Random Photos

If you are having trouble eating with your chopsticks, use them as a fashion accessory.  The more you have the better!

Grahm drew this picture of us to illustrate how I am always so mean.  I am saying no and he is saying sorry with tears.  

This is an awesome Lego ring that he made me one day.  I loved it, just wish I had a place to keep all of their Lego creations.   Next house, next house...

I caught my girls snuggling their Dad one afternoon.  I think nap time was over, but just getting started for Jason.  I don't think he got a nap.

Kindess 2013

Many of you may have seen this graphic.  I found it on pinterest (if you follow me on pinterest then you saw lots of kindness quotes getting pinned).

Our family goal for 2013 is to get a whole lot better at being kind, especially within the 4 walls of our own home.  We have noticed a serious lack of kindness going on at home, it starts at the top and trickles to the bottom.  We hope to spend 2013 really focusing on using kind words and serving one another.

I found some free printables for a Kind Kids Club.  The packet includes some coloring pages and room for defining what being kind means and how to be kind.  It also includes cards to print off with acts of kindness on them and some blank ones.  I printed a bunch of blank ones off and every Monday they get a new card with a way to be kind written on it.  They have a week to accomplish their kind act.  For kind acts I included things like: say thank you, give a hug, make someones bed, do a chore for someone else, do a chore without being asked, write a letter of appreciation, etc...

I grabbed the Scatter Kindness graphic and used my vinyl cutter to make a sign to stick on the wall to help us remember.  I hope 2013 is much kinder.

Ringing in the Year of the Snake

Charlotte and her friend are hanging out by a Japanese New Year decoration outside of Naritasan Temple.  Do you see the snake in the middle?

We decided to spend New Years day following a Japanese custom called Hatsumode.  Hatsumode is the first shrine or temple visit of the year.  We grabbed our friends and we headed to Naritasan Temple to enjoy the festival atmosphere.  There were people visiting wearing kimonos, buying charms.   I love the little girls in kimonos.

Naritasan is also supposed to be lucky for couples who are hoping for a bundle of joy (lucky for us!).

While we were there we ran into friends from church who shared their cotton candy with my vultures.  Oops, I mean children.  I also had fried mochi for the first time.  I am so in love, I will be making some soon.  Of course we had Taiyaki, the fish shaped cakes filled with sweet bean paste.

Happy New Year!

Christmas = Peace on Earth (at least at our house)

Christmas Eve we really slowed things down and spent time together and with the Christmas story.  It was amazing.  We talked about giving Christ a gift and had everyone write down what "sin" they wanted to give up this year and give it to Christ.  The story that inspired this is found in the Book of Mormon, Alma 22:18.  The gospel is being taught to the King of the Lamanites and he believes and wishes to give up all his sins to know Christ.  After we wrote them down we put them in the tree.  We enjoyed a quiet evening together.

(We tried for a family pictures, but it was windy and chilly so this was my favorite.  We will try again in a few weeks)

However, the best part came the next day.  It was the most peaceful day I think we have had in years at our house.  There was no arguing, raised voices, unkind comments, disrespectful attitudes or words, etc...  We had a perfect Christmas (except we miss family).  The children showed gratitude for their gifts and of course their excitement for receiving.  I hope we will be able to enjoy more days like this again.

As usual Jason can only run one camera at a time, so all pictures are later in the day when we are just enjoying Christmas.

Jason purchased a few shotguns for himself for Christmas.  I think he is getting ready for all the hunting opportunities next year.

It was a Good Day!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to Teachers!

The teacher gifts are finished and out the door.  I thought I would share what we did this year.  We made coasters using this tutorial from Shanty-2-Chic.

I love this saying and it works awesome for male teachers, if I had access to better fitting blank merchandise I would have made a shirt or a ball cap.

Merry Christmas to all the Good Teachers out there!  Thank you for teaching our children.

Our Final Installment

The final installment to our family will be.....

A BOY!!!!

We are excited and looking forward to his arrival in April.

Since its almost Thanksgiving, a Halloween Post

I just seem to be getting further behind with blogging.  I wanted to get the Halloween pictures posted before Thanksgiving, but have been trying to get 2 of my kids to dress up again.  Jayce and Grahm went Trick-or-Treating with friends and I missed getting a picture of them in the middle of the rush.

Jayce and Grahm were dressed as pirates.  Jason even took the boys to the thrift store to get some clothes that he helped turn into pirate clothes.  The boys added their own blood and their own costumes this year (yay!!).

Charlotte of course changed her mind on Halloween.  I have learned that I need to be prepared for her to change.  Originally she wanted to be a fairy, witch, sugar skull, etc... I had her convinced to use an old dance costume of mine because next year it will be too cold to wear it.  Well it was too cold and rainy here this year, so last minute she decided to be a Sugar Skull.

Tennyson was debating between a bunny and Tinker Bell.  We decided on Tinker Bell and then there was no changing her mind after that, even if it was too cold.  We had to layer her up.  I also painted an old pair of pink shoes green and make big pompoms for her toes.  She wore them until it was time to go and then they had to come off, oh well.

You can tell Tennyson was still getting over the flu.

This year we celebrated a little differently, instead of trying to do it all on Halloween we spread it out.  On Monday we had our ghoulish dinner were we name everything something disgusting.  Tuesday we carved pumpkins.  Wednesday they had a Halloween lunch and we Trick-or-Treated that night.

 
Mummies with blood, fingers and Dracula carrots, ghost cheese, monster mouth apples.

Sugared Cranberries, a tutorial

I know I haven't done a tutorial for awhile.  It is not easy to make lots of great things with 4 little ones and living in Okinawa.

Sugared Cranberries have become a fall tradition since I was introduced to them about 8 years ago by a friend of mine.  I love them and usually can eat a few bags of them each fall.  If I was living in the lower 48, I generally make these after Thanksgiving and into December.  However, living in Okinawa demands that it be done much earlier.  The cranberries just don't seem to last as long.

First you will need to gather:
1 bag of fresh cranberries
Colander
Sauce pan
Slotted spoon
Sugar
Water
Bowl
Cookie Sheet

1.  First you need to wash your cranberries and sort out any bad ones.  They are usually bad if they have soft spots/completely soft or have black/dark spots on them.

2.  Bring to a boil in your sauce pan 1 cup of water and 1 cup of sugar.  As soon as it boils turn if off and let it cool down.

3.  Once the syrup you made has cooled enough you will add the cranberries.  To check to see if the syrup has cooled enough toss in one cranberry.  If it splits or pops then it is too hot.  You want the syrup as warm as the cranberries can stand without them popping.  It is okay if a few of them pop, but you are not making cranberry sauce.

4.  Let the cranberries steep in the syrup for a few hours or over night (I usually put mine in the refrigerator after awhile and leave it until morning).

5.  Place some sugar in a bowl, 1/4 cup or less at a time.  I usually use regular granulated sugar.  You can use finer sugar or courser sugar depending on the look you like.  Use your slotted spoon and spoon a few cranberries at a time into the bowl and gently shake them around to coat them with sugar.

6.  Place the cranberries on a cookie sheet to dry (I usually leave mine for most of the day or over night) in the refrigerator.

7.  Place in a container to share with friends and family.  Keep refrigerated and enjoy!

I Can't Wait Until I'm 8 for then I'll be Baptized.

So handsome in white

Grahm turned 8 years old and made the decision to be baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  We are so proud of him and his decision.  Since we live on Okinawa he had the option of being baptized in the East China Sea.

We had a small intimate service.  The only people we had in attendance were our family including Grammy and Grandaddy.  Also, Uncle Malan and President Young were there.

Charlotte gave the opening prayer and we sang When I am Baptized (page 103) without any accompaniment, Grammy Miller lead the music.  Jayce shared a talk on Baptism.  He did a great job, he used a dirty penny as an object lesson and talked about the Savior and his example and its purpose.  Grandaddy Miller shared a talk on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  It was amazing, I felt the spirit.  It was just our little group of 10 huddled around listening to the talks with the sound of the surf in the background and the sun slowly setting.

After that he was baptized by his Dad with John Malan and Jay Miller as witnesses.  After we had him wrapped up warm in a towel he was confirmed while standing there in the sand.  We closed with the song Choose the Right Way (pg. 160)  By this time it was hard to see the words and we were a little less musical sounding.  I gave the closing prayer.

It was an amazing experience and I hope everyone who was there will remember it and how they felt.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and to have parents who are wonderful examples to me and to my children of how to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.

After the service we went to Jack's Place for some Japanese Tepanyaki to celebrate.

Another Birthday!

Grahm turned 8 this year.  8 is a big deal for us and he was lucky enough to have his grandparents in town for a visit.  They helped make the celebration wonderful and last a few extra days.

He was spoiled rotten by everyone - Lego's, his own set of scriptures (a gift for when you turn 8), a camera, a rock collection, and so much more.

(I love Jayce's expression in these photos)

For the big day he wanted to eat Falafel (his mommas boy), ribs (to make daddy happy), edamame, fruit, and for his cake a giant cookie.  We were adventurous and made pumpkin chocolate chip cookie - he loved it.

Happy Birthday Grahm!  We are so proud of you.  You are one of the most thoughtful kids we know.  You will share everything you have even if it is the last one and you don't get any (you get that from your Grammy).  You are a awesome big brother to your little sisters and help me out when ever I need you to.  You are such a smarty pants, too.  We love you.