Girls weekend and Valentines

 Emiko getting all creative with her photography. It'd actually be nice to have a photographer in the family.

 I really liked this saying. I think it's so true. There's good in both shallow and deep parts of our lives.

 Takeshi went full camo today. So I figured I'd take a pic.

 Bevin put this up on his instagram and I laughed so much. This is so NZ. Making lemonade outt've lemons man, always.

Emiko's latest and greatest family portrait. Super cute.
I'm a kiwi, Dru is a dog, Masaru is simply a bike, Yuki is toothless the dragon, Takeshi is a monkey and Emiko is a wolf. So sweet.

 I loved this story. It's so important to be kind.

This is all I did for my kids.

I give them some lollies and a note telling them how much I love them. That's enough I think.

I also got Dru a silicone ring like mine so we're matchy matchy and a top for work. 

He did a poem for me and it's beautiful. I should probably put it up here but it's kinda personal.

 Masaru helped build this step up the other day with his friends, Wesley and Kaleb. I'm grateful he has good friends.

Yuki's Valentines. It was all her. She asked Dru for help. Paid for the own candy and did it all. She knows the drill man.
She got 'Most creative' She was pumped.

I also got this valentines from one of her classmates who made sure to spell my name right in the corner there. How cute is that. It was really nice that he thought of me. So sweet.

I attended Takeshi's field trip with him to the silent movies at the Egyptian Theater. It's always great. Then Dru picked Takeshi up and took him and I went and saw one of my favourite people in the world, Amy Draper. She was in town and we had lunch together and did a tiny bit of shopping. I got to see Marlee as well and have a good talk to her. Amy also came over Thursday night and chatted as well with Dru and I. It was awesome. I miss her.

Yuki's solo with her friend Sydnie
The kids decided to have a talent show to show off their talents and Yuki hosted it with Caleb and Lucas. They did an amazing job at introducing and keeping the crowds happy.
I'm also grateful to the other grades that came and supported them as well.

Masaru, Takeshi and Dru took off to Puggs cabin Valentines day, so we started our boys and girls weekend on Valentines day.

I made this headband for Emiko's friend for her bday party. I think it turned out super cute. Love these colours.

Friday after school we came home and looked at all our Valentines and then hung out. We had some dinner and watched a movie together.
Saturday we went to a baby shower and made tiny plant pots and planted tiny succulents in them. So cute.
We then came home and cleaned for a second then met Caleb and Susie at the theater and watched Dr. Dolittle. Amy came too. It was great to be with her.
I loved the movie and wouldn't mind watching it again.
We got these huge cookies called Chip and went out to dinner afterwards, then Susie, Caleb and Lucas came over and hung out all night. Yuki had fun.
Sunday I taught at church. It wasn't my best lesson. I don't think people study, so I have to lay it out more for them rather than assume they've studied. I'll do better next time.
Amy came to my lesson though with Marlee and that was really nice.
We came home and ate and did our lesson together and Yuki watched Jojo rabbit while I painted my nails and Emiko went to her friends party.
Then we all hung out together till we went over to Nat's house for some dessert.
We skipped dinner this night hahahaha
Yuki had her friend Morgan come over and stay the night.
Monday everyone got up late so I decided to get up early and do some knitting and reading. I finished my book about a true incident in 2014 about two teens on a bus. I liked it. It was interesting.
I also finished one mitten and need to finish the other one.
Morgan and Yuki did some art then Morgan went home and we decided to do some shopping for the house.
We got trays for the succulents and a house plant for downstairs.

I chose a plant that said it was ok in 65 degrees F. The basement is a little cooler and I wonder if that's why my plants always die. I hope this one can live. It's ivy. Ivy is pretty strong right?
We'll see.
We also got a bird feeder and some seed. We'll see if we can attract some birds to our place. We don't have a cat so they're safe.
I took us out for dinner then we read books then I knitted and they watched TV till it was time to go to bed.

The boys didn't get home till 8:30pm It was good to be together again.
Relaxing weekend with my girls.

Drag racing, dominoes, knitting and nails

 So lately I put the feelers out to knit for people for money. I did a couple of things. First I put out to sell my headbands for $20 and then put out knitting mittens for $30.
So I've been busy trying to get these finished for the people who've been kind enough to support me.
I'm thinking of all the things I can do to make money.
After I've finished knitting I'll move on to the next thing.

I've been loving having my gel nail set that Shannon gifted me for Christmas.
Yuki and I have been having a blast with it.

 Since this week was Valentines week, we decided to do Valentines nails. Yuki came up with the idea and I did it for us.
Emiko doesn't get gel nails because she rips them off the same day.
So I let her choose normal nail polish and I do her nails how she wishes.

 Yuki's friend Sydnie was over for the weekend, so we did her nails as well. She was pretty pumped about that.
They turned out cute.
Yuki had a couple of games on Saturday and played really well. I'm super proud of her.
She's a really good player with lots of potential. I'm glad she's getting this opportunity. It's teaching her great things.
Her team isn't super good and so she's learning how to fight even those they lose. I know she gets frustrated but it's been great I feel.

Takeshi played with these dominoes all weekend. He loved putting them up and seeing if he could do some cool things. He did this awesome one right before this and Dru thought he was taking a video of it and it wasn't, he was taking a photo and missed the whole thing. It was the same as this but this one didn't fall quite so perfectly, the other one did.
Always the way right?

 Masaru went to a co2 drag racing event that they have each year between the Boise district jr high schools. The top 16 cars made it in and Masaru's was one of them.
Then they raced on Friday and Masaru's car came in 5th overall.
So amazing.
There was over 100 cars in the racing, so he did really well. If this was mtb he'd get a medal.
He was excited to be with his friends and have a day out with them all.

 His teacher, Brandon Hampton, who is also the mtb coach, is an amazing man. He's Masaru's favourite teacher and he's had him for three years. He'll miss him and he's been a huge influence in Masaru's jr high experience. Good teachers really make a huge difference in kids lives and Mr. Hampton is one of those teachers. We'll have to think of something to do for him to say thanks.

Here's the car that he made that did so well. He worked hard on it and tried to figure out the best way for it to be the fastest.
His friends came in first and 4th as well, which was awesome, and their school came in first overall, winning the competition as a school. So that was so awesome for the kids to experience.
So proud.

I'm doing pretty good.
I clean and cook and cater to this family so they can have a fun life and while I love that I also need to remember myself in this whole thing.
I'm grateful for my time at home, by myself, with no one, during the days so I can have alone time to do what I love to do as well and come up with ideas for myself etc.
It really is nice to have my days to myself. It makes doing this other stuff way easier since I know I have time during the day.
Masaru's rugby is going to start up here soon and Emiko's soccer. So I'm going to enjoy having our nights and being together while I can.

Takeshi

I love Takeshi. He brings something into my life that no one else can. He's a blessing to me and to this family. We'd each be worse off if we didn't have Takeshi in our lives.

 Here he is with his bball team mates. Of course he's holding the ball and smiling ready for the picture. So great. His team did really well. Yuki's two best boy friends were in his team too. So it worked out great and, of course, she was at every game.
For someone who didn't play before he did really well. I'll be interested to see if he'll keep doing it next year and in Jr High. The door is open, so we'll see.
I'm a little sad it's over to be honest. It was nice to go watch him play.
Oh well.

Then at his church group, that meets once every fortnight, he made this cute little bow and arrow set. It totally works as well. It's pretty neat. Here's a video underneath showing it in action.

I was so proud of Takeshi, as he wanted to be in the afternoon team. But his coaches needed more morning kids. So they talked to Takeshi to see if he could do the morning. He told them it'd be tough for him cause he's not a morning guy hahahahaha but that he'd give it his best shot.

That kid got up every morning and got himself to practice 90% of the time. He did so great and totally rose to the occasion. So awesome.

I think I totally baby these kids too much sometimes. Easy to do when your a stay at home mother I guess. They'd be on their own if I worked. I'm glad I'm around to figure out that balance.

I also learned this cool knit while knitting for people for money. This lady wanted these two colours but didn't want it striped more blended. I think it turned out great.
I've got one more headband to make and two pairs of mittens. Then onto my next fundraising thing........

Phone and life

I switched users for my phone.
It was costing $65 a month and now it'll cost $16 a month. So it's a no brainer.
But for now I don't have a phone, cause my old company's policy is to not unlock it for 60 days. So two months with no phone? That can't be right?
So Dru is investigating. We'll see what happens.
So no pictures to go along with this one.
I feel like ever since my phone was kidnapped a few months ago that I've never quite gotten back to where I was.
I just would like to have a phone and have it connected to everything.
I just needed to connect it to the van so I could play music.
Then Dru hits me with this new change in my phone plan, which sounds great, until the fine print. I'm pretty sure he'd work on it faster if it was his phone.
But when he can't get a hold of me, then it'll get real.

Yuki's decided for her electives that she's going to do Art and Japanese next year. I'm excited for her and not surprised.
It'll be interesting to see how it all goes.
Masaru is going to do precision machinery as well as Japanese. I'm excited for him. It's been a tough decision for him but this morning he told me that that's what he's thinking.
They're growing up man. It's crazy.

We got our tickets to NZ for this Christmas. We're excited and need to start planning. We wanna bring our bikes and so we're trying to figure that out you know. I'm trying to sell things to people to see if I can raise some of my own money to help out.
I'm thinking of knitting, making ANZAC biscuits, making lip balm and doing peoples nails. We'll see where we're at once I've done all of that.

Dru is feeling better in his neck and shoulders, so that's good.
So far I"m keeping most of my goals which is wonderful. I just need to push a little harder for the others.

It was Takeshi's last bball game yesterday and he didn't make the tournament team. He kind've new he wouldn't you know.
But he had a great time and I'm really happy he had something.
None of my kids wanna join the running club that we've been a part of for the last 4 years. Takeshi will be too busy and Yuki and Emiko aren't feeling it.
We'll see if anyone changes their minds.

Dru and some of the kids are going down to Puggs cabin over Valentines weekend, but I have way too much stuff going on that weekend to be able to go. It wasn't blotted out on the calendar and so I had no clue we were going and booked it all up and now I'm stuck. He'll have a great time though. His brother is going up there with his sons, and so they'll have a great time together.
I just hate that drive man. IT'S SO FAR.
At least Masaru will get in some hours for his driving, the part in Idaho at least. So that'll be good. His other cousin Kate will be going as well, so Masaru will be pretty happy about that.
I'll miss everyone but with everything that's going on for the weekend I"ll be ok.
I'll start some deep cleaning and watch some movies I"ve wanted to watch that I know Dru isn't interested in.
It'll be just fine. Emiko could stay with me as well since she has a bday party that weekend of one of her BFF's as well.  So we'll see what she decides to do as well as the other kids. I'll let them choose. Yuki has bball games as well I think. So she might decide to stay home as well. But we'll see. I'll give everyone their stuff before they leave for Valentines.

I'm feeling good in 80% of areas and down in about 20% of areas in my life. I'm trying to find that balance of being kind to myself and of pushing myself you know. It's always been a struggle for me to figure out that balance and so I'll keep pushing forward and looking at changes.
My goal was to knit for myself this year.
So far I've not succeeded in that area. I have knitting for various people to do then maybe I can look at myself. I'm not the kind of knitter that can have multiple projects going at the same time. I start and finish a project. That's the kind of knitter I am. Right now I'm making all the paid stuff. Then Dru's cousin and brother and my brother and a babyshower need doing........then maybe I'll start on my cowl. I"m excited.

That's about it for now. Hopefully my phone can get sorted out.

Kids, bball and reflections

Masaru went out riding and this is what he looked like. It looked like he was racing for his country hahahahaha. He loves USA stuff. The trails were muddy and so that kinda sucked you know.

So he spends more time at the bike park, which is a little more forgiving with the weather and allows them to ride and have fun together. I think he'll do part of his bday party here which is awesome.

 The other day I was doing Emiko's hair reflecting about how much my kids are growing up. I wrote it on instagram. Let me post it here.

I was doing Emikos hair this morning thinking about when will be the last time I do this? It made me think about how rapidly my kids are growing and I sometimes can’t emotionally keep up with it all. I’m grateful for the time I have with my four kids as a little family. I love them and I love us. New changes come constantly in life and I change with it. Some are easy changes and some are harder, but life keeps moving forward with change whether you like it or not. Adapting to change is part of the skill set we need to remain happy and in a healthy state. I’m constantly working on this, but the change of my kids leaving will be one of my hardest. I have hobbies, I keep busy, I have a great relationship with my husband, we have plans, but I know, even with all this in place, it’s going to rock my world. That change will be tough. I hope I can rise to it in a healthy way like every other change and adjustment in my life. Live and learn right?

 Takeshi wore a hat all morning, then took it off and this is what he found. He thought that that was pretty awesome.

Me and Dru just sending flight of the conchord texts to each other.

 Takeshi's been playing bball for his school and he's having a great time with his homies. Here's a random shot of Dru, Emiko and I watching the game.
He's done a great job.

Here he is with his mate Kai. Kai, like Takeshi, has never played bball before. Kai is amazing at it. You'd never guess. He's a gifted athlete. So I look forward to seeing what Kai will do.

Part's of Takeshi's games in video here.

Here's a 10 year span of Masaru. Here he is at 4 and at 14. Crazy right? He still looks like him just all grown up and not as cute and cuddly.

Here's what Masaru said the other Saturday when he got to the piano to play. So funny. He said "Ok let's play some queen to get the juices flowing for the weekend. Totally said it to himself. Crack up.

Here's Yuki playing a latest song. She's so good and I love to listen to them all play. The house sounds great with all their music.

Then the other day I heard Masaru listening to a band called 'The Offspring'

I had a chuckle to myself as that's the same band I listened to when I was his age. Full circle alright. But I hesitated to tell him incase he didn't think they were as cool since his mother listened to them and liked them. When I told him he said "I only listen to one of their songs mum" hahaha

The other day we got a coupon to go out to this taco place. So we left Masaru behind since he was tired from the bike park all day, and took Caleb instead. He totally pulled his weight by eating. I told him "I bet you can't shove the rest of that enchilada in your mouth.

Challenge accepted. He totally did it. It was a nice night out together and a cheap date with the family.

Yuki has been playing bball as well and is doing fantastic.
Her team isn't that great and so they've had one win and 3 losses and one really bad loss. It's kinda bumming her and her mate out.
But we had a huge talk about it and what they can learn from losing and this whole thing. It was a good talk.
One of the refs mocked Yuki, come to find out later on. Luckily for that ref, I didn't find out till we were on our way home.
So the coaches are dealing with it really well and backing Yuki up.
She wants to play for her Jr High and so I'm excited for her. Fun, fun.

We went to our mates place on Sunday for the superbowl. Not that any of us really care about it, but it's nice to be together and hanging out.
It was fast Sunday and so the kids were really looking forward to eating. It didn't disappoint.
Since we were celebrating Matt's 40th I knitted him a hat and it looks fantastic on him. I'm glad I knitted it for him and he loves it.
So that's awesome. Win, win.
I think I'm almost caught up.

Jerry Seinfeld and sledding at Koko's cabin.

 I surprised Dru with Jerry Seinfeld tickets for Christmas and on the 17th we got to go see him. I got him two tickets and he chose to take me hahahahaha
Here we are in our seats ready to go.
The seats weren't too bad. We were right in the middle up the stairs. You couldn't really make out his facial expressions but it was good enough.
Getting closer was more money than I wanted to spend for sure.

Here's our view.
He was excellent and we weren't disappointed.
So many comedians aren't funny to me or are funny but also are filled with rudeness or swearing. I get tired of that pretty quick.
Jerry is clean and funny and very entertaining. This is the third time we've seen him together. Twice in Boise and once in Vegas.
The fact that we keep coming back proves he's good I think.
Another comedian I'd be interested in seeing is Jim Gaffigan? I think he's clean and funny as well. But different comedians speak to different people. We like Jerry and Dru especially does.
I fear if Puggs lived in Boise he'd chose to take him instead, so lucky Puggs lives down in Salt Lake.

 Then the next weekend we went to our friend, Koko's place for some sledding. She invited us to go out, and has a couple of times, but we haven't been able to make it.
So we went to church, then headed out to her place.
Masaru drove and got some hours in for his drivers licence. It was fun.
Masaru's friend was with us for a couple of days while his family was gone. So it was fun having Kaleb with us as well. He's a great and easy kid to have around.

Yuki dug this out. Cool right?
Here's some videos

Here's Masaru trying to do a flip.

Here's his buddy, Kaleb, doing a flip as well.

Here's Takeshi giving it a go.

More craziness.

Some more closer up.

They're trying man. I'm glad they had a good time for sure.

Kaleb has some sweet moves.

Once we finished there we headed home and had dinner with a family in our church ward called the McFarlands.
It was awesome.
Great food and a great time.
We're grateful they fed us.
Great fun.