Pre-Surgery Visit to Denver

My knee was bugging me for a while and finally went into a specialist and he gave me a cortisone shot. After the shot, he told me to lay off of it for a couple of weeks and then hit the gym running, doing everything that I had done before seeing him. The outcome was a torn meniscus and so I had to get it scoped. I set the surgery date for March 17.

Before having surgery I wanted to head out to Denver and hang with my sisters for a weekend once again. This time Cajsa flew down. We decided to make it a fun filled day starting with racquetball early Saturday morning. It was Shara, Cajsa and I that went because Nezhone had brought her kids this trip. We were on our last game and I was serving. Cajsa returned the serve and I happened to turn around, mind you none of us were wearing eye protection. I caught the ball right in my eye from her racquet. As soon as I was hit, I took my contact out and my whole right side of my face started to swell. That pretty much ended the fun-filled day.

After multiple visits to eye specialists, including an optometrist that morning, I continue to see flashes of light in my peripheral vision.

Moral of the story: NEVER turn around when playing racquetball especially with a very competitive sister. Just kidding...wear eye protection!!!!

This was towards the end of the day. At least we were able to laugh about it! Although, I had to have Cliff and Jethro come and get me at the airport. Cliff to drive me home and Jethro to drive the truck home.

Mosquitos

I absolutely HATE two bugs, flies and mosquitos. Which is worse? I am not quite sure yet. They both are disgusting. Can't even eat dinner outside because the flies are horrible this year. My poor kids have to come in at dusk cause their reaction to mosquito bites are somewhat like this...

Poor kid looked like Angel off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for about 2-3 days. Every time he gets bit, they swell up like this  no matter where it is. One time his shin looked like a calf muscle that had been formed on the front of his leg.

Leilani in a Nutshell

Loves going to church. Leilani in a mu'u mu'u from her Grandma. She loves it and looks cute it in.

Leilani outside one morning with me while I was taking the trash out and saying good-bye to Cliff for work. She has about the same fashion sense as Kalena.

At church the little kids from the ages of 18 months to 3 years old go to a nursery class. There is a couple in our ward that do an amazing job with the kids. Every week they come home with something fun. The week I took this picture it happened to be like one of the seek and find bags, just in a small travel size shampoo bottle. We still have it in our toys. The lesson for nursery was probably God gave me eyes so I can see.

Willy Wonka?

They all wish they were Willy Wonka and could make chocolate bars. Outside beyond the grass is mostly weeds and some dirt. In Lindon city, there are little holes where the water comes out of the ground at certain times of the year. Well, we happen to have a couple of those where the dirt is in the back. The kids LOVE to play in it and have called it their "Chocolate Factory." They will make stuff for hours in the chocolate factory. At first, I didn't like the idea of muddy clothes and shoes, but then soon realized that I did the same thing as a little kid.

Well, I decided to finally take some pictures of the little two playing in the big kids factory.

This is in spring time of this year. When all the snow began to melt and the weather was getting warm enough to be outside for a couple of hours or more. What good kids for not stepping in the middle of it and at least Leilani was wearing her winter boots.

Grocery Store Trips...

To the RESTROOMS that is. When the older kids were in school, it would be the four of us spending all day at the store. Of course, those days were also filled with at least 2 trips to the restrooms. (Why are they called restrooms? It isn't like you are resting from anything) Anyway, to pass the time away while Lavea'i is using the toilet, this is what we do...1-draw pictures on their foreheads with pen, 2-send a picture of them to dad, 3-make him guess what character they are from the pictures on their heads.

Do you know who they are? It should be very easy to guess.

Just a Bit of a Mess

Tunoa is a crazy kid that loves to shove his face with food and just get dirty. He is 21 months and a boy which explains it all. But, Cliff came home from work with some chicken katsu and we were all outside. Tunoa had to have a piece of chicken, but more than the chicken he wanted the rest of the sauce. Before the sauce was even gone he was wearing it all over his hands and face, then decided to get rid of the cup and finish the chicken.

Hat Day

At Aspen Elementary School, there is a hat day. This is not a normal hat day like you would think. The kids are sent home a message saying that they are to make a hat that is themed from a book that they have read. The note says that they don't have to participate in making the hats, but when the principal sends out an email to the parents saying that he would appreciate it if all of the kids did one, I figured I should support and do one...I mean 3 of them.

I don't know if you can tell what books they have read by looking at their hats. Just try and guess.

Kalena's book of course was Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Maika's was The Panda Puzzle. Tula'i read The Tiny Woman's Coat.

The kids proudly displaying their new hats.

Needless to say, I went to the hat parade and realized I completely overdid it because there were only about 15-20 students with decorated hats out of the entire school. Oh well.

Space to Play

Oh my goodness. You probably wonder why I haven't blogged in the longest time. Well, lets just say that the property we live in takes up our time every weekend. Weeds to be pulled, bushes and trees to be pruned and an apple orchard to also mow (thoroughly enjoy it). But along with all of that work to be done, the kids have found fun in being on a GIGANTIC piece of property. Cliff and I have also realized that it is property we would rather have than a big house.

The kids love to be outside and run around. We have a nice porch in the back and so we often eat outside during the summer. What fun it is! I have a few pictures of them climbing on a dirt pile in the back yard. They do get a bit muddy and really dirty, but that is what comes with the territory.

Lavea'i starting his collection of rocks from the pile that will all eventually be spread around the house after all the weeds are pulled and bushes pruned.

Kalena playing with her huge stick, ready to smack whoever gets in her way.

All of them playing on the dirt pile. Leilani slowly making her way up with a soggy diaper and dirty pants from sliding off the rock pile.

Tula'i throwing the shaka. That is not our house in the background, that would be our neighbors.

Kalena's New Hair Cut

When I travel to Montrose to visit my sister, I usually get my hair done there because she has a lady that can cut hair just the way I want and like it. Because my hair is so thick, along with Kalena's being thicker than mine, I always have her thin it out. So this time, I had her thin Kalena's hair as well because she was complaining about headaches. Kalena also wanted bangs. Even though they are in style, I WAS NOT fond of letting her have bangs, but dad said to let her get them. I knew that I would be the one doing them all the time because lets face it, I rarely use a curling iron, straight iron or blow dryer. So the knowledge of how to use a curling has not been passed down to her. Well, I let her get bangs and it turned out cute, but gives her a totally different look.

Yard Work

Last year when we moved in, we knew there would be a lot of yard work to do to keep up with the huge piece of property. Little did we know how much we would be doing. Every Saturday, after getting settled and unpacked, we would continuously be outside for hours pulling weeds and cutting down overgrown bushes. Along with the pulling of the weeds, out came the snakes. I don't mind the snakes because then they eat the bugs and mice.

Mowing the lawn takes quite a bit of time, but to make it a bit easier the landlords provided a riding lawn mower. I prefer not to use it because I enjoy the solace of being outside. I LOVE being outside enjoying the weather and helping out wherever I can so Cliff doesn't have to do everything all the time. In return, he helps me out in the kitchen and in other areas.

So anyway, this is one morning that Leilani actually got on with Cliff, but afterwards would scream every time it was started up. She must have been so shook up because even when our landlord came over with their tractor she would freak out and come running to me screaming her head off every time.

Montrose Trips Continue

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE having my sister, Nezhone, and her kids closer to us. Last summer, we were able to see each other once a month last summer. It was nice to be able to just drive 5 hours and be at her house. The kids LOVE being around any cousins they have.

With that being said, there is never really a dull moment in Montrose. We are either going swimming at Ridgeway Reservoir, visiting good friends on their huge pieces of property to either let the kids run or ride horses, taking them to parks, drive-in movies, or just letting them play outside while we are chillin' inside. 

The drive up to Ridgeway Reservoir was nice, but as soon as we got to the water it was cold and windy. Then the kids decided to head up to the play ground area and it started to shine again. So, back down to the water we went and it ended up looking like this again. Needless to say, the kids still had fun, but I wouldn't even get into the water that day.

Lavea'i had just began writing the letters of the alphabet and he wouldn't show grandma that he knew how to do it. So, I bet that he didn't remember how to write them and he proved me wrong.

Leilani thoroughly enjoyed playing in Tahlia's teapot, NOT WITH. She kept standing in it and thinking she was the cutest thing ever. Oh wait, she still thinks she is so "Fretty!"

We went out to visit some good friends, Cody and Nanci Schiller, and to let the kids ride their horses really quickly. They had a play house on the property with a swing and slide. 

Tunoa enjoying his swinging experience! What a cute boy, and this was when he couldn't walk.

 Tahlia in all her cuteness as well! Leilani and her were really meant to be twins, they are so much the same. One is just blond and the other brunette.

The horses were a little scary for them at first because they were riding them bareback. I wish I could have gotten on them. I always tell Cliff that if I could live up in the mountains with a horse, I would be a happy camper.

Jakai and Tula'i are up above. The Schiller's beautiful view from their yard. My dream home = out in the country! Nanci Schiller pictured with Kalena and Maika. Nanci used to be one of my leaders in church. Her husband was my Sunday School teacher when we first moved to Montrose. These are the type of people that I like to head back to visit.