Family Home Evening

Cliff had a good idea to go to the temple and have a picnic right off the temple grounds so that the kids could just enjoy the sight of the temple. We had hotdogs...the easiest picnic food ever. We didn't stay for long because the kids were cold and I could see the goose bumps on their arms.

On our way up to the Timpanogus Temple, Tula'i saw the water bottle and wanted a drink. It was too full to give it to him in the car because we all know where the water would end up and that is not in his mouth. When I wouldn't give it to him this was his reaction.


They always like to go there and since the Oquirrh Temple was just dedicated, we decided to center our Family Home Evening around the temple and the importance of it. It is nice that the temple is so close by and doesn't take hours to get there. So, I decided to get some pictures of the kids sitting on the wall looking at the temple, thanks to my friend Valerie for the the idea. I want to photo shop a couple of them to really get them to look the way I want. But, here are the originals:





Kalena wanted to pick all of the flowers, but I wouldn't let her. Instead we took a picture of her with them.

Happy B-day, Tula'i!

I can't believe he is 2 years old! But then again, he is a BIG boy. I forgot how heavy he was until I took him from Cliff's arms at the airport to pick them up. He was spoiled from Nana. She bought him an outfit just to wear on the plane ride out of Samoa. He is talking a tiny bit more than when they left for the trip, but it is still hard to understand some things that he says. He is very stubborn and cries at the drop of a hat if you tell him "no" or scold him for anything. I don't think it is the terrible 2's either that is making him do it, he has always flopped himself back wherever he is at the time. Now, he has at least learned not to flop himself back, but gets down on his knees and and looks like he is praying. We always make fun of it and say that it is time to pray when he does it and to be quiet.

Lately, he has been into "Cars." Cliff said he watched it all the time in Samoa. I don't think he went a day without watching it to tell you the truth. So, for his birthday, I made him a "Lightning McQueen" cake. Didn't turn out the greatest, but good enough for a 2 year old.


He blew out the candles before we even finished singing to him. So, there is only one picture of the cake lit with him trying to blow them out (before we even started to sing).

He just couldn't wait to dive into the yummy cake, until he knew there was icecream to eat as well.

Lavea'i was given a little bit of cake and icecream and kept screaming for more. He wears it well.


He loved his batmobile from grandma Bandmann. He likes his blanket too from Cliff and I of Lightning McQueen.

These next few pictures are shirts that Nana and Papa got for the boys. We let them all have their gifts at the same time Tula'i was opening his, but the older 2 still wouldn't let Tula'i open his gifts by himself. Kalena was sad she didn't get one and wanted Tula'i's, so we let her where his.





Thanks Nana and Papa for the shirts.

I LOVE MUSIC!!!!

For those of you that appreciate musical talent on the piano and like rock, put them both together and you will appreciate this.

Happy 3rd!

Maika turned 3 last Friday. We didn't do much to celebrate this year. My mom came into town early for education week to celebrate with us. It was a busy, but good day. Since my mom didn't get into town later that evening we celebrated on Saturday, but I did let him open a couple of his gifts. But, he didn't care for the gifts as much as he did his rocketship card. It is amazing the things that kids really like and they don't even cost much money...for the most part.

We went to Chuckee Cheese on Saturday. I had a coupon for $10.00 off the family fun saver package, but forgot it at home along with my debit card. At least, I had my credit card. I feel like my mind has been lost this whole past week. Too many things I am trying to get done at once. I need to prioritize and then go from there. But, now I think we are in check. So, back to the birthday. The kids had a blast at Chuckee's and then we came home with Kahala and Kuili to have cake and ice cream. They played around for a while, before I had them come in and so he could blow out his candles. It was hardest getting Maika to come inside because he just wanted to keep jumping on the trampoline.

This year I made a Spiderman cake. I had to free hand it because I didn't want to run around to the store to get the cake stuff that would have made it easier. I say, I think I did a pretty good job.

I think Kalena was more excited than Maika, but I do have a picture that looks like Maika is just in AWE of the cake.

He got "Cars" for his birthday and that is the movie we watched for movie night. Then we got him some Cars jammies and underwear. I should have made a Cars cake, but didn't want to have to make all the different colors of frosting. He had fun and I am glad it was simple this year. I love my little boy. He is such a helper, but man can he be a stinker to his siblings. He is shy to those that he doesn't know and takes a while to warm up, but once he warms up he is such a good friend. I am glad he is mine.

Out of site, but not out of mind!

Cliff is on his way down to Samoa to visit with his parents and decided to take Tula'i with him. Well, since he has been gone...Lavea'i turned 8 months, has cut a tooth, is talking more and getting really close to crawling. I wouldn't be suprised if he was crawling by the time he got back.

Maika will turn 3 tomorrow, but we won't celebrate until Saturday because Grandma is coming to town for his birthday. Kalena is on one about being good because Daddy said he would bring her home a necklace if she is good. She was for the first day he was gone and yesterday just was on some other kick of doing what she wanted. But, Tuesday night as we were driving home from my in-laws we had a conversation about being good because that night wasn't a great night for good behavior either. Her and Maika tend to pick on each other a little bit more because Tula'i isn't around to pick on. So, she had done something to make Maika scream. I began to scold both of them because I had it with the two of them. And this is how the conversation went after I cooled down a little:

Kalena: I'm being so good and Daddy is going to bring me my mecklace.
Mom: No, you aren't being good because you are making Maika scream and you haven't been listening to mom that much today.
Kalena: Daddy said if I'm good he will bring me a mecklace, so when we go home, I will be good when I go to sleep. Is that a deal?
Mom: That is a deal.

Thank goodness for deals. And that is exactly what she did. They both brushed their teeth and got into bed and fell right to sleep.

Maika...says what he thinks

Man, I think my sweet little innocent Maika is taking after me in saying things how they really are instead of sugar coating it...even when it needs to be sugar coated. I am working on that one. There are times when I have opened my mouth and after I have done so, I realize that it was stupid to do so.

BUT, it is pretty funny when he is so little and saying what is on his mind.

Lela went and stayed with Uncle Jethro and Auntie Traci last Friday night. Kalena doesn't like sleeping alone so I can usually coax Maika into sleeping with her. The last time all I had to tell him was that he was the big brother that was brave for now being scared. So simple...I thought it would be that simple again. That is what I get for thinking.

Me: Maika, will you be a big, nice brother and sleep with Kalena so she isn't scared?
Maika: No, I want to sleep in my bed.
Me: But, you are such a nice brother for sleeping with her. Do you want to be nice?
Maika: Yes.
Me: Then will you go sleep with her?
Maika: No, I don't care Mom.
Me: But, Kalena is scared if you don't sleep with her and you are brave. Can you be brave and nice and go sleep with her?
Maika: NO, I WANT TO SLEEP IN MY BED.
Me: Okay, but I guess you aren't a nice brother then.
Maika: I don't care, Mom.

Of, course this isn't the only time he tells me how it should be. He does it every day. If I ask him to do something for me, he usually says yes and is always willing to help. But, there are moments when he doesn't and lets me know by saying, "I don't want to." Even after saying please many times, his answer will continue to be "I don't want to."

So, I may have to quote him a scripture that my mission president quoted me. It is found in Alma 38:12 which states, "Use boldness, but not overbearance;..."