heather ives photography

technology can be pretty awesome. totally.

2012-01-30T05:33:00.000-08:00

Jacob reading the scriptures last night with his girlfriend Alex

using face time and the ipad. How cool is that?

Alex has been going to seminary

(class before school in the morning. they are studying the old testament this year).

and church for a while.

She makes us realize all over again how

wonderfully life changing

having a knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and

Heavenly Father's plan for us is.

It brings a peace, joy, and contentment to your life

that is better than any amount of wealth, beauty,

or even chocolate (smile).

Jacob is even more excited now to serve a

full time mission.

He sits next to the missionaries when they are meeting

with Alex and pretends he is one of them with a

happy little glow on his face.

We die laughing too because the missionaries are american

and not used to speaking english to teach the gospel.

The one elder apologized before starting that he speaks very

proper Korean, but teenager english.

Let's just say we are always teasing him saying,

"awesome, totally, sweet, fer sure"

He is so dang cute.

I'm off. Going with friends to the flower market, and costco.

SWEET! (fer sure)

suburban heartthrob.

2012-01-19T23:21:00.000-08:00

Jacob's coach told us that he calls Jacob the suburban heartthrob.

He does put on a good show for sure.

The coach owes him a lot of steak dinners too.

He promised the players that if they get a double double

(double digits in score, and double digits in rebounds)

he will buy them a steak dinner.

I must admit, i love to watch him play.

He is so driven, focused, and lives for the win.

He gives it all out on the court.

It is amazing that he has never been injured.

He's a lot like his father that way.

see what i mean. ridiculous right?

He gets real crazy when he is mad or they are behind.

Look at his twisted body in this one. He's lucky he is flexible like his mama.

It's like basketball yoga.

cutie Rachel cheering her brother and osan on to victory.

he looks like a midget in this one. ha.

and look at the two guys behind them. They are like,

"I am getting out of the way of that!" ha.

I can just hear my dad, brothers and brothers in law putting

in commentary for this one. Jacob had some pretty good

ones. He's a Reneer for sure.

he looks like he is running up to the basket here.

he rarely misses a free throw. I'm proud of him.

and of this girl too.

Ammon and Pooh are sure to follow in Jacob's footsteps.

Jacob is telling me how he is going to give ammon

drills to work on, and have him weightlifting at 12 etc. etc.

he cracks me up.

I'm sure ammon will be calling Jacob "uncle rico" as he recounts how

back in the day he could throw a pigskin a 1/4 mile, and such.

can't wait to see jacob at one of ammon's games cheering him on.

I'll probably be a grandma then.

so weird.

off to bed. This old lady needs to rest her bones.

good night.

17 Miracles-love this movie.

2012-01-19T23:15:00.000-08:00

I really really love this movie.

Not only is it an amazing true story that of course is miraculous,

but the main character Levi Savage is so dang good looking.

I think he looks like Brad Pitt, except better because he

is a humble, righteous dude!

(he is almost as handsome as you dave. wink)

Great family movie.

Myeong-dong

2012-01-17T05:30:00.000-08:00

We girls had a fun MLK holiday shopping in Seoul at

Myeong-dong.

Dong means Neighborhood in Korean, and Myeong means

bright and clear. It should mean fabulous!!

Do you see their happy albeit blurry faces?!

Myeong-Dong is a huge famous shopping area in Seoul,

and one of Rachel's birthday coupons included a trip here

to go to the clothing store Forever 21.

It has huge dept. stores, and then lots of American stores. All the

name brands. But we heard the Forever 21 was amazing.

I just read that over a million people pass through this shopping

district every day!

We drove to the army base in Seoul and then took a taxi from there.

here we go!

Rebecca went to bed early on Sunday, she couldn't wait to wake up and go!

This 5 story Forever 21 did not disappoint! It was amazing!

and really reasonably priced.

We got to a point where we just set up shop on the top floor.

We all dumped our bags in one place and would rotate who manned our spot.

Yes, we got a lot of funny looks. Look at our pile?

It was hysterical. It was often our dressing room as well. We would

just try things on for each other right there.

It was really hard work and I was sweating by the time i got out of there.

ha ha.

proof of our hard work. smile.

The work really was trying to carry all those bags the rest of the day.

But really we had spent so much time (and money)at Forever 21

we didn't last too much longer.

but we had worked up a hearty appetite. Nothing tastes so good as

eating after a good day of shopping. And we were super excited that there

was a California Pizza Kitchen!!

There were a lot of American restaurants in the area. Which is very

exciting when you live over seas.

Ahhh, perfection. It had the perfect view.

We were so hungry and so excited about the menu...we ordered

a ridiculous amount of food. Yes, they thought we were

crazy here too. Our waiter forgot one of our pizza's and when we

let him know he said, "I'm sorry, there was just so much food!"

Us piggy Americans. hee hee. I mean oink oink.

too funny.

but as full as we were. Everyone had to get something at Jamba Juice.

oh the things you take for granted in the states. smile.

no i didn't get these shoes, but the guy who worked there was so funny.

(see him in the back?)

Have you ever seen a 4 story Dunkin' Donuts before?

Cool huh?

there are a lot of Dunkin' Donuts in Korea. and krispy Creme too!

We barely made it back out alive!

Although the real challenge will be getting past our husbands

with all of this stuff. ha.

the taxi ride back to the base, ahh...it was a "happy sale" day.

(see the seoul tower below?)

the end.

eye candy galore!

2012-01-16T16:34:00.000-08:00

(one of the pictures on kelly's pinterest page. I think rebecca's hair will look super cute like this.)

Need some eye candy? Look no farther. My sister's pinterest page fills you up. My sister is one of those people who just exudes style and coolness. People are always really drawn to her because of it. Actually, both of my younger sister's are like that. They keep me young and hip. Or at least they try! ha ha. I love them for it. If you read my blog, you probably know about hers. If not here it is.

Topdong ice skating.

2012-01-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

The knudsens and us filled up our two 9 passenger vans with kids and headed down to the super ghetto topdong ice rink in suwon. We usually go to a new nice place, but we found out it was closed right before we were leaving. It was great! It added to the experience.

yeah, these skates have seen a few years. They kill your feet, but it's worth it to feel like you earned your hot chocolate.

So, you have to love korea where you have to wear helmets for EVERYTHING! It doesn't even seem weird or embarrassing to us now. We think we look pretty cool. ha ha. You also have

to wear gloves. We kept getting stopped by the ice police for infractions on all the rules.

rebellious americans. smile.

(hey, wait a minute. The ice police isn't wearing a helmet!)

james, rachel and libby.

(and someone else with an ungloved hand!! gasp.)

I don't know how, but a korean picks out Leah wherever we go and asks her to be their friend. She is the only one too that would love to hang out and hold hands with some girl she doesn't know who barely speaks english. Cracks us up. Way to go Leah!

caroline with rachel.

hailey.

at every ice rink we go to there are the cutest little girls in the

middle figure skating amazingly. They are so tiny and adorable.

It makes you want to take up figure skating, until you get out there

yourself that is, and it is extremely awkward, uncomfortable, and painful just trying

to go a couple of times around the rink without falling. ha.

Also they have all these little boys decked out with speed skates on practicing. so cute.

i take picture of korean little kids wherever i go.

I love them. they are so precious.

and always dressed so stylish.

rebecca and jacob.leah trying to do nacho. ha.
Lizzieabbie.break time.

time to get a drink.

everyone surrounding the hot chocolate vending machine.

One of our favorite things in korea. You can get a cup of

hot chocolate for 30 cents out of a vending machine.

AWESOME!

since it is so cheap, we have 10 each. ha ha.

(c'mon, they are small).

loving jonas' fogged up glasses from his steaming hot chocolate.

love all the rosy cheeks.

and happy faces.

and lizzie looking like a coal miner.

ahhh topdong memories. smile.

"I'm lost without you"

2012-01-09T00:16:00.000-08:00

I love finding scribbled down notes everywhere filled with artistic expression.

I had to beg lizzie to put this one on or hers, because it is a very rough draft.

I wonder from what experiences she pulls such raw emotion, what

hard times that she has had to endure. (smile).

priceless.

apple-pear butter. YUM!

2012-01-08T23:42:00.000-08:00

So every Christmas, we try out new recipes, new possible traditions. Lizzie picked out this idea and I think it is a keeper. In Martha Stewart's everyday food magazine there was a recipe for

Apple-Pear Butter. A slow cooker recipe. I thought, this would be an awesome gift to

pass out in cute jars. It would be but...... it took quite a while, only made two of these tubs, and was incredibly delicious. I just couldn't be that charitable with my first batch. smile.

So next year, maybe I will be filled with more of the christmas spirit of giving.

Make yourself up a batch.

recipe here

You won't be sorry, and your kitchen will smell so divine all day!

obsessed.

2012-01-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

Rebecca is obsessed! with cheesecake.

She just can't get enough of it.

Everywhere we go she has to find cheesecake.

She buys it from the grocery store on her own.

The question is......how does she stay so thin?

ah, the joy of youth. (and she loves to exercise. smile.)

Please share if you have a to die for cheesecake recipe.

Have I ever told you about the maple cheesecake recipe from Martha?

BUNNERS!!

2012-01-08T15:39:00.000-08:00

Notice Rebecca's fingers.

What happens when you have 4 older sisters.

what am I talking about, Jacob is just as bad!

Is everyone as obsessed with buns as we are?

Or is something genetically wrong with our family?

(don't answer that. smile.)

so tender and sweet.

he is the yummiest little guy.

Everyone can't help but fall in love with him.

Rachel recently got up in church to speak a few minutes on her youth

conference experience. As she was walking back..Ammon shouts out,

"Rachel, i love you, i love you Rachel."

yep, he loves her, bun pinching and all. and the feeling is mutual.

December 23-26th.

2012-01-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

This isn't the greatest picture, but you have to see my shoes! I finally found an opportunity to wear them. I bought them in Seattle at nordstrom's rack the night before we flew out for korea. Is that the most ridiculous and impractical thing to buy knowing I had to add it to our already 40 pieces of luggage. I had to, it was love at first sight. So they finally made their debut at the medical group christmas party on Friday dec. 23rd. I'll have you know that my dress i got at a garage sale here for $20. It had never been worn. Just call me second hand rose. (name that movie!)

That night it started snowing!!! So perfect. We woke up to a white wonderland on Christmas Eve day. Perfect!

So cozy inside.

The girls made chocolate dipped pretzels.

and sugar cookies.

Lizzie was especially proud of this one where she spelled ives.

the kids were put to work making these to pass out.

(thanks for the idea natalie. People thought we were so clever. i gave you credit. smile)

but then the kids pooped out, and no one would help me with the 16 more

that we needed to make.

i turn around and there is dave meticulously gluing on googily eyes and pom pom noses.

He is my knight in shining armor. Radiologist by day, rootbeer reindeer maker by night.

love him.

That night we opened up our christmas eve gifts of pajamas of course, and headed over to the food court to meet up with the other branch families for dinner.

You can read about the story behind the tradition on my last year's christmas post.

after we were out until midnight caroling and delivering gifts. It was so fun. The kids fell into bed with no complaint, while dave and I stayed up until the wee hours preparing for the next day. All of his work came over for Christmas dinner on sunday. That was what they requested, being that they are all here without family. Dave did most of the cooking. He was amazing.

They really appreciated it.

Christmas morning before church we opened presents. Here I am So happy cozied up with my quilt that Rebecca made for me and

pillow that Rachel made for me. It made me cry, I was so surprised and happy.

Leah beyond excited with the camera that she received.

Rachel and Jacob scored Ipod touches and have been face timing each other ever since.

Little ami.

loves.

modeling new clothes and boots.

Mary with her justin bieber perfume.

Dave and the coat he received from ammon. ammon is quite the gift giver. smile.

Since Christmas was on sunday and we had company, Monday was when

we all stayed in jammies and enjoyed our gifts with family and friends.

Here is dave in heaven with his puzzle and yummy breakfast.

then on to a nap in his new track suit. He was so excited to get this.

(remember how he has been so jealous of ammon's. ha ha)

also reading his new bathroom reader book.

I always pick these up for him at the thrift store, he loves them. ha.

the girls dancing with wii dance party 3. It is really fun!

we love it!

Leah and lizzie with neighbor girls lined up all of their monster high dolls.

then picked and chose to play.

Do you remember doing that.

My favorite when i was little.

Ammon with his pooh bears and his new angry bird stuffed animal kickin it on the couch.

Jacob picking his toes. ha ha j/k, he is doing face time with his cousins.

We skyped with my family and it was so fun!

I have never really done that and it was just like we were there with them. so cool.

Leah having fun with her new camera.

she got these sweet photos.

hee hee. love it.

So that's all i got.

before and after.

2011-12-29T02:49:00.000-08:00

We went from this............

....to this, in the twinkling of an eye.

Merry and Messy seem to be synonymous around here!

more fun holiday pics to come!

happy holidays, or in our case...... hyper holidays!!

and a hectic new year. smile.

How to raise great kids?

2011-12-20T15:08:00.000-08:00

(on a recent family outing)

You know what is crazy? People are actually asking me for advice on how to raise great kids!

(although I do admit that my kids are great.

They are just assuming it is because of something that i did! ha)

Rewind 10 years ago........no one was asking me for advice. I had 5 kids under the age of 8. I was basically a walking add for birth control. ha ha. Seriously though, I was barely holding it together. Smart, imaginative, and confident kids aren't always so fun or easy to control when they are little. Picture in your mind hand drawn murals on your walls, forever escaping, and constant inappropriate comments. (And that was only Rachel. ha ha.) My mom wanted me to take Rachel to see a psychiatrist. Let me tell you, no one was wanting to be me 10 years ago.

So what is the secret? How do I have this strong, confident, beautiful, A+ student of a daughter now. Now that people have been asking me, I have been really thinking about it. What is the answer?

We all want it to be easy. A quick fix. But like everything, it is just plugging along trying to be a better mom every day. And that is a slow, long, and sometimes painful process. It is being humble and totally dependent on God to help you, and let you know what to do next with each child. It is listening and following everything that the prophet says. It is reading scriptures and praying every day. It is going to the temple at least once a month with your husband as an example when they are young, and taking them once a month when they are old enough. It is teaching them to love and serve everyday by example, and having them help you serve others. It is again, by being humble, and asking your child's forgiveness when you mess up (and that is often my friends). It is going to church every week to take the sacrament and renew our covenants with the Lord to love, serve and keep his commandments. It is putting God first in your life, and teaching them that everything else will work for your good if you do.

This last general conference of our church (when we hear the prophet, apostles etc. speak every 6 months), there was a great talk entitled "Love her mother" by Elaine Dalton who is the president over the 12-18 year old girls in the entire church. The subtitle for her talk is...

"How can a father raise a happy, well- adjusted daughter in today's increasingly toxic world?"

The answer has been taught by the Lord’s prophets. It is a simple answer, and it is true—“The most important thing a father can do for his [daughter] is to love [her] mother.”

She goes on to explain why, and also other things that a father needs to do and be for his daughter. But interesting that the most important is to love her mother.

I know it is true as well. Lately my kids found out that Dave, while I was on my mission would send me cassette tapes of him talking to me. On one tape, he was in the car driving and played a song (totally illegal. ha) and sang along with it to me.

It is called "I'll Never Let You Go" by steelheart.

Well, all of a sudden, the song is on every one of my kids i-pods and they are listening to it all the time. The funniest is I see Lizzie at the computer doing something and she is singing a long with the song as it is playing (she knows all the words. I don't even know all the words). You will realize how funny this is when you hear the song. It's this total heavy metal old song. Cracks me up.

Then, it hit me. I remembered this talk by Sister Dalton and I realized my kids all love this song because it represents the love their dad has for their mom. and that is the most comfortable, safe, and wonderful feeling a child can have.

So the kids will put on the song and dave and i will slow dance together, while he sings it to me. They all watch on with sparkly eyes and faces.

So here it is. Enjoy. You are going to be dying laughing.

Especially when you think of dave and that last high note. classic.

"I'll never let you go" by steelheart

PS-I was watching the video and Lizzie asked how do I know this song. I explained what song it was and she completely knows it. She looked at the guy singing and asked if they are just kidding, or if this music video is serious. I explained, they are serious, it was just made a long time ago. To which she replied, "scare me, scare me." which is what Ammon says when he is scared of something. too funny. When Jacob saw it, I told him that Dad would love to be the main singer here. Jacob's face showed great confusion, and he let me know that is the last thing he would ever want to do or be. So, I guess there is a generation gap. ha ha.

isn't this cool?

2011-12-20T14:48:00.000-08:00

Instax Mini 50s Instant Camera at the Photojojo Store!

I am trying to think of a valid reason for saying that i "need" this.

I can imagine little pictures hanging by small wooden clothespins on a piece of jute on the wall.

or making a cool picture mobile for a teenagers room.

F-U-N!

my christmas angel

2011-12-19T15:17:00.000-08:00

I keep getting emails for a "cutest baby" photo contest.

I took this picture of Ammon yesterday.

I'm not planning on entering, but dang. I really do think he is the cutest baby.

smile.

but even better than being the cutest, he is the sweetest little angel.

It is like Christmas every day being with him.

I keep thanking Dave (and Heavenly Father) for letting me have him.

I know this sounds ridiculously corny, but i swear i feel this way.

PS-i took this picture with my 50mm 1.4. I am starting to play around with this lens

again. I forgot how awesome it is!

Christmas joys! (part one)

2011-12-11T18:47:00.000-08:00

First Snow of the Year!

Dave even called me from work at 7:30am to tell me.

And don't you love my vintage santa ( and falling reindeer. smile)?

It is hands down my favorite thrift store find here so far.

LOVE IT!!!

Ammon being a part of all of our Christmas traditions for the first time.

Decorating the tree while Buddy whispers in his ear

"you smell like beef and cheese."

One of my favorite parts. Although lets be honest. Every single line

of this movie is my favorite part. I still laugh every time i watch it.

We are all so in love with this new ABC TV series "once upon a time"

Have you seen it? I almost wish that we didn't know about it until

the whole season was over, so we could watch the whole thing a once.

It is killing us to have to wait a week in between. check it out!

Seeing Leah's joy at going to the winter dance at school. Rebecca didn't even go,

but Leah lives for school dances. Everyone worked together to

make her feel extra special, and extra cute.

Did you see the picture above with Rachel playing piano in the background?

The girls had a piano recital and were practicing their Christmas

songs all month. Reminds me of it's a wonderful life.

The scene on Christmas Eve with everything buzzing in the house

and the little girl playing piano. It is like that here every evening.

and dave is like the grumpy george that night.

he wants all the practicing done before he gets home from work.

yes, he is still the grinch. ha.

Rachel bowing after she played her piece. She is so funny. Did you notice what she is wearing? What Leah wore the night before to the dance. That is also what it is like around here. Share and exchange of everything. We all help each other be cute. love it.

Lizzie was the most nervous for the recital. She told me she wasn't doing it all week.

Luckily she had two birthday parties to go to after the recital, and I told her

she wasn't going to them unless she did the recital.

She performed beautifully.

Now that is parenting at its best. smile.

With all the craziness of the season, thank heavens Rebecca's salon has been open.

I highly recommend her. She is a professional.

Taking her to get a mani/pedi has really paid off.

Now she knows exactly how to do everything. Her massages

are amazing and she puts my feet gently in and out of the water just

like they do. And the price is perfect. FREE!

Her assistant was marvelous too. She brought me hot apple cider and rubbed my head.

This having a lot of kids thing is really starting to pay off! ha ha.

I am so excited that I found these!!!! I collect nativity sets and like to have ones from all over the world. Especially where we have lived. I kept asking my Korean friends if they have seen one here. none have. But then a girl from church found this one! I love it. It is in

the traditional pottery that they do here.

Finding this Japanese one when we were stuck in Japan as we hopped

back to the states for the summer was so lucky. I couldn't find one the

whole time we lived there. they are the traditional kokeshi dolls.

Both nativitys make me very happy. Especially since all of my Christmas

decorations are in storage.

I love this toilet paper sign that lizzie made and put on the tree.

She wanted us to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

I get a cold/sore throat every December. I think because I am so excited for christmas

and all the activities that I can't sleep, I am eating too many desserts and not exercising as much. These three oils make me very happy. I put a couple of drops of each in a little honey and swallow. it's pure magic. Repeat often.

I love reading christmas books in December. I read both of these

Glenn Beck books and they are REALLY good. I am currently finishing up

"A Christmas Carol" for our book club. So cozy.

I have another one after that too. I'll let you know if it is good.

Ammon is totally obsessed with Angry Birds. He says "Angy birds rio" a million times

a day. My favorite is when he is playing and so concentrated and I hear him say

"oh dang it." and look at his little crossed legs. he's a keeper.

It makes him very very happy.

That is until we take the iPad (he says "hi pad") away.

he's the coziest part of christmas.

look at his little elf ear. Maybe that explains his cheerful nature.

Last but not least, this picture that my sister put of herself on facebook.

She saw this in an antique shop, and it really makes me smile.

I end with this prayer. smile.

I hope your heart is singing with joy this whole month, and you

enjoy every little magical moment.

PS-My favorite really has been just staying up late with the kids, drinking hot chocolate by the light of the tree, talking and laughing. That is joy!

(hence the sore throat. ha) it's worth it.

Happy Sweet 16 Rachie Roo!

2011-12-04T22:21:00.000-08:00

On November 27th, Rachel Margaret Ives turned 16.

We got back from our trip to JeJu the night before her birthday after midnight

(so technically her birthday).

I stayed up until 3am decorating her door, because that is a new tradition

that I started this year. I decorate the kids bedroom door with little

presents and treats for their birthday and they wake up to it as a surprise.

Now I can have the stress of Christmas on more than one night a year.

Wasn't that a good idea? ha ha.

Actually it is very fun and the kids love it.

For Rachel's I did 16 coupons. They were really good ones too!

My favorite one is

"good to win one (and only one) argument with mom."

For Rachel that is like the "golden ticket." ha.

Other good ones are 1)a sweet 16 photo shoot 2) a "get out of school free" card.

3) a girl trip into Seoul to shop 4) a trip to get cocoa at Starbucks together.

and 11 more! She was very happy.

A word about Rachel.

Her favorite thing is still to cozy up with a good book.

She isn't boy crazy, she is book crazy, and I am grateful for that.

She loves this little boy more every day.

People always think she is a teenage mom and Ammon her son.

He really does look more like Rachel than me.

But he still loves me best. smile. (sorry rachel).

She really enjoys cheer leading still.

and she is still doing crazy weird things like this.

C'mon what teenage girl climbs in her brother's crib to read him books.

She is still a crazy little girl at heart.

Her hair is really really beautiful.

She still is obsessed with getting all A pluses in school.

I don't remember ever caring as much as she does.

She is an amazing student.

She is taking piano and i wish she felt as intensely about piano as school.

It is so easy for her and what she can accomplish with such little effort.

It's not fair.

She loves her daddy very much, and cried after she read his birthday

letter to her about how proud he is that she is his daughter.

She really needs his approval, and his discipline.

Last night she was cleaning the whole kitchen spotless and I knew it was because

Dave had gotten really mad at her. She will do anything to get rid of that feeling.

She absolutely cannot take him being disappointed in her.

She will get more and more ornery until Dave really lights into her,

and then it is like it pushes her restart button and she is an angel again.

She has been that way since she was 2.

Rachel is still fiercely independent and an old soul.

God has big plans for her. She is going to be a busy girl.

Which is just how she likes it.

Happy Birthday Rachel. We love you very much.

Sweet Potato Souffle

2011-11-21T16:07:00.000-08:00

Kim brought this to our book club last week.

It was one of the most divine things I have ever eaten.

I am definitely making them for Thanksgiving.

Which means, I am making them today!

We are celebrating Thanksgiving a couple of days early because

we leave tomorrow for Jeju island with a bunch of families

for the holiday. Jeju is like Korea's hawaii.

A big honeymoon spot. It is only like a 1/2 hour flight

away. Can't wait!

Here is the recipe for "Gourmet Sweet Potato Souffle"

Enjoy!

PS-recipe says to put in one dish, but it is so much better in the ramekins because

you get more of that crispy carmelized edge. yum.

Seoul Forest

2011-11-18T19:21:00.000-08:00

There is a cool huge park right in the city and along the river in Seoul.

There are a lot of different playgrounds through out, tennis, soccer, badminton,

deer park, horse stables, nature trails, eateries,and bike trails that take you to all of them.

So we went with a few families and had a fun morning.

We all rented bikes and cruised around.

fun at the park.

(notice that dave is the next one in line up there with all the korean school kids. ha)

I can't believe that jacob has such bad form here. Never have your knee past your ankle. ha.

Fun day.

We're so glad when daddy comes home.

2011-11-17T19:48:00.000-08:00

After a week full of loud planes, sirens, bugle calls, explosions,

and last night so much artillery fire, I am happy to say

the latest exercise is over.

How do I know?

They played over the base wide sound system

"I'm proud to be an American"

I guess we won the war. smile.

And I am so very proud to be an American, and to be

involved with the protection of our great nation.

It is worth fighting to protect,

living to support,

and dying to save.

Today enjoy the comfort of freedom that so many amazing

men and women train and work so hard to provide for us!

God bless us to bless America and keep her safe and strong!

CAN I HEAR AN AMEN MY BROTHER?!

(smile)

Italy here we come!

2011-11-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

We got our orders yesterday to go to Aviano AFB

in Italy next summer.

Could this really be happening?

Spero di si.

The current branch president of our church is moving this summer from

Aviano and is making sure that we get his house.

He says it is the best house he has

seen for rent there and he has been there for 5 years.

It is a 7 bedroom home on many acres of property.

Here it is.

Just kidding.

This is the sanctuary of the Madonna del monte in aviano.

Aviano is just south of Venice.

Nestled in a beautiful valley with mountains surrounding as you

can see in the first pictures.

Amazing right?

SO WHO IS COMING TO THE IVES B&B?

Our rates will be reasonable. smile.

Italian speaking tour guide included.

Which means I better start seriously brushing up on my Italian.

Comment if you plan on coming to visit!!!!!

P.S. for more pics go and check out my friends Karlee and Dave Zollinger's

etsy shop. They are selling prints of all the amazing things that they

saw while traveling Europe when they lived in Aviano.

Beautiful Heartbreak

2011-11-15T09:54:00.000-08:00

Up at 3am, can't sleep. Found this music video. thought I would share. feel inspired.

Big man on campus with his new haircut.

2011-11-13T23:10:00.000-08:00

No more curls, and feeling like a man.

He kneeled down because i was kneeling to take the picture. He is so funny.

He may be a big man when he is out and about, but at home he is still

mama's sweet little baby boy.

Next Top Model

2011-11-13T08:44:00.000-08:00

Leah and Lizzie were playing "next top model" and I was dying laughing.

Apparently when we were in Hawaii, Rachel and Rebecca watched it

while Dave and I were out to dinner.

Lizzie explained to me that it isn't about how pretty you are, but your uniqueness.

You know, your looks and poses, and how you express yourself.

Something new and exciting.

She does have that gangly thin look. She just would need to grow 3 feet taller. ha.

Lizzie told me that she just would want to model for like "Old Navy" since models don't

always wear modest clothing. But that would cut into her being a hot dog vendor plans.

She just told me that she will have to jog every day because hot dog vendors

usually aren't very thin because they eat what they sell. smile.

I think Leah's hair looks so cute here.

My sister Nicole gave her a really good cut this summer.

thanks coco.

Rachel and Rebecca just had to jump into their photo shoot.

This is lizzie being an ice skater ( what they played next).

They both put on socks and made up routines.

The tile being the ice.

So fun to be a kid.

I don't really have time for ice routines lately, but back in the day

I had some pretty sweet roller skating routines. We lived on the corner

and had a big sidewalk area on the corner. So we had a big L shaped routine

area to perform with a big area right in the center. We would

have the neighborhood boys judge our routines.

I was really proud of my deep squat with one leg out move as I went rolling by.

(do you know what i mean?)

I wonder if I could do that now. hmmmmm.

Happy Peporo Day

2011-11-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

We didn't even know that November 11th is Peporo day here in

South Korea until Jacob received this gift from his girlfriend Alex.

Peporo is a brand of these chocolate covered biscuit sticks.

On Peporo day, which is kind of like Valentine's day, you give the ones

you love peporo sticks. A delicious idea.

On the inside of this huge box she gave him were tons of boxes of peporo's that were wrapped by her and with the message above. very sweet.

Ammon could have been a box of peporos for halloween. He is a sweet yummy treat.

Thanks Alex, we all snuck into them, and loved them.

(don't tell jacob. smile)

Bali...ahhhhhhhh

2011-11-10T04:49:00.001-08:00

Bali came as a surprise to me. I really didn't know anything about it except it

has a beach. smile. I can't believe how much I came to love it!

I guarantee by the end of this post you will have Bali on your dream vacation list.

So this first picture above is from the morning after we arrived. We went up into the

mountains to go rafting on the Telega Waja River. Look how green and lush!

Of course, it had the humidity to go with it, which I don't enjoy. But we went at the

beginning of their rainy season. It makes for fewer people, and cheaper accomodations,

but unfortunately also humidity. No problem with oceans, pools, rivers, and AC

one can survive. ha.

When we made a pit stop to take that picture above, there was a man selling his wares. If you can believe it, this is carved from a coconut. One of the coolest things about Bali are their wood and stone carvings. So incredibly intricate, and beautiful.

You put a tea light in this. This was the only thing I brought back from Bali. We didn't really shop, which let me tell you there is much shopping to be had. But that wasn't the goal of our trip. More on that later.

Bali is know for their beautiful rice fields. They are very picturesque and

all over the country.

But beautiful green lush countrysides aren't the first thing that you see when you come to Bali, as I will explain below. Also, FYI, most of my pictures are taken as we were driving. So they aren't great pictures, but you will get the idea. You see, that first day, Dave got food poisoning. I thought we would get back out to the country and drive around and stop in villages etc. and I could really get some great pictures. But poor Dave just wasn't up to much driving. And you would understand why if you saw what driving there entails. It is quite crazy to say the least. No one could believe that we rented a car and were driving ourselves. It was quite scary at times, but we like scary and crazy. It was part of the adventure, just a tad stressful sometimes.You see the traffic is unbelieveable. There are way more cars and mopeds than there is room for. Most streets are bumpy and narrow, and anything goes. You just honk and pass. Lanes are suggestions. What makes it scary is the thousands of scooters surrounding you at all time, and they will have three little kids without helmets etc. Let's just say that when we returned our car when we left, our first words out where, "We're alive!"

Nicer tourist areas they block off with security stations and have nice roads and amazing landscape, but that is unusual. What is cool are these gates that they have marking a new area like the one above. This kind of architecture is everywhere.

Again, just driving by, hence the pole in the way, but look at this thing. I dont' even know what it is. Buildings like this is are just casually along the road. There are temples everywhere. Every street, every neighborhood, and every home. Bali is predominately Hindu, although most of Indonesia is Muslim.

Everywhere you go there are offerings like this one above. They place them outside of their homes, business, on their cars, at busy roads, absolutely everywhere. As we drove in the morning you could see everyone outside placing their offerings out and they do it multiple times a day. They put food, money, cigarettes etc.

I think the offerings are the only thing that keeps all the countries stray dogs alive.

Another thing that is everywhere.

There is Christianity there also, and they do enjoy freedom of worship. But they get the benefit of cheap gas because they are in a predominately muslim area. ha ha. They learn Indonesian, Balinese, and English in school. So, supposedly everyone speaks and understands English, but as you can see above....not always spoken or written very well. Speaking english well here is one of the keys to success in such a large tourist drawn area.

Everything is wrapped up in their checkered skirts. I don't know the significance of the pattern, but it is to cover their knees. So even the horse at the gas stationed was covered. too funny. Speaking of gas stations..... they are run by women, and they pump your gas, and wave at you frantically to come to their pump. They must get some sort of commission. I've never seen anyone that excited to pump gas. It is how the checkers at the commissary are here in korea. ha.

Bali is a unique combination of new and old. They are always right next to each other. You will have a brand new incredible western store, right next to a fruit stand, old temples etc. It is odd. Poverty is mixed in with wealth everywhere. I would like to know more about that. What are the feelings amongst the people about that. But from what I saw they are a happy and content people. Everyone is open, friendly, and very affectionate with one another. There is a

gentleness about them. They aren't in a rush, but calmly go about their business. Not lazy and slow, just calm. They are not pretentious. I never saw anyone put on airs. They are a humble and content people. My first impression may not be accurate, because I am a tourist. But it is what I observed even when I wasn't interacting with them.

You would see people's animals beside the road like this as well. Sometimes

in the city on a vacant lot next to a store etc. funny.

I loved seeing all the school children on foot and moped in the morning. I really wish I had a picture of the kids up in the mountain villages. I wish I had more pictures of the people's faces. Of their smiles. They have beautiful smiles.

side saddle moped riding. yikes.

There are fruit and food stands like this along the roads. You would always see people bbqing satay along the side of the road as well. Warning. Do not eat street food, or drink the water.

Here is an example of how crazy the driving can be. This is a two lane road and imagine it also with scooters dodging in either direction as well. And this is a wide street. Add to that that you drive on the opposite side of the road and side of the car. We had a stick shift as well.

Dave has the nerve, but the patience is sometimes wanting. ha ha.

I know his mother would shudder to think of him driving as crazy and fast as the locals.

I know I did, but he didn't really appreciate my comments to that effect. ha ha.

I guess it takes nerve to be Dave's wife as well. smile.

But this satisfied his drive for the adventurous for a little while. Back to rafting that first day. If you ever go to Bali this is a must! Rafting through the jungle, and through waterfalls. It was so amazing, I can't tell you!

Under a waterfall. I wish the photographer took one from further back so you could see the whole scene, not just us. Again amazing.

(Roger and Teresa it was definitely just as awesome as canyoning in Dominica).

We were in a raft with a really fun couple from Australia. Most of the tourists in Bali are

from Australia. It is a cheap flight and "holiday" as they call it for them. There were also Europeans, but not Americans that I ever saw.

the waterfall we went over. here we go. ahhhhhhhhhhhh!

....ahhhhhhhh

...ahhhhhhh

only one shoe survived the fall. ha.

a pit stop half way through the ride.

doesn't this look like land of the lost? See the little boat down there?

When we were done we had to hike back up the cliff, and there was a bathroom,

showers, and a hot lunch. I told Dave not to eat that soup that looked like

diarrhea. ha. It was either that or his ceaser salad that kept him up

all that night and laying low the rest of our trip, poor guy.

Of course there was a shrine next to the restaurant. With the usual

umbrella, skirt and offerings by it.

On our ride back to the hotel we saw this road sign.

A bit concerning. The hill wasn't quite this bad. smile.

I loved all the little mountain villages.

it is amazing what they are able to carry on their head, and often with no hands.

impressive.

I love how they dress too.

Another interesting sign. Not sure what this one means.

An abominable snowman crossing?

There are these little raised pavillions everywhere.

Their name is slipping my mind. There are always people gathered on them.

Just sitting. Perhaps smoking as well. A bit of shade in the heat, and a gathering

place of sorts. At first I thought they were a bus stop or something. ha.

We checked out of our first hotel that was in the Nusa Dua area, which I don't recommend.

The beach is yucky if you ask me. Do you like our Jimney (the jeep)?

They almost didn't let us in at our next accomodations when we pulled up in the Jimney.

ha ha. It was like, what are you doing here?

I understood when we were shown our "room". Let me explain. Number one. I got an out of this world deal on agoda.com (i really like this travel site for hotels).

Number two, they don't really explain on their website that when you book a room, it

is a part of a villa and you have full use of the entire villa. And guess what?

There was no one else staying at our villa the entire time.

and wait until you see this place.

Villas are the big thing here and you can get one with a pool quite inexpensively.

Many of the hotels are just a group of individual villas.

I searched on Agoda for many hours before I decided on this place.

It is really inexpensive to stay in Bali. You could find a place for $20 a night that is decent.

Which I think is the huge draw for people to come as well.

You can get massages for $5 an hour, and it is cheap to do everything.

They will have a tour with a driver that picks you up and you go to a spa for two hours,

rafting, have lunch, go to various sight seeing places, be gone for 10 hours and the

price will be $35. It is amazing.

So what I recommend is staying at a cheap place in Seminyak (in the southwest) if you want a decent beach with waves and all the action of shopping and restaurants (but lots of people). You could also do Kuta, but it is pretty crazy the million small cramped streets and a little bit older, but again cheap, and then go on cheap tours and see everything that you want to see. Although, we didn't get to explore the north and stay up there. I preferred a beach, but there are thousands of jungle, artsie, yoga, elephant, type places. Ubud is the main area. For you vegetarians out there. There are a lot of places catering to organic, whole foods, vegetarian in Bali. There was once place that was a yoga/ surfing women's retreat.

Doesn't that sound awesome?!

There was so much up north that we didn't get to. But that is because once we got to this villa, we didn't want to leave for anything. It is that amazing. You'll see. So what I am saying is stay somewhere cheap, and explore on all these cheap tours and then head to this resort for the last couple of days for the ultimate in luxury. You will never want to leave.

So without further ado I present Semara Luxury Villas.

Looking back through the front entry.

Looking forward toward the first living room.this was on the wall, and I wanted one to take home.

This is dave and I in Bali.

So I put it in my suitcase......Just kidding.. ha haa haa.
But seriously, I loved all of the artwork throughout the entire villa.

LOVED IT!!!
On the way to our room, which I highly reccommend.

The deluxe ocean front in villa number 1.

the entry way of our suite.

the bathroom.indoor shower.outdoor shower.

I am a sucker for outdoor showers.

Whenever I am researching to find a hotel, the ones with outdoor showers are always

top on my list. I don't know what that says about me,

except that I love bathing options. smile.

pinch me.

Dave gave this rock to me when we got married.

I wish. smile.

Actually, it is what you put on the sheets when you would like them to be changed.

How cool is that? I should have put that in my suitcase too. I kid. I kid.

could you just die at how amazing this place is? It felt like I had died and gone to heaven!

Do you have a butler in heaven? ha ha.

When you rent out an entire villa you have a butler (and his whole staff)

at your beck and call. You have a chef that cooks for you, drivers to take you

where ever you want to go.

We just had a butler, and we kept trying to hide from him.

I would never want full time help. I like my privacy too much. I mean how can you

skinny dip with a butler always popping in I ask you? right?

Can you believe this view?

And from my cliff side plunge pool???? ahhhhhhhh.

way better than going over a waterfall on a raft. ha ha.

The pavillion below there was a part of our villa.

This is our villa's main pool. hold my hand!!!

As they were escorting us to our room and I started to realize that the

whole villa was ours, I seriously had to work hard to contain my excitement

until the villa manager left. Then I ran around screaming and jumping on

every couch in every room giggling with glee.

another outdoor shower by the pool.

The pool went right up to the main living room. So COOL!!!!

the dining room.

the theatre room.

the office upstairs.

the upstairs living room.

and it's view.

Lunch is served. We never quite made it to the dining room ever.

We always ate here or in bed.

Poor Dave, you will find the rest of the trip he is laying down.

At least he always had a spectacular view!

The only down side to the villa was that I kept thinking how fun it would be to invite

friends over to come and party with us in this awesome huge villa.

You know, jump out the living room door into the pool, play board games,

watch a movie in the theatre room, and hide from the butler together.

Why is Bali so far away? dang.

We finally made ourselves leave the villa to at least go down to the beach.

Isn't this bench cute that is by the front door?

the entrance to our villa.

the tennis courts.

the main lobby and restaurant, spa, gym etc.

Our butler insisted on escorting us down to the inclinator.

Which is this cool little tram down the cliff to the beach.

steps down to the beach.

poor dave, had to always be laying down.

I had the life guard take me for a ride out on a kayak. smile.

the perfect quiet dinner. I took pictures of the bathroom at this place. It was so amazing.

But come on. I am already out of control in how many pictures are in this post.

What was so amazing is that we were the only ones around.

I guess everyone else has their chef cooking for them. ha ha

this came with breakfast every morning.

Do you see the yellow watermellon? I had never heard of that.

It is so sweet and delicious.

time for church.

It was being held at the Aston hotel in Nusa Dua because there were 30 people coming from Singapore for girls camp. How would you like to go to Bali for girls camp? Melanie, can you make that happen?

Again, their wood and stone carvings are so amazing.

These instruments are not my favorite.

I must admit, the Balise traditional music was not my favorite.

It ranks right up there with Chinese opera music.

Headache makers for sure.

Picture of everyone at church that day. The people sitting are members that live there.

the church was just officially organized there in April of this year.

They did only have 3 members who would meet together the past 17 years.

Now they have 17 members. They were awesome.

I would love to be a missionary there.

Sunday afternoon we went to the Uluwatu temple which was close to

where we were staying. It was getting close to dark, so the pictures are a little dark.

Your knees need to be covered when you come in, so they pass out these sarongs.

I just had to wear a yellow sash. I really need to research more about the

symbolism of the sash etc.

this place was crawling with monkeys.

and I am not using a zoom lens here. I had on my wide angle which means

I was super close to them when I took these pictures.

for some reason photo bucket won't let me put on my last picture.

It is hysterical. It is a monkey with a huge water bottle raised with both

arms above his head, standing on a pillar and silhouetted.

I started getting scared the darker it got.

These monkeys are so aggressive. One came up and was trying to rip my flip flop off my

foot as we were walking out. It freaked me out.

It was like "rise of the planet of the apes."

You would have liked it I am sure Grant. ha.

Anyway, that's it. We stayed at one more place for just a day in Seminyak and it was nice.

I think it was called Seminyak Beach Resort. Sorry no pics.

I would love to go back to Bali. There is so much more I would like to see and do.

I don't often feel that way about a place. But I doubt we will. We move next

summer to Italy and there is way to much to explore and do in Europe etc.

But keep Bali in mind. I hope I peaked your interest. Dave and I dreamed of having a family reunion there and staying at a villa. Like I said, dreamed. I think it would be an awesome place to go on a honeymoon for sure. Who knows, maybe some day Dave and I will go back as

missionaries. smile.

Happy Birthday to me.

2011-11-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous 41st birthday.

Breakfast in bed from Rachel.

Singing and a gift from Lizzie, that she was so happy and excited to give me.

The expression of love on her face was the best gift.

When I was taking a shower that morning and praying (I love to pray in the shower), I thought wouldn't it be wonderful to keep this feeling of talking with Heavenly Father all day. Then I thought. Going to the temple would be the best thing to do today. So I called my friend Jihyun up, and asked her to go with me. We had a wonderful time. I was so glad I went.

Next was lunch and manicures and pedicures with Rebecca.

After school, Jacob handed me a letter of love and appreciation.

(he knows that is my favorite gift).

Next, out to an Italian dinner with Dave at a favorite Italian restaurant.

Back home for pie, ice-cream and x-factor.

Another gift from Rebecca, and nighty night.

A perfect day.

I actually planned to cook italian food all day with dave and try out my new pasta makers

with his help. But I ran out of steam and we just went out to eat.

So on Sunday Dave made pasta for the first time, but I was so exhausted I fell asleep on the

couch and woke up to this wonderful sight above.

I have the most wonderful husband, and a very tiring life apparently.

Tiring in a good way.

speaking of tired. It is almost 3am again and I am supposed to get up at 6am because I still haven't packed and we leave this morning for Bali!!!!

Do you see why I don't mind birthdays and getting older?

They just keep getting better and better, and my husband spoils me more and more.

Hopefully I will come home well rested. smile.

Can't wait to share my adventure!

halloween happiness and more.

2011-11-01T09:46:00.001-07:00

Do you have a big smile on your face right now?

Does it look like this?

Ammon was not happy about putting on this costume, but once he saw other people's reactions to him, he didn't mind so much. We walked from our house down to the community center and almost every car stopped and said how cute he is and waved. He was in heaven and just stopped on the sidewalk and waved at every one. He kept saying, "watching me, watching me."

Look at this ladies expression. It was the same with everyone we passed. You really just can't help but smile when you see him. He has such an expression of innocence, sweetness, and joy.

There were so many activities on base going on all day. This was one of them. Trick or Treating through some of the bldgs. on base.

Every Korean adult and kids wanted to have their picture taken with Ammon (or Pooh Bear, I should say). He was happy to oblige.

Heading over to the haunted house at the hospital across the street.

Pooh Bear is getting Poohped out. ha.

Jack and Sally.

I loved this costume.

A cereal killer. ha ha

The hospital haunted house was pretty crazy and super long. there were lots of crying kids. ha ha. There were three haunted houses on base. There was one in the dorms on base that we waited an hour and a half to go in. So fun. There really was so much going on we weren't able to do even half of all of the activities. I just love halloween!!

Rebecca and Rachel in their "80's" attire running games at the trunk or treat.

Jacob's girlfriend alex came too and was a pig in a blanket (pig nose, blanket wrapped around her). so creative. Rachel's friend was a ceiling fan. As in a fan (cheerleader) for ceilings. silly but creative and cute. This was the first year that i just didn't have it in my to dress up this year. I was so tired. how sad. It won't happen again. smile.

On the far right is Abby Adams. Her whole family dressed up as the "Adams Family" and they looked so awesome! I was so mad that my camera battery died before I got a picture of them all together. dang.

Leah and friend Rhonda.

Leah went to her school's halloween dance.

Her first Jr. High dance and had the absolute time of her life.

Rebecca didn't even go, she babysat for our neighbor instead.

So there you have it. A little halloween update.

Hope yours was just as cozy and spooky.

Beautiful Mt. Seorak

2011-10-28T07:35:00.000-07:00

The fall in Korea is one of the most beautiful times of the year, and I have been looking forward to it for a long time to do all of the things that I didn't get to last fall. Number one on the list was a family trip to Mt. Seorak. It is picturesque to say the least. We went on a foggy rainy weekend and it was perfect. We kept imagining that we were at Hogwarts or in a Lord of the Rings movie. So, this is a huge post. That seems to be my style lately to not post very often and then it is ginormous. At least I didn't put all 1000 pictures I took on. ha ha.

Let's start at the beginning. Leaving town, and the signs that we always see as we make our way to the 1.

This is the only drive thru restaurant that I have ever seen in Korea. We tried it once.

It wasn't very speedy, but I doubt they were used to an Ives' family size order. ha.

Getting on the 1 toll road. the tolls are pretty reasonable, unlike Japan. We went 4 hours and it was only about $10. It Japan it probably would have been $300 at least. Which is why we have enjoyed traveling here so much. That and everything is also in English and having a GPS is amazing! We plug in coordinates and we are off without a map or a worry. Of course we have Jihyun on speed dial if we get into trouble. LOVE YOU JIHYUN. (she is my personal travel agent).

OK, I have been wanting forever to get pictures of the traffic mannequins that they have

here. They totally freaked me out when I first got here. I finally had my camera

ready to go on this drive, determined to finally get a picture of one. I

scored! There were a ton of them. Maybe I will start a collection. See how many pictures

I can get of different interesting ones.

this guy looks like he has had a hard day. I love how they put goggles on them.

Need to protect their eyes you know.

they are even scarier to see these at night. I hope I never hit one. ha.

While I am busy taking pictures of traffic dummies, this is what everyone else was doing.

See the can Rebecca is drinking. That is the size of all the cans here. They love their skinny tall drinks. and that is gatorade in a can rebecca is drinking. Jacob's favorite.

Ammon playing with Rachel's hair.

I love this one. Listening to some tunes together at the rest stop.

and by the way the rest stops here are amazing, and super fun to stop at.

They have tons of restaurants, shops, and my favorite....huge nice bathrooms. love them.

As we drove into the national park, Ammon kept pointing and saying Mountain, Mountain.

Mt. Seorak is the third tallest mt. in Korea at 5600 ft.

Arriving at our hotel. The Mt. Seoraksan Tourist Hotel. It was right inside the national park, and you could just walk out the door and straight to all of the hikes.

Do you like the wheelchair ramp. yikes.

After we unloaded we headed into the park with our cooler for some lunch.

It was like we were one of the tourist attractions. I was standing with my plate of food, and an

older korean woman comes up and looks really close to see what I was eating. So funny.

Just a sandwich and chips. No peanut covered squid. sorry.

crowds tend to gather around ammon.

He is pretty cute.

especially with his pooh bear, and Mary.

After lunch, off to hike. Of course there is always a big buddha to see.

It was so beautiful, it refreshed my soul.

I love all the fun rock formations that people make. I believe they represent prayers.

So this is the big deal here to be decked out in these cool hiking outfits,

and have the ski pole looking walking sticks.

I think i need a fun colorful hiking outfit too.

That is why I got ammon the track outfit he is wearing.

Dave is real jealous and keeps mentioning that he wants one in his size.

This is lizzie's favorite outfit. She wears her school spirit shirt every Friday.

Apparently, regardless if she goes to school or not that day.

Jacob went ahead of us with Ammon and they found a fun spot to wait for us.

Another great thing about hikes in korea, they actually have pit stops.

Again, cool rest areas with food, shops and bathrooms.

They will be right in the middle of a trail.

And believe me, sometimes you just need a melon bar fast.

These are Rebecca's favorite.

a real tired boy after a day of running and hiking. He was a trooper.

(so was dave. smile)

This is the view from my bed in the hotel that I woke up to. Pretty awesome huh?

Rachel and I laid in bed and read all morning. It was heavenly.

this guy was not a fun bed fellow.

But how could you not forgive this face, and head of curls.

After a cozy morning of reading, eating, we checked out and headed over to the tram that takes you up to the top of Mt. Seorak. It had been raining all morning and stopped just long enough for us to go up and back. Perfect.

I love that I caught this. Rebecca being all cozy hanging with Jacob.

I am sure she was charming him into giving her a bite of his snickers he just bought.

He shouldn't have relented. She took advantage of the situation. smile.

Leah wrote her name in Korean.

This was a hot item. corn on the cob.

I opted for hot chocolate and a churro.

the Koreans always want their children to meet ammon and interact with him.

It is so cute.

These girls are cute too.

Our turn to get on the tram.

I was a bit worried when the worker bowed to us before the tram left.

It's like a final farewell in case it doesn't make it up or something.

Up we go.

Off the tram we head up the trail to the top of the mountain.

Isn't this incredible?

Perfect for the weekend before Halloween. smile.

gorgeous.

You know what I love about Asia. You can still do really cool things like this.

They haven't been outlawed as unsafe.

Look at this, a total cliff with no railings of any kind anywhere. It is so cool.

As long as you don't trip and fall right?

I kept the kids back but I went right up and plopped myself down by the very edge.

It was so cool! Don't i look happy?

I am sure the view is breathtakingly beautiful on a clear day, but I

couldn't help but love the fog and spookiness of it.

these are pictures that i took from where I was sitting.

Leah on the other hand was freaking out, and threatening me if I

didn't get away from the edge.

Everyone else loved it!

Especially dave and jacob who hiked all the way to the top (this was on their way down).

(Jacob thinking, "man that was cool").

Or maybe just casually posing for me. ha ha.

Making our way back down.

Aren't these little girls to die for cute?

You have no idea how many pictures I have of jacob in this pose.

I think that would be a really funny scrapbook. A collection of him

all over the world doing the Nacho stretchy pants pose.

Jacob is really proud of this shirt that he helped design for the senior class.

It's a jersey with white sleeves. I like it.

Lizzie's other favorite, a sweatshirt version of her favorite t-shirt. ha.

this trip was so wonderful to just be together as a family and chill. We weren't in a hurry. We didn't try to do everything. We just enjoyed being together and the beauty around us.

When i see these pictures it reminds me of some quotes that I read today from our prophet Thomas Monson.

"When we have sampled much and wandered far and have seen how fleeting and sometimes superficial a lot of the world is, our gratitude grows for the privilege of being part of something we can count on-home and family and the loyalty of loved ones. We come to know what it means to be bound together by duty, by respect, by belonging. We learn that nothing can fully take the place of the blessed relationship of family life."

"Give your child a compliment and a hug; say, "I love you" more; always express your thanks.

Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

My gratitude and love grows every day for this family of mine.

Thanks you for a wonderful weekend. I love you and

"I'm keeping you forever and for always!"

(my song to my family)

Now it is way to late. Almost three in the morning. See why I don't blog often. man.

Tomorrow is an air show. The A-10s were pretty noisy all day practicing their tricks.

I have a sweet view from my bedroom window of the runway. Front row seats.

The air shows are really spectacular if you have never been to one.

Then at night is the trunk or treat.

I love Halloween!!!!!!

VICTORIOUS!!!!

2011-10-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

DO YOU SEE THE SCOREBOARD?

CAN YOU HEAR THE HALLELUJAH CHOIR SINGING?

After two seasons of working so hard the Osan Cougars finally won a game!

(Jacob wants me to add that the score was 35-19 until the last 2 seconds of the game.

oh and for stupid reasons he says. )

Jacob was at his wits end. He just couldn't handle it anymore.

He kept lamenting, "I don't even know what it is like to win. I don't even know how it feels."

So you can imagine the first thing I said to him when he walked in the door after the game.

"HOW DOES IT FEEL TO WIN?"

Really, their season is only four games, and only two other teams are in the

"small schools" bracket. It was so hard to see them play teams that had twice the

players, and all seniors some with 75 lbs on them. I was so proud of them.

They really did well despite their losses.

What is so cool is an international school in Singapore is flying them out next weekend

to play them, and than are taking them on tours. How cool is that?

This was their last home game (of only two) and the first one with the cheerleaders there.

It was their homecoming game and it was a packed crowd. So many families from church came to cheer both Jacob and Rachel on. It turned out to be a REALLY good game. super exciting.

Especially since the last time we played Daegu we lost 29-0. It was the worst game ever.

I have never seen them play so bad ever!! Very discouraging.

Boy did we get even!!

Jacob scored two amazing touchdowns, and had like 21 tackles. Playing safety

he stopped the other team from making many touchdowns.

I was so incredibly proud!

(above is his second touchdown, he's number 10)

that's called dedication. He really had so many amazing tackles.

Earlier in the day I came for the pep rally. So high school. So fun!

The seniors had a toga day and the crowd had to cheer for whose costume they liked best.

They got it down to three kids and then had each of them do a walk off.

Come on, he's a Reneer. We do walk offs for fun when we get together. ha ha.

He had the whole school chanting his name. Ja-cob, Ja-cob.

Talk about an ego booster.

I will never forget it. I doubt he will either.

back to the game. A few more great plays.

Rachel and her groupies. A whole group of little girls stood next to her and

did everything that she did. So cute.

This little girl lives on our same apt. floor, and is totally in love with Jacob.

She is five, and tells everyone that he is her boyfriend and that she is going to marry him.

She is super dramatic and talks like a teenager.

Her mom told me that she was watching Jacob at the game and said,

"I am so in love with him right now."

She cracks me up so bad. We suggested to her that Ammon could be her boyfriend.

She gave us a look and said, "um, no." In her best teenage voice.

He is pretty handsome. smile.

Leah is totally cracking us up lately. She is trying so hard to be a cool teenager.

She is really trying to take advantage of her connections with her older siblings.

She tries to hang out with them and their friends. Look at this look above. She is so funny.

Cutie Rachel. The cheerleaders are so much better this year.

They have two young airmen (girls) that have taken on coaching them,

and what a difference.

sisters.

half time and all the seniors and parents went out on the field.

When Ammon graduates we will both be seniors. get it. ha ha.

But seriously could you just die at the cuteness of ammon in this picture.

He did that all on his own. I love my boys!!!

Rachie and I have bonded a lot this year. love her.

Rebecca's friend Caroline is a family favorite. She is hysterrical.

BEST NIGHT EVER! Right jake?

Let's just say best weekend ever.

Jacob was very happy about taking Alex to the dance.

Rachel and her peeps.

oh so fabulous.

i love this picture.

ok, so i snuck into the homecoming dance. ha ha. What can I say, I am nosey.

I wanted to see what it looked like.

Jacob never even knew I was there, but rachel did

drag me out on the dance floor for a minute, but I just couldn't do it.

I was probably in sweats or something.

It's not smoky, just a fog machine. ha.

So after witnessing the whole school chanting his name,

I wasn't surprised that Jacob was the Homecoming King (his date was the queen).

His sisters adore him as well.

He's just a likeable guy!

Rachel and Jacob have been like twins their whole life.

This is their last year together at home, and they really talk ALOT.

How awesome that they have stayed close all growing up.

Jacob used to say when he was 3 and she was 2 that he would "betect" her

(protect her) and he really has. He probably is the reason that she is alive today!

If you knew Rachel when she was little you know what I'm talking about.

He was always way more concerned for her safety than she was when she was little.

Jacob would cry and be upset when I would threaten Rachel to take her

to jail when she stole gum from the store.

Rachel of course was unphased by my scare tactics.

These pictures make me real happy.

love this look.

Yah, I'm blessed. I know it.

sundance. I heart you.

2011-10-11T21:40:00.000-07:00

This summer we spent a lot of time in Utah. I love Utah. I love the mountains,

the shopping, the delicious restaurants, and most of all family.

I grew up in So. Cal, but now my Dad, Grandma, and two siblings live along the Wasatch front s

so we go there every summer to see them.

Now that the kids are getting older (jacob graduates this year), I am thinking a lot

about this moving often and living all over the world thing.

As much as I love travel and moving new places. I don't love them more than

being a part of my kids lives. I can't bear the thought of me living overseas and them

all being in college in the states, dating, getting married and having babies etc.

Dave can get out of the military in 6 years, and then what?

Where do we live?

We asked the kids where they want Grandma and Grandpa's house to be

(referring to us. smile. oooh i can't wait. Ammon should be 8 by then. ha ha)

Their reply was, "duhhhhhh UTAH! Where else?"

It seems to have become the new family gathering place. And I really want my

kids to attend BYU Provo, or Idaho.

Problem is Dave has said he will never live in Utah. But after this summer I

think I have him convinced to move there. It was the first time that I wanted

to move there to be honest. You know what won me over?

SUNDANCE!

My sister Kelly, Rebecca and I went on a drive to sundance. I had just come back from

Tahoe (which I consider home) and was so sad that I couldn't live there every day

of my life. It is my favorite place on earth I think. It is so beautiful, smells so good,

and I have so many wonderful memories that all come together and wrap

me up like a warm blanket when I am there. Just breathing there is joyous!

(I wouldn't say that about Korea. ha ha).

But my family is in Utah, and Tahoe isn't really the best "raise a family" type of town.

So when we drove up to Sundance, I was filled with joy!

It was so beautiful. We had a yummy lunch, and walked around and just

drank in the sights and smells. I was so happy. I was ready to move to Utah that day.

Later, with just ammon I drove from Sundance all the way to American fork Canyon.

I cried i was so moved by it's beauty.

My sister said I don't want to live in Sundance because it is too hard in the winter.

I don't know. I think about it a lot.

Just last Sunday morning as we made breakfast together I said to Dave, "I wish we were in a cozy cabin in Sundance right now" with my arms draped around his neck

and all the charm i could muster.

And that he needs to save his monies to buy me a cabin in sundance.

You know. One with a gourmet kitchen, view, by the stream, and a fireplace next to my jetted tub. smile.

A girl can dream.

Love all these cute pics that my sister kelly took with her Iphone.

I just love my becca mary. We are best friends.

i've been a very good girl.

2011-09-22T15:44:00.000-07:00

So, you see this?!!!

I don't think this has ever happened!

Every last bit of laundry done!

FREEDOM!!

Stacked and ready for the kids to put away.

I also have been making delicious meals every single night.

You heard me, a planned meal every single night. (three weeks running)

Unheard of!

This is one of my absolute favorites. Thai coconut chicken (it has lime in it of course).

I served it over brown rice. Although my joy in eating it was diminished

because my kids don't like it like I do. Made me mad. How could they not.

It is so incredibly divine. The recipe is in the surprise ward cookbook.

Kendra Stone's sister's recipe that she invented. love it!

Now this is the kicker. I am finally scrapbooking!!!! Yeah.

I think I have already filled two albums. I am working on 2004 pictures.

I am only a little behind. ha. I'll share some pages later.

Also, last night I taught a yoga class at the gym. I can't believe how happy

it made me feel. I did it spur of the moment. The teacher didn't show up because

he was sick, so I just volunteered because I really wanted to do yoga.

It was great because I didn't feel any pressure to be amazing.

I didn't even have music or anything.

I even made a delicious hot breakfast this morning, only to realize that all of the kids

can't eat because they are getting their blood drawn this morning. oops.

So they are coming home after to eat. They are being tested to see if they have

genetic high cholesterol like dave. We found out that jacob does, so we are getting

everyone tested. My heart sank when I first heard, but like everything in life...

it's all in God's hands. Fortunately, we are so blessed to be able to be proactive in

treating it, and knowing about it. Modern medicine is a gift.

Yeah, it's the weekend. Today is Lizzie's birthday party, jacob left for japan for football,

rebecca and leah have soccer games, life is good. Life is busy and happy.

And laundry free! (for one day)

happy friday!

First Haircut.

2011-09-22T05:53:00.000-07:00

Ammon would have nothing to do with this, until the hairdresser gave him a milky way.

The kid lovesssss chocolate.

All the tears dried up pretty quick with chocolate in mouth.

all done. I had her leave some curls. smile.

"The chocolate's gone and I'm outta here!"

He still had to put up with some last loves.

I'm a little bummed the pictures aren't that great, but they tell the story.

I handed my camera off to a guy that didn't speak english and then

Ammon was so done the minute the chocolate was gone.

Girls are so different! Especially when a mirror is involved. ha.

cozy weather please.

2011-09-21T06:54:00.000-07:00

In one day our weather went from hot and humid to cool, with the hint, a tease really

of fall in the air. I have been waiting patiently for a cool, crisp fall day so

I can watch "You've got mail." Doesn't that just sound perfect?

Kathleen Kelly and her cozy bookstore "The shop around the corner"

ooohhhh can't wait. hurry hurry fall.

Holy Garlic Batman

2011-09-20T21:07:00.001-07:00

This picture was actually taken on Father's day back in June when we were driving to a friends house for dinner. It was the 4 and 9 market that day and apparently garlic

harvesting time. the streets were lined with trucks and piles of garlic. So crazy!

If you like garlic, you will like korea, and you will have a particular odor as well. smile.

Dave and I have to both eat korean food together or not at all. ha.

love this

2011-09-19T22:12:00.000-07:00

You know I am obsessed with lime and basil.

Can you imagine my joy over this hand soap!!!!

I love it so much, and seriously stocked up.

It is perfect for at the kitchen sink.

(because I have exotic coconut in my bathroom. It's like being on vacation

every time I am in my bathroom. smile)

LOVE IT!!!

Thanks Katie for getting my hooked. Dave is so glad. ha ha.

thank heavens for personal revelation.

2011-09-17T02:35:00.000-07:00

The topic for the visiting teaching message this month is on strengthening families by increasing spirituality. Sister Beck says..

I have felt that there has never been a greater need for increased faith and personal righteousness. There has never been a greater need for strong families and homes.”

Sisters can help create strong homes and families as they act on personal revelation. “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life,”

Personal revelation has saved me many a time. Here is a simple answer to prayer

that has changed my life. Because guess what? My kids like to argue with me, and they often
don't like to be told what to do. Can you even believe that? ha
Have you ever had to ask your children multiple (like a hundred) times to do something?
Me too, and times that by 6 kids. It is tiresome, frustrating etc etc. to say the least.
What's a mom to do? Why go in prayer to Heavenly Father. He always knows what to do.
Then bing, the ideas come to my mind. It's like the best free advice ever!

Anyway, my answer was the white boards for each kid.
Every day, I write their to do list, and any questions that I have for them.
They check off the list when they are done and answer my questions.
Simple.
When they do everything that day, they get a star at the bottom (by me), and that
star is worth a dollar. They may have extra checks that they can earn by doing
something that they are struggling with like.... exercise, reading etc. That
has rewards connected with it. Whatever is best for that child.

Now my kids love!!!! to get their chores, and they love to check things off,
and they love to see what comments I have made to them. they love it.
It has seriously saved my voice (smile) and our home is a happier place.
I just can't say enough about it and how much the kids appreciate it.

Here are the kids boards from the first day of school. Except for Rachel's (i don't know why).
I love on Lizzie's how she asks what a semester is. I had just signed a contract
(Rachel makes me sign a written contract so i don't forget) that the kids will
receive a monetary reward for straight A's for the semester (which i highly
recommend for older children. it doesn't have to be that much. Again, kids just
love that kind of thing. I guess we all love rewards).
So lizzie explains that she is planning on getting straight A's, but what is a semester.
She is so dang cute. She always has the best questions for me on her board.

So, maybe this post will be an answer to one of your prayers (since God works like that you know). I think I put more parenthesis in my posts then anyone. I am so talented. ha ha.

P.S. they always love me to draw pictures for them too. I didn't so much on this day.

Marriage is hard.

2011-09-15T18:36:00.000-07:00

(just a little humor for you. you're laughing a little too hard dave. it isn't that funny.)

Plain and simple marriage is hard. I came to grips with that reality long ago. But oh the heart break when soon after marriage I discovered this devastating fact. I naively thought that I would have marital bliss 24/7. I mean, I saw my parents have problems, but that was my parents. They have problems right? It was so disappointing to humbly realize that we are all imperfect, and that this life is one of growth and Heavenly father has so kindly given us the means to that growth. But oh the long hours of sobbing in the shower before i bravely faced this truth. That marriage is not for the weak or the non committed. Why do we have to do this???? Just like parenthood, it comes to us so sweetly at times the answer. In those moments where we get a glimpse of celestial love and harmony in both our marital union and our parental role. No it isn't 24/7, but it happens often enough (if you are working at it) the moments that give us hope. That there is more to come. More of that joy that you maybe for only a small moment experienced, but was so heavenly that it rocked your world, and gave you a buzz for days. If it has been a while since you have felt that.....let's look to Marge Hinkley for some words of wisdom. (you know she is my favorite, and it has been a while right?)

The family is eternal. Love must be

nurtured. It must be spoken. We must

put away our pride, our haughtiness,

our shyness, our misunderstandings,

and with humility say, "I love you. Is

there something I can do to help you?"

You can never be completely happy

under any other circumstances.

If you have been married for any amount of time at all, you know the utter truth of this statement. But easier said then done, right? it seems so beautifully simple. But when it comes to those relationships (family) that we cherish the most, it can be so painful to be humble, to

forgive etc. I don't know why. I think because we feel the hurt so much more acutely.

Anyway, this has just been on my mind. Could it be because I have been feeling some growing pains lately? Yes indeed. But how sweet the outcome always is.

How grateful I am that i have had sisters that i can turn to for strength, wisdom, humor, and guidance in all of the trials of life (and yes, we all have husbands. smile). Know that you are not alone. We all are on this same journey towards our betterment. It just isn't always fun. But what thing of great worth is gained with little effort i ask you?

Gotta go. Today is Leah's 11th birthday party and of course, as always, she is so stressed and worried that it won't turn out how she has imagined. Which means all the pressure is on me! I have to come up with some cool scavenger hunt for her and her friends to do, and I haven't even started it. (i don't know why she worries?! ha) Happy Friday my friends.

ammon's favorites

2011-09-14T21:22:00.000-07:00

To know ammon is to know that he absolutely loves and adores his

pooh bear (baboo). And balls are all he thinks about.

Pooh bear has been through a lot. Teething was hard on him. His nose is

almost completely off now. Ammon bites and kisses on him constantly, which means

he usually doesn't smell all that great. ha.

I love how he rubs pb's ears for comfort and now he carries him around by looping is arm

through pooh bears shirt. So cute.

Keri Peterson gave ammon this bball when he was born with his

name on it. Keri, he loves it! thank you so much.

Jacob has ammon already working on his form as he shoots. ha.

love that smile.

right now, he is really wanting to share everything that he loves with baboo.

So I have to put crayons in his hand and have him color etc.

Here he is wanting to have a chance to hold the basketball.

His other great obsession right now. Orange slices. We seriously have to limit

his intake of oranges. Before it was bananas. Now it is oranges.

He couldn't be happier watching elmo and eating orange slices.

happy boy. happy mama.

have you seen the new jane eyre yet?

2011-09-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

I wish I hadn't yet, so I could watch it and have it be new and wonderful again.

I kept pausing it and doing other things, like getting hot cocoa, so it could last longer.

I loved the musical score as well.

ahhhhh perfection.

oh yah, it's on.

2011-09-12T02:05:00.000-07:00

take a look at jacob's game face.

Thursday night was the first game of the season and a home game.

We were playing Seoul American School, which is the high school on the Army

Base in Seoul. They aren't in our league because they are three times bigger than our school,

but we always play them because they are close.

Jacob wanted to win so bad. But then again, he always wants to win so bad.

Jacob is an easy going happy kid, which is why it is so funny when he

plays sports to see him get so very intense. Like scary intense.

It shouldn't be a surprise since Dave is his father. I just always think Jacob is like me,

and then he gets on the playing field and i realize there are some differences. ha.

Jacob had some amazing plays like this long pass that he caught.

If they throw it any where near him, he catches it.

At the end of the game they were behind and I heard a man in the stands

yelling, "Throw it to 10!"

I was thinking the same thing. smile.

he has the ball in both of these.

I think this is so funny. He is all serious and mad that they lost as he passes the guys, and then as soon as he gets to the Seoul cheerleaders he is all smiles. Yep, he's a player. smile.

I forgot to ask Jacob what they asked him in his interview.

They lost the game and jacob came home so angry.

It took me an hour to talk him down and convince him that it was an amazing game

and nothing to be embarassed about. Seoul's team played to their strengths, which was

their enormous front line. They were twice the size of our guys and mostly seniors.

It was a really fun game to watch.

It was so fun to be at the game. It's like the whole town is there and all the little kids running around playing together. I didn't see the little kids the whole time.

Rachel made varsity cheer again, the day before so they weren't ready to cheer for the game yet.

Bummer.

I wish I would have gotten a picture of Ammon in the stands. He kept sitting next to this group of high school kids sharing his big bag of doritos he was holding. We were dying laughing.

I just had my huge long distance lens on and couldn't take a close shot.

Anyway, their next game is in Japan at Camp Zama near tokyo.

Wish i could go. dang.

happy chuseok

2011-09-11T23:49:00.000-07:00

Today is Chuseok. It is Korea's biggest holiday, so the kids have school off today.

How I found the kids this morning.

All tuckered out after a late night Little House on the Prairie marathon.

snickerdoodles included.

I knew I smelled popcorn as I was drifting off to sleep last night.

I love how the kids enjoy being together. Makes me happy.

Exercise Exercise Exercise

2011-09-11T18:18:00.000-07:00

(post i wrote a week ago, and no this isn't dave. smile)

these are the last words I heard coming from the base wide loud speaker as I drifted off to sleep last night. Either I was really tired or the exercise (practicing for war) ended last night because all week i have been awakened by bugle calls, sirens, and very loud aircraft. Dave (and everyone else) can only be outside with full battle gear on, including all their stuff for chemical warfare. It looks so funny to see these guys walking around, while all around them are moms in shorts and tank tops pushing their strollers. We are all so used to it, and it is nothing out of the ordinary to see tanks coming down the street with everyone in full gear and coming out the tops of them with guns etc. It is comical, how no one even reacts. Plus it is like a full air show all the time. It really is so cool. And no one complains. The sounds of the F16's are the sounds of freedom, as so many say. Thank goodness for those willing to give up home, and comfort to give us this great gift of freedom.

I just watched the whole John Adams movie again this weekend, and I am full of gratitude. What a miracle that this great nation of ours was formed. Seriously, a miracle. Don't take for granted one day your ability to choose to live your life how you see fit. To think and believe how you would like to think and believe. To be able to voice your opinion and have it make a difference. What a new idea at the time it was for an ordinary citizen to preside over a country. And for each to take his turn in doing so. You know what it sounds like? God's way of doing things.

So are you watching the Republican debates? Aren't they good?

family photo shoot.

2011-09-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

sad right?

this is all i have. What, do i use this for the christmas card? ha.

I really want to have a family photo shoot, but i just wasn't that organized to think of it far

enough in advance.

I tried to scramble at the last minute to find a photographer in hawaii.

this was the only one who was available.

oh well.

I really really want to find someone here to take photos of us in traditional

hanbok in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Wouldn't that be cool?!

4:45 pm today, a snapshot

2011-09-06T23:51:00.000-07:00

I love how lizzie's bear has on the sleep mask that she got from the airplane,

yet is reading a dog book to the other animals.

this picture just takes me back to being a teen and

just hangin in my room looking through stuff.

ah, to be the baby of a big family. Jacob definitely

was never hangin in his room at one, playing connect four on an ipad.

(although ammon prefers touch hockey)

the joy of technology!

Me heading off to yoga at the base gym.

My cozy corner of my room.

i love love love this picture.

It is a drawing/ watercolor by a japanese artist.

I found it in an antique store in Japan

when I was stuck there for three days en route to the U.S.

Almost out the door to yoga.

Little man is saying over and over drink! drink!

of course my sweet baby boy!

(i'm rewarded with a smile)

content.

i heart him.

blog about hawaii-check

2011-08-31T23:10:00.000-07:00

So everyone keeps asking me how hawaii was.

I think this picture says it all.

My favorite beach on Oahu is conveniently on this air force recreational station.

Which means it is only accessible to military members.

There is this huge stretch of gorgeous beach, and great waves,

with barely anyone on it.

They have little 2 bedroom houses right on the beach for rent for cheap.

They have camping too, a driving range, mini golf, tennis courts, basketball,

volleyball, a playground, everything for rent, surf lessons, kayaks etc.

A store, gas station, laundry facilities, subway, snowcone shop,

and another restaurant. Perfect right?

So here's my idea. How about we have a Reneer meet up right

here next summer? Brilliant right?!

Here's the view looking the other direction on the beach.

sand castle making is always popular.

Here is one of the houses, two are connected and we rented two.

Our breakfast view in the morning.

Look how close you are to the water. Some are even closer.

Everyone's favorite is boogie boarding.

It is so awesome to just go out anytime you want day and night.

Ammon unfortunately was not feeling well towards the end of the trip. And to be honest I was really struggling half the time to keep it together myself. After 2 months of traveling, I just wanted to be home and recoup. We all were really exhausted but our trip was pretty laid back, and we didn't try to do a million things.

Another benefit of staying at a military facility is seeing marines train further

down the beach. very cool.

Of course, those weren't the only big guns on the beach.

(ha ha)

We die over this picture because the way it is angled Jacob looks

so huge and rachel small.

(I mean Jacob really is just huge. smile)

Oh to be 17 again.

Jacob has been working really hard this summer to get bigger.

I so remember my brothers at this age.

In fact, my brother kenny (who is almost 40) is still telling my kids

they can pay him to feel his muscles.

Oh, the hours of spotting my brother Brett while he bench pressed

in the garage, and him telling me he has bigger boobs than me.

Oh, boys.

They had a lei making class that the girls enjoyed.

They also offer hula lessons.

I have a picture of dave that looks exactly like this.

I'll find it and post it. Crazy.

and below would be what i would look like. ha.

Hangin out on Waikiki beach walking around and waiting to go to beni hana.

again, ammon crying. he had a rough week.

Happy 17th birthday Jacob.

Dave also took him to swim with the sharks for his birthday.

My favorite was walking out early one morning and there was lizzie already out there

boogie boarding.

I loved to do yoga on the beach every morning.

That isn't me out on the jetty, but I would go out there and read when

no more sun was on the beach in the late afternoon.

but mostly, i would just set myself up on the beach.

Jacob giving Lizzie some boogie boarding advice.

it worked.the kids insisted that we go to the Polynesian cultural center.

They loved it so much last time we went to Hawaii.
Our favorite guy was still there in the village of Samoa.

He is so dang funny.
Here he is later running around.

trying to make fire.

New Zealandfishing in Tahiti.Tongathis one is really funny too.

Can you find the Ives?

the hula in Hawaii.

tattoos in Fiji

what's for dinner.

They had a new night show called HA. It was really good.

So add the polynesian cultural center to the reunion agenda.

the kids will love it.

My favorite was the discovery of the kanak burger

at Teddy's bigger burger.

There is a really cute town called Kailua that is close to

Bellow AFB where we were staying.

Has fun little shops and good restaurants.

Of course, I couldn't try them all because I became obsessesed with .........
wait for it......THIS!!!!!(it should be called the heart attack)

Yes, my friends, I had three of them.

It is no wonder that I am now few pounds heavier than

when I left this summer.

It was so worth it!!

After that third one though, i got the obsession out of my system.

(at least until next time I go to hawaii. ha ha)

Our beautiful drive to the airport.

But this is the reality of the end of our trip.

We all felt this way.

There is such a thing as too much family time.

smile.

So while our trip to hawaii was beautiful and memorable.

Again, there is a wonderful beauty in the ordinary every day life.

Doing my little routine can be heavenly.

I am creating my little corner of order and beauty

in a chaotic world.

But a little bit of hawaii now and then doesn't hurt, wink.

So what do you think my brothers and sisters?

Hawaii summer 2012? Who's in?

Back in the saddle again.

2011-08-30T15:58:00.000-07:00

This is one of my favorite pictures ever of lizzie.

Such an expression of perfect contentment.

It is the expression that we are all wearing right now.

While our summer was absolutely amazing and wonderful..

let's face it, we were starting to be really irritable from

lack of sleep, lack of schedule, suitcase living, junk food eating,

and just a little too much time together (smile).

Everyone is back to their perfect happy selves, and i like them

all again! (Phew, I was really starting to worry....really).

So Monday was the first day of school. Everyone was so excited,

and looked so cute. We shopped well this summer.

Our favorite place for the girls was "Plato's closet" in Reno.

Oh my mom! If you are ever in the Reno area, your gambling

money would be way better spent there. It is second hand store (gently used)

for teenage cool clothes (and for us hip mom's too. smile)

We were there for hours, and multiple times. They opened up another

store right next to it with high end stuff for older women (think ann taylor).

But Ammon was having nothing to do with it at that point. dang.

Lizzie's outfit above is from "Forever 21" they have a kid

section in the Sandy, Utah mall and it is a must hit for

school shopping. Lizzie really scored there.

Rebecca, Leah and Rachel (and me) got really cute hair cuts

ala Aunt Coco. Isn't Rebecca cute with her bangs? Nicole layered it,

and now it is so curly. Especially here with the humidity.

Leah is at the middle school with Rebecca this year (6th and 8th grade).

Leah is so excited to have a locker and switch class rooms, and to just

be older, and one of the big kids.

She told us this morning that all the 6th grade boys think Rebecca is Hot.

I told her, "good thing you look just like her!"

Rebecca has been so sweet with Leah helping her around school,

and picking out cute outfits for her to wear every day.

Doesn't Rachel look pretty?

She will be sweet 16 in just a couple of months!

Joe cool senior.

All of us girls had fun dressing jacob.

Every day we pick him out outfits

and ooh and ahh.

Jacob does not lack for feminine attention.

(at home or at school).

How fun to be a senior, and at the top of your game.

How fun to be in a small, close knit school where

you know and like everyone.

I am happy for him

Joe cool is actually a big goof ball.

My favorite, was the first day of school after they came home (lizzie's pictures above

are from after she got home because i forgot to take a pictures before. duh)

I took their picture, and then video taped them talking about the first day of school.

They all came home so happy and excited and full of stories.

I think that is a tradition i will continue.

I am just so happy to be back to my little simple house. I love to clean it and keep every-

thing running smoothly. I am happy to report that I have not missed a night yet of making a delicious dinner. I have done it happily, and it really makes everyone else happy too. I even grilled on the BBQ for the first time by myself. Yes, I almost burned off all my hair, but i did it. I made the yummiest steak tacos, with a grilled corn, avocado, red onion, lime juice etc. topping. It was a proud moment.

I am going to bed early, and getting up first thing and reading my scriptures. Breakfast at

7:15am, family prayer at 7:30am.

You must realize routine is very difficult for me. How long can I keep this up before life overtakes me. I must keep it simple, keep the routine (that is my mantra), oh and

be gentle with myself, and treat everyone like i treat ammon. smile. he is so easy to love.

Speaking of ammon, i forgot how angelic he is when he is home and getting enough sleep.

Really, i can't believe how well he did on the trip, but by the end he had had it.

Yesterday, he was so sweet and delightful. My joy was full.

My day yesterday? Morning routine with kids, Ammon eating breakfast in his high chair as

I got dressed and finished up my to do list for the day and emails etc. house all in order, bed made. Laundry moving, dishwasher humming. We leave the house at 11am to take forgotten lunch money to lizzie, and sit with her at lunch. Enjoy, how joyful all the 5th graders are. How innocent still and happy. Then to the thrift store to drop off a couple of bags, and peruse. What joy to find that they are giving away 10 free books per person, and ammon quietly reads a book i give him in his stroller while i enjoy searching for the perfect 10 books. I really found the perfect smattering of marriage, financial, novels, Korean non fiction, and a little something for everyone. While in the thrift store, I receive a call from the commissary (grocery store) that I have won $50 in the drawing that I entered last week. It's like the best day ever. smile. So after doing a few more errands around my little small base, I come home for a yummy lunch with ammon and put him down for a nap, read a little, and visit with Lizzie after school. Then I am off to get a new rations card with Dave, post office, and then to the commissary to receive my prize and do my grocery shopping. After that I stop by the high school football field, and watch jacob's football practice for a while. Then home to make dinner, and visit with the rest of the kids. We have pulled pork sandwiches on the yummiest rolls, a homemade macaroni salad, and grapes. We all talk as a family and hang out the rest of the night. I love how my kids are so social and want to tell me every detail. Jacob most of all, ha. Then family scripture, prayer, ammon to bed, homework, shower and reading "founding mothers" for book club on Thursday night. Lights out and in bed by 10:30pm.

That my friends, is my perfect day.

I love when school first starts, and spirits are high.

Discouragement, and frustration hasn't set in yet.

When hopes are high for the year, and anticipation is great.

Everything is still new and exciting.

Even a freshly sharpened pencil brings a smile.

A fresh start.

There is nothing like it.

This Saturday we go to the temple. The perfect end to the perfect first week.

Today looks like another great day. I just am now hearing Ammon's happy ramblings at 930am. You know his "ballyball" etc. (his is a world in which balls are the only thing he sees. ha)

I was able to blog this morning. Now if i can just exercise!

Here's to another day filled with the exhilaration that

comes when you cross off things on your to do list.

(i just love that feeling).

P.S. The hardest part of coming home is now I miss you all more. Thank you again

to all of my dear friends and family who made this such a memorable summer.

and yes, pictures will be following shortly. It's on the to do list! smile.

Rachel center stage

2011-06-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

When Rachel was young we thought for sure she would be a famous actress.

This girl is DRAMATIC.

But when it came to performing in front of a crowd, surprisingly she froze up,

until now.

All of a sudden she has no fear, no stage fright, no forgetting lines etc. etc.

She performed in a few skits and was wonderful!

I was very proud of her.

But now she is going to be a doctor i think.

There will be plenty of drama there i am sure.

telling james that she wanted his seat in the audience.

He gave it to her.

I love this picture.

her adoring fans.

the walk home.

i love our little one street town.

Not even a stop light.

Summertime means pedicures. YES!

2011-06-16T06:36:00.000-07:00

It's finally summer, and time for flip flops and cute sandals.

Which means we girls need to have pretty feet.

This was the first time I had ever gone with Rachel and Rebecca to have pedicures

(we even splurged for a manicure too), and it was

so much fun! How fun to have your daughters be your best friends.

(and btw, doesn't my arm look really skinny in the picture above? It's not of course.

It is just the shadowing of the picture, but a girl can dream. If you didn't know, i am self conscious about my upper arms. I told my friend today, "forget breast implants, I would totally

have surgery to have my arms looked chiseled. Alas, I am cursed with drumstick arms.

Really, of course I am just thankful to have healthy working arms. of course)

I love this picture above. It was so fun to just see them talking and laughing together.

I have drummed into my girls heads from the time that they were little, how precious

your sisters are. When they are angry with each other, I always say, "Who are my best friends?"

To which they reply in unison, "your sisters."

They know the speech. Your sisters will always be there for you.

Friends may come and go, but your sisters will always have your back.

Whenever they have friend problems at school they always have their sisters to turn to

to tell them, "forget them, you are the coolest." and laugh until the hurt dies down.

Let me add though, that I have found friends that are truly sisters to me, and you know who you are. You better be reading my blog!!! smile.

Also, cousins count too!!

Doesn't Rachel look so old???? (as in 18, not old like me. smile)

She does turn 16 this year. Dating? She is really excited at the

prospect of someone else buying her food. oh, that girl.

It was the last day of school today!!!! Time to party!!!

Although we kind of been partying all week. I think Rebecca went to

school one day this week.

Don't worry they all have straight A's. Except Lizzie, who came in crying tonight to me because

she had a B in math and everyone else had all A's. She was wearing just a t-shirt

and dark sun glasses with tears coming down. Precious.

I told her, "Don't you dare cry over a B!" Especially when you are in 4th grade!

A "B" is amazing! I told her that I got a "D" in math my senior year, and look how

smart I am! ha ha. Again, my kids are just so much better than I ever was.

Thankful tonight.

Pretty much thankful every night.

We Read in the scriptures tonight how when people are prosperous and all is going well is when they forget God etc. After we read, I asked what they learned. Jacob said what I just wrote and then that we need afflictions to keep us remembering God." To which I replied, "NO WAY!" I intend to never forget all that my Heavenly Father does for me every day and live every day in gratitude and thanksgiving. I am so not interested in trials for the sake of making me remember him. I am always making deals with Heavenly Father, that I will do whatever he wants me to do every day, just don't give me anything too hard. I'll stay humble, I promise.

Ok, i mean it, i am going to bed now.

for the love of basil.

2011-06-14T22:58:00.000-07:00

I have had a serious craving for basil all winter. We have not had it at the commissary since last fall and it still isn't available. I have been going crazy wanting it so bad (and no, I am not pregnant. I just love basil). I made the best homemade pesto sauce. So good that I wanted to just drink it straight. Plus, I have a whole stack of recipes that I want to try, but they call for basil. What is a girl to do?

What a happy day when Kim called me and said that she has already harvested basil from her garden, and was happy to share some with me. Thank you Kim, i owe you big time. I didn't get a family garden plot since we are leaving for most of the summer. Who knew it would grow so quick!

So as you can see above, I immediately made pesto. Here is the recipe i used from allrecipes.com. It is super easy and so yummy. Go easy on the salt at first and add as needed. I think I could handle making it even nuttier.

Along with my pesto on whole wheat pasta, i made one of my favorite salads, and had rotisserie chicken that I got at the store. Perfection I must say. The sweet dressing on the salad mixed with the pesto was an unexpected delight. Here is the recipe...

Strawberry Romaine Salad

Mix 1 lg. head romaine lettuce and 1 head Boston or red leaf lettuce

1 pint strawberries sliced

I cup shredded Monterrey jack cheese

1 cup sugar toasted walnuts (you could do pecan as well)

I like to add crumbled bacon as well (you could do turkey bacon for lower fat)

The dressing

1 cup vegetable oil, 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup red wine vinegar, 2 cloves garlic minced,

1/2 tsp. salt, 1/2 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. ground white pepper.

(this makes a lot of dressing, you could probably get away with halving it,

or save it for another time).

Don't mix the dressing with the salad and it will stay fresher, and people can put it on to taste.

Happy cooking!

another favorite

2011-06-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

Now that is tired. The only time this has ever happened.

Poor kid he lead the life of a teenager.

don't grow up little man. please.

my favorite.

2011-06-12T17:29:00.000-07:00

Another sight I came upon recently that warmed my heart and made me smile. Cozy in bed for his nap. Blankie, pooh bear (he calls baboo), and a good book. Perfection. Look at his little hands. What is not to love?

He is definitely his mother's son (minus the dark chocolates. ha)

The only thing that made this scene better was the smile i received when I said his name.

Such a joyful loving soul. A mama's boy for sure.

Immediately read this book! I am serious.

2011-06-11T23:50:00.000-07:00

It will change your life.

You may want to throw it against the wall like my sister did after reading one chapter,

but if you apply it, even the first chapter's assignment you will see instant results.

INSTANT!

I got it in the mail a couple of days ago and since then me, the book, and hershey

special dark chocolates have been inseparable. I am only a quarter of the way through the book and already it has seriously changed my life in only a couple of days.

Dave is a happy man.

I am going to give this book to every single woman i know that is frustrated about not

being able to find someone to marry.

It says it all. Exactly how to be absolutely irresistible to a man.

If you are a feminist, you will not like this book...initially.

But if you are smart, and want everything you always dreamed of in a relationship,

you will be able to get over yourself, and your pride, and really try to

understand what a man needs, and in return you will have all of

your wildest dreams come true. smile.

I promise. Just try it.

I even gave my girls an assignment to try on dave and jacob. They responded

exactly as the book said. (a good thing).

They actually have a book by the same author called, "the fascinating girl". I bought it

but haven't read it yet. But let me tell you , I am giving my girls a great gift. And their

future spouses I might add.

So far there is only one thing I would say is wrong in it. Page 120, you will know what I mean when you read it. there may be more. I will keep you posted.

Again, it may ruffle your feathers, but the book is not about how to make yourself

fascinating to other women, but to men.

Do I have your interest piqued? Don't waste a moment. Order it today, or find it

at your local library.

Watch out Dave!

and you thought i was irresistible before! ha ha

This morning.

2011-06-10T01:45:00.000-07:00

rachel and jacob stayed home first period this morning. It was a cozy overcast morning. Rachel made the yummiest crepes (she has perfected them) ala Every Day food magazine. We all enjoyed them filled with nutella and strawberries.

Sharing crepes.

Ammon showing Jacob his favorite animal, an elephant. He just saw a real one at Everland last week.

so happy to have his besties home.

Ammon hugs are the best.

Ammon trying to get the last bite.

they're both keepers. oh, and so is rachel. smile.

What a beautiful sight.

2011-06-09T03:07:00.000-07:00

Moments like this give me hope that i'm doing ok.

Such a beautiful sight to come upon. Rebecca out on the balcony reading the scriptures.

It makes my heart sing.

Hold on to this moment mama.

PS-Rebecca turns 13 this month!! Crazy.

King muryeong's tomb and fortress with my korean family

2011-05-29T07:27:00.000-07:00

I have to start posting about all of the amazing things we have seen and done with our wonderful church family here in korea. Every holiday we all get together and do something fun, and take in some new sights. Jihyun is determined that we love her country of south korea. She wants us to see how beautiful it is outside of the city. Jihyun, you are succeeding with all of us stationed here and may i dare say with anyone who reads my blog. South Korea is absolutely beautiful (you will see on all of my many upcoming post on our trips).

Can i just tell you how much i love my family here in korea. It is hard to describe the bond that forms when you live overseas and have both the military, and same faith in common. There is instant acceptance, friendship, and love. We become one another's family. We share every hardship, joy, adventure, holiday, birthday etc. with one another. We love one another like the closest knit family you can imagine, and i love it. Here we had only been in Korea for 10 days or something and I felt like we were all aunts, uncles and cousins. It was the most wonderful and comforting feeling. Man! (up above is like the picture of all the cousins)We are so grateful. We are so blessed. I could go on and on, but let me share the day we had with you too!

So, here is the first trip that we ever went on in korea last september for labor day. We went to King Muryeong's tomb and summer fortress in Gongju. So many of the most beautiful locations and historical sights are the tombs of past kings and their vacation homes.

Here you can read a little more about it and see some interesting pictures of what they found inside the tombs that were from 1500 years ago, and untouched (discovered in 1970). It really is amazing, and they had the information in english for us to read about, and listen to a tour on head phones. Very cool.

Driving into the area.

A view of the fortress. See the wall going up and down the hills. It went for miles and formed a huge circle with the most beautiful grounds, and tucked away spots.

Starting out.

Looking back as we left the quaint little town.

They were filming for something on the way up.

Look how little ammon is!

and yes, you have grown bigger too jake. smile.

best buds.

this was the first day that my girls got to know katie. it makes me cry to think that they are moving in a month. Rachel may move with them she loves katie so much. We were just down there tonight raiding her modbe bathing suit collection (she used to sell it). She just watched ammon and monitored the older kids while we were in Thailand. Their family is a part of our daily life. We will miss them so much. sniff sniff.

A temple. You can always go into the temples. Monks are usually inside praying that live there.

You always see this type of painting on any traditional temple.

A tranquil spot.

man i love this kid.

taking a short cut back. We couldn't make it all the way around with all these kids.

At least that was our excuse. smile. We were ready for lunch.

As cool and as new of a cultural experience as anything we saw that day was this fabulous meal.

The koreans love their little side dishes. With whatever you order any where you eat they always bring out like 10 other little weird dishes. (weird to us). We never know what anything is. That is until the veterans of korea tell us. We were brave and tried everything.

so did ammon. Thanks travis for feeding him. smile.

these shells were not decorative. They are like a little treat. You just suck out the little whatevers that are inside. Doesn't taste like much. Just something fun. Can you tell we passed them all over to one kid who ate them all. Also, the kids were all fighting over these little hard boiled eggs. You can see some of the shells above. Both grossed me out, thank you.

We had three tables full of people there. We were quite the party. It is like a family reunion all the time around here. It is so fun!

Luckily, we didn't have to clean up. smile.

We ate a ton, and it still looks like we barely touched anything.

We almost had to leave rachel. ha ha.

On to the next sight. Ammon pooped out on the way there.

One of the kids took this picture of him drooling bubbles. so funny.

On to the tomb.

All the historical sight drinking fountains look like this.

You have to be careful. Sometimes you turn on one and it sprays all over you.

Playing some traditional korean games.

Trying to throw the spears into the small tubes there.

It was so green and beautiful.

Now that spring is here, it looks like this again everywhere.

the tombs always have big mounds built up like this on top of them. The bigger the mound the more important the person.

We are missing lizzie in this picture. We are always missing someone!

Look at all my blondies! They are so cute.

the little side doors into the tomb. and no you can't go in them.

They just show in the museum what it looks like inside and what is in them.

happy boy.

happy day.

Tomorrow we are off to Malipo beach with everyone. Do you think it is the korean version of malibu beach? We will see. smile.

Happy memorial day.

Enjoy your freedom that was bought and is maintained at a great price.

We have much to be thankful for.

i like my job....

2011-05-24T15:51:00.000-07:00

..and i couldn't be happier.

I am being naughty and dave is mad because i let rebecca stay home from school. I can't help it, she is just so cozy! and c'mon it is only half day today. Our plans, you ask? daily routine, exercise, perhaps some nail doing, catch up on biggest loser and american idol. We are so very busy! hee hee.

Leah and Lizzie have big plans after school. They were invited to a "doing nails" party.

Rachel's opening night is tonight for the high school play.

Jacob is babysitting for the family of four rowdy boys that loveeee him.

All of the kids are making so much money babysitting now that we are on base. They all babysit every week at least once. They are saving all of their money to buy school clothes in the states this summer. Although jacob's has gone to prom, and dating. Jacob has introduced the concept of dating to the locals, and he is in high demand.

Me, I am along for the ride. It is my joy to watch them learn, grow, and have fun through all of their life experiences. I love to stay up late and discuss life with the older ones, and when we are all together, just talking and laughing.

Dave and I are really having fun talking about the future, our plans etc. We are really excited. I told him he has to hold on at least a good 20 years. No dying allowed. he went to the doctor recently and all is functioning perfectly. smile.

PS-I am doing really good on my budget. After we sell the car, we won't have any monthly set payments for anything except our phones and Internet i think. Amazing huh?

SAVE SAVE SAVE. Yes, it is a new concept for me. Tyler Boice you have been my inspiration. Well, you and Dave Ramsey. smile.

Hey, it is the holiday weekend? The big excitement here is that the air conditioning was turned on in the apts. on base, and the base pool opens with all kinds of activities. Also, pirates is playing at the base theatre. Monday with our church family (seriously, they are our family here) we are going to Malipo beach to play and bbq.

What are your plans for the weekend? What things are you excited about in your life?

What simple pleasures are you happy about right now? Please share. I miss you all!!