Can you feel the pure JOY and GIDDINESS?.....

I am not sure if you could hear the screams of joy from across the Pacific Ocean but if you listened close enough you just might have......Little Miss Teenager got her braces off yesterday. You would have thought I just handed her a MILLION dollars--she was THAT excited!!! I never had braces so I can't say I know what she feels, however she is happy and that makes me giddy with joy. (not only because I love when my kiddos are happy--but we no longer have to make a monthly payment!! heehee) Another stage done...Until the next kid needs braces.

BEFORE..... AFTER.......

CONGRATULATIONS, MISS TEENAGER

These last two weeks.......

--busy getting ready for 'Back to School'
--back to school 8/3 & 8/10
--3 trips to Pediatrician
--1 trip to Emergency Room
--3 sick kids
--Gone through 2 bottles of Motrin
--filled 6 prescriptions
--1 child had to do a sleep study (all night at a clinic--daddy went with)
--worked last 2 Saturdays
--registered for classes a University of Hawaii
--6 trips to Kona--1 hour each way
--homework
--days at the beach
--church meetings, callings, fast offering collecting
--lessons to prepare
--scouts/mutual
--Seminary started
--High school Freshman--it's official I am the mother of a High School student--how did that happen?
--3-5 loads of laundry per day
--Washer broke
--work full time
--1 kid bit by a centipede
--calmed kid from getting bit by the centipede
--ANTS, MICE and COCKROACH all live with us--and I am SICK of it!!!
--hot, humid, rainy days
--purchased uniform shirts for all 5 kids
--trips to library
--trips to the grocery store
--NEVER ENDING

I am tired. Goodbye Summertime. Now our lives will START to get busy.

I have hit a new low.....

OK let me explain. I have blogged about how expensive everything is over here in Paradise. So, we have gotten into the habit of looking for 'bargains', 'sales' or coupons. Coupons have become our favorite thing to have. So....there is one grocery store here that publishes a booklet of coupons every other month. They send it to us in the mail. This month's coupons are actually GREAT--not every month has great deals. So, we have been on the lookout for booklets of coupons. Well one day I was in the post office (the day after the booklets came out) and I was standing by the trash can throwing away our junk mail. I looked down into the trash can and saw some booklets of these beloved coupons.....So the question is: Do I reach into the trash can and retrieve these coupons? or do I remain a civil person and stay out of the trash? OK so here is my new LOW...I did it!!!! YUGH!! I reached into that trash can and took those stupid coupons!!! Can you believe I did it? How desperate am I? So, the worst part came a few days later. After Kalani and I had talked about my new low and laughed about what a dork I am...I was on the KSL website out of Utah and ran across the story below. I am sure you cannot read it but it is about a woman who was arrested and cited for theft because she was rummaging through her neighbors trash can for their COUPONS!!!!!! I about fell off my chair when I read that. So I printed it out and wrote.."WANTED: KATIE......" and gave it to Kalani at work. I waited for him to read it and then heard a great round of laughter from him. TOO FUNNY. So, here is the thing: I was on federal property (it was in the Post Office), I am sure they have security monitors running so I am sure I am on camera committing my crime. Do I turn myself in or do I wait for DOG the Bounty Hunter to come and get me? I have hit a new low. What is a girl to do when she is deseperate for coupons?

EXTREME MAKEOVER: LIFE EDITION

I need one. I feel like EVERY aspect of my life needs an EXTREME MAKEOVER: hair, clothes, makeup, exercise, attitude, spiritual, physical, my eating, finances, my communication with others...EVERYTHING. Have you ever felt that way? Please tell me you have. We have hit some bumps in the road over here in Hawaii and LIKE USUAL I am not handling things well. I often wonder why my sweet hubby keeps me. I can only imagine the frustration I cause for him. He must be an ANGEL on earth. No matter how hard I try to stay positive or see the positive side of things I just get so overwhelmed that the'light at the end of the tunnel' is darkened. I wonder why life has to be so hard sometimes. I am sure it is to help me gain strength. I just wish ONCE in awhile life could be a little easy. Ty Pennington--where are you when I need you?

I hate to admit it.......

This is 'The Dog', Duane Chapman, the Bounty Hunter. A few years ago when Kalani was going to school at night I would try to wait up for him. I was 'channel surfing' one night and came across this long haired guy and his family chasing criminals down in Hawaii. It was like a car accident--ya know you shouldn't watch it but you can't help it. So I watched. And to my surprise I actually liked the show. I felt like it was a "dirty little secret" and didn't tell anyone about my new favorite show. Heehee. Anyway, I watched it for a few years and then gradually stopped for whatever reason. But when we moved over here I 'secretly' wished that maybe someday we would run into him. Not much of a chance since we are on a different island. But last week Kalani and I were in Honolulu stuck in traffic and I happened to look over and saw.....DaKine Bail Bonds. Dog's office!!!! He wasn't there but I quickly grabbed the camera and snapped the first two pictures. The actual picture of Dog was one I found online. Crazy, huh? I hate to admit it..but it brought a little excitement into to my life. What about you? Do you have something you would hate to admit? Come On' I know you all have something you don't want others to know. Heehee. Aloha, Dog, maybe our paths will cross again someday--hopefully not with you coming after me. Heeheehee.

The older I get......

The more I realize...this is all I need.

Let FREEDOM Ring......

I have to say the 4th of July is one of my favored holidays. I love the Patriotic songs, the symbols of our great country. There are those who gripe about the bad things that are happening in our country and I admit there are days when I agree with them. There are days that the outlook is very bleak. But when I stop and think about the good in this country I am astounded at our blessings. The very fact that I am FREE to do or choose what I want is in it of itself the greatest blessing our country offers us. I won't get up on a soap box or anything, I just wanted to share my gratitude for this wonderful country that we live in. If I knew how to add music to my blog I would add, "America the Beautiful", "My Country tis of thee", "Star Spangled Banner". Love them all.

One of the reasons I love July 4th is my grandma was born on this day. One of my favorite stories is how her father changed her name at the last minute to "Gloria" in honor of her b'day. My favorite memory of July 4th is from the year 1994. My g'ma was getting pretty sick and we all knew she probably wouldn't be with us much longer. So, in honor of her b'day our entire family came to Las Vegas to celebrate her b'day. I was pregnant with my first baby, CS and was having a very difficult time. My entire extended family was there and we played games, bar-b-qued, went swimming, and just hung out. It was so fun. Then g'ma got tired and needed to lay down. My mom and Aunts suggested I go take a nap with her since I was feeling kind of sick, too. So, I tucked her in her bed and laid down next to her. I just stared at her and her beautiful face. She had the sweetest smile. She protested a little--she didn't want to miss out on any time she could spend with her family. But after just a minute she fell into a deep sleep. I reached out and grabbed her hand and just caressed her sweet soft skin. Oh, how I love her!!! She died on August 2 so we had her for just a little longer after her big b'day. The last few months of her life it was my pleasure to spend every Saturday with her, so my G'pa could work at the temple and my 2 Aunts could spend time with their families. I wouldn't trade the time I spent with her for anything. We watched "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and Murder She Wrote" more times than I care to admit. We ate soup and twice baked potatoes every week for lunch. We talked. I would read to her from the Ensign. We would look at family photos. I learned so much from her. And then in the middle of us doing something she would say, "Katie, I need something sweet--there is some ice cream in the freezer." haahaa. So funny. G'ma had a sweet tooth for ice cream--she loved it. We are so blessed to have grandparents. They are our link from the past to the present and shape our future. I am grateful Heavenly Father created how families work. I am so grateful that when it is my time to cross the veil I will not be alone. I will have ancestors and those I knew in this mortal world to meet me. Hold tight to your memories. Sweet remembrances grace my mind this 4th of July. May we all be safe and have a great day. May we always remember those who have died to keep our freedoms. May our prayers be that of verse 4 in "My Country, tis of thee"; Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light. Protect us by thy might, Great God, our King!"