This....



Plus this....




Equals this!




Well, it has definately been a much bigger adjustment going back to work than I thought it would be. I have been training full time everyday for the last week and a half, and I have to leave my house every day by 7 am. Leini has been having horrible acid reflux, and she hasn't been sleeping much at night (except for during the day, while I'm working of course). So this has been a sleepless week, filled with an overwhelming amount of information I need to learn. I am completely exhausted when I come home, and just thinking about cleaning or making dinner just drains whatever little energy I have left. I almost feel like a robot when I get home. I'm so happy to see the girls, but I just end up feeling guilty because I don't have the energy to do the things Kas wants me to do with her. Such a delicate balancing act. Any suggestions? Full time working moms, I have a newfound respect for you!

Working World...

Well...it's official. I'm a working woman again after 2 and a half years. I just started my training for Jet Blue, and today was my first day. I have to say...so far, so good. I was a little anxious to leave the girls for eight hours straight, but much to my surprise, they actually survived it! I know, I know. I guess I'm a little self centered and actually thought they might miss me or something...but they had too much fun having Grandma and Daddy all to themselves. Six more weeks of training and I'll be able to work from home. Should be a fun ride. Can't wait to start 'jetting' (as they like to call it) around the world (for free!). hehe

Ok, I don't know what it is, but I am in a blogging slump. Can't think of one creative thing to say. So how about I share a yummy recipe? You know the whole New Year, new diet thing? Let's just say that usually isn't my forte. But when my sister, who I see every day, asked me to start one with her (the same diet that was very sucessful after I had Kas...lost 40 lbs. in two months) I couldn't resist. It's easier doing it with a buddy, that way you have someone to call when you feel like saying "Screw it!" and eating some chocolate instead. I guess you could say it wasn't really a New Year's resolution, since it was started a week after the New Year. Anyway, I found this Sesame Chicken recipe that was really good...and hopefully if you decide to try it too it's good to you. I wonder if it just tasted so good to me since I have been without much flavor in my diet lately! lol



Anyway, you pretty much just make a teriyaki sauce using:

-- 1 cup soy sauce (depending on how many people you are serving, but let's just estimate)
-- 1 cup water
-- 4 cloves of fresh garlic
-- a one inch piece of fresh ginger minced. I have a garlic press, and I used it for the ginger too and it worked great.

Cut the chicken breasts in thin strips, and marinade in the teriyaki sauce for 20 mins. Take the chicken out of the sauce and place on a foil lined cookie sheet. Broil in the oven for 3-4 mins, then flip them to the other side. Broil another 3-4 minutes until the inside is no longer pink. Take out of the oven, and top with toasted sesame seeds (about 2 tbsp.). I just broiled the sesame seeds for about a minute, until they were barely starting to turn brown. And that's it! Just serve with some rice and a salad and you're good to go. It's really easy, but it's really flavorful. The sesame seeds give it a really good flavor. Anyway, if you decide to try it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

What happens when my 10-year-old neice has too much time on her hands?



BABY TINKERBELL!

Also, thanks to my sister, this is Loleini's obsession! It totally makes her clothes soaking wet every day.

AAGGGHHH!!! The cutestblogontheblock website is down, hence the plain background. Boring!

New Year's Eve Fun...

Ok, I have been a big slacker again. Every time I sit down to write, I just don't know where to start, so I just don't write anything! lol I'll start with New Year's and work my way back! Every year, our ward has a big party/dance on New Year's Eve. Believe me when I say that Tongans know how to party! There were at least three hundred people there. My husband and the Elder's Quorum was in charge of cooking all the food, and they were working on it for two days!!! So we started off with a big dinner and there was a ridiculous amount of food (it wouldn't really be a Tongan party without it!). Then they had entertainment. They had some professional Polynesian dancers that came and they were amazing. Kassie was so excited because she was asked to dance with the Primary children this year. They were doing a western/square dance and it turned out so cute. She was the youngest one dancing, and she did such a good job! It was one of those moments when being a mom is so rewarding. Here is a pic of her with her 'partner.'



I actually recorded it on my camera and tried to upload it on here, but it was taking half an hour so I gave up. Anyway, after they finished she was so excited she wanted to do it again! I love it. Everyone was cracking up because she was totally hamming it up! This is such a great age, before they realize that there is such a thing as stage fright. Hopefully she doesn't get my fear of public speaking/dancing/anything where I have the spotlight on me phobia!

Here's a pic of the group that she danced with (there were three other groups of 8.



Since most of the kids were older, they were really embarrased because they didn't want to actually have to *gasp* touch their partners! They had to hold hands and dip each other. So cute. After the entertainment was over, we danced the night away and had so much fun. Abe was actually the DJ, so I didn't get the chance to dance with him as much as I'd hoped, but he let other people take over so we got to dance some. It was a great way to bring in the New Year! =)