My Happy List

I am just so happy right now. While there are a lot of things that I am happy about there are a couple of things in particular that I am most joyous about.

1. Family- I am just so happy to have such a wonderful family, both the old and the new. It is just a wonderful thing being able to see my family all the time. What a blessing it is to be able to go to their respective homes and spend time with the. Most recently Jake and I were able to go to my sisters house for Sunday dinner. I can't express how much fun it was just relaxing, eating delicious food, talking, and playing with my wonderful nephew and nieces. There are times when I can't help but be in awe at what angels my sister has been blessed with those kids are amazing. While it makes me feel old seeing them grow up and remembering when they were just a figment of my sisters imagination I can't help but marvel at how quickly they learn and love. Jake has been officially integrated into the family by those girls. Kalea has learned how to say his name, while Mele and Uilani instantly jump on him the first chance they get and have to be peeled off with butter and a spatula. They are so willing to love him and it makes me overjoyed. This is not to say that the same hasn't happened to me. His nephew Wyatt always gets the cutest little grin whenever he see me. What an opportunity I get when Jessie needs me to babysit for a few hours. We always have tons of fun playing with his ball, reading a book, or me chasing him around the living room while he tries to hide. It is a real blast and I wouldn't change it for anything. My parents are the best and I miss them everyday as I count down the days till I get to see them again. My in-laws bless their hearts are always so welcoming to me as they know I spend a lot of time by myself while Jake is off bettering himself for our benefit. My siblings-in-law are great too making me feel more and more part of the family. I just love my family both the near and the far.
2. Stress Release- The last couple of weeks have been a stress: physically, emotionally, mentally. With everything that has been going on lately both on a personal and more general level the stress levels have been rising. I have been battling a chest cold that does not seem to want to leave, Jake has been stressed about school and all of the things that go with that, the cold weather is a foreign matter for me, my mom and her health issues, and the situation with my dad and the possible loss of his job in a few months has been putting some unwanted stress on the family as a whole and individually. It came to a head when I wanted nothing to do with anybody for a day and was more than content to sit and stew alone. But it changed, while those things are still there Jake and I were able to get on better terms and that seemed to make the difference. How nice it is to just be with another person and just BE. There doesn't need to be talking, holding a hand, laughing, or a hug is enough. It is amazing what a stress reliever that can be. Also baking an apple pie helps by keeping the hands busy and the mind centered on a particular task helps. It is a wonder what not really thinking can do for a person, you can organize and sort through everything so much better.
3. Having a Job- In these uncertain economic times it is just a blessing to have a job Jake and I can go to everyday. Granted we aren't racking in to dough, but we are doing well enough to stay where we are with relative comfort and ease. We are happy to have an apartment and money to get the things that we need. It is dreadful how many families are not as lucky as some are. That is something that I pray for everyday that those that are in need will be able to find something to fit their situations. There is nothing worse than losing that security. Remember those in need and try to help where you can.
   

Another milestone reached

Something on a significant scale happened today at 9:30am at Walden School in Provo. What happened today has been happening to people since dawn of time, or at least since schools have made fieldtrips a common occurrence. I Sashalai Nichols become a chaperon. When did I become old enough that I was mature and able to be given such a responsibility? Isn't this something that is reserved for parents, grandparents, and teachers? It was just a little odd for me to be responsible for the safety of getting three elementary school girls to and from the Utah Valley Symphony at the Provo Tabernacle. I was a little befuddled as to when I had crossed over that line from being just a tutor to being a overseer of young children's lives. I know it wasn't all that far from school to downtown Provo, but still it felt like I had passed a milestone somewhere and forgot to properly pay my dues as a parent first. All in all it was a great trip, I got to listen to some amazing music, be proud that at least the kids that I was directly and indirectly responsible for were being quiet and respectful to the performers and other music-goers. I am looking forward to another opportunity to go out and have fun with the kids and have an adventure with them again.

Trick or Treat

Halloween has come and gone. What always amazes me is how much we anticipate the holidays and yet how quickly they are there and gone again. This year was the first year that I didn't go out with friends to pathetically beg others for candy or attend a party of some kind. It was my first year as a married woman, yet sadly I didn't dress up with my husband in a cheesy couples ensemble, though it would have been awesome had Jake and I done that (What a cute Peter Pan he would have been). Instead, I dressed up for work. I find it very sad when the adults don't dress up with the kids at a school. I donned my darling Tinkerbell outfit including matching shoes and wings and participated in the Halloween festivities at good ol' Walden School. It was so much fun to watch all the elementary kids march across the school in their costumes and help in the Halloween party with Miss. Sage & Miss Merin's room. It was loads of fun! I was stationed at the Pictionary corner. It amazed me how creative kids are when an adult has a hard time discerning what a 6-8 is trying to draw.

In my mind the real fun didn't happen till later in the evening when I made my way out to Eagle Mountain to my sister's house to spend the evening with them. when I got there at 5:45 already the streets were being filled with the ghosts, vampires, superheros, princesses, pirates, and other mythical and scary beings that roam the land on Halloween. My three darling nieces were dressed and ready to go, Ui the fabulous Hannah Montana, Mele a dainty pink princess, and Kalea as an adorable green dragon made our way out into the throngs. Ui and Mele quickly left us to go out with a friend while Kalea, my sister, and I made our way around the block. My brother-in-law, George left early with Keioki (sorry still haven't learned how to spell it yet, pronounced Key-o-Key) who was dressed as a round Tigger, to man the house as children came to give the ultimate ultimatum Trick? or Treat?
What made this simple little outing fun beyond measure was what my cute little dragon would do. I had brought a bag of goldfish out with me to munch on as we strolled making the rounds to each doorstep. I gave her a few just because I felt charitable at the beginning. Well, what happened after that just made my sister and her husband laugh, was that every time she came back from a door she would put out her hand and expect a goldfish as a reward. It was so funny because she didn't care about the candy that she was being given as a prize, it was the exotic goldfish that I held that caught her attention. Who would have thought that a simple baked cheesy snack would hold such high standings with a two year old rather than brightly wrapped sugar coated sugar. It was also amazing what a brave little girl she was. Most kids her age scream if Mom or Dad leave their side at the door, not Kalea. She would run to the door, sometimes in the company of others other times solo and would not hesitate. Wondrous I say...wondrous.
After we made it around the block and I became the candy bag holder for the few steps it took to get from door to the next we made it back home. This next segment is precious and very much Kalea. Shayla (my sister), George, Keoki, Kalea, and I sat down to eat some dinner. I was the closest to the door, so I'd walk over and hand out the candy. After doing this a few times I thought it fun to have Kalea help me put it in their buckets, bags, and/or pillowcases. If only I would have known what a hit this would be, I would have had her help me before. Kalea got so excited helping me she'd bolt across the kitchen and living room to get to the door before me. What made it even more entertaining was every time there was a knock her whole body would go ridged for a second with eyes popping out of her head and then she would scrambled down from her chair in record speed and make it to the door before I had taken a few steps. It was amazing how quickly she could be to the door hands at the ready to distribute the much desired sugary goodness. The parents and kids thought it adorable that I had such a devoted and enthusiastic helper. After delivering the candy she would wave and say "Bye-bye" and return to the table for another go.
After doing this several times she would open her eyes wide, point to the door and say with silent enthusiasm "Was that the door? Time to go give out more candy!?" What a funny child she is. And oh how much I love her and my other nieces and nephew so very much. It was a real joy to be able to spend a few hours with them and just hang out as Cool Auntie. Who needs parties when you have nieces that are just so adorable and are willing to be silly and play.

All in all it was a good Halloween.

To Eat or Not to Eat? That is the Question

For those of you who are aware, I don't like to make dinner for just myself. I think it is a waste of time and effort to enjoy a meal by ones lonesome self. So the solution I have found is to scrounge in the fridge for leftovers or anything that looks even remotely edible. Well this has brought me to me most recent mishap in the Life and Times of Sashalai. This is a continuing saga of that ups and down of what happens to me in my even moving and changing life.

To set the scene it was night, I had gone to the gym and was settling in for another evening till my Darling Husband would waltz through the door and charm me with his presence. My stomach was gurgling for it to be fed. This is when I sauntered over to the fridge for something to munch on. This is when I noticed that I still had some Chili Verde left over from when Geoff and Lisa were over for dinner. I thought about, knew it would be on the side of extra spicy since I used jalapenos instead of the called for green chilies. I shrugged and popped it into the microwave and waited patiently for it to ding and allow me to eat it. I sat in front of the computer with it nestled in my lap while I played a rousing game of internet Sudoku (something that I have become slightly addicted too. As I was playing and taking tiny bites, too big a bite would make my mouth catch on fire. This is when I noticed that the concoction tasted just a little off. Didn't really phase me till the spice was too over powering and I did not want to be up all night with heartburn. So I stopped eating. After a few angry protests from my stomach I thought it best to just through out the rest and not chance it going bad. Ha!! Too late for that one.
The night has worn on and I am starting to get a very complainy tummy that is gurgling and protesting greatly. At this point I still think it is just the spicy and nothing else. Oh the worst is yet to come! Jake and I go to bed and a few hours later when all is quiet and I am trying not to die and wake up Jake at the same time my stomach makes its first violent revolt to my choice of food earlier that night. I scurry to the linoleum temple, as quickly and silently as I can, shut the door and make an offering to the porcelain god. I finish my gracious offering and think myself done. I brush my teeth to rid it of the acrid taste and head back to bed. the pressure is gone, but the pain resides and my stomach continues to assaulting my abdomen with cruel pangs. But the stomach as made an alliance with the intestines and they begin to ambush me with a new wave of grief. I am back and forth from the linoleum temple making my various offerings and I end up on the couch to avoid constantly waking Jake up possibly not being able to make the hurdles over the mounds of pillows that fortify my floor at night. On top of it all I have a fever that makes me feel as though I have the Roman God of fire is stoking an inferno within the confines of my body. The thought of Jake touching me making me hotter causes me to stick to the couch where it is cooler.
In the end it was one of the longest, most miserable nights of my life. I finally end up back in bed once there is nothing left in me to offer to the porcelain god and within minutes the alarm goes off. I crawl out of bed and make a feeble attempt to get ready for work. I don't get very far before my whole body, from the tip of my toes to the top of my heads sags and protests to stay home. I relent, against my normal standing of such things. For those of you who really know me, know that I have gone to work when I had a fever over a 100 and looked like death and was deathly sick for that following weekend. So I called in sick and stayed home. This is one of the best things that I could have done. It was either:Be miserable at work and possible leave early OR stay home and be miserable. Choices, choices. I slept for 5 hours woke up tried to eat some chicken noodle soup Jake so lovingly went to get me and stayed down by reading, sleeping, or just staring at the ceiling. I am happy to say that my fever finally broke in the late afternoon and I started to be able to drink fluids. I desperately needed them, since I had lost so much through the night and during the day from it coming out both ends. Jake finally got home and I was so overjoyed at being able to eat a bagel and I slept deeply despite having slept most of the day away.
I am giddy to report that I am recovered, for the most part, still very thirsty though and I have been eating again. Food seems to taste better when it is revolting for full 24 hours. I have learned my lesson and I will not eat food over a week old, if I do it will be too soon. I do not want to have food poisoning again. The thought makes me shudder.

Wednesday Dinners

It has been awhile since I last made a post, so I think it time to make a new one. I could say that not much has happened since I last said anything concerning....well anything, but that would be a partial lie and since I had a lesson on Honesty in Church I'll concede to saying that things have happened though not of an interesting manner to many.
Recently I have started to have dinner with my wonderful in-laws on Wednesdays, since I am over there any way finishing my laundry. It is great being able to have dinner with them because, regretfully, I was unable to get to know them while Jake and I were dating. When I was around they were off doing their thing and while Jake and I were running around doing our thing. This made quality time scarce. There is also the fact that I was scared of them. Now, before people freak out and think me a horrible person it should be said that I am easily intimidated and shy away from those that I think to be successful, intelligent, talented and the list goes on and on. This makes it very difficult for me to open up and feel comfortable enough to express myself and allows others to see me. As I have been around them, I have come to realize that I am a very silly person to be so intimidated when they may be as uncomfortable as I am. This is a flaw I am very well aware of in myself. Jake just shakes his head, grabs me by the hand and shoves me in the direction I need to go. It is funny how Jake is the extrovert now, while I tend to move inwards in public situations. Odd how people can change so much in 2 years.
Yet I digress from my intended topic. So. Dinners are great since we can sit and get a better bearing of each other as we sit and consume a delicious meal (I couldn't have married into a better family since they always prepare such succulent meals :D) I am very blessed since I have such a wonderful family that is so willing to take me in, since I am alone most nights, and provide me the opportunity to strengthen the relationship that is still so tender and young.
I am just so grateful for everything they have provided me (and Jake as well) with, both the tangible and the intangible. There are things they ate given that they may not be aware of and it just makes me smile to know that they give so lovingly and without a hint of wanting recompense. I love this family and would not change the circumstances for anything because if they were different I don't think I would be as grateful as I am today.