Secret

(I can put these up because Steve wont look on here lol).

So like a good wife I totally forgot its Fathers Day this Sunday.I didnt remember until Monday night!So while asking Steve what he wants,I secretly asked my friend S if she would take some photos of the girls and I for him!He is so hard to shop for and I figured he cant complain about photos of his three favourite girls right?!

These are a few of the photos S took and I love them!

 S told the girls to hug me,they nearly knocked me over!

 I love Siennas facials!!!!!

Thank you S!And Happy Fathers Day Mr Wong!Your the best Dad ever and our girls adore you so much!

In February I climbed up Mount Pirongia (well the summit) not once but twice!!!!First with my friend from high school and then with S.

It was hard work but worth it!

I love that I am finally doing things I have been talking about for years.

I didn't get many photos from the first trip,and what I did take are blurry (go me!).But it was a steep climb (someone said it was over 400 stairs),and there was what felt like a very steeeeeeeep massive climb up rocks!
Good workout though.

-and now that this was months ago,Steve,A and I are doing a 10km marathon in Whangamata tomorrow!!Just walking it cos running hates me and vice versa lol.But still,I'm happy!

Surprise

This is a tricky post to write.But I realised the other day that I have never ever once been ashamed of being a christian or of the church I attended,and I'm not going to start now!
I know it came out of the blue for some people (and not so much for others!),and it is going to seem so contradictory to some (but eh I don't care!).I'm writing this because this is now a huge part of our lives,so why not share it?I share pretty much everything else!

Steve and are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormons.

Clear enough?

Its kinda hard to write about because it is such an in-depth story.Once we had 'decided' to not join,I couldn't get over it.I got angry,resentful,a whole bunch of emotions that I shouldn't have been feeling!I tried to get over the pull I felt towards the church,to the faith, by telling everyone I didn't believe it,that it wasn't true.

Yeah....that worked!Not!I was still looking into things,still asking questions.But I didn't know how to ask my friends cos I didn't want to be the dork who kept asking but never doing anything about it.
One day in April,Steve and I went for a walk out at Raglan and I blurted out that I wanted to get baptised whether he did or not!Poor guy.I told him I needed to do it for me,I didn't expect him too,but I needed to see if this pull I felt was for a reason,and at the end of the day if it made me feel closer to God than surely it couldn't be wrong.We talked A LOT!Days of talking!Honestly this was a time where I was so grateful for the man I married,so grateful that God put us together.Not once did he say no or judge me,he just told me if it was really what I wanted to do then that was ok.I love that man more today then I did when I married him 8 years ago!

My friend (hi S!) gave me a copy of the Gospel Principles That book now is half covered in questions and comments.I never expected Steve to want to join,it was something I would have loved but not something I expected.But while I was reading this book he would ask me questions,some I could find answers too,some I couldn't (or rather my friends could lol).He wanted to meet with the Bishop to ask some things (think Pastor of the church,but he works a full time job as well).He said what I expected,I was ready,Steve needed to pray and think.
So he did.
A week later we text the missionaries saying we wanted to be baptised and how could we got about it.
(I make it sound so simple.It wasnt.There were far too many late nights of talking and praying together)
We did the discussions (think lessons to explain the church).The missionaries must have either loved us or hated us,we aren't baby christians,far from it.I asked God into my heart when I was 3,and Steve was only slightly older then that,and we have had a close and personal relationship with Christ since.We have been in leadership in churches-for me nearly a decade of it!Our questions were in depth. (they must have liked us though because they kept coming back just to hang out lol).

So on the 11th of May 2013 Steve and I were baptised together!!!!
For me it doesn't replace my baptism from when I was younger,it was almost like renewing my promises to God,renewing my commitment to Him,a public declaration that I believe not only in God but in this church.Im fairly safe in saying the same goes for Steve.

Mr T on the left,Steve and I. (Mr T was the one who dunked us)

 Mrs T (or S as she is probably known on here!) and I.

 During the service the offspring of the T's and our friend A (plus Sienna) sung "I am a child of God",was so sweet (Isabella was throwing a tanty which is why she isn't in the photo).S and A gave beautiful talks which made my cry!

A,me and S after Steve and I were confirmed the Sunday after being baptised.These ladies are a huge part of the reason I joined.They showed me unconditional love and support even when I said I didnt want to join.I have very rarely had that,people being ok with my decisions regardless of what they believe or feel.So thanks beautiful ladies!!!!!

Steve and I are loving this church.The focus is so much on God and on family.I hadn't really realised just how much I had missed being a part of a church family.So I am really loving that.It isnt without its trials,I am finding it hard to trust other christians again (go find one of my old posts to find out why we stopped going to church in the first place,or just ask me!),am finding I need to readjust some bad habits and attitudes I have picked up while not being in church lol.But we love it,and we are happy.And thats the main thing right?!Personally I dont care where anyone goes to church,or whether they do at all!Its none of my business and I am hoping others can feel the same.

So...I am super duper proud of being a Mormon.It has changed my life for the better and I am HAPPY!And ya know what?I cannot wait until May next year when Steve and I can be sealed in the temple together!Bring on the party afterwards!!!


-I apologise if this post is a bit disjointed or whatever.It took me 5 hours a few weeks ago to try and articulate for a talk at church how all this came about,and for some reason its even harder for on here.Just like I told my family,if you are reading this and have any questions,please just ask,I wont bite your head off and would prefer to be asked then gossiped about lol.

In January Steve was working heaps on a construction site so we tried to take every opportunity we could get to spend time as a family.One Sunday we headed to the Hamilton Museum to have a look.We especially liked the Hamilton history part.I love all things "old fashioned"(one of my favourite memories is going to a old school house and dressing up in 1800's clothes when I was little),so pushed  encouraged Isabella and Sienna to try on these outfits!So friggin cute!!!!

 Of course Winnie the Pooh came along :)

 Watching old movies with Dad

 "Check mate" 

 Afterwards we went to the pet store and Isabella spent 15 minutes running up and down in front of this enclosure,so excited that the puppy was following her!

Isabella starts school

How is my child old enough to have started school?!!!!

Right so a photo dump then an update on how she is liking school.

Isabella ready for an open day at school (Ham East do open days for kids and their parents to come in and check out the school.Not a formal visit to what would be her classroom).This was in October last year

 Doing P.E with the big kids!

 I had never really thought about the fact that our girls have never really gone on a computer,I have always preferred they read a book or play.Isabella LOVED this!

 This was Isabellas proper school visit,in her classroom.She went to assembly and this giant pukeko was there! (it scared her a little lol)

 In her class (I had to bribe her to get her to sit with the other kids)

 Isabellas FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!With her little sister of course.

 And walking home with her bff and little sister!

So I was pretty worried about Isabella starting school.Not because she wasn't ready,she was!But I wasn't lol.I worried so much about her going from kindy where its one teacher to 7 kids,to going to school where its one teacher to 20+ kids!But seriously we got to school,I thought I would hang around for a bit (Steve even left work to come see her),but we get there,she gets on the computer and says "bye mum" and that was it!

But I am grateful that she has settled in so well,there are other kids who even now don't want to go!She started off in a new entrant class with 3 teachers!Which I wasn't aware of when she started.Her main teacher is the reading recovery teacher,so she wasn't in class until after morning tea,so the deputy principal did that part of the day,then the other one came in after.But if either of them were busy or away another teacher came in!Did you get all that?

It was me that was ticked off about it,NOT Isabella!She adjusted so well and takes everything in her stride.

2 weeks ago (so we are talking August now) she was moved into a Year One class.She has a new teacher (who I adore!),and it is far more consistent with the teaching ,which I love.Isabella misses some of her friends from her old class,but seriously she has just gone with the flow and is exceeding our expectations and her teachers!!!She is in the top of her class for reading and writing :D Proud parents here!!

Yup,so she is loving school!

-I want to add,that for us ,Isabella going to Montessori is part of why we feel she has adjusted so well to school.She didn't have to learn how to sit still,how to put her things away,how to look after herself,how to read the alphabet or anything like that because for two years previously she had been taught all that at Montessori!!!So,go Montessori!

Sienna 'squishy's" 4th birthday

Right so I'm at a bit of a loss on how/where to start catching up on the last 6ish months of no blog posts!!Lol for all of the 4 people that read this hahaha (side note:funny how in the last 6 months I haven't caught up and now my kids are sick and occupied with Peppa Pig I can get it done!).

SIENNA: 
Miss Siennas birthday is on the 12th of February (landed on a Tuesday this year,so we had her 'party' on the 16th).We have tried to make it where they get big parties for the big birthdays (so for us 2nd,5th,10th,13th,16th,18th etc).Sienna had a afternoon tea with a few friends.No organised games or party bags,just old fashioned playing :) I swear though,at 4 and 5 that seems to be what the kids want to do anyway!

 We decided to do face painting to make it a bit more then a play date for the kids :p Sienna said she wanted to be Bottomly Potts 'covered in spots'

 Isabella and M wanted to be cheetahs (sorry know I said I didnt want to put photos of others children on,but had no photos of just Isabella)

 When asked,Sienna said she wanted a princess cake.So we bought this edible transfer,and iced the cake yellow in homage to her favourite princess,Belle!

 Opening presents,best part of any party!

 Sienna and her cake,she loved it!

 Daddys girl :D

 Annnnd eating the cake!!

Sienna really enjoyed her day,so for me that means it was a success!

-Blonde moment!I forgot I had already posted about Isabellas birthdays and added photos!hahahaha so I just went and deleted a whole post :p Go me!

A little update on the whole weight watchers thing.Two weeks in and its awesome!Some days I go over by a point or two and other days Im under by the same,so its working out!I am walking heaps (thankfully a friend is doing it with me and that is giving me some awesome,much needed motivation!),this week am doing 8.5kms a day.Still havent weighed myself,but clothes are starting to fit a little looser which is always an awesome feeling!

And more importantly.....

This little man was welcomed into the family this morning!!My SIL Sam and her hubby Dave welcomed Weston into the world.Sadly they live in the States so we wont get to meet him until the end of this year unless I can convince Steve I deserve a holiday to the States in July :p  Weston is so adorable,and I reckon looks just like a Wong (spitting image of Sienna when she was born!)

(hopefully Sam doesnt mind me putting this pic up,only one we have so far,and hell I didnt want to wait to share his gorgeousness with the world!)

Welcome to the family Weston!

I have gone back and forth so much with exercising and trying to eat healthier!Well early last week I threw a tantrum  decided I needed to just do it.

My mum had given me a bag full of weight watchers pro point things,the booklets,calculator,everything!So I am 8 days in and so far so good (especially considering we have had 2 birthdays in that time!).I love that fruit is 0 points!So trying when I'm wanting to snack to just grab some fruit (which is good anyway,I have realised that I go days without eating any because I'm aware the girls need it more than me.BUT a healthy mum is hopefully a healthy and happy household!So buying more fruit now :p ).Obviously not going to meetings,but Steve is helping out with it quite a bit (as in goes through the booklets and tells me what I can eat :p ).S offered for me to do a weekly weigh in at her place,but I'm not sure about weighing myself at all at the moment. I'm really worried about doing this the healthy way,and for me my mind goes straight to not eating when I see what I weigh... I'm a work in progress ok?!
So I have 27 points a day which being a week in ,Im finding it hard to use them all.But I do,so thats what matters right?I didnt realise really that I quite often dont have lunch,and the amount of crap I eat!!Oy!!!!!Onwards and upwards now right?!
The awesome thing about Isabella being at school is I HAVE  to walk her to and from school 5 days a week which each days amounts to 5.6 kms alone!So instead of using the extra points I could be for the exercise Im not and hoping I'll start losing weight.I dont want to lose heaps (I like my clothes ok!I dont want to buy a whole new wardrobe,but would love to feel better in the ones I have!),but in a year am hoping for about 10kgs.
Im also still training for the half marathon (walking remember NOT running!) which is in early May.Im doing it with a friend and with an extra walk added in,most days Im doing around 7kms a day,we will build that up each week to more.But yeah,Im finding it really good that no matter how I am feeling I just have to get out and do the school run at least.

So thats whats going on with that :) Hoping I am finally doing it in a healthy way that I can maintain.

Also,because I know I posted about it,but we as a couple decided to not join the LDS church (can you sense the it wasnt so much my decision?!It just got to the point where we were arguing about it so much that it wasnt good for our relationship or for us as a family).I LOVE the church and will happily go to services every now and then but not with the aim of joining.
But we came to a compromise and have been attending the Catholic church for a few weeks,which we both love.Will be meeting with a priest soon to talk about things. (but thats for another more in depth post,another day.But I do want to say that,because of an awesome 3 hour phone call to my close friend Steve and I have realised we need to get back into the Word.Didnt realise how much I had missed it!)

AND Steve has been given a days work a week for the next few months with the company he is working for at the moment.It means he doesnt have to travel to Tauranga every weekend and we will have more money to save!!It has been a bit of a leap of faith for us,but trying to rest in the knowledge that God has our backs.

Yup,so thats a little bit about whats going on with us at the moment :) Life is an awesome journey at the moment!!

I cant believe our baby is 5!I still see her as my little,little girl and in so many ways she is,but in others she is in such a rush to grow up and it freaks this mum out a little!

Because my aim in doing this blog is so that hopefully one day the girls will look at it and have a ton of memories to go through (and also think their mum is a little odd).I have read a lot of other blogs where Mums write to their kids...I dont know how eloquent I will be,but I'll give it a shot.

Isabella you are one of the most caring and compassionate little girls I have ever had the pleasure of knowing,you are turning into a real mother hen!You love helping out with Sienna,if she is upset (unless you caused it :p ) you are the first to try and get to her and hug her!It is so awesome for mum and dad to see how much you love being a big sister.
You LOVE school!!!Everything about it!If I dare suggest you dont go one day you are not a happy camper :) But its wonderful to see you settling in and making new friends.You are such a bright little girl,you bought a reading book home from school earlier this week and sped through it!You are writing so well too.
You love dancing (when we go into shops you have this funky dance you do!No wonder the shop ladies adore you,shaking your little hips!).Mum and Dad wanted to give you a term without after school activities to settle into school but you will start music again next term,you definitely have some good rhythm! (all from Dad I would say).
You are super talkative,and the thought you put into your questions amazes mum!You sure do find out about a lot of things though :)

Overall you are just the best Isabella that we could have asked for and we love and adore you so much!!!

May the Lord bless you and keep you.

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you,
and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
and give you peace.

Isabellas family birthday party

On Isabellas actual birthday we had her family party (I will eventually charge our camera batteries and get photos up of her opening presents and will put my memory card into hubbys phone and get her first day of school photos on here.Better putting something up then not at all right?!).Again we were so fortunate that my big brothers girlfriend A took a few photos for us!!!I love them though and plan on putting them all in a photo book soon.

 When we asked Isabella what colour she wanted the family cake castle to be,she said blue (cute story,her little friend Vili put something in his card about her having a blue cake which influenced her idea :) ).

 Sienna and Grandpa (Steves Dad) blowing bubbles

 Miss Sienna and that friggin party blower! (those slowly 'disappeared' :p )

 Isabella blowing out her candles.

She wanted to be a tiger again!!!Makes a pretty gorgeous tiger though :)

Isabella had such a fun day and LOVED being the centre of attention!!

Birthday walk

At Montessori they do a birthday walk.I dont fully understand it,but they ask the parents to write down milestones for each year of their childs life,they read it out at the birthday walk,walk around the "sun" for each year then at the end light a candle then all the kids sing happy birthday and get all excited about whatever treats the parents have bought in for them all :p

It is actually pretty cool and unique.

So these are photos from Isabellas 5th birthday walk (again thank you to S for taking these so I could use our camera to video it for Steve.Again,not all the photos,trying to not get other kids in them is hard!!).

 Being a bit bossy hahaha.Beginning of her birthday walk

 Walking around the "sun"

 Blowing out her candle :)

 hahaha her adorable cake covered face!The kindy were awesome and gave her a drink bottle and swimming bag!

 With Malachi and Sienna

And Nana (Steves mum) and Grandma (my mum)