Summer no more!

As our summer break winds down, the kids are finishing up their summertime activities. Dallen and Austen completed their swimming lessons at Leahi Swim School. They really improved in their skills and both enjoyed getting thrown up in the air by their instructors as you can see. Congrats guys - you both did a great job!

On most days, we just get to hang out together at home in the heat and humidity. The boys always seem to find ways to amuse and enjoy each other's company. Growing up as an only child, I think I missed out in this department. You can't always have friends over but your brothers and sister will always be there. Dallen took this nice picture of Chyler, who is getting to be a pro at sitting up in her tripod position. Her brothers make sure there's always a pillow behind her in the event of her falling backwards and her basket of toys in front. They dote on her quite a bit - she may get used to it and expect it throughout her life. Brennen enjoys being a little brother often irritating and imitating his older brothers. He still loves to hit balls and gets a kick out of wearing baseball caps. The kids are fun...exhausting...but absolutely fun!

The Potty Diaries

Since Austen will be starting at his new preschool on Monday, we are being forced to go all out with the potty training. URGH! Anyway, today he was home with me during a break between the 2 schools so we went cold turkey in underwear today and you know what? He surprised me - he kept dry in the same underwear for most of the day even when we went out shopping for a bit. He went poop-poop in the toilet not once, but twice! We have a deal with him - everytime he pees in the toilet, he gets about 5 Skittles and everytime he makes poop-poop in the toilet, he gets to pick out a special toy. He's been wanting Trevor train for ages and he really earned it the first time with (sorry TOO MUCH INFO) a load of poop in the toilet. Notice the picture on the left - I covered most of it with toilet paper but believe me, it was a considerable amount! Sorry about the TMI, but we're overjoyed! So was he...he was very proud to be a big boy today! Wish us luck for tomorrow! (The picture on the right are the contents of his poop-poop toy bag.)

Blabberings...

Some things that have entered my mind and other things I've noticed as of late...

I miss the escalator. Gosh! Count your blessings to be able to use an escalator! I went shopping by myself the other day and used it and WOW! It's fast! I felt like I was zip-zip-zipping through the store. Sometimes I risk life and limb to save time to go up the escalator with the stroller...come on, you have too! But, if I have the brood with me - then I'm elevator bound. I've come to detest Ala Moana Center's elevators - WHO DESIGNED THIS??? Obviously someone who solely uses the escalator.

Toes. I've noticed that Chyler's 2nd toe and 3rd toe are the same length and the tallest of the 5. I've also noticed that Brennen's toes go from biggest to littlest right down the line. That, and he has pudgy feet.

I hate car horns. I never have the need for the horn. 9.999 times out of 10 they are used for evil. When people beep, they aren't usually saying "hey, how are you"...it's more like "HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! " The other day, I was coming out of a gas station driveway, a bus was stopped in the first lane, blocking any oncoming traffic, so I went out onto the road. I guess the car in the second lane was trying to get into that first lane in front of the bus only to have little old me ruin it for her and she beeped at me. That kind of irked me but what are you going to do? People will beep and if it makes them feel better about themselves or their situation, then more power to them...I guess.

Costco always has trapped birds flying around. I wonder what happens to them? Can they actually live and survive in Costco?

I cannot resist a sale. It seems that even if I don't really need it, if it's on sale I just may find myself buying something. I've been trying to shop for Dallen's school clothes and I've already bought him enough, I think. But, Old Navy has their 50% sale so I HAD to go down and look. Then, I HAD to buy things that were red tagged for $7.99 which meant an additional 50% off even if he didn't need anymore clothes. Then, I went to Macy's and although I don't need a new pair of jeans...they were also 50% off so I just HAD to. It's an illness, you know.

I cannot eat half of anything from Milano Freezer. I buy the large yogurt with the thought that I'll eat half now and then the other half tomorrow. There has never been a tomorrow.

Lips. I think Chyler has really cute lips. It's the first thing I noticed when she was born and it's just more accentuated since she's getting to be a chub. She has such cute, full doll lips in the shape of a kiss all the time. She may have her Dad's head shape, Austen's cheeks, and Brennen's eyes but her lips are all girl.


Roaches are shiny. Their shiny backs reflect the teensiest bit of light and that's why you can smoosh them even in the dark.

Lad is dying...

I have to break the bad news to everyone...Lad is dying. At least that's what he's saying every 10-15 minutes the last couple of days due to a cold. Nevermind that I have had a cold for almost 2 weeks and all the kids have had either fevers on and off, sniffles, & sneezes for the past week or so...

Lad has a cold and now the world has fallen off its axis. EGADS!

As a tribute, view this funny YouTube video that is a perfect representation of every man on the face of this earth who has ever had a cold.



On another more fun topic, here's another fun bloggy-type thing to take a look at. I haven't done all the quizzes but the site looks like a lot of fun for times when you just want have some mindless fun or to get away from the Man Cold...

Patience is a virtue

My mom was a teacher and so often she would encourage me to take up teaching so you have job stability, good benefits, the same schedule as your kids...yadda, yadda, yadda...No offense to teachers because I think they do a wonderful job but a teacher I am not. I can't remember a time where I had any kind of desire to be a teacher other than that time I used the closet door and a crayon for a chalkboard and chalk. I think I wrote a large blue "M" on it. My mother was not amused by that.

I didn't have a desire for it, not because I didn't want to be like my mom - because in many ways I wish I was - but I just know I don't have patience to teach. And because they are the lucky offspring of a person possessing a low patience tolerance meter, my kids have experienced the patient meter expiring on many occasions.

If I could be blessed with anything, I desire to have a lot more patience. I remember hearing a talk given on Sunday during sacrament - basically, the speaker said Heavenly Father gives you more opportunities to exercise and build the qualities in yourself that you have the greatest difficulties with. Because patience is a difficult one for me he has given me a husband and 3 boys to practice my patience skills on. I do a bang up job most of the time!

Anyway, this whole tangent about my lack of patience is really to share Dallen's first experience baking by himself. Now, I don't usually allow my children to cook or bake - maybe pour something in or stir a little here and there - but never to do it completely on their own. Why? I have no patience, nor do I like their little grubby hands all over food I might eat. I know...that's another thing I'm working on...because I'm going to just die if my 3 sons go on missions and have no idea how to wash clothes, clean the toilet, or cook. So, I better put my heeby-jeeby things aside and just let them do it! Right!??

Okay, so Dallen loves to cook. Everytime I'm in the kitchen, he always asks to help. Normally, I'm cooking in the middle of Chyler's cat nap, Brennen's Caillou watching, and Austen's outside playtime...in other words, I'm trying to cook fast so that I can get it done while I have a chance. No time to be trying engage a 7 year old in the art of cooking.

To my amazement and before I knew what was coming out of my mouth - I asked him whether he would like to make a batch of banana bread. He said "YES" very excitedly. (You see, our banana tree gave some fruit and before it all goes bad, we're making banana bread like crazy people so as not to waste...)

Although I read the recipe to him, he measured, poured, and mixed everything by himself. My voice got a little high pitched here and there - but we both got through it and he was very proud of himself. As he should be because the banana bread was yummy - thumbs up from his Daddy, Mommy, and brothers. Here's a picture of the end result. Don't you want a piece??

Truly Bizarre

Lad and I love to watch this show on the Travel Channel called Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern. Basically, if you've never watched it before, this guy goes around the world and finds the most bizarre foods you can imagine and tries it. He's eaten everything imaginable - from various insects to sashimi you HOPE you never find in a Japanese restaurant to genitals of every kind to deep fried whole _____ (you fill in the blank). The show is a great diet tool because we always find ourselves watching during the dinner hour and there goes the appetite!

I'm a more adventurous eater than my husband so he is constantly asking me if I'd try this or that - I'm about 30% yes, 70% no way. The show travels to many different countries and we always talk about wanting to visit here or there...however, watching the local delicacies highlighted on this show leave us a little nervous.

The last show we watched, Andrew travelled to Taiwan and went to an open marketplace like he always does. There, he found something called "Stinky Tofu" or Chou do fu. I think it was a fermented tofu that was served deep fried and stuffed with other goodies. There was a long line for it in the marketplace so it must be tasty?? He went to another place where they explained how the tofu is fermented - it was soaked in vats of a grayish, thick sludge throughout the week, then frozen to await the oil. Just the look of the vats was really unappetizing. If you notice the picture I've included below - the tofu has that grey, green tinge to it. Ooh, yum!

However, I do love natto - which is fermented soybeans with a nice stringy, sticky texture to it with a lovely scent - so who knows, maybe I would love stinky tofu! All I know is that the guy who eats anything on the show couldn't take it.

Mari, the lizard

Remember my weekend at the beach where I got my back sunburned? Well, this week brings the peeling. I can't remember the last time I got burned enough to peel. I feel like one of those lizards we have running around our Bird of Paradise bush outside. (There are about 3 lizards - large ones - that we see all the time in the same places.) I am peeling - I'm itchy - and I want to scrub it till it all comes off!!! On top of that, we went to the beach...again...on Thursday where I got a little red tinge again.

So, last night I was rubbing aloe on my face, arms and shoulders. This is where Dallen saw my back for the first time and he (literally) exclaimed, "Oh Mommy, what happened to your back??" There was alarm in his voice and in his eyes enough to bring Austen around to look. Austen said, "Your back sore??" I assured both of them that it wasn't sore rather it was itchy and I didn't like the peeling. So, Dallen offered to scratch my back. I appreciated it very much since I couldn't reach the really itchy areas. Then, he offered to peel my back but was concerned that he would hurt me. (Your skin doesn't normally peel off like that, right?) I reassured him that it wasn't sore so he began. But, instead of peeling it off - he used his index finger to do a light but constant scrape all around my back. I told him to pull and peel but he continued his scrape which made me even more itchy. I certainly appreciated him trying though.

So, here I sit with my reddish tinge and my lizard-like back and I'm itchy to boot...but being in this condition gave me a small glimpse of me as an old Granny when my little rambunctious kiddos will grow up and they will be the ones showing genuine concern for me and doing things they can to care for me and to make me feel better. Somedays, I think I would trade them in but you know what? I think I'll keep the ones I have.

Dallen, Austen, Brennen, & Chyler - I may joke about trading you in for different models and wanting nothing but 5 minutes of peace a day, but you four have filled my heart with such tremendous amounts of joy and love. No one else can do that the way you have. I love you all very much. Each of you, in your own way and together, are very special to me.

Over the holiday weekend we...

We were lucky to be with friends on the 4th of July. We had water play in the hot afternoon, a movie, a yummy barbeque dinner, and fireworks to top off the night. Thanks to the Kurihara's for being such fantastic hosts!



And on Saturday our family did something unheard for us! We hit the beach two weekends in a row. Wow! I'm sunburned to prove it!



Ah, isn't the beach line beautiful?? Waimanalo Bay - it was really nice! Our family's favorite beach. Watch Dallen catching a wave!

Today's random thought and confession

I was listening to the radio while driving to work today and heard the song "Say" by John Mayer. Usually, I like his music and while I like the beginning part to this song (because it sounds like he's using an ukulele) the lyrics leave much to be desired! "Say what you need to say"...over and over and over! Just spit it out and say it so he can move on with better lyrics!

Then, it led me to think of songs that I just flat out don't like. "Red, Red Wine" instantly comes to mind...talk about WHINE. I hated that song then and now. (Remember the 80's??? I know it's not just me showing my age!) I also cannot stand Billy Ocean's "Carribean Queen" and Sade's "Smooth Life" (I think that's the title...) To show you how different we are, Lad loves these 2 songs! When they come on the radio, he cranks it up. He says it reminds him of the youth dances way back when, when he was in the youth program. He also loves the BeeGees. Yah, all right...whatever.

I have to admit that my very first concert was Menudo at the Waikiki Shell. My mom took me and I even wore a button. Okay, I'm really embarrassed. But in my 7th grade year, my music world totally changed when I heard the album "Slippery When Wet". "You Give Love a Bad Name" can still give me chills and send me right back to that first time! I was, am, will always be a huge Bon Jovi fan. I saw them twice and those concerts are still highlights in my life. During my intermediate and high school life, I gravitated towards music by Guns N Roses, Motley, Def Leppard, Cinderella, Skid Row...ah, the memories. My poor parents.

Oh, I thought of some others I can't stand. "Addicted to Love" by Peter Gabriel and "Everybody Wang Chung" by Wang Chung. How exactly do you Wang Chung?? Oh, I'm getting 80's flashbacks!