Happy Half-Birthday!!!

I know this might sound cheesy, but it's my baby girl's 6 month birthday today! I still get a little choked up thinking about it...she's growing up so fast! So baby girl...here's to you!



We love you so much and are so happy you're a part of our family! =)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy spending time with your loved ones! May we all remember our Savior Jesus Christ, and the real reason we celebrate the holiday! =)

A Four Year Old's Concept of Time....

So Kassie made one of those chains at school where you take off a link every day to count down the number of days left until Christmas. I saw her taking off two yesterday and I asked her why. She explained to me that once she reached the end of the chain, it would be Christmas time, so she was just helping it come a little faster! I wish that were the case....I would be pulling off all the links and everyday would be Christmas! lol She has also been telling me a lot of stories lately about "when she was a little girl." That is her favorite phrase right now. The funny part is, some of her stories have been from the summertime. I asked her if she realized that she was the same age in the summertime as she is now. She tells me "Mom, I was just a little bit of a litte girl then!" She cracks me up. Another one from tonight: We were driving home from my husband's family Christmas party and she was asking me when her birthday is. She knows perfectly well and has since she was two that her birthday is in June, but she told me she just doesn't want to wait until summertime. She said, "Mom, can't Jesus just make it summertime already so I can have my birthday?" I love the innocence of a child. I just wish she would be happy enough that Christmas is only two days away. Can we please just focus on one holiday at a time??? =)

When nature calls...

WARNING: Graphic content in this post, read at your own risk!

Problem: You are out with two children by yourself and nature is calling. You don't have a stroller to put the baby in...what do you do?

Answer: The baby sits on your lap (screaming at the top of her lungs, nonetheless) while your rambunctious four year old is trying to open the door of the stall for the whole world to see! It didn't help matters that my daughter was describing my bodily functions with a loud clear voice either. I could hear a few snickers coming from the other stalls, and I was so embarrased! This was one of those times when you wait until you think everyone that was within hearing distance has exited the bathroom before you walk sheepishly out! To my dismay, there was one lone eavesdropper at the sink washing her hands. My face was bright red I'm sure, so she tried to lessen my awkwardness by talking to the baby, "I didn't know such a loud noise could come from such a little baby!" So thank you to the little old lady who tried to make the best of an embarrasing situation!

Sorry for the nature of this post...but I know there has to be a few moms out there who can totally relate to this!

Updates...

Now that I have a computer, I'm still being a slacker! lol I'll try to be better...I promise. Last Thursday was our ward Christmas party, and it was a lot of fun. Every year, they ask some families to do a little talent show, and Kassie was SO excited to be a part of it this year. She was supposed to sing 'Jingle Bells' and every time I tried to ask her if she wanted my help practicing, she would tell me she could do it all by herself! When they announced it was our families' turn, she walked right up onto the stage and took the microphone, as if she was a pro. She got through the first four lines, and she paused for a second. Everyone thought she was done, so they started clapping. She didn't know what to do, so she just smiled and walked back to me. I was trying to record her singing, and by the time I got it recording, she was already done! But she was so mad the rest of the night that they didn't let her finish her song! She has a chance to redeem herself this week...she's going to be singing it again on Tuesday for my husband's family Christmas party. I have also been trying to teach her a little hula, but she's having a hard time remembering the moves, so we'll see if we can pull it off. Every year at my husbands family party, they have each family perform two numbers, so it's nice now that Kassie is getting old enough to represent our family, since Abe and I really have no talent! lol

I don't know what it is, but this year, I have been a little bit of a



For the first time ever, I finished my Christmas shopping really early...like two whole weeks ago. I was so proud of myself, but I think it's actually contributing to my grinchness. It just doesn't feel like Christmas is a few days away, even with the nonstop snow we've been seeing. Tonight I took my girls to a Christmas fireside where a choir called Divine Heritage was performing. I LOVE this choir. Kassie had the opportunity to sing with them when she was two a few times. It is mostly a Polynesian choir, and they write all of their own music. They travel all over to perform. They are amazing. If you want to check them out, this is their website http://www.easysite.com/dhc. They don't have any of their new songs up yet though.
Every time I watch them sing, I feel the Spirit so strongly. It was just what I needed to get me in the Christmas spirit. Goodbye Bah humbug!

I'm Back!!!

Ok...so for the last little while I have been a serious blog slacker...but with good reason! I haven't had a functioning computer, so I had only been able to use my sisters computer. Her computer totally died, so that's why I haven't been able to get online. But I got an early Christmas present...a new computer! I'm so excited. So I'm back. No more slacking from me. Stay tuned....

COUPONS, COUPONS, COUPONS!!!!

Ok...so I have never really been someone that watches the prices on things very closely, but since I stopped working, I've been trying to do better. Recently, I have started doing the whole coupon thing, and I have been suprised at the really good deals I've gotten. Here are some examples of some recent purchases.

I got



for FREE!!!!

This



was also FREE!!!

This



was 40 cents!

These are just a few examples of some of the things you can do with coupons. It does take some extra time and effort, but I definately think it's worth it. I have been determined to get my food storage going, and this is a great way to do it! If you want to hear how I do it, just message me and I can tell you! I love to spread the work and help others get good deals too! =)

My Chubby Baby Girl...

I can't believe how time flies! She is already 5 months old, and so happy! Here are some new pics...

It's hard to be Four!!!

We got home after a long day yesterday and Kassie insisted on doing her "homework." I was in the kitchen making dinner, and I came out and saw her fast asleep, pencil and book still in hand! She takes her education very seriously!!! lol This scene is extremely unusual...she has NEVER fallen asleep on the couch...she is a little livewire and has a hard time going to sleep every night, so I thought it was pretty cute!

(Little sidenote: Please don't blame me for the mismatched pajamas...I'm letting my daughter exercise her four year old independance! She insists on wearing pajamas that don't match...she says it's the style...it's pretty much the only time she gets away with dressing herself! =))

Commercialism at its best!

Last night, our family went shopping at Wal-Mart. Kassie and I were standing right in front of the baby shampoo, which I needed to buy, and Kassie immediately reached for the yellow Johnson & Johnson bottle. She said, "Mom, this is the one we need to buy." I asked her why, and she said, "Mom, because it doesn't even leave a tear!" I looked at her at started laughing so hard, along with several other shoppers who were on the same aisle and overheard her. I asked her where she heard that, and she told me it was on a commercial! WoW! These advertising companies are definately doing their job!

Halloween (Cont.)

Ok...so I couldn't figure out how to add comments to those Halloween pics! I'm still a little slow at this whole blogging thing! lol The pictures were from our ward Halloween party. It was so much fun...and I'm glad it's over. For the last two years, I've been in charge of planning the ward trunk-or-treat, but this year, I was told that it was going to be a dance too. My husband has a big dj system, so I volunteered him to be our dj. I didn't include a pic of him because he was a party pooper and didn't want to dress up! (Not to mention that it's hard to find a costume big enough to fit him! lol) My little Pocahontas had so much fun, while the little angel slept through most of it. Not quite sure how she did that since the music was so loud! Our ward knows how to put on a party though! Kassie's plastic grocery bag broke because she had too much candy in it! Still trying to figure out what to do with all of it...I need to get it out of the house so I don't eat it! =) So if anyone is accepting candy donations, just let me know.

Kassie also had a little Halloween party at her preschool, where I was able to help out. Friday night, my entire family went trick or treating for about an hour and a half. Kassie was a little die hard. It was completely raining on her, but it didn't phase her. She was always the first to the door, even though she had older cousins that were definately faster than her. I guess she was dead set on getting the candy first! Gotta give her some credit though...she has a lot of heart! =) It was a fun time, but Kassie is already asking when Christmas is!

HALLOWEEN PICS!!!

Tagged!!!

Ok so this looked like fun...let's see if I can do it!

20 years ago I...
1. Was a clumsy little girl
2. In third grade...but my best friend Lysey Steadman was in a different class! =(
3. Had the big bangs...the bottom half were curled under, the top half curled up and fanned out! So cute! (Not really!) Side note...my 12 year old niece was looking through my baby book the other day, and she was totally making fun of me! She kept saying "I can't believe you actually WORE that!" And all this time I thought I was so cool! lol
4. Took tap & ballet lessons

10 years ago I...
1. had just graduated from high school
2. was working for a real estate office
3. was taking some classes at SLCC
4. loved to go to THE BAY!

5 years ago I...
1. got married
2. was living in Provo, UT and loving it
3. even though we lived in the ghetto of Provo! lol
4. worked for the Willey (RC WILLEY). I still miss those people!

3 years ago I...
1. lived in the armpit of California...Victorville. If you've ever driven to Disneyland, you've passed it out in the middle of the desert. Not much to see!
2. Moved back to Utah to be closer to family again
3. Went back to work again at the University of Utah Hospital in the OB/GYN clinic. Very interesting experience...helped me realize I didn't have it in me to be a nurse!
4. Went to Tonga to meet my in-laws for the first time with Kassie. It was a little crazy traveling half way around the world with a toddler by myself...but totally worth it! It was an amazing experience that I'll never forget! Side note...my mother in law passed away half an hour after our plane left the island. My father in law passed away a month and a half later. I was so happy to have been able to meet them and let them meet their first granddaughter! I'll have to write a whole other post about that experience. It was incredible.

1 year ago I...
1. Graduated from SLCC with my associate's degree! It's about time!
2. Was pregnant with my second baby girl
3. Was the 1st counselor in the Primary in our ward
4. Was a stay at home mom for the first time...still trying to figure out how to adjust, but for the most part I love it!

This year I...
1. Had my baby girl...Abe was actually there this time and I thought he might pass out! He actually did really good though!
2. Took Kassie back to preschool. I help out in her classroom a couple times a month and it's so much fun!
3. Had my husband move back to Utah for good! Yay! Now we actually live together like husband and wife. It's been nice...except for the extra messes he makes! lol
4. am staying busy in the Primary still and loving it. (We go to a Tongan ward which is a little more chaotic, but still worth it).
5. Planned and had Abe's family reunion the end of June. My water broke (but I wasn't due for three more weeks) the first day of the reunion...I was so mad because we had put so much work into planning it, and I didn't want to miss it. I went to the reunion the first night (there was a big welcome dance) and after that, went straight to the hospital to be induced! Everybody thought I was crazy! I guess that goes to show what a woman can do when she really puts her mind to it! lol


Yesterday I...
1. Went on a field trip with Kassie's preschool class to Emigration canyon. We had fun going on a treasure hunt trying to find Fall treasures. A little scary though...my nephew picked up a bone and brought it to me...looked completely like a human radius bone! Totally freaky...we told the kids when they got scared that someone must have started decorating for Halloween! I think the school had to call the police and tell them though...
2. Took the baby in to the doctor's to get an acid reflux medicine...hopefully it works!
3. Went to a carnival that was at the school last night...got roped into doing the face painting...not quite sure how since I can NOT draw! Ended up doing a pink skeleton with cross bones on a big man...had to be at least 50 or so...little bit uncomfortable!
4. Read a good romance book by Anita Stansfield. I know, I know. I'm a sucker for a good romance!

Today I...
1. Slept in! It was heavenly!
2. Went to lunch at Bajio grill. Someone told me it was comparable to Cafe Rio. Such a disappointment...not even close!
3. Went to visit my sister at the school where she teaches 1st grade.
4. Typed this survey! (Sorry...couldn't think of anything more!)

Tomorrow I...
1. Will go on a date to the temple with my hubby to do sealings.
2. Hopefully get some cleaning done
3. Do my grocery shopping
4. Get everything ready for Sunday

Next year, hopefully, I...
1. Will be able to go back to finish my bachelor's degree
2. Go to Hawaii for Abe's nephews wedding
3. Move into a bigger house
4. Be rich! Haha. Just had to add that in. It doesn't hurt to wish though, does it?

I tag...Melinda, Belle, Brooke, Bobbi & Beckie

General Conference

Abe and I were lucky enough to go to a session of Conference this past weekend and it was amazing! My neighbor had some tickets they weren't able to use, so they gave them to us. Neither of us had ever been, so it was such a great experience. Our tickets were good for the Sunday afternoon session. We had to park about a mile away, but it was the neatest feeling just walking downtown among other Saints. Our seats were in the balcony on the furthest left side. We couldn't have been much further from the front, but it didn't matter...the Spirit was still the same. When we were taking the escalators up to the top floor, it seemed like we were going up to heaven! lol The first view you get when you are coming up is the big glass windows, and all you can see is the blue sky. It was such an amazing view. The other really memorable part was when the prophet was getting ready to come in, everybody stood and the once loud room became so completely quiet. When the prophet walked into the room, it was such a strong Spirit, and it just confirmed to me that Thomas S. Monson truly is a Prophet of God. It was so incredible! Something I will never forget...

School Picture Day!

All ready for picture day at school...couldn't help taking some pics! Where did the time go??? She's grown up so fast!

Ok...I am SO excited! I just got FREE tickets to Disney on Ice!!!! I was picking Kas up from preschool yesterday, and one of the moms told me they were handing out free tickets at the Energy Solutions Arena, but you had to get there before one o'clock. (It' was already 12:15!) You had to take five cans of food for the Utah Food Bank (per person, per ticket) to get the them. We made a mad dash home to grab the cans and made it downtown with two minutes to spare! They are $24 a piece, so it was a pretty good deal! I guess it makes up for not winning my free Disneyland trip last week on KSL! =)

Want to Play Doctor???

Ok...so what do you think when you hear those words??? I was at my sister's house yesterday, and I heard those words come out of my daughter's mouth! My heart almost stopped as I tried to eavesdrop on what their definition of "doctor" was. I was relieved to see that it included using pretend band-aids, medicine, and a pencil to give shots. That game has been Kassies' obsession lately, and every time she tells me she played Dr. with her cousins, I always have to ask how exactly they play it. Is it just me, or was playing doctor something completely different when we were growing up???

New Baby Pics...

My friend Debbie called me yesterday while she was at work and told me she was bored, and wanted me to bring Leini in to have her pictures taken (she works at Kiddie Kandids). I usually try to time it right so the baby has taken a nap and will be happy for the pictures. She was exhausted, but she said if I brought her in right then, she had some coupons I could use to get them taken. After the first couple of pictures, she was done smiling, but all in all, I thought they turned out pretty good. I think Debbie has the magic touch though. The picture with the angel wings was taken very last. She got the baby to fall asleep in the middle of a crowded (and noisy) photo studio on her tummy. We had to undress her (and get a onesie over her head, mind you) all the while, keep her asleep. I was amazed! When I got home and showed Abe, he said he didn't like the angel picture. That one was my favorite, but he said it looks like porn! Now I feel a little guilty. What do you think?????

Scary Phone Call...

So last night around 8, Abe called me and told me to hurry and get dressed in my church clothes. He was on his way to come pick me up and we had a meeting with the Stake President. Keep in mind, I've never had a call asking me to meet with him, so I was a little scared! Plus, I had just gotten the girls to bed, and didn't want to wake them up. My mind was thinking up a million possibilities of what he could possibly want! Abe's friends were at the church right before we walked in to talk to the Stake President, and they were all teasing him saying he must have been really bad! Turns out he was! =) I don't think I can say how bad yet since they're not announcing it for another week and a half in church, but let's just say I'm going to have to share my husband with the ward a lot more than I already do!

First Day of School....

Yay! Kas went back to school! We've been counting down til this day for the last 6 months (since she stopped going to her last school!) When I dropped her off this morning, she was out the car door faster than I could tell her to wait for me. She was already inside the school! When I went in to make sure she made it ok, I was trying to tell her goodbye, but she didn't even have the time to turn her head around to wave me off! I was a little sad she didn't even want to say bye, but I guess it's better than having to leave her crying every time like some parents have to! Am I a bad parent for being happy on her first day???? =)

Baby blessing pics...

Ok...so I was trying to get Kassie ready a couple of days ago, and she had just gotten out of the bath. I was brushing her hair and trying to pull it back in a ponytail, when I was taught a lesson...four-year old style 101! She said, " No Mom, I want my hair down, with a piece hanging down in front of my face," as she pulled a curl in front of her eyes. When I asked why, I was told, " Because Mom...it's the style!" I could not believe my four year old was giving me lessons. Then, she went into her room, and when she came back out, this was the result. Does this bring back the 80's anyone??? Apparently I have a lot to learn!

Also, my sister took her to Build-A-Bear for her belated birthday present, and she came back with a poster of Corbin Bleu (from High School Musical). She proceded to take it out and search for the Scotch tape. She informed me she needed to hang it on her wall! I'm continually blown away by this little four year old going on seventeen! I think I'm gonna be in a LOT of trouble!

Ok...so it's crazy to me that another month has already flown by! My baby girl is already 2 months old!!! She has changed so much every day. Yesterday was her first day of giving me REAL smiles! It makes me so happy! She is already so chunky too! Everybody asks how old she is and they're always amazed when I tell them she's only two months old! She's so round...she has 3 distinct seperate rolls on her thighs! Her nickname is Chunks so the poor girl will probably grow up thinking that's her real name! She's been really collicky though...it's especially bad at night, and she can scream and scream and nothing will help. It's so frustrating. I have her two month well-child check this week, so we'll see if they have any tips to help. Does anyone have any tips that work? I would be forever in your debt! =)

One Month Old & A Four Year Old Drama Queen!

Wow! I can't believe I've already had one full month of sleepless nights! Then again...you start to lose track of time after awhile! My baby girl was one month old last Sunday, and I can't believe how much she's changing every day. I keep thinking that I can't wait for her to smile at me (you know, a REAL smile...not just one resulting from gas! =) ), but then I have to remind myself to slow down and just try to enjoy every minute of her being a newborn, because before you know it, they can talk back!

It has definately been a bigger adjustment than I thought it would be. The hardest part is just getting out the door to go anywhere! I think I'm ready to go, then the baby tells me it's time to eat again! I swear it takes ten times as long to do anything, but I'm loving it. I'm still trying to adjust to my once overly precocious four-year-old waiting to throw her biggest temper tantrums ever at the most inopportune times. She likes to throw herself on the ground at the check out line at Walmart, when we have visitors, or at church when I'm trying to help in Primary.

Speaking of Primary, Kassie said the funniest thing last Sunday (I can look back and say that now that it's over). I was sitting down during Primary next to this little girl who usually doesn't come to church, so I was talking to her. I told her she looked pretty in her dress, and

Kassie heard me and she started crying. I asked her what was wrong and she wouldn't tell me for a while. She finally said, "You think she's prettier than me! You like her better than me. She can be your daughter and I'll go find a new mommy!" Now you might be shocked to hear a four year old talk this way, but I'm used to it, so I told her, "Ok, you can go find a new mommy. She's waiting for you out in the hallway, but I've heard she's really mean!" She definately didn't expect to hear me say that, but I had had enough! So she quickly realized she didn't mean it and apologized. It's going to be interesting to see what the personality of the baby is like...hopefully she's a little less dramatic! lol

Introducing our newest Princess!

She's finally here!!! Introducing Vasa Loleini Tui (Leini)! She was born on June 27, 2008 at 5:41 am. She was 7 lbs 5 ozs, and 19 inches long. She was 3 weeks early, but totally healthy! We are so happy she's here! =)

It's official! I've finally given into peer pressure and joined the blogging world! I feel so cool! =) I'm not quite sure what I'm doing yet, but hang in there...I'll get it eventually!

So the big excitment of the week is Kassie's dance performance this Thursday. She is dancing with a company called Utah Dance, and once a year, they put on a pretty impressive show at Kingsbury Hall. She's been practicing so hard, and she basically only wanted to do dance so she could perform on stage. Each year, they pick a different Disney movie as the theme, and this year they are doing Aladdin. She's going to be a baby tiger and she couldn't be more excited (unless she was Princess Jasmine, of course!).