told him the highlights and lowlights of the trip hahahahaha
There were no lowlights, it was all fun and I'm so glad I went.  I love Evette and am glad she had a great birthday.  Everyone deserves to have a great 40th right?
I'm turning 38 in May, so put that in your phones...........................2 years from this May I'm gonna have a BIG party and you're ALL invited.  Dru can plan it all!!!  I'll bring in 40 with a bang and love every second.
My tough age was 30.  I dont' think I'll care about turning 40 at all.  We'll see though.

I got home, FINALLY, had a shower, got dressed and headed to church with the family.  Dru had been preparing all morning for a really yummy dinner for all of us later on that night.  It was so nice of him.  What a great guy.  Love him.

So it was a bit of a whirlwind weekend, but totally worth it and tons of fun.  I'm glad I went and partied with of my oldest mates.................wait, not like OLDEST like oldest as in longest...........hahahah
Love you Evette. (not that she reads this)

And just to finish it up with some cuteness, here's Emiko with her hair done like Elsa in her Elsa outfit.

It's her birthday Friday.  My 'baby' is 3.  Crazy right?

Valentines and Presidents weekend fun

 So this year, like last year, we went to the ranch house over Valentines/Presidents Day weekend.  It's a great tradition that I love.
Before we left we had Valentines parties up the wazooo.
I baked all Thursday to have enough m&m cookies for all three classes at school and their parties.  When you have three kids going to the same school it can get a little expensive/exhausting when they ask you to do things.  So I pick and choose what I'm willing to do.  This was one of the things I chose to do.
My mate Jobecka got me a card with some chocolate.  It lasted about 2.5 seconds on that card.  The message was nice as well.
Then on the actual Valentines Day, Dru surprized me with a poem he wrote, just for me.  I wasn't expecting anything this year, plus year after year I've told you the drama that goes around Valentines for Dru hahaha.  All I want is a poem.  Most, if not all years he's given me one.  It's always beautiful and I always love him for it.  He's great.

Yuki wanted me to do her hair cute.  She hardly ever let's me do her hair and so I happily did as she wished.  It turned out great I think.

We picked the kids up from school about 45 mins early to head up to the ranch house.  It's 6 hours away and so is a long drive.  We wanted to leave as early as possible so we could make it by a decent hour.
We didn't get there until 9pm.  After hugs, kisses and a little chit chat we put the kids into their bedrooms (they were in various places) and stayed up and talked with the adults.

 The next morning we woke up and people wanted to give Emiko her early birthday presents.  So we opened them.

 'Frozen' PJ's from Grandma!!!  A total hit of course.

'Check me out mum'
Super cute.

 Present from Auntie Brooke.

 'Frozen' themed again.  So exciting.

 Elsa's dress.  Total hit.

 Then her very own 'makeups' bag, hand made with 'whipstik' in it.  Bonus!!

Obviously this was a hit as well.

Then opening her gift from Aunty Les.  'Frozen' headband and a wand and another 'makeups' purse to carry around with her very own 'baby olaf'.  She was so happy.

 Taking care of baby olaf.  Hahahaha so cute.

Aunty Kristin's is gonna be coming on her ACTUAL birthday.  Which will also be a treat!
So after the fun of opening some gifts, we handed out Valentines gifts to the cuzzies. I just got each cuzzie a box of chocolates. I decided to get the adults something as well and write a message on it.  It was the first time I'd done something like that.  I dunno if I'll do it again hahaha
The kids, especially Masaru, were out ALL DAY playing on the snowmobiles and 4 wheelers and just in the snow.
Like literally, I didn't see Masaru until 4pm that day.  He'd come in cause I think he was hungry and his face was cold.  That boy is amazing.  He just loves it.
I did some knitting.

 Dru did a little bit of this ^^^

 Brooke and I decided to go to the local craft store.  It was amazing with many hours worth of work in there from some highly talented people.  I love looking around the store at everything and get ideas and just stare at, basically, pieces of artwork.
How cute is this apron?

 Come on man, who wouldn't wanna bake in this cow apron right?

Then this apron is simple but Brooke was telling me it was almost identical to her Nakaya grandma's apron that she wanted.  So we took a picture and, hopefully, she'll be able to duplicate it for herself.

That night we played 'Heads up' as a family and it was tons of fun.  I guess I should've put some of the video's up here.  It's pretty funny man.  I liked it.  Dru joined in.  He was the only male participant!!!
We got the kids into bed and stayed up talking.

Sunday I decided I needed to exersize and so got out the weights and yoga mat and did some yoga and weights with Dru and Kristin.  Then Kristin and I took her dogs for a walk.
Oh yeah, there were 4 dogs up there.  Everyone owns a dog or two bar Dru and his parents.
Being around those great dogs was just fine, but I was glad, and still am, that we don't own a dog!!  No thanks, and these dogs and cute and nice!!! True measure I think.  It's like babies, love them right?  Don't want another one.

Sunday was our nephew's 18th birthday.  He put his papers in for his mission and got called to JAMAICA!!!  Pretty awesome right?  He leaves in May and we're sad/excited for him.
So Kristin made dinner and dessert that night, with a little help from Dru and I, and it was a fun time.

We decided to get him movie tickets.  He also got an awesome camera for his mission from his parents and some much needed cash from the others.
Masaru also had a couple of gifts from his family.  He got some cash and a hideaway pet from Grandma.

Here's the hideaway pet from Grandma.  Thanks grandma, Masaru loves it.

So this is what Masaru has been saving up for.  He was almost there, and with the help from his family, he was able to purchase it.

He made it up tonight and loves it.  It's pretty awesome.  There are two people.  One of them has a camera and the other has ski's and a cool jacket with hood.  Then there are 4 husky dogs.  He's pretty pumped about the whole thing.  He's also got some money left over and wanted to spend it.  I told him to hold off as it's always good to have a little cash in your wallet, just in case.

Later on the night we ended up watching a bit of TV and playing card games and talking till 2am.  It was great.

 These two played so well together.  I love it.

Emiko just making sure she gets what she wants!!!  She's so cute man, but she can be pretty crazy sometimes.  She can throw quite the tantrum.  She's the best thrower of all the kids.  She doesn't do it much, but when she does, you sure know about it.  Like at around 4am in the morning when everyone in the cabin can hear!!!
Good times.
Monday we hung out, I knitted, we talked, ate slowly packed up and let the kids play to their hearts content.
We were heading to a mates place in Idaho Falls on the Monday night, as Dru had a meeting at 9am in Pocatello on Tuesday morning.  We didn't need to be there till 8:30pm, however, so stayed for dinner and hung out a little longer with family.  It was nice and relaxed.
We said our goodbyes.  It's always hard when a good trip ends.  The kids were upset about it and it's tough.  They're all such good friends.  Oh well.
We made it to Idaho Falls at around 8:30pm to Chelsea and Shawn's house and let the kids play for a little bit in their awesome basement and then put them to bed while we stayed up till 11:30pm talking to our mates and catching up on life and such.  It was really nice.

The next morning we slowly got up and played with our friends, and talked, had breakfast, played in their huge backyard, and watched a movie together.
Dru's meeting finished and he was back by 11am.  It was really nice.  We said our goodbyes and headed to lunch then Boise.
We got back around 4pm and unpacked, made some dinner and let the wiggles out then put the kids to bed.
We were tired.  Dru and I watched some TV then fell into bed.  Dru felt a little sick actually, like he was coming down with a slight cold.  Poor guy.  Hopefully he'll be ok.

Anyway, it was a great, great, weekend and we're always very happy to go.  It sucks it takes so long, but what do you do right?  You suck it up, travel, and have a good time then suck it up and travel some more.
Story of our lives man.  Story of our lives.

Latest cute pictures

Yuki got this assignment from school. 

This is what she wrote. 

'When my grandpa was alive'

'I miss him'

I'm sure you can guess my reaction. 

It's funny you know cause she's never met him, yet feels like she misses him and thinks about him. 

Dad would love her. I look forward to their meeting. 

Takeshis pictures crack me up. Look at him flipping. Love it. 

He loves this picture. He spent 5 mins telling me all about it. That's a cookie tree for Santa instead of leaving out a plate. Brilliant!!

These pictures make me giggle. Love the minds and wonderful drawings of children, especially mine cause I get to hear the process and thoughts, which makes it even more special. 

Masaru's Haiku poem. 

It's perfect to me. I love the picture as well. 

I love that he still loves kiwis. Makes me happy. 

On a different note, I was showering the other day and hopped out and heard singing.  It was frozen songs.  The girls were sitting on our bed watching a frozen sing a long on the TV, but guess who was snuggled up with them singing along?
That's right people, Dru.  That man barely sings, and here he is voluntarily singing frozen with his girls.
I wish I'd gotten a picture of it.  I thought to myself 'That's the picture and sound of a true father, a good father, the best father'
I'm always grateful to Dru for his service and love to all of us cause real men sing frozen with their daughters right?
Right!!!
Even if you're not a good singer.  Ask the girls if they care........................
I also believe that Frozen music must have magical powers as well.  Just saying.