So there.

Two days ago I was asked to do something to help someone else. When I accepted, I was sure it would be no inconvenience to my life, something so simple that I could do to help another.

Yesterday was a really really rough day. I was extra irritable and the boys were just a little more naughty than usual, the house needed cleaning more than it usually does and I had less energy to do anything about it. The last thing I really wanted to do was the thing I had committed to. All day long I kept reminding myself that it needed to be done... and when I thought about it I would get a little stressed out. Nothing seemed to be working out the way I had planned.

Late afternoon, I was trying to figure out how to cut corners and deliver on a bare minimum - and it dawned on me. I knew why my day was so crappy. SOMEONE (the adversary) was trying extra hard to keep me from serving willingly and joyfully... and as soon as I realized this I was extra determined  to deliver on the commitment I had made. And I'll tell you what, as soon as I decided that, I instantly felt great, as if a whole different side was now supporting me and strengthening me! I had no more irritable feelings and my children all of sudden seemed "normal"... 

Coincidence?

Absolutely not.

The adversary will not have me. Yes, I have many weaknesses and I make mistakes. But you better believe that I soon as I realize my defenses are down - they will be fortified and I will serve and love and forgive even more so! I want the adversary to regret taking advantage of my weaknesses. 

I am a servant of Light. Of goodness and love. Of forgiveness and peace. I know who I serve and I will try my best to be a worthy servant. 

So there.

Country Life.... in real life...

It's been adventure after adventure out here! I want to do better at documenting them, so sometimes I just email my parents or write in my journal...  some of the cool things that have happened/we've seen this year are...

Apaprently there is a resident Bald Eagle. I've seen him once, and Makoa and Cameron have seen him on a few occasions! I've never seen one in the wild before. I didn't believe it was an eagle when Makoa told me it was... as we drove closer (it was about 10 yards off the road) it was totally a bald eagle!!! So cool.

We saw an antelope get hit by a car! It survived with a hurt leg. The car was coming the opposite directions as us and the antelope ran out into the road between us and the car hit it.

We are definitely in the country! I'm still deciding how I feel about it. Mostly, I love it, but I really miss my friends and old neighborhood in American Fork. It's been kind of a hard adjustment for me... even thought I'd say I'm adjusting well over-all.

My Boys!

Updated portraits of my handsome boys! I am so pleased with these images!! :)

Positive Energy

I'm so content right now.

I have "liked" and joined in a few groups that encourage women to be okay with who they are right now. Beauty Refined focuses on not buying into the lies that media sells us. We don't have to look a certain way and we are much more than what we look like. The Body Image Movement encourages women to accept their bodies (particularly post-baby bodies) and LOVE our bodies no matter what they look like! My friend, Wendi started a FB group call Ladies Keeping it Real, encouraging women to share their REAL lives and not just the highlight reels we often see from friends.

I am so ok with my life right now. Sure, there is plenty for me to work on... but I really don't care what anyone else thinks of me. I truly believe that anyone worth having in my life will except me for me. Not for who they think I should be.

I am tired of drama. I don't get worked up easily and if I do it's only while I privately process and evaluate a situation. I'm not talking about any one person in particular, but I've had enough negative experiences this year to realize that I only have so much energy. My relationship with my children and spouse are my first priority.  I decide what relationships I spend my positive energy on and whether or not I should spread any of my negative energy (I really try not to).

Learning to manage my emotions and to  manage my life to maximize my positive energy has been an amazing experience and it's not over yet!

Random, random random post, I know. But that's where my head's at right now!

Weekend fun

We had a busy busy busy but really good weekend. I had a family photo shoot with the Calls (Stu and Debbie) Saturday morning and am super loving their pictures. We took them at Highland Glen park and the colors were splendid! Autumn is at it's finest right now! It's gorgeous. But it won't last much longer then everything will be dead or covered in snow... meh.

Last night (Sunday) we had dinner with the Taylors (Mariann and Mike), and the Marsings joined us! It was so much fun. We had Hawaiian (polynesian) themed food... kalua pig, lomi tomatoes, some yummy beef... mad salad, rice... pani popo, haupia and rice pudding... for a mainland crew we sure did the food justice. everything was soooo ono! 

I met a few more new people this week at church and in the neighborhood. I've met both neighbors and I like both of them! (this is good!).

On Saturday some neighbors a few houses down had gone hunting and brought home a deer. Makoa and Ka'imi were fascinated and they let the boys watch them skin it. Kind of cool. Kind of gross. But mostly cool, especially if you're a little boy.

We love Dr Seuss

It's only been over a week, but it feels like we've been here a whole lot longer than that! We are settling nicely. 

It's still an adjustment being 30 minutes away from everything we knew so well for over 4 years. Makoa is still missing his friend, Own, and asks just about everyday if he can play with him. Distance is still a concept he is working to grasp.

Did I mention before that I go to the school 4 times a day? It keep me on my toes. I only have to actually get out of the car once, and that's to pick up Ka'imi, so it's not too stressful. I'm a pretty (ok really) casual kind of person. I don't do my hair everyday, and Ive been trying to at least get some eyeliner and mascara on each morning as part of my personal morning routine... yeah it's about a 5:1 right now. I'm all about t shirts or something comfy that will cover me up. I just myself the coolest Duck Dynasty tshirt yesterday. It's a women's tee so it's not too frumpy. ;) Just so you know, I am the queen of frumpy. 

La'akea will be one year old in a few short weeks. 

I'm starting to feel "normal for me" again. I'm even sleeping through the night most nights. After the kids go to bed I usually hang out with Cam and watch a TV show or something on Hulu. Our latest favorite is Once Upon a Time. It's just nice to have something to do together, and look forward to. We're pretty picky about what we watch and for the most part Cam doesn't like TV shows. Anyway, we stay up pretty late hanging out and I end up getting up between 630-7. I should be utterly exhausted and dysfunctional. But I'm not. I get through my day for the most part with a little caffeine boost around 2ish when I can't get a quick nap in (which is rare these days). I feel like a good mom. I spend time reading with each of them most days. 

Speaking of reading, Makoa's reading is really really coming along. I'm so happy with his progress. We've just been spending the time each day to get through the entire Green Eggs and Ham book. The first time was the hardest. It's a kind of long, very repetitive book, but he did it (with me almost completely losing my patience!). The next day, he read the whole book again. The next day, he read it (yeah he memorized some parts) again without a hitch. Amazing. He's never read that much yet and he learned so many new words. He's also overcome a lot of negative behaviors and has been much more patient with himself when he doesn't get something right away. This is huge for him. He's been able to progress so much, particularly in reading. Also, we love Dr. Seuss.

La'akea is starting to walk. He can take about 7-10 steps in a row. He seems to be a self motivated learner. We have hardly encouraged his turning over, sitting up, crawling, standing, walking... but he just picks it right up. Not like it's super early or out of the norm, but I have been impressed with his determination to keep up with his brothers. 

It's kind of amazing and really cool how different each of my boys are. There are similarities, but there are so many differences! 

On a random note, I ordered a cute picture of all of my boys hold hands in a 16x20 yesterday and am excited to get it in a few days!! 

Adjusting to the newness

Makoa and Ka'imi started at their new school on Monday. So far they enjoy it. They both have teachers they like, and seem to be making friends alright. The schedules are a little crazy right now since they don't start or end school at the same time, I go to the school 4 times a day.

I've met a handful of people who live on our street, so far everyone I've met has been friendly. We will go to our new ward for the first time on Sunday, I hear the primary is huge.

The flies here are ridiculous! When we first moved in, we went on a fly massacre and killed at least 45 flies. The next day I killed at least 25 myself. They seem to be coming out of nowhere. I need to do more research to find out what the heck is going on. They aren't quite as bad as they were before the original massacre, but they seriously are still out of control. They have NO sense of personal space either - it's disgusting.

We finally got the washer and dryer hooked up yesterday so I have been doing load after load... I love doing laundry. Is that weird? I love being able to find piles of dirty clothes and CLEAN THEM. I am super grateful for my washer and dryer. They're nothing fancy, but I am grateful they work.

Going through box after box after box to unpack has been... meh.... ok. Sometimes I find a box and I get excited about it and unpack it right then. Others I think, mmmm I don't need this stuff right away, I'll remember it's here... but then when I need whatever was in that box, I never remember which box it was in. It's pretty pathetic. We also have to much crap. We already did a D.I/dump load right after we unloaded the storage unit. I already have 2 boxes filled with things i don't need but somehow got packed up and moved with everything else.

This place doesn't have half the space our last house did, so it's necessary to get rid of whatever we can, there's just no place for it! I don't mind. I like getting rid of stuff, and I really do hate clutter even if I am guilty of creating it.

The boys love their new rooms. Same beds same toys, but they seem to really enjoy their toys again since they've been in storage for four months. Thankfully they all get along really well most of the time and just go back and forth between their two rooms... they keep one another entertained for hours.

We haven't even watched TV (or movies on the TV) since Sunday. The boys really have been busy with school and settling in and playing outside. It's kind of nice and different. I haven't spent as much time on the computer either (no one else would be able to tell). There's just so much to do!

Still here!

Hello Again.

I'm super torn about blogging right now. This blog is ridiculously outdated and inconsistent - I drive myself crazy.

I wanted a fresh start so I started a new blog and even posted a few times about our big move and adjusting... but it just didn't feel right... so I deleted the whole dang thing.

I think States Ohana just needs a face lift. And kind of fresh start...

So we'll see how this goes.

By the way, here are my darling, crazy pants boys!

Summer of Learning, and a Fresh Start

We have had and exceptionally eventful summer, and now big  changes are just a breath away. 

It's kind of amazing and faith building (if you let it) to realize how God had certainly carried you through difficult, unexplainable trials. To feel his comfort during the difficult-to-understand parts, trusting that all would work out for your benefit, then as some time passes to be able to catch glimpses of his plan and realize that He really is in control and if you allow him to, He will guide you to be exactly where you need to be. What should happen will happen if you are trying to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Vague, right? So many details of the summer are so personal, that I won't be sharing them here. And many of the trials we have experienced include others. Just trust me that it has been a summer of trials, learning, and emotional, mental and spiritual growth. 

On another note, I am conflicted about continuing the family blog as a journal of events and images. 

I feel like I need a fresh start. 

And very soon would be the perfect time to do that.

I'll let you know what I decide.

Find me on Instagram

There is so much going on right now! I keep thinking that I want to post some pictures or update the blog... but where do I start? If you want to know what were up to via pictures, you can find me over on Instagram @StatesOhana or on Facebook!

La'a and Imi

Here is La'akea at 4 months old, and Ka'imi at 4-almost-5 year old. =)

a bunch of randoms

Here are some pictures from the last month or so from instagram and my phone =)

Love this kid

My Valentines

Just cover your ears (eyes?) while I whine on this one

I have to vent for a minute.

I am going stir crazy!!!

I got  taste of freedom yesterday when a good friend had me and the boys over while she gave me a manicure and pedicure and her teenager daughter helped watch my boys. oh my gosh I didn't know how badly I needed to get out! It was heavenly! I got a little break and pampered even. I am so blessed to had such wonderful people around me!

It's too dang cold to just go for a walk. I would go do something with the youngest three while Makoa's at school, but Ikaika (21 months) is at such a difficult age to take anywhere if he's not strapped in a stroller... but now La'akea trumps the stroller.

Excuses or Reasons? I can't quite figure out. Is it worth the hassle and stress to get out of the house. Maybe. Probably.

I'm trying to stay in my "happy place" to as not to stress out the rest of the family which means playing it safe.

Oh but just want to be able to run into a store for 10 minutes without having to haul (because that's really what I'm doing) the little ones with me. Makoa and Ka'imi do great. Ikaika just doesn't listen for anything right now, an La'a can't even walk.

Bleh.

Okay enough whining from me.

On a happier note, the sun is shining today! We're all healthy (crossing my fingers it stays that way!), and I have a warm home to live in.

Life is good, even if it's not perfect.

Seen and Heard

Tonight, Ka'imi fell asleep early and I was changing him into his pajamas. I discovered he was wearing two pairs of pants and 3 pairs of underwear...

Me: Cam, what should we do since it's a long weekend. Maybe we can go visit Justin...
Makoa: Justin Beaver!?!?
Me, sarcastically: Hahaha... yeah. Justin Bieber. We're going to go visit Justin Bieber.
Makoa: I don't like him.

La'akea, 8 weeks old

Blast from the Past

Some pictures I came across on a CD I made for our wedding video.

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." 

-Martin Luther King Jr.

An Unexcpected Journey is right!

Went to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey last night at 12:15AM (so I guess that techinically means this morning) with my brother, Tyler. Cam suggested it and took care of the baby while I was out.  He saw that I needed to get out of the house and do something spontaneous an fun... even if the morning would be rough... =) He's great.

This morning wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. But maybe I'm just too tired to realize what a bad decision it was to stay out until 330AM... it just hasn't registered yet. Or maybe it really wasn't that bad. Either way, I am tired.

But the movie was incredible! Peter Jackson does these stories right. I wondered how he was going to make The Hobbit into three movies... but now I get it. His attention to detail and expanding on concepts that are only briefly mentioned in the story is impressive. I need to read it again to really appreciate what he's done.

Yes, I loved it. I probably would have loved it a little more if I were a little more awake for the slower parts, but the movie did not disappoint.

Now to wrangle 4 boys with one eye open.

Pssshhhtt... I got this.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ