Picture Time!

Chris has been on my case for about a year to decorate the house. I have been dragging my feet becasue personally, I need to be inspired before I can do something like that. But, him being gone last week led me to paint a couple walls, get some new greenery, frame some photos and just spruce the house up in general. So, my good friend Dani was nice enough to help me surprise Chris with a bunch of new pictures to adorn one of my walls. They came out beautiful. Lou is at the age where she cant pose anyway, so it works well. She is innocent looking and beautiful. Alli was a little more difficult but still got some great pics of her not posing. D on the other hand cant help herself but to pose. They are all beautiful and it was fun having our picture taken. Thanks DANI!

Hula on the Go

It seems that I learn about 1/4 of the hula that I know on the run. One time, Auntie pulled me from the side of the stage to dance in the back row and I didnt know the song (she thought I did). When I got out there, she danced along side of me and told me the motions to do. That was my first expierence of being thrown in the ready seat and it was not a bad one.

Also, I really love to dance tahaitan. It is a great work out and to the layman it is the epitome of hula dancing. So, I learned the first dance one week before the performance. I learned my second dance 30 minutes before the show. And last weekend I learned my third tahatian dance in the car on the way to the show. Lucky for me the last two were pretty easy.

I absolutely love my hula sisters. One of them gave me a beautiful mu'mum'u. It is blue and gathered in the back much like a formal or vintage wedding dress might look. I feel beautiful in it and for those of you who know me, you know that is quite a feat. Thank you God for giving me the insight to know how very important it is to have something for myself, outside of my family to look forward to.

Earrings

Dani's poor little ears got very infected. We took her earrings out and she vowed that she never wanted her ears pierced again. She has really had a rough go of it. First off, they pierced her ears crooked. So, we went back the next day so that she could have one repierced. We did the follow up care for the recommended eight weeks, maybe even four more and then stopped the rigid routine. She would clean them ocassionally but it no longer became my responsibility. Well, needless to say, she got a horrible infection on both ears and I took the earrings out and have been treating them. The worst part was that I had to squeeze her ears a bit so that I could get all the nastiness out. YUCK! It hurt her terribly and it hurt me to do it. They are looking much better now.

Mc Made of Honor

On monthers day, my one request was that I got to spend some of it away from the family. And... since I have a fabulous husband, he granted that wish. Mom and I treated ourselves to Sonic, bought some soaps from Bath and Body and then went to the movies. I met a friend and her mother there. You wouldnt believe how many other daughters had the same idea of taking their mom to see Made of Honor too. Any movie with Patrick Dempsey I am there. What a dreamy man! Anyway, my review of the movie is an A. I really loved the traditional story line and the incorporation of Scotland scenery was beautiful. It was one of those movies you left feeling good about and would definitely see again.

Home Schooling

So I have never considered home schooling before. But last night I had an epifany. I had a rough middle school experience. I (as most people) was very awkward and insecure. Boys were not interested in me ( I thought they should be I was/ am awesome) unless in secret (which has contributed to the employment of my therapist). I lost a bunch of weight, probably 20 pounds during eighth grade- mom swears anorexia, I just cut everything I ate in half. Anyway it was a horrible time.
Anyways, I am considering homeschooling the girls during middle school. I have so much peace in saying that. I would not start until Lou is in kindergarten and I would only have one girl at a time. What an opportunity for me to speak into their lives, spend quality time with just them and learn. I dont think middle school would be comepletely out of my scope of knowledge yet, so I would be comfortable with that.
I have fun thoughts about cooking together(home ec), working out together(PE), data entry, choir and of course the core stuff, but really incorproating it into life and just loving them. What a great time for me to invest and prepare them for high school and beyond. Also, they will have friends established from elementary so that when they transition to KHS they have some people they know. I really like this idea. Obviously Chris and I have a few years to think about this but praise God for the consideration and option. On that note, enjoy the pic.

Heffer

I hate how the scale determines my day. I have resigned to working out three times a week. Once on my own, once with Dani and Sarah and hula (at least once for two hours). I will not step on the thing again. It shouldnt pain me. I should take the bull by the horns and get rid of what I dont like. Easier said than done. I look at pictures of myself and I do not like them. I think I look like a heffer. That said, I look at older pictures of me (in which I thought I looked like a heffer then too) and think I looked good. Funny how time will do that to you. So either I am bigger now then I was in the previous pic and in another year I will look at my current pics and think, wow, I looked good then, or there is something with my eye. I love the new song on my playlist. Hope you enjoy love song too!

Hula

I love hula. It is mine, mine, mine. I remind myself of one of those greedy little cartoon characters. One of our last shows was at FBC and so I knew much of the populus there. They were a great audience and very enthusiastic. During the aduience participation portion of the show, I pulled my father in law out and made him come to the stage and dance with me. He was a hoot. He whispered under his breath (while smiling mind you) , " You know I am gonna kill you right." My only response was, "Yep, got that memo." Lucky for me he loves me and did not in fact kill me. He was a good sport and I loved every minute getting to razz him. The ladies in the large group pictures are my hula sisters. I dont call everyone sister, so that gives you an indication of how much these people mean to me. I look forward to every Thursday night when we practice for a couple of hours. The time always seems to fly by. When we have shows, it is an added bonus because I get to see them another day of the week. Road trips are the best because we really get to cut loose and have some fun, dance in the street and stuff. Wait, that is just me. Anyways, we have a show in Moses Lake next weekend and I am really looking forward to staying with them late all night, talking, dancing and just loving the time with them. Thank you God for this opportunity and these women. They are a blessing to me.

Happy Cinco De Mayo

Just wanted to give a quick shout out to my brother in law and sister in law. They are opening a new Taco Bell/ Long John Silvers today and I pray for all the best. Great job you guys. You have been working so hard and I know God will bless your endeavors.

Mutually encouraged

Last night was date night. Chris and I have been going out about once a month and I must admit that I was not looking forward to it as much as usual just because I didnt have anything fun planned. I really wanted to go play BINGO, but the games did not start until later, so that plan was squashed. After church at Crossview, we were invited to go out with some of the peeps and we did. Mom was already coming over to watch the kids and so we went out after she came up. Can I just say it was so much fun!!- yes I can this is my blog---
First of all, we went to one of my all time favorite restaurants Casa Mia. I love their bread. It is merely a butter delivery system for me. (maybe that is why I can loose those last few pounds...hmmmm)
The company was amazing. We chatted late into the night (well 10pm) with the Pasmas, Jason and other Crossview goers. These people fill me up. Josh and Laura are one of our favorite couples to date. When we leave their company I always feel uplifted. God please bless these people and bless their endeavors.

Couple Dating

This is what Chris and I do when we have another couple over for dinner or go out with another couple. We try to go out or have people over a couple times a month. For a while there we were doing it every week and our schedules are simply too crazy to continue that way. I was not in the single world very long and I must say that had it not been for couple dating I would not have had much of a dating experience at all. This is a lot like single dating. You have a first date (the first time you get together with the couple). The conversation needs to flow. You need to find things in common that you can talk about. There are several things to take into consideration when planning a couple date:

Will the couple be bringing children? Have age appropriate toys available or a movie for the kids to be occupied with.
Are you going out to dinner or making it ( I do not recommend going out on a first date with kids, dont need no pizza, they got food there- that was for all you movie buffs)
Ambience- music or not? Christian, rock, oldies, jazz?
Ask the guests to bring something- this helps them feel like they contributed something to the meal. Dessert or a salad is usually good.
If you are invited over for a first date and they ask you to bring something, dont bring all the ingredients and expect to cook it at their house. Be prepared to just heat it up, cut it or toss it together.
The menu is really important. Decide on something that most people like to eat. Something that they can eat part of even if they dont like the whole dish. Serve at least three things. Here are some suggestions for first date dinners:
Tacos, chips and salsa
Turkey Spaghetti, french bread, vegetable
Philly cheese steaks, fries, fruit
Enchaladas, chips, salsa, spanish rice
Mushroom burgers, fries, fruit
Or basically any meal that you are really good at!

After dinner, allow them to help you clean up if they want.
Be prepared to do something after dinner (delve into their lives and yours, play games, look at photos, make them listen to you play the piano- wait that is just me)
Keep time in mind. Let them decide when it is time to go. Choose a night where you will not have to rush them off. If it gets too late drop subtle hints about being tired or needing to go.
If doing a triple couple date, dont share a bunch of stories that would exclude a couple. Be mindful of including everyone.
If the date went really well, make plans for a second date right away. There is not three day waiting period like in the single world.

Well, I hope this helps all your couple dating needs. I will add more as I think about it.