Another photo challenge

 A picture of your favorite TV show cast.

Good Luck Charlie is our family's favorite show. We watch it together. It's a realistic show and we love it. Keeps us laughing! I love PJ the most! :)

We did love to watch Reba when it was on. It's since been canceled, which is a bummer. That show was the greatest ever! We loved Van! "hey if we get a van, we'll have 'minivans'.!!!! {Get it?} He is a hoot. I have it on DVD though! ;) So i can watch whenever i need a 'Van' fix! lol

photo challenge week 2

 A picture of yourself and the person you're closest with

Of course I have to be close to him. He is after all my husband. I tell him everything and he does give pretty good advice. Even though sometimes i don't want to hear it but you know how it is! He's the best friend i didn't want but need!

This girl is the one I'm closet to the most though. I tell her everything! I i do mean everything. There isn't anything that she doesn't know. There are things i tell my husband and there are things i tell her. And yes some things my husband doesn't know about but she does. I've known this girl almost my whole life, we've been the best of friends since kids. This picture was from my engagement in Twin Falls. She is tying a white yarn around my wrist and saying a 'blessing' for me. It is tradition to tie the white yarn and bless the bride/groom for their engagement and/or wedding. Not sure if i remember what she said that day - it was a blur. But i will always remember her and how much she means to me. I was a nervous wreck that day- what did you expect? I had just known my future husband for like a day and now we are getting engaged? I'm glad she was there that day to help me and give me support. Although we don't get to see each other anymore and we don't talk as often as we use to, she is still my best friend and i love her. 

 

 

Another Snow Day?

It's the beginning of April but I guess Mother Nature doesn't really care what month it is. It's snowing! And it's snowing those white beautiful big fluffy white flakes not those horrible sticky stuff that I really despise!
Although I don't like the snow, i won't complain this time. It actually looks pretty nice outside..... so white and clean. Wait until i have to drive in that huh?
We can't always win you know!
So lets say we'll enjoy this snow and then we'll rejoice once it's gone and done with. And please Mother Nature hurry up with Spring - we are really looking forward to your beautiful flowers and the smiley face of the sun.
Thank you!

P.S
my flip-flops are calling me from the closet and i really don't want to disappoint them! {just saying}

31 day photo challenge!

I saw on a friend's Facebook page that she is doing a 31 day photo challenge. You have 31 days and there are instructions on what to do. But i'm not sure if i want to do days so for now it'll be weeks unless i have too much fun!
Well here goes, this should be fun. :)


Week 1: A picture of yourself with 10 facts.

1) I like to sing
2) I love to 'people watch'...
3) I'm too emotional, i cry at everything and anything.......
4) I am a little too naive
5) I love to take walks and be by myself........yep i'm kind of a loner!
6) I try to give my all in a relationship/friendship and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
7) I like to play with pimples......yeah yeah gross i know but hey i can't help it. It's a bad bad habit.
8) I love to do jigsaw puzzles and i must say I'm queen at it.....
9) I truly hate bananas.......except i love the banana popsicle! Weird huh? Oh i do like the small Asian bananas but that's only if i'm desperate.
10) I love too much and hurt too easily.

That wasn't too hard. So go ahead a do it too.

Strep and Influenza

Well Naree has the Strep throat and Influenza......
Took her in to see her doc yesterday, spent about 2 hours in there. She was coughing up a storm so we really didn't get to have much done, had to wait out her cough to do anything. She also had to get x-rays for her chest since she was wheezing a bit. Doctor gave her her usual breathing treatment and prescribed some meds and an inhaler.
My poor baby has been sick for 5 days now. I really hate to see them sick, they look so helpless. I don't know how to help..... She's coughing and all i can do is rub her back and help as much as i can but what more can i do? We've had some sleepless nights. Just when she's about to fall asleep she wakes with a coughing fit. Poor baby, poor mommy!
So our nights/days consist of lots of back rubbing, wet towels on the head and lots of meds. We've been camped out in the living room for about 4 days now. I sure miss my comfy bed!
I hope she'll get back to her normal self soon....real soon because i hate to see her so sick.

well this is my baby for the pass few days....a lot of sleepy/resting and coughing. Notice her little garbage? For all that phlegm she's producing. Not fun at all.

I hope my sweet baby feels well soon. We sure miss seeing her and her energy! 

ramblings

I'm not sure what i want to write or say....
not sure how i'm suppose to go at it.
I'm sometimes at a lost for words and sometimes I've got too much to say...
i'm stuck between a world of chaos...
don't know where or what to look for.
Sometimes i feel as though life has dealt me some shitty stuff.......and sometimes it has been kind.
Such is life i suppose.

I'm not sure how or what you want me to be.
I'm stuck trying to figure you out.
What would you like me to be?
What do you want me to be?
How do you want me to be?
Am i not enough?
What i am now? Is that not enough?

I'm not sure how to go along in this life of mine....
stuck between this life of trying to be too much or not trying hard enough.
Thought i had tried everything but apparently that's not enough?
Some days there are smiles and some there aren't.
I'd really wish for more smiles than frowns.

How would you like me to be?
And if i haven't changed, would you still love me?
What if this is who i am?
This lazy-good-for-nothing kind of person?
Would you still love me then?

I'm not fond of myself........
i don't blame you for your feelings?
I sometimes hate myself too.

Some day you'll smile again.
Because that someday, i should probably be gone.

He and I

I'm glad that I found you.
You make me feel like a special princess.
You are always cheering me on...
Giving me encouragments.
You know how to bring a smile to my face
You know how to make me mad, annoyed, sad and angry.
But you always know how to banish them too.
You put up with all the laziness that I am.....thank you!
You put up with all my nagging and whining but yet still tell me you love me.
Even though i feel like i want you to just leave me alone...sometimes.
You always know how to make that go away.
How did i get so lucky?

I know we haven't always had the best relationship.
We've had our ups and downs, but I'm glad we pulled through.
You're my best friend. You help me be a better person.
No words can explain how grateful I am to have you in my life. Thank you for being my best friend and most of all thank you for being my husband.

This year for Valentine's Day we went to Olive Garden with the kids and Jasmine. No gifts no special flowers or anything.
I have to admit i really was hoping he would surprise me with something.....anything. But he didn't. Well i can't complain. He has been working 12 hours a day. What more do i want from him? :)
The night turned out great. Enjoyed a nice and fabulous dinner with the people i love the most. We enjoyed our food.
To cap off the night, we drove home listening to Nilun do impersonations. I truly love his Arnold "Terminator" impersonation. So hilarious. And his convenient store clerk one is good too.

Happy Valentine's Day!

peace

I did it. I offered the ride to the mother and child and they accepted. I was a little scared not knowing what she would think of the offering but glad that she didn't refuse.
Turns out she does have a car, it's just not working right now and her husbands' car just died on him too. We didn't really have to go far, she was walking her son to pre-school at the church about half a mile down. So it wasn't far for me.
Her son is cute, he really likes Yuki! He even blow Yuki a kiss good-bye when they got out of the car.

I was ready to offer her a ride on Tuesday but when i pulled into the restaurants' parking lot to turn around i saw that someone had picked them up so i headed home. So when i saw them today just passed my street, i turned around and drove into a drive way and asked her if she needed a ride.
Riding on the way to the pre-school she apologized for making me go out of my way to drop her and her son off since i would be turning around to go back home. And she did express gratitude. 

Now i feel better. At least i did my part and i feel good that i at least helped someone out today AND i actually didn't shy away and not ask {i've been know to do that since i've very shy}.
I don't want the credit for it nor am i bragging. All i want is for someone to read this and decide that they want to help someone out too?
Maybe a little "pay it forward" kind of thing?
Doing good always makes me feel like i've done something right. Doesn't it make you feel that way?

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Last night we went back to our 'weekly recipe' deal. The deal was i would at least try a new recipe once a week, more if I can but once a week would be great. Didn't matter where the recipe came from our what kind of food, I just had to make it. The deal was between my daughter and I.

 So this week it is Cajun Chicken Pasta. It turned out great actually. The flavor was great, in fact I think I could have added more Cajun sauce because I didn't think it was spicy enough. Well I should have just put some peppers in it and I'd be pretty happy but I didn't want to kill my kids! :)
My daughter was great help...chopping up things and helping me pour in the ingredients. Oh and of course my son too. He helped a little too!

I can not tell you or even come to describe how the smell was. It was so yummy and, lets just say my kitchen smelled so good to eat! I've never cooked with Cajun sauce but this won't be my last. I'm going to have to make new recipes to add with Cajun sauce.
You can find the recipe  HERE....

I added mushroom to it simply because I love mushroom with pasta. It is so good, especially baby bella mushrooms. And I added some MSG, I'm sorry I can't help it. I have to have my MSG!

We were sitting down to eat and my husband actually liked it, if you know him, you'll know he's not much of a noodle kind of guy but since it's a new recipe and he loves that the kids and I try them once a week, he'll try it. He thought it was good. But he had a better version. He added white pepper powder and some garlic and pepper salt to it and let me tell you. The flavor changed a bit and it was even better. So we added it to ours too and we were happy.

Oh and my son had pizza pockets. Yeah he helps out and stuff but he said he wasn't feeling the noodles this time so he didn't want any. He's not into trying new foods that much. Some days we'll be lucky if he wants to try some of our authentic Lao food but he basically likes to stick to the stuff he knows. My daughter on the other hand? She loves trying new foods. All I can say is that back when she was little we could pretty much eat a lot of things that the kids don't eat. But now pretty much everything we eat, we let Naree have it first and we finish it after her. She eats everything!
For example: You know those baby chicken eggs? Yes the ones with the baby inside! My kids love that, especially the juice but they only eat the yellow part of the egg and we finish the rest. Well 2 years ago my daughter decided to try the white part of it; the hard part! Yes you guessed it, she loves it now. So instead of giving it to daddy after she finishes the yellow part, she keeps the white and gives daddy the baby chicken! She belongs to this family for sure!
My son? Well he's not as brave as my daughter but a few weeks ago he did bulk up and tried the baby chicken.....needless to say he wasn't too fond of it, but hey at least he tried right? :)

So what's keeping you from trying new foods? If a little girl can try why can't you? Like Andrew Zimmerman always says "If it looks good, eat it!"
And well if it doesn't, try it anyways. You never know, you could like it!

what would you do?

I've been feeling conflicted with this feeling I'm having. I'm not sure how i feel or how i should feel.
Should I? Or shouldn't I?
What would she think?
I wish I could but I'm afraid........

About a week ago I've been noticing this mother and son walking in the snow to...I'm not sure where. She's bundled up and he is too. He seems to be around 4 or 5 or maybe younger. He is small. And she's holding his hand and walking him on the sidewalk, or what's left of a sidewalk. It's covered with snow and there's really no space for her to walk any less than her son but she gives him the sidewalk while she tries to walk around the snow. Probably so her son can be safe {if that is even possible}.....
I've drove pass this mother and child numerous times and every time i do, i want to stop and turn around. Drive up to her and ask if she'd like a ride. I'm not sure where they are going but I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere. I'm just coming back from dropping the kids off at school and she's probably trying to get to work and him to day care or preschool.
I want to help.............but i'm afraid. Now a days what will people think? She might think i'm psycho or some kind of freak who'll lash out and beat her or whatever.. {haven't you watched enough thrillers or scary movies?}
I feel bad for her having to walk in the snow with her child. It's so cold outside. This is the time of year when i get really emotional and feeling really bad that i complain about a lot of things but then i see this......this mother and child walking in the snow so they could get to wherever they are going. I bet they probably don't complain as much as i do.
Sometimes i want a new car simply because i see one that's nicer and prettier..........i bet she wishes she had ANY car!
I really wish i could be a better person. I really do.
How did i become this person? We never really had anything growing up..........
We shared our cloths within the four of us, we didn't have the nicest car or even a nice big house. But we still made do. Why am i now complaining that my house isn't enough?
I should be ashamed of myself. For becoming this person. I never want this 'person' to ever come back. I want to lock her up and say good bye and throw the key away. That is a person i never want to be.

This mother has brought me back to reality.
I was so tempted today to turn my car around and ask her if she needed a ride. Where ever she needed to go i would take her.
But what would she think?
A lot of people {even innocent looking people} can turn out to be killers right?
Would she think I'm one of them?

All i want to do is help. But i'm so afraid......Maybe it's my shyness gaining control again? Or maybe i'm just being stupid?
After feeling like such an idiot and an absolute helpless i told myself. If i see her again i will turn my car around and ask her if she needs a ride. So what if she'll freak out or say no, or maybe call the cops on me? What if she takes the ride and we {knock on wood that we don't} get in an accident, will she sue me?

The worst she'll do is yell at me or say no right?
No mother should have to see her child suffer like that. Walking in the cold........Well no mother or child should have to walk in the cold snow.

When i see her and her child, i envision myself and my child. Would i like that? How would i feel? I would feel lost and determined.
Lost because i want so bad to have a better life for myself and my child, but i must be like this so that we can have a better future.
Determined because i am determined to have a better life for my child and I!
And i bet that is how she is feeling.

But what if she says yes to the ride and then expects a ride everyday? I certainly can give her a ride but probably not everyday. Will that make me a bad person? Will that make me selfish?
What if she expects more then?

I want to do better as a person. I want to be able to help when help is needed. Why am i such a coward?
I'm feeling lost and lonely because of this......why is it weighing down on me so much?
This year i vow to help as much as i could.
And i will start with this mother and child. They will make me a better person whether they take the ride or not.

snow fun and one hidding princess

The other day we were taking down the Christmas tree.
We were about to put the tree back in its' box and this is what we found.............sneaky little princess isn't she?

And since we're on the subject of Christmas trees and winter.........We finally got our big snow for the year! YAY!!!
I had bought the kids each a snow suite so they were really excited to get to actually wear it because we were this close {pinching in fingers}to taking it back because we were getting hopeless.
So the kids got on their gears and headed out.........They had a ton of fun and well i did too....taking pictures of them.
So here are just some to entertain you with. I love these rugrats!

Sushi anyone?

I finally learned how to make/roll sushi! I was introduced to sushi a few years ago by the lovely Margie and i have been hooked ever since. I rarely get to have sushi but when i do get the chance, it's wonderful. Well i haven't tried the raw ones yet...maybe one day i will.

Anyways a friend of mine invited me over to eat and to make sushi too, i couldn't pass that up. We had sukiyuki and sushi. I also learned how to make sukiyuki sauce too. Pretty complicated...but i'll try it again.
It was a pretty satisfying day to say the least. I enjoyed the company and really enjoyed learning how to make and roll the sushi.

Now all i have to do is try it on my own........would you like an invite? :)

yellow bean for the sukiyuki sauce

working hard

vola! My first sushi!!

pay it forward

Pay It Forward...

My friend played this game on her blog and I decided to do it too. So this is how it works -

The first 3 people to leave a comment on this (my) post will receive a hand made gift from me during this year. When and what will be a surprise.
There's a small catch...You knew there would be didn't you?
Post this on your blog then come back and leave a comment, telling me you're in. Fun, huh? Remember, only the first 3 comments receive the gift. Come on! You know you want something from me!!

And for those who don't have blogs, it's okay, it'll still count!

10th birthday!

My baby is no longer a baby...........literally! She is now 10! Wow where did the years go? Seriously didn't she just pop out of me? : ) lol

Naree has grown to be a beautiful lady{well not that she wasn't before- but you know what i mean!}. I remember just yesterday that she was just in kindergarten. How I miss those days when I can just pick her up and give her tons and tons of kisses. Now a days I can't really pick her up....she's getting a little too heavy. Wait? Or is it just me getting old? Lets not talk about that right now.

We love this little lady. We love that you love to help me with the cooking. We love that you are always willing to try new food {i think daddy loves that the most} We love that you are always singing, although it gets annoying at times. We love that you always try your best with everything you do especially in soccer. We love how you just love to help out, with anything!.....thank you baby!
We love that you are always thoughtful with your Christmas gifts! You are so crafty! And i can't forget 'fashionable' too. You remind me all the time if i don't look good...........thanks babe, can't get anything pass you!

 Best of all, we love you for being so unique and being YOU! I love that you are my daughter. How did we get so lucky?
I hope you'll never change........for anyone. I hope you stay the unique you for always.
We love you sweetie and are so grateful to have such a wonderful and caring daughter!

Baby baby oohh! Bieber fever!

A princess needs her many tiaras!

For your birthday this year we gave you the option of having a party or just going to build-a-bear and a movie. You picked the latter and to be honest we are glad. A party gets a little expensive. See what i mean? You are always thoughtful and helping. Like i said, we are lucky!

"Dad, do girls poop from their vaginas?" Pretty hilarious movie.......good pick Naree!

Happy birthday! We love you!

Happy New Year!

Saying goodbye to 2010 wasn't a hard thing for me to do. Although 2010 has treated us fairly well, I was ready for a new year to start.
With me being sick and things happening all at once you can understanding my wanting a new chance of things. I'm hopeful that 2011 will bring us some luck and maybe just maybe get me off my high horse!
{okay so maybe that one is up to me and not anything else}

This new year I hope to do a lot of things differently and i hope to be a little more productive. But every time i set myself up for resolutions, it never really falls through. Lack of devotion is to blame i suppose.
Have you ever really set a goal/resolution and it actually fell through?
This year i don't want to set any resolutions. All i want to do is live life to the fullest with my family and try to make it the most of what we have. Settings resolutions have set me up for failure a few times so this time, there isn't going to be any.
No more setting time limits on things that shouldn't be rushed. I am going to see where 2011 takes us. I will try my best to still be a good wife and mother. How i do is all up to how my family perceives it!

On a brighter, this year Lien was asked to be involved with our Laos Association New Year party here in Cleveland. So there was no accuse for us to not go this time. I'm kinda glad that he was asked, i mean it's nice to be wanted for something and he likes being involved...........sometimes! : )
The kids went with us this year, but since they are older now, they've decided that they didn't have to stick around us old geezers anymore. They were all hanging out with the other kids in the lobby. I'm assuming they also had a blast! Of course as always they know the rules...........they come in to check on us often and we do the same.
Works pretty good actually! : )
We had a blast at the party. No a lot of people went this year but it was enough to be enjoyable and every one had a wonderful time.
Since Lien was pretty busy with his duties we only got to dance 3 songs. Bummer i know but it was still good enough. His good God brother dedicated a slow song to us and another couple. Sweet isn't it?
I love ringing in the New Year with such a wonderful guy.....{most of the time! lol j/k}

Cheers to another year gone by and cheers to more of the craziness to come. I wouldn't have it any other way!

hubby and I all ready for the New Year!

Happy New Year! Hope this year will bring wealth and health to you and all your loved ones! I am grateful to have another year to be thankful!