FUIMAONO FAMILY

T his Christmas season hasn't panned out the way I imagined it would. First off, I thought we would be in our home, where I would do fun Christmas crafts with the kids, bake cookies, roast chestnuts in our fireplace (lol..but forreals...we have a fireplace so why not), and do activities that will focus on our Savior! Nice yeah? Well...it didn't work out as planned. And if you read my Part 1 to this, you understand why.  But....  I've learned that when you try to hold in the frustration and stress without having a proper outlet, you leave less room for happiness and joy. After letting out a few tears I've finally been able to make room to reflect and enjoy the sweet little victories in our life.   Here are some of our little victories and sweet moments (in no particular order) that we've been able to enjoy as a family which have brought forth and continue to bring in the Spirit of Christmas.  #1 Leila and Iosefa learning to share their testmo...

So much has happened and nothing has happened in the past couple of weeks. Confused? Yeah that's why I had to write this in two parts. So here's part one -- the "trials" portion---of  us learning to be patient through this seasons trials. The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it. - Arnold H. Glasow   Recently I've just wanted to smash the egg and scramble the heck out it. The reason being that we've been on such an emotional roller coaster with buying a house. It has been stressful , time consuming , and requiring lots and lots of PATIENCE - which is something I carefully ration out for kids, husband, and terrible Utah drivers.  The beginning of the buying process was smooth sailing with only a few little bumps in the road. We were feeling great! We also received an omen! Got a fortune cookie as an appreciation treat from Primary and got this fortune.   What a nice omen! ...

I've been enjoying the Thanksgiving Holidays and the welcoming of the BEST season of the year... CHRISTMAS!!!   And now I'm finally able to reflect and record all the wonderful happenings!!! From Thanksgiving to the first weeks of Christmas! First let me just say .... I LOOOOOVE CHRISTMAS!!! And I'm always just so excited about the whole month of December! But like the title says.....this is a catching up post. So I'll do my best to contain my excitement and not get carried away.. I'll make a separate post(s) fo r everything Christmas :) So let's get started!! THANKSGIVING WEEK Sunday - We had to'ona'i with the Malupo's and had all our favorite foods! Mamoe, luau, kalo, turkey and stuffing (for the sake of tradition), custard pie, chocolate haupia pie. There was lots of food and more importantly, lots of love and laughter. Love family time.  *So grateful for eternal families.  These two were too cute! Leila...

It's been a while since my last entry...probably because nothing incredibly interesting has happened in our lives.... until these past two months.... (So now to backtrack and catch up) First off... We're expecting again!  I'm about 13 weeks along and Baby #3 is due to arrive May 2014!!! Supposedly the week before the family reunion and if we're lucky maybe baby will arrive on Aljay's birthday (May 21). Aljay and I are excited and feel extremely blessed that Leila and Sefa will have another sibling :) So far the pregnancy has been BLEH !!! My first trimester has been textbook standard! Morning sickness, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue....and being at home with the two energetic monkeys hasn't helped either. Sometimes I wished I was working to help me take my mind off the symptoms and distract me. That's probably the reason why my 1st trimesters with Leila and Sefa were easier.  The most noticeable difference from the last t...

With the hustle, tussle, bustle, and scuffle with the move to Utah and settling in,  I completely forgot to even mention my dear son's birthday. Bad mom! Sorry Sefa. Better late than never yah? Therefore this post will be solely dedicated  to my happy, cheerful, little funny man Sefa.  IOSEFA LETOAIMEALELEI UILIFOTI FUIMAONO He celebrated his 2nd birthday on July 11, 2013 in Saratoga Springs, Utah. (yes over a month and a half ago) We had just moved from Hawaii so our funds were tight and his party budget even tighter. Thanks to Uati, Omi, Aunty Norma, and the Nawahines (Dez, Sofaia, and their kids) for making his celebration possible! :) Thank goodness he is only two and easy to please. He was happy that he got to sing the birthday song and blow out the candles himself.   In the two years that he's been with us we've learned a few things about him that we just  LOVE . 1. He is low maintenance . He always does his o...