Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Wording help needed

I'm typing up some Thank You notes and I need some help with the wording.

On the front of the card I have this:


and it says: You've been a real lifesaver.


Inside of the card it says:

We would have been sunk without your help at Girls' Camp.
Mahalo, blah blah blah.

We'll be giving out a pack of lifesavers with the Cards.




Does that SUNK part make sense? Or does it make you think of a skunk and other stinky stuff? Any ideas?

Back to School

$100 in school supplies. Check.
3 new outfits. Check
1 new pair of shoes. Check.
Backpack loaded with supplies. Check.
Lunch packed. Check.
Hair in ponytails. Check.

And we're back to school.

Didn't we just start summer?

This seems a little early to be back in school, but there also seems to be a little less first day of school stress and pressure.

I wonder if it's an apple for your teacher in Hawaii, or a pineapple?



And now I just have to decide what I'm going to do with John. Joyschool, or a neighborhood swap. I really want to just do the neighborhood swap, but I feel like I'll be letting down the Joyschool girls if I drop them. I don't know...

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Friday To Do & Friday Feast

Where has the week gone? I have so much to do:

Go running
Dust (including the fans)
Sweep
Mop
Vacuum
Clean mirrors
Babysit Emily's friend
Go to the middle school to help with some crazy PTA thing
While at the middle school, ask if Hannah's schedule can change to include Band
Go to the Housing Office to file an "install my AC" form
Scrounge around for money for the pool
Go to the pool
Take a nap
Call Diane about the box of camp stuff in the back of my car
Do the Friday Feast
Laundry
Think of something easy to fix for dinner (hamburgers?)
Have a totally rockin' family movie night (Bridge to Terribithia)




What are you up to today?


&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Describe a toy you remember from your childhood.
We had a Richard Scarry Busy Town village building set. We could build houses and stores and a barn and silo all on a green grass grid. We played with it together with Little People. Mom still has that very cool game, and my kids love to play with it when we visit. I've been trying to find this set for myself on Ebay, but apparently we were the only kids to have this game...



Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 being highest) how observant are you?
2. I forget to notice things, like what people are wearing, what they look like, and names. I would be a terrible crime witness. Sometimes I have a moment of panic when I realize I have no idea what the kids are wearing or how their hair is fixed.

Salad
Where would you rather be at this very moment?
In bed. I stayed up late last night watching Catch and Release, and now I'm regretting it. Yawn!

Main Course
When was the last time you learned something new?
Hmmm. I guess just yesterday. I was driving onto the base and saw a big sign announcing "Drought Conditions. Conserve Water." It was a suprise to me - drought? even in Hawaii? Seems a little odd to me. We get a lot of rain her at our house, but it is a little dryer than it was...

Dessert
Fill in the blank: I have ____________ but I haven’t ____________.
I have brushed my teeth, but I haven't put in my contacts. yet...

-----------

Before I get back on the computer I am definately going to so something on my list.

Have a great day!

Huh?

I have not minded having a 7 month vacation from Visiting Teaching. Visiting Teaching is a way that the women in the Mormon church establish friendships, serve each other, and make sure that needs are being met.

It has been nice not to have that bit of guilt leading up to a last week of the month. But it has been fun to get going with it again, especially as I have a fun companion and all the ladies we visit seem genuinely happy to have us come (a big change from my last route where my companion, though fun, was working and going to school and hard to catch up with, and the ladies we visited didn't particularly like us)

So, we were visiting this one woman. And she said something that I am still pondering. Maybe you can help me with the translation...

I was telling a little story and I said something about how my husband is good at conversation, especially in getting to know people really quickly. I also mentioned that I am the opposite and tend to get stuck after "Hi." "How are you?" and "Where are you from?"

She responed with this: "Yeah, I KNOW, when I first met you and your husband I thought: What does he even see in her? He is such a great guy, and what could he possibly she in HER?"

meaning me.

She said it more than once to make her point.

She didn't seem to be joking, though we were all laughing at that humorous little joke.

But I was left wondering, Huh?

Is that the kind of thing you just say to someone?

I mean really, we have lived her for 7 months, and this is only the second or third time we have talked. I know who she is and all, but our paths don't often cross on Sunday, as I teach a children's class. Though for the short time that I attended Relief Society when we first moved here, she did not sit near me or attempt to get to know me. Waaa!

What does he see in her? Shesh, that's easy, he's got one smokin' hot babe as a wife. Not much of a conversationalist, apparently, but she's hott!

Am I right?

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Happy Birthday to You!

Dear Nathan,

Roses are red,
canaries are tweeties
Lemons are sour
and you are my sweetie



Hope you had a Happy Birthday!

Yours,
wendy
xoxo

Monday, July 23, 2007

Mary had a little Birthday



My little sister Mary is celebrating her birthday today!

With a name like Mary, how can you not be cool? Mary had a little lamb. Mary, Mary, quite contrary. Mary, Mary, Why you buggin'? Mary Christmas. And, my personal favorite: Night-Mare! (which used to send her wailing and crying to our shared bedroom)

Mary is smack-dab in the middle of the seven girls in our family. She is just 2 years younger than me, and I can't remember a time in my life without her as my friend.


My favorite thing about Mary is that she is always so sweet and positive. She lifts me up and encourages me to do my best. She is a terrific mom to two sweet and energetic kids. She is a new Primary President in her ward. She shares my Harry Potter love. And she still trusts me at the wheel of a car, even though she was there when I nearly drove in to a large chainlink fence...

Mary, I hope you have fun celebrating your birthday on the beach in California!

Happy Birthday to ewe!







It's fleece was white as snow...

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Camping in Paradise

Camp on the beach was incredible. We had a great view of the ocean from our tents, and each night we were were lulled to sleep by the lullaby of the surf. The sound of the wind and the waves drowned out the noise of the girls talking all night, so I slept great and never had to holler at the girls to go to sleep!

One thing I learned at camp is that the Windward Side of the island is where the wind really does blow in from the ocean all day and all night. Also, because of the wind we had no problems with mosqitoes or flies, and though I worried about big bugs, I never saw anything bigger than your average ant!

Our camp in Hawaii had a unique focus - we did not do much certification, but instead spent our time trying some traditional Hawaiian crafts. The girls each made tea leaf leis, lava lavas, and Ohe or bamboo horns. The sound was like blowing a conch shell.


We were also able to go to a Lo'i and stomp in a Taro patch, swim in a fresh water spring, and pound poi. Poi cake is yummy! And fresh taro is not too bad.

My biggest triumph at camp was making some real Hawaiian rice. Remember, we needed rice at most of our meals, and apparently the way I know how to make rice is not the real way to do it. One morning I was left with the rice cooking chore, as all the other experienced rice cooks were either gone or not feeling well or still sleeping. So I walked over to a neighboring ward camp area and asked one of the guys cooking breakfast (brilliant ward - they had their priesthood cook breakfast each morning) how to do it. He told me how to rinse the rice, how to measure the rice and water (rice up to your second knuckle, lift your finger to the top of the rice, and water up to the first knuckle) and how long to cook it. I followed his directions, though I had a hard time keeping the flame on my camp stove down on simmer in the wind. He came over later and check my rice after it was all cooked (and not scorched) and he judged it to be just right. At breakfast the local girls didn't complain about my rice, and one even said it was almost good. Almost a compliment!

We were encouraged to bring Ukulele's to camp, and in the folders that I prepared for the girls, we included songs with cords for the girls to play. I thought that was a little bit of wishful thinking, but I amazed by how many of our girls brought their own ukulele (pronounced in Hawaii as: ooo-kooo-lay-lay) and could really play. This was the most truly musical camp I have ever been to.

*****

We spent a few hours each afternoon in the ocean. I am always suprised by how different the waves and sand can be at different beaches on this little island. The beach we were camped at had wonderful powder-soft sand, and no coral or rocks to cut your toes. The waves were perfect for boogie boarding and body surfing.



Swimming in the ocean was my most favorite activity at camp. I think this was the first time since I was a little kid that I have gone to the beach without small children to look out for. My friend Diane taught me how to body surf, and then we discovered that body surfing with those pool noodles was even more fun! Have you body surfed before? It is kind of a cross between riding a wave, and spinning in a washing machine. I am still finding sand in my ears!

I may not have done a compass course, but I did earn the noodle surfing merit badge!



--------

There were some frustrating things about camp. So much food to fix and chores to assign and girls to keep happy. Rain at night and strong winds and wimpy tents made for some wet toes. Minimal showers left sand in unmentionable places, and the salty air left my lips really dry. Some of the girls were more excited about camp than others, but most of our girls were great! I consider it a success that we didn't have to send anyone home and that the girls didn't attempt mutiny. I'm embarrassed to say that I did use my "mom voice" a couple times. Sorry girls!

^^^^^^^^^^^

Families were invited up the last night of camp for a potluck and a performance. The girls performed a hula for their parents, and they did such a terrific job!


Sadly, they invited leaders to come up and hula with the girls. Can I look any more confused? What am I doing? Twinkle Twinkle?


+++++++++

Later that night we went on a beach walk to look at the stars and catch crabs. Little white crabs scuttle around the sand at night, and are easy to catch. I even caught a small one. While the girls were crab hunting I laid back in the sand (I was already covered in sand so a little more in my hair wouldn't hurt) and watched for falling stars.

We had a nice testimony meeting that night, then sent the kids to bed while we snuck chocolate bars and stayed up 'til 2 in the morning talking. Fun!

I left camp tired and dirty and a little grouchy. But now that my fingernails are clean, my tubs of kitchenware are emptied, and I've gotten a couple nights of sleep, I'm so thankful for the chance I had to go to camp. What amazing young women we have today!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

8 things about camp

Deanne tagged me last week to write up 8 things about me. But I had just done 31 things about me and I was out of ideas. So, since I'm leaving for camp in 2 hours I'll write about that:

1 - No warm showers.

2 - Right on the beach. Who needs a shower when you can swim in the ocean every day?

3 - 90 girls from 8 wards. 17 from just our ward.

4 - Dutch-oven peach cobbler and foil dinners tonight.

5 - Where I Live, There are Rainbows is our Camp Theme. We will be performing a Hula to the song of the above name (I use the term we rather loosely. I am hoping to skip that bit of fun)

6 - Tents, not cabins. Trying to decide who sleeps with who has been the hardest part of this adventure. By year? One of each year? She can't stand her. She's hard to be around. She doesn't sleep...

7 - We will be taking a trip to a taro lo'i to stomp in the mud and try poi.

8 - Honey you can't love 8 (8) Honey you can't love 8 (8) You can't love 8 and keep our date I'm leavin' on the midnight train, la-di-da Oh-boy some-fun uh-huh woo-woo! Singing at camp is my favorite thing. I am hoping to instite the get your elbows off the table tradition.

We'll, I'm off to get my last warm shower and I won't be back until Friday. While I'm gone I want to hear about camp from when you were a kid. Did you get to go to summer camp? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Did you find your long lost twin?

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Hello, Hello, Are you still there?

What a busy week!

Camp meetings
Activity Day Girls Swimming Party
Denist appointments (no cavities!)
Towel sewing for a little shop up on the North Shore!
Which required a dozen trips to WaWaWorld
Friends from out of town
YM/YW swim party
and more

The problem with being so busy is that my mind starts to go, then I have to start playing charades to finish sentences. Waaa! Maybe I need to start just filling in with da kine...

Girl's Camp runs from Tuesday to Friday and I'm about as prepared as I'm going to be. T-shirts look great. Banner is painted. Notebooks are assembled. Tent assignments are not done (oops, forgot about that.) Priesthood reminders have been made.

Tomorrow I will do our big grocery trip and pull out our camping gear and go to bed early. Our camp schedule calls for ward testimony/scripture time until 11pm, and we have to be up for a 6am flag ceremony. Did I mention that I don't always function well on limited sleep?

Here's hoping no big bugs get inside my sleeping bag...

***********

My sister, Laurie, recently wrote about Mommy Mantra's - repeating little sayings to get you through your tough days. It has taken me a few days to get back to her blog and comment, but today I wrote this:

I read something recently about "self talk" suggesting that if you tell yourself that you are enjoying yourself, then eventually you will. Does that make sense?

I hate emptying the dishwasher. I would rather scrub toilets than empty the dishwasher, and yet every morning a load of clean dishes is waiting for me.

So, I've been trying the self-talk thing and I say to myself: "I love clean dishes. I love clean dishes. I love clean dishes..." as I stack my plain-jane white corell plates and mismatched silverware. Maybe it's helping my attitude.

Although yesterday I noticed the dishwasher was ready to be emptied again and instead of saying "I love clean dishes" I said "Sydney - come empty the dishwasher" and I felt great!

***********

The only mantra running through my head tonight is this:

No life, without wife!

Which movie arrived from Netflix this weekend? I'll give you 3 guesses!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

4 done 4 to go.

Sewing. That's all. Nothing really exotic.

And I'm halfway done with my big job.

One more trip to Walmart. A little sewing tonight. A bit more tomorrow. And I'll be done.

*********

Our #1 favorite kid craft this summer is Perler Beads.



Emily and Sydney are making a fish and a kitty right this minute.

John was working on a dog, but I think I just heard all his beads hit the floor.

On the perler bead website, you can submit photos of your bead projects. From butterfly mobiles to daisies. I was particularly impressed with the tissue box cover. Just what I need....

Monday, July 09, 2007

Procrastination

I have a job I need to do, but I'm procrastinating, and here's what I've been doing instead:

One trip to Walmart
A side trip to Borders
and a pet store (with Syd)
and a cookie store (Mmm.)

Cleaned the kitchen floor.

Laundry.

Blogstalking and news reading.

Girls camp thinking.



To further avoid getting to work I am blogging. Next I think I will make a chart for camp. And maybe even iron. Then clean the bathroom....

Saturday, July 07, 2007

Mahalo!

Thank you for all your fun birthday wishes, even if I had to beg, borrow, and steal to get them. Thanks especially to Steph who finished off the page. Without you, we would have all been stuck with that picture of me in red polka dots for DAYS, waiting to get to #31.

My day was wonderful - filled with sand and bbq and cake and waves and friends and fun.

The most exciting part of my birthday was an uninvited guest who decided to swing by after the party last night:






Eeeeewww! That 5" creature could really move! Oh, those were some fast legs (31 legs?) You won't be suprised to hear that we all started screaming, and kept right on screaming until Nathan came in to save us.

He put that bad boy in an empty pickle jar, and now it is hanging out in our garage. Today, Nathan fed it a rather large cockroach.

I'm feeling all twitchy just thinking about it.

Clickity Click to read a funny, if creapy, post about dealing with centipedes. I found some rather interesting folklore in the comments, such as:

centipedes travel in twos (we haven't seen the mate to our "pet" yet, waaaaaa)

squishing a centipede releases a scent that attracts other centipedes (is that true?)

headless centipedes can live for days....



Where's that spider when you need it?


Every party needs a pooper that's why we invited you...


And even though I had to check under my sheets and inside my pillow case before going to sleep, it was a great birthday!


ps not my cake, I just liked the photo

Friday, July 06, 2007

31 reasons to wish me a happy birthday:



It's my birthday! I'm getting old. And although, you should never ask a lady her age, I'll give you 31 reasons to wish me a happy birthday:


1 - I have great lips.
2 - I have green eyes.
4 - I like to run
5 - I live in Hawaii
6 - I don't know how to surf
7 - I'll be attempting to surf again this afternoon.
8 - I have 4 totally radical kids
9 - I share my birthday with another famous W (Happy Birthday Mr. President)
10 - I look marvelous in a flight suit
11 - I have 6 sisters
12 - I am a weird-o
13 - I have toilet-papered my own house. More than once.
14 - I love LOST
15 - I am afraid of spiders
16 - I am for scuba
17 - I brushed against a Honu (green sea turtle) while diving last night
18 - I don't want to get eaten by a shark
19 - But I will trade you a shark towel
20 - I sweat
21 - I like sending and recieving letters
22 - I have a pineapple growing in my garden
23 - I like a guy who knows how to keep his shirt on
24 - I run a mean washing machine
25 - I wish I could dance
26 - I like to kiss my man
27 - I have a double chin
28 - and a unibrow.
29 - I worry about Iraq.
30 - Are you still reading?
31 - If you don't wish me a happy birthday, why I'll .*.%.#.@...


While I'm blowing out all those candles on my cake,
I'll be wishing for 31 comments from you!

Monday, July 02, 2007

Return to Sender

Dear Mrs Field,
Your blog looks great! I can't wait to read more about your newly-wedded life! I hope you include some of your great cookie recipes!
Your Sister,
W


Dear Microsoft Works Spreadsheet,
I never really liked you. Sorry, I guess I just didn't take the time to get to know you. You always seemed to be speaking Russian when I would send you emails of Xcel files - that was a little frustating for me. But I spent the afternoon putting food prices and serving sizes into your nicely resized squares, and I found that you are a math wiz! Wow! You are so smart! Thanks for multiplying 9 pounds of hamburger by the $1.29 per pound price. That was so quick! I loved the way you totaled up our week's menu, too. It was a suprise to see that we are under our camp budget! I think I might spend more time hanging out with you!
Love,
W


Dear Commisary,
Please remind me not to shop the Monday after Pay Day. Though I love your low prices, so does everyone else! It was odd to see so many empty shelves. Where, oh where are you hiding the Lil' Smokies? I don't need to eat them, I just need the price.
Your Friend,
W
P.S. How much am I supposed to tip that bagger guy? I'm still a little confused about that.


Dear Blogger,
You are on time out. You can not come out until after lunch. And I mean it. I don't want to hear any of your: "It's not my fault" or "But Why?"s If you keep that up, you'll be in time out all week, mister.
I'm serious!
W


Dear Netflix,
We are eagerly awaiting our first movie. Are you sending it? Will it get here today? All my friends say you are the best. I'll let you know how I feel after we get to know each other a little better.
Yours Hopefully,
W
PS Please don't send anything too scary. I'm afraid of the dark.


Dear Running Shoes,
We've been good buddies this last year. Thanks for all the long runs along Rapid Creek, and sticking with me on that big hill by the dentist office. I don't miss that hill. Do you? It was nice to see your familiar face in our new home here in Hawaii. Running on post with you has been interesting. I've enjoyed seeing all those soldiers running and singing, haven't you? It's motivating, don't you think? I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but I think our time running together is nearly over. Don't worry, I'll keep you around for other adventures, like camping and gardening, but it's time for me to move on.
See you around!
W