Little Man

Oh Malachi, how will I ever be able to tell my other children that I love you the most?  

You make my heart smile little man.

 

 Talking to Grandma

 

Being Silly

 

Wearing Mummy's shoes

In a tree

 

Hanging around

 

 Enjoying outside

 Cheese monkey

  

His latest face

I just love this little boy to death.

A night of Culture

As time is coming to an end on our adventure here in Hawaii, I've started to think about some of the things I'll miss the most about being here, ways I've been blessed for being here, and trying to really grasp a glimpse of the Vision of this special place.  And one of the things I think I've loved and appreciated most here at BYUH has been the diversity.  I know that sounds generic, believe me, I worked in Admissions and i wrote that exact thing on posters, banners and brochures.  But it really is something unique about this place that can't be found anywhere else.  Sure you can go anywhere and SEE other cultures, but no where else can you be and FEEL of each different culture, and be able to appreciate the best in them because of the gospel that unites people, beyond cultural boundaries.  I remember once looking at my husband and 2 of his closest friends.  He's this 250lb Tongan, then there's this white as can be American from Washington state, and a skinny little Asian guy from Mongolia.  Where else in the world could these three guys come together and be such good friends?  No where else.  And I'm truely grateful that I've been able to be here and to appreciate the diversity of the world and the uniqueness of each culture that Heavenly Father so intuitively gave us all.  It's made me appreciate things about others that I normally wouldn't have, and also appreciate things about myself too.

All that being said....

Last week Tui took me to watch this group that came to BYUH, "The Young Artists of China".  At first I wasn't keen to go, thinking it would just be a repeat of culture night.  But we went, and I tell you, I was blown away.  

First this choir of young chinese kids sang.  And they were amazing.  So composed and precise.  And so cute!! There was this one little chubby girl that looked like Kung Fu Panda and I wanted to squeeze her so bad.  They did such an amazing job.

And then there was a group from a place called "Inner Mongolia" which I guess is a city in China that is estentially Mongolians; live Mongolian culture, of Mongolian decent.  And I have to tell you that I was absolutely blown away by these people.  Despite the fact that one of our best friends here is Mongolian, I really didn't know alot about the Mongolian Culture.  I've always loved their language (I think it sounds like the snake language off Harry Potter), but their music and dance was just out of this world.  It was so different to what I'm used to; poi balls, drums and grass skirts.  They danced with glass bowls on their heads and these feather hats, made this didgeridoo noises with their voices, danced about horses, I just loved it.

Go here to look at some of the pictures the school took, coz i forgot my camera.

http://kealakai.byuh.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=61&Itemid=92

But it was such a great night and I'm so glad we went.  And I love that our Father in Heaven made us all so so different.  It makes life interesting and exciting, and very cool.

Love Day

Valentines Day this year.

Started a few days earlier with Malachi and I making cookies for his friends.  He had a hand in every part of the process (literally!)

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

He wasn't as happy later when he realized that he had to give them all away.  (In fact one little friend didn't actually get his because Malachi ate them.)

Then the night before Valentines day I had a Primary Training in town with some of the General Primary Board from Salt Lake so we couldn't even use that night to do something.  But I did come home to find chocolates, a card and a rose on my pillow .

(When Tui was questioned as to why I only got one rose he said, "You just got one, but you got THE BEST one."  Good save babe.)

 

Sunday morning I got up early, as if 8am church wasn't early enough and made my husband a LOVEly breakfast in bed.  I won't show you the pictures of him in bed eating it because that might scare some of you, but I did get a picture of the food.

 

 All in all, it was a sucess for all parties involved.  Maybe next year, our 5th Valentines, we'll finally for the first time actually go out on a Valentines date.....maybe....

  

 

Monkey Boy

This has to be doumented for history's sake.

And incase I forget to tell Tui when he comes back from the library tonight...

....if he ever comes back from the library.....

BACKGROUND: Malachi sleeps with an arrangemnt of soft animals including a giant nemo fish, a dolphin, a puppy, a camel, a zebra, 2 teddys and his favourite, 2 monkeys.  The monkeys are a must have.  

Tonight after I had put him down to sleep and he was chatting away to himself, I over heard the following conversation.

Malachi to Monkey 1 - "Monkey, you do poo?"

Malachi on behalf of Monkey 1 - "Yes"

Malachi to Monkey 1 - "Oh man. Poo dink (stink)."

Malachi to Monkey 2 - "Monkey fuff? (fuff = fluff = fart)"

Malachi on behalf of Monkey 2 - "No"

Malachi to Monkey 2 - "Yes! Monkey fuff. Monkey dink!."

I'm glad that my son is concerned with the more important things in life......

(I can't wait for him to get older so I can read this to him in front of his friends and embarrass him....)

I'm feeling like I'm pushing up against a brick wall, 

one of those really big strong brick walls,

like the ones Tongans build around expensive houses, 

made from giant rocks.

Not only am I pushing up against this big Tongan rock wall, 

the rest of the world is on the other side pushing against me.

Time

Money

Resources

Options

Answers

Engery

None of these commodities seem to be in adequate supply.

All the people who offer to help can't.

All the people who's help I need WONT.

Sigh.

Tear.

(Stumped silence.)

It Don't Matter.....

.....if you're black or white.....

 

I really hope that these two meet up again some day so we can embarrass them with these pictures.

Birthday Bash

So this month I got a little older, and a lot wiser and more mature..... :)
Turned the big 2 3.  My birthday fell on a monday which is a dumb day so the saturday before I decided to throw myself a birthday party, a girls night, to eat food and play games and watch a girlie movie.  I truely needed it and it did me the world of good.  I had a great time, I hope the other girls did to.  We were having so much fun I didn't take many pictures.  But this is what I got.

Leeyen bought me this yummy red velvet cake, which i found out is just regular cake, only red....talk about being deceived.  But it was still good.

 

 
We played wii, which was really funny.  Some certain people turned out to be super serious, especially when it involved shooting things or racing cows.....

 

  

  

  

  

 

Then on my real birthday, Tui made me breakfast in bed, bought me my very own stash of oreos (which I ate as part of my breakfast in bed), gave me foot massages whenever I asked for them, AND.......he baked.
If you know Tui, you know this is a  big deal.  Tui doesn't cook.  Unless it's noodles or eggs.  And he has never, EVER, baked before.  So of course I documented the process for proof.

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

The cake actually turned out to be amazing and I loved it.  It tasted even  better knowing that it was made with so much love.  We didn't have a candle so we used a sparkler left over from New Years.  And the Houghtons gave me some Gerber's -  my favorite flowers!

It was a great birthday.  All my siblings remembered it was my birthday, which is a miracle and hasn't happened in years.  I'm so excited to have my next birthday at home with all my family.  But for this year, it was nice to spend it with my family away from family - my friends!

A day of Fun

Last week Malachi's friends Isaac and Annika came to play for a few hours.  So we went to the Natural Museum at BYUH to look at the animals, ate crackers by the little circle, went cruising in the stroller, and rolled down the hill by TVA  - a fabulous kiddie day!

 

 

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

It kinda makes me sad to think that this will be one of the last times Malachi gets to play with his little friends.  In 2 months we'll be gone.  It makes me sad for him, and for me.  I've known Isaac since he was 6 months old.  I met his family because he was such a cute baby.  And I was there when Annika was born.  These people have been as much a part of our life here in Hawaii as the beach or the sun has been.  It's crazy to think that we won't be spending Thanksgiving or Christmas with them any more.  So I'm glad Malachi got to have a day of fun with his little friends, and that I could capture the day so that we'll never forget these sweet little people.