Our Cali trip

Our 3 day trip to Cali for Sister Bethams home coming was fun, crazy, exhausting and hot to say the least. Tai had his suitcase packed four days earlier and every morning he woke up he'd grabbed his suitcase, drag it to the door and would say "disneyland, disneyland, disneyland"! He was so excited the morning we were leaving Utah he got his backpack on, and his suitcase and was by the door waiting 30 minutes before we planned to leave. We got to the airport and he was so amazed by the planes, and was so excited to board. Vete didn't come with us, my Mom told him the wrong dates to get off and when we realized the homecoming was a week after it was too late for him to get it off. Vete stayed and he had a really hard time, not that he missed me but he missed Tai like crazy.


When we arrived to Cali it was crazy hot, we got to the house and everyone was just hanging out. My Mom planned on taking all of us to Disneyland and because that week was spring break we were not able to use her discount, so we ended up going to Knotts Berry Farm. I was still excited, but I had to stop bringing Disneyland up because my son was so set on going there. So before going to Knotts we went to a near by park to have lunch. This park is pretty cool they had a water feature there and Tai went crazy I had to drag him away from the water so that we could head out to Knotts before the sun went down.






As we drove up to the park nostalgia hit of various times I went to Knotts as a kid. Back in the day we would visit Cali to see my Mom and Dads family and of course we would hit up all the amusement parks. Granted it's not like Disney, the only character Knotts has is Snoopy but it's just as fun in my opinion. But I have to admit their was a moment at knotts where I could've been nominated as the worst parent in the world. I didn't think Tai was afraid of hieghts but the first ride we went on was like a mini free fall for kids. Tai screamed to the top of his lungs and was so terrified. After that ride he didn't trust me anymore and refused to go on any other rides, even the little kiddie ones that barely did anything. He did notice the Wells fargo horse carriage going round the park and wanted to ride the horse so we went on that, but other then that he basically stayed on the side with my Mom while I helped my sis with the other little kids. It's a good thing we know how Tai is at amusement parks now, because Vete and I wanted to take him to Disneyland in Aug. because we felt bad that he didn't go this trip but maybe we'll wait for next year. Best thing about Knotts is their Funnel cake, in all it's deep fried glory. We waited on the side of splash mountain with Tai and my lil neice Roz and got some funnel cakes. Gosh these are the bomb, I can never think of Knotts and not think of these golden, crispy, delish funnel cakes- and I will not think about the calories I probably inhailed , we'll leave that part out of my memories. We left Knotts tired and exhausted, and when we got back to the house my lil brother was home and we visited till late that night.












The next morning we headed for Rialto to help my lil cousin Taylor with his Eagle project. The week prior they in put the irrigation system, and the week we were there they planted the trees. My sister took Tai to my aunts wards easter egg hunt and we were suppose to help but we ended up just walking around and taking pic's while the youth and the men of the ward did all the work. My cousin did an excellent job of organizing the project because it turned out very well, and afterwards we ate and kicked back.








We then headed back to long beach and started to get things ready for the togai on sunday. My sis kept begging my parents to just go to a buffet afterwards with just the immediate family, but my parents just had to invite everyone and their dog to come- that we couldn't afford to pay for 100+ people to eat at a buffet. My Mom and my sisters had to do most of the work because my lil bro and Dad had to work- so us ladies put the up tents, set up tables and chairs, shopping, cooking, cleaning we were crazy busy. My Dad kept adding more food items to the menu and that meant more shopping til late in the night. It all came together well and turned out really good, we ran out of food right in the end but everyone had seconds- we just didn't have enough plates for people to take home. I totally agree with my sis a buffet would have been so much better, but what can you do! I said my goodbyes to my family and headed out to the airport- it was sad but I could not wait to get home. I took some Kalo, corn beef, and 2 plates of seafood home with me on the plane for Vete. When we got home Vete called his sister Nica over to come eat cause there was tons of food. I felt so bad because the next morning Nica called and said that she threw up 3 times and had major diarehea- I think it was the crab because Vete had everything else but the crab and he was fine. Nica was joking that she thought my family was trying to kill her, and then Vete added that my family was probably trying to kill him because the crab was suppose to be for him. I have to add my family loves you all- lol!

This is my beautiful niece Hazel Claire, I almost took her home with me, maybe next time!

Happy late easter!

This year we finally got up early and made it to the Draper easter egg hunt. We have been hearing that Draper's easter egg hunt is one of the best, and we were not disappointed. They had a great ratio of easter eggs to kid, and face painting, balloons, breakfeast and other fun activities.




Tai took one look at the clown

and ran away before she could finish his balloon!

My family also had an easter egg hunt and their were only three young kids so they all had a little area covered in easter eggs to themselves.


Tai had a great easter, maybe next year I'll start teaching him the real meaning of easter!

Cowabunga Bay

It's so exciting to see this water park being built, almost in our front yard! They annouced this neighborhood waterpark to be built in December2008, and we thought it would be built in the fall 2009. But to our excitement it's going up really fast, and should be done this summer. I'm so going to get season passes for Tai and I and - this is my current motivation to get back in the gym again after a long vacation. Can't wait for cowabunga bay!

What happened to the Blogspot camper?

Man my life is usually a bore, and I'm usually a blogspot camper but lately things have been crazy. My body is still adjusting from the lack of sleep, over eating, and an over load of family time. Two weeks ago my husband's sister's family came from Portland, OR to spend some time with family and attend a brother-in-laws wedding. All of my husbands family lives here in Utah except them, so we spent every free moment we had staying up late to visit, going to the movies, doing some family activities together.

Tai was in Heaven but as the week wore down the lack of sleep hit him and he was turning into the biggest brat. Who can blame him I'm the same way, I think we all get a little cranky here and there. Even though he was a brat he got really attatched to his cousin Dallin and especially his cousin Kahailei, who he has only seen about twice in his life. Vete's neices and nephews all have age groups and it was the cutest this to see my son get along and play with his age group.


Sisilia got baptised that weekend and this girl is like Tai's older sister, she is 8 years old and this is a post on it's own so I'll post about this beautiful girl later. After the baptism we went to the wedding and then said our goodbyes. It was good to see the Loo family and hope we will be able to see them again soon.

The next weekend my older sister gave birth to number 6 - baby Nunia Amuamu Toki, she is beautiful, healthy and filling out everyday. Although my sister has made some tough decisions in her life she is a great example to me, because she is a survivor and a hard worker and preserveres through her struggles. I love her and congratulate her and Pete on their new arrival and my neices and nephews on their new baby sister. When my neice was born my Mom called and told me that she was coming to visit baby Nunia and my Dad was coming too, I was totally shocked. My Dad is the definition of a work-a-holic, he never takes a vacation, rarley calls in sick and we rarely see him when we visit because he is always working. I was pleasantly surprised to hear my Mom and Dad were coming to visit, and it was so nice to have them here. They only stayed for the weekend and then returned home. My younger sister Saolo returned home from her mission in Romania the wed. before conference. She was released that night and she and my Mom flew to Utah the next thursday to attend conference. I picked them up and was so excited to see my sister after a year and a half, she looked the same but she cut her hair short because long hair was too hard for her to manage on the mission. As soon as we started driving I realized although my sister stated that she is more compassionate and chartiable towards others she is still the sister I remembered- still lil miss opinionated and we got into an arguement. My poor Mom was in the back laughing at us, telling us some things never change.

My Auty Katie and her family also came down from Cali to attend conference and my siblings and I came up with a plan of how to host everyone. How come I eneded up doing all the hosting, cooking, cleaning, I am such a sucker! Anyways while my family was here we celebrated my 28th birthday on apr 5th, it was very nice to have my family here and celebrate with them. Birthdays aren't special anymore, just another year- however I am grateful for another year to spend with my family and for the countless blessing I have recieved- and not to mention the birthday check from my bomb in-laws! You like the emergency candle on my cake?

As my family started to head out my son got so sad, although it was a whirlwind for a couple of days - Tai was in Heaven seeing so much people. He got really attatched to my Mom and my niece Roz. They did so much together and he cried the morning my mom and baby Roz left- poor lonely old kid there is only so much I can do.





We have a nice mellow week to spend with our little family, and then Tai and I head to Cali for my sisters homecoming. Tai is so excited because his Grandma promised him Disneyland, but I think I'm more excited then he is.