Pre-Christmas Day Festivities


This is going to be a very bare post. Meaning hardly any pics...my apologies to all the visual learners. We've been a little junk at taking pics/videos and now that Viiga is addicted to our phones, we've had to keep our phones out of sight and tucked away. Nonetheless, Christmas carries on!!! It is the best time of the year!!!!!




Family Tradition- Christmas Baking
We always try to make something to give out to our neighbors, family, friends, etc....this year we decided to do sugar cookies. 
So I did the cookies with the kids one night and the dough came out bleeeh because I forgot to add one ingredient. woops...but we baked them anyways and they didn't taste bad so we decorated them and then I came downstairs the following day and they were all eaten. FAIL.

 Take two. We made cookies again the following night, this time with all the correct ingredients. Cookies were very very delicious. Too delicious. They magically disappeared again...thanks to my sneaky minions. FAIL #2

 I was determined to get the cookies packaged and out to the homes soooooo...Take three! This time I made the dough, cut out most of the shapes, and let the kids help with just one pan. Then after they came out of the oven and cooled down, I quickly placed them in a container and kept a close eye on them. I also made a batch of chocolate crinkles as a contingency plan. Then we frosted and packed them in bags and sent the kids to the neighbor's homes to pass out the goodies. Finally...MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

 YAY! And it only took a week to get the cookies baked, packaged, and delivered LOL. 

Oh and Aljay made pie for the first time. He made meat pie and used some of the leftover dough for sausage rolls. Not bad not bad at all!!! He was on a kick and had a few more goes at making it!!! Yeeethh!!


 Family Lotu
As I mentioned in my '25 Hours of Fitness' post, the church had put out an advent calendar with things that we can do to draw closer to the Savior. I was so excited to have it as a source for ideas and activities with our children. 

 We tried our best to use the Light the World calendar. We would go over the following day's "topic/task" each night during our lotu. It was a good topic of discussion. The kids liked checking off days and it was so sweet to hear them pray about things that we talked about. 

 We also celebrated the fact that Leila and Sefa have Alma 37:37 memorized in Samoan AND that our family has officially made it to the book of JACOB! It's an accomplishment for us! 
Family Activities
Aljay and I had very busy schedules trying to juggle work, Rooci, art pieces, and home reno projects. But we made sure that we made the most out of the time we did all have together. 
Getting Ready for some snow action. She looked like an astronaut. 

After setting up our Christmas decor and getting ready for a movie night. 

Some how we managed to get a date night in!!! YESSSS!!!

Enjoying the Christmas decor at Provo Mall



 There were several sweet moments where we would just play with our kids, take them to the park, and work on our music video (that never made it hahaha..at least we got a few clips done for Mom and Dad's video lol). We went one night and drove around with them to look at all the Christmas light displays.

It seemed like even the kids were busy with school projects, class parties, and their Christmas Program. 

 Leila and Sefa's Christmas program was the day after Grandma and Grandpa arrived. We all didn't get to bed until 1 or 2am. I woke up and took the kids at 8am and watched their Christmas show by myself. Aljay and the rest of the household finally woke up and called me right as Leila's class was finishing. Kalofae they all wanted to go, but I already knew we wouldn't have made it if I tried to get eeeeeveryone up and ready. 

Christmas Parties
We had our ward Christmas party, but we didn't even make it to the party. Aljay had been working on all day and night on art pieces and finally went to sleep around 8am. I was dead bird because I had to get up and fix our toilet that overflowed. It was just a long week of late nights and early mornings.

But we made it to Lahvjal and Penny's ward Christmas party! Thank you Orem 9th! #O9SoFine It was so fun and really got me into the Christmas spirit! Loved seeing familiar faces, eating good food, and all the entertainment. 

 Grandma and Grandpa are Here for the Holidays
My Dad called me a week and a half before Christmas and told me that they were coming for Christmas. We tried to keep it a secret from the kids but then we gave in after they asked 5 milliooonnn questions- Why are you making a bed in the basement? Why are you fixing your room so nice? Why are we cleaning so much? Is someone coming over?......fesili so'o!!
They came for Christmas and New Years. 

Christmas Eve
We spent Christmas Eve with Penny and Lahvjal. Lahvjal conducted our program and then we opened presents, snacked, and hung out. Once again they spoiled us! The kids got cool toys and Aljay and I got some clothes, candles, lotion, socks, and an Amazon Firestick!!! SO SPOILED! Lahvjal worked his jail breaking skills and got us access to allllll the movies through the Kodi app thing. Soooooo nice! We can't wait to have money to spoil them back. One day. Onnnneee day they gonna get it!

 When we got home, Leila made a plate of cookies and a cup of milk for Santa. I didn't mean to say it out loud but this was her reaction when she heard me say "yessss....I can't wait to eat those when the kids go to sleep"
I didn't eat them....right then. I woke up and scarfed it down just before Leila woke up. Didn't help that she slept right by the fireplace and barely woke up as I was putting the empty cup in the sink. I love that she is still enjoying the magic of Santa. These magical years only last for a few years :)

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