...god first, family forever...

It's so crazy to think that we have a brother out on his mission. He's come a long way and definitely has an eternity of blessings awaiting him. Now that we're all grown up and just barely starting our own lives I can't help but think how close we all really are. It's so true how we don't realize what we have until it's actually gone. Of course my siblings aren't gone, but not living together or seeing each other everyday really does help me realize how much they mean to me. I never thought about it but when we first moved here my parents were always working and I basically played "mom" at home while they were gone. Thinking back on everything I did, I kinda wish I was a better example to them. I guess I did become "an example" but I wish I could've done a better job. But, regardless, I'm so blessed to have the siblings I do and I'm grateful for every single one of them. They each hold a special place in my heart and will ALWAYS be an example to me.

I'm so thankful for my parents and everything they've done to raise us and the sacrifices they made to get us where we all are today. I'm sure I was the very child that gave my parents their grays... but at least it was on their second child and they were better prepared for the next four! Just over these last few months we've all grown to appreciate each other more. With me moving 45 minutes away, my younger brother moving to Arkansas with his wife and now my other brother leaving on his mission for 2 years... I'm starting to realize that we're all just growing up and doing big things now I guess. Not a bad thing of course... just sad because we're all not together as much. I'm sure when Muka gets back he'll start his own little family and hopefully stay in Utah so we can all at least still be together. I'm sure Rob will be back after school is done but you just never know.

I can seriously say I have the best family ever. And not even just my own family, Matt's family too. Not only do I have four amazing brothers and an incredibly entertaining sister... I also have two older sisters that I never had and more brothers closer to my age. I seriously wouldn't trade them for the world. They each will never know how much they mean to me. Just to make things that much better, I have an amazing husband and three beautiful children that I can't WAIT to see grow up and be as close as the rest of us are.

Seriously. Life is just great.

...just blabbering...

I was just reading through my previous blogs and gosh was I seriously a Debbie Downer! But my weekend getaways and surprise Rihanna weekend was pretty amazing now that I'm thinking about it again. It seriously made me feel like I was a different person then... this spontaneous girl who just planned last minute trips and went without thinking. Lately, I've been... just a boring Mom I think. Sad.

You would think that having my husband home now would encourage me to blog more and at least be more happy about things. I honestly don't know why I haven't blogged since he's been home. I kinda feel bad.

Matt's been home for a few weeks now. Playing the "waiting game" again. Which you all know is the "Story of Our Lives". At least now we get to wait TOGETHER. Long story short, the NFL is literally a cut-throat business and it sucks. Matt made the practice squad in Minnesota at the end of pre-season but was later released to bring in another player. They could definitely call him back at any time so he has to be ready if/when that happens. So right now, Mr. Asiata is just patiently waiting for a call.

I have to say though... having him home seriously takes a HUGE burden off my shoulders. More so because I have him to help me with the kids and just everything. When he was gone, of course I had my family and his family but things just weren't the same. Everyone knows I hate to be a burden on others and I'll almost never ask for help unless Matt knows I'm going crazy then he'll "suggest" it to his family. When he was gone, the kids started school and my morning trips started up again like every school year. I had to get them up, ready for school, take them to school, take Shawnee to my in-laws and then make my way to work. THANK GOD I have the best boss/work place that is super flexible with my kids' schedule. But with Matt not being here, I had to do all that myself. I didn't mind of course -  I just got use to it. The first week Matt was home, I slept in, was almost late to work a few times and I just lounged around most of the time because when I got home from work everything would be done already. I felt bad at first because I would seriously find myself doing nothing while I was home. But then he'd always tell me that he wanted to make up for what he'd missed these last few months.

The kids are literally going CRAZY with him home. I'll come home and the four of them are bouncing off the couches and hanging from the ceiling... yes all FOUR of them, meaning my husband too! At night, they're STILL on crack. When he was gone, I'd lock us up in my room by 10pm and just fall asleep. Yup, again, best mother ever. Since he's been home, our house is mayhem until about 11pm then they move from the living room to the bedroom... my bed to be exact! Just when I thought I could get Shawnee to sleep in her own room too... what does he do? Invite her to sleep with us EVERY NIGHT... yea, he's killing me on that part!

...when daddy surprised them @ Hollywood after being away for two months...

But it's SO cute to see how close he is with the kids. His relationship with Nana is almost like a sibling relationship. She never takes him serious and when he gives her suggestions she just kinda looks at him like 'are you serious right now?!' it's pretty cute. He can make her laugh just by looking at her. Everyone knows she doesn't really laugh though either... it's more of a grunt with a smile. I have no idea where she got that from!

...this was on his testing day for kindergarden...

He and Fatboy have made it a ritual almost every night to play video games for about two hours before going to bed. Where they got that idea I don't know. I've been pretty good about having video games in the house though. About a year ago, if I could, I would've thrown the game out the window and tell them I didn't know what happened to it. But now, now that we have rules about game time, I don't mind it. If you see Fatboy play video games with his dad and uncles, you would think he was 12 or something. Sometimes he has to remind his uncles he's only 5... especially when they start losing.

Shawnee... she SWEARS she's the boss (still)...and having her Dad home 24/7 doesn't make it any easier. She gets away with everything and anything in our house (which you all already knew from the way I talk about her in all my other posts). Well, at least when I'm at work. But even then, if I even raise my voice at her... Matt's already covering her ears. Talk about not taking anything serious... everything that comes out of her Dad is a joke. Not once does she take him serious. And if she does... the first thing that comes out is You're not my friend Dad... then... she's all smiles cuz he gives in [insert big dummy face here].

Me... I'm loving every minute. Anything could happen today, tomorrow, next week... but all we want to do is enjoy where we are right now...being a family. I just got another promotion at work... with this position (hopefully) I won't be FB'ing my frustrations about work anymore. I've finally taken on the manager roll (that's opened up about five times since I've been here and it's only taken me four years to finally put in for it) and I'm excited and nervous all together. I told Matt I'll have to do less FB'ing and blogging (during work hours) and more of my actual work. I'm excited about it.

Matt... still makes me fall in love with him more and more every day. It's the little things that matter most you know?! I'm (kinda, sorta...okay I AM) addicted to my mocchiato drinks at work... one morning he took forever taking the kids to school and I was getting worried but I didn't wanna start blowing up his phone. I was getting a little (okay a lot) impatient but I still didn't call. Then, five minutes after my normal 'leave the house' time (which is usually my 'you're gonna get fired if you don't leave' time) he walks in with a mocchiato in hand and says "thought you could use this on your way to work". How sweet is that?! I thought it was cute. I even got to watch a football game with him. You're probably thinking that's lame but it's really not. Since forever, I've always been doing all the "watching" with our family or friends from the stands. A few weeks ago we went to watch the U rape BYU and he actually sat WITH me! It was too funny. He was on the sideline for most of the game but then he came up and sat with us for the last quarter. It was funny to see people's reactions when he walked up. It was almost like one of those movies where the head quarter back goes to the stands and kisses the four-eyed geek on the cheek... that's how I felt anyway. Matt being the geek of course. DUH.

Anyways, I think this post is long enough. If I don't stop now, I could start giving TMI. You guys don't want that ;)

...work...

A while back I posted about these new cute earrings I got and an outfit I wore to work. Since then I've taken a few pictures of my work outfits to try and get a post together to show you more work outfits. I haven't been good at keeping up with the pictures but just the other day Matt was looking through my pictures and said, "Why do you take pictures at work and I don't get any of them?!" LOL I had to explain what my plan was and then I figured I should hurry and put that blog together. So here it is.

I actually just got a management position at work so I'll be shopping for "better" work clothes soon. Hopefully this week. I was trying to talk my mom into taking me work shopping to get me a "promotion gift". That conversation didn't end the way I wanted it to. But I'm hoping I'll be able to go sometime this week.

I have the hardest time finding the right rousers. I use to just buy random ones from wherever. Then I realized that I was wasting money on them because they'd either rip at the seams (don't even say it was cuz I was gaining weight! LOL) or they'd just start to fit weird. I was told that was because I wasn't buying quality trousers. So what did I do?!?! I went to GAP. I neeeever shop there because of course it's too much for me AND the styles in there just aren't really for me. I ended up spending $120 on two pairs that I THOUGHT were really cute. Um. That's a negative because about a few weeks later I was over both of them. One of them... the seams ripped at the bottom and they were EXTRA long and annoying. The other pair, I like but they're just kinda weird around my waist. I wear it sometimes but I usually wear a blazer with it to cover most of my waist. Anyways, so I'm back to square one. Anyone have suggestions?!? Cuz I'm tired of wearing the same skirts and one pair of pants with different shirts.

If and when I do go shopping for more work outfits... I'm steering away from the pants and possibly just stick to dresses with cardigans. That's what I'm thinking right now anyway.

This is from a magazine... 

kinda what I'm going for now days...

...here's a skirt I got at H&M when I was in Vegas for Rihanna...

 ...another dress from H&M...

...we support out UTES every Friday 

so I try to work it as much as I can...

...this ones one of my favorites...

thanks to my sis Leta...

...wearing one of the pants I don't like so I took it sitting down...

it's a grey blazer and trouser with an aqua colored shirt...

...this one was when I first wore one of the expensive trousers...

it was also when I dyed my hair black and NO ONE saw it LOL

...this one is aight...the vest makes me look VERY business-like...

...this one is with a blue & black plaid skirt...

it was probably in my closet for two months until I actually wore it...

...ivory top + brownish/grey skirt...

I'm sure there are toooons of people with cuter outfits but I figured this could be fun post. I'll try to do another post with new outfits but that probably won't be for a while.

My girl Cass has a blog that I LOVE and she had a post about a week ago asking for suggestions on what to wear to my brothers farewell. You can read about it here and see the cute dresses she got. Just the look I'm going for next time I'm going shopping.