Changes...

So when Tu'a started school, there was a problem with who was going to drop him off too school since he was only half day. Our district doesn't offer full day kindergarten unless you live in some counties that I've never heard of. lol. No matter what time of day he went (in the morning half or afternoon) there just wasn't anyone to be at home at noon. So we decided that I would move to part-time!! Insert my happy dance! LOL.. After working forever, I'm so happy for this break. Even though that would mean less money, I really did not give a crap! We did look into daycare, but that would be so expensive.. it would be just the same amount of money I would make if I stayed working full time just to pay the daycare. So it was better for me to stay home.

 

I finally really felt like I would have that balance in my life that I've always wanted. I have the worst mom guilt.  I'd work all day, hang out w/the kids for a couple of hours & then get them too bed and then be at work before they even woke up.. over & over again. I felt like I was missing out on the kids growing up & just knew that I was missing out on stuff that I would never get a chance to experience again.  So with me working part-time, I get to hang out with the kids in the morning & then come into work at 12:30 & go home @ 5:30! I'm much happier, I acutally feel like a stay at home mom even if it is only part time.  I love having breakfast with the kids & talking about our day or plans.  I love that we can go to the store together, or go to a park before I go to work.  I just love all the extra time I get to be a mom before heading to work. 

 This spare time has also fueled my coupon fire back up. Lol. I started couponing way back in the day but always off & on. I've started back up, but just because my stockpile has been depleted and shipped to the mother land. lol. But after a couple of months I'm already stocked back up & ready to quit again. bwahahaha.. I doubt it though! :)

The summer was gone in a flash! I felt like we rushed the whole summer and school was starting already.  I was happy to be back on a schedule with bedtimes & routines. I was also excited for my little Tu'a man to start kindergarten.  He's been talking about it the whole summer and asked a million times how many more sleeps until school started. haha! Tu'a cried when I dropped him off. So sad. I almost cried but didn't. lol. He kept asking for me to stay for 5 for mins. haha.. He had to color a fish & write his name on it then cut it out. So funny, I never realized he didn't know how to use scissors at all. lol. I was crackin up watching him try to cut the his paper fish. The teacher had to end up holding him so I could leave. I felt so guilty while I walked away, but I knew he would love it. We waited at the bus stop at the end of the day for them to come & he was so happy!! He said he couldn't wait to go to school the next day.

Ofa started the 4th grade, he loves school & does really well. He has good grades & I never hear anything bad about him from his teacher. He's growing up so quick, before I know it.. he'll be in middle school. :( I always walk him to his classroom on the 1st day but this year he asked to ride the bus w/his friends. lol. So I gave in.

 

 



27

Ok, I'm officially an old fart. Lol. As I get older, I feel like time is just flying by. I wish it would slow down. Or maybe I need to slow down & enjoy the small things huh? This year, my birthday was really simple. We went shopping in the morning & then hung out at home until it was time for fireworks later that night. I also experieneced my 1st miscarraige this week. I was really early still, maybe 3-4 weeks. It wasn't as dramatic as I thought it was going to be. I also wasn't as sad as I thought I should be as well.  We weren't planning to have another baby, but we weren't doing anything to prevent us from having another baby either. Still, I thought that this was for sure a shitty birthday. I wished we didn't tell the kids I was pregnant either because we had a long list of questions of why I wasn't anymore & what happened.  Next time around (if there is another one) I'll be sure to not share the news to quickly.

Anyway, the fireworks show was on point in Spanish Fork.  I never knew there were fireworks in Spanish Fork until just a couple of years ago & I've literally almost lived my whole life there. lol. The kids were so excited. We packed up the all treats, stopped at the gas for some drinks & headed to the park. The only place that was open was the church parking lot. We thought we would be far away but we were actually right in front of it. It was an awesome view. It was a fun night with the kids.  Here's to another year of life. :)

 

 My mom took me to get a pedicure for my birthday! :)

 The kids waiting for the fireworks

 My boys

 Me & Tim chillin...



We attended ward camp this year, we even bought our very 1st tent too! LOL.. I was telling Tim how is it that we've been married this long and we are NOW just buying our very 1st tent. haha! We got a pretty good spot (it was shady). I wish I didn't have to work cause I had to keep going back & forth between work & camp. It rained during the night almost every night as well which made the inside of the tent very humid & uncomfortable. We spent the 4th of July up there as well & didn't even come down to watch the fireworks. I wish we did but the kids were out playing night games & they didn't even care (Tim said I was the only one that wanted to watch fireworks! haha) The kids had so much fun though. They played in the river, ran around w/the other kids, hung out at the camp fire. Made me miss being a kid because Ward camp was always 1 of the things I loved growing up.. because in a Tongan household we never went camping except with the ward, once a year! lmao. Something I read online was.. "Camping is fun if you're prepared" which is so true. I hope I can get my little family into camping more than once a year for sure. I'd like to go camping every chance we get! It's so fun & I love it out there!!  

 



The kids got a chance to go to Canada w/my parents for the weekend. It was my cousins high school graduation! I need to get more pictures of them from my mom but this will have to do for now. The only picture I have is the one I took of them at 7:00 in the morning right before they left, morning faces (and morning breath) and all! LOL. Boo boo was screaming & crying when they left that she wanted to stay w/me & Tim, I was so close to just getting her out but knew that she would miss her brothers if she stayed & would be so lonely!!

The night before, I was getting all the kids passports together to give to my parents & we noticed that Ofa's passport had expired earlier this month! Ughhhh. My mom didn't want to leave him behind since he was the most excited to go, so my mom said they would just chance it & hope the border patrols wouldn't notice. Hahahaha. Oh Grandma. They did notice though, but since it was within the same month they just said to make sure to re-new his passport before he came again. I'm so glad they didn't get turned away after that long drive to get there! They always have a blast up there with my cousins who cater & play with them.

 

*My dad sent me this pic of a more happier Boo Boo while they were on the way! :)



It's Official...

So I would have to say JUNE is probably me favorite month so far this year.. Why? Because Tim got hired on full time. Ahh, I finally feel like I can breathe. A lot weight has been lifted off my shoulders & I can just breeeathe! Tim has been w/Orem for the past 3 years. He moved to a different dept at the begininng of this year so when a spot came available this summer, I was thinking he probably wouldn't get it just because there was another seasonal on the crew that was there for 4 years longer than him. Tim put in the his application, went through 2 interviews & he GOT IT!!! I'm so proud of him for sticking this through w/Orem. We knew him working as a seasonal was a foot in the door but to be hired on all the way has seriously been a blessing.  Yay for job security at it's finest! 

March of Dimes 2013 was such a blast!

We went to support my cousin Monica's family & walk for Katea (she is such a miracle baby & the cutest girl around!) I had to work last year so when I knew I was off this year I was so happy I would be able to make it with my little family. We woke up to pouring rain. My dad was staying home so we decided to leave boo boo @ home with my dad since she was still sleeping! It rained pretty much the rest of the day, but it didn't ruin the day. The kids had a blast & they walked the whole walk as well even the little tiny kids made the walk (5k)! I know if the sun was out & it was hot.. my butt probably wouldn't have made it. lol. It was seriously so much fun, they were very organized & had lots of fun things for the kids. My family had a blast supporting our family!Can't wait for next year!