3D Art Activity

This story was back in October of 2019: My Mom asked me to blog about this fun activity that I did with Scout, Curly, and Baby Doll on Sunday of this week. Remember the time I talked about the Troom Troom show when I showed you the homemade giant candy bars that I made for birthdays? Well, the show has shown me another fun thing that I could try doing and I also thought it would go perfect for the 3D Art activity that my family does for Reflections: making unique bars of soap.

I was watching some of the demonstrations of how the girls on the show were making bars of soap that were so unique that you can hardly find them at any store, but that you can make something like that at home. My mind went a bit blank, wondering where can you buy a brick of soap base that you can use to make some interesting bars of soap? When I kept thinking of it, I looked up online and saw that soap base can be bought at Hobby Lobby, and you can also buy different silicone molds that can be used for baking or molding projects.

I made a unique bar of soap that was blue colored, with a bit of white and yellow on it. I made it look like a little Book of Mormon and I gave it to Crafty as an early birthday gift. I thought it was the perfect gift that she can use for her mission. She's really excited to go on the mission. When Crafty and I showed it to the family, they were very impressed and wondered if that was the newest hobby/project I thought of making for people's birthdays, instead of making the high-calorie candy bars.

For the past few months, after learning that the Reflections theme this year was "Look Within," I thought it was the perfect choice of something that the kids can make for 3D Art. Baby Doll was excited to try making a bar of soap that has never been seen by anybody before, and Curly and Scout felt the exact same way.

I showed them the different kinds of flavorings and food colorings that they can use in their bars of soap. I even taught them that they need to use rubbing alcohol to spray the molds, just to make it easy to take the soap bars out when they're set, and to spray some on the melted soap base to avoid the air bubbles when stirring the soap, colorings, and flavorings together. I even told them that their own brick of soap base has to be chopped up into tiny squares and microwaved for 20 seconds so that the soap can melt.

It was quite a time-consuming, dirty, but yet fun activity for the kids. They never thought that soap bars can be made and used for an everyday hygiene routine. The kids really enjoyed coming up with different shapes, scents, and colors of soap that can be used. The hardest part that they ever had to face with the activity was to wait for almost an hour for the soap base to set. It was hard to wait for a very long time for one soap bar to set before doing the next step of their project. 

Baby Doll made hers with two flamingos, making a heart shape position, while standing on water that's on top of a white brick that says "Dance" Scout made hers on a giant heart-shape bar of soap with a blue soap volleyball that shows how much she loves volleyball. Curly wanted to make a scientific bar of soap like a geode, but he wasn't pleased with how it turned out, so Mom suggested that maybe it could be an oyster instead. He really liked that idea and after a few changes and another small molded pearl, it turned out great.

I'm so proud of you, Baby Doll, Curly, and Scout for trying out this activity. It sure was fun teaching you guys about this new technique. I hope the judges like your 3D Art projects.

Autistic Picture Books

This story was back in September of 2019: I wasn't quite sure what to talk about until I figured out that I'm working on a little bit of homework and I thought I should tell you about what I'm doing.

It's the last semester before I get to graduate from UVU and I'm working on a Capstone project where I need to interview some people and get some ideas on how I can achieve my project. The project I'm doing is planning to write and illustrate a children's book about a child who has autism. Whenever I went to class, my teacher really likes the idea I came up with, but I'll still need to find some people to interview with who are experts with dealing with a child with autism and when I interviewed some people, like a librarian, a caregiver, and a philosopher, they thought it's a good idea that I write and illustrate a children's book.

But when I met with a couple of librarians at the local library, they looked up online to see that are a lot of picture books about children being autistic and there are also children's books for autistic children who love to read. I was a bit worried that if there are a lot of other children's picture books about a child with autism being the main character, my teacher would recommend I come up with a different approach for my project. But with a little bit of encouragement and firmness, my mom told me that I can still write and illustrate a children's picture book about not an autistic child in third person, but in first person story form.

I didn't see this book from the librarians, but I saw it myself. It might be a good book to read to children who love elephants.

I already started writing the story, but with a lot of assignments being put online with due dates, it gets me a little worried that I'm not going to be able to get the story done, if I still need to deal with other assignments that have to deal with the project. One of the assignments is to interview people who have empathy towards my project and I need to come up with an annotated bibliography and put them all into a PowerPoint, because I will be presenting my project in front of community judges on the last day of the semester.

I have lots to do, but I'm still trying to keep my other priorities straight, like my marriage, my family, and my employment. I hope that I'll be able to get all of this done in time. But I'll tell you that by the time I'm done writing that story and I present it on the last day of the semester, I'll get the story published.

My Sister Teach's Baby Shower 2019

This story was written in Septempber of 2019. This may sound a little weird, but Mom asked me to blog for you about Teach's baby shower. It was quite a party. At first, I thought the normal rule of a baby shower is that the only male who would be invited to a baby shower is the husband with his wife who is the pregnant woman. But with a little bit of empathy from mom, she said that for this shower, it's just for everybody in the family, like we all gathered for the birthday parties for the past several months. I decided that maybe for this family, there are exceptions to special occasions, like a baby shower.

Super Polliwog!!

Super Tadpole, Super Little Warrior, and Super Twizlet!! Princess made all the capes, aren't they cute?!

Super Tadpole!! (again... because his mom made all the capes...)

Anyway, the shower was quite a blast for the most part. Puppy Lover wanted to come along to give the baby shower present to Teach. But before Teach would open her presents, we had dinner of Baby Back Ribs, Baked Potatoes, Zucchini, and many other foods. We also had different kinds of cake that Princess and Mom made.

Super Skittles!

Twizlet wanted to open all the presents.

Our amazing party planner!

And thanks to Drama Queen's creativity of party-planning, we played a lot of games that were Superhero-themed. We had a lot of fun playing the games, like word scramble with using the letters in the baby's given name, Pictionary, Word Search, and Wheel of Superhero Fortune.

We had a lot of fun celebrating for Teach's baby. Now, we're not going to reveal the name of the baby until he is born. We'll keep in touch on that eventually.

Baby Doll is super even without the cape...!

California Trip 2019

Back in August of 2019, my parents have planned on a very special gift and promise for me when I was done serving my church-service mission for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. They promised me to take me on a trip to Disneyland. I invited Puppy Lover to come as any good husband should do for his wife. She was a bit hesitant about it at first, but after being convinced by her parents, she finally decided to come along on the trip.

On the first day of the trip, we drove the entire way for one day from South Jordan, Utah, to Anaheim, California. It was a really long drive, but it was worth the sightseeing of other things that we never see everyday. By close to the end of the day when we got there, we went to the beach to have some fun in the sun. I buried myself in the sand and played a little bit in the waves. Puppy Lover was having a bit of fun too with my other siblings on the beach, until suddenly, my brother, Sport, got stung by a stingray and he had to be taken to the lifeguard headquarters to suck out the pain. Despite about what happened, we still had fun at the beach.

For the past couple of days after our trip to the beach, we went to one of the most popular and most visited theme parks in the world! We first went to Disneyland, dressed up in homemade Disney fan shirts and had lots of fun riding the rides and exploring many other attractions. 

On the next day, we went to Universal Studios. Puppy Lover and I just spent most of the day together exploring the park, while my family had a handicapped fast pass to go on all the rides, thanks to Sport's stung foot. I wish I would've been a part of the group, but I knew that exploring the park with my wife was more important and show her around. Anyway, she thought it was a little fun to go on a ride that shows the audience of what it's like to be in the movies and how movies are made. What she liked the most though was visiting a mascot of a character she likes, called Woody the Woodpecker.

After that day, we went to Disney's California Adventure, it was really amazing to see what Cars Land was like. It really looked like Radiator Springs from the movie. We even saw McQueen and Mater drive by. We tried the newest and most popular ride in Cars Land, Radiator Springs Racers. Puppy Lover liked it at first, but she didn't quite like the ending part of it. When it was just a ghost train of a ride at the beginning, it became a roller coaster ride throughout the rest of the way, and Puppy Lover's not really into fast or spinning rides (except for the Dancing Teacups as you can see).

On the second to last day of our trip to California, we went to Disneyland again and we just did almost everything else like we did on the first day. Puppy Lover and I really loved meeting the mascots at Disneyland. We met, Winnie the Pooh, Eeyore, Mater, and Mickey Mouse himself. These were really great and fun moments we had as a married couple. I sometimes wish I could visit Disneyland and Universal Studios again. Maybe someday, as long as I made a decent budget and spend less on things, I could have the chance again someday, maybe use Mickey Travels to book a Disney trip for the family.

Pioneer Day Fireworks

 This story was back in July of 2019:

Happy Pioneer Day! It has been a great day for me and my wife. When I asked my parents if they had any plans for Pioneer Day, they told me they weren't quite sure, so I ended up celebrating Pioneer Day with Puppy Lover's family up in North Salt Lake. Her parents, her sisters, nieces, and nephew were all there to celebrate. We had Sloppy Joes for dinner while we shared some fun family stories together. We even shared treats with each other, like Puppy Lover's parents shared doughnuts and I shared Sonic Pops (there are otter pops flavored with drinks from Sonic, and you can buy them at Walmart for a Seasonal Time only).

We played games and watched a movie together. until it was getting dark outside. That left me with the chance of setting up a Firework show for the family to watch, since it was Pioneer Day for us in Utah. I'm sure my Mom has told and taught you about what Pioneer Day is, so that won't surprise me. Anyway, the fireworks were a blast. I was in charge of the whole show for them. I put myself in charge of it, because it's been almost a decade ever since I got to light up the first firework in my life, but I'm sure my mom has told you that story before. We started with sparklers and I showed them the coolest firework that I never was willing to try before. Puppy Lover's niece, Bubba, wanted to try it too, so I ended up having two of these fun Fire Sabers that some people thought were made for sword fighting, but I told them that they were made to hold up in the air with one hand as if you're standing like a victorious warrior, as you can see in the picture.

After the sparklers and the fire sabers, I was down to setting up regular fireworks to ignite. Bubba also wanted to try to light up some fireworks, so I let her have some turns until it was time for me to set up the Aerial Fireworks. The best Aerial firework that everyone liked was the Jumping Jelly Beans ones, because it looked a lot like candies jumping out of the box and it all ended in a snap! And then after that, it was time for me to finish off the show with a Grand Finale. The Grand Finale was so intense, because it was an Aerial Firework called Pyro DNA. It was supposed to shoot nine shots, but then after the first few, it entirely exploded and it went all over the street! We almost had to scatter away from the sparks, until they all disappeared. I understood why it was called Pyro DNA, because some of the hot sparks landed right on the tip of my shorts and it sheered up a hole, which almost burned my skin! But thankfully, nobody got hurt during the last bit of the firework show.

Right after the show, we cleaned up the mess and made sure the fireworks were soaked in water. Before it was time for some of the family to go home, they thanked me for buying the fireworks and setting up such a dazzling show for the History of the Days of '47. I hope you all had a good and a very safe Pioneer Day!

Almost Divorced

This story was back in February of 2019: 

My parents and me and Puppy Lover

I didn't want to talk about the most drastic thing that has ever happened with me and Puppy Lover. Whenever Puppy Lover lived with me at my parents' house in the little apartment, she always felt depressed and homesick from her childhood home. She always missed living with her parents and wasn't quite sure if she really wanted to be committed to being married, just like I always had been. When Puppy Lover and I were first married, it all became a good start of our relationship as husband and wife. She used to make me some meals on the days when I worked and came home during my lunch break to have something to eat. And she always liked to snuggle with me whenever I always had the chance to be with her and have movie nights together.

Beauty and The Beast

Puppy Lover and I were always happy being with each other. However, in just a while, when I started heading back to college, she started feeling very lonely and never wanting to hang out with the rest of my family while I'm gone at work or going to class. There were a lot of those times when I got home from work, I see her laying in bed and eating popcorn. I hate to be judgy about a lot of things, but it was just one of those things that I observed.

Teach and Twiz

I was always worried about Puppy Lover being depressed and not hanging out with my family. After a little while, she decided to move back to living with her parents until I'm done with school. When I told my parents about it, they weren't happy with that, because they told me that it's really likely of getting a divorce. My parents told Puppy Lover's parents about it and they agreed with them that if Puppy Lover is not really happy being married to me, we would have to file a divorce, unless Puppy Lover and I could work something out. I really didn't want it to happen, because I just know that divorce would be way more difficult than marriage. When Puppy Lover packed up all her stuff and moved away to live with her parents, I was in tears, because it was really devastating to see my own wife giving up already, because she is sad and depressed just because I've been at work and going to school.

Princess and The Frog

Puppy Lover was worried that no matter how much she studied about passing a driver's test, she always ended up with a failed grade, and has concluded that she won't pass it and just stick with not having driving experience for the rest of her life.

Bossy

Puppy Lover and I almost stopped being married, because maybe she believed that marriage was just too hard and she wanted to give up on it. When my Mom asked me about how I felt with Puppy Lover leaving, I was devastated and she suspiciously asked me of what I said that made Puppy Lover walk out the door and move back to living with her parents. I tried to tell her that Dad made me ask her all those things and I tried to be calm with her about what I was trying to ask and explain. I always had the tendency not to shout or get angry with Puppy Lover, because I know she has a sensitive heart and I always have been very calm with her. But she kept telling me that I shouldn't blame my Dad for all those things, just because he gave me advice to do so and that I was responsible for making Puppy Lover feel bad about herself.

Cat Woman and Batman

It made me realize that it's best for me to understand that Puppy Lover had her turn to live in my parents' household for almost a year, and I felt like it's now my turn to live at her parents' house for a while, just to help me learn how to be more independent with myself, just like Puppy Lover was trying to show some independence. So I decided that it was time for me to move in with her parents so that she understands that I still love her and that she still loves me. We almost thought about splitting up and just becoming friends, but I thought we should still give this marriage one more chance, until something happens. We're hoping that it'll all work out and that someday Puppy Lover and I won't lose each other and not file a divorce. If you can, will you please pray for both me and Puppy Lover so that it can all work out?

Spot the Dog Nostalgia

This story was back in January of 2019:

I thought I should talk about one of the stuffed animals that I have collected for my future teaching experience with little kids and children with special needs. When I was a kid, I always liked to watch the movies and read the books of Spot the Dog by Eric Hill. In my whole childhood when I started learning how to read, I was enjoying reading the Spot books with my younger sisters, Princess, Prima Donna, and Crafty.

There were those times when I was entered into adolescence, I stopped thinking about Spot the Dog, because I was a bit worried with peer pressure in high school and thought that it was only for little kids. And also, I was so intrigued in earning a high school diploma and an associates degree along with my graduate of excellence award. But as soon as I got a bit more mature with myself and have overcome my depressing and anxious challenges, I started to dwell on the happy moments of my childhood, like Spot the Dog again.

When I first attended UVU and joined in the Education program, Princess and I attended the same class called Children's Literature. I was so excited about that class, because all my life, I always wanted to become both an author and illustrator for children's books. There was a fun assignment that we did in the class. We got to chose the author of children's books and do a report on them. When I mentioned to Baby Doll and Curly about Spot the Dog, Princess thought it sounded interesting to learn about Eric Hill and how his creative stories on Spot the Dog has inspired younger children throughout the world and how Spot become the most lovable dog of all time. I was one of the children throughout the world who loved Spot the Dog.

Overtime, after I got married to Puppy Lover, I discovered a plush stuffed animals of Spot the Dog and made my first order online for it. Although, my mom was worried about me ordering it on Ebay while using my debit card to pay for it online. That was before I ever received a credit card. Ever since, Mom has been helping me collect a lot of stuffed animals from the children's books of different authors and illustrators, I thought that having Spot the Dog would also be fun to have so that mine and Puppy Lover's future children will be able to love Spot the Dog. I still like Spot the Dog at this age and I'm hoping that someday, my future kids will like Spot the Dog too. If you like this post, maybe Mom will let me write another blogpost about another lovable character created by a unique author and illustrator. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this story.