Family Updates
Time for some family updates.....lets shall...lets shallllll!!!!
First... I need to back it up to the end of February when we were able to attend the baby blessing of Owen Mataio Scanlan! Look at this beautiful family below!!!! Jaliz and Chelsea Scanlan have been our friends since our single days college days, going into our married college days, and then post college days as neighbors in Hauula. This little miracle child was such a blessing for their family and we were so happy that we could be there for his blessing!!! We had such a great time seeing their beautiful family!
That same night we got to have FHE with the Lealaitafea/Sagato/Fuimaono aiga. It was such a fun family filled day! *of course I didn't take any pics cuz i'm useless with my useless camera lol #workingonit #oneday #paparazzistatus
Now...bringing it back to March family news and updates...
March started off on a sad note with the passing of Mama Metuli. It especially hit hard for Aljay. He was trying to adjust to his new position at work and then wasn't able to even function when he found out Mama had passed. Although it was hard to accept her being gone, and to not be able to be in Samoa, and to watch Aljay and his family grieve, the same scripture kept coming to mind....
Phew...just had to get that announcement out of the way....and now I can get to the individual progress reports lol...
Starting with the oldest....
ALJAY
Work- It's been a month since he's started as a general manager at the Provo Vasa gym. He loves his job. He's getting into the groove of being a manager. I've enjoyed watching him take on new responsibility and tackle challenges that arise (and he's had to face more now that he has more responsibility). It's not always smooth sailing, but he is one resilient guy and I completely admire his ability to brighten any situation and channel challenges into motivation.
Church- He teaches the deacons quorum and really enjoys working with the young men. I always enjoy hearing how his lessons go during our car rides home after church. A few weeks ago he gave the young men a tour around his gym and gave them tips to maximize their workouts. He had so much fun with them (teaching and showing off lol).
Fitness- He started slacking a bit when work started getting crazy (his "slacking" is like my normal workout routine lol so it's not that bad just not as consistent as January and February). But April is the month that he/we/whoever gets back into the routine!!!! Forreals forreals!! #butforreals #imcountingonhim
SANDRA
Pregnancy- We found out on the morning of Leila's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEILA! lol Her prayers were answered hahahha....but really...she had been praying for a baby sister since Viiga was born. I had suspected I was pregnant after I missed my period, but said to myself 'nah my period is just three weeks late' lol...and I passed the mood swings and extreme tiredness as just a phase lol.
It's all good though. We're excited!! I don't know when I'm due. I'm guessing I'm 6 weeks or so. I used one of those online "Due Date Calculators" and it said I'm probably due in November.....we'll see once I get to the doctors...whenever that is. So far...no morning sickness, just always tired and hungry.
Work- I'm done in May :) I'm excited to be home full-time with the babies...especially since I'll be getting more and more belly bumpy. Maybe I'll start up dance classes again or enroll at UVU and take some prerequisite classes for entrance into the master's program that I wanted to take.....or maybe not lol. We shall see lol.
High Lites!- (spelling?? im too lazy to google it)...So for Valentines Aljay wanted me to get the salon experience and took me to get my hair done. I wanted to get a trim but he insisted that I relax and get some high lights lol. He INSISTED! It was so sweet of him to want to pamper me. It was the first time in yeaarrrsss that I had been to a salon. I was in the salon for 6 hours getting hi lights (never again!). It was just too long of a time to sit for me. I loved the gesture and outcome though! Brownie points to my man for taking care of me...or maybe he was hinting that I needed to get my ish together lol nah nah...
Toothless! She lost her two bottom teeth and the adult teeth are already growing in. She lost the first tooth (as in it came out and she dropped it somewhere) and didn't have anything to put under the pillow. The tooth fairy gave her 15 cents for effort lol. She made sure to get the second tooth under her pillow and the other tooth fairy gave her $5....a bit much if you ask me lol.....I told that tooth fairy that next time just give a quarter!
She can ride a bike! She had been riding her bike with training wheels for a while, putting some serious hours on it. Then her neighbor friend, who is the same age, decided to take off her training wheels.....so naturally she wanted to try without training wheels too. Instead of waiting for us to take off her training wheels, she just jumped on Sefa's little bike and learned to ride by herself. I was surprised when I went outside and saw her riding a bike. No one helped her learn she just tried.
She turned five! That means she starts kinder this year. I've started getting her papers and enrollment going which for some reason has got me all sorts of emotional! My baby is growing up tooooooo fast!!!!
IOSEFA
Online Preschool- I enrolled Sefa in an online preschool program since it's free. I'm pretty excited to try it. The parents have a orientation/training in July for it. I might also put him in regular preschool and just have him do both. It all depends on how much the preschool might cost and what not. But it starts in August and I'm excited to see how Sefa does with it.
Artsy- Since the weather has been really nice, the kids have been spending a ton of time outside. They especially love chalk drawing on the sidewalk and coloring. The other day one of the neighbor Moms said that Sefa is really artistic for his age. I've never really noticed, but when I compared it to the other 3 year old kid drawings I could definitely see a difference. Definitely gets it from his Dad.
VIIGA
On the Bottle!- With being pregnant and breastfeeding, I've noticed myself getting more tired and hungry every day. We decided to get Viiga on the bottle. He's been sort of weaning but I wanted to speed up the process. So we went to the store, picked out 2 cheap bottles, held them up in front of him, and had him choose lol. Our kids for some reason have just been more successful with the cheap bottles, thank goodness. So far, it's been going well. Thankgoodness.
Appetite- I'm not sure if it's the growth spurt or the incoming teeth (he has 6 now) but the kid's appetite has grown immensely. He eats a lot! That's probably why he has so much energy and crawls around and climbs everything.
And now for some random photos...
***And I apologize to my husband for not having more pictures of him. #workingonit #p.s.weneednewphones #forreals***
First... I need to back it up to the end of February when we were able to attend the baby blessing of Owen Mataio Scanlan! Look at this beautiful family below!!!! Jaliz and Chelsea Scanlan have been our friends since our single days college days, going into our married college days, and then post college days as neighbors in Hauula. This little miracle child was such a blessing for their family and we were so happy that we could be there for his blessing!!! We had such a great time seeing their beautiful family!
That same night we got to have FHE with the Lealaitafea/Sagato/Fuimaono aiga. It was such a fun family filled day! *of course I didn't take any pics cuz i'm useless with my useless camera lol #workingonit #oneday #paparazzistatus
Now...bringing it back to March family news and updates...
March started off on a sad note with the passing of Mama Metuli. It especially hit hard for Aljay. He was trying to adjust to his new position at work and then wasn't able to even function when he found out Mama had passed. Although it was hard to accept her being gone, and to not be able to be in Samoa, and to watch Aljay and his family grieve, the same scripture kept coming to mind....
"my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways"
Isaiah 55:8
We don't always understand or agree with things that happen, but we can trust that the Lord has a plan that is ALWAYS a better plan than what we can come up with. The plan of Salvation is real. Families are forever. Forever goes beyond this earthly life.
This scripture would become my March mantra.
As one spirit was called back, another spirit was called to earth. On March 11, 2015 Uati and Omi Afele welcomed my beautiful neice Tali Kehaulani Afele :) She is beautiful! Has her own look and is fair!
And since we're on the baby subject......
So we're....
Yes we are expecting again!
Viiga is 10 months old (Because everyone always asks)
So yes he will be 18/19 months apart from Baby #4.
*I'll get into the details later
*I'll get into the details later
Phew...just had to get that announcement out of the way....and now I can get to the individual progress reports lol...
Starting with the oldest....
ALJAY
Work- It's been a month since he's started as a general manager at the Provo Vasa gym. He loves his job. He's getting into the groove of being a manager. I've enjoyed watching him take on new responsibility and tackle challenges that arise (and he's had to face more now that he has more responsibility). It's not always smooth sailing, but he is one resilient guy and I completely admire his ability to brighten any situation and channel challenges into motivation.Church- He teaches the deacons quorum and really enjoys working with the young men. I always enjoy hearing how his lessons go during our car rides home after church. A few weeks ago he gave the young men a tour around his gym and gave them tips to maximize their workouts. He had so much fun with them (teaching and showing off lol).
Fitness- He started slacking a bit when work started getting crazy (his "slacking" is like my normal workout routine lol so it's not that bad just not as consistent as January and February). But April is the month that he/we/whoever gets back into the routine!!!! Forreals forreals!! #butforreals #imcountingonhim
SANDRA
Pregnancy- We found out on the morning of Leila's birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEILA! lol Her prayers were answered hahahha....but really...she had been praying for a baby sister since Viiga was born. I had suspected I was pregnant after I missed my period, but said to myself 'nah my period is just three weeks late' lol...and I passed the mood swings and extreme tiredness as just a phase lol.
It's all good though. We're excited!! I don't know when I'm due. I'm guessing I'm 6 weeks or so. I used one of those online "Due Date Calculators" and it said I'm probably due in November.....we'll see once I get to the doctors...whenever that is. So far...no morning sickness, just always tired and hungry.
Work- I'm done in May :) I'm excited to be home full-time with the babies...especially since I'll be getting more and more belly bumpy. Maybe I'll start up dance classes again or enroll at UVU and take some prerequisite classes for entrance into the master's program that I wanted to take.....or maybe not lol. We shall see lol.
High Lites!- (spelling?? im too lazy to google it)...So for Valentines Aljay wanted me to get the salon experience and took me to get my hair done. I wanted to get a trim but he insisted that I relax and get some high lights lol. He INSISTED! It was so sweet of him to want to pamper me. It was the first time in yeaarrrsss that I had been to a salon. I was in the salon for 6 hours getting hi lights (never again!). It was just too long of a time to sit for me. I loved the gesture and outcome though! Brownie points to my man for taking care of me...or maybe he was hinting that I needed to get my ish together lol nah nah...
LEILA
Toothless! She lost her two bottom teeth and the adult teeth are already growing in. She lost the first tooth (as in it came out and she dropped it somewhere) and didn't have anything to put under the pillow. The tooth fairy gave her 15 cents for effort lol. She made sure to get the second tooth under her pillow and the other tooth fairy gave her $5....a bit much if you ask me lol.....I told that tooth fairy that next time just give a quarter!She can ride a bike! She had been riding her bike with training wheels for a while, putting some serious hours on it. Then her neighbor friend, who is the same age, decided to take off her training wheels.....so naturally she wanted to try without training wheels too. Instead of waiting for us to take off her training wheels, she just jumped on Sefa's little bike and learned to ride by herself. I was surprised when I went outside and saw her riding a bike. No one helped her learn she just tried.
She turned five! That means she starts kinder this year. I've started getting her papers and enrollment going which for some reason has got me all sorts of emotional! My baby is growing up tooooooo fast!!!!
IOSEFA
Online Preschool- I enrolled Sefa in an online preschool program since it's free. I'm pretty excited to try it. The parents have a orientation/training in July for it. I might also put him in regular preschool and just have him do both. It all depends on how much the preschool might cost and what not. But it starts in August and I'm excited to see how Sefa does with it.Artsy- Since the weather has been really nice, the kids have been spending a ton of time outside. They especially love chalk drawing on the sidewalk and coloring. The other day one of the neighbor Moms said that Sefa is really artistic for his age. I've never really noticed, but when I compared it to the other 3 year old kid drawings I could definitely see a difference. Definitely gets it from his Dad.
VIIGA
On the Bottle!- With being pregnant and breastfeeding, I've noticed myself getting more tired and hungry every day. We decided to get Viiga on the bottle. He's been sort of weaning but I wanted to speed up the process. So we went to the store, picked out 2 cheap bottles, held them up in front of him, and had him choose lol. Our kids for some reason have just been more successful with the cheap bottles, thank goodness. So far, it's been going well. Thankgoodness.Appetite- I'm not sure if it's the growth spurt or the incoming teeth (he has 6 now) but the kid's appetite has grown immensely. He eats a lot! That's probably why he has so much energy and crawls around and climbs everything.
That pretty much sums up our March 2015. It has been a blessed month! Despite the hardships and losses, we continue learning, growing, and giving thanks for all that we have.
And now for some random photos...
***And I apologize to my husband for not having more pictures of him. #workingonit #p.s.weneednewphones #forreals***
So cute their outfits from Samoa that Uncle Ben sent!
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