February Happenings | 2021


Aliitasi

1/27 - We started the kids back at dancing with Aliitasi. First practice and Sefa still get um! But he does need conditioning. Leila was dying but she's enjoys it. Saleima, bless her cute soul, was giving her best! I loved watching her be excited to try something new. This was her first dance practice and the lil thunder sister was so cute to watch.

Metuli the Panty Girl!

Our little big girl finally got potty trained!! Woohoo!! It only took me forever to get her started, but she got it down and is officially in panties!! Yessss!!! One more kid left in diapers!! By next year (or maybe the year after next) we'll be diaper free! 

Xtreme Hip-Hop (Step)

I started going to Xtreme Hip Hop Step classes and it's been so fun. My first class was with our Relief Society (pictured below) and then I started going to Rachel's class (she's the one kneeling on the ground with the two braids). There are a few other Pacific Islander women who teach in Utah county. It's awesome to see so many of our people getting into it! Voni and Tilly (other step instructors) held a couples night and Aljay agreed to go (miracle!). 
 


Valentines

Our Valentines was awesome! Sui was super thoughtful and got us Crumbl cookies! Yes, Aunty Sui
who is all the way across the sea in New Zealand! lol Such a yummy treat and so sweet of Sui!

Then on Friday (2/12/2021) Aljay and I did a couple's step class lol. It was hang but he did it! We did it!


On Sunday we had a nice to'ona'i after church and had some Sunday naps. Woohoo!!!


Harrison's Luau

Harrison is the son of Deedee and Dennis Tavana. Dennis is Aljay's 1st cousin.  Dennis and Deedee Tavana are the proud parents of their fabulous four- Kennadee, Harrison, Tatum and Maddison. Unfortunately, Harrison was diagnosed last year with a rare form of brain cancer known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma or DIPG. As you can imagine, their journey through medical treatments, doctors visits, and procedures must be exhausting and overwhelming. Our Ward has been great to stand by them through this difficult trial.

We found out that one of Harrison’s wishes was to be able to go to Hawaii with his family. He couldn't travel due to COVID, so we decided to bring Hawaii to him. Due to his condition getting worse, we planned the luau in less than two weeks and we some pretty amazing things happen.


PCC did something I've never seen them do before. They made a full on video for Harrison taking him around to all the different villages and night show. Sheena had reached out and asked and PCC delivered. Seamus has been here in Utah and so he presented gifts from PCC to Harrison and his family

Our youth and leaders performed a fun number for Harrison. Yo Samo (comedy duo) came and did a skit. Harrison is such a big fan of them. He was laughing and smiling so much! And the food!!! The EQ & RS were in charge of the food. The ward definitely came through with their donations!! It was amazing! Even Sis Jennings who is in American Samoa found a way to have 15 McDonald's Happy Meals delivered for Harrison and his siblings. We also had smoothies because Harrison has a hard time swallowing thin liquids. Aunty Ata Toleafoa came through with the bombest poke. And of course the desserts were 10 mean!!! What a night! It was a lot of work and coordination, but look at these smiles!

I can only imagine what the past couple of months have been like for their family. To see them smile and laugh and just leave the stress behind for even just one evening was worth all the effort.

It was definitely a tender mercy that we were able to move the luau up. Sadly, only a week later he passed away in his home, surrounded by all his closest family. Manuia lou malaga sweet boy. We'll see you when we get there.




There was a beautiful celebration of his life, which I'll write more about in my next post. 
Harrison was so loved. 




And I'll end off with some of my favorite pics of the month...

  1. Metuli gave herself a hair cut. Aunty Brit took this pic and added the frying pan cuz lil girl Rapunzel'd her hair hahaha. 


2.  This kid was feeling cool and asked me to take a picture of herself and send it to Aunty Penny lol. She also got a hair trim (by me lol). 


3. Salani's morning face. 


4. We had like two weeks of snow and on this particular day it actually stuck around. So these two went outside with Aunty Brit and built themselves a snowman. 


5. What breakfast with the two youngest sometimes looks like. 



6. Sefa is the best baby caregiver I have! I'm so grateful I was able to snap a quick pic of him and Salani. She loves all her siblings but Sefa is definitely a standout. 




and then just for kicks....

A Favorite Meme of the Month lol 





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