Japan

I'm going to Japan in just a day or so. I can't wait. I don't know what awaits me, just that this is a very special trip for so many reasons. I hope I can come home and tell you all some neat stories!

I'll be gone from 10/27-11/7. I'll be in a providence called "Aichi-ken" with my biological mother, staying with her parents, my grandparents who I re-met just last year.

I thank Ronny and all of you who are already offering to help with the kids while I'm gone.

Please take care of my little family! I will miss them terribly.

Anatomy 101

We had babysitters this weekend while Ronny and I went out.

This is a story the babysitters told me as I went to drop them off.

Jaiden had been climbing on something, to which Eliza (babysitter) told him to get down, "because you might fall and crack your head open."

This is what Kai said:

"oh, that's okay, because I'd like to see what Jaiden's brain looks like!"

umm...

I've been trying to expand Kai's horizon a bit more since he's been in BUG WORLD for a while. Nothing wrong with it, I just want to encourage him to learn about other things too. So, to do this, we often go to the library and pick up random books from the "discovery" series. Spaceships, kings and knights, castles, ocean creatures, fossils, you name it, they've got it.

Kai's been into Anatomy and things like Brains and Hearts lately, so I'm guessing that's where this comes from, but a bit morbid! Just too funny.

Apple Pie

per a friend's request, here's my homemade apple pie recipe.

Pie Crust:

1 C. shortening

2 C. Flour

1 tsp. salt

5-7 Tbsp. cold water

Whisk flour and salt together. Add shortening and using a fork, cut it into the flour mixture until it mixes, making tiny balls of shortening and flour. Add 5-7 tbsp. of cold water into the mixture and make two dough balls. (for two crust layers) Roll out into pie dish

Apple filling:

6-8 large apples (golden delicious is best for pie) thinly sliced and peeled

1 tbsp. lemon juice (optional)

1 cup sugar

2 tbsp. flour

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

mix all ingredients together in a large bowl. Pour filling into the crust and layer the second crust on top. Slice open a few slits in the top crust to let air escape while cooking.

cook in oven 350 degrees for 1 hour, let cool before slicing.

Genocide

I just recently read a book called "Left to tell" (see entry in older post) about the Rwandan genocide that took place not even two decades ago. Tonight, I'm watching a story about genocides all over the world on PBS. It's mind-boggling to think that genocides happen everywhere...all the time.

I have shed a few tears watching this show tonight, and more than anything, I have a burning desire to help. "Help" is a helpless word to me right now, but I want to do something. I don't know what, but my heart goes out to the world. What is there that I can do? Not only do I want to learn about genocides and what happens around us, but I want to make a difference, somehow...

As I watch this program though, I've really been humbled. Most things I do each day don't even matter in comparison. The shopping, the glam, the makeup, the silly TV shows, the gossip...what really does matter is that I get to hold my boys tight in my arms and tell them how much I love them each day.

How grateful I am that no one will machete me and my family down to pieces, or rape and torture me and smash my babies into the ground. Gosh, if I've learned anything from both the book and this program, it's to try to live...live the life that matters....

So much of what the world has to offer just doesn't matter...

and I have SO much to be grateful for.

I pray that the Lord will guide me in preparing myself now for something that I can do in the future that might make a difference to make this world a better place.

Creepy

It's dark outside, despite it being 6:15am.

All is quiet around the house, and not even a cricket stirs outside.

The air is chilly and I don't want to get out of the bed.

Suddenly, I see my bedroom door open and Kai staggers in with his white blanky dragging behind him.

Oh sweet child, come lay with mama in my bed.

He comes and snuggles with me as he does every morning.

Suddenly, Kai whispers from under the covers...

"Someone's coming..."

My heart stops.

I try to play the child's sentence off like it was nothing, but suddenly, everything in the room looks like hungry monsters waiting to attack. I close my eyes.

Then the child snaps up in a sitting position and says

"Someone's here," as he begins to talk to him...or her...or IT.

I try to calm myself but my head's in a panic as I lie still, hoping that by me not moving, the "monster" won't notice me.

I don't know why he did it, or if there really was anything...but to my embarrassment, I got scared. lol Writing this now seems pretty silly, but when all is dark outside, it can be your worst nightmare. (I didn't mean for this post to be dark and scary, it was supposed to be funny, but I don't think it came out to be!)

Has anyone had this happen before? CREEPY! I have heard that kids are "more in in tune" with the spirit world or wherever, but is it true? anyway, I thought it was silly, but it did scare me...

Cooking Day

I have here, tomato and meat sauce (front right), roasted homemade salsa (back right), shredded boiled chicken (left front) going at the same time.

This is what my kitchen looks like on a big cooking/prepping day.

This is another cooking day I did recently. As I said before, I like to BULK COOK, which simply means that I COOK IN BULK.

Here's a few pictures of what I did.

Grated cheeses (we use a lot of shredded cheese for omelets, scrambled eggs, Mexican dishes, over rice for the kids, etc, sliced cheese--for grilled cheese sandwiches, diced some cheese--for kids snacks, chopped red onions--excellent in egg dishes or Mexican dishes, chopped olives-- sliced baby tomatoes, made potato salad, shredded cabbage---great on sandwiches or ramen, stir fry or soups and made some Japanese miso-soup (you can kind of see it behind the tomato and cabbage)

I made a HUGE pot of meat and tomato sauce. I figure I got about 5-8 spaghetti meals out of it, or a few lasagnas and a few spaghetti dinners.

This is the spaghetti sauce divided up into smaller containers--and into the freezer!

Here, you can see the diced cheddar cheese I like to give the kids for snacks, and I chopped up sausages(handy for breakfast, lunch or dinner in egg dishes, mac and cheese, or fried rice or just by them self), chicken meat in strips for "Ritz cracker chicken", cooked and shredded chicken for Enchiladas or soups, and etc--these went into the freezer.

I usually have my veggies rinsed, DRIED and chopped/sliced/cut/diced/shredded and in tupperware in the fridge at all times. (I take about one day of the week to do this) This way, we seem to eat more veggies. Making eggs? Simply pull out a few containers of already chopped olives, tomatoes, mushrooms, bell peppers, sausages, etc and make an omelette or yummy veggie filled scrambled eggs!

No time to cook and resorting to ramen? Boil with it, a handful of shredded cabbage and sliced carrots! Want something quick for snack time? How about sliced apples or cheese, or Ants on a log (celery sticks with PB and cranberries on it)?

anyway, I think you get the idea, but I just wanted to show you a few pictures of what my cooking day looks like. It takes a little bit of time to get all this done from washed, dried to cut and in containers, but in the end, you save SO MUCH time in the end, and you'll find yourself eating healthier, because in a sense, everything is right at your finger tips. Just pull out a container, and throw in a few ingredients to finish off your dish!

Jaiden

Jaiden's to be quite a cute little kid. He's still a punk most days, but he's definitely a charmer.

He's learned this new trick where he says

"Oh, HI MAMA!" or "Oh, HI DADDY!" with the darnest smile and tone.

If you're not careful, you get suckered into it and have your heart melted on the spot.

"Oh hi Jaiden...."

you say with all smiles...

wait a minute....

JAIDEEEEN?!?!

He only does that when he's being mischievous and he knows it.

but it's just the cutest thing!! :)

He's been saying more and more words, and I'm afraid he'll be talking non-stop in no time.

OH HOW I DREAD THAT!

;)

If he's anything like his big brother, SHOOT ME NOW!

His new found love is for GHOSTS, saying "TRICK-OR TREAT", WITCHES and anything to do with Halloween. He's also saying lots of words in Japanese, like "atta (I got it), doko (where), "haku" (to put on his shoes), etc and he most certainly does understand everything I say to him in Japanese. It's amazing how kids can be bilingual at such an early age! It never ceases to amaze me.

Jaiden loves his brother and is FEARLESS.

The other day, we went to Chick-fil-a with some friends for lunch. as I glanced up from the table to check on the boys who were all in the play-ground area when I saw little Jaiden snatch a shoe from a rather tall and older boy and RUN with it. The boy began to run after him, not knowing what had just happened, but realizing Jaiden had tiny fast legs, couldn't catch up to him and began to cry. It all happened in matters of seconds, but I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT! That little punk! He really knows no bound.

And yet, we have time and time again decided that we'll keep him. :)

We sure do love his energy, and well, for the laughs he brings in to our lives.

We never can fathom what life would have been without him, although it was a close call and give many many thanks to our Heavenly Father for allowing him to stay with us...punk!

;)

The Copperhead's visit

Ronny found this little dude while mowing the lawn a couple of months ago. It was hiding on the side part of our house where there is shade. It looks somewhat docile right now, but as it was trapped in the bucket for longer than it liked, his head became triangular, letting us know it was venomous and dangerous. We found out later that it was a copperhead snake.

Oh the joys of living in Texas!

Kai turns FOUR

I am starting a tradition that I will make each kid their own personal digital "year book" and give it to them on their birthdays to keep and remember

Kai was the KING for the day.

But cupcakes that I made for his bday party

Sept 12 2010

I'm a bit behind, but this is from Kai's birthday in September.

He was the KING for the day...which he didn't really understand much, but he liked the idea of asking and receiving candy, avoiding nap time, and being the "boss" for the day. He really didn't take advantage of it though, so PHEW.

Safari Wild Park, San Antonio

The goats would chew and pull on my skirt.

Kai and daddy work on tracing a bug shape at the bug museum

look at the HUGE BEETLE in the background!

daddy and Jaiden feed the goats in the petting zoo area

Ronny took the day off from work on Thursday and we went to the Safari Wild Park in San Antonio this week.

It was COOL!

They had a variety of animals (I wished they had had more) and you drive through in your car (5m/h) with your windows rolled down. You can feed whatever animal comes to your window and just enjoy nature at its most wild state! (ok, as much as it can be here in TEXAS!)

The kids loved it, and although all the coool pictures are in our other camera, we had some very funny encounters with the zebras! I didn't know they didn't bite off your hand when they stuck their necks in our car to grab some food out of our hands, so naturally, I was super nervous and panicked as their big mouths landed in my hand and their fat lips brushed up all my hand and clothes in search for more food, but they were nice, no bites!

The kids loved it too.

We were done with the safari park by noon and didn't really want to go home yet...then I found a brochure in front of a bathroom for a BUG EXHIBIT in a nearby museum, so that's where we headed next! Yes, he was SO excited!! He loves anything to do with BUGS.

Then we drove home and well, it was a really nice mini vacation :-)

Pumpin Carving 2010

Kai and Sevy pull out ONE SEED from the pumpkin-they thought it was gross and wouldn't touch the rest of the stuff.

Kai makes me do all the work of his pumpkin carving! (he really didn't want to touch the goo)

Daddy helped little Jaiden draw on his little pumpkin

Kai and Sevy are silly friends!

Brett gets down to business!

Look at 'em all!

(Kai and mine is the smallest one :)

It's becoming tradition that every year, we go to the Talbot's home and carve our pumpkins together. We all get together, share treats and this year, Marnie and Brett made Taco soup with corn bread. MMM. Then we all went out to the garage which was set up all nice with long tables and got to carve our pumpkins together. Somehow, with none of us having family down here, we have all bunched up and become each other's family...or sometimes so it feels :)

Happy Halloween!

Thanks for yet another year of pumpkin fun, "talberts"!! ;)

The Ultimate Gift

Have you ever read a book that changed your life? Well, this did it for me. I think from now on, I will think back at the lessons this book has taught me and live as I should, life to the fullest, with the love of God, serving others along the way, remembering to laugh, and cherish every moment of life, embracing life's challenges and never forgetting to dream...

This is definitely a must have in your book shelf kind of book, one worth passing around to those you love.

My rating: 5/5

Pages: 154 - Speed: Fast

Subject: Business, Money, Service

This is a fictional story about a young man troubled by life who finds purpose through a series of challenges devised by his late grandfather as a test to see whether he's worthy of inheriting a lofty fortune. Red Stevens built a life on hard work and good decisions, but failed to find a way to teach his children and grandchildren the same joy of work. Upon his death, his $1 billion fortune falls into the possible hands of grandson, Jason Stevens, a wandering party man whom Red believes to have the only potential to break free. Red leads Jason-through his attorney Theodore Hastings, a previously recorded video and rigid instructions-on a quest to find that potential through a series of gifts. Each gift is a lesson learned by a particular task, such as working manually on a farm, going without all assets, and giving to someone in need. If successfully completed, all of these gifts allow the inheritance of all that the Grandfather had- "the ultimate gift." (Sounds a little like the God's plan for us, doesn't it?) The great twist is that the whole time Jason is toiling through, and gaining character as he went along, he didn't know what the ultimate inheritance would be. A movie was made from the book, but it left out most of the gifts and their stories, and focused too heavily on a relationship developed with a young girl. This is an easy read and one that invokes reflection on what really matters and the pure joy that we are all trying to achieve.

Side note: The author deals with the challenge of blindness, was honored as the 2000 International Humanitarian of the Year, and has developed The Ultimate Gift Institute, which gives people the opportunity to experience these 13 steps for themselves.

The 13 gifts with their themes:

1. "He who loves his work never labors."

2. "Money is nothing more than a tool. It can be a force for good, a force for evil, or simply be idle."

3. "It is a wealthy person, indeed, who calculates riches not in gold but in friends."

4. "Education is a lifelong journey whose destination expands as you travel."

5. "Problems can only be avoided by excercising good judgement. Good judgement can only be gained by experiencing life's problems."

6. "Some people are born into wonderful families. Others have to find or create them. Being a member of a family is a priceless privilege which costs nothing but love."

7. "Laughter is good medicine for the soul. Our world is desperately in need of more such medicine."

8. "Faith is all that dreamers need to see into the future."

9. "The only way you can truly get more out of life for yourself is to give part of yourself away."

10. "In those times when we yearn to have more in our lives, we should dwell on the things we already have. In doing so, we will often find that our lives are already full to overflowing." (gratitude)

11. "Life at its essence boils down to one day at a time. Today is the day!"

12. "Love is a treasure for which we can never pay. The only way we keep it is to give it away."

13. "In the end, life lived to its fullest is its own ultimate gift."

Left to Tell

My rating: 5 of 5 (simple writing 'cause not in her first language)

Pages: 215 - Speed: Regular
Subject: Historical Biography, Christianity

This is the book I'm reading right now...it's mind blowing really, what humans are capable of doing to each other sometimes.

Have you ever wondered what happened during the Rwandan holocaust or what could drive neighbors to slaughter neighbors? I have to endorse this book as one of the most spiritually riveting books I have ever read. It is real, it is unpretentious, and the true stories inside will lead you to the conclusion that evil and good exist, and forgiveness and strength are the only way. I wrote on my Facebook account after I finished, "Anyone who can read [it] without their heart exploding doesn't have a heart." Get it, suffer through her experiences, marvel at her faith. Feel in the end that life does have its choices (even in annihilation) and that we all have a purpose.

(Thanks again Jen for the recommendation!)

http://jenbrownbooks.blogspot.com/

Sold by Patricia McCormick

My Rating: 5/5

Pages: 272; Speed: Very Fast

Subject: Teen Fiction, Choices & Transitions

I recently read this book....it was amazing. If you don't like true-stories, stay away. It is heart wrenching to read what this girl went through, but it's eye-opening to realize this is, for many girls and boys around the world, a reality.

This succincly written non-fiction is of a thirteen-year-old girl from Napal who lives the simple life with her family. When their meager lot sinks deaper, they decide she must work in the city as a maid for a rich family to help carry her weight. After traveling hundreds of miles, she arrives at "Happiness House" where she learned the unfathomable truth that she has been, unknowingly by her family, sold into prostitution. Trying to survive the torture of existence, she learned of the stories of the other girls; some even choose to stay there-for fear of the "bad Americans-" all lies to keep them from rescue or running away. It's devastating to walk these days with her (written in diary form) as she tries to follow her mother's motto: "Simpy to endure is triumph." I highly recommend this well written text, whose chapers are sometimes but half a page. Cry, see the realities of what exists in the world, and feel what it would be like to be Sold.

Thanks Jen, for recommending it! For more awesome books, visit:

http://jenbrownbooks.blogspot.com/2010/07/sold.html#comment-form

Things I Detest

Things I don't like are as follows:

10. Running

9. Dust

8. Untidiness

7. Not having a plan

6. static

5. Dust

4. Contention

3. Being Hungry

2. Flaky people

1. Wet Hair stuck on anything!!!

YUCK.

I am OK

Lately, I've had to re-think my life and priorities.

I have been wondering why I work best on a "busy" schedule. I like TO-DO lists, and I work best when I have A LOT to do and get done.

Opening my calendar and seeing it empty gets me DEPRESSED.

Furthermore, it's extremely difficult for me to sit and watch a show with my kids, because I feel I must be accomplishing something. It's hard for me to say "hooray kids! We have nothing to do today! What do you want to do?" Although an occasional empty day is fine and I do allow the kids to decide what they want to do sometimes, this typically is NOT how I roll, and it usually makes me get cabin fever, depressed, and grumpy. Not only do these "to-dos" have to be what typically appear on a stay at home mother's to-do lists (clean, wash, clean, wash, feed, change diapers, cook, etc), I seem to work best when I have big things to plan, activities to coordinate, larger scale projects to organize and accopmlish, etc etc...

Recently, I have finished my latest project and have had nothing to do for the last 1-2 months. How have I been?

Not very nice, I hear.

(And I really thought I was fooling my "unhappiness" pretty well)

In talking to my friend about all this, pointing out that there must be something wrong with me for wanting so much to do while I'm still at home with my young boys, she said something that made me think.

To be honest, she is quite the opposite from me. She likes her days with NOTHING TO DO, and likes to have NO commitments because all she wants to ever do, is "enjoy her kids."

She wants to homeschool. She likes to hold her babies 24/7. She whispers and she is all smiles.

On the other hand, I never rocked my babies to sleep (only on rare occasions did I do this), I still make them nap/have quiet time in their rooms at least 2-3 hours a day, I yell, talk loud to my kids, and as soon as they're of age, I will ship them out to school. Heck, why can't schools here be more like Harry Potter's all year-long schools!? (lol)

Anyway, we had a good long discussion about how both of us are so polar opposite, and yet, we have one goal in common.

Being a stay-at-home-mother.

We have both opted from the beginning to stay at home and raise our children, and we still hold nothing else more sacred and important than being at home with them, so long as we are able to.

Make there be no mistake. I love my kids, and I take pride in staying home with them and teaching them.

BUT, I have often wondered why I cannot be content with just sitting around with the kids. I seem to feel the need to constantly be engaged in some project that is just for me. Something that enables me to use my BRAIN, something that helps me feel "needed or valuable" from sources other than my kids and husband.

Something that bears immediate fruit and something that I can be proud of. I'm not belittling the role of a mother or a stay at home mother. I love my first and full-time job, but I wondered and yearned for an answer to know why I just couldn't be like my friend.

After parting our ways from the visit yesterday, my friend simply sent me an email and it's been on my mind all day today.She said,

"amiga, don't compare a sunflower with a rose. Each add to the world immeasurable beauty!"

How true this is, and how often we forget this simple truth.

I am ok.

I am ok, even if I don't want to homeschool.

I'm ok if I seek something challenging to do while raising my precious boys. Hence, since becoming a mother, I have organized a theatrical play called "The Prophets" that was for the entire island of Puerto Rico and its LDS members in just two months, with an attendance of about 500 people, I have written a book (waiting for it to be published now), began and finished my associates program in Business and management at University of Phoenix, and I continue to seek meaningful and worthy projects that enable me to use my talents or learn new skills, while doing missionary work for the things I believe in.

My friend also pointed out that perhaps, what distinguishes our "strengths" from "weaknesses" is how we use it.

I'm grateful that I am who I am although I know I have a lot to work on. I'm also grateful for a good and wise friend, who although maybe complete opposite from who I am, still has the same goal in mind, and that is raising our beautiful children and someday, returning to live with our Heavenly Father someday. I'm grateful that I have friends who don't judge me for who I am, but value and respect our differences, and at the same time, reminds me that I am ok.

Thanks, amiga, you know who you are.

Te quiero mucho.

Monika

From Kat's Blog--It's my first race...errr walk! :)

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2010

Race for the Cure

The start (at the end!) We were totally in downtown Houston, which was really cool! I usually avoid this area best I can, but running in it was definitely an awesome experience!
Me getting ready to start! Thankfully I was close to the front, but we still didn't get off at a quick pace!
Getting ready to start. Check out all the people and the beauty of a sunrise in a ridiculously large city! (For those of you who do not know, from left to right we have Marnie, Monika, then myself.)

For years, I've had the goal of running in the Race for the Cure. Thanks to the motivation of Marnie and Monika in the branch--this year I actually did it! The event is crazy! This year there were about 35,000 people who signed up. Some for the family fun walk, the competitive run, the non-competitive run (that was me!) and then the rest to walk (Marnie and Monika!). Most participants were there in honor of someone. We were there for Sister Walker from the Branch.

For me, the race was slow, but the crowd was so crazy, I don't think I could have run much faster! It wasn't a bad route at all, only a 5k, and there were drinks and bathrooms at every mile. At a couple of points of the run we crossed paths with the competitive runners, and then near the end we passed all the walkers. The finish line was nothing amazing for us regular folk, but they had a survivor lane lined with cheering people that was great to watch!

I met up with Bret (Marnie's hubby) at the end of my race and we backtracked up the path to meet up with Marn and Monika and walk the last bit with them. It was cool to once again be surrounded by people doing something for a great cause! This disease has impacted so many peoples lives, and I loved being involved with something to help out!

I'll be honest, I'm totally hooked on these races/rides! Hmm . . . what should I do next?