I'm going to enjoy this for as long as I can

So last night Richard and I went out to dinner and left Jordan home to babysit like we do every week. However, something motivated Jordan to call us on our way home to ask if I wash a certain pan in the dishwasher or hand wash it. Well, we come home and he is doing dishes, wiping off tables, and cleaning up messes (he never does any of that unless I ask him).

It was time for bed at this point but he asks if he can clean up downstairs. How can I say no. So he picks up and vacuums then comes up and tells me he is going to do laundry and clean upstairs tomorrow gasp. We are shocked but I tell him that's great because I've been meaning to show him how to do laundry anyway. He tells me he already knows how because he's been watching me do it. Interesting. If he has been watching me do laundry what else has he been watching me do. (Just a good reminder on the kind of example we are to our kids-good or bad.)

Anyway, Richard and I are amazed and thrilled that Jordan is so eager to help but yet again we have to think what's the motivation. I finally just ask him if he is doing this to get his own room or if he just trying to be helpful. (Now we have been telling Jordan for months he needs to show us how responsible he is in order to get his own room, but it has never kicked in.) He answered my question with some of both.

The next morning we woke up to take kids to school and noticed all the shoes in the garage were neatly organized and put in their place. I could really get used to this although I know it will not last forever. It may only last one day. As we are heading out the door I hear the next motivation "If I keep cleaning can I have a cell phone?" What my son will do when he's motivated. I'm not complaining though. I'm going to enjoy this for as long as I can.

Our day with the Ruf's

The Ruf's came to Hawaii to celebrate their 15 year anniversary and we were excited they were able to spend at least one day with us. Jill took a picture of us at the Grand Wailea where we had dinner and enjoyed the sunset. We went on a short hike to see a waterfall but you can never predict the weather. Although it was sunny in Kihei it was raining where the waterfall was. We got soaked, but hiking through the bamboo was worth it.

I'm gonna be sick in one minute...

This silly boy walked into our bedroom and spies a roll of lifesavers on the table next to the bed. This is his conversation with his Dad.

Dylan: Can I have some candy?
Richard: You can't have any because I'm sick and I need them (to help his sore throat).
Dylan: I'm gonna be sick in one minute.
(Who gets sick in one minute?)

He was going to be sick so he could have some candy, boy is he smart. His dad thought he was so cute and gave him a lifesaver. Then he walks in the living room where I am and shows me his lifesaver and says I'm gonna be sick in one minute. Just letting me know it was ok that he was going to eat this candy because he was gonna be sick too.

Taekwondo Championships

This is the second year Jordan and Brendan have participated in this event. They did so good this year. I can't believe how much they improved from last year. They didn't win top honors or anything but they worked really hard and we are very proud of them. They participated in two events: Forms and Sparring. Jordan has gotten really flexible since taking Taekwondo.
At this point Brendan is tied trying to get another point.
Mom helping Brendan put on his protective gear.
Jordan waiting for his turn to spar.

Flower Leis

Every once in awhile I learn the new responsibilities I have as RS President. I recently learned that every ward conference I have to give the closing prayer in sacrament meeting, kinda stressful. I also learned that the RS presidency is responsible to get leis for the Bishopric, Stake Presidency, Stake RS Presidency and a few extra just in case. We planned to get 12 leis but buying that many is pretty expensive so we decided to order flowers from a flower farm and make our own. I was excited because I have never made flower leis before and I was excited to learn. We ordered about 5 different kinds of flowers in different colors. Because of the many things that were going on that day, it just ended up being my secretary, her husband and myself making the leis at 9:00PM the night before conference. I have to say it was one of the most relaxing things I have ever done. It was so easy and fun to create leis using a mixture of flowers. We planned to have enough flowers to make 12 but we were able to make 18 (although we had to get really creative toward the end because of what flowers were left over). That night my secretary put wet paper towels on the flowers to keep them fresh but worried that it wouldn't be enough so she stuck them in the fridge. Well, the result was frozen leis the next morning. Thank goodness we made extra because some just had to be thrown away. They ended up less than perfect but we've learned and it's the thought that counts (right?).

Conference BINGO

I always feel uplifted listening to conference and this conference was especially good because President Monson got sustained as our new prophet. I am able to enjoy watching conference more now that my kids have found a way to enjoy it as well. I have to say thanks to Tonia Nelson for giving Jordan our first conference packet when he was 8 yrs old and in her primary class. Ever since then we have played BINGO during conference and it is something my kids look forward to playing. We usually like to use gummy bears but we had a bunch of jelly beans left from Easter so we used those. When they get a BINGO, they get to eat their treats that made the BINGO but then have to clear the board and start all over again. Dylan is still a little young to play but he enjoyed putting jelly beans in each square to fill up his board. I think next year I'll have the boys create their own boards. I have used a great website to create BINGO boards for all different occasions and I love how you can switch up the squares without having to create a whole new board. http://www.dltk-cards.com/bingo/bingo1.asp

How to have fun with Adobe Photoshop

I love these special issue magazines by Jessica Sprague. I just got the the second edition and it is just as good as the first. When I first got Adobe Photoshop Elements I just used it for the organization because I didn't know what I was doing when I tried to edit. This is my Adobe Photoshop course. It has pictures to show you what to do and it is written with a lot of detail. Plus there are free digital downloads.