Eating my bloggy words

I take it back.

This morning my kids are totally annoying.

Hahahahaha!

Such is life. I'm gonna sign off and go kiss their whiney faces!

don't get your panties in a bunch

This is NOT an announcement by any means, but the other day Ambrose did tell daddy that we needed a "girl baby" and I couldn't disagree. Thomas felt ganged up on. :)

But really, when I see things like this:
here

it makes me feel a secret little longing that I really didn't think I was going to feel again because I am content with my little family. We are having a great time with our sweet, feisty boys.

But, ahhh, there's so many fun sewing projects for little girly girls.

Anyway, I seem to be a little random in my thoughts these days, but what I am thinking about tonight is how much I am enjoying motherhood and how lucky I am to be home with my children.

I could get a full-time job and we would probably be a lot better off, but I choose to sacrifice all the "lot better off" stuff and stay home. Not everyone can or wants to make that choice and that's everyone's own business. You know what's best for your family and I know what's best for mine and this is my blog so I'm talkin about me here. ;)

When I think about all the molding and shaping that is going on with my children from the moment they wake up in the morning until the moment their chubby cheeks hit their pillows at night I get a little overwhelmed and feel inadequate, but we take it day by day and we try our best and when we get stressed out and aren't doing our best we can start over fresh.

I think every child deserves a nurturing, loving parent to be there for them and raise them well.

I feel like this time is so important not only for my kids, but for me too. I have learned to go without and learned to find fun and learning opportunities in so many different settings. I have also learned what my limits are and when to take a little breather or how to pick my battles...etc.

I'm so grateful for the chance to be with them - taking on the day with enthusiasm, hope, and love- in search of the next big adventure!

What is the future going to bring for our family?

I'm in no rush to have any answers these days, because even when things get whiney and crazy I am really enjoying the here and now.

This is a new feeling for me.

I am a girl who probably would have enjoyed many different careers, but who currently finds herself swimming in playdates, stickers, PB&J, potty training, forts, sand and sunscreen, marshmallows, number flashcards, car seats, story-time, tantrums, baby kisses, scripture stories, camp-outs, kites, library books, mum mum crackers...etc.

and it's a sweet place to be.

I know this is what I am supposed to be doing right now.

What could be better?

coming to you live from my office

I thought I would get my tests finished before class, but I can't so instead I am making a to-do list. Maybe I'll join you at the tattoo parlor ash.... I really love to do lists.

side note: Thomas once made me a little notebook of blank to-do check-off lists for a "just because" present. He got all creative with it. It was awesome. It had several pages and was used very quickly.

other side note: Sometimes I write things I have already done on a checklist just so I can check it off.

Side notes done, now for the to-do for this week:

last side note I promise: nothing on this list has already been done so I can't check anything off just yet, sadly. Not even the grading. Boo hoo.

finish pesky tests

take sick baby Asher to the doctor

get Ambrose a TB shot for this little weekly preschool group we might do

catch up on grading

clean our "apartment" aka- our bedroom and our kid bedroom... they are both severely neglected because I keep thinking "Oh I'll just deep clean it when it's time to move up to the new place"... but it's never time to move up to the new place. Face the facts Max.

Go for a run or two

Get 12 inches cut off my hair!!!!

Start making our pelmets (see sidebar tutorial for more info)

Maybe finally mail out the Sewing Society cards- I have like 200.... million

Finish the binding on our bedspread quilt

Get more sleep (HA!)

Do a couple good deeds

Write a few love notes

Read to my children every chance we get

Go outside every chance we get

Not let my son watch a show more than once a day (we don't even have a TV right now, but the computer is my crutch)

Start a top secret project

Feel content if I get even four of these things accomplished

Stretch
And here's an old picture of the band trying to look like tough guys just for kicks!


Ok, better get to class soon. Adios Amigos!

you wanna run too?

BYUH students, faculty, and staff can run this awesome 5k for Haiti that my friend Jonna is in charge of

aaaand in September there is the Hina Mauka 5k Dry Walk and Recovery Run in Kapiolani Park. I know September is a long time from now, but if you register now it is only $10 so even if you back-out you are only out $10.

It's a lot of fun. Me and Sheila are doing it since she will have had her babe by then and wants to run a race. Great way for all of us moms to get in shape. Join us! Sign up here before Feb.28th and you will only have to shell out $10. The proceeds go to a great cause too of course!

Also, both these runs are, of course, not on a Sunday. This is really rare in the running community. Seize the opportunity! :)

Totally worth it.

3 happy things this morning!

1. I was getting ready to teach Happy School this morning and so I got on the computer to print out their coloring worksheets, checked my email, and saw this:
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It made me laugh so hard I nearly cried. I should briefly explain:
This was from the Great Aloha Run on Monday. It is an 8 mile course. I didn't train until the week before, because I lack motivation these days and I had also never run eight miles before. So, I really didn't expect to do well. I thought I would probably walk some and run some.

I RAN THE WHOLE THING WITHOUT WALKING ONCE. I finished 8 miles in 1 hour and 22 minutes and since I never time any runs I do or calculate millage that seems like a cool fact to know.


Anyway, as the picture may indicate- I felt cool. And not just cool, but like athletically cool, which has never happened to me in the history of my life.

2. Thomas works more now, which is great for us financially, but we kind of miss hanging out with daddy all the time. We got used to the economy sucking over the last year. :)

Anyway, in the middle of the week especially we hardly see him between work, his church calling, and Upstanding Youth practice. Last night he got home late from practice and left before we were all up for work. I was feeling a little like a single parent and then I saw this:

on our bathroom mirror.

Isn't it funny how little gestures like that give purpose to your day? Instead of feeling like I was buried in diaper changes, laundry, timeouts, and endless snacks and kid shows I felt ultra-motivated to give my children a great day!

And now for the happiest happiest of them all!
3.
I finally saw a picture of my new nephew Lincoln Ben Jones!!!

Oh my, isn't he just so sweet, so precious, and handsome, and look at all that dark hair!

I LOVE HIM!!!

Congrats to my sister Ashley and her husband Ben!

THIS is the biggest downside to living in Hawaii for sure. We love it here, but we would LOVE to be closer to all the family. I want to hold baby Lincoln so bad. See you this summer little buddy.

an awkward stage, bless her heart

It's kinda late, but I feel like a chat.

I need change. I need a makeover.

I have really long hair and I love it, but my baby pulls it all day and maybe it's not as lovely as I think it is. It is also everywhere I look (shower, floor, baby's greedy fists...etc.) and that's nasty... so.... Plus I have always wanted to donate to Locks of Love and you have to have 10 inches to donate, and I could actually spare 10 inches so why not.

It's just hair. It'll grow back (she tells herself in a shaky voice).

Why is this even an issue?

I'm considering these styles:



When I ask Thomas he says go with the Nicole Richie (and that's the one in the middle in case you have no idea who she is. Oh and if you don't know who she is... bravo. You're kinda awesome.).

I'm just terrified it will end up looking like this:

and to that Thomas says, "then keep your bangs and don't part it in the middle" with a "DUH" tone of voice. He's entirely awesome.

Anyway, I am all confident about it one minute and the next I think, "Nah, I like my hair." So, does that mean I shouldn't do it?

In other news, I hate all of my clothes.

ALL OF THEM.

Raise your hand if you feel like you have been wearing the same outfit for like four years.

Me too.

And those same clothes have now been through two pregnancies. And if you are like me you restrict your spending to Ross, Forever 21, Wet Seal, Jeans Warehouse, thrift stores, garage saling, maybe a good Old Navy Sale...etc. You know, cheap, but can be awesome if you dig. The thing about those kind of clothes- they are cheap for a reason, i.e.: not meant to last even half a decade.

So I want new clothes, but every time I go shopping these days I end up putting most if not all back... and with two kids, yeah, wait, I DONT go shopping. Ever.

Part of my problem, too, is that I don't like a lot of clothes that are "in" these days. I guess I am "out". That's cool.

I need a new swim suit too. Real bad.

I want one like this:

Or something in the neighborhood.

This post is going nowhere, but I need a makeover. Or something. Apparently I thought you should know.

Ok, thanks. Back to your regular scheduled programing.

yep, that's when i knew.

It could have been when he told me we were going out tonight and he had already asked his mom to watch the kids

or when I was told to order whatever I want from my favorite Thai food restaurant, but make it to go

or when we arrived, Thai deliciousness in hand, to our dinner destination and I sat and thought: "When did he plan all this?" (because I knew he had a busy day at work yesterday and later that evening I acted like a big fat brat who didn't really deserve anyone to plan a fun date for her) as I waited for him to buy our drinks

or when we chatted after we were done eating and watched the surfers


waiting for the gorgeous sun to set

but it wasn't even then or when he then cleaned up our meal and loaded us up in the car to go see the stupidest valentines movie ever just because he knew I wanted to see it.

I was close to figuring it out as we rolled our eyes together and made snide jokes the whole time. That was pretty great.

But honestly, although he was so patient to let me browse around a clothing store prior to the movie and sweet enough to have purchased treats ahead of time... that still didn't top the

swell of adoration I felt for him when I saw him carefully scan around his seat after the movie to make sure he picked up all his trash.

THAT sealed the deal for me.

CUTEST VALENTINE EVER.

That's just who he is.

I loved everything about this evening Thomas. Even when every cheesy plot line played out exactly how we predicted it would in the movie. There's no one I would rather mock a chick flick with.


Glad you're mine.

liko in the middle!

Dear Liko,

Today we were driving all around the island getting stuff done and listening to one of my random mix CDs and when this song came on Ambrose yelled, "Oh good Mama! This one the Aunty Liko song!!!'

And then I laughed as he repeated that at various times throughout the song.

And then the song was over.

And then he yelled, "No new one Mama! Need Aunty Liko song again!!!!!"

And I thought that was cute and it's a great song so I didn't mind.

And then he yelled it over and over and the first three times I didn't mind and after listen number four I had to dash his Aunty Liko hopes and dreams and let it move on to the next song.

"Is this one the Aunty Liko one too?" I asked hopefully through his cries.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOooooooOOOOOOooooo!!!"

He loves you a lot.

We all do.

Not just my little family but all of our friends too because you are a true, blue friend.

So, in honor of today- enjoy "your song": Cannonball by The Breeders and some pictures I stole off your blog of you or ones you took of us.... yep, stole like a creepy stalker.

hehe










Happy Liko Day Everyone. ;)

thomas is playing battle of the bands tonight so i'm going to blog about this

Hey peeps. Doesn't this song make you want to dive in the ocean deep and swim and swim? Give it a minute- get to the awesome chorus especially. Magical.

Uh, anyway: I got looking at like three blogs tonight that talked about decorating and I was all fluttery and excited for them and thinking about the progress our little place is making these days.




Why are the pictures so small?? Hmmm.... well, let's just pretend I meant to do that to keep you in suspense for the final reveal??

Dry wall is pretty much done and so we've chosen some paint colors

a warm moss/light olive green for the main room, "sea spray" blue for our room, "vintage" yellow for the boys (I tried not to let the word "vintage" automatically sway my decision but it is a nice yellow- not that baby chick ugly unisex yellow that is on so many ugly unisex baby things- you know?), and then turquoise for the bathroom.

Turquoise you are screaming at the monitor????!!

Yep. It's to go with these sweeeeeet turquiose Anthropologie knobs we bought for the vanity in there:
cool eh?

They'll look quite charming with our shower curtain I think:


Yuck, all of these photobooth pictures are such bad quality you just can't see how cool the colors are.

Guess you'll just have to come over and see it in person when it's all done.

Don't ask me when that will be. Your guess is as good as mine. BUT- when it is- you are invited. Come over. A lot. :)

oh yeah!

I meant to post this forever ago, but a while back I was teaching my class so it was just Thomas home with the boys and he went to change Asher's diaper and when he came back to the kitchen Ambrose was drawing this:

all by himself!

He's drawn "people" before of course, but this actually looks like a person!

When I got home that morning and saw his masterpiece I was pleased as punch.

These boys are determined to grow up and there's sadly nothing I can do about it, but happy pieces of progress like this sure make the growing-up-and-not-being-my-sweet-little-babies process way more bearable!

happy school!

I was talking to my good friend Echo about the fact that we don't do Na Kamalei anymore and that I wanted to do something else. We both wanted to do a home preschool.

A little while later I was talking to another good friend Rachel about a playdate swap and somehow we got talking about a home preschool.

Way before that I had talked to another good friend Matti about, you guessed it, home preschool ideas she had.

And, wouldn't you know it, all of our kids are at the same age/developmental stage give or take mere weeks.

Awesome.

And then our good friend Ashley moved back to Hawaii and we like her and her daughter is also the same exact age as our kiddlets, but we thought, four kids is perfect, no, wait, five kids is exactly what this school needs! Yep, five's the limit. Let's do it!

And we liked the Joy School values, but wanted to be more flexible in our curriculum so we added in this idea and boom:

HAPPY SCHOOL was born!

Today was the first day and look at the little darlings:

(thanks for the picture Ash!)

So every Tuesday and Thursday Ambrose gets to head off to Happy School from now until June. We teach on a rotation schedule. I have three weeks in there somewhere where we will learn about the joy of honesty, mother earth (yahoo!), and cooking.

Cute!

Ambrose talks about Happy School like it's Disneyland or something. I love it.