It's the most wonderful time of the year....

Nope, not Christmas, the first day of school is tomorrow. I love my kids, but I love them, even more when I get a break from them. Of course this being their last day at home they're pulling out all the stops, fighting about everything, being loud and obnoxious when I'm on the phone just generally driving me insane.
Tomorrow should be interesting, everyone here in Guam knows the new school dropoff policy. We can't parl on the road by the school, can just do a driveby drop off(sorry I don't think so) or walk which we will be doing, even on rainy days. I refuse to drop my kids at the curb and hope they find their way in the K-8th grade school all by themselves. I'm not too worried about Caitlynn, but Hannah and Elijah are only going into 1st, they're used to all meeting under the tent and waiting for their teacher to come walk them to class. This is all new for them, and they don't even know what their teachers look like since there isn't an open house. Not sure what the school is thinking this year, but I'm not very happy. Oh well, off to finish labeling school supplies and getting everything ready for tomorrow.

Hannah's Glasses

WOW I have been a terrible blogger lately, way too much life going on to sit and write. The good news is whatever the problem was with me uploading photos is gone, thank goodness cause I had to share this photo. Hannah got her brand new glasses this afternooon, isn't she just too cute? You can't really tell in the photo but they're sassy pink barbie glasses, fitting for my sassy little girlie. She is sooooo happy to finally have them, you'd think she'd been waiting months instead of weeks. And actually they don't have the right lenses in. The correct lense on the left got broken in shipping, so the eye doctor put in a thicker lense he had in stock until her replacement comes. Perfect timing since school starts on Tuesday.

This week has been completely insane. The kids are taking part in a soccer clinir this week from 8am-11am all week. This is a perfect week since they have to get used to getting up early for next week, but the sun is really taking a lot out of them. Here's an example, Hannah and Elijah have both taken naps everyday this week they've been so wore out. They're all doing sooooo great and learning a ton of new skills. Caitlynn's age group had a scrimage today and she was the only one on her team to score a goal, the winning goal none the less. She's made a lot of new friends and is really looking forward to soccer season, this is a complete 180 from the girl who refused to play any sports last year because it was hot and she would sweat. Instead she had to sit on the sidelines being hot and sweaty at all her brother and sister's games. I don't know if she figured you can't beat em join em or what, but I'm really glad to see her having such a good time. Hannah's always been the most into sports in the family so of course she's in her element and loving every minute of it. She has no fear of being one of very few girls or being smaller than most of the kids, she gets right in there and goes after that ball. Elijah's a different story, when he's in the mood he's awesome, gets in the like a pro and is an awesome goalie. When he's not in the mood? He doesn't pay any attention, kicks up dirt and throws screming fits. Hopefully he's more on than off this season.

I've been back in workout mode too, which has been good. I need that time for myself away from everyone, especially in the summer. Not to mention it's keeping me from gaining any more weight.

Got Rain?

Got Rain?

This is what I came home to today. I wish I had the camera while I ws driving home, I've never seen so much water on the roads in my life. When we left to go to the library today it was slightly drizzling, same thing when we were leaving there. By the time we got to the parking lot it was absolutely pouring. It just got worse and sorse the whole way home, lots of water on the road etc. Then we pull into our subdivision and the water is about 6 inches deep on the road, even deeper in the little valleys and there is so much water coming down the drain pipes on the side of the road that it's literally splashing up in the airwhen it hits the road. It was a mess, when I pulled in the driveway and pushed the brakes they were so wet that they made this awful sound.

1/2 day

today was a half nice day, we were able to get out to the playground before lunch so that was great. While the kids were eating luch there was a huge clap of thunder and the sky just opened up. So we've had a 1/2 nice day. I still can't figure out why I can't upload photos straight here, looks like I'll have to make a slide show everytime I want to share photos. Any computer geniuses out there know what I'm doing wrong?

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!

Forgot the photos last time oops. *eta* for some reasone it won't let me upload any photos, not quite sure why. I'll try to figure it out.

You make me happy, when skies are grey...

So, yet another rainy, cruddy, stuck in the house day made me think of the things I have in my house that make me happy. Trying to lift my mood you see. Of course my scrapping supplies make me happy, but thoe are usually put away when not in use. There are times that they take over the kitchen table for days at a time. Thank goodness I have a loving and understanding family who doesn't mind eating a few meals in the living room, of course the kids actually prefer it! I was cleaning the living room, what else is there to do on a rainy day? You know I'm desperate when I start cleaning for no reason, I hate cleaning and do just enough to get by. And I noticed a couple of my bears and they made me smile, and then there were my candles on my coffee table that also made me smile. Since there will be tons more rainy days before rainy season ends I'll save some photos for those days. Now that I'm smiling instead of staring out the windowbeing fed up with rain, I'm going to get dressed and restart my day!

Phew!!!!!!!!!

Everyone is feeling better today, thank goodness, not sure I could handle much more. Of course it's raining cats and dogs so we're stuck inside anyway, but still a much better day than the last few.

I got my KI entry done and ready to mail, just have to drop by the post office on Monday and get it out. Not much else going on today. It's perfect napping weather, so that's where I'm off to.

EW

I was complaining about the migraine? That was kids play, yesterday afternoon Hannah started suddenly running a 104.5 fever, I gave her some motrin and turned to put the medicine cup in the sink. As I'm coming back into the living room I see her try to get up real fast, sadly not fast enough, next thing I know we have projectile puke. Think Poltergeist style! But hitting the couch/rug/blankets/herself wasn't enough, she had saved some for the bathroom. Our downstairs bathroom is smaller than most closets, so she hit just about every surface in there including the walls. So I drop her in the tub while I try to rectify my livingroom and bathroom.

Luckily, that was a one time incident. She's still running a fever and doesn't feel like eating much, but she's keeping everything down, thank goodness.

Not much else going on. Talked to my uncle this morning which was nice, found out my aunt and cousin are vacationing in Mexico - insert jealous face. Then I talked to my mom for a while which was a surprise because it was almost 10pm her time and she's not usually up that late.

Since we're all pretty much stuck inside with Hannah's belly issues and Caitlynn's sore throat I decided to bake cookies with the kids. The did all the measuring and pouring and turning on the mixer. All I had to do was put them in a pan, we made bar cookies, so easy. Then I decided I wanted a good loaf of French bread, so that's currently rising for the second time with 40 minutes until cook time, mmm I can't wait.

Dave's diving tonight so I'll be doing a bit of scrapping, hopefully I'll finish my KI entry. My album already has 11 pages so there's not much more to do, just a few last pages then they need to be scanned and printed so I can send them off. 5 more days till it has to be postmarked, shouldn't be an issue.

ICK!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I went to bed last night with the beginnings of a migraine, usually not a problem if I take my medicine and go to sleep it's usually gone by the time I wake up. Not this time, I woke up at 4am with my head absolutely pounding. Took medicine again and laid down on the couch dozing in and out till Elijah came down at about 6:40. I got up and got him breakfast and my head was still killing me. Took some more medicine and it finally subsided at around 8:30am. Thank goodness cause it looks like it's going to rain again today and I'm not sure I'd make it through a day with the kids inside all day with a headache.

The cleaning actually went pretty good yesterday. All the downstairs floors are swept and mopped and look so nice. I also scrubbed the downstairs bathroom top to bottom. So I didn't get a whole lot done and if you enter through my backdoor it looks like nothing got done, but I know it did. Today's going to be a lazy day, I'm exhausted, but tomorrow will be finishing the rest of the downstairs.

Was planning to do some scrapping today, but I just don't have the energy to lug everything out. I think it'll be a nice hang out with the kids day today.

Here comes the sun....

Yeah! The sun is out, hopefully it stays out til after I get my cleaning done so the kids can actually get out and play today. We are all so sick of being stuck in the house, the kids have been up about 30 minutes and they're already fighting. Today is major cleaning day, wash all the sheets and blankets, do the bathrooms and all the floors. Now off to start and see how much actually gets done!

All Clear

Well, that was all good practice for when a real storm hits. The storm ended up moving by so fast that we had no issues at all, when I went to bed at 2am there still wasn't even any wind and there was barely any at 8am this morning.The worst of it was the power flickering on and off for about a 1/2 hour last night. The good thing is that our typhoon locker is stocked full and ready in case we have any other storms in the area this season. And all the moving of the outdoor furniture was a great muscle building exercise lol.

Here comes the storm

Well our beautiful sunny day has quickly turned to an impending storm. While at the birthday party the base went to typhoon condition of readiness 2 with plans to move to a 1 at 3am. So there would be no driving on base at all from 3am on. I just got an update, the storm is moving faster than expected and we will be in condition 1 in about an hour at 9pm. We did all we could got water, gas for the generator, and extra food, now we just wait it out. Hopefully since it's moving so fast it won't have time to strengthen to much more than a tropical storm before it reaches us.

Tokyo DisneySea

This was our first Disney experience during our trip. This park is awesome and such a great concept. It's dedicated to all the characters and movies having to do with the sea like The Little Mermaid and 20,000 Leagues under the sea. The park is celebrating it's 5th anniversary this year, so it's still pretty new. I think storm Watch was everyone's favorite ride. You basically sit in this theater and it simulates you flying into the center of a storm to change it's course, but then things go wrong and you're out of control and water starts leaking in, I was surprised but the kids loved it! Another favorite was the Flounder Coaster, which was pretty good for a kids coaster. I have to say the people who designed this park are very smart. There's an indoor section dedicated to The little mermaid with a bunch of rides in it, which is perfect for getting out of the afternoon heat for a while. The gentleman in the photo with the kids was so sweet. He thought they were the greatest thing and wanted to practice his English on them. He kept insisting that they share in the treats his family were eating and told us that him and his wife went to Guam for their honeymoon 40 years ago.

Happy Saturday

Good morning all, where do my kids get their energy? We had a movie night last night and Elijah managed to stay up until 11pm. So you figure he'd sleep in at least a little right? No way, bright and early at 6am he came and asked me if it was time to wake up. What do you say to that? Obviously in his mind it was time to wake up, and if I told him no he'd go to his room and start playing some loud toy and wake everyone else up. Oh well, so much for sleeping in, maybe I can squeeze in a nap this afternoon.

Today is going to be a long day. Caitlynn has gymnastics at 10, then we come home for lunch and all the kids have a birthday party to go to at the bowling alley. When that's over I drop Dave and the kids off and head to my partylite consultants hostess appreciation dinner. And when all this is done I was planning to get some scrapping done, I may have to rethink that.

Making Memories Masters 2007

So who got all their entries done and mailed off on time? I had plans to get mine off before we left for Tokyo, but got hung up waiting for a photo release form. I ended up having to quickly do another layout when we returned because I still hadn't gotten the release form. So I finished my layout on the 30th and had to get it printed and all mailed off on the 31st. Should've been easy right? Whatever, nothing is ever easy. I headed up to the printers first thing in the morning to have it printed, I had everything else already in the box and ready to be sent off. After sitting in their office for nearly 1/2 hour they tell me I saved the wrong file to my disk that they couldn't print it, guess that's what I get for trying to scan and save at almost midnight. So I drive all the way home, bonus they tell me I can email them the file so I don't have to go back until it's ready for pickup. So I finally picked it up at 2:30, attached all the info and sealed the box. I race down to the base post office to finally get it into the mail at almost 3:30pm on the 31st, nothing like cutting it close!

KI Memories contest

So whose working on this one? Anyone? Actually, no one work on this one so my chances are better lol. I've been working on this since we got back from Tokyo and have 3 pages done so far. I still have to do the cover and at least 3 more pages by the 15th. No matter what I'm happy with my results so far, and that's really why I do these contest. I know I have no chance of actually winning, but it motivates me to do my best work.

You're scrapping again??

You're scrapping again??

So a few weeks ago we're sitting at the dinner table and Hannah tells me she sees two of me and can't make her eyes stop doing it. Definitely strange, but Hannah's a joker, so I wasn't sure if she was kidding or not. We took her to the eye doctor just to be sure, and sure enough she needs glasses. Her good eye is a +200 and her bad one is a +450. The strange thing is she had an eye exam 2 years ago when Elijah got his glasses and had no problems. So we went to the exchange to pick glasses and she picked some really cute pink Barbie glasses, now we're just waiting for them to get here. Hopefully they will be here in time for school to start.

Ueno

On Tuesday, my birthday where I turned really old ugh, we visited Ueno. It's basically another park that we strolled aroun all morning. It houses the Ueno Zoo, two art mueseums and a science museum. This park was actually prettier than the one we went to Monday, but for some reason I have less photos of this one. We had lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe which the kids really enjoyed it, since moving to Guam they've eaten at the Hard Rock Guam, Hard Rock Saipan and now Hard Rock Tokyo. The Lord has definitely blessed us immensely and shown us about different cultures we never thought we'd ever see.

Tokyo

Tokyo was fantastic! It was definitely a much needed break for all of us. We flew out Sunday afternoon and traveled most of the evening, it was almost midnight by the time we got settled into the hotel. I have to say though, their mass transit system is outstanding. We had the choice to pay around $250 to take a cab to the hotel from the airport or take the train. I was a little worried that the train would be a huge complication, but everything went smoothly. I was so excited that I was back up again aroun 5:30am the next morning and just couldn't sleep any more. I made the mistake of having a cup of CAFFEINATED tea, not smart at all, my body didn't know what to do. I was literally bouncing off the walls while trying to stay quiet so no one else would wake up. By the time everyone was up and ready for breakfast at 8am I was starting to get tired. We spent the day doing a walking tour of Hama-rikyu Gardens and then took the water bus to Asakusa, which was filled with some gorgeous temples and shrines.
Here are just a few of the MANY photos I took.