Ok, so the last time we took "professional" family pictures was when Kyra was about a month old...yea, I know! Well, there is a lady in our ward who is going to school for photography and I asked if she needed any models. A couple weeks later, she ran up to me and said that she had time, so we got with her last Wednesday for some pics. I had no idea where to go to get some good ones but luckly she knows her way around better than I do. She found this really cool University that looks like castle walls. This place was so great! I was so excited to be getting the pictures done and she did a great job with what she was working with! The kids were definitly a handful and did not cooporate but she got some good shots. So here they are.
Daddy and his girls like father...like son
The girls
Sisters!
Yea, I think this one is going to be our Christmas card!
Not quite sure, though!
Love this picture of the little man!
So, if anyone would like a Chrismas card just send your address...and I'll try to pick a good picture! (and when I say good, I mean one that I think I look alright in!!!! We are our own worse critic...right!?)
Last week we took a couple days to drive over to South Carolina. It was a long drive but a lot of fun! We went to go see a couple friends, Misi and Jenny, that we knew from BYU Hawaii. Krisalyn and their daughter are like best friends. They were born only a week apart and up until they moved from Hawaii, they played a lot together. Now we live about 5 hours away and decided it was about time for a road trip! If you didn't know any better, you wouldn't think that Krisalyn and Oceana had been apart for three years! They played every minute of the day together! It was nice to see such great friends together again! Kyra and William were not alone...well, Kyra mainly. They do have another daughter, Aaryah, who is between William and Kyra, so they weren't too lonely! I think William, though, was really getting tired of all the estrogen in the house! He wanted to do everything that Daddy and Uncle Misi were doing, especially eat with the big boys! At one point, Ioelu was singing and drumming so they can dance the Poly dances. They did the Tahitian hip shakin, the Maori tongue stickin' out, and Pearly Shells! They had so much fun! It was great to see old friends...hopefully we can do it again soon!
...pictures from our adventures a few weeks ago. William wasn't feeling too well from cutting more teeth, so he wasn't his typical, running around getting into everything, self! He kept the backpack on pretty much the whole time and kept his hand in his pocket! It was so funny! When we went to get the photo with Santa, William refused to get on his lap and we were only allowed to take one picture with our camera. All well!
Just want to start off by tell those few of you who read this...Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband, who will do anything to ensure my happiness, who loves me so much even when I know that I get on his nerves. A man who tells me I'm beautiful no matter what time of the day it is...or what day for that matter! A man who supports me in whatever I want to do and wants me to follow my dreams. A man who is such a great father to our children and loves them so much. I am blessed with three beautiful children, who at times can be terrors but I love with all my heart...and great friends, who know me and like me anyways!! You guys are great!
I got back from Trinidad last week. Yea, it was an exciting trip. My best friend got married to a guy from there. It is an interesting story of how they met...long story short, she went to visit her parents who were serving a mission, met this man and was smitten! So, they were married in Trinidad and went on to the Dominican Republic to be sealed. I wasn't able to go to her sealing but was able to go to the civil wedding. I was looking at pictures of her that her sister posted from the temple on facebook and let me just she was radiant! She has always been beautiful but that day she was beaming! Brides always have that glow to them when they get married but there is definitely a different glow when you come out of the temple after being sealed to your eternal companion. Trinidad wedding. Sealing in Dominican Republic temple
My main purpose in going to Trinidad was, of course, the wedding but we did get to go to Fort George the next day, before we had to get back on the plane. Fort George is a pretty cool historical site. It looks over the city of Port of Spain and was initially built in the 1800's to for protection but was never used. On a clear day, you can look out and see Venezuela on the horizon, since it's only like nine miles out. When I got back...yep, that's right, I went all by myself. Aah, it was a nice break but I was happy to be home with my man...and the kids.
Later that week, Ioelu, the kids and I ventured out to see the Delta museum. It was pretty fun...and free, which makes it even better! We got to see some of the planes that Delta use to fly. It was pretty cool. We then went on to the mall where we found Santa (I didn't know he would be there so early) a cool little train that we could ride and the carosell that the kids love! It was a great day!
I'll be putting up pictures of our adventures soon.
It really sucks not having a camera...but luckily, my dad has his and let us borrow it for trick or treating. This year, trick or treating was ok. We miss going out with our friends to trick or treat. Up until last year, we did our Halloweens in Laie with such wonderful friends. There is nothing quite like the Trick or Treating on Moana and Ioesepa Street. Last year we spent Halloween with a great family, the Churchwells, and had a blast. It is so much fun to share the spooky holiday with friends. This year, although it was just our little family, it was still fun. Our ward did their trunk or treating on Friday and the girls were so excited! It was good, and the kids, got a lot of candy. Luckily, we didn't have to buy candy for Halloween night trick or theaters. We handed out the candy kids got from the trunk or treat! (just don't tell the kids! hahaha) It really didn't matter much because they received plenty of candy that I don't know what to do with! So, here are some pictures of the kids in their costumes.
The Rose Princess
The butterfly Princess...with out the wings
Roarrrrr...the little dragon! When people would ask him what he was, he would say "ROAR"...so cute!
My little posers!
Trick or treat!
Ioelu dressed up for work on Friday and is awaiting the results of the contest they had. He won the morning shift and now the supervisors have to figure out who it is going to be.
This has nothing to do with Halloween but I think it's pretty funny...in a good way. I visit teach a couple of great women. I was talking with one of them, with her husband, trying to figure out a good time to go and see her. As we were talking, I pointed out Ioelu. Her husband got so excited and said something like "Your married to that really cool guy that wears that skirt thing" Yep, that's me! He was telling me that ever since he saw Ioelu in one he wanted one. So, last week, Ioelu gave him one of his and they wore them to church on Sunday. I missed it, due to a couple kids being sick, but they came over to take a picture of the two in their lavalava's. Ioelu said it was pretty funny at church because now, instead of everyone looking at him, they are now looking at the other guy. Funny! I think he can handle it!
Yesterday Ioelu officially became an American Citizen! Can I get a CHEEEEEEEEE HOOOOOOOOOO!!! It was so great to finally have everything done! No more applications...no more money...no more waiting! We had problems in the past with immigration taking their sweet time through the process, sending the wrong information to us (which of course, freaked us out trying to figure out what to do) but in the end it all worked out! I am so proud of him. He is such a great man. A loving father and a wonderful husband.
Ioelu and I got to the immigration office for his 7:45am interview and test. The ceremony was not going to be until 2:00 pm, which was great because we were able to pick up the kids and my dad for the ceremony. Even though the kids didn't really understand what was going on, I thought it was great to have them there to share in his moment.
Unfortunately, we still don't have a camera, but I had my phone and took some pictures from the ceremony. Now, I just need to figure out how to put them onto the computer!! So, in the mean time, you all get to enjoy pictures of when Ioelu went to D.C. with a group from school.
Even with so much corruption and terrible things going on, we are so blessed to live in the United States. We have so many opportunities. I cannot even begin to express my love for Ioelu and all that he does to provide for us.
During the ceremony, they played a few videos and one of them was this song. I absolutely love this song. It is definitely one of my favorites, the words really touch my heart. It is just a beautiful song and I get choked up when I hear it. I am so proud to be an American! I know most if not all of you have heard it but I wanted to share it anyways.
The other things that are going on in our life...let's see.
1. We heard back from Samoa last week and was told that they found Ioelu's brother and family alive and safe. Now, the only problem is that one of the brothers who went looking for them is now in the hospital with a terrible swelling in one of his legs.
2. Ioelu is now working full time! He is relieved and I am, again, so proud of him, and blessed to have him in my life.
3. My dad is now home from the hospital. For those of you who don't know, he was in the hospital for a couple weeks because of a staph infection he had in his legs. It was terrible. He couldn't get up and walk for a good portion of the time he was in the hospital. When he was finally able to walk with out too much pain medication, he was transferred to a rehabilitation center/nursing home to finish recovering and work with a physical therapist. That was the worse thing that could happen. He was only there for about 3 maybe 4 days and got very depressed. It was just a terrible place to be. Needless to say, his doctor approved him to come home and finish his medication. It is a great relief to be here and have someone to care for him as he is recovering.
4. I am going to be going to Trinidad next month. Yea, I am pretty excited. It is not going to be along trip but a trip none the less! One of my very best friends is going to be getting married there and of course, I am in the wedding! hehehehe! She met him while visiting her parents who were serving a mission there, and now, they are ready to tie the knot! I really hope all works out for them and they are as happy as Ioelu and I are! I really want the best for her and hope that this guy is worthy of her! She is such a wonderful woman and deserves the very best in a husband! I have never met the man, but I am sure she chose a worthy man deserving of her love!!
5. The kids are growing tons and getting into everything! As much as I love them, those child safety locks and everything else do not work! We have a gate leading into the kitchen, which the kids climb over, making it pointless to even put it up anymore. The "child lock" that I have on the cupboard doors under the sink doesn't seem to work especially when little William likes to play with the door. They are constantly getting into the fridge and so far there has been at least 2 gallons of milk spilled on the floor. No not all at once, it was more like a half a gallon at a time! I try to clean it up as best as I can but let me tell ya, milk on carpet is not the best smell in the world! Me, being the perfect mom that I am, tells my kids that is it is ok...YEA RIGHT! Ok, so I'm not the perfect mom that I had hoped to be when I had kids, and I will definitely admit that I had lost it...more than once! But that is another reason that I am so blessed to have Ioelu. When I am at my wits end, he is there with the gentle reasoning, and vice versa! I do have really great kids. Even though there are those times that I am pulling my hair out because of what they did, I love them so much and cannot even imagine my life without them! Which reminds me of something that Krisalyn had asked me on Sunday. She was looking at a magazine, showed me a picture of a beautiful woman and this is the conversation that we had. her: "Mommy, why didn't daddy marry her?" me: "Well, because he married me." her: "Why didn't you marry the guy who asked you?" me: "Daddy did ask me." her: "No, the other guy." me: "Well, if I married him, than you wouldn't be here." her: "But, he should have married her because she is beautiful and has a beautiful necklace." me: "What about me?" her: "You have beautiful earrings." and before I can say anything else she says, "I love you Mommy." OH, the joys of parenting!!!
September 29, 2009 was a day of mixed emotions for me.
On the one end of the spectrum, as many of you know, was the tsunami that hit the islands of Samoa and American Samoa, along with others. What a tragedy for those living there! My heart goes out to the families who were affected by this disaster. Many people lost loved ones, their homes, and their belongings. As I looked at pictures posted on the internet, it makes me so sad seeing the people that I love so devastated. I look at the pictures of the mothers carrying their children who have died into the morgue and I can only imagine how much their heart aches having to bury their children so young! We found out that most of Ioelu's immediate family is ok, but he has an older brother who lived in a village that was hit hard. The village was leveled and we have no idea where his brother, his wife, or his five kids are. They lived very close to the beach and right now the only speculation we have is that they were washed out to sea. And if that is the case, may they rest in peace and wait until we meet again! I am so blessed to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints! The knowledge of what happens after we leave this life and that families are forever has really gotten us through this terrible tragedy.
ON the other end of the spectrum, Krisalyn turned 5 years old. I really can't believe I have a 5 year old. No, she is not in school yet which I know she is a little bummed about, but next year she will have her chance to finally go to school! That will be very crazy for me...I know! Anyway, we had her birthday party last Friday and she had such a good time. She had a butterfly theme party and I really tried to keep it low budget, so I made the cake a pinata. I got most of the things we needed from the dollar store, and found these cute butterfly nets on clearance at Tuesday Mornings, that I used for the goody bags. I took pictures of everything except the goody bags...unfortunately I didn't have enough for my kids to get one, so I can't really recreate it...all well, just believe me when I say that they were cute! Here are some pictures of the party.
I'm a full time mom of three wonderfully crazy and wild kids...two very active girls and a boy that I know will be just as active when he gets older. I'm married to a happy Samoan who, I'm sure, is the one who gave his crazily active genes to our kids!!
Sisters!
Yea, I think this one is going to be our Christmas card!
Love this picture of the little man!
So, if anyone would like a Chrismas card just send your address...and I'll try to pick a good picture! (and when I say good, I mean one that I think I look alright in!!!! We are our own worse critic...right!?)
