10 Things

I haven't blogged in a while and not really in the mood to do so now... but I feel like I need to update my blog just a lil bit... So here is a list of 10 things that I have done in the past of weeks... there's actually more than 10 things but here are the ones that stick out in my head:

1. Dance practice with the kids for the wedding
2. Hanging out with my sisters
3. Alex and Kalee's Wedding
4. Getting Jerzy's party stuff out the way
5. Last minute shopping for the birthday party
6. Learning to bake chocolate chip cookies from scratch... mmmm... so yummy
7. Using 1 baking sheet and 1 cupcake pan to make sweets for the party... total for cookies 100 plus, total for cupcake 70 plus, start time 11pm end time 6am... LOL... Never again... But I'm glad everyone enjoyed them a lot... LOL
8. Decorated and had Jerzy's 2nd birthday party... it was a carnival theme and so much fun... Sorry about the weather... I had no control over that... LOL
9. Laundry... UGH
10. and finally trying to rest up to start packin' and makin' the move back down to West Ville.

I love my family and I'm so grateful for all that they have done to make Jerzy's party a success and a lot of fun. Also wish Alex and Kalee the best with their new life together. Can't wait for our trip to Cali in August. YAY.

Tacit Tuesdays

Much Thanks To My Nieces and Nephews

I haven't posted much lately... But I just wanted to say a quick THANK YOU to my nieces and nephews for being there and helping out my MOM. You guys are truely the cure for a fast recovery. I love you and I am forever GRATEFUL for all that you do.

This describes my relationship with my nieces and nephews. Not quite sure who said this but I love it!

"Nieces and nephews are the children that we borrow,
Intending not to raise but merely love,
Ever watchful from our open window,
Caring deeply at a slight remove.
Everywhere you go, my love will follow,
Still part of you wherever you may live."

~*~Happy Birthday Mom~*~

One of the blessings that I am very grateful for is my mother. My mother is one of my best friends. I always thought she was so young and beauitful compared to my friends' mothers. Perhaps all children see their mothers as heavenly gifts. Why we sometime rebel against and decline such priceless gifts remains a mystery.

I don't remember my mother holding me when I was a tiny baby. I don't remember her cuddling me, whispering to me or rocking me. I don't remember her walking me, smiling at me or crying over me as I kept her awake in the night. I don't remember and yet somewhere deep within me lies those very undeniable memories. Somewhere, something whispers that my mother loved and cared for me. I will never remember... but will never forget.

I do remember my mother teaching me how to pray, to study the scripture and who Jesus Christ is. I remember her teaching me right from wrong, to care and share for others. She also taught me to have a sense of humor, to love everyone and instill in me my testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. All these things that she has taught me will never be forgotten but will be taught again when I begin my motherhood.

Pres David O McKay said, "Motherhood is the greatest potential influence either for good or ill in human life. The mother's image is the first stamps itself on the unwritten page of the young child's mind. It is her caress that first awakes a sense of security; her kiss, the first realization of affection; her sympathy and tenderness, the first assurance that there is love in the world... She who rears successfully a family of healthy, beautiful sons and daughters... deserves the highest honor that man can give, and the choicest blessings of God."

I am awed at my mother's courage to raise my 7 siblings and me and always appear so confident.

My mother colors all the memories of all the moments of my childhood. The tears, the guil, the laughter and there sure was a lot of laughter, andthe joy of that time of my life centers around her place in my existence. And yet it is today's memories that are deepest in my heart. My relationship with my mother is very special to me and I cherish her more every day in my life. I am proud of her, grateful for her and feel her love reaching out in every difficult moment that comes my way. As a child and now as an adult I adore, honor and love my mother. Without her the difficult moments in life would be more hopeless and the joyful eventes would be tinges with a longing for her laughter.

I never imagined as a child that she would become my most cherished friend. My relationship with my mom has taught me how to better prepare myself for whatever may come.

First Presidency issued this statement on "Motherhood" many years ago. They wrote, "Is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its calling and service next to angels."

Mom, I love you. Manuia lou aso fanau!

Couponing...

So I haven't had a chance to write in awhile... SOOOOOOOOOO... here's what I've been up to!



Yeap... You guessed it Coupon Shopping... I have no kids but I have been stocking up on baby products. My sister is expecting another baby girl July 7th and since Walgreens is having such an AWESOME deal on Huggies, Aveeno, and Johnson... I figure it's the perfect time to start saving.

I started couponing (if that's a word... LOL) since Aug 2008 and I've been addicted but just a couple a weeks ago I was so tired of it... cutting, sorting, racing to get the deals and all that comes with couponing. But the BEST part about being able to do this is sharing coupons with your sister. When I'm down and out from couponing I have an older sister that takes over and goes hunting the deals down... LOL... and when she's down and out (which is never...LOL) I take over. That way we never miss out on the FREE or really CHEAP products. Hahaha!

Anyways, this is really a time consuming hobby but the rewards are so worth it!

Va'aulu Girls Night Out

When you look at your life, the greatest happiness are family happiness.

~Joyce Brothers




This past weekend we had our first "Va'aulu Girls Night Out". It was so much fun we played Family Feud, Mad Gab and Question Conversation it was team UH HUH against team UH UH. We had fun prizes and tons of food. Also, it was the best workout in a long time mainly targeting the ab area. We laughed and laughed but of course all the pounds we lost from laughing we gained it ALL right back when it was time to eat. The purpose of this outing was to spend time with our cousins from Samoa. We had 3 generations there... Who would of thought that hanging out with the older and younger "GENERATORS" would be so much fun. I can't wait for our next gathering cause believe it or not this is only half of the Va'aulu girls. And I know with all the other girls there it will be twice the fun, twice the laughter, twice the workout and twice the food... although I think we can manage without the extra food. LOL! "Tanks" for the memories.




I'm truly grateful for the family that I have. They have all played the artist that help mold me into the person I am today. My family is one of nature's masterpiece. I could not have asked for a better group of ladies. I LOVE you ALL!

Family faces are magic mirrors. Looking at people who belong to us, we see the past, present, and future.

~Gail Lumet Buckley

Helping Hands

Today I just submitted my first claim form for Helping Hands. This is such an AWESOME program to be a part of. In a nutshell it is a REIMBURSEMENT for the meal and snacks you serve to the children you care for! Which is cool! I don't have any kids but for the past year and a half I've been babysitting my nieces and nephews so I claim them. Anyways, before joining I was thinking why not do it? Your getting back the money you spend on feeding the kids and it could go towards better things like shopping... LOL... bills, savings and etc. So I did some research and here's what their program is all about:

Helping Hands, Inc. is a not for profit 501(c) 3 corporation. We serve approximately 350 family day care providers located throughout the Wasatch Front, from Ogden to Springville, Utah. At this time we do not accept day care providers from outside the state of Utah. We encourage all day care providers to take advantage of this wonderful program.

We accept all licensed providers and work with many ethnicities. We have staff members who are fluent in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and French. Under the oversight of the Utah State Office of Education we administer the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

CACFP reimburses participating day care homes for serving nutritious meals. Helping Hands, Inc. plays a critical role in supporting home day care providers through training, technical assistance, and monitoring. All family or group day care homes must come into this program under a sponsoring organization such as Helping Hands, Inc. In order to qualify for the CACFP the provider must be either a state licensed day care provider or a state certified provider. The day care provider must also attend annual training classes and maintain a safe, secure environment for the children.

So if you take care of your kids, nieces or nephews or even run a daycare this is definitely the way to go. It's a WIN WIN situation for everyone! The state of Utah will be happy that your kids are well fed, your kids will be happy that they're well fed and the best part is that you're happy your kids are taken care of and you'll have extra money in your pocket! YAY! It's an easy program to join and almost everyone qualifies. They are always looking for more people to join in... This is definitely a program worth looking in to!