DREAM BIG

I love that song! Dream Big, by Ryan Shuppe and the Rubber Bands. Lately I've been taking action and hold on my dreams. If some of you don't know, I'm a dreamer! I dream all the time of things that I really want to do with my life, things I want to do, places I want to go, the person I want to be etc. It's exhausting the amount of time I spend in a day just dreaming. I love to live by vision! For instance if I want to do something (not with everything just things that require me to stretch spiritually, mentally, physically or all three) I think about it first, I mean really think about it, details and all. This is a great thing, but, .....but, but if this is all that you do, and don't take action on the impressions that you get, well then, it's just another idea. I was tired of having ideas! I took it upon myself (discussing it with my husband of course) to actually move a step closer to my dream. Yup I finally got my dream camera! Finally bought my own website! Finally taking classes on digital photography! Finally living my dream, and I love it. I always wanted to do it, and encouraged everyone else to do it except myself. I think because I was scared of failure, but now I don't even care. That's what learning and life is all about. I'm so pumped that I finally selected a hobby. Just after having Eve I was going through an identity crisis. Seriously no joke! I felt like I was in high school all over again. It just didn't seem that I didn't like to do the same things that the old Juanita like doing. And I still tried to do them because I thought that's what I liked to do, right? Anyhow I was inspired by many people around me. That really have no clue that they inspired me. Just this past week these are the things that inspired me: The Book of Mormon, Moms with jogging strollers, Stephen Covey's book "The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" (a must read by the way), Elder Ballard's recent talk on Motherhood and the mountain I can see out my window when I eat my cereal. Which I will attempt to go up again don't you worry. Anyhow I really want to be a photographer and a writer(just as hobbies and not a career, my career is called eternal motherhood. Which I think is a rockin position). I already thought of some children books I would love to do as well as some novels. Good thing Mark's really good with grammar because I suck at it. And later on when the kids get older I would love, just love to get my PhD in Developmental Psychology and try and research of preventive measures and extensive intervention of children with Autism. Just wanted to share a little piece of my soul with you.

What A Day

Ok, so I'm out here in Cali with other wives and mothers whose husbands sale security systems. The hubbies have a rigorous schedule which leaves all of us help meets alone pretty much the whole day and night (not exaggerating either). So naturally we get bored, right? So I decided to get more involved and find out what's going down on this side of the bay. Free stuff of course! I'm all about saving a buck or two and capitalizing on community events etc.. So I planned this hike that I found on the Internet. The site said it was like .7 miles, not even a mile. Classified as super easy, very beautiful, lots to look at including butterflies. And it's just right down the street from our place. Thought to myself "SWEET!". I was trying to be considerate about the length of the trip since everyone has little ones. I persuaded 3 mommy's to come with, telling them that it was going to be awesome blah blah blah blah. To make a long story short, it turned out to be a disaster! I had no idea the trail head started 11 miles from the gate (It's a good thing we all took our cars), nor did I realize the elevation, extremely windy roads (I wanted to vomit as soon as we stopped), nor did I check my fluids in the car, Yada yada yada We had to pull over about 8 miles because we were not prepared for this hike, which left us with very hungry and angry babies. I forgot to mention screaming the whole way up and down and it's not like we can pull over unless we want to go rolling down the mountain AAAAAAAAAAAAAah! Ok I'm embarrassed for initiating the whole event. Anyhow here's a picture I had to take of Eve at the look out we stopped at. This picture alone makes the whole thing so worth it.

Forgot to mention the second that I took this picture, she fell face forward. I felt sooooooooo bad. But DANG she looked so cute with all that dirt in her mouth! I took most of it off but decided to take a picture of her anyway.

Mother Nature @ It's Best

We went to the park the other day, (by the way a very gorgeous park) and it was so beautiful. We got to see birds, birds, birds! Just in case you didn't know, I love birds! I'm jealous because they can fly, and I can't. Maybe that's why I get those flying dreams so much. Anyhow we saw a bunch of Canadian geese, as well as some ducks. I never before seen that many baby birds, Oh I was in heaven!

So many of them left the pond to grab a bite to eat!

We just hung out on the grass and enjoyed each others company, and of course PEOPLE watching! Oh yah below is a card that Mark made me for mommy day, I thought it was different. Nevertheless I felt special.

Freedom

So, I did it. I cut my hair. All 12 inches, and it feels great. No regrets, nope not even one. I feel FREE!

Happy Mothers Day!

Top 10 Reason's We Love MaMa Vega

1. She's silly no matter whose watching

2. She makes up weird lullabies such as "the bobo the bobo la la la la la la"

3. She's protective of her family especially Eve

4. She's very thoughtful

5. Very generous woman

6. Super friendly

7. Kind to ALL people

8. Salsa Queen

9. Outstanding Cook

10. She's full of sooo much Love!

Top 10 Reason's We Love MaMa Denninghoff

1. Very Welcoming

2. Super Classy

3. Sends cute little cards & letters unexpectedly

4. Loves getting to know people

5. Makes people feel special

6. Super Supportive

7. Service Oriented

8. Great conversationalist

9. Love her passion for good literature

10. Very generous woman

We love our dear mothers a whole bunch, and realize the tremendous sacrifice they have made for us. Just the thought of our mothers brings such tender feelings to our hearts. We send our love and aloha to you both!

Thank You Matthew!

Today I opened the door and noticed a box USPS. It just happened to be a camera from my brother from another mother (Matthew). Thank you sooooooooo much bro! I just got so excited and started snapping away. Don't worry I will put it to good use. Promise!



This is Eve right after vomiting

This Is Eve getting mad for being confined in a little hole, known as our turtle balloon. The clip below is Eve in her new walker.

It's Been 9 Years

Today makes 9 years that I have been baptized and confirmed a member of The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-Day Saints! and my dad thought I wouldn't make it this long. Probably because I once told him that I was serious about becoming a vegetarian and then 15 days later I ate COW! Thank you to everyone that has touched my life in one way or another. I'm experiencing real joy in my life and I attribute it to my loyalty to the church. I love you all!

P.s. I recently lost my camera so I haven't really been posting pictures up lately but I should be getting another camera shortly. Thanx to my brother in law Matthew, he's such a sweetheart! So no worries mom you'll see your grand baby soon:)

P.P.s. Thank you all for your excellent advice about the hair situation, I decided to go with the majority and cut it around the chest area. Which would be like 10 inches or more, wheew will see how it goes.

Help Me Please!

My hair is currently down to my but if it's straight and down to my waist, if it's curly. I put my hair in a bun like EVERY DAY because it get's in the way or because i'm to hot. But by the time I take it down I either got dread locks, major tangles or both. It frustrates me like ALL the time that I feel like cutting it myself. Which we all know that if I cut it myself for sure it would look ugly! So I decided to be a little bit patient by asking for advice. Here's my dilemna I would really like to cut it short so I don't even have to deal with it but i'm afraid that I won't match with short hair. I feel like I just don't have the right face for it, and then there's the culture issue. Being raised in Hawaii I always was encouraged to keep it long. In fact the only time I had my hair short is when I was really small because I had Lice. Okay a tid bit information that you probably didn't need to know. Anyhow tell me what you think! If I do get it cut it will probably be this Saturday.

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Fast, Easy & Yummy

Total Prep Time: 10-15 min


Taco Soup

1 can stewed tomato's
1 can corn
1 can green beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can black beans
1 can pinto beans
1 package taco seasoning

Directions: Open everything and pour into a pot, juice and all! Let it boil and serve.

If you want, when you serve it in a personal bowl, you could add a scoop of sour cream or cheese or both. Also I've seen people add onions, ground beef or chicken. I love eating taco soup with warm tortillas. Just sharing ideas! Speaking of sharing, I know that there are a few of you that are super tight on time. What's something you eat all the time that's fast, easy & yummy?

Never Thought I Could Do It

I think theres a huge emphasis that the medical world puts on the actual birth and totally forgets about all the STUFF that happens after the birth. Please do not misunderstand me, the birth was a very special and spiritual experience but the pain following delivery I had no idea. One that I would like to mention is nursing. I never thought I would actually nurse for 6 months because the pain initially was sooooooooo unbearable. I literally tried to kick my husband a few times really hard if he was near me, so I could refrain from swearing because of the pain (in my mind of course). (messed up huh?) This does not sound like me, yup I know, but it's true, sorry to say. Anyhow at the time I didn't think I could get through one day with out crying my eye balls out, but I did! I made a goal to tough it out for a week. After the week was done even though I was still experiencing pain I decided to do it for another week. At times I wanted to quit soooooooo bad and cried of the thought of my poor little girl getting hungry soon but the guilt that swept my mind was overwhelming. THE PRESSURE felt so thick and real (not to mention nursing is the equivalent to the placenta in the womb, it's plain good for them). I told my husband that I'm going to try my very best to nurse for 6 months. At the time 6 months felt like an eternity! Guess what? It has reached 6 months and I am amazed at what this body can actually do. I want to send a shout out to Nancy Johnson and Ashley Moffat for being so supportive and answering all my nursing & wierd questions throughout this journey of motherhood. I love you guy's.

P.s. For all of you upcoming mommies the following link is an awesome book about nursing. It's an easy, fun, and funny read. I give it 5 stars! (Thanx Nancy for giving it to me)


http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Janet%20Tamaro

Things That I Love Waking Up To Besides Mark Of Course:)

My little Gerber Baby!

I love waking up to see her face right in front of mine

I love her puffy face after she awakes

I love watching her sleep and seeing her mouth make a sucking motion even though she

doesn't have anything in her mouth

I love her little mohawks after she gets up

I love her gums smiles that she gives as soon as she see's my face

I love her giggles

I love how happy she is when she gets up in the morning

I love how easy going she is when she awakes, I could even put her in a cradle position and she

wouldnt even mind. (She hates that position now and I love it because it reminds me when

she was a newbee)

Dang she's cute and I'm not being boastful at all, she gets all of her good looks from her daddy!