So tired

Have you ever been so tired that your eyes burned every time you blinked? Have you ever been so tired that you thought you saw things that were not there? Have you ever been so tired that you kept staring off into space every five seconds? Have you ever been so tired that people came up to you and said, "You look like crap, maybe you should get some more sleep." Thanks to the woman who said this to me. I appreate the hosesty, but not on the days that I look like crap. I want to look like a princess each and every day. Why am I so tired?? Golly, I don't even want to blog I am so exhusted. Well, I did an entry. Night.

The Challenge

I have a deep adoration for celebrity gossip. I read and research up to three times daily, on several sites just to catch up on my favorite actors and actresses. It delights me to see what these people are up to and what they wear. I love seeing family photos and candid shots. I adore everything about Hollywood. I do not know when I started this love for everything Hollywood, but I think it began with my grandma, who brought home Enquirers, Star magazines and People. I would look at these magazines with half a heart and laugh at the stuff I would read, but I guess deep down I really liked "the news." It got to the point where I would ask my grandma if she had any new magazines and get really disappointed when she would tell me no. Now that I am an adult, I can go online and look to my hearts content at all the gossip in Hollywood. I find myself really wanting some sites to update faster, because I had already read what was on them and I longed for more. I got to thinking...this is kinda gross. I think I have a habit that I need to break. So I have a challenge for myself. I want to go for one month not looking up ANY Hollywood gossip. I think I can do this, but I know it will be hard. Keep your fingers crossed that I can do it. May 26th is the day!!!

Totally Random

When I got married I was given a wonderful cookbook from my father and step-mom. I have tried many recipes out of this book over the years and all of the recipes have worked! Which is amazing to me. I have bought many cookbooks that looked so awesome, but the recipes never worked out...something was always wrong. I do not know how people can publish a book without trying out their own recipes to see if they will work. I made a fish recipe that called for three kinds of flavors that all had salt in them...yuck...it was WAY too salty to even eat when the fish was all done. Anyways, over the years I have been looking through, this cookbook my father and step-mom had given me and looking at all of the yummy cakes that one could make, if they had the time and energy. 15 years later I think I have found the time. I set a goal this year to make every cake in the Betty Crocker Cookbook. I figured that if I made one cake a week, we could make this goal. This weeks cake was a Pineapple Upside Down Cake. Sashi and I made this together. I would measure all the ingredients out and Sashi would pour them into the bowl and mix. When it came down to assemble it Sashi decided that she wanted to eat all the pineapple out of the can instead of putting the slices on the cake. I had to bargain with her to decorate the cake first and then we would save slices for her to eat later. She was ok with this and we made a very pretty little cake.



Today Sashi and Ian wanted to ride their bikes for family home evening. So Genji brought up Sashi's bike from downstairs and we all went outside. Ian went flying down the hill at top speed. Then he would stop look to see where we were and ride is bike back up to where we were. Sashi would very carefully pedal her bike down the hill, only taking her feet off the breaks once or twice to see if she was brave enough to go down the hill really fast. I can not tell you how many times on our little walk did my heart almost stop beating. It is frightening to watch your child stop just in time when a car is coming up the street. It is terrifying to watch your child slide on gravel losing control just for a few seconds and then regaining control. It is horrifying to watch your child not watch where they are going and ride right into the middle of the street. I want my children to have freedom to roam and play, but golly, they can not die in front of me...they have to wait until I turn my back.

We were eating Popsicles the other day and Sashi was brushing her teeth with a strawberry ice treat. My hubby and she had a wonderful conversation and I caught all of it.

Hubby: Sashi are you brushing your teeth with a Popsicle?
Sashi: Yes, watch..it makes a funny sound.
Hubby: You know you are going to have to brush your teeth extra well tonight, don't you.
Sashi: No daddy these are sugar free

Ian and I were learning about slavery the other day. We learned how the early slaves of America could earn their freedom if they worked for their masters for so many years. Ian really thought about this and then asked me a few question.

Ian: Mom, I think the early slaves of America were lucky, they could have their own farms and have white people help to harvest their crops.
Mom: This is true.
Ian: Mom, why did slaves later on lose this gift?
Mom: Ian, men became more selfish and didn't want to realise their slaves. They could produce more crops with the slaves help.
Ian: Didn't the slave owners know they were not being fair?
Mom: I do not think they thought the slaves to be people anymore Ian, only property.
Ian: Well, if I had slaves...I would treat them like family and they could have Sundays off and I would never beat them.

I love my children.

My Addiction

I have a problem....not just any problem but a BIG problem. I love Chocolate. This love isn't normal. I dream about chocolate, desire chocolate, I beg for chocolate, I panic when I don't have chocolate in the house, I ask friends to buy chocolate and worse of all... my day is shot when I don't have a piece of chocolate. I think I am an addict. Chocolate is my "cocaine" in life. I need to kick the habit, but I do not think it is possible and life would be lame without it. Why is the coco bean my friend? How can something so simple, be made into the most delicious of treats??
I have been thinking about the word love and the different kinds of love. There are nine kinds that I can think of off hand. 1) Affection
2)Sexual Love
3)Platonic Love
4)Romantic Love
5)Puppy Love
6)Friendship
7)Committed Love
8)Infatuation
9)Passionate Love
What have these nine kinds of love have anything to do with my subject of chocolate...well, I think I hit 5 of these. Truly! I have deep AFFECTION for chocolate....I am very "fond" of it and I have a deep "bond" with it, plus I think it could be a one-sided relationship. I do not have sexual relationship with chocolate, so this must mean it is a PLATONIC love. I "care for it and get great "happiness" from it. I do dream about chocolate so I must have a ROMANTIC love going on. I "take walks" with it, "I want to be with it all the time" and "my world revolves around it." Chocolate is my friend so FRIENDSHIP must be one. I have a "good time" with it, I have a "loyalty" to it and I "respect" it's power over me. I know I have a COMMITTED love for my chocolaty friend. It is a "long lasting friendship", it is a "devotion" that I can not break and "I promise" I will never leave it.
So you can see that I do have a problem. I adore my silky, smooth, dark, sticky, gooey friend. I do not know how to stop my addiction, nor do I need help ...thank you very much!

Mommy Meltdown

I think someone needs to send me to the funny farm. I slowly feel myself losing my mind. I hear little voices morning, noon and night. These voices will not stop talking...they ask the same questions over and over again. I swear sometimes I think these little voices know the answers to these very important questions. Why won't the voices stop? I also see things. Visions that scare me. Why do I see frosting running down the side of my table like it is bleeding? Why do hand prints magically appear on my walls and in technicolor, no less? Why do I have a floor that produces toys and clothing consistently? Why can't it stay clean?? Today I went mad. These things took it's toll on me and I wanted to go away. I wanted to go to a happy place. A place where I got to be waited on and to be fed chocolate. I wanted the sun to shine on me. I wanted to feel like I had no cares in the world. I wanted a hug. When these things could not be done for me, I cried. I decided that sometimes a mom needs a time out or a 911 call to the nut house...just so I could rest. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Shopping with a 7 year old

Tonight I had to go to the store and my little girl wanted to go with me. Sure, why not, I thought...no big deal. So off we went hand in hand to the car. We chatted the whole way to the store, even sang songs. We skipped into the store and waved and made faces to the security camera that was above the door. I lifted my girl into the cart and we started off. Right away she wanted candy. I told her I would have to think about it. She started to whine and told me that she REALLY, really liked candy and that it would make her tummy happy to have some. I smiled on the inside and told her she would have to wait and see. Then she wanted to hold the shopping list. I let her. I had to lean way over the cart every time I wanted to see what was on our list. She then wanted to get a "golden ticket" that was hanging on every aisle. These tickets are coupons that you can grab to use when ever you like. My daughter thinks they are golden tickets like the ones on the movie Charlie and Chocolate Factory... She will even sing the song "I've got a golden ticket..."
Then she saw the AISLE!! The one with the candy in it. Oh no!! Too late she had the gum in her hot little hand and she was giving me the Bambi eyes. I let her get the gum. Then she wanted to walk. I let her. She had to run to everything in arms reach and touch the merchandise. "Mom, what is this? Can we get this?" I would say no and please put it down. She would then run down the aisle and DISAPPEAR?!? Where did she go? "PEEK, did I scare you?" She did this on every aisle. Then she wanted to pick out her own yogurt...I let her. She looked at every single yogurt that was on the shelf. She very carefully picked out 7 of her favorite. She then ran off. Boy, was this a exhausting trip.
It was time to check out and she wanted to help put everything on the conveyor belt. I let her help me. She did a wonderful job. Then she wanted to take everything off. "Wait, I said." "This isn't helping me anymore." She looked at me with very sad eyes and said, "Of course it is helping you, I love you." What can I say to this. I love my daughter and I love shopping with her .. But, BOY does it take patience.

Day 4

I miss them!! Can you believe it?!? All of cousins were at a friends house for the night and day and I couldn't stand it. I missed the yelling, the excitement, the pestering, laughing, the strange smells, the cute faces and the noise. I couldn't believe it. Truly?? What is wrong with me? Do I really love children this much?? I do. I love my niece and nephews. They are fun to be around. I have loved every minute of this experience. (well, maybe not the 5:00am thing) Children bring me joy. I truly love all little children. Ian and Sashi's cousins are wonderful. I did miss them when they were away and I will miss them once their visit is over. I hope that they have enjoyed themselves. I hope they take away as much as our family has. I am grateful for families. I am grateful for being able to watch these funny little creatures. I am happy that each child is different from the other....what a wonderful world we live in. Thank you to my in-laws they gave me a wonderful adventure.

Day 3

PLAY!!! How we played all day! What didn't we do? We had waffles for breakfast, played, busted up big blocks to get the gold out, played, had lunch, went for an explore at the beach, played, watched a movie, played and then my friend came over to the house to gather up the kids for the night. Oh the EXCITEMENT felt at this house...golly, if we could charge up a battery with sheer joy, we would have succeeded. A+ sort of day. So why do I have a lady sleeping as my photo for this day?? Well...
I was SO tired from two days of getting up around 5 that I couldn't stay awake once all the excitement left my house. I sat at the computer and fell asleep. My husband woke me up to ask if I wanted to go to bed and I said "NO, I want to write a blog." Not more that five minutes later I was sleeping again with my fingers pressed into the keyboard. My husband woke me up laughing you should go to bed. I gave him a sad face and said "No." I really wanted to write my blog. A few minutes later I fell asleep again. This time my hubby made me go to bed and I SLEPT...hard. I had know idea I was as tired as I was. It was kinda funny. So I was going to title this blog On The Third Day She Rested, but I chicken out. I figured it was too God like and I shouldn't do it.

Day 2

Today was day 2 of the cousins sleepover. The day started off inauspicious. My little niece must be mixed up about the time or something, because she woke up the entire house at 5:30am. I could not get anyone back to sleep and have been reaping the unfortunate results of crabby children. I have learned on this adventure that I need to stand firm with the things I believe in. Here are some things I feel strongly about and haven't wavered at all on. 1) Video games are not more important then friends and cousins. 2) We go outside when it is sunny...period. 3) We are always polite to your aunt and uncle no matter how tired we get. 4) We sleep in until 7:00am. 5) We wash our hands after we poop, not just run them under the water and wipe hands on towel. I have stood firm on these. I will not bend.
The day has been a C+ sort of day. The kids are more argumentative then yesterday...showing more "balls" if you will. They tell it like it is and I listen then tell them how I would like it to be. They give me challenging glances and then decide not to mess with it. I smile and tell them I love them and then we play games and laugh.
Today was movie night. We had popcorn, chocolate and Popsicles to wash it all down. We watched Kung Fu Panda and laughed and laughed. We had pillows and blankets and crunchy popcorn EVERYWHERE!!! It was loads of fun. I am grateful for these memories. I love my niece and nephews. Just not when they GET UP AT 5:30 IN THE MORNING!!!!! Grrrrr.

Day 1

I am watching the cousins for the weekend. My life will not be my own for several days. I will be catering to their every whim. Today we played, cooked hot dogs, played, went to karate, played, took showers, played and went to bed. It was a very full and exciting day. Ian is in hog heaven that he has friends around him 24 hours a day. Will I survive these next few days....I guess I will have to wait and see. So far so good.

Church

It is such a struggle to get ready and out the door for church every Sunday. I just about want to die! Here are some reasons why: the kids are screaming at each other, hubby can't find his tie, I do not know why my hair isn't acting right, Ian doesn't want to wear tie shoes... only boots and Sashi flat refuses to get her hair done....this happens EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY!!! Why is there SO MUCH DRAMA at my house? Why can't we just get dressed and out the door without a fuss? Is it too much to ask?
As I sit here thinking about my day...I know why it is important to go to church. When we go to church we learn about heavenly father and his son Jesus Christ. We learn about old scripture stories and people from the past. We learn how to live. We learn how to love. I believe church is one of the pieces of the pie to a wonderful relationship with God....the other two are prayer and scripture study. When you put all of these together, you have a wonderful gift. I want my children to love Heavenly Father. I want them to have a wonderful life. My gift to them is teaching them as much as I can about God. I hope that they pray everyday and form a relationship with him. So is it worth the early morning fights, complaining and tantrums to get to church? I believe it is. =)

All About Sashi

M- miraculous
U- unique
S- serious
A- amazing
S- studious
H- nourishing
I- idolized

My little girl fills my day with her sweet presence. I love having her around me. I often do not understand her demeanor at times, but I adore her the way she is. My wishes for my "butterfly" is to have the best life that she can and to remember if you humble your heart you will be able to take the world in. Life is full of learning and learning helps to grow your heart and your soul.
I think my girl is awesome! I am happy heavenly father has given her to me.

We Are Done!!

Ian had testing all this week. This is not the normal run-of-the-mill test but, the- mother-of-all-tests. The dreaded SBA testing or Standards Based Assessment test. The SBA test includes English/grammar, writing and math and it is given over a three day span. This test can bring horror to even the best of students. Ian has had a love/hate relationship with this test since he was in the 3rd grade. He loves the challenge of the test, but not being timed. He finds being timed a nuisance. He loves to say, "When I am timed my brain doesn't want to corporate...I just worry about the time running out but, I really DO know everything." I have always felt a little sad for him. It WOULD be frustrating to know everything in the test, but mess up just because of time limits.
This year Ian lucked out! The tests were a little different, for some reason... they were not timed! JOY! Ian started the week off with English. Ian was so excited when he came out of the English test he practically yelled, "They didn't time me Mom!" I could see by the way his little eyes were shining that this might be a good test week for him.
Ian worked his way through the English, writing and math. He smiled most days..he was happy that he was doing so well. Today was the Math test. Ian loathes math and really would be happy if it would just disappeared off the planet earth. He went into the test a little scared but, came out with a exhausted smile on his face. I was worried he didn't do well. I asked him a few questions and this is what he said:
Mom- Ian how was your Math test?
Ian- Mom, I am tired my brain is about to explode.
Mom- Was it that bad?
Ian- No, it was ok, but I think I used my mind too much today.

I am happy to say we ARE DONE with major testing for the year!

The Carpool

I never thought I would be a mom who would carpool a bunch of kids every week. When I think of carpooling I think of an old station wagon with fake wood paneling and a bunch of screaming kids all fighting over the the backward seat in the way back.



I do not see a modern woman with a gray Malibu driving around a bunch of kids...no no something is not right with this picture! What happened?? How did I become a Chauffeur for the neighborhood? Am I too nice too say no? Do I look like a mom with nothing to do? Maybe I have a stamp on my forehead the reads USE MIA!! Whatever the reason...oh wait! I know what it is... I am cute!! Everyone wants to ask someone who is cute to help them. =)
So, CUTE Mia runs 4 boys to scouts every Wednesday. CUTE Mia listens to loud talking, music and burping every trip. CUTE Mia has to endure strange smells the waft from the backseat from pre-adolescent boys. CUTE Mia answers a million questions in a span of 15/20 minutes. Could it be that CUTE Mia is a saint? No! That's not it... I think I am a good friend plain and simple. So bring on the boys and I will bring the deodorant!!

Easter came with all of it's glory

This year the Easter bunny was feeling a bit different, so instead of an egg hunt...we had a maze of yarn to go through to find the baskets. The kids LOVED this idea. Ian's yarn color was blue, Sashi's yellow and Genji's orange they each had to follow their color through a maze that ended up at their baskets. The house was COVERED in a colorful web of yarn.





Sashi started the hunt by screaming with joy about finding her string first! She went all around the house, over and underthings and winding her yarn about her hand. Then, she found her basket in the hall under a coat and BOY was that fun!!



Ian then ran off and followed his blue -yarn -of- happiness and found his basket in the bathtub! He shouted, "I found it!" Then as he was giggling about all the chocolate eggs..he was shoving them as fast as he could into his mouth.


Genji too got into the act. He found his basket under the table. He thought it was funny that he had to walk around everything just to end up in the dinning room. =)




The day was wonderful. Happy Easter.

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Gettig ready for Easter

Last week the kids and I started to decorate the house for Easter...we put up handmade, cutout rabbits and eggs. This week we dyed the Easter eggs and made a HUGE mess. My fingers are still bright orange! Every activity that we do brings so much joy and laughter...it is worth the terrible disaster in my kitchen. Here are some photos to show how much fun we all had.



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April brings....funny sayings.

I love laughter. Laughter brings joy to my life. I strongly believe that a part of me would die if I could not have some form of silliness in my day. I have been deeply blessed to have children who are just as silly. Ian and Sashi bring laughter to my heart each and everyday. Today Sashi was watching TV and heard what she thought was her name...

Sashi: Mom, did you hear that?
Mia: Hear what?
Sashi: They said MY name!!
Mia: Are you sure?
Sashi: Yes! Don't they know that I am the ONLY one?!?

Ian was chatting it up with me today about how lucky his cousin is that he has cereal and candy named after him...

Ian: Mom, do you know how lucky Rhys is to have cereal and candy named after him?
Mia: Ian, the cereal and candy are spelled different..they are not really named after him.
Ian: Ya, I know, but when is Ian going to be big? I need candy named after me.

I love my kids...hahaha.