The 3 Single Most Important Things...

The single most important thing you can have in this life is a family.  This is ultimately one of the greatest purposes of life...  to build a family under God and carry on with them through eternity, only made possible through the Atonement of Christ.

The single most important thing you can be in this life is a Disciple of Christ.  Being a true disciple is by following Him, sharing His teachings with others, loving Him and others more than we love ourselves, seeking for righteousness and serving others.  Christianity is LOVE in action Charity is the pure love of Christ.

The single most important thing you can believe in the life is in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  That He died for us and loves us to no end.  That only because of His infinite, atoning sacrifice, can we be made whole and return to live with Him again in our Father's kingdom.  He is our Creator and Author of the Universe.  Nothing gets to the Father but by and through Him.  To even pray to the Father we must do so in his name - To utter his very name is the power to borrow from the atonement to come before God as sinners in prayer.  How miraculous!  

There are simply no more important things than these.

This is my favorite song:  Here are the lyrics and the music in on the following attachment.

  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRo8PW7--cs&feature=related

Kissee kissee

Dang he's cute.. I just needed an excuse to post more pics of him.. hehe!

Today a little girl tried to kiss him and apparently Joey told her to 'back off', which I believe cause that is so his personality!  Girls are always after him so he just has this 'too cool for school' attitude with them - which makes them want him more.  Of course I asked him a bunch of questions just to make sure that he wasn't the one trying anything funny.  You can never be too sure.   I pulled all the stops but it was just a "NO".  He said he didn't want to cause he already likes a girl.. ah, how cute of him to be faithful!  lol

Once I knew he was mellow, I told him that the next time a girl tries to kiss him he shouldn't hurt her feeling by saying things like, "back off!"  He should just say politely, "I don't want to because I think we are too young to be kissing."  

Joey just rolled his eyes and goes, "chh, you are so akward, Mom."

haha.... I couldn't help but laugh!  He just cracks me up.

Get your preschooler or kindergartner to read!

I wanted to post this a long time ago so just decided to do so now...  I would want to know!  

I had Joey reading at 4, not bad but I wanted him to be reading at 3.  So, how do you get your kid to read early?  

Read!

Read!

and read some more to them.   You should be reading every night to them since infancy.  Get them involved in and excited about the story!  Get engaged as you read - do the voices, emphasize, the whole pinata!

Joey still loves me to read to him, no matter how big he thinks he is! hehe  This is the single most important thing you can do for your child's early education. 

When you have that down and are ready to begin teaching, HANDS DOWN get the Bob Books!!!  I absolutely swear by these... they are the best beginner books I could find.  I think there are 5 sets (of 12 mini books).  I think Joey only needed to go through 3 sets and he was on to Dr. Seuss books and on from there.  The books are short so they feel a sense of accomplishment rather than frustration rather quickly.  They progress perfectly... not too quick.  Joey got through the first book without being able to read a word before that the first night!

I'm telling you, as long as you think your kid is ready and they know the alphabet, they can begin to read.  Without all the lessons!  I didn't even go through one lesson with Joey - he just knew the sounds of the letters, and boom.  It's that easy with these books!

P90X!

Wow... this program works!  I only just started on Monday morning but wow, I can really feel the difference!  Check it out...  If you ever watch TV late at night you might have seen the infomercial.. I know, infomercial!  But this works!  

http://www.beachbody.com/product/fitness_programs/p90x.do?code=GOOGLE_SEM_P90X&gclid=CI60neuQkJgCFRFWagod7hudnQ

Since Monday morning to this (Wednesday) morning, I have lost nearly 4 pounds from diet and this exercise and can feel it working everywhere on my body!!!

If you ask for before and after pics, you don't know me...  I took the pics with my work out partner but hell will freeze over before anyone sees the 'before' pics!  You can see the after pics either during the three months or at the end.   hehe

Jed is 3 Months!

okay, so my pics are out of whack and I'm too tired to take the time to make it pretty.. so just figure it out.. thanks.

Well.. he turned three months on the 7th.  He is getting so big!  He is now 25 inches long (90th percentile) and 13.4 lbs. (50th percentile).

He is a very happy and content baby.  So loving and sweet and smiles all the time!  Seeing him smile at me fills me with so much joy I really cannot express.  He wakes up happy, even if he's woken up too early and he's happy really anytime during the day.   For some reason, he smiles every time I change his diaper.. and I mean every time!  He looks at me and gives me this bashful smile and starts to giggle.. He's been doing this as soon as he could smile.  He has never ever cried during a diaper change.. even as a newborn.

This is hard to believe but he never cries.. he's such a good baby I feel so blessed and lucky to be his Mom!!  He has cried since he was born literally a handful of times and only because he was hungry in the back seat and I couldn't get to him in time.  He didn't even cry during his circumcision!  The doctor couldn't believe it.

His favorite things are to get his diaper changed, smile, giggle and play with his brother...  He loves his big brother, Joey!! read books, stand and sit up as much as he can on his own and for as long as he can - He's so proud and feels like he's such a big boy, you can see on his face- he has ideas!  He's gonna do something!  haha.  He is so strong and stands up so well... He holds his head up like a pro and has been for a long time.  When he was two days old he tried so hard to hold up his head, and kept trying and trying until he became more and more steady.  So determined.  He loves to smile at strangers and loves to talk!  Boy, he is a talker.. he can just talk for hours... about this and about that.. such a good conversationalist.  As long as you're talking to him, he'll talk!  So cute.

He is already teething!  crazy....  he just gnaws on everything, especially his fist.  Sometimes I think he's hungry, but no, he just wants to suck.  Drools and drool caughs all the time.. but it's so cute.

Some things he's beginning to do is laugh - he's trying real hard to laugh.  He's more at a giggle but really close.  I can't wait to hear that full blown laugh!  Also, he is getting real good focusing on something and reaching for it and grabbing it.  He tries real hard and is now getting it.  What is kinda funny is that he's not too good at holding onto a rattle and shaking it for very long, which is what is normal for his age - but he is reaching for something and is able to grab it, which is actually quite advanced (they usually make sweeping motions at the objects trying to get them at this point).  

I love my little guy.. I feel like the luckiest mom in the world :))

New Years 2008

This New Years we spent at the Marriott Waiohai, also Joe's work.  They had a nice prime rib buffet.  We had Jed in his new little Skate or Cry outfit from a skate shop.  So cute!

I don't know what Joey was doing in this picture.

Jed loves his Daddy!

After dinner, we walked down to the beach (still on the property) and enjoyed the fireworks.  Jed absolutely loved them and couldn't take his eyes off them.  His little body would get all excited and shake at the noise and lights.

Joe was able to hold real still and take these photos.  Amazing!  The fireworks were right in front of us.

So this is what New Year's in Hawaii looks like?!  It was a gorgeous scene.

Joey was quick to find some kids with sparklers on the beach afterwards and snag a few!  Had a blast.

And Jed liked watching his big brother too!

Cool photo Joe took.
When we came home, we watched the countdown with Ryan Seacrest and Kelly Pickler (I really hate our culture sometimes!) on our TV and I broke out the Martinelli's.  We're gettin' crazy!

Literally, Joey passed out on the couch in the LAST three seconds of the countdown!!  Haha.

What an awesome year this has been and a neat first New Year's Eve with our little Jed~!

Christmas 2008

This Christmas has been truly blessed.  Our family is together, happy and healthy!  What more could we wish for.  This year has been an especially blessed one.  I found out I was pregnant in February and had my beautiful, precious little Jed Maxime' on October 7th.  What a blessing he has been.  I cannot describe the overwhelming love I feel when I hold him!  Nothing makes me happier than seeing his little face light up with excitement when he sees us and smiles!  Being a Mother is such a remarkable gift.  He loves his brother, boy does he!  He is the most excited about Joey.  He talks to Joey and smiles and coos the most around him.  I love seeing them together.  I know he recognizes him.

Joey, Jed and I were able to visit California and see all our family and friends!  It was a great time.  Joe flew over for the Thanksgiving weekend, which we spent with my family.  I was also in my Aunt Susan't wedding on John Wayne's Wild Goose Yacht on November 29th.  What a blast it was.  So beautiful! 

This year, Joey has started school in the 1st grade.  He is doing very well and his teacher, Mr. Gomez, is already starting an advanced program for him and a few other students to participate in.  Joey is so smart and witty and talented it blows my mind.  His favorite things to do are drive me up the wall, watch Total Drama Island on Cartoon Network, draw, draw and draw some more (he is amazing), karate, play soccer and with his legos.  Some things he participated in this year was swimming, karate, soccer and the beach.  For the new year, in addition we are getting him into piano lessons (if we find a good piano here), theater and hopefully a swim team.  What fun!

Joe has been working very hard.  In addition to all the activies he is involved with in Joey's life and the Church (he is now the Cub Scout Master for our ward) he enjoys the gym as often as possible and surf!  He cannot get enough of surfing!!  I am glad he has such a fun hobby to be involved in.  This year he also received his Melchizedek Priesthood.  I am so happy for him.

This year has been a bit of an exhausting one for me.  I was working full time through my pregnancy (thank goodness I had an understanding office and boss who didn't mind when I passed out on his couch when he went out of the office.  Haha!)  and swelled up like a balloon!!!  gross.  Despite having a semi-difficult pregnancy (can we say wearing ridiculously thick tights with grandma Dr. Scholls sandals throughout my entire pregnancy during the summer in ridiculous heat and humidity!!!!!!) and a life-changing labor (I asked to die - I doubt I will ever cry from pain again in life), I couldn't ask for anything more from this year.  I have an amazing husband and children.  For the next year, I plan on getting in amazing shape.  Yes, look out for my blog in hopefully 3 months when I should be done with my program!  I can't wait.  Other than that, I want to progress mentally and spiritually so I can improve myself as a Mother and Wife.  Joe and I are planning our temple marriage to be sealed together with our kids.  I can't wait.  We haven't decided on the temple yet.  

Below are some pics of our Christmas together:

Christmas Eve.  Unfortunately when this dinner looked the best, my camera wouldn't work.  When it finally decided to, this is what it looked like.  I cooked my husband's favorite meal - roast.  I dare say it is pretty incredible.

Followed by homemade apple pie - served with natural vanilla ice cream and whipped cream.  By the way, you cannot get the same amazingness with store bought desserts.  Just isn't the same!

Here's my amazing little guy!  I can't stand it.



Dessert left over for Santa!
And Santa's Thank You card to Joey.
Here's Joey reading Santa's note.
Here I am wishing I was still sleeping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Opening presents.


Joe's funky toys he finds for him.
After presents, I make my Christmas morning breakfast.  Eggs with sausage, onion, mushrooms and cheese, french toast, spicy grilled potatoes with peppers, onion  and bell pepper, orange juice and (turkey) bacon and sausage.  During the day I play my all-time favorite movie, The Sound of Music and have a relaxed day.  

This is directly after breakfast!  He just passed out!

To end the day, we saw Marley & Me and cried.  So cute.