Our Very Merry Week of Christmas

This Christmas is definitely one for the books. Although we didn't get to do all the Christmas traditions we would usually do (and wanted to start) we were still able to make wonderful memories, surround ourselves with family and friends, and most importantly shift our thoughts and hearts towards the Savior. 

 Here's our very Merry Christmas week.

Monday Dec. 23: 

Fetus Updates , Furnace dramas, First House Guests

 and finally Moving Into our OWN HOME!!!

9:15am: Fetus UPdates

Finally had the ultrasound scan I've been waiting weeks for and found out we are having ONE baby!!! whewww! We were honestly kinda bummed...but got over it in two seconds. Didn't find out the gender because baby's legs were crossed, but we didn't care. We (mostly me) just needed to know how many kids were swimming around in my belly.

10:30am-3:30pm: Furnace Dramas
Met with 3 different furnace specialist at the house because our heater was never fixed (which the seller had said was fixed, but it most definitely wasn't.....we could smell gas throughout the basement. scary!). They all said that we needed a new furnace. There went our budget for our home improvement projects we had planned. Not cool. On top of that we had no running water. #firsttimehomeownersproblems

But on the bright side we would be getting a new heater and a safer home. *Trying to stay positive. 

5:00 pm: Our First House Guests Arrive
Alay get's off work.
Mike, Rachel, and Agelosi arrive! Yay our first house guests!!
We welcomed them to our empty home with no heat and no running water. Kalofae. 

9:45pm: The Moving Begins!
We start moving our things from Uati and Omi's house in Saratoga. Yes in the middle of the night, to our home with no heat and no running water.

10:30pm: Hope arrives. 
The furnace guy arrives to take measurements of our furnace and gives us a space heater to keep us warm. 
We still had to sleep in our winter jackets with blankets piled on top of us. 

10:45pm: Running Water!
The water guy arrives and turns the water on...YES!!! We can use our toilets!!!


Tuesday Dec. 24: 

Christmas Eve

Morning:

 -Milk and cereal kinda breakfast.
-The furnace guys arrive to install the new heater.
-Showers for everyone. Yay for running water!
-Off to do Christmas shopping :)

 Afternoon:

-Came home to a warm heated house!!! 

 Evening: 

-Christmas Eve dinner with the Tavanas.
-After dinner we came home, put the babies to sleep, and stayed up wrapping presents and decorating our house!
We didn't have the time or money to get a real tree or decorations so we had to get creative. 

I really wanted a Nativity scene so this is the result of my creativity at 1am on Christmas Eve/Day. 
 Our Christmas tree made out of wrapping paper and stockings for the kids. 
It was all worth it. The kids were so excited and surprised to wake up and see presents under a tree, stockings, and a Nativity. 


Wednesday Dec. 25: Christmas Day!

We had our lotu in the morning. Talked about the birth of our Savior and each shared our favorite Christmas memories. 

Then the kids got open their presents!
 Thanks to the D.I and generous family members, Leila got everything she had asked Santa for- a bike and a Barbie doll. 
She really worked hard to be Christlike and apologized seven times seventy-seven times after any mistake she made. Then she always followed up with the question "Am I still a good girl?" 
Agelosi cared mostly about being able to unwrap everything and play with the wrapping paper. 


Iosefa, my easy to please child, was excited about everything. 
For the rest of the day we...

Got to speak to Elder Fa'amuli and Sister Fuimaono over the phone.. missed out on the skype sesh since we didn't have internet yet, but it was all good. 

 Lazied around and ate good food.

Made some family visits with Aunty Olivia and the Tafitis in West Valley. 

Enjoyed the lights at Temple square.




We got to meet up with my sister Milla, Dan, and SJ :)


Thursday Dec 26: 
Daddy's Birthday & Unexpected Blessings

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, hardworking, wise, patient, humble, giving, loving, DAD who hugged us everyday while growing up, spanked us only when we reeaallly needed it (which was hardly ever), still laughs the hardest at his Daddy jokes, uses SAT words in everyday conversation, and continues to teach us through his great example. 

One of these days I will be rich enough to give  everything I've always wanted to give him...

(1) everything he needs to go fishing
 (truck, net, cooler, fishing pole)
 (2) an endless buffet of good Samoan food and 
(3) enough tools/supplies to build whatever he felt like. 

But knowing my Dad...he'll fulfill his own wishlist before I could ever afford it. lol.

Happy 63rd Dad! 

*and thank you Candace for always making these events feel more special with your decorations and thoughtful gifts...oh and "capturing the moments" with your camera. 


Also that evening Fao and Tina found us couches from a member in their ward that was giving them away. We had couches to sit on! Blessings!!!

Friday Dec. 27:  Back to Work 

Saturday Dec. 28:  Family time

Sunday Dec. 29: 

Orem 9th- New Ward/First Dinner Guest with the Levi's

We went to our new ward, Orem 9th Samoan ward, for the first time and felt right at home. Probably because the ward is made up of Laie transplants just like us. 

Later on that evening we had dinner with the Levi's 

The Levi's were so sweet and brought dinner and house warming gifts for us. Aljay and I are pretty useless with our phones and getting in touch with people. If it wasn't for Saili coming over one day we would've never gotten together. We are grateful for good friends and good laughs. 

What a great way to end our Christmas week and prepare for the New Year!


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