Aloha Oe

We had a big feed with all our friends and neighbors to celebrate Tui graduating and us FINALLY leaving Hawaii.  It was so nice to have everyone there.  When you're so far from family, friends become your family, they're there for you, willing to do things that regular friends just don't do.  We love them.  We miss them all.

(Caution - lots and lots of pictures to follow!)

Girlie Girls, and Jonah who's not interested.

The smart ones who sat at the desert table.

The kiddies corner.

Danielle - we came to school at the same time.  I was her secretary in Primary for a while (not sure if I love her or hate her for it) in the BYUH 9th Ward.

The Neads - these little darlings were in Primary with me, and Jace, my little bud, we just have something special.  Such great kids.  And I guess their parents aren't too bad either.

Janelle and Pate Prescott - our camping/board games/late night laugh buddies.

Kasey and Suli Kaufusi - these guys used to hang out at our old place on Sunday nights while they were still single, now they're old and married.

Sioana, Tui & their cousin Ina, Fifita's daughter - I met Ina before I met Tui, through her other cousin Lillian.  Small world, turns out her Mum Fita is Tui's Mum's cousin.

The Tapia's (Leisa-Marie, Chris-the-Korean, Jayden, Keira and Baby Kai) - they lived underneath and one house down from us.  I babysat these little people a bunch the semester before we left, and they're some of Malachi's best little friends.  Sweet little people.

The Taylors (Jennica, Zach, Jackson, Alex and Donnivan) - they lived 2 apartments over from us and I filled in for their nanny for a month this year.  Fun people.  Jackson, despite being 7 years older, was so good to Malachi, playing with him, taking care of him, just a great kid.

Shana and Mone - they were in our old ward, and Mone and Tui were neighbors in the dorms.

Janine and Kelepi Lea, aka Aunty Nini and Uncle Wepi - our last minute babysitters, and some of Malachi's favourite people (NOTE: never play board games with him, he's a cheat!!!)

Little Lisa and Brian Sanders - cute couple, Lisa makes me laugh just looking at her.

Jonah!!!! (somehow we didn't get a picture with his parents)  It took him a while to warm up to me, but him and Malachi are partners in crime.

Isn't she cute?

Brooke and I first met when we slept in the same bed on a history trip in high school (finally I get to tell the story!), we came to school here at the same time, Brooke was one of my bridesmaids, I was one of hers, she "conveniently" moved in next door to us in TVA, and after we moved apartments, she became our RA, I guess I will never be free of her!

Lohi, me and Brooke, following Lohi's Korean influence.

We jumped!

And then we jumped some more (notice how the pregnant lady is one of the highest jumpers.....)

Sarah, Leeyen, me, Lohi, Brooke - all exhausted after trying to haul ourselves up in the air.

The Spurs.

Enough said.

And how could I write about our friends in Hawaii without mentioning Malachi's little nursery buddys?

Malachi absolutely loved his nursery.  He had great teachers and lots of little friends.  Never once did he get upset about having to go, usually he was upset to have to go home.

And these are some of his L-building boys, minus max and Kalvin. He misses them.

As you can see, we have made so many friends in Hawaii that, despite my egarness to leave and go home, we miss so much.  So many stories, so many memories.  What is it they say, what happens in Hawaii stays with you forever......I sure hope so. :)

Fatty Update - 30 weeks!

So in keeping with my only-mention-pregancy-every-10-weeks tradition, here's my post for 30 weeks.

- The last 10 weeks I have really felt like I was pregnant. Actually I feel more like a whale; I feel so HUGE!!!  Sleeping is near impossible, I'm just so uncomfortable.  And I can no longer scrape by in bigger normal people clothes, it's been all maternity clothes for me.  I'm measuring 2-3 weeks ahead of where I should be, which HOPEFULLY means a baby born early, or at least just on time, not 2 weeks late.

- I was tested for gestational diatetes (which I was sure I had due to my love of all things sugary), but instead came back saying I was highly anemic.  Weird, considering with Malachi I had to stop taking my vitamins because my hymaglobin levels were through the roof.  So I was given an iron pill which made me vomit all day, which in turn disturbed my rib that got broken last October, which in turn has made sleeping even more uncomfortable.  Needless to say, the iron pill is out and I'm taking care of it my own way.

- As for the baby, he's a mover like no other.  He is moving every second of every minute of every day.  Rolling, kicking, stretching, punching, jumping, who knows what he's doing in there, but it amazes me how active he is, especially in comparison to Malachi.  He knows Malachi's voice and gets all crazy if Malachi's being loud (which is most of the time).

It's been interesting to see how different this pregnancy has been compared with last time.  It's almost been a totally opposite experience.  I guess you can't ever say that you're always one way or another when pregnant.  Makes me wonder too how different these two little boys will be.  Makes me excited.

And of course, the fabulous Leeyen captured my ever increasing circumference for all the world to see.

Tui's Graduation

It finally happened.

April 10th 2010.

Tui Graduated from Brigham Young University Hawaii.

Words cannot express the emotions that surounded that day.

Releif that it was all over finally.  It's been a long, tough road getting to this point.  Full of drama and struggles.

Excitement for him to be here with his family celebrating.
Sadness at the realization that our BYUH experience was coming to an end.
But mostly deep, sincere Pride.  I am so proud of him and his determination, his willingness to keep trying when it seemed like the system was against him.  He stuck with it, tried harder, and made giant leaps and bounds.

Walking up to get his fake diploma, shaking hands with Elder Cook.

Fresh off the press.

Tui's family that came from Tonga and Washington to support him - His Mum Mele, sister Sioana and brother Sione.  His nephew Kingston also came but he wasn't feeling the whole photo thing so opted out.

By far the COOLEST lei he got.  Thanks Leeyen and Marcus!!!!

Heavy much?

It was a great day.

Congratulations babe.
I love you. oxo

Girl's Night Out

One of the last before I have to leave and find new friends....or maybe I won't, I'll just be a hermit.  My Grandads a hermit and I think he's awesome.

But I had so much fun with these girls.  What a laugh, what an experience, what a night!!  We ate out at this Egyptian place.  I'd never had egyptian food before, and I'd never seen a belly dancer, so it was a night of firsts.  Loved the food, no comment on the entertainment.

It's not much to look at from the outside, but looks can be decieving....

Leeyen and Sarah

Me and Brooke with the amazing menus.

The entertainment.

The food - SOOOOOO GOOOD!!!!

Us with the star of the show.

After a fun night, they were all inspired to strike a pose.

Thanks girls, I had so much fun.  I MISS YOU ALL!!!!!

Updates are coming

So since my last post, I've reached 30 weeks, tui graduated, and we've left hawaii.  I promise that updates are on their way, but right now I'm just loving being home way too much, so one day soon i will update and upload pictures of our adventures.

so watch this space.....

Professional Hunter

After this Easter, Malachi will be a professional egg hunter.  In the space of 12 hours, he attended 3 different egg hunts; one with his friends Mana and "Nani" at Gunstock Ranch (thanks Dest and Kulia for taking him!), one at TVA with all his little BYUH buddies, and the 2nd annual Loblee Hunt, hosted by the Tefan's.  Last year he was more interested in picking up rocks and watch the other kids, but this year he was a machine!  He had a mission and knew just what to do.  Little did he know that after the day was over I was going to throw the rest of his candy away (he's crazy enough without buckets of sugar), but he had so much fun!

Malachi and Kehaulani getting ready to start the hunt.

Vaea hunting for eggs in Malachi's basket.

Malachi taking the eggs back. lol.

The best part was when Malachi discovered that the eggs weren't just cool plastic eggs, they had candy inside!

Aunty Leeyen helped them to make these cute little bags, not nearly big enough for their his loot.

And then it was time for the hunt.

Finding rocks - I guess some things will never change.

The big Kahuna.

Way, way waaaaaaaaaaay too much candy!!

Giving some love for Aunty Leeyen, the organizer of the fun.

And some love for Mana, his little bud.