It was another successful birthday party for a growing girl. I can't believe she is 4. How time flies, before I know it she will be gone out of the house with the others following right behind her. Thanks to everyone that came and for all her friends being here. AND, a special thanks to my friend, Valerie, for her help and just for being a GREAT friend! Enjoy all the pictures of everyone:)
Kalena knew what she got from us and had to put it on as soon as she opened it.
Her and her brothers dressed to go to the temple open house.
Kalena by herself, all dressed up and ready to go. She really wanted to wear her Snow White outfit.
Opening her gift from her Grandma Bandmann. She was soooo excited to get makeup. Thanks Mom!
Pic with her bros again. I wanted to get Lavea'i in there, but he had just fallen asleep and I wasn't about ready to wake him up.
Man, I can't believe how time flies. My little girl is 4 today. She wishes she was five so she could go to school already to be like her big sis and ride the "bus bus." The day started out with her wanting pancakes to eat, so we did. I was pretty lazy and didn't get them dressed because we went to the Draper, Utah Temple open house this afternoon and didn't want to dress them twice in one day. Anyway, she always wants to go with Mom and Dad to the temple when we go there, but always tell her she has to be older and bigger. So, when she found out we were going to the temple, she got so excited and couldn't stop talking about it. But, she would say "so I am older and bigger now." She is a girl that loves to go to church and will have a fit if we leave early because she enjoys primary. I just hope it stays that way throughout her life. Kalena loves to hold her baby brother and be the big sister, almost mommy sometimes. She is very smart and I love that she can do so much on her own. What a blessing she has been to us. I love her dearly and who knows maybe she will be my only little princess for a while. We are having her party on Saturday, so that will be when I have the pictures. But, we did let her open our gift and my moms gift to her.
So my mom called me to give her measurements for coats and pants for the boys and then a coat for Kalena. She made Kalena's coat bigger so she could fit into it next year. Mom thought Kalena wouldn't like it, but she does and we took pictures just for my mom to see them. They turned out so cute that I thought I would post them.
You would think that I have a Cookie Monster in my home. I made to batches of chocolate chip cookies and had them in a big tuperware container sitting on the counter. After cutting the boys hair, I jumped in the shower with all the kids instead of having to give them baths. Well, of course I get myself dressed last. While I was getting ready for the day, in walks Maika with a cookie...not to mention he already had two cookies after breakfast along with the others. So, I walk out and low and behold all of them have cookies they are eating happily. I got mad at Kalena because she was the one to get them out. It was lunch time, so I took them away and made lunch. The reaction was the same for Tula'i and Kalena, but Maika had his almost gone so he didn't really care.
Tula'i's reaction. Kalena's reaction was the same just lying on the floor.
I usually cut the boys hair, but leave it a little longer on the top. This time I cut it and cut it very short. I ended up cutting about 2 inches off the top of both their heads. It is amazing how a haircut can make such a difference in their appearance.
Tula'i before...looks so happy sitting there.
Tula'i after
Maika after, but didn't get a before. He was ready to get his cut. He actually volunteered to go first.
Before Dad had to return to work from the holiday season, Kalena got a pretty nice lunch that he made. She had to rearrange all of it on the paper towel and called it her princess lunch. She really didn't eat much of it at that moment, but it sat there and she eventually finished all of it.
This picture was the second time Tula'i decided to hold Lavea'i. Now he doesn't care to hold him, he just wants to hug and kiss him all the time. For Tula'i to kiss someone is a miracle. He will not give anyone a kiss at all...not me, not Cliff. He is getting used to having us kiss him, but still won't give them out.
Monday was the first official day for me to be alone with the kids all day after having Lavea'i. It wasn't too bad until Kalena decided to throw a tantrum and mouth off to me. Amazingly, I didn't lose it, instead I just added minutes on to her time out, so she ended up being in timeout for 6 minutes. That is a very long time for a 3year old. Of course, once she is sent to time out she would rather do what I had asked her and continues to throw a fit because she doesn't want to be in time out. Once she had calmed down and finished time out, she knocked out on the floor with a blanket and pillow for a good 3 hour nap. In the midst of disciplining Kalena, Maika decided he didn't want to clean up the toys either and so I sent him to bed. Tula'i and Lavea'i were already asleep. So, by the time Kalena fell asleep and I went to check in on Maika, he was asleep. Man, all four kids down at the same time and here I am ready for a nap as well. I go to lay down and as soon as I lay down, Tula'i wakes up screaming! He was on our bed with me, so no nap for me.
Other than this, the days are not so bad. I just need to make sure my kids are dressed and fed before Lavea'i wakes up in the morning ready to be taken care of. If they are ready to go, then I am good. If not, I am in deep....trouble.
I can't believe how fast it went, but at the same time it seems forever because of sick kids once again. I remember last year the kids were sick at this time. Maybe this is how I am going to be blessed each new year, wiping diarrhea butts and cleaning up puke all over. What fun that is for me!
Other than this, the holiday season was GREAT! My sisters were all here to celebrate with our family. We played some "Settlers of Catan" (Wallwork's took the trophy home with them this time), had a snowball fight, went out to dinner and just had some good laughs and conversations. Thanks Mom for coming down and helping me out with the baby and letting me get some rest at the same time. It is always nice to have Mom around. Her poor lower back from carrying Tula'i around all the time because he wanted her. He is such a BIG boy, but a sweet one at that. I enjoyed every moment with them all. The house is really quiet and my kids don't know what to do with themselves now that Cajsa's kids are all gone and not here to play with them anymore...boredom is sinking in. My brother-in-law says they are all getting sick because they are having Wallwork withdrawals...ha,ha,ha.
Anyway, here are some pics of our season.
Lavea'i in his carseat...already 3 weeks old
Wyatt was Maika's best bud this whole trip they were down here. He always asked Wyatt to play basketball with him.
picture of all the kids before the Wallwork's took off.
Maika pulling out his kitkat from his stocking and didn't want to let it go.
Israel with his new football from Santa.
My sister, Cajsa, her daughter, Nyah, in her new robe from Santa and Tula'i being attached to my sister.
My sister helping Tula'i with his stocking while I took the pictures.
My sister, Nezhone, her husband, Josh, and their little boy, Jakai, looking like Waldo.
Lela sitting on the couch before opening gifts.
Te'alani out in the snow from before, I missed this picture so I decided to get it in there of her because it was cute.
I am amazed at how beautiful this day turned out! Tunoa has not been excited to be baptized at all until he had his interview with the Bisho...
