Friday Already?

My sister, Mary, mentioned craft stress in her post today. She cracks me up! And, since I want to be just like her, I decied to share a couple of tips and a bad craft moment.

I love kid crafts! It's the kids that make the crafts difficult, though...

I have found that the most stressful kid crafts are the kind that have an expected outcome. The cuter the project is supposed to turn out, the more I start to twitch. But John loves crafts - so what's a mom to do?

Luckily John has very limited cute craft experience. Glitter? That's just for the big girls. Sequins? What's that? Plain paper and markers are still exciting for him. And if I pull out the glue his eyes light up!

But glue is tricky. And messy. And dangerous.

Here's my favorite glue tip: A little puddle of glue on a plate and a q-tip is just the thing for spreading glue. No chance of over-zealous squeezing, and easier to use than a glue stick.



For today's craft I let him chose a large piece of construction paper. I gave him some markers. And I cut circles and squares out of more construction paper. He colored. He glued. He had fun. That's what I call a successful craft time!

*****************

Craft stress does not end as your kids get bigger. Two weeks ago at our mid-week youth activity we decided to have the girls dip candles. This was to illustrate the mutual theme for the year

"Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God" (D&C 121:45)

Our Young Women's president did a great job illustrating that verse. She held up a little piece of wick that had been dipped in wax a few times. It had not waxed strong! As we gain our testimonies by following the Savior and daily choosing the right, we will wax strong a little at a time, just as the candle will become stronger after repeated dipping into the wax.

Then we dipped candles with the girls.

We had 7 colors of wax and we discussed each value as we dipped wax (ie - how can having faith help your confidence wax strong?, etc.) I thought it was a rather brilliant lesson. The problem was the wax.

Wax on the table. Wax on the floor. Wax on girls finger tips. Wax over on the drinking fountain.

The clean up took for-e-ver.

We were just about done when I notice a pot of hot water on the stove. We had used a lot of hot water to keep the jars of wax warm as the girls were dipping, and I thought it was just one of our pots, waiting to be emptied. So I picked it up and poored it right down the drain. I heard Diane yell NO! and I could see immediately that I had made a big mistake.

That pot of water was actually a pot of hot wax. I had noticed earlier in the evening that the hot wax was totally clear and looked just like water. But I forgot....

The wax was all over the inside of the sink. and down in the drain.... I was able to clean out the sink, but the drain was another matter.

It took a plumber to fix my big mistake (luckily there is one in another ward). The wax had solidified into a candle shaped piece right in the drain of the sink - too bad I didn't wash down some wicking, too....

How embarrassing...

Thursday

I should probably be doing a little tidying up, but instead I'm here!

Busy week! and busy day:

This morning Nathan's squadron had a Change of Command Ceremony. I was able to go, but it was a race to get myself dressed in real clothes (as opposed to my usual morning ensemble of running shorts and tennis shoes,) mascara on, the kids to school, John to preschool, and make it through the morning traffic down to Hickham AFB.

I had exactly 15 minutes between the time I dropped off the girls at school and when I could drop off John at his little preschool. So I decided to run to the Commisary to get a lei for the new commander's wife. The Commisary opened just as we were walking in, and the floral guy was stocking a fresh batch of lei's - what luck! But when I got to the register it turned out that the machines were not working. And they wouldn't take cash. or a check. or a card. So no lei. Oh well.

Nathan needed to wear his beret today for the event, but he hasn't worn it before, so he spent last night washing and rewashing and shaping and shaving his beret to get it into the correct shape. He even slept in it last night. Apparently wearing it all floppy is bad form. Who knew a well shaped hat took so much work?

Nathan had to be down there early, and by the time I got there, they were already standing in formation. And I couldn't spot Nathan in the crowd of green, even with his new hat.

The ceremony was lovely - the view of the ocean was beautiful and the speeches were short! It was a fun morning - wearing my favorite dressy shoes and pretending to be a grown up. Do you ever feel like that?

There is mosquito around here biting me. and now I'm all itchy. guess that means it's time to get up and get some laundry done.

Next up: Hula. then a training thing for YW. I would just like to mention that Young Women's is sooooooo much work and time...I had no idea what I was in for....that's another blog post...

It's Aloha Friday!

Thanksgiving in Hawaii was lovely.

The kids spent the day outside having a waterballoon fight while I basted the turkey and baked my favorite rolls.

John got a sunburn (bad mom award)!

The turkey was good. Maybe a little dry, but not bad. We had way way way too much food, and the leftovers are excellent! The Turkey and the Lumpia should last through the weekend.

I got up at 4:15am to go to the NEX with a couple other ladies. There was a crazy long line of people who had been waiting since midnight. Yikes! We were able to go right in and find the few things we wanted. There were lots and lots of the item I was interested in, so I could have slept in, or waited until tomorrow, but it was kind of fun to be out there in the craziness. Did you find any hot deals today?

Christmas music was all over the radio, so I guess it's time to search for the Christmas decorations...

After I hid the loot in the garage, I ate a piece of pumpkin pie and took a nap.

I think it's time to eat again, but all the rolls are gone, so I'm going to have to go whip up another batch to go with the turkey...

****wave report for Nathan***

The waves are up on the North Shore so head that way if you want to try see some surfing. Waves are calm down by Waikiki, so head that way if you want to do any SCUBA or spearfishing.

*******

Mele Kalikimaka!!!

Wednesday

We had preschool here this morning and let me just say that those 4 little boys are so cute. If I was a real blogger I would have taken photos of them in their Indian feather head bands. Today's letter was Ii. Indian. Ice. And Icing. We iced cupcakes. We used ice to write the letter I on construction paper. We made Indian headdresses and had a little Thanksgiving Powwow.

It was fun. I had fun. John had fun. I think the other boys had fun. Yea!

Piano lessons are happening right now. Our travelling piano teacher is great. But this song Hannah is working on doesn't really sound like a song. I hope it sounds better for the recital coming up in 2 weeks.

Next up is a trip to the Commisary (Eeeeeek!) for a few more Thanksgiving supplies (ie flour, onion, and canned pumpkin) How did I forget to buy the canned pumpkin?

After that adventure I am going to bake my pies and maybe go ahead and make Ree's Sweet Potatoes tonight to be re-warmed tomorrow. Or maybe I'll save the pie and sweet potatoes for tomorrow and I'll put on my jammies and start a movie, instead.

Luckily it has been a tiny bit cooler and a little rainy - it's feeling like Thanksgiving, even over here in Hawaii! I'm even wearing socks.

CupCakes

I need to make cupcakes today to take to church tonight. Do NOT let me forget.

I wonder if Family fun has a turkey cupcake idea...

Sure enough - turkey cupcakes!



gobble gobble

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

It's Monday, and once again the pile of laundry awaiting me is overwhelming. I just don't wanna do it.

I wonder why I am suprised(I am also surprised each time the spell checker tells me I've misspelled surprised. Does it really need that extra R?) each Monday morning by the vast quantity of dirty clothes that piles up over the weekend? It's like amnesia. It happens every week, and yet every week I am shocked at the sight of the overflowing laundry baskets. I should remember and do a load (or five) over the weekend.

I looked back through my blog and noticed a Monday morning laundry post trend, so instead of coming up with something new and clever, I just copied and pasted an old post here (originally posted Jan. 24, 2006)- it sounds so hopeful - an empty laundry basket? Is it possible?:

Each Monday Mrs. McNosh washes all the clothes and hangs everything up on the clothes line. She starts to get a little carried away and:

She hangs up the dog
and his dish and his bone.
She gets a wrong number
and hangs up the phone....

After a long weekend I feel like Mrs. McNosh. Every thing needs to be washed (including the dogs.) So far today we have washed, folded, and put away 4 loads of laundry. Emily and John have been folding and delivering for me. John is good at remembering whose is whose (sometimes rather tricky with 3 big sisters.) Right now our fancy new washing machine (thank you Nathan) is washing our sheets. Today is a beautiful breezy day, so I will hang them out to dry on the line.

An empty laundry basket seems like such a great accomplishment.

All about me?

If you had to write a little something to introduce yourself in 50 words (or less) what would you say?

Here's some ideas for me:

Wendy B is a member of the stroller brigade, the worried mom of teenagers club, and laundry haters anonymous.

Wendy B lives in Hawaii with her husband and 4 children. She enjoys eating pineapple, scuba diving, and surfing working on her tan.

Wendy B wants to be able to write something interesting here, but it turns out she's mostly likely to be found sitting on the couch picking her toenails.

Wendy B is a superstar mom of 4 brilliant children and wife to Air Force man who looks Hawt in (and out of) uniform.

Wendy B needs counselling, some new shoes, and help with her hair. You can read more about her fascinating life at www.rapidlife.blah blah blahgspot.com


??????

Night Ray

This is a short video of a Manta Ray during our night dive. Last one, for reals this time!

One Last Dive post

Back to the boat dive.

After enjoying a nice afternoon dive, we came up for a snack and a little rest. Then, after the sun set, we got ready to dive again.

Before our first dive I was worried about jumping in with all my gear on. I was worried that my fins would trip me before I even had a chance to get in the water. I was worried that my mask would mush my nose and fill with water and I would lose my contacts. And I was worried about embarrassing myself, so I decided to hold my fins and mask in my hands while I jumped in and put them on after I was in the water.

Bad idea. That was no fun. I forgot that I have a hard time reaching my feet when I'm all geared up. My head kept going under water while I was trying to reach my feet, and I thought I might drown. No fun at all. I was finally able to get my fins on, but I decided to jump in all geared up for the second dive.

That worked much better. I put on my fins and mask, waddled over to the end of the boat, and took a big step off into the ocean. I didn't trip. My mask was fine. And I didn't hold up the group while trying to reach my toes. Much better!

Manta Ray (is ray plural without the s?) eat plankton. Light attracts plankton. So the plan was to sit on the bottom of the ocean and shine flashlights up hoping to attract plankton and manta rays.

Several boats had joined us at our dive spot and there were lots of divers and snorkelers with flashlights. We all settled in and shined our lights up, and sure enough, here came the Manta Rays. It looked like a scene in a science fiction movie. Lights and bubbles above and below us, and huge creatures looking right at us!

There were more than a dozen of those big guys swimming just above our heads. They were much closer than the ones we had seen earlier in the daylight. And with the dark sky above and the lights below we could really see what the Manta Ray look like.

They have different spots that make it easy to identify them. They open up their mouths and gills and just swoop over you. One even batted Nathan's head as he swam past. They seemed to be having a fun time - soaring and tumbling in the water. It was an amazing sight.

More Dive

Me and Nate at Sunset

Our first adventure on the Big Island was a boat dive with Jacks Diving Locker. We headed out at about 4pm and saw dolphins on the way to the dive site.



Those dolphins were really fast swimmers and came right up to the boat. They wanted to race!

I had never done a boat dive before, and I was a little freaked out about jumping into the ocean with all my dive gear on. That was my big worry on the trip - not sharks or other scary fish.

For this trip we did an afternoon dive and saw lots of interesting fish and a few manta ray. Then we came up and had a sandwich and got ready for another dive. The second dive was after dark. I'll post a video of that later.

Here is a moray eel and ? a cool polka dot fish?

And here is a trumpet fish - what an interesting looking thing!

My favorite under water creature

Manta Ray Dive

wednesday

Having fun on Big Island stop

Saw Manta Rays, Waterfalls, and Rainforest stop

Hiked cauldera and lava tube stop

Miss you stop

Home tomorrow stop

Getting Away

Remember my sob story?


Apparently my tears worked, and we get to go after all!




We are running away to the Big Island tomorrow...














If you get bored while I'm gone you can read all about Pele, the goddess of the volcano.

or you can study up on Manta Rays. Did you know those guys can be as big as 13 feet across? Wowza!

or plan your own trip to the Big Island!

Aloha!

Post-Halloween Stress Disorder

Hannah here - Sorry that I didn't write my Saturday blog last week - there wasn't really anything interesting to blog about.

But today, oh, today, I've got a nice, tasty, fattening treat for you.

That's right.

Candy. Chocolate, Starbursts, Smarties, Bubblegum, anything you can possibly think of. This is why I hate Halloween. Because, even thought I am a young, fresh, thirteen-year-old, I still have fears. BIG fears. One in particular, the most dreadful two words in the history of dreadful words: Getting Fat. So, this Halloween I decided that I would boycott candy.

Haha. Ha. Hahahahaha.

I even forced myself to stay away from houses passing out candy. But, when you are sitting around with a HUGE bowl of candy to pass out to little kids, you can get carried away. The same goes for having three siblings who are all very much into the Halloween movement.

Every day starts out normal: I wake up, I get ready, I eat breakfast, and then I head out the door. But wait! What's that I hear?

"Hannah, Hannah, come heeeeere!"

"We are caaaaaalling to you, Hannah."

"Don't you want just ooonneeee little snickers bar?"

NO! I will fight the urge. I drag my unwilling feet out of the door and go to school. My tummy rumbles, all day long, no matter how much I eat for lunch. For it has heard the call of the wildly tasty candy, and will stop at nothing to get to this deadly treat.

I get home from school. Conveniently, every piece of candy in our house is strung about on the kitchen table. Oh, Three Musketeers, oh, Tootsie Rolls galore, oh, bliss.

Until I eat about five hundred pieces.

Then my dear stomache stretches out to unbelievable lengths, all in order to enjoy the full effects of an afternoon of candy.

EVERY DAY!

Can you feel my pain?
Am I the only one?
Is it wrong to feel this way as a thirteen-year-old?

Help me out, here!

Halloween Round Up

Yee Haw!




The shoes were too big.




Do my beads hang straight?




Hope ya'll had a spooky Halloween!