Spring Cleaning Is In The Air. . . . . :D

I am so HAPPY w/the way the weather has been this past week so far that we OFFICIALLY started our 'SPRING CLEANING' yesterday!!  Woo hoo!!  Lol.  Our vacuum has been out of service 4 the past week & a half & I've been literally DISGUSTED w/our upstairs living room.  Ugh. . . .When I finally got home yesterday 4rom running errands in Salt Lake & planning our Mother's Day weekend w/my sister, I marinated our ground beef 4 some juicy & oh so tasty teriyaki burgers. . . . . .I decided 2 tackle the living room 1st.  I got our broom out of the pantry & started sweeping my heart out.  Lol.  It took me an hour & a half 2 get it all clean & refreshed!!  :D  

Aaliyah & Lote were assigned the kitchen, which I must say, they did a FANTASTIC job!!  :D  Lote unloaded/loaded the dishwasher while Aaliyah wiped our dinette set down as well as the countertops.  I ran 2 the store 2 grab some Febreeze as well as those things 2 get pet hairs off of furniture, clothing, etc. . . . .When I got home, Hoko was all over the yard mowing it.  :D  I was so HAPPY!!  I thought that maybe he'd be too tired since he'd been up since 4 am 2 get ready 4 work & didn't get home until 7 pm.  I'm definitely PROUD of my hardworker!!  :D  I unzipped the covers 4 our cushions on our couch & threw them in the washer, set it 2 'HAND WASH' mode & let her rip.  Lol.  My only mistake was throwing them in the dryer afterwards cause there was some type of wax that melted in the dryer.  Ooops!!  And this is the 2nd time I've done this.  :(  The 1st time was w/the covers 4 our sectional.  Lucky thing this mistake wasn't as BIG as the 1st one.  So we took 'em out of the dryer when they were done & zipped 'em back on & they're as good as new.  Lol.  At least they are 2 me.  Hahahaha!!  I also tackled getting ALL bazillion of Titan's hair off of the couches.  Hoi. . . . .I can't believe how much hair our son can shed especially w/him being a short-haired dog.  Lol.  But my husband has assigned our girls 2 take turns daily in brushing Titan's hair out in the backyard in order 2 keep him well groomed as well as keep his hair off of our furniture & clothes.  :D

We finally sat down 2 dinner & chowed down on some teriyaki burgers & french fries.  It was a great day/night & the kids went 2 sleep w/out any fuss 4rom the long day of SPRING CLEANING.  :D  It gave Hoko & I a chance 2 talk about our day & 2 just continue 2 keep that open line of communication which I CHERISH so much in our marriage.  I booked an appointment w/Stanley Steemers 2 come in Friday between 9am-noon 2 carpet clean our living room, hallway, & staircase.  Woo hoo!!  :D  With 5 very healthy & active kids, a dog, parents, & a brother all under the same roof??  We've decided it best 2 carpet clean our home @ least once every 2 months.  Lol.  Or even once a month.  We'll see how it goes. . . . . This was our 1st day of SPRING CLEANING as of yesterday that I wanted 2 share.  2day's going 2 be even more GORGEOUS than yesterday so we might make a SWIM day out of it or we may just go hang out @ the park.  And yet I'm still waiting 4 my son 2 wake up.  Lol.  With this beautiful weather we get 2 enjoy this week, I might have 2 plan on a hike.  :D  This is us & a peak into our lives!!  :D  Enjoy!!

Self Reliance Is Key. . . . :D

Topic in Relief Society's lesson yesterday was on SELF RELIANCE.  I loved it.  It made me realize how much I take advantage of so many things living here in this great land of AMERICA.  Many of our Relief Society sisters shared how they would grow their own fruits & vegetables back when they lived in the islands, but how they've taken advantage of the fact that they live here in America now & can just run 2 the grocery store & buy 'em.  One of the sisters shared how she can easily make jam 4rom fruits, but how she hasn't done so since leaving the islands.  

With all these stories being shared, I thought 2 myself that I, too, can start a garden in my yard & grow the veggies that we use in our household.  With Hoko back 2 work now & me joining him w/in the next couple of weeks, we've talked a lot about getting our food storage on track as well as growing our own fruits & vegetables.  I'm so EXCITED 2 say that this project will be starting 2day.  I was very surprised (I don't know why) 2 find all the information I need 2 start gardening on the LDS.org website.  Every bit of info I need 2 get started & even 2 maintain it is on there.  I am even more confident that I can actually undertake this project now.  :D  I love what the Relief Society stands 4 & the way they help each individual sister come closer 2 our Savior as well as the skills we are taught so that we can become more SELF RELIANT.  I will always be 4ever GRATEFUL 4 the gospel in my life & what it continually does 2 help me as a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend & so forth. . . . . .  

X-Men Origins. . . .Woo Hoo!! :D

So my husband & I both grew up watching X-Men & have seen every movie that's come out.  :D  We're so EXCITED 2 see the latest one:  X-Men Origins, tonight.  Woo hoo!!  After watching 2 movies last weekend that didn't turn out as great as we had anticipated them 2 be, we really need this one 2 be a HIT!!  Lol.  My brother & his girlfriend went 2 the midnight showing last night & they absolutely LOVED it.  :D  

So that's definitely heightened the EXCITEMENT level!!  They are showing it on 3 different screens 2night @ 'The District' & all of the 7 o'clock showings are pretty much sold out.  :(  I finally reached the 8:40 pm showing & they're all pretty open so that's the show we're gonna catch 2night.  Woo hoo!!  I'm so so so EXCITED!!  :D  I'll definitely update on my thoughts of the movie later 2night when we get back.  Yay!!  :D

A Little Under The Weather?? And A Little Bit Too Tired!! :D

So as you know, my husbands 1st week back 2 work is this week.  He was so EXCITED, but now feels like crap since he's caught the flu or something.  I'm going on 26 weeks w/my pregnancy & can honestly say that I've never felt better!!  :D  Heath wise, that it.  :D  I've been staying consistent w/my workouts & I feel great.  It cured my morning sickness & I haven't had any back aches!!  :D  But yesterday, 4 the life of me, I was so EXHAUSTED.  Like I ran a marathon over the weekend or something.  Lol.  I kept trying 2 get myself up & moving around, but all my body could do was sleep on & off all day long!!  :(  

I know this is a normal part of being pregnant, but because I've been really staying on top of my health & well being, I honestly thought that that wouldn't be the case w/me this time around.  I slept pretty much all of my 1st 2 months & figured that I was over the sleeping stage.  I know my tiredness came a lot from having 2 get up @ 4:45 am Mon & Tues 2 drop my husband off 2 one of his co-workers' house, which is no more than a 5 min drive 4rom here so they can carpool 2 work.  2day was the 1st day I didn't have 2 get up cause his co-workers now know the way 2 our home & I can honestly feel the difference.  So I guess what I'm trying 2 say is that my sleepiness is CURED & I feel GREAT 2day!!  :D  Lol.  I'm not sure how long I would've been able 2 manage being so tired all the time w/o going crazy.  I felt so unproductive yesterday & Monday, but I'm very HAPPY that's no longer case.  :D  

2day is starting out 2 be another very PRODUCTIVE day.  The 2 older ones are @ school.  I'm scheduled 4 a 1 hr appointment on my elyptical 4rom 10:30-11:30 & then I'm gonna shoot over 2 Jordan Landing & have lunch w/my BESTEST BUD, Kass!! :D  Then home 2 study some more 4 my real estate exam, pick up the girls 4rom school, take Polu 2 her gymnastics, & rush all 3 older girls 2 their Polynesian Dance practice right after. . . . .Whew!!  Lol.  And then head home 2 make dinner 4 us all!!  Hahaha!!  It's going 2 be GREAT!!  :D  I love it!!  

Hoko & I have been addicted 2 'The Apprentice' lately!!  Or should I say that I've been addicted 2 it & he has no choice, but 2 watch 'em w/me.  Hahaha!!  It's great cause my girls have been sucked in 2 this new addiction of mine & are true fans as well.  I'd so much rather have them watching 'The Apprentice' then the Disney channel.  No joke.  During 1 of the episodes last night, Aaliyah turned 2 me & said, "That Donald Trump is a very smart businessman.  I'm going 2 be just like that.  Omarosa isn't a good person cause she just likes 2 cause problems w/everyone."  Lol.  10 minutes later she turns back 2 me & says, "I need 2 get a job so I can start making my own money."  In which I responded, "Since you're too young 2 get a job, why don't you learn how 2 make some lemonade or how 2 bake cookies & setup a stand @ the corner of our street where you can sell them 2 our neighbors or even people driving by?"  Her mind immediately started racing as 2 what things she can learn how 2 make & sell 4 a profit.  She has $38 that she got 4rom her aunties, uncles, grandparents, & cousins as rewards 4 her hard work w/the Sunshine Generation Group & has decided that after she pays her tithing, she'll be investing her $$ in buying what she needs 2 make lemonade.  I'm proud 2 see her stepping out of the box & doing what it takes 2 make her own way.  It's so fun 2 watch, but more than that, it's comforting 2 know that she's learning these life long principles that'll take her 2 a whole new level in her life.  And early.  

I love seeing people out there working their butts off 2 make a life 4 themselves!!  :D  2night we'll be finishing up the 1st season cause I have 2 return it 2 the library.  We're so excited 2 get started on Season 2.  We're so behind.  Lol.  We'll have 2 pick up a Redbox 2night as well cause I've been dying 2 watch 'Bride Wars'  It looks hillarious!!  :D  I'll let you all know how it turns out.  Til then. . . .have a GREAT day & LIVE your life NOW!!  :D  

 

Adding On 2 Our Already Busy Lives. . . . . :D

It is DEFINITELY going 2 be a FUN & BUSY summer.  We are so ready 4 it!!  :D  We're signing Polu Marie & Sila up 4 soccer 2day which starts next week.  We haven't told them yet & probably won't until their 1st practice next week Monday.  They'll be involved in that twice a week, Mon & Wed from 1-2 pm.  Polu is still involved in her gymnastics as well & we were thinking of getting Sila signed up, too, but have decided 2 not put her in too many things.  Lol.  We're signing Lote up 4 her Cheerleading class that she's been waiting so patiently 2 start.  We haven't told her, either, but she starts next Saturday.  :D  Aaliyah's still going strong w/the Sunshine Generation Group.  In June she will be starting a Skate Camp.  No. . . .not ice skating or roller skating.  But 'SkateBoarding'  She's been asking Hoko & I 2 get her a skateboard because she would love 2 learn more about 'em & how 2 ride 'em.  My nieces & nephew have 'em & she rides theirs all the time.  Her & Lote have been doing their end of the year testing yesterday & today & based on what their scores are from it will determine if we sign them up 4 Skate Camp & Cheerleading during the summer months.  If the scores aren't as good as they should be. . . . .then we will be putting them in summer school.  :D  We're BIG believers of teaching our children self discipline.  :D  

And all these activities will be add-ons 2 what each of our girls are already involved in.  We're so EXCITED 4 them !!  :D  I love that they're growing up & am very GRATEFUL 2 have the extra help around the house.  I'm PROUD 2 say that I no longer have 2 wash the dishes EVERRR because we've taught our 2 eldest girls how 2 rinse the dishes, load the dishwasher, & where the cleaning agent goes.  Their 1st week of taking care of dishes was last week & they are definitely going STRONG.  They don't ever complain because of the fact that they see how much of a help it is 2 me that they've taken on this task.  I'm happy 2 report that they are very WILLING 2 do their part in our ever growing family.  And they feel more of an importance when they know that they each have different roles 2 fulfill as well as having the feeling of being able 2 help out.  It's an AWESOME thing 2 watch & be a part of.  :D   This weekend I'll be teaching them how 2 do laundry.  Their own, of course.  Lol.  I would never be that CRUDE as 2 have them be in charge of the whole family's.  Or maybe it's my fear that all my WHITEY WHITES have the slightest possibility of coming out pink.  Hahaha!!  I love being a mother & seeing how the never ending teachings in life benefit me so much.  I feel like I'm the 1 that learns the most.  Just watching them & even hearing them talk 2 each other.  It's amazing the things they talk about amongst each other & even 2 me.  Lol. All these add-ons may be adding on 2 our already busy lives, but I'm sure that they're teaching us all in our family very important principles in life.  The 1 single most principle that I know will benefit us all most is HARD WORK.   I know 4 sure that someone who knows how 2 work hard will always come out on top.  :D  

'The Soloist' or 'Obsessed'??

Last Saturday Hoko & I planned a day of movie hoppin' @ the 'infamous' District.  Lol.  We started out by watching 'Obesessed' starring Beyonce Knowles, Idris Elba, & Ali Larter.  The movie turned out 2 be OKAY. . . . .I felt that Beyonce would've been MUCH more interesting playing the part of the stalker instead of the perfect WIFEY, which she already is in real life.  I thought that Ali Larter wasn't psycho ENOUGH.  Lol.  Especially since the movie was compared 2 the likes of 'Fatal Attraction.'  That movie is wayyyy PSYCHO/CRAZY!!  

We also watched 'The Soloist.'  This 1 got a rating of 'GOOD.'  It wasn't 'GREAT,'  which is what we were both expecting it 2 be.  I thought that maybe it was just cause we were both so tired & yet we were still being die hard & catching the late show.  Lol.  But when I got the text from Kass the following night & her opinion reflected exactly what we thought about it as well, my feelings were confirmed.  :(  Aside 4rom not being able 2 enjoy a really GREAT movie that day, all in all, it was an AWESOME day/night just being able 2 spend it w/my husband.  

It was our last weekend 2gether before he returned 2 work yesterday.  He has been home 4 almost 5 months & was very EAGER 2 get back 2 work.  We have been very blessed 2 have him home 4 the time being since he commutes w/a couple of his co-workers every morning 4 a drive that's a little over an hour commute.  :D  Not bad @ all.  :D  He works 4 a company where they are usually gone out of state 4 pretty much half the year or more & then during their slow season, which is during the winter months, they are home.  We learned a lot this time around about what our PRIORITIES need 2 be & are very OPTIMISTIC & DETERMINED 2 do things differently now.  We find it very EXCITING 2 look back on our journey so far & learn 4rom our mistakes so as 2 not make them again.  :D  

The Magic Word?? Abra Cadabara!! :D

Another Monday night of FHE was a 'BIG HIT' with the kids.  :D  We had a very short lesson on 'CHOICES' before we headed 2 our local library 4 an HOUR of PURE MAGIC!!  :D  The girls had a BLAST & it was AWESOME!!  Lote got a chance 2 go up 2 the front & help the magician with 1 of his demos.  It was GREAT!!  Hoko & I found ourselves laughing with the crowd & oooh'ing & ahhhh'ing (if those are even words, lol) along w/everyone else.  It was GREAT!!  :D  It's definitely times like these that we cherish & will remember 4 years 2 come.  I love it!!  My son even enjoyed it & only got bored with the last 2 min of the show.  So all in all. . . .it was definitely a SUCCESS!!  Lol.