So behind!

Holy heck I need to get a move on updating!

I have a bunch saved on my drafts but I can't seem to finish any...

So maybe, maybe not, I will get to actually publish them. Like my traveling with two kids story... MAYBE!

EN ZED Here We Come!!!

The kids and I are leaving in a few hours and heading to the Land of the Long White Cloud!

20+ hours of travel time ahead of us.

Did I mention it's just me against the 2 kids...

A little nervous...

But my eye is on the prize at the end. A nice vacation with my family.

WISH ME LUCK! or rather pray that the kids behave themselves.

Big News!

It's been a long time coming...

TOO LONG!!!

Way way way past overdue!

But here it is...

This is just the temporary license.
I get my real one in the mail within 10 days.

I am now officially licensed to DRIVE!!!

It's taken 10 years after I got my learners permit in New Zealand. 

Kinda lame but BOOOYAAAHHH!!!

So to all those who thought I would never leave the passenger seat... 

Miracles do happen!!!

Insanity Part 2

Man the second half of Insanity is more insaner than the first.

Initially, I was terrified to start it coz the first half killed me but lo and behold, I finished (with a few missed days here and there from kids sicknesses or travelling to Utah). 

I lost a total of 20 lbs. I still have 20 more lbs to go till pre preggo weight but I fit into my pre preggo clothes already so I'm not too fussed about the rest now. It is just a number after all right?

I might repeat the whole 60 days again since it is the most practical way for me to get some exercise in with my two crazy munchkins. But I probly wont be as strict as I was the first time round.

All in all, I think that Insanity is a great workout program for anyone that cant or dont want to go to a  gym. It's convenient and it is a fairly quick workout which fits in perfectly when there are little demanding kids occupying every waking moment. Plus it works! If you DIG DEEPER!!!

I actually finished it a couple of weeks ago but has been pretty busy to blog about it. So here is my picture at the end of my 60 day Insanity program.

LIFE

Life is precious.

Life is short.

Life is unfair.

Life is unpredictable.

Just a few descriptions that came at the top of my head when I thought about LIFE.

Life is a very complex concept. I can't think of how I would answer the 'what does life mean' question if ever Hyrum asks it.

This past week has got me thinking about LIFE...

A LOT...

And how I take it for granted...

While I was living my life here in Idaho stressing over what to cook for dinner, how messy my house is all the time and feeling sorry for myself for not being supermom...

My Tita (auntie) Hansen is in Australia was battling cancer...

Which got me thinking, I am in NO position to complain about my life.

I am dedicating this post to my dear Tita Hansen. To me she was a great teacher, an example, a strong woman, a DAUGHTER OF GOD.

Who lost her battle this morning...

We are in this world, in what we call LIFE, temporarily. Here we are tried and tested to see if we are faithful enough, humble enough, worthy enough and basically good enough to live with our Heavenly Father once again.

I am very grateful that I have this knowledge that I attained through my church. I know that there is 'life' after life. I know that there is a plan for us to be in eternal happiness if we choose to live righteously now. I believe that families can be together forever and anyone who has passed on will be waiting on the other side.

My Mommy (grandma) will be there. My Dada Puti and Dada Bingi will be there too. I will also see my sister there and now my Tita Hansen will be there, happily living with our Heavenly Father.

I take comfort in this knowledge. And so very grateful that I have it to rely upon when trials like this occur.

Regardless, I am sad...

I wish more than anything right now to be in Australia. To hug Arnn, my 'first baby', who has grown into an amazing young woman. To comfort Arianne, a clever little lady who has always had a lot to say. To play with Aireen, who's full of surprises literally ever since she was born and smart little Izaac with his irresistible smile and big personality.

And my uncle, a man with many talents. Strong, faithful, hardworking, fun and a great father.

I LOVE THEM!

We don't say it out loud in my family, but let it be known...I love them all!

It is ssssooooo hard to be thousands of miles (and dollars) away from family.

Yet, I am extremely grateful to be together with Maverick and our kids. We don't, by any means, have a perfect life. But together, our lives are perfect.

Cherish every moment. Count your many blessings. Enjoy the little things. Play often. Hold hands. Love life.

Life is precious.

Life is short.

Life is unfair.

Life is unpredictable.

Don't take it for granted.

Thanks for all the good times Tita Hansen. Lots of cherished memories will forever live in my heart. We will truly miss you but I am glad that your hardship is over and you are now in the presence of Greatness. 

Till we meet again. Aloha o`e!

Half-a-Birthday!

NOTE: This was written 3 weeks ago. And a lot has changed in 3 weeks.

This little tootie patoots is now half a year old!

Shes measuring 25" in length and weighs 17.3lbs Growing nicely and developing to speed.

It's fun to see her new antics everyday as she plays her part in our little family and shows her personality.

She is now starting to get the courage to go up on her knees to crawl. But she can army crawl pretty fast and can get into anything that she can reach (esp the bottom bookshelf, under the couch, bottom drawers). We have to be really careful now coz she's in the stage where she can find and pick up the littlest tiniest thing on the ground, which of course, goes straight in her mouth.

She can sit up pretty well which makes me happy coz somehow things get easier when babies can sit up already. She is also starting to pull up on things like the couch, laundry baskets and her crib. So we had to lower her crib already before she has a chance to jump off of it like Hyrum once did.

No teeth has showed up yet but I feel that they are close coz EVERYTHING that she gets her hand on gets eaten. And she eats them savagely! Like really eager and she makes a gggrrrrr kinda face in the process. It's pretty funny. Then, once you take whatever she has away she bawls like there's no tomorrow.

I started feeding her 'solid' baby food a little after 4 months so she is quite a pro at eating now. I havent fed her anything that I didnt make so far which I am quite proud of. I have made green peas, broccoli, sweet potatoes, lentils with gravy, carrots, cucumber, zucchini, squash, spinach, cantaloupe, watermelon, pears, banana, papaya, peaches, and apples. 

Cantaloupe

Asparagus

Then when we are eating something, she begs! And it usually works. So shes had a taste of big people food and LOVES it! 

She sleeps through the night most nights but still has to be held to sleep. I know I'm setting myself up for another bad sleeper but I've tried other methods and none seems to work.

Like Hyrum, she has stamina. And can cry for hours on end. We experienced this during a recent trip to Utah while on the freeway. She absolutely HATES her carseat and with no rest stop for miles, she cried and cried and cried and cried. Until we took her out and she fell asleep within a minute. Then as soon as she woke up, she cried and cried and cried again. So crying it out sleep training method is, yet again, not an option.

She is very sensitive about her face and is very good at swatting things that comes close it. Wash cloths, mommys fingers, spoon, binky, bottles, nose sucker, Hyrum. If she doesn't want it, you have to really fight to get on there. I think she learned it coz I had to suck her nose a lot and she absolutely hated it! Plus, she has to protect herself somehow from the crazy brother.

She's a little sweetheart who has a special infatuation for daddy. Sometimes I catch her just staring at him. So I tell Maverick then she gives the biggest warmest smile when he acknowledges her. Daddy spends a lot of time at work so when he's home, she (and Hyrum) loves it! And I love it too coz I get a nice little break.

Although, when she is upset, sometimes she only wants mommy. Which makes me feel kinda good coz even though I had to stop breastfeeding, we still have that special bond that only I can give her.

So happy half-a-birthday to my bebe girly! Please stay sweet and cuddly and loving and perfect as you are.

To make her half-a-birthday somewhat special, I made banana bread muffins and delivered it to my RS VT people in her honor...

and got her some bling!!!

And here's some more pictures...

Hyrum's Photo Book

I finished Hyrum's first year photo book. FINALLY!!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

You'll love Shutterflys award-winning photo books. Try it today.

Insanity

Insanity is a 60 day workout program that my ex-personal trainer husband recommend for me to do to loose my baby weight quickly and safely.

I was sick of my flabbies and I complained everyday that my clothes don't fit and I don't feel like I'm me yadda yadda yadda. And I refused to succumb by buying new clothes! Soooo...

I tried it out... And boy does it live up to it's name!

The first week literally my whole body except my eyeballs were hurting! It was crazzzyyy! But I pushed through and LOVED the much needed Sunday rest day.

Come Monday of my second week, I was thinking how insane I was to be continuing on with this stupid insane work out! But I still pushed through and made it!

I was getting the hang of things by week three but the good thing about Insanity is that there is always ways to push yourself. So although I was doing the same workout videos, I saw the improvements as I was able to push myself harder and last longer on each intervals.

This is me at the end of week four. Half way through the program and feeling good bout myself that I've lasted this long.

This was me before I started Insanity.

I kinda wish I did an actual face-on kinda photo to get a good before and after photo but ow wells. I've lost a total of 10 lbs and have really toned up on my calves, love handles and tummy. My stretched out saggy post pregnancy skin has also improved. Still a long way to go till my goal weight but getting there. 

This week is "Recovery week", so I'm pretty excited about that. Then another four weeks of insane Insanity!

Wish me luck!

Sick Leave for Mommies

I petition that all stay-at-home mothers out there also get a sick leave!

If you concur, say I.

This is the first time that I have been sick while watching my two little munchkins. And it SUCKS!!!

My whole body aches, my throat is raw, stuffy nose, watery eyes, 102 - 103 temperature. The whole shebang! And yes, i am speaking present tense. Yet I still have to put on a brave face at 8am and do my "job".

It's amazing what can happen to your house with two tornado messer upper and all you can do is lay on the couch, lay on the bean bag, or lay on the floor. My house is a disaster zone right now and I don't have the energy to really care. At least Halia is enjoying climbing the Mt Everest of clothes that is on the floor. Don't worry, they're clean...

I know I'm not the only one facing this ordeal right now. So to all mommies out there who just want to crawl into bed and die, I feel your pain! This too shall pass...

Mom and Dad

Hyrum often calls us mom and dad now.

Just all of a sudden and all in his own accord. On occasion we still get mommy and daddy, but only once in a while.

Yet another reason why my little buddy is not so little anymore...