First snow, new stickers and old pictures.

 

So Saturday we did some major clean up in the yard. 

I got all the kids together and we went and put the berm to bed for winter. 

With all of us working together we got it done in a couple of hours. It was a lot of work and I'm glad the kids helped. Yuki was the biggest help. The rest of the kids were about as helpful as each other. They're just not self motivators like Yuki man. She's a machine. She's a Nakaya for sure in that way. I was sore by the end and forced Masaru and Takeshi to take over my spot. My wrist was hurting from all the cutting and my shoulders were getting sore from all the bending over.

Dru finished up the rest of the yard and Masaru found this chair. Can you see what's wrong with it?

We woke up Sunday morning and it was all white!!! It was awesome. Snow everywhere. So Masaru decided to go for a mtb ride to celebrate. Good for him.

Yuki took this picture on another day when the snow had melted a little. Just beautiful with the mountains in the background. 

The other kids played outside for the next 5 hours. They came in once for some hot chocolate and to warm their snow clothes up, then back outside. Here's some of the stuff they did.

It was a really great Sunday. I loved it. 

We're all living our best lives in front of the new fireplace. Thank you Dad and Grandpa. Notice Yuki has a blanket on hahahahaha It's probably 80 degrees, 27 degrees in that front room hahahahaha We like being cozy that's for sure.

We also cleaned up the shop a bit and put stuff away and in it's place and it's looking better. Masaru found the new stickers Dru wants on his car and so he and Dru put them on finally. They're way bigger and they love it. I'm happy they're happy.

Here's Masaru taking off the old littler stickers.

I like these kind of videos. Pretty cool to see the progress.

My art teacher from CCNZ is having a reunion with some of my art class to celebrate his bday. He's in Brisbane and so I've been catching up with old mates online and sending over some pics of us for a video. Great picture of me hahahahaha I'm in a hybrid of my PJ's and sweats. Nice Melissa, nice.

Here I am at my 21st bday party with Damien and Belton.

Here I am with my girl, Kat and Damien and Karaha. I love them.

Then here I am with the man of the hour, Bro B himself. I love him. I'm glad he's going to be celebrated and wish I could be there. I hope everyone has fun.

America, this Election and its people in 2020

 I've sat here for months and listened and watched and read different opinions about Trump and Biden and have some thoughts that I'm finally ready to share for my kids to read in the future.

Shame on some of the American people.

The judgement, hate, lies, arguments, lack of tolerance and willingness to have a conversation is disgusting.

My kids have come home telling me what other children have said to them. We all can agree, that 99% of children aren't doing their own research outside of their parents opinions, they're simply regurgitating what they hear their parents saying. It's disgusting and downright embarrassing. 

It's taught me that when I'm speaking politics in front of my children, that I need to be extremely careful about what I say and to make sure to remain as neutral as possible to both candidates, so my children have a choice of who they truly want to choose when they are old enough, AND that they know NO MATTER who they choose, their mum and Dad don't give a rip, and are just proud of them for voting, even when/if it's different than us AND that they can have a CONVERSATION with us about who they're deciding to vote for without judgment, hate, or threats. 

I've been truly disgusted, embarrassed and surprised at how people have been throughout this process.

I feel people need to look deep within themselves and be truthful when they post or say something out loud that is skewed with hate for the other candidate. The question they need to ask themselves, and be truthful about is 'Why am I saying/posting this' I think most, if truthful, would realized there is no reason for it. Do your own research, find your truth, but if to share it with us is filled with judgement and hate, keep it to yourself and do a little soul searching as to why you feel as if you need to divide yourself from a group of people that you usually wouldn't have a problem with, outside of politics.

We have a bunch of keyboard warriors in this new generation that say things online that they would never say to a person's face and that's disturbing. So online there isn't 'conversations' going on usually, there's simply arguments. That's disturbing to me. When did we throw out such blanket statements as 'If you are voting for (insert whoever in here) please unfriend me' I mean honestly people?

We are a total joke to the world as well and I feel sad about that.

We need to heal as a nation and it all starts with US. Stop blaming and start looking inward and making the change that needs to happen. One man can't have all that power. It all starts with US choosing connection over division. What is connection? Brene Brown says that connection is being able to tell someone something WITHOUT JUDGEMENT. We've missed the mark on that so much it's mountains in vastness. So we've stopped conversing with each other, why? Because we don't want the judgment. That makes me so sad. I LOVE conversation, I love listening about other people's opinions about things, really listening. It helps me grown, learn, see a different side of things and connect. I wish this, for this country once more.

You know when Trump was voted in, there were people who were mourning and wondering if they were going to be ok. Now that Biden has been chosen there are people who are mourning and wondering if they are going to be ok. IT WORKS BOTH WAY PEOPLE. There are people hurting and who have anxiety across the WHOLE nation. These people who felt it with Trump should KNOW this feeling and be reaching out with understanding and kind words and help with how they worked through it and uniting themselves together with their anxiety filled friends right now. That's the right path, that's the path of healing, that's the path of connection, that's the path to make this country great again to the world and seen as a nation of forward thinkers and intelligent people, kind people, people who love their country and love their people, not matter what. Committed people.

There has been history made here when it comes to women in office and leadership roles as well. There's Amy Coney Barrett, who is only the 5th female in history to serve on the United States Supreme court. What a wonderful thing and a powerful statement to my girls. Then there is the first female VP ever in history in USA. Kamala Harris is also a wonderful statement to girls and women over this nation and the world that USA is moving forward with females as the leaders and co-leaders of this nation, which I'm all for and proud of. Both these women are from different political parties and I've seen hate spewed out toward both of them in totally hypocritical ways. People hated on Amy Barrett when she was chosen then praised Kamala for her leadership as a female. Then People have celebrated Amy Barrett for being in a position of power and female and then spew hate towards Kamala. You can't have it both ways. You are either FOR women being in political power or you aren't. I voted a certain way, yet I can see the example, power and the movement forward in the right way for my girls to know they can do WHATEVER they want when they grow up because BOTH parties are changing the paradigm which I love. Why can't we see past our hate to see the bigger picture here?

NZ is a great example of this with not only Jacinda Ardern making history with the most people voting for one person in 50 years of NZ political history, but also have BOTH candidates female. So they only real choices were both female. How awesome is that? Love Nz and love that they've been so on top of female leadership for years. A country that's the first to offer female voting IN THE WORLD gets it people. So proud of my little country in the bottom of the world and for what they represent to the world and the leaders they've been and the example they've been as well. Way proud of being a kiwi right now.

I hope we can heal, I hope, as a people, we can be united going fwd and stop remaining divided. No matter who you voted for, can't we give this new person a chance? Let's see what he can do for us? Can't we offer him that? And if he sucks................let's vote him out and choose someone else. That's how it works. Him and Kamala have four years to prove to us that they're worthy to be there. I wish them the best of luck and will always respect the democratic process. 

I have hope in the american people, I have hope that they'll do the right thing and that we can come together as a nation and send a message to all, that politics can't divide us as we're better than that, we're smarter than that and our love for country is far more important than our hate for a candidate. 

End of sports, mtb, knitting, reading and beautiful autumn weather.

 

Some more beautiful autumn mtb with Hilary. 

Here's some stuff Masaru has been working on. So good.

Almost a disaster right here. I'm glad he saved himself. He had a sore leg for a day after that hard landing on it. I'll take it.

And here he is doing a really tough trail at EBP. I can't believe how big those gaps are and the set up for the jumps. The video doesn't do it justice. I had no idea until I went down and took this video. I'm so impressed that he can do this. Those gaps have to be 4-5 meters long. 

I found this cute drawing from Emiko.

Very cute.

I just finished reading this book. I recommend it to all. It'd help everyone that feels like they're too busy in their lives.

Takeshi joined solekids this Autumn season and was a total rockstar with it. I'm so proud of him for all his hard work. He's a great kid.

He did the final race and rocked his 5k with an 8:30 min mile. Super good.

Here he is with his medal.

Great season and I know he'll miss it. Broken nose and all.

Yuki finished her cross country season with a high as her last race was her best time and her best race overall. Even though she wasn't super pumped about joining, I think it was good for her and I think she enjoyed it. She's so brown hahahaha She told me the photographer told them to sit like that. She looks so preppy. hahahaha I'm bias but I think she's so beautiful inside and out.

She's moved onto bball and made the 7th/8th grade B team. They only had three 7th graders make the A team and that wasn't Yuki. She just hasn't played enough. It's been going ok. She's not into her coach so that sucks and they've put it on a 2 week hold due to Covid. So no more practices or games till November 16th. We'll see if they get a season at all. Finger crossed. What a crazy year.

This Autumn has been just beautiful. I've loved it.

Here's out tree in the front yard changing for the season. Yuki caught these pictures. We've been working hard this season with biking and around the house. We're trying to get the front berm to bed for the winter season and Dru is just finishing the back of the house. All he has is the boarder around the windows and she'll be wrapped up. Way pumped about that. The house looks beautiful.

I've been starting Christmas knitting projects and have finished two and have 5 more projects left to knit. So with it cooling down it's a great time for me to sit infront of the warm fire and knit with my hands while my mind wanders off in thought. 

Can you believe this set was all from the same skein? Super cute. It's for my mate who just had a baby. He'll have to grow into it.

My sweet Emikokopops just finished her soccer season and loved it. I was so proud of her. She learned so much and did really great. I loved her coach and BONUS, she totally scored her first season goal in this last game. So proud of her. She did so amazing.

Here they're handing out medals for the end of the season little meeting. We wrote the coach a nice note and gave her a giftcard to say thanks. 

I dont' wanna coach, so it's worth it to me. Plus I didn't sign up quick enough to help with snacks. So really it was a super easy season. 

I'm TOTALLY CAUGHT UP on my blog. Look at me being all awesome. It's only taken me all year. Pumped for myself about that and now I need to work on my family calendars as well as my knitting projects and a reading assignment. 

Hopefully I've learned from myself and will try to keep up. We'll see.

Halloween 2020

 

So I wasn't gonna do pumpkin carvings this year. To be honest I don't really get into it. It's a mess and it's too much work for the pay out. But despite my grinch like attitude Yuki convinced me to get over myself and purchase pumpkins for the family so we can have some traditional family fun. I guess everyone needs a Yuki in their lives.

The night went fine and everyone eventually got their pumpkins carved.

Here's Emiko's

Totoro

Turned out great I'd say. She had a little help from Dru and I but mostly did it herself.

Masaru did Pitt Viper glasses and I think it turned out great.

Yuki decided to do the hunger games symbol. Turned out awesome.

Takeshi decided to do a Harry Potter Deathly Hallows symbol. Turned out great.

So they're out on the front porch living their best pumpkin lives.

For Halloween night we all had a great time.

Masaru dressed as a 'girl' for a short time and hung out with his homies all night and then super late at night when all the little kids had finished their rounds, Masaru and his mates just walked around their neighbourhood. Well there were people who wanted the boys to just take all the candy that they'd brought as they didn't want to keep it all. So of course, all the teens took the left overs from everyone and consequently Masaru came home with over 14lbs of candy. 

Can you believe all that candy?!!!!! So stupid. I think Dru will take some to the Baja race in a couple of weeks. So that'll be good.

Yuki decided to dress up in army gears.

She went to two parties. This was the first party she attended. She had fun.

Then the second party she attended was with her other group of mates for a bday sleep over party. 

She loved it there with those friends as well and I'm glad she didn't sleep over with these friends, but the other ones. 

These girls seem to be a little bit more drama than her other group of friends. 

But I can't tell Yuki who to hang out with, just warn her about the dangers of drama. I think she was grateful she slept over with her other mates as well. So I'm glad she had a great night with both sets of friends. 

We're getting into the stage of her life where friends are everything you know and can make or break things sometimes. 

I'm glad she has plenty to choose from so that she has options if she needs them. Here's hoping the next few years can be ok and low drama.

Takeshi decided to be Pikachu for his costume. Thanks to Cesha. 

He had a great night with Dru, Emiko and I. 

We all went over to the Bleazard's house for dinner and after they were fed, the kids ran off to trick or treat together. They had a blast. When they had finished they came in and watched a movie while us adults talked and hung out.

Here's all the candy Takeshi got. Crazytown mate. 

HOW CUTE IS EMIKO!!!!! Thanks to Cesha, Emiko was able to dress up like Kiki from the movie Kiki's delivery service and she looks JUST LIKE HER. Such a cute outfit. Love it.

Here's all of the haul that Emko got.

We had a fantastic night together and apart and I'm grateful for all of our friends who looked after our family and made it a special night. 

Super fun Halloween this year. We needed it. 

Mtbing, new fireplace and some more hikes.

 So I've started mtbing with my mate Hilary once a week on Wednesday's now that our children are in school on that day. It happened to work out pretty great. The weather has been cool but beautiful and we've had some great talks and some wonderful riding. I'm grateful I get to get out with her once a week.

We try to go for a hike each week. Especially me and Emiko. This week we were able to go with the Harlins which was great. We hiked Castle Rock which is always a good one. Here's Emiko contemplating life. hahahaha

Takeshi

Me and Takeshi making it out on a mtb ride together.

So Dru's father and mother came up for the weekend to help install this new wood burning fireplace. Shauna played games with the kids all weekend and Mas helped Dru to install the fireplace. Rei his dog came up as well and the kids loved that. It was a mess, but worth it due to having this awesome fireplace installed. I.LOVE.IT. It's been so amazing and has kept the house nice and warm and cozy. It was a really nice weekend having them up and for the kids to hang out with their Grandparents. We're grateful they could come.

Panoramic of the top of Castle Rock. So beautiful right?

Takeshi doing what he does best.