Oh happy day

Today Kahau started her new school. In her own words, (say it in a high pitched voice) "it was awwwwwesommmme!"

*Whew* She got to experiment on meal worms and made new friends.
Sounds like a pretty fantastic day to me.
Good luck Kahau!

And doesn't she look so cute in her uniform?

(Don't tell her I said she looks cute. It's not "cool" to look "cute" when you are in the 5th grade.)

Thanksgiving

We went out (restaurant) this year. We let someone else do the preparing, cooking, and clean up. Truth be told, it's sad not to have dinner at home BUT it is also awesome. 1/2 the cost, zero hassle--except to figure out which pair of elastic pants you are going to wear and all the fun of having people you love with you. So we all piled into the big red truck and off we went.
But before we left we made sure to document the day. Here are some of my biggest blessings.

And here's another.

Ok, for real now.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Like I said, changes

Did I say changes? Or was it decisions? Basically they are the same thing. They both mean something different is going on. So here are two of our changes. Kahau is starting a new school after Thanksgiving break. We are really excited for the change. She enjoys her friends at her current school but she is a)not getting any homework and the girl is going to middle school next year, b)being given a hard time because of the color of her hair and skin and c)while her teacher is nice and all he 1-doesn't communicate well with her (or us) and 2-she kind of walks all over him cause he is very passive and she...is not. If we could we would just switch her to a new teacher we would but because there is only 1 English speaking 5th grade class we don't have that option.

She is very nervous about her new school but luckily has some friends who already attend so that will be nice for her. I know this is stressful on her but we really do feel it is best. She can do this and I believe she will enjoy this opportunity.

Please keep her in your prayers.

She will be wearing a uniform at her new school. That doesn't excite her at all. She said if she has to wear a uniform she'd rather attend Hogwarts. I agree whole heartedly but it's not gonna happen.

Another change is that I was released from Primary yesterday. I was seriously bummed when I found out. The Bishop asked if I would accept any calling. I said yes, of course and secretly prayed I wasn't being called to Nursery or Relief Society. Lucky for me (and for the old ladies and babies) I was not put into one of those positions. Unfortunately for the young women they are not in the clear. It's me and the Mia Maids. Heaven help us all. I am excited, nervous and super curious to see how this goes. Wish me luck.

So those are the most current changes around here.

Tonight we are going to celebrate a early Thanksgiving with the in-laws who will be out of town on Thursday. We are also hoping, waiting, praying, wishing for snow tonight. It's in the forecast. It would be awesome if it actually happened!

Think, think, think

I feel kinda like Winnie the Pooh sitting on a log and muttering "think, think, think."

Thinking is all good and dandy--I'm a good thinker.

Decision making is my weak point. I don't like to make decisions. Over the past year I've become better at it but I still don't like it.

Anyway, we have some decisions to be made here at our house and we are hoping and praying we make the right ones for everyone.

Wish us luck.

Tired times three

Every Monday morning I work at 5am. I get up, go, come home and wake everyone else up for school. That's the routine. Except for today. Nobody was home to hang with the kids while I was gone so they had to come with me. So up, up, up we were at 4:40 am. I was ready for whining, crying and utter exhaustion but instead I got cooperative and clam kids. Hallelujah. They went into the nice quite daycare and slept while I worked and then we came home and got ready for school.

Because they did so well this morning we had ice cream for breakfast.

I won't lie, it was good.

Really good.

This afternoon the kids are dragging a little so I did the unthinkable.
I turned on the TV.
(gasp!)
I put in Mary Poppins. I love Julie Andrews and so do tired1, tired2, and tired3. So we will have din din and do a little homework and go to bed nice and early!
This afternoon has been practically perfect in every way!

Naples, Fl

I had to go on a business trip with Jason a week ago. It was so difficult having to go to southern Florida. The beach was brutal. The sun just plain awful with it's bright, warm glow. Getting up and putting a suit on was terrible.

I loved, loved, loved it! This place is beautiful.

The beaches are breath taking.
And the sting rays are amazing.
Just plain so, so, so cool.

I was on the phone with the kids standing in the ocean and I looked down and this is what I found at my feet. I was shocked! It was cool.

I played, Jason worked.

See? Here's proof.

Working is so tough.

HARRY POTTER Theme Park

YES! We went and YES it was so freaking cool and YES every stinking person in Florida was there. Here are our pictures. Sorry they aren't in any sort of real order but it was just too much work to figure all that out. Just so you get how it all works. The Harry Potter portion of Universal Studios is set up as a long narrow street. One side of the street is Diagon Alley and the other side is Hogsmeade but they call the whole street Hogsmeade. You can go into go into Ollivander's Wand Shop, Dervish and Banges, Honeydukes and Zonkos to shop BUT we did not take the chance. Why? Because the lines were 3.5 hours long. It was crazy! So I just took pictures of everything and someday I will go back and go inside. There was just too much to do to stand in line all day. The "time frame" that the park is set in is during the Goblet of Fire, year 4. There are banners everywhere cheering on your favorite champion and there is a roller coaster where you ride a Chinese Fireball or a Hungarian Horntail (both are great but I prefer the horntail). If you are a little kid (or me) you will wait in line to ride a Hippogriff. There is also Hogwarts Castle (!!!) that you enter, wind through the halls, and then ride the craziest/coolest/most frightening ride (spiders, spiders, spiders....."Harry, I don't like Spiders") ever. LOVE it!

oh yeah, Sirius is on the loose. Be aware.

We stopped by the Owl Post.

I can only imagine the scrumptious treats in here.

Well looky here...it's the Hogwarts Express.

Loved the conductor. He was so nice.

The Hogwarts choir was performing, including the frogs. So cool!

And here is the crew from Durmstrang.

I spy Viktor Krum!

And the ladies from Beauxbatons.

Hargrid's!!!!!

Care to go for a spin?

Jason did.

We had lunch at the Three Broom Sticks. So seriously cool.

I was totally geeking out!

We were hungry....don't judge us.

We couldn't leave without trying butter beer.

Reserved for Fudge, Dumbledore and friends.

That's what the note said.

And we enter the castle. No sign of Snape. Too bad. I was looking forward to meeting him.

I'm hereeeeeee!

We got to visit Herbology. Mandrakes and all.

welcome to the land of lines....this was a long one but 100% worth it.

And the mandrakes were crying. What a horrible noise. Really.

Hmmmmmm, I wonder who's office is behind here?

They were all talking. Got kinda funny and noisy.

The hat was rhyming and he was really quite clever,

he said you may not ride if pregnant...not ever.

But climb on in and enjoy a journey quite crazy,

as long as you are brave and not lazy.

Okay, so my rhyming skills are not up to par but you get the idea.

This park was seriously cool and I would love to go back someday but we will wait. It was just so, so, so busy. Put it on your bucket list.

Dear Harry,

You rock!!!!

~Dana

Dear Jason,

Thanks for taking me.

I had a great time with you.

Love,

Dana