Looking Back at 2011

At Home

Since 2010, I became a stay-at-home mom.  Many people think that staying home with your children is a breeze.  This is not the case.  As a parent, it is my job to educate my children.  Prior to being able to enter elementary school, I have had challenges in getting my kids to learn.  With my son, Adam, it has been a nice transition from home to school. Working with my four year old, Mikayla, has not yielded the same results.  Hopefully by this summer, I will have her basic school milestones covered and ready to go to Kindergarten in the fall.  

I sometimes want to pull my hair out because I feel so enclosed staying at home.  I love to go out and show my kids what is what and enjoy the sun and scenery.  But, that can't always happen can it?  While my son goes to school, my house is peaceful since it is just me and Mikayla.  But once Adam returns home, he and Mikayla go at it over paper, pens, toys, and me.

My family always says to me "Ohh, since you aren't doing anything can you go do this or pick me up?"  I am fine in helping my family out but I think sometimes they forget that I have a duty to my own family as well.  It is not always fun and games when staying home with children.  There must always be a balance and I still find myself struggling to find that at times.

Cooking & Baking

Abby Cadabby from Sesame Street

Cookie Monster from Sesame Street

Birthday Cake Pops for my cousin Chloe

More cake pops for Chloe

Nothing beats a homemade customized pizza 

The Grouchiest Guy on the Block.. Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street

Foofa from Yo Gabba Gabba!

Hello Kitty

Who isn't an Angry Bird?

Sesame Seed Bagel Bacon and Cheese Sandwich

Drunken Hens in the Process

One thing that my friends know me for is that I love to cook and bake.  I bought my very first Julia Child co-authored cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  After watching Julie & Julia, I fell in love with Julia Child.  I have considered trying to cook everything in the first volume but I don't think my picky eaters at home would like that.  Also, thanks to Bakerella (Angie Dudley), I have learned to make cake pops of different characters and cakes.  It is then I realized that my creativity began to grow and my craving to continuously challenge myself took a life of its own.

As much as I loved to cook and bake, I needed more.  I needed another challenge.

Eenie Meenie Cheesecakes with a Cherry topping

Back to School Again

After one year of graduating from the local community college on Oahu with my AA in Liberal Arts, I was itching to do something else.  I know deep down inside that I should be a nurse because I love taking care of people and I have been working as a medical assistant off and on for the last few years.  But, I also had to take my wonderful children into consideration.  Everything I have done and will continue to do is for my family.  Becoming a nurse is a long and tedious process. I have friends that are nurses and I see how tired they are and are barely home due to overtime along with their crazy schedules.

I just couldn't bring myself to continue on that path.  I wanted to do something where I know I can have time to spend with my family without being too tired from work.  Thus, in the summer of 2011, I decided to pursue my Associate's degree in Health Information Technology.  Once I finish the Associate's track in 2012, I will continue on to attain the elusive Bachelor's degree in Health Information Management.

A Military Wife

Another aspect of my life is being married to a man in the military.  He is the reason we are now in New York and for our family as well.  Mannie and I have been together for almost ten years now.  Before we left Hawaii, we renewed our vows in a beautiful ceremony with friends.  Although he may annoy me at times, we have stuck by each other no matter what.  I have been blessed to have him home and away from the dangers a regular Army life entails.  For about five years, we haven't had to worry about deployments or long periods of training.  As we prepared to come back to the mainland, I had to mentally prepare for the challenges ahead.  Who knows where the Army will take him, but I know as a family we shall stand behind him no matter what.  

Unlike my other stay-at-home moms, one thing a military wife has to deal with is how to explain to your children that daddy won't be home for awhile.  That we can only see him sometimes on the computer or talk to him on the phone.  I respect the moms who have dealt with these situations and beyond because I'm still new at this myself.  

The first deployment wasn't so bad because I only had to deal with an infant at the time.  With the current military climate of deployments for missions that we still cannot fathom as to their occurrences, I know I will face another deployment.  I would hate to not wake up next to him smiling at me in the morning.  I would hate to see my children sad because they miss daddy.  But, I know that I have to continue to stay strong and hope for the best no matter what.  

Looking Forward 

With all that said, I will continue to keep looking forward to the present and future.  Being a full-time mom, student, and wife may seem insane but it's the only way to keep myself busy.  That is how you survive long days, training, deployments, and crazy children.  Always maintain a balance that you can handle.  Last but not least, keep faith in what the Lord wants for you and your life.  Because without Him, nothing is possible.