Forced To Fall

Today I had been thinking back on the past few months for my family. Lately I've been organizing our bills vs income with all the extra costs of our living. Now being out on our own, it is safe to simply say, we are broke. lol Our budget has tightened significantly. But doing the math of it all, our debt/bill to income ratio is in fact in our favor favorably. One bill I would say it kind of a bit much and was not prepared for is gas. Not "heat" gas, but car gas. We've had the Trailblazer for quite some time now and it's been really good us. But then we picked up an Escalade and that damn tank is real hungry. It really makes me miss my little Fusion. The escalade is great. I love how big it is and we all sit and fit comfortably in it. Anyway...

My point, after me thinking about my family is looking back on living in the guest house. It was such a blessing to us. We were real comfortable there. Now thinking about the pros and cons of both living situations, it's safe to say, this is life.

I think back and wonder why I would have walked away from such great blessings. But I've also walked into great blessings.

This is what I've learned....

Making the choice that I did, considering where we are financially. I have had to force my family to fall in order to succeed.

I've never really thought of life this way. I've understood that trials come and we conquer them as they come, but I've simply prepared our family to fail knowingly just so we can fight to succeed.

With us currently at our low financial point, I can't wait to see where the next few months lead us.

I have a good feeling about 2017. I just do.

Here's to ending on a good note, yes it is still a good note for 2016.

xoxo Via

Hello

Has it really been this long?

I mean I know I sometimes go on a little while at time simply cause I either dont wanna sound super-dear-diary like a love sick teenager that writes about her long lost lover ever minute of every day..But a few months... I've been busy huh? Naaa! I've just been busy. haha

Well, just to get you current. I am currently employed at Sutter Physician Services as a Billing Agent. I bill for Doctors Services and I absolutely love my job.

I started this past July and have felt at home there since. I am only part time. One thing I love about the company is their love for their employees. When they hired me I intended to work my pat time job. My initial schedule was 3 pm to 7 pm with the exception of Mondays where I would work from 1-5 pm for Tamara's gymnastics. Things changed in my personal life, schedule wise and I asked to move my whole weeks schedule to 1-5 pm monday through friday. My sup had no problem getting that worked out.

Then discussing neccessitites with Leroy in regards to our kids and work schedules, we needed me home a little more. So when I went to my sup and requested 2 - 10 hour shifts on Monday and Tuesday - she looked at me like - "are you serious?" She went on to say that this type of shift is unheard of. Well, I got it approved. lol

I start my new shift tomorrow I can't wait. In my mind I work Monday and Friday. lol

Tamara turns 7 today and boy.. I couldn't be more proud of her. She has come far in the past year and every day she keeps me on my toes.

Henele is one crazy crazy kid. He still has energy for days. I can barely keep up with him.

Sorry I'm keeping this quick.

I will be back soon with pics. =)

As always, taking it one day at a time.

XOXO Via

Throwback

I find myself filming just about everything lately. And then I upload them to youtube as my storage place. lol I need to one day actually put them on a personal storage so I can't ever lose them. I doubt youtube will ever just "be gone" but... you never know.

I was uploading some recent videos and by habit I started looking back on older ones and I ran into this one.

My heart is filled with warmth and comfort watching this one and thankfully it's 7 am and I can use this to my advantage and start my day off perfectly.

Tamara was and still is the best big sister and oldest child! I completely take her for granted many times and I'm glad I took the time to look back and be reminded of how incredible she is.

Along with that, seeing Henele all baby version got me all tapped into my emotions. Remembering what it was like to have a small baby, small enough to carry around for hours.

Today they are both SUPER heavy. Maybe not heavy for Leroy cause he stays in tune with his workouts. But me.... uhhhh, I try.

Just wanted to post this throwback and ponder on the many blessings I have.

Enjoy your day.
XOXO Via

The World Of Gymnastics

Oh My Goodness!!

Can I just say that the world of Gymnastics is insanely terrifying!!

Here we are at our first Gymnastics Practice with Epic Gymnastics in Murray, Utah.
She doesn't care for Volleyball or Basketball or Softball. Because for the past little while she is constantly doing cartwheels and flips and such, I showed her what gymnastics was and I asked her if this is something she wants to do, she replied YES!

So I googled gymnastics clubs in the local area and Epic Gymnastics pulled up first. They offered a free trial class and I thought - Perfect! A trial class to give her a little taste of what she would be getting into but also something that wouldn't be completely permanent if she chose against it. So I called and scheduled her trial class on March 14 for 6 pm.

We went.

The began with simple stretches and jumping jacks for a warm up. She kept up well with the other girls that have been in the class before her.

Jumping Jacks.

I was surprised by just her stretching compared to the other girls with how much more flexible she was compared to them and this being her first class.

Then when this happened... my jaw dropped. I thought, "What the heck!?" I mean, no offense to the other girls but - my girl - I would've expected her to look like the girls in her class, but damnnn! She's really got something going for her in this sport. I thought to myself, "she really does know what she wants to do doesn't she?"

I'm so proud of her!

Then it got real scary!!

At Epic Gymnastics, they have this big gym with the different events in gymnastics. As a beginner you start off as a Bounder. Each level of gymnastics has a sign off sheet that each participant is to complete before moving up to the next level. After the Bounders Class you move up to the Lighters Class.

At each class that is held for an hour long, you move to different stations within the gym and you rotate to allow other classes to utilize different parts of the gym. They allow no more then 8 in each class to give each student good one on one time with their instructor.

When I saw her group rotate to the low beams my eyes were so big! I don't think I blinked worrying she would fall and hit her head even though the entire floor is matted. It's major scary stuff!

Tamara jumped on and did as her instructor (his name is Peter - but in my head I call him - Hot Peter lol) told her to do and even though she was very hesitant on the beam, she really got the hand of it. When she would stumble off the beam, she got right back up and kept on her task.

I seriously was amazed at Tamara and how much she really fits in with this sport.

I really filmed just about the entire practice. So we can study what she does and other girls to practice at home and at our local gym.

Tamara has shown so much progress in just her first gymnastics class. I honestly couldn't be any more proud. Now even if in the future she decided against Gymnastics, then that would perfectly fine with me. I honestly am proud of just this first class. And even beyond this class, her at school, her at home with her brother. She is growing just gracefully. I would completely credit it to my family and also Leroy's for all their support in incorporating the importance of family.



Under the right flag! I couldn't help but imagine her 20 years from now in the Olympics. =)

How crazy is this new adventure we are entering. I simply can't wait to see where this leads us.

XOXO Via

Opening Doors

So this happened...

That there is Mrs. Mona. I worked with her at the Printing Division.. She had to resign due to cancer. #cancersucks She was such a doll to work with. She was always positive and loved to dance and smile.

Notice how in this picture she's posing with a "peace" sign.

Well that's exactly what I'm getting at.

I SAID PEACE!! lol

I've finally hung up the steel toe shoes and said my farewells to the LDS Printing Division. It wasn't easy but it also wasn't hard. Easy because of my why and we all know I function entirely around the kids and my family and what's best for us. Hard because of the many amazing people I worked with. It wasn't easy saying goodbye to everyone but I have to be honest... I am super excited to go full throttle on school and really get it done.

Leroy and I have been discussing this change for awhile and I couldn't be any happier with the choices we've made to finally move our family forward in the right direction.

So in celebration to this change along with many other reasons behind this - we decided to take a weekend vacation to Las Vegas!



We drove out last Thursday and came back Sunday night. It was a much needed get away and I can't wait to book our next little vacation.

Along with our little get away we attended the USA Rugby 7s Tournament. It was held at the UNLV Stadium.



Of course we would support Samoa since the kids are half Samoan. lol I knew absolutely nothing about rugby until this tournament and to be completely honest... I love rugby far more then football. I love how fast paced it all is. There are only 2 halves and each half is only 7 minutes long. Which would make sense since they are play with no kind of padding. It's bone on bone and I couldn't imagine them playing any more then just the 7 minutes before it becomes any more brutal then it already is.

So yes... I love rugby now that I understand the game.



Got to have dinner with Aunt Laulea. It's always great seeing family.



Took the kids to Circus Circus.


Swam at late hours of the night. Which was great cause there was no one else there swimming with us.


Ate twice at the buffet at Sunset Station.

Did lots of shopping and more and more eating. lol

Did we gamble? Yes. Did we win? Yes.

What happens in Vegas. Stays in Vegas. lol



This week has been the week to begin playing catch up on just about everything I fell short with while I was working and the things I couldn't do because I was working.

Staring with... Filing Taxes!! We finally filed the other night and I would say it's not a bad year.
Next yeat will be better.



The kids.. Boy this is big change for them. I stay home with them until Summer Semester starts. I will be applying at the airport so I can try and get us some flying benefits for more vacationing. lol

Tamara - Starts gymnastics on Monday and I can't wait to see what she thinks about it. She is always flipping everywhere we go. So I showed her what gymnastics was on youtube and asked if she wants to try a class for little girls like her and she said yes. So here we go.

Henele - I need to find a cross country team for him. Anything to keep his energy down. Like way down. It would help out everyone a whole lot. lol

Other then that. They are both doing well in school and are ready to venture into newer worlds this life has to offer.


We are still going strong. Taking every day one at time and simply - try.
We are happy. =)

Welp... Until next time.

XOXO Via

Make It Count

Happy New Year Everyone!!

-(Yes, my only reader Sunshine! lol)

So lots of things to say and express.

This is the year! The year me and Leroy will take bigger leaps and hand in hand, crash and fall. hahaha no I'm kidding. I just know this year will be filled with many many many opportunities for the both of us! Thankful for Leroy and all his hard working lately that it's given our family to make more things possible for us.

Something is going to happen this year. Something good! Something that will change our lives forever! I just look forward to the rest of this year and I know that many things will happen and make things better for our family.

School. Gotta get back and get it done. That's in the books for the year.

New Job. Currently applying and am not really settling with what I want to do in the meantime or where I want to work. As much as I love the Printing Division, it's just something that can't be held when both kids go to school full time.

Calling. As the Young Women Second Counselor, I really am excited to see where this calling takes me and how much it will help me improve myself.

After seeing this clip on Facebook, it really opened up my eyes to how I am taking care of myself and I've learned that I really do put EVERYONE before me. I really do. I'm thankful for this clip and feel that it was intended to be watched by those that don't take care of themselves because they are taking care of others.

This year, I will take care of myself. I will do what best for me and will begin to set the path for my kids that they may learn for themselves the importance of taking care of yourself first.

I want to explore.

I want to really step outside of the box this year. Do something new. Do something that will benefit myself and my family. I wanna do something fun.

I went to the gym this morning and usually I'll hit the treadmill and just jog until I'm tired. Today, I jumped on the elliptical and even that little thing was burning me up. lol I've really gained over the holidays. I weighed in before the end of the year at 208.2 and weighed this morning at 206.5. I know it's not a big changed but I don't care how fast I do this time, as long as it's in the right direction then I'm good AND as long as I'm not depriving myself of the foods that I love. I know I just need to be mindful.

I feel like I said that same thing last year. lol Either way, at least my mentality is straight and hasn't given up.

Enjoy Life!

I'm going to enjoy everything I do. Even going back to work today. I'm going to hold my head up high and still work hard because I know my time is limited there.

No Enemies 2016!

One very important rule for this year is - NO MAKING ANY ENEMIES! Be the better person even when people may be in the wrong or are clearly having a bad day.

2016 - LETS GO! I'm Ready.

This years theme...

MAKE IT COUNT!

xoxo Via