MY LIFE (or something like it)

Ate the best icecream ever for lunch and dinner

lazed by the pool

Snorkelled ... woo!

Danced with elephants

Chilled with monkeys

Would have been more effective if we took the stool away!

Ate burgers A LOT! my tummy didn't want anything else

We got fish pedicures where they eat dead skin

mmmm

James Bond Island

Our SOFT bed

 Yes his name is Jenny and he was the tour guide/barman/break dancer/hilarious guy. When we heard his name we started calling him Jenny from the block. Regan and I thought he really made this day trip really fun and It was while I watched him trying to break dance on an overturned canoe, that I got stung by the jelly fish. (note. putting sugar on a sting does NOT do anything more than make your leg sticky.)

Before the trip Regan HATED eggs. It was one of the foods he couldn’t stomach but magically at the breaky buffet there was a man who turned that all around … now he LOVES eggs … particularly omelettes… behold that man …

Iron Chef!

and cried when it was all over

Today I am feeling really nauseous … well actually for the last couple of days and I just want to pass out and wake up when it’s over! but then I open my photo album and I see photos like this one

searching for the courage to jump

 or this …

baby bumping

or this 🙂

the froth is the best bit

These were all taken from the past two Christmases and it reminds me of the awesome times that lay ahead. Thanks so much for giving me your Christmas tradition suggestions … and keep ’em coming.

On another note. A couple of weeks ago Regan and I were able to help run an MTC youth weekend for the Macarthur stake youth as Regan is the Stake Young Men’s President. There was so much stress in the lead up but on the weekend everything seemed to go seamlessly. Regan was the “Mission President” and I was the “Mission President’s Wife.” I also had to pretend to be an investigator and a person on the other side of the door when they practiced their door approaches. I took the slightly less mature approach and pretended to be a drunk Russian, an old lady, and just a plain old nasty woman. I am a sucker for getting laughs and it made it fun.

I was also the choir director for the group of 100 teens and I was nervous as heck! They sung the ‘As Sisters in Zion/We’ll Bring the World His Truth medley. It was my first time directing a choir let alone one that big but when they stood up to sing at the fireside on Sunday night it was as though a big brick wall of the spirit hit everyone. The actual Mission President, Pres Tupou, Regan and I (as well of lots of people in the congregation) were all crying by the end of it and I was so so glad that I had the opportunity to the there with them. We then got asked to do the same item at Stake Conference in a few weeks which should be awesome.

Ok I’m out!

Hope you are all having an amazing Sabbath day and may you all have a husband as hunky as mine.

If you want a belly laugh go here…no seriously DO IT! (it may save your life!)

Thanks Erry (my sister) for visiting me this weekend! I loved it and I cant wait to see you guys at the wedding and Christmas time. They will be getting married in February and they couldn’t be happier! You guys are perfect for each other.

Aren't they cute together! ... and why I laugh everyday!

Oh and I will be posting soon about my new little daughter Ella. She is sooo pretty and I have found the cutest photo of her before I knew her … YUM! (and I’m not talking about the icy pole)

ummmm ... love love love

And I’m just hoping (and praying) that our children will look like Regan as a baby (he is the Michelin baby on the right.)

num num

PS. Christmas is coming!! my favourite holiday ever. Leave me a comment on your favourite Chrissy tradition as I am trying to start my own. Pretty Please.

Cheers!!

Thailand Love

Today my heart is full of gratitude and I feel a rush of contentment fill me up. I feel the need to bear my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth.

Jesus Christ is REAL. He lived and loved, healed and bled for us. He is my savour and redeemer and he knows me by name. His love is constant and through prayer we can have his comfort and guidance in our lives. We just need to kneel down and talk with him. I know that my Heavenly Father also has an intense love for me and that he was willing to sacrifice his beloved son so that we all might live again.

I know that families can and WILL be together forever! We all have divine roles in this world and my role as a mother to Beautiful Ella and faithful wife to Regan will be the only success in this world that truly matters. I know that we have a living prophet on the earth today and that Thomas S Monson is an inspired man of God who gives us regular inspiration from on high.

I know that true happiness and joy comes from following the words of Christ. I know that being sealed to the love of my life within the temple walls was the  most amazing and special experience. It was truly a moment where I could feel the heavens open a little and as a ray of light shone through the window I could feel my heart expand with gratitude.

Where I got sealed to my sweetheart

Tonight my sister Erin (Erry Ferry) is in Sydney until Sunday morning which means that tonight I will be spending time with my sisters, eating A LOT of antioxidants, if you know what I mean 😉 while Ella runs around with Lillie playing dolls and jumping on the trampoline.

The other night was so great as Regan and I sat up chatting. We wrote down all of our goals in different categories which included spiritually, mentally, physically and also goals to do with money and all of the hobbies we wanted to take up. Then we decided to do a spring clean until about 11pm. It was great to finally have the ‘Proclamation to the Family’ framed and hung along with a few other religious pictures (thanks to Regan getting the pictures framed and hung.When we finally ran out of steam and passed out on the bed we lay with our noses touching and told each other how in love were. It was such a great moment to feel that kind of joy.

On another note – ‘Eat Pray Love’ is enjoyable but I found it very hard to not want to punch Julia Roberts in the face … selfish much?

ps. If you are seeking inspiration then check out this … she is awesome (true beauty!)

pps. I will put up photos of my house and vege patch soon! anyone wants coriander? We have WAY too much!

Stay tuned for tales of our honeymoon in Thailand.

Stay tuned ...

Don’t say I didn’t warn you!! yes in our family there is a big fat cluster of birthdays which means that for Mum and Dad they were having a happy Christmas and New Year haha. (ummmmm.)

I am lucky to live only 2 hours drive away from Kate and Todd and their two scrumptious children, seriously … they are edible! This will not be for long as they will be moving down to Adelaide for who knows how long … so not fair!! I remember looking at Kate as a little girl and admiring her confidence. She was always surrounded by people, absolutely magnetic and she was a model … which, to a 9-year-old is way too cool. She never fought with Mum and Dad but talked them into things, (I was more of the “cry and scream until you break ’em down” kinda girl.)

Katie is so so talented, not only is she beautiful but she is really smart and creative. Most mathematical minds find it hard to be creative but she uses this to her advantage and she is able to use mathematics to create her amazing quilt designs in her head (um jealous.) She is a great Mum and a wonderful sister and always brings me and my melodramatic thoughts back to reality. We also have one thing in common … a love affair with chocolate (and red-headed surfers.)

I can’t wait to hang out with you again and I only wish I could be hanging out with you today! hope you’re having fun on your little getaway 🙂 Love ya!

Dad and Regan as he gives me away

Last night was wonderful! After I finished a long day of work I hopped into my car and went straight to my sister, Becca’s house. We don’t have an oven at the moment so I asked if I could come over to use her oven to make my hubby a “death by chocolate” cake (it is as delicious as it sounds.) Once I licked the bowl clean and put the cake in the oven it was straight to ‘Australia’s next top model’ where we watched the botch up over and over trying to analyse every facial move of Sarah Murdoch. That’s when my sister Katie arrived with the two kiddies and I spent the rest of the night snuggling up to her gorgeous son Dane and trying to get him to say “cool tricks” which he translates into “tool fix” … classic!

After getting my Dane fix I hopped into the car and got home before midnight so that I could come in and wish my beloved a happy birthday right on the dot (sorry for waking you … I just get excited about birthdays!) This morning we just stayed in bed and chatted and giggled right up until I had to leave for work. I love giving presents and this time was no exception (I actually had to hold myself back from giving it to him at midnight.) I couldn’t wait to give him his present which was ‘Versace Blue Jeans’ aftershave as well as a bike that his parents put in for too.

Regan is one of those people who has a million friends. He is instantly liked by everyone that he meets and one thing I fell in love with when we were dating was the fact that he could see the good in absolutely everyone. He is fiercely loyal in his relationships and he is the person you want in your corner. On top of that he is an excellent father to Ella. He will spend hours playing ‘my little pony’ or wear a pink love-heart friendship bracelet she made for him and he will cuddle her to sleep when she is having nightmares.

Regan is the first man (apart from family) that I said “I love you” to and this is because he made me feel safe. The night before I said it, he looked me in the eyes and said to me that he wanted to be with me forever after only knowing each other for a couple of weeks and at that moment I melted and my walls crumbled and I let it all in. This man is the man who sent me essay length text love notes, cooks me dinner, stayed up with me late when he had to get up at 3 or 4 am, prayed about me and for me since the night we met, makes me omelettes in bed any chance he can and buys me CDs when I’m feeling sick.

Happy Birthday my love, can’t wait to die slowly by chocolate soon 🙂

In the Soininen family half of my sisters are born within a couple of months of each other and so be prepared to see a couple more of these posts in the near future.

Today is my sister, Amelia’s Birthday (Amelia is the one on the left of the phot in the last post.) Amelia is one of the people who I miss like crazy after leaving Adelaide. Even though She lives a good 4 hours drive from Adelaide I miss her weekend visits where we would sit watching trashy movies and eating Fruchocs (mmm I could really do with some now.) I grew up with Amelia in the house until I was about 12 (I think) and I always remember looking up to her and thinking how much I wanted to be like her, and today is no exception!

Amelia is seriously the most sweet-hearted, talented (check it out here), giving person and I am so glad to have her in my life as a sister and a friend. So much so that when she said that she was contemplating coming and visiting Sydney soon I almost peed my pants with joy and told her to DO IT, DO IT, DO IT! She is so so creative and gives away almost all of her wonderful creations to people. I forgot to include her and some of my other sisters in the wedding post and I forgot to say that Amelia was such a massive help in setting up the house and painstakingly arranged the flowers on top of our cake with no experience but it looked so professional and beautiful.

I used to be sad when I was younger because I was the young little sister and I was jealous of the older sisters who could all hang out and be friends and share secrets and now I am at the stage where me and my sisters are really great friends and Amelia is someone I know that I can share my happy moments and my sobbing moments with and who will be my shoulder (even if it is just through the phone.) I can honestly say that anyone who knows her is better for it and I have not met anyone that has ever said a bad word about her.

I only wish I could be there today to help her celebrate this day by helping her each cake and watching trashy TV together. I love you Milla and hope you have the best day (come visit soon … you know you wants to!)

My sisters: Amelia, Kate, Rebecca, Erin, Kelly

These are all of my wonderful sisters. I’m so proud of them and for all of the love, strength and wisdom they have imparted to me throughout my life. On this day though I want to focus on my eldest (but still very youthful sister)Becca.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! For those of you  who have not had the pleasure of meeting her, she is the one in the middle of the photo.

As I am the youngest child in the family and she was married and had moved to Sydney when I was only 4 (aunty at 5), we didn’t have your regular siblingship (don’t know if that’s a real word but I’m still using it.) I have vague memories of running around at her wedding and looking on jealously as her firstborn Hannah became the youngest in the family and subsequently took over being the first person to open christmas presents. I also remember long road trips to visit her where I felt more like her child than a sister.

This past year has allowed me to have a wonderful and close relationship with her thanks to her continuing generosity. As I explained in previous posts, she offered for me to come and live with them in Sydney for as long as I wanted (or as long as my spinster self was left on the shelf.) She had extended this hospitality to several of my other siblings in the past and now it was my turn to make the trip.

From the first moment I stepped into her house I felt nothing but love (thanks for not giving me a wedgie Morgie.) I felt immediately accepted into their family and I felt so comfy taking up another little spot in their home. We would have long conversations about serious current affairs or talk about celebrity gossip. We would watch trashy Foxtel to the dismay of her hubby Morgan and watch Masterchef and (Australia’s, America’s and New Zealand’s) Next Top Model religiously. I used her a lot as my soundboard when I first started dating Regan and seeking some “been there done that” advice. One thing I always loved and appreciated came after hanging out with Regan into the late hours at his parent’s house. Every drive home was in freezing weather but I knew that when I came home that the front porch light was always on and my room was toasty warm from Becca turning on my heater hours earlier.

I have always admired her for her wit and intelligence. She is one of those people who has in-depth conversation about world events and ACTUALLY has a solid argument after having read every article on the matter. She is also incredibly loving, gives the best hugs and is such a good mum. She has impeccable taste in music and has done super cool stuff like sneaking backstage at concerts. She makes fresh bread once or twice a day and makes the most delicious Pulla (with extra icing on the side.)  She is the one who encouraged me through all of my job application failures, who laughed with me through my stupid moments and held me when I cried. 

I am so happy you are my sister and friend… I love ya Becca Boo 🙂

So I feel it is my duty to warn you all that pure hell has a new name and it is Koya Aloe Vera drink. Yes my people. I have spent the last half hour researching aloe vera drink and its effects and no where does it say “Could cause severe  pain” or “This drink may cause you to have violent and stabbing pains in you intestines as they gradually swell to breaking point.”

Oh how I was fooled. Upon shopping I darted quickly past the chocolate aisle and in a moment of strength I bought 1.5 litres of aloe vera juice. “well done Ellen” went through my head as I patted myself on the back. Now home to dinner and my tasty healthy drink. Before I knew it I had finished of a litre of the drink and this is when the fun began. The swelling grew and grew until I seriously looked no less than 11 months pregnant (so wish I took a photo now.) I lay on the couch tossing and turning with the pain as my husband looked on and laughed (ok so it was slightly funny) but in that moment of pure pain I did not see the humour.

Soon Regan retired to bed and I stayed up until 1:30am to what felt like labour pains (ok don’t shoot me all at once) and by this time I was sitting there wondering to myself “What number from 1 – 10 am I going to tell the doctor in the emergency room, that I am?” (I would have said an 8 for those of you that are Brian Regan fans.) So I decided that it was time to wake up sleeping beauty and to ask for a blessing (I’m so thankful that he could give me one.) He blessed me and that’s when the relief came. I’m not gonna spell it out but by this time I was crying and laughing with Regan constantly (in separate rooms) for the next 30 minutes as relief got better and better (the joys of marriage!)

What a lack of judgement! I just hope I don’t get burnt this summer ’cause Aloe Vera in all its forms are still scary to me.

As promised, here is some footage of our wedding day … Thanks to Uncle Andy again for this amazing wedding gift!