12 Years to Go

This afternoon, while Akiko was working on her homework, she admitted to me that she doesn't really like going to school. I was a little confused because she seems to really enjoy it. She adores her teacher. She's got lots of friends and she is usually very enthusiastic when she tells me about her day (unless it's a day where they learned something she already knew).

So, I asked her to explain why she didn't like going to school. She said, "Well, all we do all day is art projects, or playing, or recess, or snacks."

More confusion. "Really?" I reply, "I thought you liked doing all that stuff."

"Well, I do, but that's all we do."

"Okay... Well, is there anything that you do like at school?"

"I like the sound of scissors as they cut paper."

"Yeah, it does make a cool sound. What is it about school that you really don't like the most?"

"Well, I don't like that I have to be away from you all day for so long."

Oh, Akiko!! You little sweetheart!! You have no idea how much I miss you while you're away at school, too.

The home-school idea was toyed with at one point, but I don't have either the energy nor the time it would take for me to research how to do that. Besides, Akiko is like me when someone close to her tries to teach her something. She feels overwhelmed almost immediately. I tend to jump ahead or over-think things when I teach, especially when it comes to Akiko. We felt public school was the best option for all of us. Private school is, financially, out of the question (more than out-of-state tuition at the U).

Perhaps today was an exception. Her teacher has been out of the country for a couple weeks and was supposed to return today. She was out sick, however. I don't think Akiko liked the substitute today (it wasn't the same one that had taken over while her teacher was gone).

I guess her announcement today kind of shocked me because it seemed to me, like I said before, that she really loved going to school. Maybe this was just a one-time thing. I know Akiko was expecting to see her teacher today and was really excited about it. She made her a card last night that said, "I messd you so much."

So, while I expect that she'll still go to school for the next 12.5 years, if it really isn't working for her, then we'll definitely look into other options. I do think it's really sweet that the biggest reason is that she just misses me. We really do have a special bond.

Scripture Bag

So, I feel bad. I didn't document Moses' graduation from Nursery to Sunbeams. One reason is that I'm not particularly sure when it happened. A lot of people in our ward, kids and teachers, were out of town for the holidays, so the class transition didn't happen the first Sunday in January. Then there was news that the Primary presidency was getting switched, and then, at least for me, things got really confusing because I wasn't sure where I was supposed to be either.

But I'm pretty sure that Moses is officially a Sunbeam now. I'm also certain where my place in Primary is, too.

Well, despite all the confusion for me about Primary, it did give me an extra couple weeks to get one of my projects done that kept getting pushed back because other projects kept coming up that were a little more urgent. Please, don't ask me how or why I give my craft projects priority, but it just happens.

Well, with Moses' promotion into Primary he received from me a personalized handmade crocheted scripture bag, complete with his very own copy of The Book of Mormon and a Children's Songbook.

He proudly carried it to and around church yesterday. During sacrament, he would take out his songbook and sing along during the hymns. He was super excited to have one all his own with his name on it and everything.

The scripture bag is something that I started when Akiko went into Sunbeams.

As you can see, Akiko's bag is starting to look a little tattered and frayed, but she has lovingly and faithfully carried it to church every week for the last two years. She'll get a new one, and a new set of scriptures, in a couple years when she gets baptized.

So, while the kids can't read, though that's less true for Akiko nowadays, there's a great source of pride for them to have their very own Book of Mormon. At night time, when it's time for scriptures and prayer, if we're not having them recite one that they've memorized, they'll ask "Can we read out of MY Book of Mormon tonight?"

Having the kids get to know the scriptures and be excited for them is something that is really important to us. It's also good incentive for me to get into a better habit of regularly reading mine, so that I can be a good example to my kids. That's why I make scripture bags for my kids.

And in case you were wondering what is on the other side of Moses' bag... Well, I really wanted to do something church related, but Moses really wanted...

 

... a train. Moses and those big brown eyes got to me and I gave him what he wanted. I'm a sucker. No, it's not Thomas, he has too many details, but the number 1 and the three wheels are an homage to him.

Third Tooth

Akiko lost her third tooth tonight! She's got three more that will be falling out really soon, but they aren't quite loose yet. I guess the Tooth Fairy needs to track down some change now.

The Christmas Post

Yes, I am aware that it's already mid-January, but I feel I owe you a Christmas post. Truth be told, I've kind of been putting it off. Then there comes a time when I realize that I can put it off no longer or else you'll be getting a Christmas post in July and I just can't do that. That's silly!

So, the original plans for Christmas were that we were going to go to Utah and spend it there with my family and Joseph's siblings that live out there. Then I got a call one day from Joseph's sister saying that she caught wind of our plans and that we had to change them because the whole lot of Joseph's family decided to visit us in Sunnyvale for the holiday. Plans changed. No problem. Disappointed? Yeah, a bit. Excited? You betcha!

How and where we were going to host 16 extra people was beyond me, but we were going to burn that bridge when we got there.

Then came the news that Joseph's paternal grandmother was dying. That warranted the last minute trip to Long Beach to say goodbye, and there we met up with Joseph's whole family. Since everyone showed up in Long Beach, it meant that nobody was going to be able to make it to our place for Christmas. I was bummed, but also relieved that I didn't need to plan anything.

So, Christmas just ended up being our wonderful little family and Sam (Joseph's brother who lives with us, for those who didn't know). In all honesty, it was sooooo nice. It was nice not having to travel and deal with all the stress that comes with that. It was nice not having to host. It was nice just to relax and drink in those moments and create these memories of those that are dearest to me.

Well, me being me, I neglected to take a single picture of Christmas morning. However, do not dismay, one reason I didn't take any pictures is because we broadcast our Christmas morning on justin.tv. Not the entire morning, but at least the first half hour or so. I made about five highlight videos, so you don't have to watch the whole thing unless you really, really want to.

After we opened presents I had to get started on dinner. I had invited my friend, Angie, and her family over to eat with us. She was 39 weeks pregnant. There was no way I was going to let her cook Christmas dinner while she was that far along. Besides, just because I felt a bit relieved not to be hosting Joseph's whole family does not mean that I didn't want to host anyone at all. It was a simple, but delicious dinner: roast beef, crescent rolls, mashed potatoes and gravy, salad and pecan pie. Seriously, it was more simple than it seems now that I'm looking at the list.

So, that was our Christmas. Relaxing. Just like it ought to be.

And I finally got the tree down yesterday. Moses had been bugging me about it all week, "Mommy, Christmas is over. You need to take the tree away." I was expecting tears like I've gotten in years past.

I hope your Christmas was great, too!!

School Portraits

We've actually had the pictures for a couple months, but I didn't want to have a Christmas gift spoiler for the family, so I didn't post these earlier.

Asher got his picture taken, too. The photographer for the preschool allowed younger siblings to get theirs done as well, so I jumped on the chance to get Asher's picture taken. Now I just need to get some family pictures done at some point. If you live in the Bay area, suggestions would be welcome!

Akiko - Kindergarten

Moses - Preschool 3s Class

Asher - Almost 4 Months Old

You can see the lovely blue of his eyes!

Both of my sweet boys

I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did!

It Really Is A Wonderful Life

Earlier this evening, I had the opportunity to kick up my heels and relax on the couch. There was a fire blazing in the hearth and a mug of peppermint herbal tea in my hands. There was a baby cooing and aahing as he happily scooted and rolled from one toy to the next all over the living room floor. My older children were giggling with each other in the other room. We had just finished a divine dinner of leftover Christmas roast, veggies, Smurf-blue mashed potatoes (Akiko's request), and Grandma Char's rolls.

Now, I know a couple of you are thinking, "...and then disaster struck," but no, my friends, it didn't. This scene played out for a good 45 minutes. Seriously. And the only reason it stopped was because I had finished my herbal tea and decided to clean up the dinner mess.

It was during this picture perfect scenario that I paused to reflect on how blessed I am. This year, I turn... dare I say it?... 30. There you have it. Now you know, if you didn't already, how old I am. Anyway, I've been watching my friends on Facebook, as they've ended their third decade, with some bemusement. Some have welcomed the milestone with open arms, but most have gotten through it with dreaded undertones. So, you're probably wondering where I stand on the issue.

I welcome it. Let's face it, when I turned 19, 20, and 21, I thought I was utterly awesome. In retrospect, I was an utter doofus. I made many decisions that came back to haunt me in some very bad ways. I was immature and unreliable and extremely selfish.

As a glass half-full kinda girl, I like to think that I was just "getting it out of my system," but really, there were a lot of dumb things that I did, and consequences to be dealt with, that could have been prevented. By the time I was 22, I decided that where I was headed was not where I wanted to be and I made some huge and drastic changes in my life. It was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but, oh, it was so worth it.

So, as I lay on the couch, thinking about life, I decided that, for turning 30 this year, this is exactly where I want to be. I couldn't be happier. Let's see what the next decade brings!