Saturday Mornings

Shadow and I have to figure out a better way to spend our Saturdays. This is a him in action on any one of the last 3 Saturday mornings in February.

This is what is becoming of my dresser. I am down to one little pile left to sort through. For a while I had forgotten the color of the wood. The entire surface was covered with very very important piles of paper. I'll get to the dust, too.

Our laundry is so caught up it's ridiculous. A pile of towels will take no time!

And you're probably wondering why there is so much flexible time for me and Shadow on Saturday mornings.

It's because we have a new Scoutmaster and Dave and Austen are either on campouts or at merit badge clinics.

You must admit that his sash is looking pretty good though! (Note to future mothers of Scouts: The Merit Badges that are edged in gray are required Eagle Scout merit badges. Gotta have 'em. The ones edged in green are the ones you can pick and choose according to your interests or the interests of your Scoutmaster...)

He'll be getting the Art merit badge today. So relieved! Then I can fill up that pesky blank spot. Next time I will leave the blank spot in the middle so that it is at least symetrical.

Two weekends ago sure was fun though!!

We saw Janet and Mario's newly remodeled, absolutley gorgeous new bathroom and kitchen. We all got to mess it up pretty good too because everyone was there for a 1-week-delayed FSAK
where everyone go to meet Eleni as a bonus!

Eleni and Lilly with matching hats. (Really admire those photographers who can get an entire family to smile nice for the camera. I could only get 75% of my subjects to cooperate. Dirty faces don't count.)

Austen found out that he was allergic to cats. He itched and his eyes watered all night long. Beck and Grampa had fun though!

After about 150 laps of Beck and Ethan running back and forth through the kitchen and living room Ethan took a break for a drink. No one was assigned to bring hair gel.

Grampa always manages to have a good time when the grandkids are around. They seem to like him, too!

Look alikes?

First I had to wait until Eleni turned 3 months old, and then that shot right past and I forgot all about doing this until now.

Here is mom and daughter both in their 3 month pictures. Does anyone think they look alike? Kelley has a California tan and is dressed a bit more modestly but then Eleni had her hair done a bit more stylishly.

Both are definitely sweethearts though!

Birthday Buddies

January is a very full month when it comes to family birthdays. We celebrate Lilly, Janet, Granny, Eden, Kelley, Austen, Scott, Laila and Mitchell. Nine birthdays. Wow! (We only need to remember 7 dates though, because Kelley and Austen share the same day and Scott and Laila share the same day. Nothing personal Mitchell, but I bet Brandi is glad that Laila didn't pick your birthday to double up on!)

But I digress.

I'm briefly going to talk about Austen's and Lilly's birthday celebrations in this post and the difference 14 years (and an attitude) makes.

It even rains at the Happiest Place on Earth. Doesn't stop people from coming though. These soaked folks are entering Downtown Disney. It was a rainy, windy, blustry, cold stormy day - got about 4 inches of rain that day - but we, along with lots and lots of other people, didn't let it stop us from having a birthday lunch with Austen.

Went to the Rainforest Cafe, where inside and outside you heard thunder and the pitter patter of raindrops - constantly. This is the biggest smile I could get from the newest 15 year old on the block. He did seem pretty happy to be there though.......

On the other hand, this is what the newest 1 year old on the block looks like when she turns one and has a new sun hat to wear on walks! Gramma's going to have to put a strap on it however. For a few moments, she forgot that she had it on, so it stayed, at least for the picture. Good Girl, Lilly!!!

Note: Do not have a birthday party for a 1 year old from 2:00 - 5:00. Prime nap time. (Lilly missed about 85% of her party!)

Brothers love birthday parties, no matter who they are for. He knows that he will be able to get Lilly to share EVERYTHING!

Toto, We're not in California anymore.....

No Toto, we're not in California anymore. We're in Buh Buh Boise!!
Have you ever seen a better greeting party in your life????



Good thing Fo'ou took us to Savers looking for snow gear the first morning we were there because this is what it looked like the second morning we were there! Austen's were the first footprints in the snow and now I truly know why they call it a "blanket of snow".


On New Year's Day, some of the kids went to the show to see Avatar and some of the kids went to the mall where Eden got her ears pierced a few weeks early for her eighth birthday!

Finally got to meet this sweet little one after waiting three long months. Eleni Jean belongs to Tyler and Kelley..(Longest three months of my life.) As is with all of her previous 13 cousins, this one is perfect too!

All is well with the Schultz clan. Glad to report that Gunner (the dog) is still alive probably because Tracy is confined to upstairs for a while. She is under doctor's orders to take it extremely easy for 6 weeks, as she had a hysterectomy. Gunner is downstairs, Tracy is upstairs. Lucky lucky Gunner. Tracy is recovering nicely.

The girls of the Maka'afi clan. Anela is excited to turn eight so she can get her ears pierced too!

Felt lucky to get this cute grin from the oldest Maka'afi.

Back in California, will never get a grin from this one. Proud of him though and all the hard work he put into the H20 Polo season.

A wonderful way to end 2009 - seeing everyone in Boise and begin 2010, recognizing Austen's accomplishments!

Christmas 2009

It has been 3 months since I have been on this blog site. I have another blog that tells what I have been doing over the last three months. A three months that I am glad is over. A three months that I have learned, grown, and received much however. A three months that, in the end, I have so much to be thankful for. It is in this three months that I was diagnosed with a squamous cell cancer, received treatment for and am now in recovery mode.

I have so many more wonderful things happening in my life though. I want to talk about them.

Many many years ago I began to realize how hard it was going to be to get everyone together on Christmas for a family celebration. I wanted all my kids and grandkids and sister and her kids to be able to get together and not have to "share" them with anyone else.

So, it has worked out that usually the Sunday before Christmas we have our Family Christmas Party. Then, on Christmas Day, when everyone needs to visit in-laws, etc., it is working out that Gramma and Grampa drop by and give presents to Grandkids, visit for about an hour, and then everyone is off to the other places they need to go. So far, so good!

Below are a few pictures from our Family Christmas Celebration gathering held on

20 December.

Don't know what it was that Dave was being congratulated for, but it looks like it was pretty good. And Mitsi, it looks like Baby "K" is beginning to make his/her presence obvious. (We are all so excited!)


Daddy Eric explaining to Ethan to be patient until he shows him how his toy works. (Get used to it Ethan!)

Danny, Ellen and Mitsi giggling about something....

If you ever find yourself in a bad mood, take a look at this pic of little Miss Lilly. Bad mood GONE!

Don't know what Dave and Lilly are talking about, but both seem very excited about it!

Beck's turn to open his present while most everyone watches.

Love it when the family gets together. Give thanks for mine every single night.

Need some help please!

One thing that will happen to you when your children grow up is that you will go places you have never gone before and learn things you never had any interest in. (Sounds like a Dr. Seuss story, doesn't it?)

I know I will leave something out, but my children have helped me become experts in soccer, baseball, football, chauffering, room mothering, dance team, PTA, volleyball, basketball, wrestling, tennis, track, ASB government, mock trial, swimming, marching band, uniform fitting, being a board member, snack stand managing and now this.

I am told this is called Water Polo - sometimes H20 Polo for short! Similar to soccer, there is a goal at each end and you get a point for each goal scored. Not similar to soccer, where a blowout is 6-2, or something like that - I witnessed a 16-2 game. Not pretty. Lots of new rules to learn but we are having fun doing so. Have also been reminded vividly how miserable working a snackstand can be.....

Have seen some very long arms make some pretty tricky, graceful shots. Hard shots, too. And right on top of the goalee. Not a fun position. I bet goalees have a lot of missing teeth.

Am amazed that no one ever complains about the silly caps they must wear, but since they must wear them I guess that's why no one complains. Maybe once I get a little more used to them they won't appear so silly looking.

Water Polo players NEVER rest. Even if you're not swimming from one end of the pool to the other, you are still treading - excuse me....egg beatering water. Even during a time out, the players don't hang on the side of the pool while the coach talks to them - they tread water while they listen.

And I have learned that it is a Speedo, not Speedos, as in "Mom, do you know where my Speedo is?" Makes no sense, because my reply would by "In your room by your pants" instead of "In your room by your pant."

Lots more to learn. Be sure and stay humble. If you don't, your kids will get you that way very quickly.

Thanks everybody. It has been quite a ride and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Would ever so gladly do it all over again!!

Pretty Pretty Plumerias!

I know all you Idahites will snicker when I talk about how I can tell that the seasons are changing, but snicker away. There are some subltle changes here in California.

How I love our Plumerias! You know it's summer when they are in full bloom and the smell is heavenly! These blossoms will eventually fall off as cooler weather approaches and then we wait the long winter for spring and more plumerias to pop out! Even the big green leaves fall off and all we are left with is sticks.

These solid white ones with just a touch of yellow are in a pot on our front porch.

These white ones - quite similar to the ones above except with a lot more yellow - smell the best! This tree is the best one for kids to take the blooms off of to wear in their hair. Lots and lots of flowers on this one. This one sits in the back yard in a very large pot.


Look at these! I think they are called Rainbow ones, or something like that. Also in the back yard, but out close to the tangerine tree. This is the best year we've had with this tree.

Now these are really something!!

When we went to Hawaii last year we brought home two plumeria's from the swap meet. One of them withered up and died and one of them didn't. I don't even remember what color the other tree was. Trouble is, we really really wanted the dark colored burgundy one the most but had no idea which one made it so it has been a long year, wondering if it was going to bloom this year or wait another year (it didn't last year).

We were so pleased when these blossoms peeked through!

The blossoms look a little reddish here compared to their true color. They are a deep deep burgundy and sit in a pot that is on the fire pit in the back yard.

And last but not least.

We are making a few changes. The paint color and floor moulding go into the living room itself. I guess we need to re-name the room, as the "green room" doesn't fit anymore.