Leilani's Blessing

We had Lani's blessing here at home, to accomodate my Dad's family who aren't members and don't feel comfortable in our Chapels. My brother's family came up from Wellington, and my Nana came down from Auckland with my Dad's brother and his daughter, along with my parents from Auckland, and the rest of my family that lives here in Hamilton .  Our little house was bursting at the seams but it was so nice to have everyone here (almost everyone.  My 2 little brothers weren't able to make it which was sad and they were truely missed).  It was short and sweet, we sang Families can be together forever (well, everyone else sang it, I managed the first line before my eyes started sweating), had the blessing, given by Tui, and then had some food.  Having it in our home I think made it more intimate and personal.  The spirit was really strong and I hope that my non-member family felt how special it was.

Grandma Mele (Daddy's Mother) and Great- Grandma Park (Mummy's Mother's Mother)


4 Generations


Nana Brunton (Mummy's Father's Mother) and Grandma & Grandad Brunton (Mummy's Parents)


Those who participated in the blessing circle - Great Grandpa Park, Uncle John, Daddy, Uncle Nick, Uncle Matt, Grandad Brunton

Lani with her Mother, Grandmother's, and 2 of her 3 living Great Grandmothers.

As I looked at this tiny little girl, a beautiful girl sent for me to raise, wearing this beautiful white dress, I thought of this poem.  I thought of the blessing her Daddy had just given her, thought of the white dresses we as her parents hoped for her to wear one day and I became overwhelmed with the responsibility and blessing it was to be her mother.  I didn't think I would feel differently about Lani, I thought that the feeling of love I have for my children would be the same for all of them, despite their gender.  But it's different for my little girl.    My boys I feel like I need to prepare them, strengthen them, arm them.  With Leilani I feel like I need to protect her more, keep her closer.  So that this isn't the last white dress I see her wear.

Tongan Prayers - take 2

So saying prayers with our children and their bilingal-ish language can be a laugh.  Tongan prayers are usually the funniest. Lately, blessing the food with Vili turns into a laugh fest, especially when he prays in Tongan.

(Note: Vili calls Malachi "baya", which means brother)

Tui - "Tamai hevani..."

Vili - "mai vane..."

Tui - "...tapuaki'i..."

Vili - "...puaki'i.."

Tui - "...me'akai..."

Vili - "...baya..." 

Tui - "...ME'AKAI..."

Vili - "...BAYA!!!"

It's too funny.

I love my kids.

Roller Skating

It must be birthday season because Malachi has been invited to a ton of birthday parties lately.  Today we went to one that the whole family was invited to, at a Roller Rink.  It was so much fun!!!!!  I haven't skated since I was 12 and I don't know if Tui has ever skated in his life, Malachi hadn't, but we had such a good time wobbling and falling over.  We left Lani with my sister so that we didn't have to have one of us sitting out with the baby the whole time (thanks Jessie!!).  It was so nice to do something different, some good ol' fashioned wholesome entertainment.  We totally sucked, Tui sucked a little less then me, we fell over tons, once I fell over on top of Malachi and totally squashed him, but it was a blast.  Vili prefered sitting next to the food table and stuffing his face.  But everyone enjoyed themselves.

Kersplat!

Malachi and one of his friends from preschool, Zaria.

Such a fun day.

Little Lani

(Written 2 weeks ago.)
This girl is such a sweetheart (except for the screaming at me when she's hungry, which is pretty much every second she's awake).  She's 3 weeks old now, which is insane, but at the same time, it feels like she's always been with us.  The boys just adoooooooooooooore her, and she loooooooooooves watching them play.  I'm pretty sure Malachi is her favourite person.  She will sit and look at him and listen to him singing to her or reading her books or telling her stories about his cars for ages, longer then she's entertained by me that's for sure.  She is a tummy sleeper, just like Malachi was, but only in the day.  At night she wants to sleep on her back or side.  (Hey, whatever works!)  She already takes a bottle, halelujah.  And just like both her brothers, no spit up, ever, double halelujah!!  She makes the funniest faces, gives us the stink eye all the time, and makes an ooooooo shape with her mouth just like her Daddy did as a baby.  I think she looks the most like Tui out of the 3 of them.  Most people say its the other way round and she looks the most like me.  Her hair is darker then the boys was, and her eyes are lighter.  She's a champ feeder, a real Tongan.  And last week she weighed 9lb 6oz, Vili's birth weight.  She's still got a while to go before she reaches Malachi's birth weight.  Maybe by 7 or 8 weeks I reckon.  Her cheeks are losing their chub which makes me sad.  But she's so precious, I just love her to pieces.

Having 3 kids hasn't turned out to be so hard. (Touch wood.)  Going from 1 to 2 was a struggle, I didn't go out on my own with them til Vili was about 5 months old.  But this time it doesn't feel like such a big deal.  (That's probably due to the fact that Malachi is such a big help and takes care of himself and Vili so really I'm just looking after Lani.)  I don't feel as tired as the last 2 times.  But I feel way fatter and getting dressed the worst part of my day.  But she was worth it, and I'd do it all over again.....in 2+ years. :)

Her first bath. She loved it, little water baby.

Loves with her brothers.

 

Her ooooooo face.

A full tummy = a happy, sleepy baby.

Gorgeous hat made by aunty Amy.

Pretty dress from Aunty Nana and headband made by Aunty jessie - such a spoilt girl!

Reading books with malachi

Blue steele

#3 failed attempt at a photo shoot of our beautiful little girl

Vili's 2.....help!!!

Little Vili is now officially a 2 year old.

Happy Birthday Vili!! 

He told me he wanted "a fishy party" so I made him a fish cake and we had a fish n chips lunch with his cousins.  It was so fun.  I'm so glad our kids have cousins living close enough to be their friends.

Birthday pancakes

The fishy cake - I have to give props to Tui for the rainbow scales, it took you forever but it meant that I didn't have to do it, so thanks!

Presents

He wanted a scooter, just like Malachi.

Vili is such a little character.  He wants to be Mr Independant, every other sentance is "No Mummy! Vili do it!!", and if we ever limit his independence, the world ends in a giant ball of tears and screaming.  He climbs and touches and yells and explores and jumps all day long.  As parents we've had to re-evaluate our parenting techniques, because Malachi was just never like that.  He didn't put his toast in his milk, or rub glitter glue all over his face, or jump off the table, or pull all the DVD's out of their cases.  But Vili does.  And I'm sure I'd go insane at him, except for the fact that he's so sweet and loving and cuddly and cheeky and funny to me.  He reminds me so much of my youngest brother.  A little love monkey who just oozes with warm fuzzie, who turns into the devil when things don't go to plan. Bi-polar almost.  (If my brothers were reading this they'd say "Just like his Mum".lol.)  He's a clever little kid, he has a thing for puzzles, especially matching ones.  And although he never sings along at prayers or FHE or in nursery, I hear him singing word for word 'I am a Child of God' and 'Follow the Prophet' and a ton of other songs when he's by himself.  About 2 months ago, he suddenly started counting to 20 on his own (him and Malachi were playing hide and seek and usually he would say "1, 2, here I come!" but this time he started counting and just didn't stop til he got to 20).  He speaks in 5-6 word sentances, and will copy anything you say, well, attempt it anyway.  He knows all his colors and shapes (his favourite color is yellow and his favourite shape is an oval....don't ask me why....). He loooooooooooves fruit, and he can often be found climbing onto the table to get something from the fruit bowl.  He feeds himself with a fork better then Malachi does, and is learning to use a knife (I guess he sees us doing it and wants in).  We discovered last year that he had an intolerance for lactose, makes him produce too much mucus which means he has a constant runny nose when we give him milk or cheese etc, which means he drinks soy milk instead.  He's on a waiting list to have his adnoids removed, which I'm looking forward too so he doesn't snore any more, and it'll mean he can actually breathe through his nose.  He also is seeing a specialist next month because he was born with a lazy eye which we think is affecting his vision.  Poor kid.  Vili is an early bird if ever I saw one.  And when I say early, I means EARLY.  If he sleeps past 6am, that's a blessing.  It's terrible and we have tried everything from growling him to bribing him, to toys in his bed, to him being in our bed, but nothing get him to stay in bed and stay asleep.   And once Vili's awake, the rest of the house is awake. (He enjoys using his outside voice much more then his inside voice....).  Vili is already a master of manipulation, if I say no when he asks for something, he just walks right over to Daddy and asks him.  And he'll keep going between adults until he gets what he wants from someone.  Cheeky kid.  But oh how we love him.  He will act out so bad, then come and say sorry, give you a big ol' snuggle, and then make a silly face at you until you laugh.  That's Vili is a nutshell.  And we wouldn't change him (except for maybe turning his volume down, keeping him in bed longer in the mornings and removing the word "no" from his vocab :). )

I love you honey. Oxo

MOTAT

So while we were in Auckland dropping Grandma Mele off at the airport (tear!) we went to MOTAT (museum of transport and technology).  Got a vouchure to get in free, saving us $65, yey!  It required a full day, and all we could offer was 3 hours.  But the boys loved every minute we were there.  The place was huge and we barely scratched the surface.  It was so big there was a tram that ran between exhibitions, which we spent most of our time on, rode it 4 times.  There was an aeroplane section which stunned and amazed them; they ran around (literally) saying "Whoa!! Whoa!! Whoa!!!", and a classic car section that recieved an equal amount of enthusiasim, especially the old firetruck.  And then there a ton of science museumy type stuff that was a little over their heads really but they still enjoyed mucking around with.  Tui and Malachi went in this space ship simulation that looked really fun (I stayed outside with the under 4's who weren't allowed - luckily Malachi had just turned 4!!).  Lani slept the entire time, good girl.  And the boys had a blast.  I would totally reccomend going there, if you have boys.

Lani slept through her first road trip - what a good girl!

And the boys sang the whole way there.

The tram that took up most of our time. Vili held on to his little ticket for days afterwards.

Vili is obsessed with anything yellow, so he was thrilled to find a yellow plane!

By far their favourite part.

Such a fun day!