Merry Christmas

So for Christmas Eve this year, my brother was in Ethiopia with his family and my other sister was spending it with her in laws. So we decided to do something completely different. We always get together at my Mom's and rarely go to each other's homes. So we decided to do a progresive dinner since there was just a few of us. We started out at my brother Kenny's house and we had appetizers there. We had mozarella cheese sticks and wings. Then we went to my sister Cindy's house and had salad there. Then to my Mom's for the potatoes and rolls and ham, then ended at my house for dessert which was cheesecake. At each house we did a little thought or story about Christmas. At Kenny's Mel had the kids sing songs and they read a nice Christmas story. Cindy had Noah read a poem which was awesome and my Mom told us some stories about past Christmases and then at my house I played the movie Luke 2 to the music from Amy Grant Breath of Heaven. We had so much fun. The kids all really enjoyed the night and it was something different to do. We only got pics at the first house and then got lazy throughout the night at the rest of the homes.





Santa was good to the kids this year. The gifts are getting less and less and more and more expensive. Joshua got a ps3 and some ps3 games. Apparently this game system he can play online. He was very excited about that.

Savani got a Nintendo DS and some other toys.

Milika got a kitchen which was a nightmare to put together. It had a million pieces and we were up till about 2am putting it together.


Siera and Josh modeling some new clothes from Grandma. Siera also got a Kindle that she kept asking and asking for as well as an ipod touch.


Christmas was great, but honestly I am always relieved when it's over and can relax. My real favorite holiday is New Years Eve. We had so much fun on New Years Eve. It was just our family and we stayed home and watched movies and played games. We bought lots of junk food and I let the kids eat anything they wanted. This has never happened before, they were in heaven. We played some fun Wii games and then just watched movies. At Midnight we clanked pans and called it good. It was a blast. Now on to a great year!!

Savani & Milika with Santa

I am seriously so behind on blogging and I am trying to catch up since this is my family journal and I need to have all of this recorded. Anyways, this is from Christmas, pathetic I know. My older 2 kids do not believe in Santa anymore and so my younger 2 are the only ones that wanted to go visit him. My son Joshua was with us, but he wouldn't even get near the guy. He was like I am to old for this Mom, so he went to Fanzz while I took the girls to visit Santa. I'm happy I still have them to believe, I love this part of Christmas, it makes it more fun!


The girls sitting on Santa's lap. I was surprised that Lika had no problems and went right up to him and sat right on his lap. I think she was really curious about him. She kept calling him Santa Paws.



This tree is in front of Valley Fair Mall and it was awesome. It was huge and it had Christmas music playing and the lights on it were choreographed to the Christmas Music. It was really fun.

Happy Birthday Lolohea!

Okay so let me warn you this is the longest post ever with tons of pics. But my daughter turned 12 this past December and that is a lot of years to look back and reflect on. Sometimes I worry about what I write in this blog and that anyone that reads it could think I am bragging about certain things that I share. Ultimately though I have to remember that this is my journal of our family and anyone that wants to read it is welcome to but I want to remember my kids accomplishments and the feelings I have for them, and if it comes across bragging at times, so be it. :)
Wow 12 years. I can remember the hell I went through having our first born child. She was stubborn and did not want to come out. After 12 hours of labor and pushing for 2 hours, we had to do an emergency c-section. It was the scariest thing I had ever been through. I remember my husband telling me I was so brave and that he could never do it. Not that I had a choice. She had to come out one way or another. The first time I heard her cry was unbelievable to my ears. I thought I cannot believe that that is my child that I have been talking to and has been kicking me for the past 9 months, what a miracle. I remember thinking anyone that has experienced birth or seen a baby born could never question Heavenly Father's existence. It is so amazing. Wow me and Lloyd adored this newborn child that changed our life forever. At 2 months old we were able to go Hawaii with her and had the time of our lives. 15 months later I had her brother Joshua. Now as I look back on pictures I sometimes feel bad at how quickly she had to grow up after having him. We moved her into a toddler bed so Josh could have the crib and just little things like that. She is a wonderful big sister though. One of the things I am so proud of is that I have so many people tell me how they envy her and her brothers relationship. They are very close and are best friends. They do fight occasionally but it is very rare. I love that about them. The things I adore about my daughter are her wonderful sense of humor. I love it when we are watching TV and she laughs and laughs. She is so much like her Dad. They are so very close as well. I will watch them together on the internet looking at Itunes or silly youtube videos and they are just laughing and having a fun time. Lolohea is a great friend. She has many friends and is such a great example to them. She is now in Young Women's and is their class president. She takes that calling very seriously. I have heard her share her testimony several times and she blows me away. She is currently taking voice and piano lessons as well as dance. For New Beginnings in YW's she sang I walk by Faith by herself and did such an amazing job. She is definitely a performer and gets that from her Dad's side of the family. She is also working on a solo dance that she will perform in a few months for some competitions and her dance recital. She loves to draw and is very artistic. She can scrapbook anything. Creative things like that come very easily to her. She is a fabulous babysitter and I never feel worried about leaving her, I know she will do a great job. She has given me back my freedom and I love her for that! So at times she does drive me crazy. She is messy and goes from one project to the next without finishing the first project. I wish she were more organized but that's okay. It will come with time. On her birthday I was soooo sad. I kept thinking about the last 12 years. I worry that I didn't enjoy them or her as much as I should of. I wish I was the type of person that could be more in the moment and not always in a rush to get to the next thing or do what we have to do next. I think about have I been a good Mom to her? Will she have good memories of her last 12 years? Ugh! Stressful thoughts for a Mom. I hope so. Lolohea. I adore you more than you'll ever know. Thank you for being part of our family and bringing the spirit into our home that only you can bring. This is a tribute to you and the past 12 years. You were such a darling baby and have grown into a beautiful woman. I love you!! Enjoy all the pics.













































































Her Grandma Sela was in town for the day and surprised her and brought her a very nice gift. She gave her Uggz. I told her that there is something wrong when she owns a pair of those before her Mom does. Luckily we wear the same size basically and so I wear them too. They are so nice and comfy and warm! She loves them and was so excited to see her Grandma. She was here for the day from Cali.



Her other Grandma (my Mom) spoiled her too. She took her to lunch and shopping. She is very blessed to have such wonderful Grandmas. Also her Grandma Sina from Cali sent her a card and gift card which she spent on clothes. So much fun for her! She has an obsession with VW Bugs. She thinks when she turns 16 this will be the car she will be driving. ha ha ha!

So last year I gave Siera the option to have a friends bday party or to have it this year. I don't do one every year. It's too much work and too much money. So she wanted one last year, so no party this year. However, because it was her 12th birthday and I consider it kind of a big deal. I let her invite her friends over for cake and ice cream to celebrate with our family.





My beautiful daughter. May the next few years bring you happiness and joy. May you accomplish your dreams and desires and become everything you want to be. I am as proud of you as any Mother can be. Happy Birthday!!