Wuz da nite befo' Christmas

This classic was written several years ago by Margaret Steele

Wuz da nite befo' Christmas an' from hea to Wailuku,
No creetcha wuz stirrin' not even one uku.
Da Keikis wen snuggle down safe in da beds,
Big dreams of tofuti wen dance roun' da heads.
An' me wid my Primo an' Ma wid her poi,
We jus' settle down fo' one rap, - when oh Boy!
One awful big clatter come from da lanai,
I tink maybe coconuts wen fall from da sky.
I wen jump up so fas' I knock ova da chaia
I wen run to da windo to see what stay dea.
All ova da beach da kine silva moonlight
On da sand an' da sea it shinin' so bright,
I can see all da tings on da sho' plenty clea,
An' I see sumting out dea dat stay mo' plenty quea!
One tiny surfboard lyin' der on da groun'
An' eight tiny sea horses jus' swimmin' aroun'
An' one little ol surfer so lively, so quick, -
I wen tink to myself, "Ey, brah! Dat Saint Nick!"
He wuz chubby an' jolly, da kine roly poly,
An' dressed all in fur fro da chin to okole.
He had one white beard an' one little roun' belly
Dat went shake when he laugh like Tutu's guava jelly.
He wastin' no time, brah, he wen put down da sack
Dat wuz big as one mountain slung up on his back.
He got plenty good tings for all da keiki
An' he wen pile dem unda da coconut tree.
He work an' he work an' he neva pau hana
Til he put someting der fo' all da Ohana.
He wen give me one wink an' one shaka, an' - pau!
Da seahorses dey know it come time to go now!
He wen pick up da board an' he run to da ocean,
He wen harness da team an' he settem in motion.
Mo fasta dan jet planes da seahorses swum
He wen whistle an' shout an' he call 'em each one:
"Go Kimo, Go Noni! Gettum Kipo an' Lani!
Go Kona, go Pua! Geevum Kiki an' Nani"
To da cres of da wave, tru da foam an' da spray,
Dey swimmin' like crazy, dey flyin' away!

Til all I wen see on da wata out fa,
Wuz one twinkle of light like one dyin' out star.

But I hea ol Nick holla
Across da dark sea,
"Merry Christmas, da kine,
Aloha Hawai`i!"

So much for paradise.

About a day after the last post the family got sick. Not just regular sick. We've got it coming from everywhere. And when I say everywhere i mean everywhere. Upstairs, Downstairs, outside, car rides, church, scouts.

It all started with the VOG. Volcanic ash in the fog brought by the wind from the main island. The more sunlight it receives the more toxic it is to your lungs (so I'm told). It's just little tiny lava rocks. So you can imagine how that'll agitate your lungs, throat, nose, and eyes. We started with allergy type symptoms and then the nights got good. So with all my great intentions to do all these wonderful Christmas things they've been sidelined due to twice maybe thrice weekly Dr. or ER trips. Bronsen wasn't breathing well and choking on it a lot and dropping weight. So we were in a lot for that. Beckett couldn't keep anything in him long enough to know he had food in there. Brenner out of school and myself too. Phew. Just writing about it makes me tired again.

But I have to tell you this story. My sweet husband is doing his best and at a very hard time. We're just new to the three kids thing and I leave for shopping (after Thanks Giving) early in the morning. He goes to get Beckett out of bed and finds vomit all over the bed and it smells like death. Poor little guy tells him, "poo poo poo poo" pointing to his favorite glow in the dark dinosaur feet pajamas. Now this is where I remember him calling me.

"Hey while your out pick up some pajamas for Beckett."
"Uhm okay. "
"We had a situation this morning. He had bad diarrhea and I threw them out."
"You what?!"
"Threw them away."
"You don't throw them away. Rinse them out in the tub. "
"NO. They were covered in diarrhea."
"Yeah. Rinse them out."
"No you don't understand. They were pooling in the bottom."
"I know I've done that twice a day for the past 5 days. RINSE them out."
"I can't they're already in the dumpster."
"What? Honey you don't make enough money for us to just throw away his pajamas when he poops them."
"I do today. Buy him some PJ's."
"Roger that roger."

Now I'm laughing and shocked that he did it and feel bad that I've left him with the kids and then remembered. He's the father and a great one at that. He'll be fine. It's the old adage. Be happy the towels are folded. It doesn't have to be the way you fold them. They're done. So I picked up 4 pairs of pjs for the boy and with out feet. However, Beckett has been asking for his 'dinotoar' pajamas. And I can't find any anywhere. If anyone out there finds some please let me know.

So with that I'll update once everyone gets better. But Christmas is going to be so late. This has been the first day in three that we haven't been to the ER. So I'm hoping to get to the post office to mail everything out. I had all of it started before thanks giving and now it looks like I just did it. Oh well ... all is fair in love, war, poop, & midnight ER trips.

Mele Kalikimaka to you and yours.

P.S. I refrained from submitting any photos of the illnesses. I'm sure we all get enough without wanting/having to see some other kids business.

Day 3 of CCC

The boys are starting to get the hang of this and to be honest I'm really liking it too.

Brenner served me this morning by being ready for school before I got up. I actually slept in until 0730-ish. okay okay it was more like 0745. But he was coming up the stairs to tell me goodbye before he hopped on his bike to ride to school with his friend Raven. Thanks Brenner.

Got Bronsen up and fed a little and back to sleep he went. Thanks New-B.

Went to rescue Beckett and he was clean. No extra fluids to report and a happy Kemper to boot. Didn't even argue that I took the pj's off to put clothing on him. Thanks Little-B.

What good service we have here.
I served Brenner by doing his chore of the recyclables. I started pulling out all the stuff and then decided that our donate pile was too big. Beckett supervised while I loaded it into the back of the car.I also let someone serve me. I was going to serve Kemper by taking a coin to the trophy shop for him. When my friend needed some help. I served her by printing off her flyers for scouts/school and then asked her to help me by dropping it off. She said yes so quickly and was so happy to help. I felt weird asking but when I saw how she was happy to help it made it easier and less guilt ridden for me to request and receive help. Thank you Monika. Oh and she also threatened to call Kemper to find other things for her to help me with because she knows I won't ask again. ( really only asked because I knew the copy shop is next door to the trophy shop at the PX)

We loaded everyone up in the car after school & homework was done and went to drop off things.
A good friend of ours has two little boys that are right in between my first two. We had gone through all kinds of books and games and kid magazines and took them over to the Harshman's household. They were great sitting in the car and not yelling. You can see them even helping the New-B with singing and binkie location and replacement. Thanks Big-B.We first took a bag of toys to the Kalakaua Community Center. We noticed last time we were there that they didn't have toys for little people while parents talked to the housing people and so we thought we'd help. Brenner was great! He held the bag and gave it to the lady. (I had to talk them into taking them. I just couldn't have them tell me no. I whispered please help me teach them of giving.) All of us left there happy to have helped and Beckett held Brenners hand all the way to the parking lot and didn't scream or try to run. Miracle starting to work.
Then we stopped at the local Base Thrift shop and donated the rest of our extras. This gives jobs and purpose to peoples lives who work there. It also helps everyone with cheap and still good items. I love shopping there and my mom and I have always found great items. It save me from a lot of my post-partum with Beckett. I would just go the two days a week it was open and walk around. I was out of the house and had to see people and it helped give me a purpose for a day.

I also had the forethought to ask friends of ours if we could help serve them this season. Think of things we could come and do for them. So we'll see some more people from around here to serve. If you have something you might need us to do please let us know.

I also decided that I didn't want to be the one yelling all the time to get away from the tree. (I have a huge department store tree with huge 10 yards of ribbon bows and ginormous flowers) and didn't want Beckett pulling it apart or the extra work of taking ALL of the toys out of the toy area to put it up. So I got this great idea to make our own. If I had my own house I think I'd do it straight on the wall but this way I can take it down easy. I thought I'd just throw it out but I think it'll become the cover to a Christmas album or at least a background page. I love that it's all truly a part of us. Brian is the Star on top. I'm the snow. Brenner and Beckett's hands are the green boughs. And Little Bronsens feet are the red ornaments. I have flower tea leis to add as soon as I find the hot glue gun. But they loved it. I'm going to send this into my parents and wonder years magazines. It's a great idea.

The videos are just funny. Real life right? Beckett wouldn't stop screaming and then actually loved his consequence.

Day 2 of CCC

Sometimes it's hardest to be the nicest to those closest to you. I.e. family. Well that's what we'll be doing today. I'm sure every mother out there does just the same as me but I'm going to point out the obvious. This is a service I do for my family. I serve them in ways we all need/want/and enjoy.

Primary example are the clean panties. Yes we are all very aware when their out. And are always glad to have them. So I did laundry and diapers for the boys. That was nice for all except the wiper. Well you know to be fair I've never really had the wipe-e tell me that it was good or bad for them to be the wipe-e. I personally think at that age they love the naked part and changing them gives them a little bit of that freedom sporadically throughout the day.


So today our focus is going to be on serving our family.

I started out not feeling well and my sweet husband brought me the Pepto Bismol in bed. I didn't even ask for it. Thanks.

Fed the Baby. Yeah he was glad for that. Likes the mommy milk much better and he was treated to a big breakfast in bed. Handy to have stocked fridge full of everyones favorites. Mom aka fridge fairy.


Then I found Beckett covered in vomit. I cleaned him off and his sheets and made his bed again so he'd have a nice place to nap. Breakfast and special juice and some Backyardagains and life was good again.

Brenner got a ride to school. Late. But a ride so that he didn't have to ride his bike in the rain.

Dishes are a never ending battle but we all enjoy not having to cook in the fire pit in the back yard and shleping the water from the river and not eating off of our hands.

Cleaned the house. Need to scrub the bathrooms so we don't get sicker than we already are. Try for tomorrow.


Serve myself by putting Beckett and Bronsen down for naps at the same time. Buy new vacuum - help out kid selling them to pay rent.

Served the family by not being upset when Beckett fed himself two things of yogurt all by himself. Encourage him in his new found confidence in finding his mouth with the spoon many a time. The drips don't count and learning what happens when you turn the spoon over was interesting for him too. I didn't worry that it was a huge mess because I was also trying to serve my husband ... er everyone that was going to be at the co. farewell dinner. I thought it would only by nice for them to not have to see what the "real" EmilieAn looks like while dealing with puke and the rockie mountain two step.

Meanwhile, Brenner served me and Bronsen by feeding him while I got ready.

It wasn't much of service for the dinner but I was really happy to go to 1 - thank one of the few people at work that honestly works hard with my husband. 2 - scoots him out of the office as often as he can so he can see his kids at night. 3 - pushes him and believes in him. 4 - gave him the name of Cpt. America 3 years ago. I was glad to show him my personal gratitude for his extra effort for my family. Also it turned out to be a pretty sweet date night.

All in all it was a great day to love our family.

Day 1 of CCC

I do a lot of work with Brenner's Cub Scout Group and love helping them out. I got an email from one of the mothers in the troop asking for some help for her friend. It's just easier to clip and show the email I received.


Hi, This year for Christmas, I wanted to come up with a project for my children to do something for others. Two years ago, when I visited Arlington Cemetery, someone had painted rocks and placed them on the tombstones of all the soldiers in Section 60 (the area where soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan are) My family was very moved and touched by this.......that someone had taken the time to honor these soldiers and let them know that they are not forgotten. (for those of you who don't know - my own brother, Mark, was killed in Iraq and is buried in Arlington) After talking with others we decided to have the children make special Leis for section 60 in Arlington and my parents will place them there for us for Christmas. Sadly, there are over 400 soldiers in this section. On December 1, we will be meeting after school at the Kalakaua Community center 2:30-??? and having the children make these leis for the soldiers. The plan is to use the shell leis and then have index cards where the children write notes or draw pictures for the soldiers - We will then laminate these cards and tie them to the shell leis. (hoping this makes something that is personal - and representative of Hawaii at the same time) If anyone is interested in participating - you are more than welcome to come that day. We are also looking for donations of shell leis, markers, crayons and laminating paper. Please let me know if you would like to participate and what you may be able to donate. We would like to know ahead of time so that we know how many leis we need to purchase. If you can only donate and not participate - you can drop the leis off at my home - ^*() %$#* in the Canby community. Please forward this email to anyone you think may be interested. Thanks for your help

I loved this idea from living near there myself and so we bought some leis on Black Friday and then contacted my FRG and they donated some money for shipping costs.

Brenner got started coloring, drawing, and writing messages on the back of the cards that were to be attached to the leis.

Beckett giving it a try. I wrote one for myself and one for Bronsen too.







Here's what they said on the front. "Ahuwaie ka po'okeia I kau hana ia ha'i." It is through the way you serve others that your greatness willl be felt. Mahalo nui loa. Thank you very much. Me ke aloha pumehana, With all our love, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii





Here's what our Brenner John did for one of his. I didn't get a picture of the ones I did. Didn't really want to be competing with Brenner's . It's pretty cool. I mean hot. Lava is hot. and we do live on a volcano. That has got to be one of the coolest ... er I mean hottest things about being a kid living in Hawaii. Aside from the beach and wearing shorts all year round to school.





Then they were laminated. We know everywhere isn't like it is here. They get snow there in Arlington.

They even made a sign to help the little ones with ideas of what to put on the back. Isn't that great. Oh and you can see his cute scout activity shirt. Go pack 166!









Finally the moms worked at trimming the cards and tieing them together.

I sat in the corner with the two little ones untangling my leis I brought. This took a lot longer than I thought. But it was very nice to just sit and have this to do.








Beckett wasn't feeling too good and was also very angry about ... well my best bet is just existing. Luckily it was very noisy with loads of kids in a small room with only metal chars and tables and hard wood floor. Meaning it was loud and echoed well. Mine blended in nicely. And I held my head high with the screamer and just kept on working.



Bronsen has gotten really good at falling asleep to his screams and cries in the car and at home. It's like white noise to him. That's just so sad to me. But hey, I'll totally take it man. He was also so tired and in the seat he's semi-safe from his littlebig brothers poking aka identifying his parts.


I was telling Brenner and the boys why we did this. That the moms and dads and brothers and sisters and uncles and aunties that are fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan like Mitchell's daddy, Hazel's Daddy and Papi. Some of them died and are buried there. When their families go and visit them they'll see these leis and the notes and it will make their families feel better to know that they aren't forgotten. And that some kids in Hawaii that have moms and dads in the Army are thankful for them and hope they aren't too sad.


We then headed over to Brenner's Wolf Den meeting at the park. Beckett tackled the slide and made a friend. He then loved running over to identify his brother. Bronsen enjoyed the trees with the wind and all the freedom of not being touched aka identified. whoops!

Christ Centered Christmas 2008

I've been inspired by a fellow blogger through her idea for a December scrapbook. I was trying to get it done in time but sort of did and sort of didn't. What does that exactly mean you say? Well it means it could be done for someone else but it isn't nearly as dirty as I'd like it and it doesn't have anywhere close to enough "crap" on it and it doesn't weigh enough from my excessive "scrap crap". And this way of doing both (taking my time to finish the actual book and blogging it) I'll cover the journaling part I usually miss and share it with everyone else.

I work really hard each year to have Christ centered Christmas. I do all the families shopping in one day so we won't have to waste our time at stores during this season and can do crafts and activities and volunteer together. I then set up a "store" so each person can come in and shop for all the others. This year I'm changing the game a little. I bought for myself. Yeah I know that takes away the surprise but it also gives me back two or three days of Brian shopping and being gone from us trying to buy for me for my birthday and for Christmas. That is one gift I'm giving all of us. 6 hours of me shopping and I bought a whole season of family time.

This year I'm making little Christmas Trees to add things we've done for each other or for the community. We'll write them on tags and hang them on the trees and that we'll earn Kemper Bucks that will be used to buy at our little store. The trees will be labeled hope, remember, believe, try, & give.

Brian and I really want Brenner to understand what it means to have charity and help others and generally not be spoiled. We work hard at the boys not feeling entitled to things or getting everything and sharing and helping others. This season we're really focusing on our volunteering to serve and help others. We're going to try and find something to do each day that will help someone else.

Every night before Christmas we also read from a Christmas Book my parents made us years ago. Its a collection of inspirational and fun stories and scriptures to read each night. I look forward to it each year. We also have an Aunt. GABby that gives us Christmas books each year. So the next year we have a few new books to read and old favorites to pore over each day.

Merry Christmas everyone. I hope this helps all of us remember to be the instrument in the Lords hands to help our fellow man. Whether its that dollar the person in front of you needs to pay for all they have or helping at a soup kitchen or filling a neighbors pantry. Holding a door for a mother with loads of children and packages or a smile and sweet conversation with a stranger in the mall. Making paintings/pictures and taking them to an office/dr/hospital/rest home for donated decorations. I hope we can all find ways to share the love we have been blessed with. If you have any great ideas or things you do each year please send them in. I might run low.

Ta Da

Okay so we've done it and now were really feelin' it. Three kids. That's like a real family and every thing. Whoa!

Introducing you to our newest little pea we've added to our pod. Bronsen Alexander Kemper.

We also have quite the little story. Bronsen's got an identical cousin. They look and weigh and were born the same day. These "twins" are exactly 11 hours apart. He lives with his mother and she lives with her father. Sure the mother and father are brother and sister, but they each are also with their prospective mother and father. If you missed any of that my brother Richard had little Baby Ela, the first girl in our family, and I as an Auntie Em am so excited.

Enjoy all the links and all the video that everyone else has done. I'm busy with the nursing and the sleeping and shock of having all these kids. So I'm slacking. Not feeling bad about it just calling it what it is.

He sure is pretty huh? I think so too.

It's a boy

Sorry about not clarifing. I guess I still enjoy a little mysteriousness. It was pointed out to me that it seems like I'm looking for a girls name. Nope we're looking for boy. It worked very well in college for me to surround myself with beautiful men and so I'm doing the same thing now. These are good lookin' Kempers. Pretty actually. Have you SEEN the curls and eyelashes they come with? Seriously not fair for females.

Oh and I think if we do use the name...(even if it was on a list of ours previously made pre-blog posting) There WILL be a prize. Maybe even a cash prize. Oh no. I know exactly what I'm going to send to the lucky winner. It'll be good. So good in fact you'll take it to work, photograph your family with it, It may even be PCSed with you IN the car. Yup it's that good.

So remember to think of all those outlandish names you've always wanted to go with but weren't dumb enough to use. 'Cuz I just might. Well. We've got to see who he is first but then we'll let you all know.

THanks

okay people!

alright the pressure is on. We need names. now I'm fun and he's toast. Leah's sparkly jelly and steve's trekie toast. Anyhow.

We're not opposed to non B name names but they do seem to work. Interesting and creative names earn more points and last names seem to work pretty good for me. I've decided to open up to the masses to see what those out there would like. I know you don't have to but we all think of names that we'd like but don't necessarily work with our last name but would go great with someone elses'. I love Kendall Hunsaker, Kip Hunsaker, Trinity Grammer, Kia Haralson, Hannah Grammer could work but needs a little more something. I'm thinking maybe it goes best with another friends' name. I'll get back to you on that.

So enter in one of your favorite names. Not one you're going to want to use or the best name you can think of to go with Kemper. I'm big on not having the initials KKK okay? Yeah that would be bad. And not the K K something. Very "cutsie" and not at all me.

Oh and you could also add in the normal names you'd like us to use or the best and worst names you've ever heard, known, seen. These have to be real people. No Harrietta Butts just to be funny. But know a Lori Fuches. Yeah that was a major pause for the substitute teachers. So I'm off to try and keep this kid in me some more.

Secret watchers

I have a friend that on her blog she does spot lights. Well This spot light is a little different. I just recently learned that i have a very new and interesting BLOG STALKER! Yes it's true. I have known of two from the mainland. But now I'm going to play a little game and see if I can name some more.

I have one from church. He's never posted. His wife can't "work" for us only "socialize".

Two sisters of a friend here. She has posted but the sisters haven't. They surf and other people have to salute their dad. Most of the island actually.

Two fantastically foxy seniors in DC with the best hope I have for staying in the church past 35.

A fuzzy wuzzy teddy bear in UT.


I tried to keep your identities secret. All the while showing you I do know who you are.
If you would like to out yourself as a blog stalker email me directly. Or post on here and I'll erase your post. So as to keep your identity. But I'd like to showcase your amazing-ness of secretly watching. I would like to dedicate a song to you. So scroll down and see which one it is. It's "secret".

"SOMEBODY!!!"

Alright so I've got this husband that is Captain America. For many reasons actually. It was coined for him at his Co. last year and has seemed to have stuck. Either way he's been pretty invincible for years. Never and ailment and ready to try things at the drop of a hat. Like the first Triathlon with a weeks notice and sleeping in a broken zippered tent on the ground w/ no padding to come in the top ten of his age group with the wrong bike and a full body wet suit. Yeah I thought it was a fun thing to try at the time and have since learned that's a feat in itself. Sooo. HE'S Captain America. But yesterday I've discovered that I too have my own secret hero status. Similar to my sons powers they were discovered in a strange place and way too. Yes ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and secret blog-stalkers. I am not merely Mrs. Captain or Mrs. America. I am (dum dum duuuuuummmm) SOMEBODY.

What you say? You don't immediately see my super power possibilities? You lack the faith? Yes you do. You call on me daily. Let me tell you how I learned of my new powerful self.

I'm at church and a good friend of mine is coming down the hall with three kids from 4-ish to 7 mo.-ish. Wild and w/o naps. Husband gone on a ship/boat/sub/something that floats for months. When she says something like, "Somebody should just smack my butt." That's when I realized. I could be that somebody. SMACK! The pure joy that she felt from the shock and funny of it was all the trill I needed to know of my new calling. I could be the somebody people are always calling for.

"Somebody better help you out." You tell your three year old. Boom I'm there.
"Somebody help me!" always a classic. Boom I'm there.
"Somebody make this go away!" Boom I'm there.
"Somebody better get those dishes done." Boom I'm there.
"Somebody better get their homework/chores done." Boom I'm there.

You can see I'm going to easily be the busiest superhero of all time. I'm called on more than you think and I'm always needed. So the next time you think of somebody just remember I've got a good sized list I'm working on. I'll be there. As fast as my little cape can fly.

P.S. Jen can you make me a cape with a tear-a-way clasp so I don't die in a jet engine plane like the super that shall not be named from the Incredibles?

Dog Days of Summer

Well the Dog Days of Summer are here. What am I saying. They've been here for 365 days a year. I live in summer all year. Yup. Sucks to be me huh? Yeah. Now that you're done screaming/rolling your eyes/trowing your mouse/cursing me lets get back to the fun.

Okay so my boys need routine. Schedule. I hate it. Well that's what I used to say. But with Brenner I learned ... or eventually caved and admitted that Kemper was right and put him on a routine first and saw him just take off. Everything was so much more fun and easier. Then I did the dreaded schedule thing. I hated it at first and now love it. Beckett is a schedule baby too. Brian is for that matter too. I can tell what time of the day/night it is by what they're doing. For instance; the tired thing. Brenner gets louder and wilder to keep himself awake. He'll also suddenly start doing his and any one's chores to be so helpful you won't want to send him to bed. Actually it's almost 10 pm and I think I hear him cleaning the bathrooms. I can barely make it back out of the tub so I'll "let" that one slide. "just for tonight". ;) Beckett will start scratching the back of his head, his curls and looking from side to side. You've got about a 4 minute window here to get stuff ready before full on melt down and bodily injury will start. He'll get fully pissed that can't get to bed. But he'll never give up and fall asleep anywhere else. Wants the bed. Brian will start jiggling his knee and eating to stay awake. But if he sits. He's toast. He can and will fall asleep anywhere he sits. My favorite is when he asks me a question at the dinner table and is listening and I can see the glaze come in and the eyelids close and he's out. Still sitting up and kids all over. Also at night talking. He'll do the same thing. Come to think of it. Mostly it's my voice that'll put him right out. Now I thought I had an annoying and whiny voice. Must be either really soothing to him because he just loves me so much and I fulfill his heart or it's about the same as all the crazy languages he has to deal with at work. Whatever. I love the man and he works too hard.

Okay so back to my point. It's summer time right and schools out and all the fun of living on an undeserted island should have some perks right? Well they do. So I decided to make a goal and do it for the summer. I told Kemper so it would have to stick. I was going to make more home made meals. Cook from scratch. Try new recipes all the time. Freshen up things and clean all the time. Sit down and play with the boys more. I was going to be care free and go with the flow and do all kinds of fun and wild things. I wasn't going to not do things because of nap times and dinner times and bed times and activity times. I was going to go to the beach. I hate the beach. Because it all comes home with you. It's everywhere for days. It ruins your washing machine. Causes diaper rash from the outside and from the eating of it from the inside. It stays in your hair for three days. It's all over the floor. Beckett hates to be wet or sticky. That's the beach (sunblock) and ocean for ya. But I was going to do it. I've given way to just "seeing how things go". It has afforded us to do some really fun things this summer. And I'd like to tell you it wasn't so bad and we all had fun and it'll be the new me. but I can't because I would be a LIAR!!! It sucks. It's hard and I can't wait for school to start so I can go back to who I was and have my little house the way I want it. I mean some of the stuff I'll do but I really really like having the boys in bed and asleep by 7:30 EVERY night. I do chores for 30 minutes and then clock out. LOVE the clocking out part.

So that said ... Fun was had. I can appreciate the extremes of both types of parenting. I think I"ll do a mixture of both. But going to the extreme did show me that my kids did not die because nap was later than usual or started in the car. Dinner will still get eaten and the house still got cleaned up and we all still had a great time. I think I'll keep the schedule during the week and then just play on the weekends. I want to implement it into daily life more though.

We did loads of fun things. And in no particular order other than it's what i could think of in the time given.

1. Free military Zoo Day
2. 4th of July Fun Run -(yup I did it)
3. Brian swim race (stay at beach for 4 hours at 0600 hrs)
4. Had kids and car packed for beach night on a Tuesday.
5. Got Beckett into the ocean
6. Ate sand. Well. Beckett mostly.
7. Family BB Q's
8. Swim lessons (walked 2 miles for 2 weeks)
9. Library day.
10. Kid outings all the time.
11. Wii day
12. Cartoon day
13. Impromptu lunches with dad. (notice was given 3 minutes prior to Beckett nap and we went.)
14. Week alone with Beckett.
15. Mani Pedi at VERY questionable "establishment" by creepy "maybe gay" Korean man???
16. Girls night out
17. Run errans sans children
18. Scrapbook almost every other night.
19. Start Christmas cards.
20. Take up stamping.
21. Be pregnant whole time
22. Change of commands - 2? 3?
23. Cub Scouts
24. Hang out with neighbors and get eaten by bugs and no complaints.
25. Dress up for Premier night of SITC. Heels and all.
26. See it again with the girls.
27. Celebrate "sneaker's" miracle (I'll post on that later)
28. School shopping
29. Discovery Center

I think that's about all I can think of now. I'll snag some more pics later and stick in here of all of the stuff we did in some "mini" blogs of the events but you get the gist of it. I came. I saw. I did. Oh and tomorrow it all begins again. OOOOOOOhh.

Father's Day

I've had some seriously great examples of fathers. Starting with my own. Fist I'd like to say that the one thing that I really learned from my father on this subject is that I know of the love of my Heavenly Father because of my own father here. He showed me what love was and then taught me that I was loved even more by my Heavenly Father. I truly understood what that would mean even before I had kids. That it was huge ... that it was all encompassing ... forever ... non-tolerant for wrong ... forgiving ... teaching ... and loving. With that said I then learned from him what value I had. All of these things reflect back to my Heavenly Father's love too.

I'm the only girl in my family. I'm lucky because I can truly feel the way Frenchy talked about dads in Grease. "The only man a girl can count on is her daddy." I know that's not true for everyone but it was for me. Because of that I have been able to have some pretty amazing experiences and to guide my life in a direction towards a great dad for my children. But even with dating. My dates were told and shown that I was special and important. He met everyone of them, baring my husband who got in the back door, with a shotgun and his ace of spades he shot bulls eye at 500 yards or something. He would then tell the boy that I'm his only daughter and that he knows what he looks like and isn't afraid to hunt him down like the dog he is. The next date he wasn't even at the door to answer. He would then tell the boy, who is stunned at this point at the complete 360 that is this date, that I'm still special and important but to just remember what last time was like. I was never late for dates because I knew what they would go through. But when I went to college my first date to pick me up at my dorm was weird. I just left. No one told this boy how important or loved or valued I was. No one even knew what he was wearing or looked like to "hunt down" later. I have to say I didn't like it.

Now girls. There's nothing sexier than a man in uniform right? Wrong. There is. Your man in uniform holding his baby. I love seeing it. Where they'll switch arms with the baby to salute and the other soldier just keeps on going. I know I might get in trouble with Kemper for this but this is my favorite shot of him showing love to our boy. It was AIT graduation in Goodfellow AFB, TX. He's getting pinned and at attention and not to move at all. Brenner is 20 months and wanted Daddy. Right after I took the shot he touched Brenner's head and Brenner just stood there for a second. He got his daddy and then he was okay.

And now that Beckett's here he's even better. I can't believe how much boys just love that their dads are their own personal jungle gym. They both beg to wrestle the second he comes through the door. I'm constantly having to say get off your dad or stop hurting him. And then he comes up growling and roaring like Arnold Swartzenegger in Kindergarten Cop. They just love him and I'm so lucky that he appreciates their adoration.

I think I love Dad's for the fact that it's their job to hold us and take care of us and teach us how to do it on our own. Mine didn't let me be a Daddy's Girl. Wouldn't even help me get my bike off the hook in the garage. "What would you do if I wasn't here?" "This is a mans world. You gotta fight just like them to get to the top. THEN you can change the rules. But the rules aren't going to change for you. You can do it." He knew who I was. Loved me because of it and in spite of it. But when I moved out to go to college it changed. He'd call more and want to help me more. It was new for me to see him want to help me. When I was packing up my little family to drive to TX from CA I had a miscarriage and was in the hospital. Brian was gone and Brenner was only 15 mo. Dad flew down and drove me the whole way. He was a constant in Brenner's life while Kemper was in Korea. Every day he saw & played with Brenner. He was so excited about being a Papa. He was a great Papa. Brenner still remembers him and his love for him. What a good Daddy. We still eat Papa Ideas.

But the one thing I wanted to hear from him the most is pretty similar to the scriptures about a good and faithful servant. But this was the gospel according to David. And I remember that the last Sunday I had with him he whispered in my ear. "Ya done good Em."

Thanks Dad.

April Fools Anniversary

All Right. First off, doesn't this date fit us for our wedding anniversary? I love it. We have two and usually we can use one to finagle being together for. Also I just love it. 8 years is a long time. And looking at these pictures. Can we say HELLO young ones. The first pictures is supposed to be out "mature" photo. That's our very most recent. Like last month. And the one with me in the white dress ... well that's when it all began. Da right. But the other two are before and after Kemper's Korea tour. About the middle er so. We look so young. Like we need to get checked if we can drive at night. And the fun thing is we were old by Mormon standards at getting married. Yup. I was not freshly turned 18/19 and Kemper was not 21. So we had some years of surviving on our own. Learning and knowing that our butt can pay our own electric bill. (Something I tell all youth I ever see. That is one thing everyone should learn first hand prior to marriage. Learn what it's like to know you can pay your own bills.) Any how we laugh all the time at how young looking we seem. It's great now that we're in our 30's and still look in our early 20's. Yippee!

I know I should say something sappy about how much we love each other and all the things we go through together but that's just what life is. I said I do to him on one day. And now each day we both choose to be married. Weddings are just once but it's real life that's hard. So we both show up and that's how I know he loves me. Look. He's still here. Ha. So am I.


So this is some of the fun we did for this year. Brenner's 6 and in 1st grade, Beckett is 1 and home, I'm home and pregos (7 weeks and not showing at all) but no one here knows, and Brian is in class and work. Just so you know what we're working with.

So the fun began early in the morning ... or at least a couple weeks before. We got these strips to put on our suitcases that say "property of Brian Kemper" and I thought they would be great on us. Ha ha ha. Yeah they were. I knew it would be too. We put them on early in the morning and Brian was laughing so hard.
1. Property of tags. Just explained.
2. Magic milk. I put three drops of food coloring on the bottom of the cereal bowl and cereal on top. Then when Brenner pored his own milk and started eating the milk changed colors. "Whoa!" He loved it.
3. Funny name tags / buttons. We walk to school with about 6 kids everyday from our circle and made up some buttons for everyone to wear. They all had so much fun picking them out.
4. Stitch pregnancy tummy. I stuck a stitch pillow under my shirt with the property sticker for the kid. It was so funny. You could see that it was too high, I wasn't yesterday, belted in the middle so bad. It was so funny. I see people and just say "Happy April fools." Then they'd laugh. But side note....I got severe nasty looks from people at school. I see these people 5 days a week twice a day and they just glared. Not the weird looks I was expecting but nasty looks. When I did catch their eye I'd say my line and then they'd get it and laugh. but that was rare. I was shocked. But that still didn't keep me from wearing it for the afternoon pick up.
5. Crazy lunch. Cupcake of meatloaf with mash potato frosting. Pound cake grilled cheese with icing cheese.
6. Broken furniture. We'd ordered a new bedroom set in January and one piece came two times broken and it had to be reshipped. I told Kemper it was again. He came home and it was there! Yeah.
7. Twins. My brother & his wife are expecting and they told Kemper it was twins and he bought it. He told me and I said no he's not it's April fools. My mom bought it so bad she started crying when he had to call back to tell her it was a joke. She was mad for about two days.
8. Change clocks. Move them ahead one hour. Tip: don't do it back or you'll get less sleep for work the next day but it's kinda fun to tell the kids the next day and enjoy the extra time.
9. Funny note to school about brother eating his homework. We just thought it would be funny. The teacher was good too. Said something like to be sure to feed the brother before you start the homework next time.
10. Beckett messages. This is what was at the front door when Kemper came home. We found these stickers and couldn't resist sharing it with dad.

I know I haven't posted in months. But there were times I could jot stuff down that I wanted to share and since I'm going to do the book thing at the end of this thing I want to update my "world". So I'm just being polite to tell you. Brace yourself baby. Random things are about to be posted. Not all of it in order or for any good reason I guess. But hey. That's like with amillion.