2013...I guess the world didn't end

Good thing, because our food storage isn't complete! Nahinu just informed me that we don't need food storage if the world ends. He's so smart!

Now that I've figured out how to update our blog from the iPad, I'm excited to announce..."I'll be JUST as bad at updating it." But, it puts my new iPad keyboard to good use for the moment.

2012 has been amazing. Nahinu started a new job working with the Army as a contractor. I can't say he's happy there. He's not sad there either. It's a job and we are grateful he has one.

I started a business with a friend of mine, from Sacramento. Business is slowly picking up. Hopefully 2013 will be a productive year.

I decided to potty train Allyx this year. Or should I say, she decided to potty train this year. (Nahinu would've played a part in it, if I would've let him. I chose a two week period that he was out of town. When he came home, she was fully potty trained. I think he's the luckiest husband ever. He pretended to be sad.) Before her 2nd birthday, she would tell us that she had to "make poopoo" and refused to go "poopoo" in her diaper. We didn't complain. In June, I took her diapers away. She did great! I made her a "Potty Chart". She got to pick her stickers at the store. Every time she successfully went on the toilet, she got to pick a sticker and put it on the chart herself. It worked GREAT. Sometimes she would want a second sticker. After telling her that she had to go potty again, she would reply, "okay, and head for the bathroom." Now, she a pro on the porcelain.

This year, Allyx discovered shoes and dresses. If I let her, she would wear a dress every day. BUT, it's cold in Utah. So, she gets skinny jeans and blouses most days (just be covered up by a heavy (usually pink) coat. Shopping is always fun. It's fun to watch her grab a dress from a rack, hold the hanger up to her chin and say, "Look Mom. It's so cute!" Her favorite stores are Crazy 8 (because they have a TV) and Forever 21 because they have extravagant heels that are accessible to her. She can remove her socks and shoes in 10 seconds flat and already have her favorite pair of heels sitting at her side. She goes straight to the hand bags after asking for a hand to help her walk there.

Other things Allyx has discovered this year: FaceTime, indoor parks, Photo Booth on the iPad, the words, "scary", "just kidding", "trick or treat", "where Daddy is?", "No, my do it", how to trace her hand, how to mail a letter, how to change background photos on iPhones, how to search "elmo" on YouTube, her alphabet, her fear of Santa Claus, her love for Knotts Berry Farm, walking in the rain, walking in the snow, Hostess Cupcakes (just to see them go under) and many many more things!!!

We've been fortunate enough to travel to many places this year. To include, Hawaii, Sacramento, Anaheim, Phelan, Hemet, Idaho, Kentucky, Colorado, Chicago (twice), Texas and I'm sure some others that I've forgotten.

We are hoping that 2013 is better than 2012. Not that 2012 was bad, but life only gets better and we are excited for what the future holds.

2013...here we come!!!

Allyx had to get completely naked to go potty

She learned how to spin to make her dress fly

Papa taught her "Laie Girl"

Allyx decides she loves to vacuum.

Jada came and stayed with us for the Summer. We had fun. Not sure if SHE did.

Allyx, doing her thing at Forever 21

Loves her FaceTime

Playing with Photo Booth

Ice Cream is still her favorite

I discovered "How I Met Your Mother"

Allyx learns about Tupac. Thanks Auntie Kimmy!!!

Ilene and I dress up for Bunco Halloween. Ilene is a deer in headlights. I'm Flashback Tina.

Allyx was so afraid of Nick's Halloween makeup. She wouldn't hold the phone and she didn't want to go see him two days later!

Allyx had a blast on Halloween. If only I made her a mask that fit!

Allyx's first and last Hostess Cupcake

Allyx told me to hold a Hello Kitty mask to my face while she took a picture. She missed!

Allyx was SO excited that we were at Knotts Berry Farm. She couldn't stop laughing and smiling.

Allyx finds a BFF

The first time Allyx flirt with a boy (to my knowledge). It was pretty cute.

The saddest, cutest picture EVER!

Jada, Kaya, Ailee and Allyx. 2012 Christmas

Walking in the rain is fun.

Allyx LOVES her new kitchen!

Things You Missed...

Mommy reading, Allyx watching television (probably Gnomeo and Juliet...it's her favorite).
Daddy taught her how to drink the milk from her bowl. She loved it.
Allyx decorating the Christmas tree for the first time. She loved it. When the ornaments fell off, she wouldn't get discouraged, she was excited that she got to hang them again. It was so fun to watch.
Allyx LOVES ice cream. She asks for it 5 times a day. Even if she's already had some!
Allyx at the Kahuku football game in at Aloha Stadium
(Willis Tower) Nahinu and I went to Chicago. We left Allyx in Sacramento with her Namma and Papa (and Uncle Adam and Auntie Kimchee) Married With Children fountain Navy Pier
Allyx figured out the hard way that she's not very good on a skateboard.
Allyx thought she was funny running away from me when I wanted her to get in the car.
Ally'sfunny face
Allyx and I at the Real Soccer Game

You blinked and she was 2!!!

Apparently, I'm not very good at this blog thingy. I like stating the obvious. SO...Allyx is 2 now! Let's try and catch you up.

We moved to Lehi, UT in November 2010 as part of a transfer for Nahinu's job. The same week that we moved into our house, Nahinu was laid off from his job. I went back to work full-time at that point. Nahinu has been diligently looking and applying for various jobs with no luck. He did land a part-time job at the Marriott Hotel in Sandy, Renaissance Inn. But, at this point in time, they don't give him any hours. It's nice that we still get to keep the employee discount with him working in "stand-by" mode. I have always loved to work! I was secretly excited when we decided I would have to go back to work until he found something else. It was still a tough thing to do. Being a mom, I wanted to stay home with Allyx. Nahinu is a great babysitter/dad though. Allyx is somewhat of a Daddy's Girl. They go to the local Community Center here and go swimming on occasion or piddle around the house. Trips to the park and learning Spanish is all part of their daily activities.

We LOVE Lehi!! We live in a great neighborhood. The only complaints we have about where we live is the wind and the smell of mink!! We can't have anything cute on our front porch because the wind will blow it away. It's also pretty rare that we are able to open the windows on a warm day. The smell of mink is pretty bad. I'd rather keep that outside. The mink farm is only a few blocks from us (we didn't know this when we bought the house). So, in the summer, the flies are pretty heavy too. We've found that Rosemary keeps them away. This summer, I will be planting Rosemary ALL AROUND our house!!!

Allyx has poopoo trained herself. When she was 22 months, she said to me, "Mom, I poopoo." She had never said anything like this before she when I couldn't figure out what she was telling me, I replied, "Show me." She led me into the bathroom and tried removing her pants. I asked, "You need to go poopoo?" "Yesh," she said. So, I helped her remove ALL her clothes because this is what she wanted and she sat on the toilet and went poop. From that day on, she has told us whenever she has had to go poop. I do realize that we are dang lucky! I don't think we'll fully appreciate it until we have our next kid and they're 12, still pooping their pants. ;) Now, I say that Allyx has "poopoo" trained herself because she has no idea what peepee is and she's only gone peepee in the toilet once or twice on accident while going poopoo. One day, we'll try and help her figure that one out.

This is the most recent picture of Allyx. She loves hats and loves playing with toys that aren't hers. She has always been more interested in what we are doing and want to help than playing with her toys. No matter what it is! She does, however, LOVE basketball! She has a plastic basketball hoop and ball that she loves to play with. I think she's going to be just like her mom when she grows up. One of her favorite things to do is attend live sporting events. It doesn't matter what sport it is. She loves the sounds from the crowds and mimicking them. It's funny to watch her actually watch the sport being played. Most kids her age are oblivious. I'm excited for the day when we can sign her up for all sorts of things and see what she likes best. I'm hoping it's an indoor sport so I don't have to sit in the sun all day long every Saturday. jk

Life is great! We have really been blessed. We have an amazing family and group of friends that we love surrounding ourselves with. Allyx has lots of Nammas, Papas, Un-kos and Aunties and she loves them all! We love them too. We are excited to see what the future holds for us and know that whatever it is, it will be great!!

Until next time....(I promise it will be sooner than 2 years)