Visiting Guam

Analia is riding a water buffalo named Bessie...the animal is 30 years old and is still young.  Wild.  A local Chommorro man, named Big John told us all about her.

Drinking coconut milk straight from the freshly-machete-cut coconut.

At a local village called Gef Pago--they have recreated some old houses and gave us coconut candy...it's good.

At Inarajan--the coastline is breathtaking.  d

Hiking up from Haputo Beach.  

This past week my friend, college teammate and classmate, Jen, came over from Shanghai to visit.  It happened to be perfect timing because Mike was TDY this week and her husband, Taylor, was on a business trip too.  It was a beautiful girls week.  We toured the island all week and I remembered just how much fun it is to be with girls and what an amazing place I live.  It is seriously paradise.  Here are some pictures from the week. 

MY Favorite Eights

I've read too many of these to pass up on MY turn!  :) Can you tell I live with a 2-year old?

8 Favorite TV Shows: (TV here on Guam is pretty bad--we get yesterdays broadcasting--we're actually thinking about canceling cable---yikes!)

1. Scrubs

2. The Colbert Report

3. Malcolm in the Middle

4. The Amazing Race

5. Seinfeld

6. The Little Einsteins (okay I ran out and the next few are Analia's Favs)

7. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

8. The Little Mermaid (it's a movie I know, but a constant request)

8 Things I did Yesterday:

1. Rode my bike with the girls in the trailer.

2. Iced my sore left hip flexor.

3. Made rolls from scratch.

4. Ate lunch with Mike (basically everyday--we live on base so the office is very close)

5. Cleaned up Analia's accident--poopy pants for the second time in 2 days!  Argh.

6. Had a FHE lesson and played STOP/GO down the hallway.

7. Mike coached me on some soccer moves and defense in the backyard.

8. Ate the cookies I made for someone else who wasn't home when we tried to deliver them...ya snooze ya loose! 

8 Things I'm Looking Forward to:

1.  A visit home to Utah.

2. Mike's day off this Friday and our free stay downtown in an Ocean-View room.

3. Soccer practice and the games.

4.  Teaching again--in a school setting--I do all I can with my girls now...

5. Running without a double stroller in windy season.

6. Watching something besides The Little Mermaid (see above)

7. Having another baby.

8. A manicure? (I'll drop the hint for my Valentine's day gift...)

8 Favorite Restaurants: (we don't eat out much, and my memory sucks, so I'll try my best...)

1. La Rita's in Barcelona, SP--I cried after the dessert, it was so delicious.

2. Red Robin--can't beat the burgers--Layton, UT

3. Sae Joung, Guam

4. Osaka Sushi, Destin FL

5. Ciao Bellas, Destin FL

6. Main Street Cafe, Milton FL

7. Bombay House, SLC

8. Barbacoa, SLC

8 Things I wish for:

1.  World Peace

2. End to the worries about money

3. To keep traveling far and wide (I'm seriously living the Good Life!)

4.  My kids to grow up happy and healthy and with a testimony

5. Endless time to finish my projects--sewing, writing, piano playing, etc.

6. To have no more insecurities

7.  Happiness for everyone in my family

8.  Good hair and good face days everday

8 Favorite Treats

1. Chocolate

2. Microwave popcorn--kettle corn

3. Farahlyn's Caramel Popcorn

4. Breyer's Chocolate chip ice cream

5. Sticky rice and mangos

6. Ho Duk

7. Texas sheet cake with Norma's frosting

8. Pepperidge Farms Melt-away mints

I could go on and on about my treats--I have a sweet tooth!

I Tag anyone who hasn't done this yet!

Swimming Lessons

Analia and Maya had their first official swimming lesson today.  Analia is a FISH!  She can hold her breath and swim independently underwater...we had to keep close tabs on her because she just wanted to jump in and swim around like the older kids.  She'll be a great swimmer very very soon.  Maya was a little hesitant, maybe because the water was pretty cold or maybe because she's only 1 and we were skipping her morning nap to be there, I don't know for sure.  The one exercise she was fabulous at was laying on her belly reaching out for a toy.  Once the lesson was over and they could both just play and splash, Maya warmed up and really enjoyed herself.  We stayed at the pool and the beach for a few hours...the sun felt wonderful and both girls were playing in the soft sand...I told Mike that I think we may have found Paradise.  

Christmas Day

Christmas this year was one of the best years for me...I had so much fun getting ready the weeks before the big day, and on Christmas eve, I cooked so much food so easily that I knew it was a mini-Christmas-miracle.  Last year I got so freakin' mad at having to do so much work that I didn't enjoy it at all--and I learned my lesson.  So this year I planned well and got everything ready so Christmas day would be a breeze.  And it was.  Throughout Christmas eve and Christmas day, my girls we're so so sweet...even more so than the normal every day sweet. We the girls PJ's from Korea and they loved them.  Analia got a red Kitchen from Santa and Maya got a cute little ramp that little balls rolled down (see video below).  We had fun playing and eating all day long.  In the afternoon we took a walk/ride around the neighborhood.  It was refreshing to get out into the warm air.  On the following day, we hiked to Haputo beach and swam and played in the sand.  It was a fabulous holiday. I miss you all and hope your days we're a fulfilling and rich as mine were!  Love you!

Our Thanksgiving Adventure--Boonie Stomping to Pagat Caves

The coast of Pagat

Mike in front of a natural coral bridge

The girls and I in the ancient Chamorro village in front of a grinding stone.

Inside the Pagat caves

Preparing to go on our hike

After cooking and cleaning and eating all day on Thanksgiving, Mike and I always get a little stir crazy and want to go out on an advenuture--last year we went on a leisurely bike ride that ended up being about 17 miles round trip with me being 7 months prego...I was in total pain for 2 days afterwards.  

This year, we decided to go hiking--we packed up a couple of water bottles, 2 apples, some gold fish and pretzels, got directions from a guy at outdoor rec and off we went.  We were feeling extra prepared because the girls had hats and sunblock on...come to find out, we didn't need the sunblock because we delved deep into the jungle...what we needed was bug spray.  

My girlfriend was shocked that we went without a guide--what do we need a guide for, we just follow the trail, right?  Right.  At first this was easy because the trail was an old sleeping-grass covered road, then down into the jungle we went.  I say down because we decended 400 feet of slimy limestone coral, with ropes along the way to help us down--this was no easy feat considering I have Maya strapped to my chest in the front carrier and Mike is carrying Analia in a backpack...just one wrong move and we could permanently damage ourselves and our kids...yikes.  My nerves were shaky.  Finally we made it down safely and found the caves we were hiking to.  To our utter surprise, inside the caves is a fresh water pool, clear as crystal and quite refreshing.  But completely dark.  Luckily there was a family leaving as we arrived and they left us a flashlight (and some bug spray, thank heaven).  So we stripped the girls down to nothin' and we got in the water.  The pool in the first room was only knee deep and at the back of it was a narrow, slanted passageway, about 3 feet wide and 15 feel long, that led into a much bigger room with a much deeper pool.  All around the room were candles that we lit up and, along with the flashlight, it was light enough to swim and jump off rocks.  The girls had a ball, jumping in and splashing around.  And we did too.  

On our way out of the caves, we ran into another group who was headed out farther along the trail to the coast.  We joined up with them and hiked through an ancient Chamorro village, with old grinding stones and all.  I was glad we were following the group because the trail through the village was difficult to follow--it all looked like it could be a trail.  As we got out of the village, we caught glimpses of the coast, then BAM, the trail opened up to a natural coral bridge and cliffs and the ocean.  It was breathtaking.  

We hiked all around the rocks, had our snack, and headed back.  I should mention that the group left long before we did, so we were on our own.  We reached to ancient village and lost the trail.  I started thinking, okay we have about 2 sips of water left and some pretzels.  After backtracking and hiking all around, we found the trail and the caves and decided to power hike back to the car.  By the time we got back to the grassy road, we were drenched and exhausted and the girls were sleeping.  

So we learned a few lessons: always pack more water than you think you'll need, leave extra clothes in the car, bring lots of extra food too, maybe even a first aid kit (Mike got a nasty gash on his shin), and always, always bring bug spray.  

So this is becoming sort of a Thankgiving Tradition--go on an adventure, and pray that everything works out.   It's not an adventure if you don't have to pray a little along the way, right?

Ol MacDoney had a mama pig...

I walked in the other day and Analia was singing to Maya--it's short, but totally cute.  Look at Maya smile... 

Don't worry, I'm still here...(MEGAPOST)

Let's start with the Good Stuff!  Some pictures to lighten up your day!

Here we are at a Saturday service project in the park.  We're really working hard!

HALLOWEEN:  Analia is Ariel--the " 'il'l mermay dress" was a hit! She even sang the song--ahh ahh ahh...

What else could Maya be, but an Angel?

Off to the beach...kinda different from FL!  But SOOO beautiful.

Hello my faithful readers--I'm finally having a few moments of quiet on this Sunday afternoon...I do get moments of quiet every day, but I'm usually doing other things--reading scriptures or sleeping or cleaning with toxic cleaners--but today I thought I'd post a few things that have been going on in my life.  

First off, Mike and I decided that we need to infuse our diets with vegges and fruit and, WOW, what a difference it is making in how we feel and sleep and exercise...I've started my own Nutrition 101 course and have decided to veer away from trans-fats, hydrogenated oils, sugars, and pesticides.  Up until lately, I kinda thought that I was 'above' all of the healthy stuff--like "I don't need to spend a buck fifty more on organic something or other because I exercise everyday and eat pretty well..." Until I found out that even big exercisers need to have 'clean' and healthy food to live well and continue in an active lifestyle.  I learned that as early as age 7, kids are showing signs of hardened arteries!!  Is that insane?! 7?!  I was shocked and really felt like I need to help Analia make good food choices--and it starts with what we have in the house.  So I bought the all natural peanut butter (a daily staple around here), Soy milk, organic vegges and fruits (not much selection here on Guam--everything is shipped and is not in fantastic shape), and organic yogurt (so yummy!).  That is just a start--baby steps.

The next thing is that I've been studying my scriptures (almost) everyday--and I'll give another big WOW for that, because I feel so much more love in my  life...I'm nicer to my kids (most of the time) and to Mike, I feel happier, and find myself wanting to laugh more.  It really was a decision that I made--when I found myself getting mad for wasting time napping when I didn't absolutely have to, or reading dumb emails, or any other thing that is not productive--and then I would feel crappy and grumpy.  It was almost becoming habitual.  Then I just decided that I want to be a happy, spiritual person again--and poof--I made the tweaks to my day and felt so much better.  It's nice how the commandments and guidelines of the church are really for our own benefit and growth--which in turn benefits those around us.  And can I send out a shout for this past General Conference?!  Fantastic.  What I learned from conference (thanks AD!):

• L. Tom Perry: 4 things needed to survive: food, clothes, shelter, fuel (from Thoreau)--he expounds: FOOD: care for body and nourish spirit; CLOTHING: dress modestly and have a clean appearance; SHELTER: do not live beyond our means; and FUEL: build up our spiritual fuel by strengthening our testimonies.  I love references to literature!
• Dieter F. Uctdorf: Faith--Hope--Charity all build each other.  Put my faith and hope into action.
• Joseph B. Wirthlin: "Come what may and love it." How do I approach adversity? He advises me to: laugh, seek for the eternal, understand the principle of compensation, and trust in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.
• Jeffery R. Holland: God sends his Angels to comfort, guide, and warn.  I must try to see the love of God manifested in people.  D&C 84:88 "mine angels round about you to bear you up."
• Lawrence E. Corbridge: The highest standard is achievable because it is God's endeavor, not a human endeavor. It's achievable by everyone.  He makes us able.
• David A. Bednar: I should counsel with the Lord in all my doings--morning and evening prayers are linked together to spiritually create our day.  Try giving a GRATITUDE prayer every once in a while--just say thanks for everything  you can think of, and don't ask for anything.  And pray for others with sincerity...I will receive strength, comfort, revelation, and guidance. 
• Henry B. Eyering: Speak well of each other--be generous, because that is what the Lord will do for us.
• Pres. Thomas S. Monson: Find JOY IN THE JOURNEY, NOW.  Appreciate life.  Make the most of today. Change will come, so be loving and kind.  Relish life as we live it. Gratitude is one of the noblest virtues.  Follow the life of Christ. 

I've been so uplifted and spiritually strengthened from this conference (and the General Relief Society Broadcast too--Elder Uctdorf spoke to my heart.)  I can't wait for the magazine to get here!

And finally--we just had an earthquake!! Yes, literally just now.  My hands are totally shaking--just like all of the pictures on the wall. It started sounding like a low grumble then everything started shaking, books falling over and the pictures slanting on the wall...and the grumbling sound just got louder and stayed for about 10 seconds, then slowly stopped...wow.  Really kinda scary.  It makes me think about perspective--not about fighting over politics (which I've learned my lesson--just don't bring it up, with ANY ONE, PERIOD), or worrying about what people think--it's about loving and staying close to my family, and those I care about.  And well, right now I don't really know--I'm shaken up, literally.

I love you all and miss you.  Until next time---Kisses from GU.