The Party's Over

Today is my last day of summer vacation or as I dramatically told Thomas this morning, "My last day of sweet freedom."

I just typed out a way too long post about how sad I was to be going back to work tomorrow after such a great summer vacation and how much I long to just be home, but then I deleted it because you don't need to know every single inane thought that has drifted through my mind on the subject and it started to sound like I hate my job and was some sort of slave.

I do love to teach and I made the choice to take on the extra class and help out when I was asked to do it.

I just need to accept that this term will be my busiest ever and get through it. And that's that.

Sometimes Moms do stuff like this and that's all there is to it.

I will say that dreading this term all summer has taught me something though: I do love that I can conveniently teach a few classes in the evenings while my kids get quality time with their dad, but I will not commit to what I am about to do this term ever again because it's too much time for me, personally, to spend away from my kids. I am not comfortable with it and feel in over my head.

I know my kids are so little but I don't want them to look back on this time in our lives with a big question mark about where their Mama was.

Since I bit off more than I can chew, somewhat, I will be saying adios to a lot of the things I enjoy in an effort to make sure I am getting things done and spending as much quality time with my kids as possible. So, the blogging will be scarce, I'll have to for sure wake up at 5AM if I want to exercise at all, I can't imagine I will be able to attend most of the cool, fun stuff my friends plan to pass the day with the kids or in the evenings to "get-away" with this new schedule, and even the crafting will probably be non-existent.

Sounds like a sad existence to me when I put it that way! Really.

But putting my kids and family life first over this seven week sprint is so worth it. How can I miss out on moments where Asher and Ambrose show me how life would be if I would commit to natural hair extensions:

See you on the other side of it when life returns back to normal Fall semester and I am sure I will be checking in when I can since my poor Mama enjoys a good picture of the kids up in here.

Learning lessons over and over and over....etc.

When I work out and watch what I eat a little bit more I feel better.

When I play more with my kids and worry less about how to raise them we are all happier and they grow up just fine.

When I put time and energy into people who love me and reciprocate I feel content and complete. It's not like you're leaving people behind if they are not around to be left right? Follow me here.

When I get things done on my to-do list I don't have anxiety.

When we get outdoors we are happy.

When I read my scriptures and pray I feel direction.

When my clothes start feeling tight I should move my body and sweat more.

When I take things off my google reader that are just noise and clutter I don't miss a thing.

When I force myself to go to bed earlier I can wake up and work out and greet my children with a smile instead of irritation in the morning. (Trying not to think of all the psychological damage of having a mother who is genuinely annoyed to see them in the morning might have done to them. Yikes. No one deserves that.)

When I fearlessly pursue all the creative obsessions I have bursting and dancing around in my mind all day I feel complete joy. (Still working on the confidence to say that like I mean it and to actually execute said obsessions before they take over my brain!)

When I act like a 50s housewife and take care of my home, kids, and man with interest and love things run smoothly, our home is like a heaven on earth, and everyone gets what they need. Especially me. And that might be the biggest surprise of them all.

When I blog the things I want to remember forever, the things I think my family will enjoy, the things I want to share with my "honestly on to" pals, and loved ones near and far, and forget the rest, I blog without wondering who will think I am simple, or silly, or self-centered, or whatever. And I like it. Even if it leads to gigantic run-on sentences ok.

When I shower regularly we all win.

Peace.

Sundee Stroll

Hi. I am having a little FHE potluck gathering in my yard at 5PM tomorrow night. Or today depending on when you read this. Monday night ok? Bring food and lots of it and I hope to see you there!

Ok, picture time.













I love how Asher has to do everything that Ambrose does. All the time.

Have a great week! I have exactly five days left until First Term starts and I go back to teaching so we are living it up starting with the potluck. See you there!

Story Club

I wanted to keep the Happy School momentum going over the summer to keep Ambrose from drawing on his face due to boredom everyday:

Preschool doesn't start til August so every Tuesday morning for the last two months we have had the Happy School mob over for "Story Club." Each week there was a theme, and we would make stories, read stories, and act out our own stories revolving around that theme. So This American Life. So so fun. I would love to be a children's librarian and this was my chance to pretend.

Every week I would make the kids cheer, "It's Story Club today HOORAY!" Ah man, it was cute and funny. They got really into it and pumped their little fists in the air with great enthusiasm.

Anyway, tonight is the end of the summer party since preschool starts in a couple of weeks and we are going out with a bang!

We're watching Despicable Me, eating homemade pizza, popcorn, treats, enjoying playtime, and lots of imaginative, dramatic games.

This has been a fun little group of pals to be a part of the last couple of years. I love having a house full of kids who are engrossed in their make believe and working hard at having fun. I love the sights and sounds and the sillyness.

Camping Hawaiian Style

When you camp with your ward in Hawaii you don't just roast a few mallows, sing a few songs, tell a few ghost stories and call it a night. And don't get me wrong, I love that kind of camping, but now I have another category of camping to love: Hawaiian ward camp. We've set-up day camps each year, but this year we did it for real and it was a blast!

You might just have to see it to believe it, but here is a little glimpse of the awesomeness that is:
Devotional and Zumba bright and early every morning. All ages, genders, and sizes shaking what their mama gave them and howling with laughter as a result.

A carnival put on by teenagers for the little kids. Those teenagers might be the most nurturing, thoughtful teenagers on the planet. My kids were babied and oohhed and aaaahhhed over the whole time and they loved it.

Mandatory ward games at night. Like no joke, they will call you out by name over a microphone if they see you milling around your camp site. Once you get your reluctant buns over to the main tent you are glad because it's hilarious and just wholesome and inclusive. I wiped tears away from my eyes from laughing so hard over and over.

All ages dance parties. Thomas is convinced there is a special equation for music they play over the loud speaker in our ward: Jawaiian beat, slightly sexy (but not too much heh heh) 70's vibe, and sometimes just straight up old skool or hip hop. And they play it from the time we wake up until the movie at night. Just imagine it. Glorious.

Oh yes, the movie every night. A kid movie in the middle of camp on a big screen with loud speakers. Every night til midnight the kids are all stretched out with blankets and pillows in jammies enjoying some cute kid movie together like a giant family of brothers and sisters. Some fall asleep and get silly string sprayed on their faces, some get carried off by their mamas mid-movie (Ambrose), some stay for the whole thing before stumbling into their respective tents with their families around midnight.

The annual Dino-egg hunt (watermelons buried on the beach).

The local fire department pulling up for a demonstration of all the cool toys in their firetrucks.

Oh! We all tie-dyed shirts for a ward picture on the beach.

Being with the Parkers and all our other ward friends and having fun! I loved being next to Kristen's site because they kept bringing us heaping plates of Tongan food and it was da bomb. So generous and loving!

Two potlucks and tonight a talent show.

I'm sure I am missing something and I am purposefully leaving out the tantrums my kids threw from lack of sleep or my short temper when they threw fits, but I wouldn't change a minute of it. It was all worthwhile starting with the first night when Daddy and baby were already asleep in the tent and Ambrose leaned over to me in my sleeping bag and whispered, "But Mama, I thought we were gonna look at the stars!"

"Oh yeah let's go!" I said.

We laid out the Mexican blanket in front of our tent and he showed me all the stars he could find and gave them names. And because he is Ambrose he snuggled me real tight, and gave me lots of kisses, and said many adorable things, like, "Oh this is just what I was waiting for!" and "I just love you so much Mama thank you so much!"

Nothing beats that. I want these family moments for us and we definitely got them in buckets this week!

Fourth Favourites

Favorite image of the whole day:

Ambrose in his wild partriotic get-up streaming past some bewildered Chinese foreign exchange students. Fantastic.


They played so well together all day in honor of America.




Turtle Bay fireworks never disappoint... especially since regular fireworks are banned in our great state these days.



What's more American than fighting over shave ice?


I want a horse and to live on a ranch. But what's new?



Hello beautiful baby

Do you like being an American?


Where you get a day dedicated to curling up on a picnic blanket to have fun with your daddy

and your cheeky brother?

I like it too.

Look what we can do!: Part Four (right?)

This is our last batch of these unless you guys want to send me more, which we would all love!

Molly T in Florida made a special birthday outfit for her little girl Brooklyn.

I think it is the special details like this that our kids will remember... hopefully! Whenever my kids and I are having an "off" day I want to hold up all the "keepsakes" I've made or pull out pictures from a fun day as a family and say, "See, I can be cool sometimes! I'm not a complete monster... right?" Molly is a fantastic mom and I really look up to her so I love seeing what she does with her kids.


Rachel W in Oregon is actually visiting Hawaii right now! Here's what she was workin' with before her visit though:



I am always impressed with her ability to do more than one type of craft well. Thomas just photographed their entire extended family on the temple grounds the other day and we were looking at the pictures through the editing process and I just felt a great love for good people who love their families and do what is right. It's nice to have people like that in your life. I feel lucky to have so many good examples around me all the time!

Cammie Heaston in Utah is a gem. Seriously. I asked if people wanted to be involved in the service project knowing that it was kind of short notice and at a time when many people who would otherwise pitch in were on vacation so I thought, well, if at least one more person does it then that will be good. When I wasn't hearing much back I shrugged it off as bad timing and then one day in the mail I got this:

A fully completed quilt with expert stitching and even with Hawaiian themed, cheerful fabric! WOW! I was amazed! I know that the long-term patients at Kahuku will be cheered and uplifted by such a beautiful labor of love. Fantastic. Thank you Cammie!

I have one more entry, but I can't find it.... blast! Stay tuned for that one. Have a meaningful, inspired day friends!

Service Reminder!

I just wanted to remind anyone who was interested about the Society Service project! It's a fast, easy, and worthwhile project for sure. I did mine in an evening. Just 3ft by 3ft and it doesn't even have to be a pieced quilt. It can just be cheerful fabric cut 3' by 3' for the top and bottom. Whatever you like!

It can be as simple or fancy as you like. Here is one my mother-in-law, Linda, did:


So cool! And remember, you don't have to have batting or do any quilting because the ladies are going to do that on Wed night.

I know I have one more at least to look forward to in the mail soon. (Thanks Cammie you are awesome!!)

Anyone else? They are working on these Wednesday the 6th. Thanks friends!