The Akagi Tree

Only a year later...

2010-09-05T12:24:00.001-07:00

We have been a busy bunch. I am still working full time. I was promoted to Center Director for the Kinder Care Orem, Utah center. It is quite a challenge but I am learning a lot everyday. Bryce is also enjoying his management position with Business Analytics. He recently ran in the Ragnar Wasatch Back Race. It is a team run of over 180 miles. He prepared really hard for it and had a blast. I might give a try next year. The girls had a fun summer. They went to Summer Camp at my Kinder Care center and explored various themes and met lots of new friends. They are both in school now. Teigan is attending the first grade dual immersion program. She is studying half a day in English and Half day in Chinese. She comes home with new words and songs everyday. She wants to be Chinese now. Brielle started Kindergarten a year early. She was bored with the preschool stuff and is very advanced too. She is one of the few girls in her class but fits right in. She picked out an Iron Man back pack and Super Heroes folders for her school gear this year. She likes to choose the "boy toy" from McDonald's Happy Meals too. We are all healthy and grateful for all of our Friends and family who continue to support and love us. Have a great fall everyone!

A working mom is a mom not working

2010-01-23T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hey ya'll,
I have been working full time the last five months and thus have had no time for blogging, life, or love. Hang in there and hopefully soon I will update this site with something fun. But for now I am being harrassed by a hunny who is hungry for Chipotle. lol I think I might have spelled some words wrog, oh well. typo

2009-09-20T21:07:00.001-07:00

Daddy decided to take a day off and spend time with his girls. He took them to Spanish school, lunch, took Teigan to kindergarten and spent some one-on-one time with Brielle. Then he picked Teigan up from school and didn't tell the girls where they were going. Teigan was ecstatic when she realized they were pulling into the zoo parking lot...

"Daddy's taking us to the zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow, zoo tomorrow. And we can stay all day!"

Baby snow leopards!

Baby elephants!

Lots of the animal moms and dads were busy last year. There was a baby elephant, baby giraffe, baby snow leopard, baby crocodile, baby orangutan and a couple baby tigers. The girls liked the baby animals the most.

Despite being away from home and the kids so much, I really like my new job as Assistant Director at the Kinder Care (child care center). Bryce has been super man lately. I come home and he has picked up the kids and made a fabulous dinner. Why didn't I start this sooner?

We have had a great summer. Lots of fun and work with our garden, going to the cabin on the weekends and just enjoying being together. We are excited for fall though. Teigan and Brielle already know what they want to be for Halloween......can't tell yet -- wait till the pictures come.

2009-05-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

After a long and grueling year, we all made it to Bryce's graduation. I made him walk since he didn't with his bachelor's degrees. Here is a quick clip of him all dressed up. After the first ceremony, which included an address given by author David McCullough, we went out for lunch and to the movies to see Star Trek. (awesome) Later that evening, Bryce had his smaller ceremony for just his college. It was a great day and only the beginning according to Bryce. He is not done yet. He just has to decide where to go next.

We are all enjoying the beautiful spring weather. We hardly ever get a spring here in Utah. It goes from winter to summer. It has been great weather to get out and do hard labor yard work!

Happy Memorial Day everyone! Go have a BBQ and get some sun!

Dinosaurs and babies

2009-04-25T16:43:00.000-07:00

A class field trip to the Dinosaur Museum proved to be much fun, even for Mom! It was our first experience with the massive creatures and the only thing that scared us all was the ginormous great white shark. We did not stop to take a picture. The museum was very hands on and kid friendly. The girls got to explore all kinds of fun things. Towards the end of the tour they uncovered their own dinosaur bones in a giant sand pit. I want to go back again without the kids so I can read all the information plaques, we sort of skipped those.

Next up....

Brielle cuddles with her new baby niece, Jedah. Brielle absolutely fell in love with Jedah the moment she saw her. She did not want to let her go! This is number six for my older but still very young sister. WOW! I can't compete with this! I have also really enjoyed being with the babe, she has that sweet baby smell and is so small. My baby isn't a baby anymore and that makes me sad, sometimes. Happy Spring!

Temples

2009-03-12T16:14:00.001-07:00

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints has made a short video about Temples. It has one clip of the new Draper Temple that is now just a few minutes up the mountain from us. It is so beautiful at night when all the lights are on. It just glows. I want you all to know that I believe that Temples are like a glimpse of heaven on earth. The promises the Temple provides are glorious. One promise is that I can have an eternal family. I can be with Bryce and my girls after death. What a beautiful idea, a beautiful plan. Check it out.

http://www.youtube.com/mormonmessages

Utah the happiest state!

2009-03-11T21:32:00.000-07:00

So I just finished reading a few articles stating that Utah was ranked first in a Gallup pole for being the happiest state. It was quite interesting actually. It included questions about physical health, mental health, work, access to necessities, and how often you smile or laugh. I was most entertained at the blog comments that this stirred up. I find it very funny that so many people believe that Utah is happy because we are all "white Mormons on antidepressants who by the way suppress their women." Well, I can't argue there. I am a white stay-at-home Mormon on antidepressants. I am very happy.
This has given me the opportunity to reflect. Why am I happy? I have lived in seven or eight states, I feel like it has very little to do with the actual state but my state of mind. I am not just happy, but have joy and satisfaction in my life. It is because:
1) I have the most beautiful creations ever made ( I had a part in the making too) Teigan and Brielle.
2) I have an amazing, hard-working and might I add very attractive husband who loves me
3) I have the answers to life's most sought questions
4) Heavenly Father loves me and wants me to be HAPPY!
5) I am on antidepressants. Let me explain. I have a family history from both sides of my family of this horrible illness and have struggled with it since my youth. When I take medication, I am not just happy all the time ( ask Bryce) It merely allows me to be at ground zero and then have the clarity and choice to be happy. Mental illness like depression is an illness comparable to other illnesses that require medicinal therapy.
6) My community. I have neighbors who get up at six and run with me in the cold. Some others brought me soup when I had the flu for a week. I can take my kids to almost anyone in the neighborhood if needed and not worry. I have playgroups with great friends. These are wonderful people and no I am not just talking about the relatives, although they are also a huge part.
7) opportunity is all around me. I feel like I could be successful in anything. If you want to hear my latest ideas just ask.
The list goes on......... Why are you happy? Or maybe you are not....think about it. Hawaii was second. My birthplace. Hey maybe it is just me. I make everyone happy JK Comments please?

2009-03-02T20:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday Brielle!

She just turned threeeeee!

She had a party at school. She brought cupcakes and the other kids gave her presents to open. She really felt special and like a big kid. The next day she decided to use the potty full-time. YES!

Teigan couldn't help but help little sister open all her fun presents.

We had some family over Sunday night to share the cake with. She loves everything pink! She had pink frosting and pink ice cream. She is such a bright kid. She loves school and is already writing some of the letters in her name. What will the next year bring?

Goodbye to 01/2009

2009-01-22T19:39:00.000-08:00

The first month of 2009 is almost gone already? How many of you are still... jogging everyday? reading your scriptures? not drinking soda? not picking your nose???

We are all healthy and well here in Draper. The inversion has kept things nice and cold and stinky. Pray for a storm will ya?

Teigan did something really cute today. I just got a new calling in church. I am to host activity days for girls 10/11. So today I had the girls over to my house and we were playing some "get to know you" games. While playing, Teigan brought down a plate full of different kinds of snacks and passed them around to the girls. She did this without any prompt from me. There were pretzels and raisins and cheese and goldfish and cashews. When I went up to see the kitchen there wasn't any mess either. She played quite the little hostess. SO sweet huh?

To update you on Belle, well, Brielle has such a strong will.

It has been hard trying to potty train her. She is doing very

well though and prefers to be in Teigan's

older preschool class rather than be with me.

Bryce is finishing his last semester of grad school one. (more to come) It is really hard for everyone but we hope it will pay off. (literally pay) There is not much to say about me so that's all I am gonna say about that. Until next time.......

2009-01-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

As Bryce and I celebrate our 5th year anniversary, we celebrate with big RED grins. What a great anniversary gift the Utes delivered. Together we get to bask in the victory images, articles, and video clips. We join the sugar high! Here are some images we have enjoyed and some of us in the last home game of the regular season against that team down south. GO UTES!

2008-12-09T11:10:00.000-08:00

Here is some Merry Christmas Cheer to brighten up your work day or for those facing nasty finals. Notice Brielle laying down in the background, she didn't feel like participating. Enjoy!

Frosty the Snowman

2008-12-08T21:58:00.000-08:00

Aha! I figured it out. Bryce would be so proud of me for being what he calls, "a problem solver". Teigan is the cute one shaking her booty. (the very best booty shaker I might add) Everyone should know where she gets those fine booty skills....... No, not from Bryce!!!!

Wait,...Should I actually be happy about her being a good booty shaker?

I also realized that there is no video of Brielle Baby. Although she is definitely not a baby anymore she is very cute and very film worthy. I will work on that. Oh the poor second child. Merry Christmas!

2008-12-08T20:55:00.001-08:00

To whom it may concern: I have tried numerous times to update this blog but without success. I apologize for all those that are waiting for news. So here it is finally after figuring a few things out on this blog thing.
We are having a great Christmas season so far. We are pretty much done with our shopping and so now we are simply enjoying the parties and the spirit of the season. Teigan has performed in two dance recitals presented at the Festival of Trees. Her dance costume is Frosty the Snowman. If I can I will post it, but it is too long. How do I shorten the film???
Also, Brielle has started coming to school with me. She is now my student. It is awkward to be both Mother and Teacher simultaneously. She is very bright though and can keep up with the older kids. Teigan attends at the same time but is in another class. I get to teach her during music because it is combined. The only downside is that Teigan calls me Crystal at home now. We have a good time at school because it is a break from home.
Bryce just took part one of the HUGE CFA exams. It was a killer. We don't know until February if he passes. He is very busy with school and work and being the fun dad.
We all look forward to a wonderful Christmas and New Year. Time just flies doesn't it?

2008-11-05T10:58:00.000-08:00

Remember, remember the fifth of November!
It's snowing! We have about six inches and it is still coming down hard.

The kids woke up and were so excited. They asked me if it was Christmas. There is just something real spiritual in the air when it snows. Everything is so quiet and clean. Happy snowday!

Congratulations to all those Obama supporters. Bryce and I are so excited, we finally feel like our vote counted (almost). It was a long two,well, eight years. What an amazing time to be alive and be apart of history! It was also great to see the amendment pass in California. It's so vital to protect our precious families.

Witches!

2008-10-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

We are a family of witches this year. Teigan says even Dad is a "daddy witch" too. We'll see if he actually dresses up for that one.

This is Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:47:00.000-07:00

This is Teigan's school Halloween program. It is one of those times as a parent that you realize how rewarding life can be as a mom. I am also a preschool teacher at her school. I don't teach her class but I am learning a lot and love my students. It is such a fun age, they love to learn and have fun. Just like me!

First blog!

2008-10-31T09:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome friends and family to out new family blog. I am very new in this setting so please be patient with me. I would like to use this blog to keep all of you updated in the happennings of our family. What better way to start off than by sharing some cute Halloween moments and pictures. Enjoy and let me know if there is anything I need to fix or learn