Christmas

With all the crazy running around we do day to day its no surprise that Christmas is 7 days away! My goal is to bring Christ back into CHRISTmas for all of the 7 days ahead in an effort to redirect our children s focus to the Lord. We have much to be grateful for and our Savior's birth is top on our list.

The Holiday Season

I LOVE the HOLIDAY SEASON! Most especially CHRISTMAS!!!! This year is a tight one for everyone economically especially our family. But I think it will allow us to focus more on the most important aspect of Christmas which is the birth of our Savior. During a Relief Society activity last month we received stories about Christmas. One story for each day leading up till that day. So I've been reading one a night to the boys before bed by a little Christmas tree(also made on one of our enrichment nights) and it really helps refocus us away from all the commercialism of the season. I don't know what Michael is getting me this year but honestly, by trying to remain centered on the birth of Christ, what ever it is will be great cause I won't be concerned so much with the "what will I gets of this holiday" as much as the "what can I gives"

Key's

I don't know how many of you I've shared this with but I love Antique keys! Most especially old fashioned ones that open pretty door knobs. I think what draws me to them the most is that each one is unique and special in their own way. No two keys are exactly the same. Second I love what they symbolize the power to unlock opportunities that await behind closed doors, and that we hold that power in the palm of our hands.
Whats cooler then wanting a key collection...actually having one! Let me explain. One evening when my husband, my future mother in law, and I were finishing dinner at their house and I had mentioned that one day I wanted to have a key collection. He and his mother looked at each other and just started to laugh. I was then told that Michael's grandmother HAD a key collection and would hang them from the wooden beams in her ceiling. I would love to see all those keys hanging around just showing you all the possibilities that life has in store! I swear if this woman and I were on this earth at the same time we would be soul mates! This was funny to them because in a lot of ways I am like Michael's grandma Mummi and this just confirmed that I was destined to become a part of the family! Thank heavens for keys!

Wow its Already November!

I can't believe its already November. This year has literally flown by. So many changes I can hardly keep up. In the last four months alone our family dynamic has changed dramatically. In June I was working evening shift(1:00-9:30pm)and with the kids during the day while Michael was enrolled full time @ UH Manoa. He would return home from school around 1230pm, take the kids, we would high five and I'd be off to work. We had done this routine for 5 years.
This summer was his last semester and he officially graduated with BA in Asian Studies. During his last months in school we decided we wanted to move out of our apartment and closer to where he hoped to get a teaching job.
We moved to Kalihi in Honolulu one week before the semester was officially over. One week after that our children started pre-school. With the kids in school I needed to change my work schedule to the AM shift (5am-130pm). We were here one month and Michael got a Legislative Aide job with Representative Mizuno who happens to represent our district. My job decided to change me to a 10hr work schedule and oh Michael was called as 2nd counselor in our wards Bishopric.
Never the less we knew when we decided to move to Kalihi that it was the right thing for our family. You know your doing something right when all the pieces just fall into place especially for our small busieness K.I.T.S.(Karing for Infants, Toddlers, & Seniors.)
But we also have been experiencing the growing pains of change. Although we know we are doing the right thing our constantly changing schedules have been hard to adjust too and we have had to make sure our childrens routine's are consistent so that too much change at one time doesn't make them feel unstable.
My job is allowing me to regain my 8hr shift schedule and I think that will make a big difference for my attitude. On 10hr shifts I feel like I barely get to see the kids let alone get any of the house work done. I know that with the 8's I'll be able to feel like I'm here for my kids and able to support my husband with out depriving myself of sleep :) Did I really choose all this craziness?

Please let November be a slooooooooooooooow month!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays because it officially starts the holiday season!!!!! And of course all the candy. This year my kids are both...are you ready for it...superheros. Oh I know big surprise a two year old and a three year old want to be super hero's. Matthew is Spider man and Jonathan is Super man and they are soooo adorable. My little niece Lilly rounds out the bunch as Super Woman and I'll be appearing as Cat Woman. Grandma Joy is even joining us as SUPER GRANDMA!!! Super excited to see how that costume is going to work :) Halloween is also fun because its also my father in law's birthday! So there is always double the fun on Halloween. There have been lots of party's and friends giving treats so our freezer is already full of sweets! Hm mm wonder how many days before I devour all the Kit Kats.

The Beginning

So I have tried and tried and tried to not start blogging but I can resist no longer! Here it is! My way to document what is happening in what I consider the "average" American woman's life. One of the reasons I used to stop myself from creating a blog was because I was too busy! I realized that having a blog will help me learn from other women how to keep it all in check! And that I can get great advice from other moms who are trying to balance it all like me. So here is my official plea! PLEASE HELP! How do you all do it every day all day and still have the energy to blog? Today's question? Balance, how do you do it?