happy 5th birthday and happy graduation

May 2011 was a hard month for me, my baby turned 5 years old and also graduated from preschool.


Since his 4th birthday he has reached the following milestones;


1. Tai has not had one single potty accident so far (one accomplishment mommy is very proud of)


2. Tai can count from 1-20 and recognizes the numbers.


3. He can write letters A-M both big and small and know their sounds.


4. Tai is now the proud parent of a new Beta fish and a guniea pig - and they are still happy and alive.


5. Tai has grown 2 and a quarter inches tall.


6. He has not scored a soccer goal yet but has come along way and is finally playing and practicing with his teammates without being attatched to mommies leg.


7. He has overcomed his fear of dark basements and is now willing to run downtairs without calling out for someone to go with him.


8. He can ride his bike still with training wheels but he is going faster then ever.


9. He has also learned to pump his legs on the swings and doesn't need anyone to push him.


10. Tai can write his name.


Tai is growing so fast and learning so many things, and slowly becoming more independent. He amazes me everyday, and pretty soon I'll me adding getting baptized, and going on a mission to the list. My heart is so full when I think of how lucky I am to have this kid for a son.


Mommy loves you Tai and happy 5th birthday again to my greatest blessing.

Aggies in the house

I have been holding my breath for the past couple months because I have been wanting this for so long, and finally got the opportunity.
This past summer I decided that I wanted to continue my education and apply to get my graduate degree in SW, as my son will finally start kindergarden soon. This past fall I learned really quick that the brain is a muscle, and my brain was very out of shape. I did my best to prepare to take the GRE and took it and scored really bad, I took it again couple months later and did even worse. Also at the time I realized why my parents kept telling me to do good in college , because looking at my grades it was no where near what was required for my program. Well to make a long story short , I submitted my application in anyways, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. Miracles do happen and I got accepted in the Utah state University MSW program, I'll officially become an Aggie, and start school august 2011.Also my son got into his charter school for kinder garden , and we will be starting school together in august2011.

I feel very blessed and excited to be starting this new chapter in my life, adding school to my current job and my other job as a mother to my two boys (Vete and Tai) like it is not already busy as it is- I'm still excited-lol!

Mars needs moms

Tai has been asking to watch rango and because it was mommies date with Tai, I convinced him to watch "Mars needs moms", and he can go watch Rango on daddy and Tai's day out. He agreed and we had an awesome time, the perfect movie to watch on a mommy and son date. A cute story, and I cried towards the end (whats new). Great bonding moment with my lil man!

My next project

Lately I have been on a craft roll, this is what i have done so far- more to come.

I wanted to show off my first attempt to modge podging my dresser, I have some air bubbles I couldn't get rid of but other then that I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. In the future I may change out the hardware but painting what I had black is good enough for now.

Currently I'm working on Tai's room, he wants a "Mickey Mouse" room. Tai loves those classic Mickey mouse and donald duck cartoon shorts, the kid cracks up non stop watching them. My goal with this room is to decorate it with the classic mickey mouse look. It's gonna be hard cause my budget is very, very, very minimal so I really have to be creative. This is the first thing that I made - the chair I got from DI - cost 5.00 (only me can try and negotiate the price lower at a DI). I painted it with black acrylic paint and red glossy acrylic paint, then cut out the mickey and the buttons with white cardstock- and modge podge them on. If I could do it again I would have used vinyl for the mickey, but again I'm on a budet. Tai loves it and I cannot wait to finish the room- and yes I do watch too much hgtv.

Happy late-Halloween.

I'm really blogging out of order- here are some pictures of our trunk or treat.

Tai was a GI Joe, and yes his costume was on clearance last year, and yes I convinced him that GI Joes are the coolest ever even though he had no idea what a GI Joe is. Sad to say I did it again, and bought another costume on clearance for next year- I'll be spending all year trying to convince Tai Ninja's are cool. Not sure if I can keep doing this any longer , he maybe catching on......

Taituliatu and uncle Taisamoa
Cutest dog I ever met

Bishop Te'o

Tai and friends

Grandparents

Because Grandparents are usually free to love and guide and befriend the young without having to take daily responsibility for them, they can often reach out past pride and fear of failure and close the space between generations.
~Jimmy Carter

Grandma and Grandpa Betham with Drew and Tai

Grandma and Grandpa Ho Ching with Tai

My Baby is 4

This post is a couple months old, but oh well thats what I get. My little big boy turned 4 years old on May 30, 2010, and we had a little birthday party for him to celebrate. Looking back on this day made me realize how little time I have left to spend with him. I can feel those teenage years coimng around the corner, I know those days of rebellion and fia poto-ness (my new word) are gonna be here sooner then I think. For now I cherish every moment I get to spend with my son, my greatest blessing. This kid is so special to me because in his eyes I am the funniest person, I can say anything and he cracks up. He thinks I am so cool, and he just loves having tickle parties. I am so thankful to be his Mommy, and Tai I love you to the moon and back million, billions times over.