I need a break...

So this post is mainly to let off a little steam. I know I've written about my hard little times before and I guess it's time to rant and rave again.

A lot has been going on with my family lately and I feel like I'm barely staying a float. To start, we have just moved about 5 months ago to Ewa Beach. I am totally in love with my new home and love having our own space to do what we want. I guess you can say we were spoiled with not having to pay bills and spending what we wanted. Don't get me wrong were OK but barely. I'm the one that keeps up our financial books, cleans the house, takes care of our son, cooks and pretty much almost everything else you can think of. Gil is back now but he has been gone during the weeks for the past 5 months working on Maui. So I was literally doing it by myself.

I got a new calling a few weeks ago to be the Primary Secretary and I feel like there's so much to be done and I don't know people and I don't know the kids. I'm trying and very slowly getting there but I feel like it's just to much to soon. I can't write anything on my computer cause apparently our Microsoft works was a temporary thing. The church computer and copier is broken and I need to print out and type up so many things.

I recently (about 4 months ago) started to babysit for extra money. I was praying for an opportunity for Gil and I to have extra money and this came right away. It was for a friend of a friend. The boy I watch is Dezi's age, almost 3, and he is more than a handful. I feel like he might have something like A.D.D. but I can't really tell. His mother has told me she's supposed to get him tested but she never has (I think for fear of knowing her child may have a disorder?). He is only now starting to really speak or try to but half the time it's still babbling and with that there are tantrums because I can't understand what he wants sometimes. He keeps me more than on my toes and I am running after him all day. I feel like an incapable mother because all my attention is on this boy all day and Dezi is in the back of my mind cause I know he is ok. By the time the boy goes home I'm tired and have to start dinner, bath Dezi, clean and put him to bed.

Since Gil has been gone I've been doing everything literally by myself and have gotten used to it. Since he has been home I still do what I need to do because it needs to be done but I get no help. I think he sees me doing it and so he just doesn't do anything. I want to say something to him and ask for help but for some reason I can't. I just think "why do I need to ask?"

And last but not least, Gil has just gotten surgery on his knee so even more so I have to cater to him. I'm working hard and he is playing games all day. I know he can't help but I think it's resentment from past months building up and it's finally coming out.

Although times are hard I know they will get better. My faith is being tested and I hope I make HIM proud. I am grateful for all that I have been blessed with. I really am. I feel better letting off a little steam.

Sorry for the complaints and long post but you know what.....IT'S MY BLOG!

Nuhi/Au Family reunion 2010...

So every two years our Chinese family on my mother's side gets together for a family reunion. This year was interesting because I actually was at the sign-in table greeting family and getting to know a lot of them. We had a family pedigree chart that my tutu made so I even found out who was who and who came from what line.

Each year is different and usually there are activities to go along with the whole reunion thing but this year not to many people signed up for them so we just had the dinner part. Even though there were no activities I found I was more involved and actually enjoyed it, rather than going and thinking..."I'm never gonna see these people till the next family reunion or if I do I'm definitely not going to remember them." I helped make the food, was at the sign in table, cleaned up after the whole deal, helped prep for other things and put my self out there to talk to strangers.

This picture was taken by an old auntie who, I still don't remember her name but if I see her I can say, "Hi Auntie!"

Our family was in charge of the Lomi salmon. So we showed up the Friday before and started chopping away. And we looked good doing it too!

The men prepared the imu....

So we could eat this...

(he's not dead. Just tied up)

So a funny but not so funny story about the little pig who went to "market"...

The boys in the family had caught this pig a while ago and kept it at my uncles house until the reunion time. Well the day before the reunion we had to get the pig ready for the imu. While it's in the horse trailer the men start tying it's legs together to prevent it from running away while it's...let just say "passing". It is the worst sound you will ever hear (maybe I'll post the video one day?) . Anyway the pig has "passed" and has been laying there for about 15 min. with the body in the trailer but it's head hanging over the edge. Everyone is watching this poor thing bleed to death, talking, laughing, taking pictures and for some..tasting the blood which they drained into a bowl (totally disgusting but a good picture/story for my cousins to share with friends in the mainland..I guess). Well a distant cousin of mine...from the mainland... decides he wants to take a picture with this dead pig and proceeds to lie down under the head pretending to taste the dripping blood. I guess the pig didn't like that so up he got and shot out of the trailer running as fast lightning as far as the rope would let him go! Needless to say everyone went running wild, children were left behind to save ourselves and guys were laughing! I guess we ladies forgot he was tied up. Super scary moment but now I can laugh about it.

I had Dezi in my arms when it happened and nearly dropped him. Can you imagine an animal that you thought was dead, throat slit, blood drained and he gets up and runs!

After all that was said and done, from the days before to the late night clean up, then drive an hour home, it was worth it for all the memories we made!

Thiim Family photo session 2010...

Our "on occasion" annual family photo shoot took place at the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens. I love this place and I am so beyond happy we chose this over the beach....again. It was a beautiful day and the weather loved us too!

Here's just a few pictures of our growing family.

The siblings

All the adults

Papa and Tutu with all 15 grandchildren. Yes you heard me right....15. And still growing might I add.

I LOVE this little guy to death!

The four babies. They were all born within a year of each other. Dezi is such a ham! How can you not love that adorable child?