malia's "boat"

I came downstairs today and found Malia proudly standing by her new block creation.
"Wow!" I said, "A choo choo train!!" (the very similar looking thing she made yesterday with the blocks)
"No, mommy. It's a BOAT!"

My bad. I stand corrected. lol

weeee're IN!!

(Drum roll please. . . ) Yes!! We're officially moved in! Yipee! It was a loooong, painful, arduous process. . . BUT, I just unpacked the LAST box tonight. Now, I still got a lot of putting away, organizing and decorating to do. . . but it's OFFICIAL!! We are MOVED IN! Woohoo!

Come and visit us! ha ha

one of the reasons i love sunday mornings

Today, Wayne helped me get the girls dressed and then rushed off to church - we were all running late and he has to be on time to play the organ. I quickly did their hair, brushed their teeth and got their shoes on - each was a battle because they were cranky. I then ran to my bathroom, did my hair and put on some quick makeup. I was gone for like, 3 minutes. I came back to this.

it's MOVING WEEK!

And there's already been a box casualty

a carnival!

Yesterday afternoon we went to the carnival extravaganza at Rock Canyon Elementary for a papa date. We were there for a few hours and in that time we went on many rides, ate a lot of popcorn (Kina ate the most), had a few teri burgers and saw a LOT of people we know (both Wayne and I attended Timpview High School (which is located right down the road from the elementary school) and we ran into many of our former classmates with their families - FUN!! ha ha). It was a fun fun day . . . and it makes me look forward to the summer when we can spend all day/everyday outdoors.


Malia and Kina got their face painted for the very FIRST time! Well, I guess should say - THIS was the FIRST time they actually sat still through a whole face painting session. Malia got a butterfly and Kina got a flower.

Kina checkin' out her cool face paint. She was so proud.

Malia and Kina and their Papa

From the outside this jumping gym was a huge tiger lying on it's back. Shoulda took a picture - it looked pretty funny.

Wayne with the girls on the choo choo train - the FAVORITE and most frequented ride of the whole day.

Another favorite - the SWINGS. I was afraid Kina wouldn't want to sit through the whole thing. Yeah. She screamed when the ride was over and I had to take her out.

Aside from the crankiness at the end (mostly from Kina ha ha) we had a great time.
Love carnivals and LOVE my girls!!

Malia and Kina love their Papa. Thanks for a great time Dad!

oh what a night!

Okay, this is the Reader's Digest version - Yesterday, Malia and Wayne woke up with the stomach flu. They had both been throwing up all night and continued on throughout the day. I played nurse most of the day to a cranky toddler and tired daddy and was looking forward to a good nights rest . . . wishful thinking. In the evening my shoulder dislocated (something that happens every now and then unfortunately) and I passed out from the pain. When I came to, my shoulder was extremely sore and I felt extremely tired. I laid down and slept for an hour, then got up to help Wayne put the girls to sleep. After they were in bed, the REAL fun began. I started feeling sick and threw up. I felt terrible, but I laid down to go to sleep. Throughout the night the girls took turns waking up crying because they were now BOTH sick. Wayne was a trooper and took over with each one because I was feeling weak. When things finally quieted down a little we all went to sleep. Then, as if my night couldn't get any worse, I was awakened by a HUGE charlie horse in my left leg. I called out quietly for Wayne (Kina was sleeping beside me in my bed and Wayne was sleeping with Malia in her room and after the night we had I didn't want to wake up one of them again). Charlie horses came and went SEVERAL times until FINALLY Wayne came to massage out my cramp. When I woke up in the morning, I threw up again. And my shoulder still hurts. A lot.

DEFINITELY a night to remember

happy mother's day!

. . . It was more like a Happy mother's WEEKEND! ha ha Since I didn't take any pics I googled some to save this post from total boringness.

Highlights of "Mother's day"

Iron Man 2 with Wayne (It's good! Go see it!)


Pedicures with Kina (She took me to a new place and I LOVED it!)

Cheesecake Factory with Melba (Bellagio chicken and red velvet cheesecake. Yuuuuuuuum!! I seriously have the best sister-in-laws in the world.)


Ginger lei from Wayne to wear to church (I started crying when I smelled it - it reminded me so much of Hawaii)

Talking to our missionaries Elder Alisa (Michael) and the Sister Latus (Nia and Sili) - they are all doing FABULOUS!

It was so fun to have a day. . . or a weekend to be pampered. I didn't expect any of it, but am so grateful for the sacrifices that were made to make me feel so special. I love being a mom - but it is difficult at times for me and a weekend like this last one left me feeling rejuvenated and happy.

I have so many good examples of great mother's in my life - especially my own mom - and they inspire and motivate me to be better everyday. I've loved experiencing motherhood with my closest friends. It's so nice to have people to talk to and understand what I'm going through - the bad and the good. I feel so lucky to have such a supportive family - my own and Wayne's family - they help me soo much and make me feel so loved. And most of all, I'm grateful for Wayne - thanks for making me a mom! ha ha

Happy Mother's Day!!

it's friday!

Wayne and Mikey surprised us at the park today with a scooter. The girls loved taking short rides around the parking lot on "Uncle's motorcycle".
So happy it's Friday!

wants vs. needs

Lately, I've noticed my blog has become just a place to post pictures. At one time, I intended this blog to be somewhat of a journal, since I don't keep a constant one anywhere else. Therefore, I've made a little goal to write some things on here that I would write in a journal. . . if I had one. . . and wrote in it. . . consistently. . . okey dokey, you get my drift.

My little brother, Michael, is the youngest in our family and as a result of that has always been a little spoiled. He's generous, sweet, grateful and respectful. . . just a little spoiled too. ha ha It's probably because we all love him the best. Anyways, at my moms house there is a little white board on the fridge and on that white board is a little message Michael wrote before he left on his mission (yes, he's been gone for over a year now and yes, it's still there). It says,

Michaels NEEDS:

• socks
• backpack
  
• a scooter
• IPOD
  

If any of you know Michael you know he wrote it in total sincerity and with a naive assurance that he would receive those things because they were "NEEDS" (I need to say first of all, that when us older siblings saw this list we all burst out laughing . . . and second, I don't think he ever got the last two items :)).

While I lived in my parents house I know I had similar "needs", but now that I'm on my own things are different. Before anything is decided on or purchased it's status as a need or a want is carefully considered. In preparing for our upcoming move and baby I've been jotting down several NEEDS in my planner. I took a second look at the list today and have decided I should reassess a few of them. If any of you have any advice (or want to assist me in rationalizing why I need any of these items) please feel free. ha ha

Mary's NEEDS:

• new bed for Kina (she can now climb out of her crib - juuuust great! ha ha)
  
• mini play kitchen for girls
• outdoor jungle gym for girls (ha ha. I think I wrote those on the same day)
• black pearl raindrop earrings (I found them on Etsy - they are soo cute. . . and soo not a need!)
  
• corningwear dishes/plastic cups (up to this point we've only used the ceramic and glass ware we received as wedding gifts. Now that 90% of it has broken I think we can move on to something slightly more durable)
• a Scentsy candle (I'm pretty sure I wrote this after visiting a friend who has Scentsy in her home. It smells sooooo good! . . . a good smelling home is a need, right? . . .right? lol)
  
• 3 dressers (two for the Master bedroom, one for the girls room)
  
• carrier/car seat (for new baby. The last one served us well for two kids, but the broken handle has made it unusable)
  
• new glasses (for me. My frames that I LOVE and have had foreeeever (and are GUCCI!! Ahh!!) were BROKEN by my girls. . . sniff, sniff. . . I'm still trying to get over it)
• dentist visit (unfortunately, I already know this is a need - it's been a year - I've just been avoiding it!)
  
• Malia's preschool
• printer (I miss the convenience)
  
• garage door opener (or someone who can fix our broken one)
  
• wagon for girls (I'm pretty sure I wrote this after visiting Costco and seeing the Radio Flyer wagon they sell. ha ha I think I'll check out Craigslist first)
• Pampered Chef (I think I saw this at Costco too. Ah, wishful thinking! ha ha)

Do you notice how I'm already starting to rationalize on some of those. Oh dear. Well, some of those items I will end up acquiring somehow and some will just slowly disappear from my planner and mind - and I'm okay with that. I think it's a difficult lesson for me to learn at times - the difference of wants vs. needs - but a valuable one all the same. I found this little gem on a blog dedicated to frugal living . . .

Learn to live with less. Learn to shun envy. Appreciate what you have.
If you have less, you will appreciate what you have more.

Now, does anyone know of a good dentist?

rollerskating classic

Friday was papa date day! Wayne's dad took me, Wayne and the girls to Rollerskating Classic! It's a big indoor skating rink that's been here in Provo foreeever - and nothing has changed since the first time I was there over ten years ago. Gotta love 80's decor! ha ha Kids get in free so we just had to pay for their $1 skate rental. It was an inexpensive outing and the girls enjoyed themselves . . . but unfortunately, they still do not know how to skate.


Kina and her little kid skates. The wheels are big and plastic and you slip them on over your shoes. They were so safe she could pretty much just walk in them.

Malia and her scooter. After rollerskating for a while she got tired of falling and opted for an easier way of travel.

Taking a break from the rink.

Kina and her look-alike. ha ha

Mental note to self - do NOT wear slippers when taking a toddler rollerskating. It kinda hurts when your toes gets run over again. . . and again. . . and again.