The Wrong Side to Fall on

Mike trying to show off his great balance during our morning walk with Chloe

J'aime les fraises...

We like strawberries.

The squirrels like strawberries.

We don't like squirrels who eat our strawberries.

As soon as a strawberry is almost ready, they pick it, they eat the red part 

and leave the stem and the unripened part next to the pot!

Just so we know... 

They are taunting creatures, just ask the dog Chloe, or the cat Tiny.

Sarah was going to outsmart the little devils.

After a couple of hours searching on the web 

&

All kinds of interesting ideas 

&

Some good laughs

Ta... Da!

Sarah's invention!

She made a squirrel scare mobile with sticks, string, glue 

and Mike's new-outdated-obsolete cd's (don't ask me why we are still keeping these?)

We were so proud when the evening came and the ripe strawberry was still intact.

Then night came.

Then morning. 

The strawberry: 

Half eaten next to the pot!! 

URG!!!

We were beaten! 

By the little tauting creature!

Here is Chloe wondering why this dumb invention was even created!

She obviously thinks, she can keep the squirrels away...

With all the countless hours of guarding the back yard she does!

We had to reassure her that she is very competent and it's only for when she is gone...

Boy, can her feelings get hurt sometimes!

When Mom Forgets & 'Can You sing a song'?

How to make sure mom does not forget to buy the Flippers!

 A couple more were around the house and one on my car door handle.

Do you think I forgot today, like I did yesterday? 

Well, I'm happy to say that Amelie showed up today at her Summer Swim Team practice 

with a set of brand new flippers!

    Car steering wheel                  Coat closet                        Kitchen cabinet

 Toilette door                         Front door                      Garage door

Tonight after we said our family prayer, and read from the scriptures, Mike said out of the blue:

Emric, can you sing a song?

Like a 16 year old boy is going to sing a solo at 10 at night!

I found it so funny! 

Well kinda...
Not really, since at that time of night, I just want everyone to disappear...

 I told Emric he could go to bed.

No need for a bed time serenade...

Just so every one knows we are not a musically sound family,

Well, Alexi is, he can hold a tune and play the guitar beautifully.

Justine was also descent at piano when she was taking lessons. 

Unfortunately we left the piano in Ohio when we moved to Texas. 

So sad...

Come See! Come See!

Welcome to the Neighborhood Nakata Family Circus Act!

Where: 

Along the neighborhood walking trails.

Bicycle Stunt Act 

The Powerful Dog Chloe pulling a mini hot pink bike, transformed into a high speed moped.

Driven by The talented K9 Trainer Sandrine Nakata.

Real life Moped Sound effects also by Ventriloquist Sandrine Nakata

Balancing Act 

Acrobat & official breaker of sound barrier:
Amelie Nakata
& 

Mike Nakata
In a death and gravity deifying, loud, high speed bicycle balancing act.

Gymnastic/Contortionist  Act

Performed by
* Body Builder Sarah, family friend guest appearance coming to us all the way from Ohio.

* Amazing Contortionist Amelie Nakata

Entrance fee

Free

Disclaimer

Pictures are only a mild sample of the thrilling acts and do not give it a true representation. 

You just have to come and see for yourself! 

Come take a stroll around this normally unusually peaceful quiet neighborhood 

and possibly encounter this amazing & spontaneous family act!

The awe of this family production was witnessed 

(among others, including a young couple from our church, 

who I told to forget they saw what they saw!)

 by an unsuspecting Chinese family during their Sunday stroll. 

With no true understanding of what they were about to witness, 

defied death themselves by making room for the oncoming Circus act 

and stepping from our side walk stage, onto the dangerous road!

A Massage for Dad

This was so funny! Trop Rigolo!

I was trying so hard not to laugh and shake the phone while recording.

(Noises Mike makes as Amelie massages his calfs.)

Dog Poop as Fertilizer???

So today, Mike was very helpful picking up the poop in the back yard.

But then I found out he had buried Chloe's caca in my newly planted hostas!!!!

He thinks it will be a great fertilizer! You know, like horse or cow manure...

After a little research, well it's not such a good idea.

Mike. Really?

The Hunter vs The Gatherer

I dislike Mike's current deodorant, so I went to buy him a new one.

I went through 3 - 4 Brand's of deodorant

Smelled each scent in each brand.

Picked 2 favorites in one brand

Picked another 2 favorites in another brand.

Eliminated 1 from each brand.

Couldn't decide.

Left with 2 different deodorants.

Total time Choosing:

around 15mn

During that same 15mn, a guy shows up.

Picks one up.

Smells it.

Puts it in his cart,

and leaves.

Total time choosing: 

about 20 seconds.

Ever heard of the Hunter and Gatherer theory?

Or maybe I'm just picky...

I love scents!

 I do the same for body wash, shampoo, febreez, you get the point...

Scatterbrain!

Today, I hurried and showered, and showed up at Amelie's school with wet hair, 

thinking I was late for my Book fair Volunteer slot.

Found out I wasn't even scheduled!

I had it in my calendar and I checked on the paper Amelie brought home for me to sign up!

No wonder I never got an email confirming my slot!

I never sent that paper back!!!

And all these past weeks I was checking it and it never dawned on me! 

Way to be a scatterbrain!

This is me leaving feeling slightly stupid:

*******

A word to my Valentine
(regarding his previous post comment)

You don't need to prove yourself on Valentines day.

You spoil me on a regular basis and tell me you love me
Every Single Day!

Thank You

*******

Typos & Teases

As I write our family's happenings and all, I always make typos and mistakes in my writing.

Because 

#1 English IS my second language.

(Actually, I'm as bad or worst in writing French as I am English.)

#2 I am not a writer and do not aspire to be one.

(Well... I would love to be one of those funny, eloquent and interesting blog writers.
But I know, it's just a wish.)

So my kids, and husband, and some friends who read this blog, tease me and laugh at my expenses. 

I try to fix my mistakes most of the time... 

But some are and will be posted here forever...

So enjoy!

I've had quite the few laughs at my mistakes myself too!

Thoughts About PMS

Regarding my previous post.
I should have known... The why to 'why I do that?'
I should have seen the signs. I usually do and give my man a little warning...
The sweet creme of chestnut craving. the 2 twix bars I ate. The sweet tooth.
The headaches, neck and shoulder stress... Extra sensitivity.
Teary. Impatience. And flying of the handle.

I should walk around with signs hanging around my neck.
This is what they would say.

"Handle with CAUTION!
 Can blow up anytime"

"Watch what you say! 
Everything you say will be blown out 
of proportion and held against you"

"Do not bring up touchy subjects, or past unpleasant memories.
I will relive them, suffer them all over again and make you suffer too."

"Do not blame me for anything.
And I mean NOTHING"

For the kiddos

"For the next 2 days. 
Do everything I say. How I say. When I say"

That should do. 

Most months, the symptoms are so insignificant,
I can control the PMS monster pretty well, we barely notice, no, really...

But there are the occasional months where you better stay clear. 

And no way of telling which ones!

After 22 years, our kids, our marriage and Mike have survived them all.

That's 264, 

+ the 4 pregnancies which are like 9 months each of most likely possibly worst PMS symptoms. 

Advice to my girls 

As you grow up and get married warn your husband,
discuss your 'possible' symptoms before they think 

you have been abducted and replaced by an alien or worst a monster!

Then again you might just be fine and have no symptoms.

Yeah, right. 

Don't count on it!

Advice to my Boys/Future Son-in-laws

When you get married 

Take an important-can't-get-out-of-sudden-work-church-related trip out of town for a couple of days.

Oh and do not tell the girlfriend, wife, sister, mother, friend she has PMS!

Just be kind, and caring, and helpful, and sweet, and take no offence,
if you can't do all the above, stay clear, or suffer (see previous post...)

Me & My Girl

Some after church photo fun!

Amelie and I
I Love my beautiful girl so much!

We heard a beautiful solo of O holy night at church today!
Grateful for gifted people
Some people are just talented and brave.

  

Baby Beach Snorkeling & Mike's New Swim Stroke!

After some wonderful snorkeling for a couple of hours, 

beach relaxing well deserved (especially for Mike)

Mike has been such a trooper trying to keep up with me with his still healing shoulder and knee.

He came up with his own special swim and was all proud of himself when he showed it to me saying: 

"I can keep up with you now!"

Oh how I wish I had a video of it!

It would be worth watching!

It goes like this:

A dolphin kick with a synchronized doggy style arm movement.

It's a good thing that I lead the way otherwise my mask would fill up with sea water from laughing!

Flamingo Beach & Those Bloody Vampires...

Flamingo Beach for more snorkeling and sunset watch.

As I was minding my own business,
taking pictures of the cute flamingos on the beach at sunset,
I got attacked!
Literally!
I must have been bitten at least over 20 times in a period of  a few minutes.
I was happy when I got on the boat to leave the island!

Ugh!
I HATE Mosquitoes!!!!
Unfortunately...
Those blood suckers ADORE me and my blood!

Talking about Blood Suckers,
Mike and I saw last night the last movie of the Twilight series:
Breaking Dawn 2

BTW
Mike Had to wear his free tee-shirt!!!
Even though it is advertising Coors Light Beer!
'But it says Aruba on it!'
We've got to get him one with the 'Aruba' sans the Beer add!
Yep, Mike will be Mike!

*****

I've died and gone to France!

I opened and cooked one of my Trader's Joe finds!
I'm loving that store more and more!
And these Almond Croissants!
I ate 2 and there were 2 for Mike.
Unfortunately for him, Mike forgot to eat his second one for breakfast...
He thought it was going to be there when he got home?!
Not really.
I told him:
"I don't have that much self-control!!!!"

A Taste of France in all it's goodness and glory!
Oh... How I adore/miss French food!!!

By the way it's not just the food I miss, I miss my Family...
I'm long due for a trip to my home land...

2 Photos for the 2 croissants I ate today! 

Since France is not in the books right now.  
My Man is taking me to Aruba!
For our Anniversary. 
Just the 2 of us... 

We leave tomorrow at 4:30 am for 9 days!
It's good cause my toes are getting cold, 
I'm not ready to wear socks and closed shoes all day yet...
And YES! 
It does get a little chilly in Texas...

*******

Dogs being Dogs

It was killing Chloe that she had to be tied to a tree!!!
Piglet dindn't care as long as he could be with his doggy-girl-friend,
like literaly be on top of her!
He Loves Chloe!
He is sooooo Cute!
So is my Chloe!

Declutering - Part 3

What Teens Actually Hear! 

After gathering the sacrifices of the day to be disposed of I, Mike, called Emric to help out. 

 "Emric,
please carry this bin downstairs,
dump the contents of the laundry basket in the garbage,
put my laptop in the kitchen,
and put the rest in my trunk."

I guess I should be glad the laptop didn't go in the garbage,
as Emric obviously heard dump the entire bin,
garbage and all with my dry cleaning in the trunk!

When I opened it this morning, with great laughter and a
Bishopric counselor, to unload our recent ward's 2013 curriculum order...

This is what I saw:

Emric Diving

We got to see Emric last night at a High School Diving Invitational.

This is his best dive, the 5 other ones were kinda busts! 

They were new dives.

Mike didn't stop talking the WHOLE meet! Literally!
It's a good thing we were sitting kinda by ourselves.

He missed his vocation!
Sports commentator!

He made me laugh so hard!

Never a dull moment with my Man!

Jewels: the Cute Frog!

I love my new background friend.
Occasionally, I minimize my browser just to look at her.
It makes me happy!
Crazy right?
You got to admit, this Frog is just adorable!

Amelie named her Jewels.

I asked her to name her because she is so good at naming things and pets. 

Amelie always has the cutest names for all her little animals, critters and toys.

People of Walmart

While getting a few camping supplies and food at the nearest Walmart, 

I was able to capture some "people of Walmart"

A dirty-bare-feet group of 4 walking in, with a no-shirt guy!

(Sorry the picture is so bad.)

A Very Bad Nurse!

So yesterday, I felt really really bad!

 Mike was 'needing to' and finally able to take a shower since his surgery. 

During the day, I did all the stuff I usually do when he's at work, 

while checking on him once in a while.

I took kids to swim practice, walked Chloe, went to Zumba, 
went to Costco (with Justine to get her a Acer Netbook for College), 
which took 3 hours!!! 
Only one Costco had it and it's a flipping hour away from our house!  

Needless to say, I was gone most of the day.

I did think Emric was going to help him, while I was gone,
but Emric slept until 4pm.

Bottom Line

I got him in the shower around 5pm.

Went downstairs to refill his ice thingy, cleaned up the kitchen a little,

then saw that Emric had missed watering some flower pots in the yard, 

so I watered them, 

while I was there I picked up Chloe's toys... etc.

Well, you get the picture!

Coming from the house, I hear this faint call:
"I need some help..." 

Oh no! 

Mike had been in the shower. Sitting there. Abandoned. 

By the time I got to him he was feeling really sick, faint, nauseous, white as a ghost or yellowish!

He eventually threw up and felt OK enough to go back to bed with Emric's and my help.

Once in bed exhausted, he said to me in his no-one-cares-about-me-voice:
"No one fed me lunch..."

Ahhhh! Talk about Guilt!!!! I was full of it!

All he had all day was a small bagel I made him for breakfast 

and a fruit smoothy Justine made him in the morning.

I for sure I could not be a nurse,
I get queazy just hearing about side effects of medicine,
see needles going into flesh, 
or see those I love (ie: Alexi when he was 5) with broken arms,
and I would forget about my patients all the time!

My poor Guy!

I am happy to report that

I am taking extra good care of him today!

Mike's Disabled Handy Dandy Shower Chair