Aug | Settling In, Buckling Down, Prepping Ahead

 This past month our family has started settling into routines, trying new things, and preparing for whats to come. And for the sake of making my life easier...here's the link to a photo album of our August. 
August 2020

Ending August with a Fun Family Outing
Just a quick backtrack...so Tui's work was giving out tickets for the Lagoon (it's an amusement park here in Utah) and he treated the whole family to a fun day at lagoon. It was so much fun! We started the morning with soccer games, then drove out to Lagoon, and had fun for about 7 hours. It was so much fun watching the kids have fun! Can't wait for Salani boo to be old enough to go on rides. We came home and exhausted and just pooped out. 

Tui had been very consistent in reminding us about our little ward activity since like May lol. And then at the park we find out he doesn't do well with heights or fast rides. Kalofae, but he did bring his girlfriend so we got to meet her.

What's new for us?

Soccer
The kids started soccer and have been loving it! Aljay took on coaching Sefa's team and I volunteered to help coach Leila's team. It has been so fun watching them get excited and try out a new sport. I've especially enjoyed seeing their progression each week. Quick report -- 

  • Sefa is amazing at soccer. No surprise he's so athletic and fast!!
  • Leila has to work harder at soccer but she has so much strength. She is learning how to move and is enjoying soccer a lot. 
  • Viiga..bless his heart. He has the potential to be amazing hahah but he's just whatevs about it. He does enjoy the social aspect of it all though. I want to get him a dirt bike so bad. He's BMX material for sure!!!
  • Saleima is becoming more and more comfortable with soccer. She is a natural as well. She loves wearing all her soccer stuff ahha just as much as playing. Her neighbor friend Axel is also on her team so that has helped a ton with her shyness.

Masks at School
It's been such a weird school year seeing teachers have to make major modification to how they teach, seeing students have to wear masks, and seeing all the controversy around masks/power and authority/conspiracy and all the things! Bless our teachers. 

Personal Goals
It's no secret that I'm trying to lose weight. It's only my billionth attempt. However, getting exercise in during a typical day and preparing meal plans ahead of time has been my biggest challenge. I decided that I'd get up and walk the kids to the school bus stop every morning and then walk a little extra on the way back home. So far it's been the most successful way to get me moving. The summer heat is still lingering, but it sure does feel good to get out and moving in the fresh morning air. I want to enjoy it as much as possible before winter. 

Day Routine for the Little Ones
They sometimes wake up in time to walk with me and the school kids in the morning. I usually make them breakfast when I get back from my walk and then let them watch a show while I check emails and get some work done on the laptop. 

Then they tag along or sometimes help me with whatever household project I've set for myself for that day. If I have a clingy, fussy, teething baby, then we don't get much done. Sometimes we clean in circles lol Sometimes we just spend a few hours trying to get one room clean. Often they try to go outside and play with their neighbor friends. It's a little different day to day. 

I'm hoping to get some pre-school material for them to do in the morning. Nothing too crazy, just something that I don't have to think hard about. 

What's on the horizon?

Manusina Art
We've been so blessed to continue to get commissioned work despite the pandemic. Aljay and I are getting better at working with each other. I'm getting better at anticipating his needs finding ways to work smarter. Our goal is to improve our operational processes and procedures and get ourselves set up for when we move to American Samoa. 

Oh yeah... So American Samoa
Sooo...*deep breath in...*slow breath out..we're planning to move to American Samoa within the next 4-5 years. My parents have been in American Samoa for the past two years and they've confirmed that they plan to stay there. However, with their age and health, they will be needing help and we'll be moving to American Samoa to help take care of them. We have a lot of prep to do on our end--
  • Like I mentioned above, we have to prep our business so we can continue to serve our clientele even from Am. Samoa. 
  • We need to get healthy. This is just something Aljay and I want to focus on. Getting our family on a healthier path with eating and exercise. 
  • We have to finish up Aljay's citizenship...yes I know..we got his green card and then called it goods lol. But before we leave, we need to do his full naturalization. 
  • My parents really want us to get our Master's degrees soooo there's that lol... *kay but where's that Master's degree money at? haha* But with so many online options, we know this is something we can work on wherever there is internet. So that's kind of on the back burner. 
As always, this is what we'll plan for, but we'll pivot/readjust/take on whatever comes our way. 

And how is she feeling about moving to Samundas? LOL 
Bruuuhhhh...I mean there's pros and cons right?
  1. I'm excited for the kids because they will get to take care of their Grandparents 
  2. and get in touch with their roots! Meet more family, see where we grew up, get the experience, etc.
  3. We'll be just an airplane ride away from their grandparents in Samoa 
  4. and a closer plane ride to family in New Zealand and Hawaii
  5. New adventure = new opportunities (thinking of the businesses we can start in the islands)
and on the other hand...
  1. moving sucks. The whole process of relocation is nerve wrecking. We have to prep the house, sell the house, time it with our moving, figure out the whole logistics of moving....
  2. We will miss our family and friends here in Utah. Utah has been good to us.
  3. Samoa just feels small and the greedy government leaders don't help. 
but as one of my favorite scriptures says--

To every thing there is a aseason, and a btime to every purpose under the heaven:
- Ecclesiastes 3:1

I also can't help but feel like maybe there's a possibility that Aljay may be able to paint for the American Samoa temple that is to be built there. Maybe that's wishful thinking. Life forreals #youwiiiiish hahah. But I'm not afraid to project that into the universe #manifestit! lol


Anyways....onward we shall go! Lessgeddit team!







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