Christmas 2009

Christmas this year was at the Nakaya's. The kids got up at around 7:30am and we went downstairs. There were no other kids, just our two and while I was feeding Takeshi, they started opening their gifts.
They got 2 from Santa and the rest from us and their extended family.
Here's Yuki with hers. She got an art easel and some 'washable' paints (thanks crayola) there's obviously a mother working for those guys.
Then she got a couple of things from us and if you look really closely she got some roses chocolates, amongst other stuff, from my mother in NZ. Remember in a previous post I said if you got those kinda chocolates you were really special? Yuki must be special.
Yet she doesn't know the difference so mum and dad took those chocolates off of her. She'll be taxed on those chocolates ;)
Masaru got a really nice remote control car from Santa this year. He loves it. He also loves his other gifts as well. Dru and I made him a piggie bank. It turned out really good (thanks Lacey)
Then I got some sewing stuff and a 'Burt's Bee's' packet, which I love. Dru got himself a Utah hoodie, so now he has a Utah and an Idaho hoodie, ya for him. Then he got something for his 'precious' car and snowmobile.
Turns out though that with all the cool gifts given to Yuki it wasn't good enough I guess as here she is, tucked away in the corner, playing with her cousins gift from Santa.
If only I'd known this is what she REALLY wanted. We had the hardest time with figuring out what to buy her.
The highlight of Christmas for me, however, was this gift made by her grandparents. Popa made the cradle and Grandma made the bedding and bought the doll.
I'm very humbled that they'd do this for Yuki so she can have forever for her and her children.
She loves it.
Thanks Popa and Grandma.
I think I might have to do a thankyou card for this one, which then means I should do thankyou cards for others....................................................I dunno if I wanna start this as I've never done thankyou cards for christmas or birthday gifts LOL oh well, gotta start somewhere I guess.


We played and had a great breakfast, went sledding, hung out, ate.
Good Christmas.

Christmas Eve

Dru's family do the 'acting' of the Nativity scene for Christmas Eve, which I think is wonderful. Dru took these pictures as I was on the phone to my family.
Yuki was the angel. Masaru was the angel one year as well. Maybe Takeshi will get to be the angel one year as well then I can have a collage of my little angels!!
Here's Yuki with her cousin. He's really good to her. He's a lot better looking in real life ;)
Here's our little Mary with her baby Jesus. Cute.
Here's the whole clan. The shepherd on the right there looks like he's into it right?!?
Then they went downstairs and Grandma played a game with them and they got little presents.
Thanks Grandma.
It's always fun.

Kiwi bakery

Oh yeah baby, the kiwi bakery is open again in Magna selling all the goodies that I love from back home.
So if you wanna have a taste of heaven head on over there and treat yourself.
You can bet your a#@ I'm going to.
Click HERE to see the website. They have prices and a menu you can click on and see.
If you go, let me know how you like it.
THEY EVEN HAVE FISH AND CHIPS.
All my dreams have come true.

Testimony

My mum did a talk. If you'd like to read it all let me know. It's on the gifts we can give Christ over Christmas and throughout the year.
My mum is awesome at talks, I always listen and learn lots of new things. She's brilliant. However, for those who don't like reading L O N G posts, I know you know who you are, I clipped out a little bit that I wanted to talk about that, I think, is a wonderful perspective.
So here it is.

It was the early 1800’s and Napoleon was at war in Europe, and the western world was caught up in the news. All the while in homes babies were being born – but who could think of babies when there were battles to think of in far off Europe.

Yet what mattered more than the babies that were born in the early 1900’s? Do we think that God manages the world only with large battalions, and catastrophic acts of nature when all the while he is doing it through beautiful babies.

When a wrong needs righting, a truth wants preaching or a continent needs discovering, God sends a baby into the world to do it. We never know who we are nurturing in our household, we never know who we are teaching in our classes – but God sends babies into the world to change it.

When theologians are reeling and stumbling, when lips are pretending and hearts wandering, and people running to and fro seeking the word of God but cannot find it – when clouds of error need dissipating and spiritual darkness needs penetrating and the heavens need opening a baby is born.

Just a few scattered neighbours in a hilly region in the backwoods even know that Lucy is expecting. There is no prenatal care, no hospital, no ambulance, no delivery room. Babies live and die in this rough environment and few know about it.

It is the 23^rd of December – another child for Lucy. No trumpets sounding, no newspaper announcement, no bebo page to fill out to let the world know, no paparazzi clambering for photos – just a few neighbours passing the word along. It’s a boy!

Little do his brothers and sisters dream that a prophet has been born into their family, even his proud parents do not suspect. A baby born to restore to its fullness the gospel of another baby born 2000 years earlier, in similar humble circumstances who through the atonement saved the world.

We had a lesson two Sunday's ago on Joseph Smith. The teacher encouraged us to share our testimony in a written form. So I thought I'd do it in my journal/blog, I just didn't know how to do it.

Then my mum told me about this talk Spencer Kimball did on Joseph Smith and read a little of it over the phone to me.
Straight away, I told her to send it to me.
I love this perspective.
My testimony of Joseph Smith was just mediocre when I hit my mission. Then people started pounding me about the prophet so I started questioning.
This is when I gained a firm testimony of this great man.
I love listening to his quotes, talks and testimony of the gospel and of Jesus Christ.
I never met him, obviously, in real life, but I feel the spirit when I listen to his words.
He was chosen to do a tough job.
He had a tough life. But it had to be done by someone, and it was him.
I know he was a prophet of God.
I know he translated ancient writings into another testament of Jesus Christ which was/is called the Book of Mormon.
It's hard to believe I guess, but I love him, and appreciate all he did for me and my family and for the world.
He's an exemplar of following your knowledge and beliefs despite of abuse, heart ache, bullying, hardships, despair, lyings and eventually death.
I hope I can have a small amount of the kind of faith he had as a disciple of Christ.
I hope I can endure all my hardships with his example in mind and do my best to show faith in the atonement and in my saviour.
Without his faith and determination my parents wouldn't know the truth and neither would I.
I would still be searching, I'd still be trying to fill a void that only the truth can fill, a void that can always be filled with Christ's truth.
Joseph Smith was/is a prophet of God.
This is my testimony to you all.

Fun at Grandma's

Masaru and Yuki do this ALL THE TIME when they're at Grandma's. It's not just them either it's basically ALL THE GRANDKIDS.
It's so funny. Yesterday there were four of them in a row. I don't know why they do it, it's gotta hurt. I wonder if they'll have back problems later on in life?
Oh well, for now, they're having fun.
Thanks Grandma and Popa!!

Sorry man..........

No Christmas card for anyone this year from the Nakaya's.
I'm not even gonna bother doing a 'what we've been up to this year' letter.
I was thinking of sending out email Christmas letters and pictures but I was talking to my mum on the phone the other day and she said those were lame!!
There goes that then.
I could come up with all these excuses but there's only two real excuses.............
#1 We don't have a family photo
#2 I'm too lazy
So 2010 is the year! I'm making a commitment right now NEXT year I'll send out a cool family pic to all of my mates who send one to me.
So to my mates and family who sent me a Christmas card and picture a big THANKS, but don't go waiting by the mailbox this year for the Nakaya's one.
But NEXT YEAR you can camp out by the mailbox cause I PROMISE I'll send you one.
I really appreciate the pictures though that I get of all of you. I stick them up on the fridge for A WHOLE YEAR, then I scrapbook them.
So don't worry man, I never throw pictures of my mates and family away. They're with us forever, so I always remember my mates and their kids.
See now isn't that just so sweet of me.
Doesn't it make you think "Oh alright Melissa I SUPPOSE it's ok you don't send us one this year since you DO MAKE a huge effort with our 12c picture we sent you.
See, see, I'm not all bad.

All in 20 minutes

We left on Friday at 1:20pm. Our goal was 1pm. I'm pretty excited about that as it's the closest we've ever gotten to our goal. I think the difference this time around was that I actually helped.
Usually I leave it all to Dru. Like ALL OF IT. So this time I thought I'd help. I did A LOT of it and it worked. Goodie for us.
Our goal was to get to Boise for the night and stay at our mates parents place (thanks Natalie).
So we're driving and driving and driving and things are going well then ALL IN A 20 minute period we stopped, NO JOKE, like 4 times.
"Mum I need to pee"
"Masaru we were JUST AT THE PETROL STATION"
"I'm busting"
"Alright"
So we stop.
NO MORE THAN 5 MINUTES LATER, this is NO exaggeration............"Mum I need to pee"
"Masaru YOU JUST PEED"
"I'm busting"
"Alright"
So we stop.
Yes, you guessed it, 5 minutes later "Mum I need to pee"
"GET SERIOUS MASARU"
"I'm really busting"
"Alright"
So we stop. Dru said that EVERY SINGLE PEE WAS a full on 3 meter spray.
So does he just have a small bladder and the water backs up and just waits for it to empty before it comes in and fills up again?
Crazy.
But no, no, we're not finished.
Yuki starts moaning. This isn't unusual so I ignore her. More moans. So I turn the music down and ask her what's wrong.
She's moaning about something but she's not talking loud enough for me to hear so I'm like 'whatever man' and turn the music up.
Well then there's a BIG MOAN and I turn around and there's vomit all over her blanket.
"What the hell..............Dru you need to stop, Yuki's TOTALLY SPEWED UP"
So we stop.
Kudos to Yuki however, as she only threw up on her blanket and kept AMAZINGLY still until I got to her.
So I just wrapped the blanket into itself and wiped her off a bit, gave her a drink and we were on out way.
We made it to Boise only around 20 minutes late ;)
Good times.
Great memories.
LOL

Good/Bad who knows........

 

 

 

Good hair day, bad hair day, it's always hard to tell with Takeshi. Cause even when his hair is sticking out to the side it looks like it could be doing that as a statement of some sort and it's suppose to be there.
Plus he's just so cute he can, pretty much, pull off any hair style he wants.
And Yuki? Well she just felt left out and wanted her picture taken.

Memory #20

What do you indulge in? Is this something that is a year round indulgence, or just for special occasions? Where does the indulgence come from? Is this something you participate in with others or is a "closet" indulgence?

There's a few things, over the years, I've indulged in.
In New Zealand there are a few things and they haven't really changed over the years much.


Chocolate!!
There's no chocolate that I've tasted that's better than NZ Cadbury's. I've tried German, Swiss, English, Aussie, USA's 'good stuff', but I dunno if it's a combination of bias, upbringing, pride or actual taste, none are better.
I could put on AHHHHHHHHHH LOOOOOOOOT of weight if I allowed myself to indulge in this as often as I'd like. It's a good thing I live in the states I guess, so I have no choice. Oh and don't bother with the comment of "Oh but we HAVE Cadbury's in USA" Yeah, it sucks, and is made by Hershey's, need I say more!!!
They have ALL KINDS of flavours and keep coming out with more. Milk, dark, white, and then all the add in's. OH man it's heaven. THEN THERE'S THEIR BOX SELECTION for special occasions, Continental, Milk Tray and Roses!! They're expensive but if you wanna show someone they're special, you buy them those. I'd get them on my birthday and Christmas, IF I WAS LUCKY.
Woooooohooooooooo what an indulgence. Mate you're lucky if they last an hour. I always have the best intentions and fold like origami.
There's ZERO sharing with those. I mean like ZERO. Sorry Dru!! But it is what it is. He just doesn't like chocolate enough to even DESERVE to have any.
Don't bother trying to convince me there's a better chocolate either. It'll be time wasted on your behalf and I'd feel bad for you. Just accept it.

Mince and cheese pie

This is another NZ food that USA has nothing close to. Like nothing. So I make my own. Everyone who I've made it for LOVES IT. I should open up a little market, nah can't be bothered.
It's lots of fat though but the cheese and mince and the flaky pastry oooooohhhhhhhh yeeeeeeeeeah worth all the fat on my hips baby.

Custard Squares

These babies are an indulgence. When I go back to New Zealand, it's all I can do not to go to the first store AT THE AIRPORT and grab these three things. Chocolate, mince and cheese pie and a custard square.
No wonder I put on weight when I go home. I still haven't mastered the art of making them. Maybe it's a good thing. Maybe it should be left to the experts and off my hips.
It's actually not very nice that I'm blogging about this and have NO WAY of getting them. I know, boo hoo for me!

Fish and Chips

When Dru and I get into town our mates and family always ask us what they could make for us for dinner. We're always like 'nothing, but we'd love to go get fish'n'chips for dinner thanks'.
It's so easy for them but such a HUGE indulgence for the both of us. There's NOTHING like it. We've found a couple of really good places in Auckland and there's a great place in Tok.
Again, TONS OF FAT, but worth is all. Love it.
I'm beginning to hate this post.


There are MANY more things I love that are made in NewZealand but we just don't have time or room really.
Jaffas, lolly cake, munchos, rashans, burger rings, decent licorice, jet planes, pineapple lumps, jubes, perky nana, cadbury easter eggs, moro's, crunchies, milkshakes, kiwi burgers, hotdogs, curry rolls, mellowpuffs, toffee pops, squiggle tops, lemingtons, cream buns, fresh pizza bread, sausage rolls, jelly tip ice cream, shapes, L&P fizzy drink, Polynesian food.
In my tiny travels, no one tops NZ confectionery, nope, not even Japan!! Sorry babe.

But never fear all my American readers, there are a couple of things I indulge in that this country has to offer.

Kyoto Restaurant


When there's something to celebrate or money to be spent, it's here at Utah's very own Kyoto restaurant. Anniversary's, graduations, birthdays, get togethers, all had at this restaurant.
Dru's dad's best man at this wedding owns it. He's awesome and always 'hooks us up' when we go.
My indulgence here is the SUSHI. Oh yeah baby loving it. Man I could eat lunch there DAILY. But these are indulgences and so aren't often done.
BEST SUSHI I'VE EVER TASTED.
Now I'm not a sushi master by any means. So if you also know of good sushi places I'm open for options, BUT ONLY IF YOUR'VE HAD SUSHI HERE!!
Cause then you REALLY know what you're talking about.

Kristin's fudge

I don't care how great you think you are at making fudge. You don't know if your good until you've tried Kristin's THEN tried yours and are still liking yours as much.
I've got the recipe, I've tried to make it. Hers is still better. Some fudge has gotten CLOSE. But I can't honestly say it's better than hers.
I think you put on a pound per bite. So it's an indulgence that I only need around Christmas.
It needs it to be hidden from me, I can't stop myself. I have ZERO self control around it, it calls me in and I have no power.
I'm glad it's just at Christmas time, otherwise you'd be looking at a, double the size, Melissa.

Then I have 'what I'm into right now' indulgences that change year to year month to month.
Scrapbooking, jewelery, baking, cooking, sewing, shopping for clothes when I'm skinnier, travel, things of this nature that I HAVE TO HAVE and spend money on.
Travel is another indulgence that, when we have more money, I know I'll be doing with my family and mates for the rest of my life.
So there you have it.
Long post but I'm an indulging kinda girl so if you REALLY know me, you know you were in this for the long haul.

Mirror Mirror on the wall............

So lately when I've finished dressing Yuki or putting her bows in her hair she'll say "Mirror mum, mirror"
She has to look at herself in the mirror.
Yesterday we changed outfits cause she got her T-shirt wet and she asked the same thing.
She looks in the mirror and gets this huge grin on her face and seems completely satisfied with how she looks while I'm saying "What do you think Yuki? You look great right? You like it? You're beautiful"
Masaru never did this.
If he did, at least, I can't remember.
Isn't that crazy? Or did I, subconsciously, make her like this somehow?
I tend to not look at myself in the mirror much. I don't do my hair and I only wear makeup on a GOOD Sunday if that Sunday is lucky.
So it can't be example.
Did I say something to her?
Who knows, but it's pretty cute.
I hope she always knows how beautiful she is. I guess that's up to Dru and I to do everything we can to let her know she's wonderful inside as well as out.

No joke!

I put Yuki down for a nap at 1:15pm. It's now 3:25pm and SHE'S BEEN TALKING TO HERSELF THE WHOLE TIME!!
How long can this girl go for?
Should I find out?
Should I never let her out and see if she starts knocking?
I wonder how long she thinks has gone past?
Does she care?
Should I?

My only tradition

Awwwwwwww look at these cute faces.

So I recieved, as a neighbourhood gift one year, a recipe for Christmas decorations and a star cookie cut out. I started it with Masaru and did two then kinda stopped. Well this year I caught up with everyone.

Here they all are. Dru thinks they're pretty budget. Well I really don't care. I'm doing it every year and if my kids don't want them for their own trees and families then I'll just keep them all on my tree till I die.
I think it's fun to have a home made decoration of their faces every year so they can see themselves slowing grow up. I know you can order ones but this saves money and has a non perfect 'kids can help do it' attitude.
Masaru and Yuki helped me with these and thought it was awesome.
So budget or not, it is what it is and it's my only tradition I've done with my family and like I said, I had to catch up this year LOL
But I'm gonna keep it going. I realize that means around 18 decorations per child when alls said and done so I might need two trees, one for all of these and another one for my other decorations.
I'd give you the recipe but after Dru telling me they're budget I'm slightly embarrassed to even be posting this.
So I'm assuming you probably don't want it.

Daddy time

So Dru had a few seconds to spare on Saturday while I went to a mates step class at the local gym. So he spent some time with the kids.

He did 'dress up' with the kids. I don't have much of a collection, yet, but as I purchase Halloween costumes THE DAY AFTER Halloween over the years, I'll get a decent amount to fill the trunk.
So far I have a pumpkin, ninja and clown outfit. Yuki's missing her clown hat. Maybe Dru couldn't fit it over those huge bows.

They had a lot of fun. Also, within that hour, he tidied the kitchen, did the dishes, made our bed, swept and managed to get himself showered and looking decent.
So I came home and was exhausted but very happy.
Thanks babe.

Too much?

So when Dru and I were first married we were talking about kids and he goes "If we have a girl I only have 2 rules...........#1 No big ribbons with headbands, #2 No frilly dresses.

What do you think? Am I still obeying the rules? LOL

I told Yuki to open her eyes and this is what she did.

Then I said "No OPEN your eyes bub" and then she got it.
I know it's a LITTLE over the top but she's a girl and if I play with dolls I look like an idiot!!

Is it worth it?

Today I was talking to a mate and telling her how Dru's in 'finals' mode and is only home from the hours of 5:30 to 7:30 for around 3 to 4 weeks. I told her it happens a couple of times a year and I just try to deal with it and survive for those weeks you know.
Then she asked me "Do you ever think,'is it worth it?'"
I paused for second to really think if I've ever thought that and honestly answered 'no'
I've never thought 'is all of this really worth it?'
Cause what's the alternative? Demand that Dru stay home with me and then fail his exams wasting all our money?
Not let him go to law school cause it's too 'tough'?
No way.
We made this decision together and I was well aware that it was gonna be 'for thick an thin'.
This is what Dru wants, he's wanted it for a while. He talked about it with me and then we made the decision to go for it.
Sure it took him a while to get 'in' to law school, but he persisted and now he's doing what he wanted to do and I've always been fine with it.
Sure I might moan to him every now and then that it's tough, he for sure isn't going to be able to get up on the stand and say "My wife never complained"
Looks like he won't be one of the 12 any time soon
But this is my life and I really like it, well about 95% of the time. I'd say that's good stats.
Dru's doing what he loves, well about 95% of the time, and that makes it worth it.
He let's me do what I love, he's even defended me from time to time with it.
Anyway the small light at the end of the tunnel is that we get 3 weeks together with no work, school or hassles.
It'll be awesome.
Working hard to achieve a good goal is always 'worth it' right?

Love

I love my new sewing machine.