Mika's bday was so fun!!!

Mika's party was really fun! There were alot of kids that came, too! Parents even stayed and watched and chatted with me. I'm new to the area, so it was so nice to see and talk with new people. Mika's good friend Jennica's mom (Tanya) stayed and helped me with the games,food, prizes and clean up! She's such a nice person and we all had so much fun!

The day before the party there was alot of snow that came down. I was alittle worried how the roads would be the next day for the party, but it was fine. Manny drove me, Daichi and Mika to St williams school where we were going to have the party. I told theschool organizer Christopher that we'd be in early at 12pm to set up for the party at 1pm.  Thank goodness I did that because he came around 12:40pm. I just had enough time to put up flower balloons, the banner, set up the games, put out drinks,snacks,plates, cups, napkins and put the cake in the fridge. Kids came running in and Mika and Daichi were so excited! This is her FIRST official party with her friends. We always do a family party with cake, presents and games. But, when manny got his permanent residency status in Canada I knew the kids needed a big girl/big boy party!

Kids loved the idea of the party at the school cz there was the gym with equipment there, a huge room for eating and activities and a long hallway to run back and forth to. Emi was left at home with grandma and grandpa cz she caught Mika's cold from school. Mika had a high fever and a bad asthma cough for almost 4 days.

Well, the kids had fun! I sewed four minions and put beans in them for a bean bag "hit the minions" game! And we did dodgeball, tag, pinata (a big number 7 that I made), decorating cookies and a cookie contest, etc. It was great and the kids were all smiles! They ate pizza and drank juice and cookies and cake. We had so many games and prizes that the time really did fly by! Mika loved her many wonderful gifts she was given!! Mostly Barbie dolls and stuffed toys which she loves! The party was a success and I have to go through it all again next month january for Daichi's 9th birthday!!

Mika's 7th birthday party plans

Well, Mika's going to be 7 yrs on Dec. 14, 2013. She is going to have her first official birthday party with her friends. She's never had one before with friends because we were separated distance wise from their dad (Manuel) for a few years. He had to wait for his Permanent residency in Canada, so Mika, Daichi and I came ahead to live in Canada to settle in. I promised the kids that they will have their own party when their dad comes and he's been with us since June 25, 2012. So, Mika is all excited and so am I about the party!

We're thinking of a girl party. But, now Daichi wants to invite people to the party, so we'll go with boys and girls. I have to think of food, where, games, prizes, cake and see who can help me watch over these kids! hehe..Lots to think of but, it's exciting, too!

I'll let you all know more when I figure things out:)

Ballet/dance class

Sorry, it's been a while! I've been busy with the Young Living oils. Now that I'm an independent distributor, it's been busy with signing people up and talking to people about my experience with the essential oils. On Tuesday night 6-7pm I took my son Daichi and daughter Mika to the St. Williams school. They got to see girls/boys do ballet/dance. Daichi got right in and did the stretches and the technique steps. Mika who was so excited and looking forward to it, shut down and was nervous and started to cry. I was just so surprised because Daichi didn't even want to go and he ended up doing really well! I wish I had taken a video as he was so good and followed all instructions and really tried his best! I was proud of him! I'm not saying I want him to become a dancer, but he can definitely benefit from being more fit and using his body.

Mika and Daichi will go again next Tuesday night. They know lots of people from their school (Port Rowan Public School) so they should feel comfortable next week as well. Mai Tran is the instructor and she's also our neighbor! Her and her husband Roger owns an apple orchard on the corner of 1st con rd (port rowan). We always get our apples there (empire, red delicious, mutsu, gala). She's trained in the russian ballet and has been doing ballet for 30 yrs she told me! She is very talented and very fit! Makes me want to take her class:P

I'll let you know how this goes with the kids! Also, I need to talk with her about a payment plan..

Happy Anniversary

November 5 is my husband Manny and I wedding anniversary. We will be married for 12 years! I still can't believe that sometimes, but then somedays I really can! We got married November 5, 2001 in Las Vegas, Nevada. No, it wasn't at a drive thru:P We got married at Candlelight Chapel and it was very quick and I felt kinda nervous and it was very strange to me really. I didn't even know about "Vegas quickie weddings" and well, it did happen quick and I was kinda scared. I wasn't sure if Manny and I would really last. He was always really good to me, but we had issues like our culture backgrounds and our big age gap of 10 years! I was always hoping and wanting to overcome those, but I just hoped that they wouldn't be too much for us. We're still together after 12 years of marriage and three kids, so we must be strong enough:)

I really don't mind what we do that day of our anniversary, as long as we can have some time to talk and laugh. I am very lucky to have a good husband and who is such a good father.

Hunt's Honey in Port Rowan, ON

Mark Hunt and his wife and 4 boys came to our house a few days ago. They brought us honey! I just love honey! Just for on toast, in my tea, baking with it, beauty recipes, and using it when I'm not feeling well...There are so many uses for it and it's unpasteurized and local:) I love having honey in our house because with three kids and a being busy all the time, it's a natural way to keep healthy. 

They gave us buckwheat honey (dark honey), wildflower honey (regular), creamed honey, and cinnamon honey (mixed with ground cinnamon). My favourite is the wildflower one. Mark's wife also uses the bees wax for making products like chapsticks and lip balms as well. I believe Mark said that they have 900 bees, but will expand to 1200 bees.

Mark Hunt and his bee farm is on: 47 concession rd, Port Rowan, ON N0E1M0. Their number is: 519-586-7979 and email is: huntshoney@hotmail.com.

Really nice people and cute kids. Mika knows a few of their sons at Port Rowan Public School.

I'm planning on making some throat lozenges with the honey! Mark invited us to his place to see the bees later as well. Looking forward to that!

Part-time job

Well, I started working couple of days ago at a greenhouse. Just doing some things with plants. It's weird because the last time I worked was when i was 19 years old. I'm in my thirties, so yeah I'm kinda nervous to get back out there again. I know it's only greenhouse stuff, but well I'm a shy person and for me that's a step.

I do like working and it's nice because my husband works there too. He was showing me what I need to do. Nice to be working at same place he is at and to see what he does there.

My mom and dad watched Emi for me and picked up kids at bus stop. My mom also made dinner and it was nice because I was kinda tired and I cook all the meals every night and every day. I'll probably work 3 days a week as my parents are busy with farm things right now and their business in Toronto.

This is a start for me. Glad to get out there again.

Norfolk county fair was fun!

We went to the simcoe norfolk county fair yesterday. We were planning on leaving at 9am to get there early and have a good parking spot. We ended up leaving the house after 10am. That's what happens when you have kids. hehe..

We got a nice parking spot and we hit the ticket booth. Manny got the kids a ride all day bracelet pass and we had to get them from the booths. They weren't even open yet so we waited in the long line up (kids P.A. Day). We finally got the bracelet passes and the kids were off! They went on a Nemo ride, a bee ride, car ride, motorcycle ride, etc.,...I think they went on all the rides that they 'could' go on (for their height requirements). It was still kinda cloudy and cool out. I decided to bring Emi to the kids learning centre area. It's a room where you can change diaper, give feedings, play and rest if you need to. I really love it there because it's so friendly and a nice size room for kids to play in. We stayed there for about 30mins and then decided to go back out. The weather was beginning to get warmer, so we walked around and then decided to eat lunch. We ate hamburger, fries and hot dog at Knights of Columbus booth. Food was pretty good and then the kids were off to go on more rides.

Emi and I stayed in the food area by the bandstand. We got a good spot to see the Bandaloni play. He's a one man band with guitar, drums, cymbals, microphone, harmonica, etc.,...He's really fun to watch and Emi was so happy through the whole performance. She got out of her stroller and started stomping and dancing and spinning around. How cute! He played a few kids songs like 'twinkle twinkle little star', 'you've got a friend in me', etc.,...He's always so much fun to watch! Definitely have to buy his cd & dvd set next year!

Mika was happy to see her classmate Kaitlyn there. They played games and won goldfish, too. Mika's fish died before we even got in the car.

All in all it was a great day! Can't wait for next year! Wonder who the performer will be? This year it was Carly Rae Jepsen. Last year Chantal Kreviazuk. Year before Barenaked Ladies. Gets better and better!

Emi's Words

Emi's been telling me more and more things lately. She says quite a bit, but most of it I don't know what she's saying. Very cute and funny sometimes because she's trying to hard to tell me something important. hehe..

Emi's Words so far (that I understand..hehe):

"mama" : mama (mother)
"baba" : baba (grandma in Japanese )
"dachi" : Daichi (Emi's brother)
"mita" : Mika (Emi's sister)
"meh" : me (eyes in Japanese)
"ha" : teeth (in Japanese)
"meh nee" : Manny (she heard me call his name once and keeps copying me)
"dede" : Daddy
"jeejee" : Jiji (grandpa in Japanese)
"bee" : Belle (our dog)
"beebee": Chibi (our other dog)
"gooda" : arigato (thank you in Japanese)
"gooda gooda" : gochisousama deshita ( Japanese people say when finished eating meal)
"Mee" : milk (she wants to drink)
"pee": she peed, wet
"pee pee": she pooed, dirty diaper
"no no": no more (doesn't want any more food/water)

She likes to sing some songs, too. She likes "dorothy the dinosaur" song by the Wiggles. She sings "doh dee, doh dee". Really cute! She's growing up so fast that it's nice for me to be able to share with all of you these things,and also be able to go back and read these entries.

Thought you might enjoy!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is coming up soon. I still don't know if we'll be having a party/family gathering. Usually we have it at our house and my brother and  his wife and kids come over for lunch. We make it afternoon because it is quite far to drive home.  That way we'll have enough time to eat, talk, and relax a while before it's time for them to drive back home.

Well, not sure if we'll be having get together with my bro and his family. Everyone's kinda busy this year and it might just be us only. It would be nice to get together, but at least we'll see them at christmas. The kids are looking forward to my turkey and stuffing and gravy! Nice to be able to spend time with the kids, husband and parents and eat good food! I'm planning on having some activities for the kids that day so we can start some traditions of our own now that they're bigger.

I think also for the kids they know that after thanksgiving it's Halloween! AND after that......christmas is just around the corner! I am really excited every year about christmas! It's such a nice happy time and well, I am looking forward to all the wrapping and the food, and spending time with my family. The kids are big enough now that I am going to "hint" to them about making things for the family to give for christmas. Daichi will be 9 at the end of Jan and Mika will be 7 on Dec 14. The kids are looking forward to the holidays and it'll be nice starting some traditions in Canada. Mika wants to learn more how to sew and she and Daichi are very creative with craftmaking. It'll be fun to see what they come up with for christmas presents!

Potty Training?

My daughter Emi is 15 months. She's been telling me when she's pee pee or poo for about 3 weeks now. First I thought it was coincidence, but then it kept happening over and over and well it was as she told me. So, I'm going to be getting her a potty this weekend and "try" to see if she's ready. It would be great if we could do potty training for her. I really would like her to use only diaper at night because  she has really sensitive skin!

I'll let you know how that goes..:)

Norfolk County Fair, Simcoe here we come!

My husband Manny picked up our county fair tickets last night at Roulston's in Simcoe,On.  He also got two ride all day passes (bracelet) for Daichi and Mika. You end up saving money instead of buying all the ride tickets at the booth. Kids are excited for Friday (PA day). Pretty sure Emi will be able to go by then as well.

It's actually a PA day today. I had no idea and we were waiting outside by the bus stop this morning for our bus driver Linda. A nice lady drove by and stopped to tell us that there's no school because of the fair today. The kids and I were surprised and when we went inside the house, my mom actually reminded me that this happened last year on the opening day of the fair. Maybe I'll learn for next year? hehe..

I think my dad will also go with us. I really want my mom to come, but she said she might have to be home to feed our little chicks that we have (changing up our chicken flock).

I'm going to be taking pictures at the fair and I will post some pictures for you all!

Kids are feeling okay:)

Well, right after my last post about Emi getting sick, Daichi got sick. He was complaining to me about a sore throat. He said he felt fine just had a sore throat and runny nose. Well, I told him to gargle with warm water with some salt in it. He also gargled with the thieves mouthwash as well and took some tylenol for the discomfort (sore throat). I was also diffusing thieves essential oil in my diffuser and rubbing the thieves oil on their feet at bedtime. Daichi felt good he said the next day.

Emi is feeling good, too. She's not sneezing anymore and she's just got a little phlegm. I also rub the thieves on her feet at night. Just to be safe I've been giving her the pulmicort ampoules in the nebulizer with her mask to help her lungs.

Glad Mika is feeling good, too. She was so happy to go to school today! Daichi looks a little tired from school, but other than that he's feeling fine. I am definitely going to buy another thieves kit from youngliving to make sure I am stocked for when flu season comes! I also got some things for my sister Mari in Japan. Hope everyone is well!

Emi's sick

The cold virus is in our house. Mika's been sick and been off from school for the past three days now.  Emi now is sick and has caught the cold. I always feel so bad when she gets sick. She gets all congested and then sneezes and coughs and has runny nose and watery eyes. She always has trouble breathing, so I have her in her baby rocking chair tonight. I have to have her up sleeping so she can breathe.  I hope Daichi doesn't get sick, too. I have the thieves oil in my diffuser going and even put some on the bottoms of their feet.  It's going around as the temperature has been up and down lately.

I hope everyone is feeling better than how we are in our home. Make sure to always wash your hands and get lots of rest.  I'm going to taking some random pictures of what I would like to share with you guys. I want to get that done when everyone is feeling better.

Hope everyone is feeling well!

Halloween and things...

So, I've decided on Emi's costume. She's going to be a cute, red strawberry! Not original, but you gotta admit it's cute! I'm thinking of making it like a hooded jacket-type style costume. I've got to make some rough drafts first, but I can picture it in my head and can't wait to get it on paper! Daichi wants to be Pikachu from Pokemon. So, I'll need yellow and brown and he'll look really cute! He loves requesting any costume cz he knows "mama can make anything"! A plus and minus really. I enjoy making them, but the demands just keep coming around halloween time. hehe..Mika wants to be a princess and we were actually given a princess costume dress. I'm happy cz it's one less costume to make!

I always make the decorations to put outside our house. I made a big spider last year; so we'll use that this year again. But, I'm not sure what to do for the front porch this year. Last year I made ghosts hanging from our tree and the year before it was jack-o-lanterns hanging around with spiders and webs. Thinking of making lots of spiders and webs and making it spooky with a skeleton! What do you think?

Kids will be excited to carve their pumpkins this year, too. They can carve them by themselves again this year. We've carved tons of cool characters on our pumpkins over the years. We've had Anpanman, Ponyo, Shokupanman, Karepanman, T-rex, hello kitty, etc.,...I wonder what Daichi and Mika will come up with this year. If I know Daichi It'll be something to do with bugs or Pokemon..And knowing Mika maybe something cute like a puppy, flower or Justin Bieber!:P

Norfolk County Fair is coming up and I hope we can go this year. Mika is sick and she missed school today. She'll probably rest again from school tomorrow. She has a sore throat, congested and a slight fever. Been trying to get her better by gargling, resting up, drinking lots of water, taking thieves and I'm diffusing it nonstop, too. Hope she feels better and that no one else gets sick! Carly Rae Jepsen is performing this year at the fair. We always love the rides, the food, seeing the animals and the Bandaloni (one man band)! He's so cool! I just love how the kids get to just let loose and run around and I enjoy watching them be kids.

good news..

Things always happen when you least expect them to..that's life! My daughter Emi (14 months old) had a regular appointment with a nurse practitioner in Port Rowan. She checked her weight, height, mouth, ears and lastly her eyes. Everything was going great until she said "uh, Ann when was the last time Emi had her eyes checked with a doctor?". I knew there was something wrong. Well, turns out that Emi's right eye reflex couldn't be seen. She made an appointment for Emi with our family doctor to re-check her eyes again. This worried me more and I started feeling like it's my fault her eyes are bad (I wear glasses).

Well, our family doctor checked her and said "you'll need to book an appointment with an optometrist to check Emi's eyes". Those words made me feel worse and kinda panicky. Well, I called Dr. Jane's office in Simcoe and made an appointment.  The appointment was on sept 30th 4pm and I was getting kinda nervous while in the waiting room. Emi was running everywhere and shouting "mama mama!!". Of course everyone looked at us and of course it made me start to feel hot and sweat. Finally Emi's name was called and Dr. Jane was really nice. She sang songs for Emi and let her play with some toys. Emi was getting kinda tired and and fidgety. Dr. Jane put in some dialating eye drops for Emi and she cried a little. We waited 15 mins until they took affect.

When we went back in the room to check her eyes Emi looked tired and started to cry. She didn't want to open her eyes and look at the doctor. So, I decided to hold her and give her a juice box. I should've gave her the juice box earlier, cz she was so happy and drinking and didn't seem to care one bit about the lights flashing by her eyes. Good news was that Emi's eyes were great! Dr. Jane said she could see both relex in the right and left eye! She said no signs of anything out of the ordinary in her eyes and that they looked healthy! We were so happy we kept thanking Dr. Jane Van Dyk and booked a 6 month follow-up appointment with her to see Emi and my other two kids (Daichi & Mika) in March. Great news!!!