GUESS WHAT????

We are moving back to Idaho!!!The above picture is of 'our' river in Star, Id. Isn't is lovely???

We will be back on the mainland on Dec. 10, probably spend Christmas in Vegas with my mom and sister, then be back after Christmas. We are SOOOOOOO excited. We have no home, no job, hardly anything to furnish a house once we find one....but we are coming home!!! Only 82 more days...We are excited like you cannot believe. Our love to all.

Grow old with me the 'Best' is yet to be

I will hardly EVER post pictures of myself on my blog...I can't take a good picture to save my life. However...I have been in deep thought lately about my life. I have been truly humbled to realize that I had the greatest of blessings...I grew up with the love of my life, my eternal companion, my best friend. I would be remorseful if I didn't take a few moments to pay tribute to this sweet (he will hate that I used that word to describe him) guy. The title I used for this post is actually the title of our 'theme' song. I wanted to post a picture of us in our younger years and older years to show that we actually have grown old...together. I love that we are together. I love sharing my life with Kalani...my heaven. I love that we lay in bed and talk every night, sometimes late into the night. I love that he knows what I am going to say before I say it. I love that he knows all my weaknesses and loves me anyway. I cannot even begin to convey my great love for him. I truly admire him. He works. He goes to school. He does homework--a lot. He studies. He does daddy things. He does 'honey do' things. He gets up at 4:30 a.m. to get our daughter up and ready for Seminary--and then takes her--everyday. When he is over-the-top tired he still listens to me ramble on and on about whatever I am ramblin' about. He is the definition of loving your family unconditionally. He does acts of kindness for me everyday. I used to give him a hard time because he rarely gets me flowers, and I really wanted him to. But after awhile of constantly nagging him about not getting me flowers...I realized he gives me dozens of roses EVERYDAY. His acts of kindness are flowers. My life is a garden. One of my cherished memories of him and his acts of kindness is when we just had our 2nd daughter, Kawehi. I was still in the hospital and recovering from a C-section. I was sitting in the bed, kind of miserable. I wasn't feeling well, I couldn't sleep and I needed to take a shower. If I can wash my hair, I am ok. Just gotta have clean hair. So, knowing I wasn't supposed to shower yet, but knowing I really needed to wash my hair...he rigged a way to dunk my head into the sink and my sweet hubby....washed my hair. I was sitting in a chair and leaning backwards over the sink. I have to admit it kind of hurt....but to be sitting there and have my love's hands gently caress my hair and head, rinsing and washing my hair was the most wonderful feeling. He was so gentle and loving. I still think of that day in the hospital. That is the day that I really realized he would do anything for me and my happiness. I am humbled. I love this man. I love him. I love him. We have been through so much together. We have grown up--together. We have traveled this road called life--together. I wouldn't trade one thing we have shared or traveled through for all the money in the world. I will never make the Top 100 Richest Women list, but I can tell you I am without a doubt the RICHEST WOMAN in the world. So, Kalani, here is to you...to us....to growing old....TOGETHER. I hope the Best is yet to be.....

My hubby agrees.... I am a DORK........

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!! I am going to show my age now...But I grew up with Donny Osmond being my 'heartthrob' and I have to admit he is still one of my favorite entertainers. I am, sad to admit, that I am in his fan club..(stop laughing Sami). I get updates every month as to his whereabouts, etc. I get happy when I see him on Entertainment Tonight...told ya I am a dork. So, can you imagine my level of excitement to hear that he is going to be on my FAVORITE show...Dancing with the Stars. Reason #2 I am a dork!!! I totally LOVE that show. And Donny is paired up with one of my favorite dancers, Kym Johnson. Much to my hubby's dismay I will be perched on my bed every Monday and Tuesday night mesmerized by the glorious costumes, the great music and the entertainers trying to dance. (but I will have all my laundry done and I will be using this time to fold...I cannot get over the guilt of just doing nothing in front of the T.V.) I am in awe at how hard they practice and work to learn the steps. I hope my "Donny" lasts through most of the season..or do I dare to dream he will come away the winner!!! Good luck, Donny. I rarely pick up the phone to vote on these shows..but you can bet his # will be set on redial and speed dial.

How do they know?

I recently got my hair cut....still trying to decide if I like it or not. So, anyway...today I am having a particularly "BAD HAIR DAY". I am so frustrated!!! And of all days this was the day I had NO time to dilly dally and try to rescue the way the hair looked. I felt really UGLY when I came out of the bathroom. As we were running out the door to try and catch the bus going into town....JAG (my little sweetheart) grabbed my hand and made me stop. He looked at me and had me lean down like he had to tell me a secret. He gave me a huge kiss on my cheek and said, "Mommy you look beautiful, today!". How did he know that I needed THAT more than anything today. I am truly convinced our kids are smarter and more intuitive than we think. I am constantly amazed at the joy these little ones give me. Thanks, JAG for making my day!!!

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?