Finally moved

I'm officially moved. This doesn't mean I'm setteled yet, but at least I am done with the truck loads of stuff. It has definetly been alot of work and time to move. We were able to refinish the hard wood floors. I thought tileing was bad that was nothing compared to sanding and cleaning up all of the dust before you can even lay the finishing stuff. But it looks so good. During this process I've realized how handy Marcus is. He can do so much more than I thought. I think he's been holding out on me because his honey-do list would be so much bigger and more intense. But really I am so glad to have such a wonderful husband who can do so much and take such good care of his family.
Well I guess I should write about our wonderful garage sale we had a few weeks ago. Holly, Steph Truijillo, and myself had all planned a garage sale. Zach and Stef were going to bring stuff and Liesl came to just hang out with us. Friday morning we were setting up and moving things around, pricing items doing all the fun stuff. The kids were all running around and playing, getting into things they weren't suppose to do. And of course it was my child (no not Leilani, this time it was Lafai). Tried to pick up one of his daddy's 45lb weight disk and dropped it on his left foot. I really am so used to it that Liesl ran and got to Lafai first and all I thought was I need my keys and the insurance card. I knew by the scream that we wee headed to the hospital. I will post pictures in a little bit after I figure out where my cords are to hook up the camera to the computer. I did leave everyone at my house around 10:30am to do the garage sale and I was off to the hospital. Lafai screamed for an hour and half straight. It was awful. He finaly fell asleep, thank goodness. We were there 5 hours and in the end he did not end up breaking his foot. Even though his foot was double the size, cut and bruised. He had trama to the bone,(bruising to the bone) which can effect the muscle and tendens. They put him in a soft cast but was not allowed to walk on it for three days. All that meant was I had to carry him around. By saturday night I was so tired. Lafai was in so much pain that Marcus and I took of the cast and found that his foot was so much more swollen. So we iced it for the next 24 hours. By the time tuesday came around he was walking on it but with no shoes. Our doctor was not convinced that it was broken so we had to go back in for more x-rays. Still it was not broken. His toes even bruised later. But now we're good. He can wear his shoes. Every once in a while it bothers him but we are so blessed that he healed so quickly. The doctor said he wouldn't feel better till the end of October. But I guess they were wrong. So another ER trip has come and gone. Marcus and I thought we were going to make it through 2008 without a ER trip, but I guess not!

The joys of buyng a house

Well as most of you know we have decided to buy our old house. Yes, the one on Gray Street that I moved out of a year ago. My in laws wanted to sell it and Marcus has always wanted to but that house so now he can. It's was only a week ago all of this was decided. So any extra time we have goes towards the house. We are remodeling the kitchen and redoing the hardwood floors. I am over the tileing. My hands are so dried out from the cement and grout.The kitchen floor has taken the whole week to finish and today I am sealing in the grout so we are done with that. Last night Marcus and I were there till 11:00pm sanding the hardwood floors. I'm learning to have patients with projects. I've never done these things before, I didn't know that it takes so long. Well I guess it will be worth it in the end. I will keep all of you posted as each day goes on. I will be posting pictures of the before and after. Most of you will see it anyway when you help me move. haha JK I'm trying to get everything done so that the Halloween party Holly and I have been planning will still work out. Dinner at my house and Desert and trick or treating at Holly's. Believe me I will make sure Marcus gets it done. I have to start decorating in 2 weeks. Nothing gets in the way of me decorating for Halloween. Or any holiday for that matter.

Weddings

The last year I have had three friends from work get married. I was a bridesmaid in one earlier this year. I didn't have a blog yet so I've never posted pictures from that night before. I was in Kristens wedding in April. I have never had so much fun doing wedding stuff before. It's great when your not the bride. Kristen is one of my dearest friends from work and I was so honored when she wanted me to be a part of that day. I wish Kristen and Andy the best in all that they do. So then Whitney was married on Friday night. Marcus thought that this was so cute because she married her middle and high school sweetheart. They have already been together for 7 years. Who would ever have thought you'd meet you life long companion at the movies in middle school? But they did and have been together ever since. Congratulations to them. Both weddings we haven't had to worry about the kids. (grandma or aunti has them). So Marcus and I take advantage of those moments and dance all night together. It's so nice to be with my husband and other adults as I am always with children doing mom stuff. But I am reminded of why we need our time to be alone and enjoy each others company. Being at these weddings have made me think of mine. The love I share for Marcus is indescribable. He loves me so much and has taken such good care of me and this family. This past wedding we were being asked a lot of questions about our beliefs in marriage and about the temple. I'm always unsure of how to say things, but I just spoke from my heart and I was able to explain the importance of the temple and why I love it and why Marcus and I were sealed for time and eternity. I had such a good feeling and my friends were so welcoming, I was surprised with how much they wanted here. I am thankful for those opportunities. I know that my testimony will grow and maybe I can one day teach my friends the gospel. Marcus, Me, Kristen and Andy at Whitney's Wedding the gymnastics crew Bride and Bridesmaids getting ready for the big event


Marcus and I at Kristen's Wedding

Summer memories

We finally got our computer back, so I have a lot of catching up to do. Especially with pictures. So I will be posting a few post to be caught up. First Marcus and the Grizzlies have continued to be undefeated. The won the state champion game verse the Flames from Colorado Springs a couple of weeks ago. It was a very close game we won with a touchdown in the last minute of the game. It was a very exciting game. Now they go on to play the New Mexico team on September 20 here in Aurora. I'm glad this one is not out of town. Good Luck boys!!



School has started once again. Lilliana is in the third grade. Her teacher's name is Mrs. Huerta. Lilli is doing ok. This year has all ready not been so easy. It has taken a lot of effort on mine and Marcus's to keep things going. Lilli has struggled with everything it feels like. I can sure tell she is my child because she stresses about ten things instead of one or at least taking one at a time. She has 45min of homework ever night, also doing gymmnastics 2 nights a week, having time for John(biological father), and still managing time with family has seem to been challenging for her. But we are working through it. I called my sister at least a couple times a day there for a week. Thank goodness for sisters. Always there when you need them the most.
Leilani is now in first grade and goes all day. She loves it. Mrs. Mitisek is her teacher. She is one of the sweetest teacher I've meet so far. I was worried about Leilani eating lunch at school cause she doesn't eat very well at home. I was right. There has now been a few times she does not get and chips or snacks with her lunch because the sandwich always seems to come home. But she is learning. I have to tell you a story about her. Two weeks ago Leilani had got left out on the playground at recess time cause she wasn't paying attention to her class.(surprise, surprise,) At the end of school all class if they earn it get an extra recess. Which means all ages mixed on the playground at one time. Just what Leilani needs older boys to play with. So of course she was playing with Kainoa and all of his friends who are all boys. Chasing, kicking, wrestling what else she can get away with. And the next thing she new the third graders were going in and that there were no first graders out. Now I'll give the recess duty teachers a litttle slack, Leilani is bigger than half the third grade class, so how would they now she is in first grade. Lilli had come home and told us what had happened. So I'm sure most of you could imagine Marcus(Ariane's child) flipped out. She got the BIG talk about boys and paying attention. Marcus and I laughed about it later on to ourselves. Leilani always keeps us laughing.
Lafai had a hard 2 weeks when the girls went back to school. I kept calling Marcus, telling him that going from 3 to 1 was suppose to be easier. But it was much harder. I didn't realize how much the girls entertained Lafai. Ginette took Lafai for me a couple days in a row. What a life saver. Things are now getting into a routine. I think he's realizing that he gets more stuff when he's alone with me.

Catching up

Well as most of you know I haven't been able to do a new post since I don't have our computer back yet. So I'm at the Sandovals using the computer trying to get some things done so I thought I'd post something. It's been as crazy few weeks. The girls have now been in school for a week. We are still trying to get into the routine of things. I'm off from work for a couple more weeks which is good. We're still busy with football. Marcus won this last weekend for they are in the championship game this weekend. So I guess we will see what happens. GO GRIZZLIES!!!
Leilani is starting volleyball soon. She is so excited. Marcus wants Lafai to wrestle this fall as a little viking. I'm just going with the flow on this cause I don't think this is a battle I'm going to win. Wrestling was never our family sport.
I was reading Ginette's blog and she had posted all of the babies being born aroung here. If I wasn't baby hungry before now I sure am now. Marcus and I have been planning on getting pregnant by the end of the year. Ginette and I always seem to have babies close to the same time. so I guess it's time for her also. At least thats what I keep telling her and Eddie. But we will have to wait and see what happens.
Last but not least we were able to go camping a couple of weeks ago with the bennetts, Zach and Stef anf Jermey(who's family was out of town so he got to go with no kids.) But that was ok, we made him do all of the cutting for fire wood. We got to go to Leadville. I have never been up there before. It was one of the most beautiful places I have camped at. It was on the colder side but still very pleasent. Mindi and Adam and Zach and Stef are all scuba diving certified. Sot they brought there stuff up and went scuba diving in the lake. They taught Marcus how to do it since he has never done it before. He really enjoyed it and can't wait to do it in Hawaii. Right now I'll stick to snorkaling. It's much easier. It was really nice to get away since Marcus's football season has really changed our summer. We weren't able to do very much since he's had a game ever weekend since the end of May.
I hope everyone is doing well and I will try to post thing as often as I can borrow a computer or at least till mine is returned.

4th Annual Water World Trip

Once again our trip to water world has now come and gone. We go ever year for Marcus's b-day. We had a group of 25. We went around 10:00 in the morning. First we went on the family rides so that the little ones could go. Then we were able to have Mamo and grandma Chris watch the little ones so that the big kids could go play for a while. It's so nice to have grandmas and grandpas around to watch the kids. It gives us such a good break. Thank you Mamo, Terry and grandama Chris for your help, we really appreciate it.



Micheal relaxing. The kids kept giving him a work out

Dylan, Marcus, Luke, Erica, Chris,and Vycci watching the kids go around the lazy river


Ben, Leilani, and Mamo hanging out in the kiddie area



Lafai enjoying the lazy river that is made for kids. It is new this year.


Neil thinking that he can fit in a kids inter tube. But then again no life guards yelled at him so he stayed on and went around the kids lazy river for a long time.(it was his favorite ride.)

Daddy's Helpers

Marcus wanted all of us to go to work with him yesterday(Wednesday). I did take the kids so that they could work for dad today. The idea was is that we could help dad get work done so that he could off early on Thursday and we could play, and he already has Friday because we are going to Water world for his birthday which is on Sunday. Also the girls had there build a bears taken away for fighting so they could also work those back and then maybe they could earn some money. They did work. Dad had them moving piles of wood to the dumpster, carrying boxes full of metal handles to his office, and even sweeping up saw dust off the floors.(not so easy since it blows every where.) He even had me running a drill machine for him. Not sure what he was thinking. But we did have a nice day with dad. The kids liked being able to be with dad at work, since thats where he's always at. They girls worked back their build a bears and still earned $5.00 each. So I guess it was all worth it. Before we left dad took them out for a ride on the little go cart. That was the best part of the whole day.

Lilliana's Regional Gymnastics Meet

Lilli had regionals for gymnastics this Saturday. Broomfield was the host team. It was held at Legacy High School. She did so well. Danny,Vycci and family was there, grandma Rolayne, Mamo(Marcus's mom), Terry(family friend), John and his parents, Ginette and her kids and of course dad, sister and brother were all there to root her on. Well and me MOM and coach. I think I was more nervous than she was. This day took me back to my younger years. She was on bars first. She did the whole routine including the front hip circle that she has never made this year. But she also did an extra back hip circle at the end which she was deducted a whole point for putting in a extra trick. Oh well.
Beam was second. everything went well. She didn't stick her cartwheel which she should have because all she had to do was bend her knees just a little.(she sticks at least 10 in practice every week).
Vault was ok. She said "mom that vault was not good, I bent my knees and hit the mat hard." It wasn't her best. Today she had it on floor. The biggest thief jump I'd ever seen. She did her back bend all together, we have been working on that for two weeks solid. She got it in practice on Tuesday. Lilli scored an 8.3.
As the ribbons came out Lilli learned that she did not place at this meet. Only the top 6 girls go to state. It bothered me that she was upset. I remember that feeing of not placing. I tried hard to talk to her about how it's not about how you place but about how well you did for yourself. Bars and Floor being the best she'd done this year. Thats what important. I'm not sure that's what she wanted to hear, considering that my parents gave me that same speech at some point in my life time. I guess Lilli will look back and laugh when she's giving it to her daughter someday. Lilli went and found Aunti Vycci, who is always next in line to mom and dad, and was able to hold her and talk to her and tell her "it was ok to be mad,your mom and I don't like not to take first either." Growing up in my family we were taught don't cry get up and work harder and beat all of them next year. I remember my mom telling me the story of when I went to regionals or state and all the other girls had metals around their necks and I said I want one of those and my mom did the speech of how not to get your hopes up and it's really hard to place and I told her that NO I was going to have one and that was it. The next year I won State in the all around in my age group. I'm very proud of Lilli. She is a hard work and loves gymnastics. I can't wait to see how she will progress through the next year.

JULY 4th

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. Today we had a 4th of July breakfast with some friends and family. Then we went to Shannon's parents house to go swimming for the afternoon. We had a lot of fun swimming and being in the sun. The boys were trying to teach us girls how to do certain dives. We did ok. Then Shannon had made us popcorn from one of those REAL movie popcorn machines. It was so good.
Uncle Eric and Lafai

Lafai got very comfortable jumping onto the turtle without his water wings. Good thing he didn't fall off, he can't swim!!!

Bentley, Leilani and Lilliana

Later that afternoon we went to Marcus's parents house for a bbq and to watch fireworks. They live in the Lone Tree area in Highlands Ranch. The park by them puts on a little carnival thing but the only way to get in is if you have a special bracelet. Ariane was able to get us some so that we could take the kids in. The kids got to go in jumping castles and big huge slides. They also had a petting zoo. So there was tons of stuff for the kids to do. Where we got to watch the fireworks from was only about 100 yards from where they shot them off from. It was the best 4min of a firework show I'd ever been to because we were so close. That was before the field where they shot them off at went up in flames. A firework went off too low and the rest is history. The weird thing was is that there were no fire trucks in sight. So by the time they got there the fires were pretty big and they called the rest of the show. So that was that. So instead we went back to my in-laws were everyone was doing the illegal fireworks and watched those instead. Marcus just rode his long board up and down the street for a while. I guess that kept him busy since he didn't have his own illegal fireworks to do.

July 3rd

Well it's taken me a few days to post our 4th of july holiday weekend. On the third we had decided last minute to watch fireworks from our roof because Edgewater shoots their fireworks off the night before the 4th. So the Laws came over and so did Eric, Shannon and Bentley. We ate on the roof and watched the fireworks through the trees. It was pretty cool. As long as your not afraid of heights.(Liesl and Shannon) who we had to help down the ladder. Later that night the boys went long boarding and us girls just hung out for a while. Liesl was smart and went home close to 1:00am. Shannon and I stayed up till 3:00am, not so smart.

summer fun

The last few days have been a little crazy. I've been watching my nephew Tristan. Lafai and him are the same age. It was like having twins. Those 2 made me laugh so much. One day they asked me at 9:00 in the morning if they could have a popsicle. Of course I told them no it was too early. But they got me good, that night there were 5 opened popsicles in the drawer, melted. I spent an half of hour cleaning it all up and all I could do is laugh. The second thing they did was that they got Marcus's hair ties and were trying to shoot them up in the air. But one time Lafai did it so high it got up on the roof and they thought that was the funnest thing ever, so of course they went and got more and tried to shoot as many of them as they could. Boys!! They are so different then girls, in so many ways. They just get into so much more trouble then girls do.
Today Vycci and the kids came down to play today. We let the kids jump on the tramp with water. They had a good time. I'm so glad that Nicole has me watch Tristan when she needs a babysitter. I just have to remember the sunblock every hour. Since April, when we played outside I didn't realize that Tristan needed sunblock and he got a little color(pale pink) don't worry nothing bad. Nicole informed me that Tristan was white and needed sunblock whenever the sun is out. Different from my kids, who get darker with 50 spf in 30min than I do all day. But anyway the kids had a great time enjoying the sun.

Birthday, Camping, Football weekend

This weekend was a busy weekend. Friday night we had 2 birthday parties to attend. One was Bentley's who turned 3.(Eric's girlfriend Shannon's little girl.) Marcus had done the closets in this house a few years ago. Such a small world. This house was amazing. You know what kind of a house when the neighbors house is on the market for 2.5 million. It was a lot of fun, the kids went swimming till about 10:30 pm. They would have swam longer but we had to get ready to go to Florence in the morning for Marcus's game.
On Saturday we got up and left the house at 8:00am to head towards the Royal Gorge where we were camping that night after the football game. we went with Zach and stef, Adam, Issiah and his girlfriend. Neil who plays on the team, who is responsible for Marcus wanting to play so bad. But its ok we love Neil, my kids call him uncle Neil. Marcus's cousin Shane and his family meet us up there and Eric and Shannon also were meeting us up there later. We were only allowed to have 3 tents on our camp site so we were all going to have to share tents. It was interesting. In my tent was my family, Neil, Eric, Shannon and Bentley. 3 grown men who all snore, not a whole lot of sleep for me but the kids slept through it.LOL
We were going to do the Royal Gorge but we were all to cheep.It was going to cost me over a $100.00 for my family so we didn't do it. We went swimming at our campground instead. That night the boys played the Havoc team. They won 37-7. After the game we went to sonic which was the only thing open and those poor people who had to get us a whole bunch of food.(6 kids and 12 adults. (5 that are Samoan). But we did have a great time and did enjoy spending time together camping and swimming.