The update on Spanish...

I am still tackling my learning Spanish. It has been tough, especially with the holidays and all the many kids. For awhile, all you heard in my car were the tunes of the Latino radio station, until my husband begged for mercy, so Christmas tunes it is...and Feliz Navidad. :)

But good news... I have a private tutor! A lady who goes to church with me and is in the playgroup I am in just recently resigned from teaching Spanish to Jr. High students. She served a mission in Spain and is married to a Spaniard (did I say that right?). Anyway, we got talking and I told her that I was looking into enrolling in a language school to learn the language and then asked if she would be interested in tutoring me instead of me going to the school. She was excited to and so am I!!!

I will let you guys know in a month how I am doing. Wish me luck. Before you know it I will be in Peru rapping with the Peruvians. Oh, another dream of mine. :) One day....

Teancum's first car...

Due to a hit and run, the video had to stop. Sorry.
Oh, and the dog belonged to the neighbor.

When you have a rough day...

Just laugh it off!

Starring: Jodene Atalig and the baby Enoch
Released: July 2007

Speaking Spanish!

Just two days ago, I decided I was going to teach myself Spanish.

So off I went to Barnes and Noble with the two babies (Teancum and Enoch) - that was a mistake! As I was trying to pick out a book, "Spanish for Beginners", "Teach Yourself Spanish", etc. Teancum was trying to get out of the double stroller and Enoch was crying out of boredom. So I quickly grabbed "Spanish for Dummies" but as I flipped through the pages, I realized I was just plain retarded! I did not understand it one bit. Even the English part looked foreign to me. Sheesh. So I didn't buy anything and was packing the kids into the Yukon when I realized I did not know how to close the new double stroller we have (John or the boys always did it for me). I was a mess! Screaming kids and an incompetent mom. It was cold, but I was sweating! I tried calling John (to get instructions over the phone on how to work the stroller) - instead I was greeted with a voicemail. So I called Brian, no answer. I was desperate! Actually, I think I was ready to cry. I can't believe I use to own a baby store! The kids are shouting and I can swear the people in the parking lot are peeking to see what the heck is going on. Finally, a lady came over and asked if I needed help. "Yes!" So as I was trying to calm the baby she was trying to figure out the stroller. One problem, she didn't know how to work it either! So we folded the back chair and lifted the stroller "as is" and fit it in the back of my Yukon. It's situations like this, that makes me grateful for driving a tank. What a relief.

So I head home, ready to give up my quest to teach myself Spanish. But when the going gets rough, I just get tougher! I went to the library (why didn't I think of that earlier???). John came home for lunch and I was on a mission. I found the perfect book!

For the past two days, I have been playing "Jeniffer Lopez, Selena, Marc Anthony, and other Latino singers. Plus I have been repeating all my practice words. It's kind of funny and I am having a riot!

I will update you as the days go by.

YEAH!!! Aprendo el espanol!

The sunflower

I had to put this picture up as this is an actual sunflower that the boys and their Dad planted! About 5 years ago, when we were in Clovis, CA...John had this great idea to start a garden using just seeds. No cheating, by buying little plants that were already started for you. So they planted carrots and potatoes (and some other vegetable, too that I can't remember). Boy, it was work. They got the dirt all ready, planted the seeds and then took popsicle sticks and tied a string from one end to the other to outline where the seeds are and I guess as a border. Well, weeks went by and FINALLY some life...then a few days go by and they commit suicide. We got nothing. It was funny. So the next year John decides to forget the seed thing and bought a bunch of little pepper plants. He bought so many because he did not trust his gardening skills and wanted to make sure we had at least some hot peppers. Well just the opposite happened. Those peppers grew like crazy, we couldn't get them to die! We had peppers galore. Velma took some and so did Lillian her best friend. They made tobasco out of it. The next year, we figured we were done with farming. Okay, sot that's not farming but still it was farming for beginners 101.

Fast forward to Utah. My mother in law is such the Mrs. Ingalls from Little House of the Prairie. The kids are convinced she can do and make anything. So she buys a bunch of these sunflower SEEDS for the kids to plant. Yes, they were so excited. NOT. But their Dad and all of them went out there and did what they did 5 years ago with the vegetables. Only this time, they actually grew. We had many sunflowers. Some 7 to 8 feet tall! The picture of this sunflower, was the type that we would cut and put in a vase for decoration. The BIG ones (darn, I wish Brian took picture of it), were actual sunflower with the seeds. We actually ate some. But because they were harvested pretty early due to cold weather, they weren't quite ready, so they went to the birds. It was fascinating. I have never actually seen sunflower seeds in a sunflower.

Gosh, I truly am learning so much here in Utah.

Next year, I'll have a picture of my own fresh milk straight from a cow! Just teasing. I hope my mother in law is not reading this...she just might go buy a cow. :)

Did I tell you I was Laura in Little House of the Prairie?

I made home made jam!

That's right, you read that right. I actually made home made peach jam. AND I canned peaches for the winter (don't I sound pioneer - ish). It was so weird for me. I kept thinking I was Laura in Little House of the Prairie. And it was work, work, and more work. I can't say I will do this again next year but I do have to admit after a days work of doing this I was at awe at all the jars I canned (28) plus 36 pints of jam. A pat on my shoulder, I was very proud of myself. For all you canners and jam makers out there, my hats off to you. You get the title of Executive Homemaker!

John my husband, has been very impressed with me as he never in a million years thought he would see the day that I would actually can fruit and make jam. He doesn't know that his mother actually recruited me to do this. Pull a leg, break an arm.... okay, so I did it. I wonder if this island girl should make some Mango jam...NEXT YEAR. Hhhhmmm.

So I am not a barber....

After breakfast (pancakes and peaches), it was obvious that Enoch needed to be cleaned up and get his first haircut. I was tired of his hair in front of his eyes. So I felt inspired to use my haircutting skills and do it myself.

So we clean up all the syrup on him. And he was happy. Plus, he loves the camera...he's such a flirt.














Now...the drum roll..Mommy is going to cut that hair. Bumbumbumbumbum, bumbumbumbumbum...(this is suppose to be the sounds of a drum). :)





Aaaaaahhhggg! It's not that bad is it? So his bangs are a bit too short...but at least we can see his beautiful eyes, don't you think?

Well, his two brothers were my support. They didn't think it was too bad. But I could just hear the older boys, "Mom! Are you for real??? What'd you do that for!"

And I was right...they and many others claim I am not a barber. Oh well, his hair will always grow back.

The Roller Coaster Blues....

So the story goes like this.... my two boys Nick (picture on the left) and Deven (picture on the right) kept bugging me and bugging me to ride a roller coaster. So I did, and it's obvious what happened next. I was sick (throw up and all - yuck!).

Oh, just so you know the coaster looped upside down 2 times which caused me to get sick. Darn, I guess I am not that young anymore. My boys don't believe me, that in my younger days I could take on any ride. David, you have to vouch for me so they know I am for real.


Luckily, my husband was there to help me out. He stayed with me while the boys went on more rides. What an awesome man he is.

But...I am better off on my own. And NO the liquid on the ground is not from me. That's spilled soda. You know I am sick and the world is spinning if I am willing to sit just about anywhere. I guess, it's the end of upside down roller coaster rides for me.

The first ever KFC

So you are probably wondering what is the big deal about KFC. For those Islanders from Saipan you know...but let me explain. The very first American fast food franchise ever to come to Saipan was.... you guessed, KFC. It was such a treat for us to go there and I was happy to get anything! I think the minimum wage when I was a little girl (5 yrs. old) was about $1.05 an hour (if that - it is currently $3.55 now). So getting to go there was special for us. There were no other American fast foods that came our way until the late 90's. So KFC has been dear to us.

Anyway, imagine my surprise to learn that the first KFC was here in Utah. We went and visited the restaurant which was a mini museum, too. I never imagined I could learn so much about the Kernal...okay, Colonel...(whoever made that spelling wasn't thinking straight). So... want another reason to visit Utah... besides, all the other places I talked about in my blog...then how about this... lunch with me at KFC (hey that rhymes! I am a poet and didn't even know it. hahahahaha).

The other son....Nicholas.

This is my other son, Nick. It took me awhile to find a picture of him that won't make him upset with me. He is the son that is always worried about his good looks. :)

As tradition, we always make homemade chocolate cake from scratch...no Betty Crocker for this occasion. And then we give out the presents. You know when they are getting older when the only presents they want are VERY EXPENSIVE (four wheeler, Krazer, XBox 360, and ofcourse, name brand clothes). This year, we got him a bunch of clothes....and that was no cheap thing either. I am grateful for good sons that say, "It's the thought that counts, Mom." Like my son...Nick. :) Raymond's birthday is coming up...he is in Korea so he will just get good ole money and then there is Deven. Hope he is reading this so he too may say.... "It's the thought that counts, Mom. " Uh huh. :)

The Pool...

Okay so everyone has been bugging me to update my blog. Sorry! I will get better.

Anyway, as I have been enjoying this dry hot weather here in Utah, yeah right... I have been thinking of our pool in Pittsburgh. It still belongs to us as we have not sold our home yet. That's right, over one year of double mortgages...which spells bankruptcy to most...we still wonder how we are surviving. :) Good news though, we are re-listing our home this week and already had a potential buyer call us last night! Pray for us - we sure could use it.

So back to this pool. When we bought the home the pool was in despair! The previous owners used regular paint and had left it to the ducks. We had to acid wash the pool, repaint with REAL pool paint and replace pumps, heater, and did some electrical work and landscaping. It was a nightmare and a costly one at that. BUT....


look at it now! It has been so fun. It's a huge pool. We loved it. My husband has started digging our backyard here in Utah for our future pool. Just teasing. We are amazed at how many pool owners there were in Pittsburgh as compared to Utah. In Pittsburgh, there were over 50% of pool owners in our neighborhood. Here, we do not have one pool owner! Yet, it is hotter here... go figure.

Perhaps, it's time to move to Saipan and enjoy the free beaches. :)

Life in UTAH

I really can't complain about life in Utah. This is the street leading to my home. So everyday I look at the Big Brother of Mt. Topachou - minus the snow on the top. Utah is the home of the Rocky Mountains. It's awesome. Can't wait until I get to ski, snowboard, and snowmobile this winter, hopefully (I still have not acclimated to the cold, cold winters here in Utah).






Here is my house. My kitchen is in the back where we have excellent views of the mountains. Our home is only 20 minutes away from several ski resorts, 20 minutes from the world's richest hole (a copper canyon that is phenominal - with real huge Tonka trucks that is several stories high with tires that cost over 10K, we're about 30 minutes away from the famous Great Salt Lake - USA's version of the Red (dead) Sea. It is 5 times saltier than the ocean and it's famous for its buoyancy. You just float naturally! If it didn't stink as bad, I would be floating away. And of course, we are home to the LDS church (Mormons). We are only 20 minutes away from Temple Square.

... so after bragging about life in Utah, my sister, Jodene Atalig and her
fiance visits. We went to almost all the tour sites near my home, but she needed the solitude you feel at Temple Square. The temple is BEAUTIFUL. It looks like a castle that belongs to the Queen of England. It's so peaceful and serene that the constant interactions with the many missionaries was tolerable. :)

Now, my soon to be brother-in-law Joe Flores couldn't complain. Where else will he get the affection and love from the Mormon Pioneer ladies that LOVE the modern man. My sister was ready to leave.... is Utah truly the land of the polygamist? Run, Jodene...run, oh and take Joe with you, that is...if he wants to leave. :)

You never know what is in store for you, living in Utah. And YES it is true, the kids are brought up the Old Fashion Way. Pioneer style. My two boys, John John and Teancum loving the outfits and tending the lambs.

So that's life in Utah. Simple and old fashion. NOT!

.Missing Saipan.

Hi, this is me with my youngest son, Enoch. Notice he looks haole BUT we will visit Saipan soon to give him the much needed tan. It has been 2 1/2 years since I have visited home and I am so, so missing Saipan. I love this site welovesaipan.com because that says it ALL! Loving and missing Saipan.

Me and my youngest brother Brian, on his graduation night. We missed out on the local way of doing things (bar-be-cue and TONS of friends). So we opted for Tepanyaki. Boy do I miss the Island Fiesta's. But I don't miss the extra pounds. Still trying to loose the baby fat.

And this is my 13 year old son, Deven, who was the only one of the 6 boys (SHOCK!!) who was born in Saipan. He claims to be the true Chamorro. :) My 18 year old boy, Raymond, will argue on that one since he lived longer in Saipan.