Couple of things..............

We have an art table............BEST.IDEA.EVER!!!!
They can only do art on that table..............it's been awesome.
The kids draw for at least an hour or more, daily, on this table. 
It doesn't look the best decoratively in our house, but fortunately I don't care about that kinda stuff so it works out so well for our family.
Here's the thing though, the children draw PAGES of stuff EVERY DAY and, rightly so, think it's their BEST WORK EVER..............every.single.time.
"Keep this mum ok?"
"Can I hang this up Mum?"
"I'm going to keep this forever Mum ok?"
"Mum don't throw this one out, ok Mum?"
Well I can't do this, I can't even come close to doing it.  It's all too much and my house would end up wallpapered with their many, many, wonderful drawings.
So I tell them that if they wanna put it up on our door or the fridge they have to choose to take one off to throw away that's already there right now.
It's such a tough decision for them.
Every now and then when I think they're not looking I'll throw a bunch out.  Sometimes I get busted and they're like "What?  You're throwing these out?"  To which I respond HONESTLY and say "Sorry man, I can't keep them all"
As it is we keep all the paper with blank sides to draw on.  I never buy BRAND.NEW.PAPER.  Their school sends home enough notices to keep us almost in supply of paper to draw on.
So DON'T THROW YOUR PAPER AWAY if it's blank on the other side cause THE NAKAYA'S will take it from you.
They're becoming quite good.  Takeshi is branching out and trying new things all the time. 
I don't take pictures of them all and I really should.
I took pictures of these ones for example purposes only.
So this is Takeshi's first rainbow he's ever attempted, then in Takeshi fashion he FORCES me to write on the bottom "DON'T THROW OUT" as seen below.

 It's pretty cute, but when he's not looking it was thrown out and he's none the wiser.

 Here's one of Yuki's MANY, MANY, MANY drawings. 
This isn't a 'good' one.  Yesterday she drew herself as a witch for Halloween and it was awesome man.  I should probably take a picture of it and put it up here actually.

 Of course Emiko can't be left out of the group and props herself up on the chair and starts collaborating a masterpiece.

Found the drawing.
Isn't that cute.  Wait till you see her costume.  This picture is exactly what it looks like.  Look at that awesome cat in the corner and the details on the moon!!
Love her drawings.
I used to be good at art *sigh*
Alas, that's a talent that has been buried and I will receive the consequences of that burial. 
Art was something I got to sit for a couple of hours at a time and do and really meditate on.  It was tossed aside like other things when I got busier with 'life'...............sad.
I loved doing it in high school and University though and always got great marks in it and I LOVED teaching it to my students when I was a teacher.
My favourite teacher was my art teacher.
I'd love to be a hippie art teacher..................................that'll never happen.
Moving on.

 I got my hair done last night and opted for a 'cold season' colour instead of trying to keep up with the blonde, which is expensive and a LONG process every time.
I guess it's called an Ombre which I didn't know before last night, but I LOVE IT.
It's gonna be WAY easier to maintain and be cute for the colder months.
I was nervous to go a little darker but I think it looks awesome and I'm really happy.
So if you DON'T like it........................then I don't wanna know thanks and you can secretly think things to YOURSELF  while I rock the Ombre for a few months and TOTALLY LOVE IT.

Now if only I could duplicate this style for our family pictures on Saturday :/

Young Women's retreat

 So I was invited to the young women's retreat this year. 
Let's all get serious, I threatened them all with their lives if they didn't invite me.  So they graciously DID invite me and I had the best time.

 We stopped off at the hot pools on our way to the cabin.
IT WAS AWESOME.  Man no kids and a night to myself in the hot pools with these lovely ladies?  It was a little slice of heaven.
The stars were so beautiful as well.  It was nice to soak and talk. 

 I felt an overwhelming pressure to do a silly face and so ended up doing nothing.  That's not like me...........

We then headed to the beautiful cabin one of the leaders own and had something to eat then got cozy and headed out to the fire pit to do some bonding.

 This was a special smore cause one of the leaders (who's a great cook) suggested sliced apple with the smore.  So I tried it and it was AWESOME. 

 Here's our bishop and his wife trying to tame the smore beast.
We had such a great night up there and all the young women shared their inner most thoughts and feelings. 
I cried and felt an overwhelming love for these girls who are so wonderful, yet struggle with their own concerns.  It was a wonderful fireside.

We then headed inside where I did a few planks for a competition I'm in and then we went to bed.
I was sleeping with two other leaders and we stayed up till roughly 2:30am talking and laughing.  It was a fun night.

 The next morning was a little rough for me to get up BUT we did and ate then headed out for a beautiful hike.
It was amazing.

 Isn't that beautiful?

 One of our girls had asthma and forgot her inhaler.  So we had to take it easy so she could get to the top.

Look at this awesome trunk.

 Two hot mamma's on the the trail..................................o_0

 COME ON.............................IS THAT NOT WONDERFUL?

The lovely ladies who kept me up all night..................I think we look pretty awesome for roughly 5 hours sleep right?

 When I got to the top I lay down and breathed in the fresh air, sunshine and silence.  I don't think I've had a moment like that in..................well...........................I can't remember.  I'm so busy with children, house, calling, cleaning..............you get the point, that to just lay and not be disturbed just doesn't happen.  It was really nice.

 

One of the young women at the top.

 Then one of the leaders suggest that I do a plank RIGHT HERE AT THE TOP.
So I did.
Have you seen a more BEAUTIFUL PLANK IN YOUR LIFE?
I think not people.

 We then headed back down the trail.

Half of us were BUSTING TO THE TOILET.

But we all made it back to the cabin without wetting ourselves.

We had some lunch and then a few of us headed back home due to babysitting/work commitments.

The ride home started off with a couple of wrong turns BUT we got on the right road and made it back with time to spare for showers and a breather for the girls.

When I got back the house was SPOTLESS, the bathroom cleaned and Dru was working on his Halloween costume.

What I did to deserve this guy I'll never know, but I'll keep him and hold him and say nice things to him for as long as he'll have me.

What a man right?

I said on numerous occasions on this retreat that I was very happy, and that sums up my weekend.

TOTALLY HAPPY WEEKEND!!

It was nice, and I needed it due to feeling a little tired and run down.

Thanks ladies.

16 years

So today is 16 years since my father took his own life.
I can't believe it.

This year I've grown in leaps and bounds with my emotional journey of my father's passing and what that has meant to me this past 16 years.
A lot of it is due to an 'all nighter' I had one time with my brother in law.
He helped me to focus on Jesus and what he can do for us.
It was quite therapeutic to say the least and I'm grateful to him.

I've shared the important parts of the conversation with most of my siblings (who still struggle) and it's given them a different perspective and has helped in their own journey as well.

Since my Dad struggled with depression, which changed my life forever, my perspective on this subject has greatly changed and has given me more empathy, where maybe there wouldn't have been as much otherwise.
I'm grateful for that.  So consequently Elder Hollands talk had me bawling from start to finish.  It was awesome.
It's also made my family more aware of our mental states and when to intervene and when to change things to make our lives better.  That has also been a blessing for all of us.
I'm not sure if Dad's death helped with this or not, but my sibling relationships are awesome.  My siblings are truly my best friends.  I talk to most of them daily in some way and it's so great to have them in my life to help me and be there for me no matter what.  I'm not sure what I'd do without my siblings in my life.  They're such a huge important part of my life and I love them.  I'm grateful Mum and Dad had all 7 of us, cause we need each other and draw on each other's support, strength, love and guidance often.  I know if I need help, my siblings have my back, and they always will, they love me unconditionally and fully and I draw strength from their love for me.

My Dad left journals.  I've never read them because I've never wanted to.  It's always been 'too much' for me to try to deal with so they've sat on the shelf for the last 15 years just patiently waiting for me to be ready to read them all.
I think I'm going to do it.
I think at the beginning of this upcoming year I'm going to finally pick the first one up and get started on that part of my journey.  Finally, I think I can emotionally do it.  Finally I think I'm at a spiritual place where I can do this.
I may even be able to face attending a funeral without hating it with a passion and wanting to scream and run out of the building.......................................but I don't want anybody to die to help me with this part of my journey, so I won't push my luck.

I miss my Dad.
He was a good man.  He would've been a blessing in my and my kids life.  But he was called to do another work and I've gotta be alright with that...............and I think I finally am.
I'll always have that yearning to have him with me and that sadness that he's not but  I'm grateful to Jesus.
What would I do without Jesus in my life?  He's everything to me.  His sacrifice, love, and example are what I will try to emulate forever and always.  He's Lord and master and His compassion and understanding is perfect and whole.  It fills the voids, it's heals the broken heart, it lifts the burdens and it gives hope to the hopeless.  I love Him with all my heart and will always be grateful to Him.

My Dad is whole, my Dad is forgiven, my Dad is healed and my Dad is happy.
My Dad loves the Saviour.  He dedicated his life to him and still is dedicating his life to Him.
I know he looks out for me, I know he loves me, I know he loves my children and I know he loves Dru and appreciates him looking after me the way he does.
What a glorious moment in my life when I get to run to him and hug him and tell him I love him and get to breathe in his smell and goodness and talk again with him while he shows me the 'ropes' of the new world.

I have a lot of work to do before that moment, but when the moment comes I'll be happy.  So in my death, people will rejoice, for they'll know I'll be filled with joy and happiness of meeting my Dad and my nephew first and foremost and then being introduced to my extended family who've watched and waited to meet me as well and let me know of their stories and love.

Like Elder Uchtdorf said at Sister Monson's funeral "Death is the doorway to a more beautiful room"
And I truly believe that................with all my heart.

It's so hard to be left, and I wish he didn't leave and was with me, but in being left you get to grow in ways that you never would, if not given that trial.

Love you Dad

Autumn leaves

 So this weekend was a fun one.  I went away for a night with my young womens group.  But that's another post.  I'm waiting on some pictures from people and then I'll post it.
Masaru wants to be a mummy this year.
He had a Halloween party last night and so it was a great opportunity for us to practice his costume.
The top half stayed on pretty well but the bottom half was falling off.
So thanks to the party, we can recalculate and get his costume just right for Thursday night.

 While he was at the party the other kids were invited to go and play at the neighbours house due to the fact that all of their leaves fell at once and they were cleaning them up.
We've done this with them the last couple of years and so this year I decided to grab my camera so I could capture the 3rd annual leaf party next door.
So fun right?
Look at all those cute kids.

 Here's some pictures I captured of them simply playing.
Love it.

 Takeshi stuffing leaves up his top while getting leaves thrown at him from top.  Them him wanting to be buried , yet not have to eat the leaves.

 Yuki having fun collecting leaves and showing us how she'll look in the future when pregnant...............

 Love these shots of the kids throwing the leaves up in the air.  I think my children went to church today with leaves still in their hair.

Then I turned and took a couple of shots of the street.
It was such a nice night with the sun setting and the kids laughing.
It was great to come home from the retreat with the young women to these happy kids.
I don't think I have a favourite season to be honest.  I'm missing the warm weather to tell you the truth.  My brother posted a picture on face book with him and his daughter at the beach and I yearned for the warm beach weather.......................but the leaves are a beautiful colour so I'll focus on that, and the laughter of my kids in the leaves (they're playing in the back yard right now with our own fallen leaves, laughing and bossing each other)
I'm glad I captured these moments and I'm grateful to my neighbours.

Autumn season of soccer

 So another glorious season of soccer has come and gone.
We didn't take any shots this time.
These pictures are by my mate Rachelle, bless her heart. 
I love this one of Masaru {above}
He had a good season.  It was U10 this time and that meant 7 players on the field with a permanent goalie.  the field was a lot bigger too and so this season he had to work on a different game.
He did great.
He's a hard boy to get past.  He's a great defense player but also he is pretty awesome at moving it up the field towards the goal.  It was hard for anyone to get the ball from him and he had lots and lots of break aways.
It was nice watching him play this season.  He had a great coach and good players.
He told me he wants to play again because his goal is to be a professional soccer player.  So we'll see how that goal pans out for him.  He's enjoying it and that's Dru and I's goal for him with any sport he does.

 Here's his team.
There were other WAY BETTER pictures but this is the ONLY picture of SEVEN that Masaru has a decent face in.

Here is an example of the REST of the 6 pictures where Masaru is pulling a face like this.........honestly man................oh well.

 Look at this face!!
What do you do?
He's so cute, but to get him to give me a real smile I have to do some kind of fart joke or something and I wasn't there *sigh* we were watching Yuki's last game over on another field.

 Hey check out this cute girl.

 And this cute boy.
And the 'real' shot below of said cute boy.

Here's the only shot of Yuki.
We took none of her in action.
She did SO WELL this season.  The least amount of goals she got this season in one game was four.  Her team was undefeated and there was only three of them.  The other teams had six and could get rests.  The three of them just seemed to play perfectly together and no other team could touch them.  I'm glad Yuki is having fun with this and she wants to play next season as well.

To be perfectly honest I'm glad it's over.  I'll be grateful to have my Saturday's back and this week has been heavenly with Masaru not having to go to practice.  I know that sounds bad but it's the honest truth.
I'm glad my kids like playing sports though and will continue to support it if they're interested.  I was semi hoping they'd say they want to take a season off  LOL  but at the end of the day I'm glad they enjoy playing and am just glad the seasons are only 6 week stints.
We got an email that said that there's a more 'serious' soccer team you could put your kids in if you like for more than double the price and more games, that just sounds like torture to me man. 
Social soccer it is............................

Pumpkin carving time...........

So this year, instead of making a mess at our own house.........we got invited to a mates house to carve pumpkins this year. 
I'm telling you man that's the way to do it.  Make a huge mess at your mates place and then leave...........LOL
We were grateful for the invite and good times.
Here's Emiko's wonderful pumpkin (that mum did)

Yuki wanted the catbus from Totoro and thanks to Dad she got it.
So cute right?

 Takeshi just wanted a cat and thanks to mum doing most of the work, he got his cat.

 Mine is suppose to be a batman pumpkin face.  Can you see it?

Dru did the same he's done every year and the kids love it.  He's painted himself into a corner now man.  He's a pro at this face now.

This was the first year Masaru did the whole thing by himself.  I'm a fan.  He did Totoro of course and it turned out great.  He worked really hard and we're proud of him.

And here they are all out on the front porch, their new home for the next 2 weeks.
I put Vaseline all over them so hopefully they'll last that long, plus the cold weather.........time will tell I guess.
Fun night.  Love doing this.