I've Been TAGGED!! "Where Were You?"

LuAnn is playing a game of "tag", so I'm it!! Now I am to tell "where I've been", "where I am", and "where I will be". So here goes:

• 20 years ago - October 1988 - Wow!! Do I even remember that long ago?? I was living in my homeland, Hawaii, with my family. I was 21, working for a travel agency in Waikiki as an accounting clerk. I had a boyfriend named Pat. By then we had been dating for about 2 1/2 years. I may have been contemplating going on a mission around that time. I was the Mia Maid Advisor in Kalihi Ward. That's all I can remember about 20 years ago.

• 10 years ago - October 1998 - I was 31. Bryce and I had been married for almost 5 years. We built our very first home in West Valley City, and had been in the house for a year. Joey was 3, Vaughn was 6 months old, and I was about 2 months pregnant with Sierra, and sicker than a dog! Can you believe it?? Yes, Vaughn and Sierra are 13 months apart.

• 5 years ago - October 2003 - I was 36. Bryce and I married almost 10 years. We were still living in our house in West Valley City, but in the basement. We were renting out the upstairs floor. Bryce still had his plumbing business. I was working as a teller for Cyprus Credit Union. Joey was 8, in third grade, and Vaughn was 5, in Kindergarten, both at West Valley Elementary School. Sierra was 4, and Cheyenne was 2.

• 3 years ago - October 2005 - I was 38, now living in Las Vegas for about 1 1/2 years. Bryce was working for a plumbing company out of Pleasant Grove, Utah, called U.S. Mechanical, doing the plumbing on brand new schools. Joey was 10, in fifth grade, Vaughn was 7, in second grade, and Sierra was 6, in first grade, all at Hal Smith Elementary School. Cheyenne was 4, and home with me and I loved it!! We had so much fun together, just the two of us. We lived in a 2-bedroom trailer, but we made it work. It was okay actually...nice and cozy.

• 1 year ago - October 2007 - I was 40. We had bought a house in Henderson, Nevada . We had been living in the house for about 4 months. Bryce was still working for U.S. Mechanical, still doing plumbing on brand new schools. So many new schools were being built this year. Joey was 12, now a Deacon, and in seventh grade at Greenspun Junior High. Vaughn was 9, in fourth grade, Sierra was 8, in third grade, and Cheyenne was 6, in first grade...all at Gibson Elementary School. I'm sure I was volunteering in Cheyenne's class. Bryce was called as the Scoutmaster over the 12-13 year old boys, and I was serving as the Primary Music Leader and probably relieved to get the Sacrament Meeting program done. I think I was teaching the Primary kids "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in Hawaiian with hand motions, for our Ward Christmas Party in December.

• This year - October 2008 - I turned 41 in August. Bryce & I will be married 15 years next month, Nov. 6th. Still living in Henderson. Bryce is still working for U.S. Mechanical doing plumbing on a new visitors center out at Red Rock. He continues to serve as the Scoutmaster over the 12-13 year old boys, and they've gone on a lot of campouts...some a week long, but mostly overnighters. Joey is now 13, in eighth grade at Greenspun...his last year. This is his third year playing the flute, but this year he's in Symphonic Band which they have more concerts and performances, will be wearing a tuxedo as their uniform, just played in his first parade for the Green Valley High School homecoming, and has improved greatly in his flute playing compared to last year. Lately he's been wanting to learn to play the drums. He is now the President of the Deacons quorum. Vaughn is 10, in fifth grade, his last year in Elementary school. He is in G.A.T.E., and is also a Safety Patrol Leader for the school. He is a Webelos in the scouting program. Sierra is 9, in fourth grade. She attends Achievement Day Activities each month and loves it, and is working really hard on her "Faith in God" book. Cheyenne is 7, in second grade. She's doing pretty well in school, she loves it, and she's really liking her teacher, Mrs. Carter, who fortunately is LDS and sings in Gladys Knights choir. They still attend Gibson Elementary. I'm still hard at work with the kids, family, and home. I'm volunteering at the school in Cheyenne's class each week. I'm still the Primary Music Leader in our ward and we had our Sacrament Meeting Program in September. It went really well, the kids did a great job, and now we are working on Christmas songs. I'll also be teaching the kids other fun Christmas songs to get ready for our Ward Christmas Party. The Primary kids always get to perform at the party and I thought it would be fun to do songs other than the ones in the Primary book. The ward members really enjoyed "The Twelve Days of Christmas" last year. This year we'll be doing "C.H.R.I.S.T.M.A.S.", and maybe I'll stick in "Mele Kalikimaka" and teach some girls the hula for that. I think they'll really enjoy it.

• Yesterday - October 24, 2008 - It was a relaxing day for me, although there were a ton of things I could've done. After getting the kids ready and to school, I was on the computer chatting with my sister and sister-in-law, Danielle, on Facebook. Bryce had the day off from work, but he had some things to do to get ready for their scout overnight campout. After the kids were home from school, Joey and Bryce were busy packing up for camp and the younger kids and I went to a Primary activity. It was their "Cookie Party", which basically means that at the beginning of the year, the Primary President, Janelle Evans, challenged the kids that if they learned and memorized their songs and did a good job with it, they got a cookie. She made an oven and everytime the kids passed off a song, they'd put the cookie in the oven. Yesterday they celebrated their job well done of the songs and program, also did special recognitions for the kids who memorized all the Articles of Faith. I was very proud of Vaughn, Sierra, and Cheyenne for memorizing all the Articles of Faith. Bryce and Joey went on their campout and the younger kids and I went over to the Herbert's for a few hours, then we came home and went to bed. Other than Bryce getting into a fender bender in the afternoon (it wasn't his fault, someone ran into him), he's really okay, and everything was great.

• Today - October 25, 2008 - We're getting a slow start, mainly because I'm not feeling very good, but I've already taken a shower and that always makes me feel better. Bryce & Joey still aren't home from camp, the other kids are cleaning their rooms, and I'm obviously on the blog. I was talking to my sister-in-law, Barbie, earlier. She is having a YW Personal Progress party this afternoon, a "Hawaii" theme and she wanted to know some words in Hawaiian (directions like left - hema, right - akau, forward or upward - i luna, and back - i hope). I think they'll be going through a maze blindfolded and the girl leading will have to give the directions in Hawaiian. That should be interesting just to hear the girls fumble through the pronunciation. She also wanted to know words in Hawaiian as names she could give to each girl. Very simple names like "hoku" - star, "mahina" - moon, "lani" - heaven, "pua" - flower...just simple like that. I wished I could be there so I could help her with the activity. What are we doing today? I need to go grocery shopping later, but first I'll need to get some clothes washed and folded, and the kid's bathroom cleaned. There's always things to do. Maybe Bryce & I will get our voting done at the mall. Oh, and I definitely have to prepare some last minute things for primary tomorrow.

• Tomorrow - Sunday, October 26, 2008 - We'll be going to church for sure. I don't think Bryce will have to teach a lesson. Joey will be passing the sacrament. I'll be teaching the primary kids "The Shepherd's Carol" and "Who Is The Child?" Really nothing out of the ordinary of a Sunday. I'll be going to Choir practice after church...we're going to be learning Christmas songs. That's about all I know so far.

• Next Year - October 2009 - Well, let's see...Hopefully there will still be a demand in the construction business and Bryce will still have a job. I'm hoping he'll have another calling instead of being the Scoutmaster. Joey will be 14, almost 15...WOW!! He'll be in ninth grade at Green Valley High School (that's if we're still living here). Vaughn will be 11 and in sixth grade at Greenspun Jr. High, and I'm sure he'll have all accelerated classes. Yeah!! I hope he'll be taller. Sierra will be 10, and in fifth grade, her last year in elementary school. And Cheyenne will be 8, so she'll be baptized by next year. She'll be in third grade, and I hope she'll do a lot better in school. I of course will be a hundred pounds lighter!! Uh huh, right!! But I hope to be lighter, whatever it may be! And I'll be a year older...42!! WHOA!!! I hope to still have my Primary music calling because I love it!! I hope my mom will still be alive. I hope my dad will still be alive. I hope we'll be debt free, and have our food storage well filled. I think my nephew, Matthew, will be leaving for his mission around this time. Maybe he'll come to Vegas to go to the temple since the Hawaii temple will be under renovation. I may be going to Provo to take him to the MTC, along with his family I'm sure. I'll be crying like a baby, his mom says...probably worse than her! That's all I can think of.

Okay, now I have to tag someone...so I am tagging...my sisters-in-law, Danielle & Barbie, Todd Larson, and Christine Kuia. You all are IT!! It's actually fun, you'll see!!

Labor Day Weekend with the Schroeder's

At "The Fremont Street Experience".

Out at Red Rock.

Packing up.

Before the Schroeders leave for home.

LuAnn, Kristi, and Kati came to Vegas to visit us over the Labor Day Weekend. It was so nice, as always, to have them spend time with us. The kids always get excited when they come. This was the first time Kati has been here since we moved into our house. The nice thing about having the Schroeders come is that they really enjoy playing with the kids...they don't feel the need to go anywhere. They're just happy being at home and hanging out. I had a 300 piece puzzle that I was trying to put together, so they all helped me with it, which was really fun for me. Of course, we had to go see the water fountains at the Bellagio one night. And before going to the Bellagio, we took them to "The Fremont Street Experience". It was pretty fun, but we always have fun at the water fountain show. The day they left, which was Labor Day, Bryce took us out to Red Rock. Bryce works out there now, at the Visitors Center, but it was the first time for the rest of us to see Red Rock. Bryce really likes it out there...it reminds him a little of Bryce Canyon, where he grew up. It was real pretty. You wouldn't think you'd see a place like that out here in the desert. There were a lot of people hiking, but the Schroeder's didn't have a whole lot of time since they had to head back home so we just went for a little while, got out to take pictures, but it was a real nice, relaxing drive. The boys didn't go with us this time, but I think they would really enjoy it out there one of these days, maybe for a hike. I'm glad the Schroeders came. We'll have to somehow get Gary to come one of these days. I think he'll like it, at least to get away from home, and see the kids. He's "daddy Gary" to the kids. That's what the kids called him when we lived in West Valley City and the Schroeders babysat for us. They are such special friends!

Future Leader

At one of his posts: Front entrance of the schools main building. He has to greet people, open the door for them, and direct them where to go if they don't know.

Towards the end of the school year, last year, Vaughn's fourth grade teacher recommended him to the Principal, as an "excellent candidate to serve on the James I. Gibson Elementary School Safety Patrol". According to the letter from the principal, it said "We are looking for the most mature, kind, responsible, reliable, and energetic students to serve in this honorable position". It also said that only 28 students would be selected and....Vaughn was selected. I think it's a very good program for the students to learn leadership and responsibility. In another letter from the principal, it said "This is a very important position because you will be setting an example for all the students in our school by helping everyone follow Gibson procedures and by creating a welcoming environment throughout our building and on our playground".

I felt so proud of him, but I was not surprised at all because that is the kind of person he is. He loves challenges (he's so much like his Uncle Taylor), and when he's given one, he WILL show you he CAN accomplish it, and he usually does.

So as a fifth grader this year, and a Safety Patrol Leader for his school, he loves what he does, and he looks forward to it each time. He works for a whole week, in the morning before school starts, and in the afternoon after school, but it's every other week. They use a bright green t-shirt so that it distinguishes them from others and it makes it so that the other students will recognize them and go to them for help if needed. According to Vaughn, for the most part, the other students are pretty respectful of their position.

Vaughn is a great student...he's a very smart kid (we call him Einstein) and is in the G.A.T.E. (Gifted and Talented Education) program at school. He's also a big help to his siblings, which is a big help to me. Some of the things the kids are learning now? Way over my head! We are so very proud of him!

Beautiful Sunset

The kids and I were on our way to Costco when they noticed the beautiful sunset. Because I keep my camera in my purse, I couldn't wait to find a parking spot so that I could get out and take a picture of it. This is what we saw...pretty cool! The pictures were taken within seconds of each other.

Hard At Work

All of us worked really hard, early one Saturday Morning, trying to put in our new rock border on our back cement porch. There were bricks layed before but they weren't cemented in place, and it was also uneven, so if you stepped on it, it would move...didn't like it at all. The rock border was pretty much my idea. So with my brilliant idea and Bryce and Saia's expertise in stuff like that, we went right to work and got it done. Like my dad would always say, "many hands make light work", and it sure was. It was great to see the kids having fun, but more especially...WORKING!! We got it done quick and couldn't wait to see the end result. I'm proud to say...it turned out really well. I'm so happy we were able to do something I really wanted, and it looks great!!

Visit from Grandpa Saia

At the Hoover Dam












At Lake Las Vegas














The fountains at the Bellagio













The day Grandpa Saia leaves


For about three weeks in September, Grandpa Saia (Bryce's dad) came to spend time with us. It's been a long time since we've spent time with him, being that he lives in North Carolina. The last time we saw him was when we went to Grandpa Sione's (Saia's dad) funeral back in April, in Sacramento. That was actually Cheyenne's first time meeting him, and before that, it had probably been about nine years.

It's been a long time since Saia came to Vegas so we took him sightseeing to a couple of places, one of our family's favorite...the fountain show at the Bellagio. We took him to see the Hoover Dam, which he enjoyed very much, and we also took him to Lake Las Vegas, which is like a beautiful oasis in the middle of a desert. Other than that, Grandpa Saia kept himself very busy by working in our yard, and he worked really hard...especially to get the pine tree stump out of the ground, that Bryce cut down a while back. The roots were so thick and deep so it took him a while to do that. He helped us put in a new border around our back porch. It used to have bricks, which I thought was ugly. The whole family got down and dirty to get the rock border in, and I think the kids had a lot of fun working with their Grandpa. He also built a retaining wall in our front yard, which will help the grass and bushes get watered more evenly. There were more projects he would have done, I'm sure, if he had the time but he had to return home to North Carolina.

It was really nice to see Bryce with his dad again, but more especially the kids with their Grandpa. It was good to have him spend time with the family, and I'm especially grateful for all the work he did in our yard.

At the Disneyland Parade

Waiting for the parade to start.


Peter Pan and Tinkerbell.


Gepetto from "Pinocchio".


Watching the parade.


Ariel from "The Little Mermaid".


And of course, Mickey and Minnie.

Last Ride of the Night

Waiting in line at the Carrousel.












We couldn't leave Disneyland without our last ride on the "King Arthur Carrousel". This was so much fun!! We all chose our horses, making sure we were all pretty much together. It was a nice way to end the evening.

And Even More...

Waiting in line for the Astro Orbitor.


Finally on ...


Waiting for their Dad, Joey, and Sierra in Mickey's
ToonTown.


Yeah!!! Bryce, Joey, and Sierra on the Gadget's
Go Coaster. Can you see them? Joey and Sierra
are in the very front. Bryce is right behind them...
the only one with his arms up.


Our very last stop at Mickey's ToonTown.

More Favorite Rides...

Sierra chose her bright orange Dumbo.

Cheyenne chose her bright green Dumbo for us to ride in.
Waiting in line of the Indiana Jones Adventure.

On a relaxing ride of the Mark Twain Riverboat.