Beginning of Christmas Break

My nephew, Isreal, liked laying in the snow


Nephew, Wyatt, had to scold him to get him to smile.


Cajsa and her kids trying to build the snowman.


Cajsa in the fort she made.


Cajsa and I wrestling in the snow. I think I actually got some snow and shoved it in her face.








LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW, LET IT SNOW!!!!

All my sisters are here for Christmas break and I am so glad we could be together for this short period of time. The last time we were all together was at my younger sisters wedding. With all the kids now, it is quite fun for them. We always have fun hanging out as well. But, it started to snow, and snow, and snow all day long. So, halfway through the day we decided to go out in the snow and build a snowman and fort. My sister, Cajsa is in the fort and the snowman never really got finished due to our snowball fight and tackling each other in the snow. Anyway, here are some pics of the kids and us in the great snowfall.

Adjustment class 101...I am still learning!

If you don't like to read puking stories...don't read ahead!


Man, things are crazy at home with four! Cliff has been excellent in helping out, what a great husband. Not only are we trying to get used to the adjustment, but last night Maika woke up around 2 a.m. and came into our room crying. He came right to my side of the bed and as I pulled him into bed with me, he threw up. Lucky it was just on our comforter and not on the bed sheets. A little of it got on me, which the smell of it makes me want to do the same. So, as I am sitting there with puke in my hands and holding Maika's legs together so it doesn't get on our bed, Cliff is trying to clean it up as best as possible...at least the chuncks. Then he gets Maika cleaned up and I get myself taken care of. I had the thought that we should put towels under Maika so that if he threw up again he would not get it all over our bed. And where did I come up with this idea?...my brilliant mother from when we were little. Can't believe I remembered something like that. Anyway, after this happened, Lavea'i wakes up and is up for a good hour before we fall asleep together in the recliner. Cliff stayed up and did some work just to make sure Maika was going to be okay, which he threw up 2 more times...on towels :) Much easier to clean. So, by the time all was said and done, we ended up asleep around 3:30 a.m. only for me to be woken up again at 4 a.m. to feed and change diapers. Not the greatest night, but the day has been a little better. Thank goodness my mom arrives here today and will be able to help me adjust a little longer. Cliff has cooked every night since I have been home and takes care of the kids very well while I am busy with baby. He has been a life saver. A very sweet one at that. I love him with all my heart, along with our children we have been blessed with. I know that I will be adjusted later more than sooner, but it will come.

Birth of Lavea'i Fano

He finally arrived at 5:09 p.m. after starting pitosin at 7 a.m. Lavea'i weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. His doctor was awesome. This is the first time I have been to this doctor due to insurance changes and it went well. It was really nice because the doc's office was right next door to the hospital. I am glad he is finally here and now I can really get some sleep tonight in the hospital. I am going to stay the full two days to get the rest this time. Cliff's parents came and had to see him tonight. They have been waiting around all day, calling Cliff to check in. His mom held him the whole time she was here. A very exciting time for them. I can't wait til my mom gets here to see her and enjoy the time with her.

"Mom, I bonk my head"

The other night I decided to have Maika sleep with Tula'i so that Tula'i would stay in bed and I wouldn't have ly down with him. Well, I don't know what happened, but Maika starts to scream. I walk into the room and all he can say is "Mom, I bonk my head." I, of course, thinking "drama" again, realize that when I go to lay him down that his eye is turning red in a couple of spots. I take him out to the living room so I can see and realize that he probably hit the window sill as he fell off the bed. Poor guy woke up the next morning with a swollen eye and I didn't take pics of it until after the swelling had gone down a little bit.

Last Doc's Appointment

Well, today was my last check-up before being induced on Wednesday. I have played volleyball twice this week to see if it would help induce labor. Needless to say, nothing but stronger contractions that aren't frequent enough or hard enough. They seem to get harder at night, but then they go away by the time I go to bed. I am still at a 2, but from the sounds of what the doc had to say I might be there any time in the near future. I don't really want to get my hopes up only to have them smashed. It is the weekend and so we will see how it goes. I will keep you updated.

Thanksgiving FEAST!!

It was definitely a feast. It was also a bit of a family reunion for Cliff's parents, who have been serving a mission for the past 3 years down in Apia, Western Samoa. We were blessed with the opportunity to go and visit once while they were there. They just completed there assignment at the end of October and flew in a few days before Thanksgiving. They have been staying here with us, and I know that the kids will greatly miss their grandparents when they are gone. Kalena doesn't like them to go anywhere without her. She always cries thinking that she won't get to see them again. Maika just goes with the flow and says bye and "I love you." Tula'i just waves his hand, but when they are here at the house he doesn't like either one of them holding any of the other grandchildren except for himself. He has definitely been spoiled by his grandma and loves it. They all love to sit on their laps and play around with the two of them. Here are some pictures of them and the kids and some of Thanksgiving.

Funny Faces & Sayings

Wow, Kalena has gotten herself out of trouble the past couple of days of things that she has said to reason her way out of it. It isn't just what she says either, it is her facial expressions she makes as she is saying them. Just a couple of examples:
1. The other night her cousin, Ana, was over and came to tell me that Kalena said the word stupid. I don't really care unless she is calling somebody stupid. But, as Ana was telling me this, Kalena walks in the room and says, "Yeah, Mom, I said it stupid, stupid, stupid and it was so funny." Not to mention that she had a smirk on her face, and eyes all over the place to make it even more funny. I couldn't get mad at her after her explanation because both myself and Ana's mom, Traci, were cracking up.

2. Just last night, as I was making dough for pizza and had left all the toppings on the counter for the pizza within her reach, she comes and sneaks some olives. Well, I didn't even see it, but Lela had seen it and told her to stop. She must have done it a couple of times, but as Lela said this I turned around and saw her running off with them shoving them in her mouth and I told her "get out of here and quit taking all the olives you little snake." Well, seconds later she comes back in the kitchen hissing at mean and says, "I'm a mean snake," and runs off again. Lela and I just started laughing.

3. The last one is one that Lela saw but told us about it. Tula'i was playing with something of hers that she had out all in order. She saw him playhing with it and tells me, "No, Tula'i. You the heck!" Yeah she gets that from me sad to say. But, what she really is trying to say is "What the heck?"

Anyway, this is my little 3 year old rag muffin, but a cute one at that.