Grandma Mabel

We lost our dear grandma Mabel on December 20, 2008. She had made it to 99th years old. I knew that I wanted to write about her so that as my kids get older they can always look back and read about her and how much she has effected our lives. When Marcus and I were married she was able to come to the wedding. I didn't know her at that point in my life, but was so glad that she was there to share that beautiful day with us. We were able to go to her 95th birthday in Utah a few years ago. I was pregnant with Lafai and it was after that trip that we decided to let Gordon and grandma Mabel come up with a name for our baby. One day I had a list of names(which I could not pronounce any of them) that they had come up with. Lafai was one of them and it was a family name on her side. So we did choose that name. The story behind it is so funny, because Lafai's full name is Lafaitautele Ikaika Purcell. But when Lafai was less than a year old she had seen how we spelled it and she called and said it is the wrong name it was suppose to be LafaiSAOtele. From then on she has always called him by that name and told us we need to fix it. So we are finally starting the process of changing his name.
The last few years we have been able to have grandma in our lives so much more. She was able to attend Lilli,Kainoa,Leilani and Jaedyn's kindergarten graduation. Knowing grandma and how important education is I'm sure those days were just as special for her as it was for us. Last summer grandma got to spend the night at our house and even though the language barriar was a little rough which I did have to call Gordan a few times to help me out. It was so special for our family. Lafai wanted to sleep with her so they sleep together in the extra room all night. I thought for sure Lafai would wake up during the night but he didn't, Grandma rubbed his arm and head for most of the night. I went in at 7:00am to check on them and she waved her little arm at me to get out!! I guess she had everything under control.
Her 99th birthday was in Utah this past May and I know that most of the Purcell family was changed. Marcus and I both agree it was one of the best trips we have ever had. Relationships were formed and the family really became stronger. I have never seen Marcus so happy before than he was for that week we were in Utah and he was with his cousins. But most of all the spirit that was with us. When grandma left us she left behind her strength in the gospel. I still am amazed at how much faith she had and how one person could bring so much spirit into one room that it so over whelming. Even writing about it I get teary eyed and I can feel the spirit here with me. I know that is what makes her so special. I hope for all of us that we can keep these kinds of things close to us but most importantly stay close to our Heavenly Father. I know that is what grandma wants for all of us and I hope that I can raise my own children to hold to the iron rod and always keep them close to the Lord. This past Sunday I had to teach in Relief Society on Celestial marriages and as I prepared my lesson grandma kept coming into my mind. Grandma has now been reunited with her eternal companion, they have both waited a long to be with each other. She lived the gospel to the fullest and understood the true meaning of the temple and the blessings it brings through eternal families. I will strive to do the same cause she showed us what true happiness looks like here on this earth and here after.



Grandma kissing her Lafaisaotele

Lafai Wrestling

Marcus and I wanted Lafai to do a sport this winter. I wish he was old enough to play football but he's not. So instead he wrestled. I was unsure of it at first, but I got the hang of it real quick. He wrestled for Jefferson High School as a "little saint". His very first tournament he went out on the mat wrestled his first period and at the end started screaming as most of you know. But as time went on he got to be more comfortable and finally started wrestling all three periods. He had his first pin the second week in January. Marcus and I were so proud of him. Who would of thought mom and his sisters cheering him on for the side of the mat while coach dad coaches him through it. Wrestling tournaments are like gymnastics meets your kid only goes a few times and it's like once every hour. All it means is that we were there from 7:00am(which is what time the kids have to weight in) and then they don't start to wrestle till about 9:00am. We usually left after 1:00pm to go home, so it is a very long day. But well worth it.

A lot of catching up to do

It has been so long since I've gotten a chance to blog. Lilliana has gymnastics tonight and I don't coach for 30 more min, so I thought I should write. I won't have any pictures to put on this blog for I am not on my computer.
We had a great Halloween. Friends and Family came to our house for dinner and then the we drove other places to go trick-or-treating. Leilani was little bo peep, she won the cutest costume award at her school. Lilli was fairy, and Lafai was a tiger.
We celebrated Thanksgiving at my grandmothers house and of course at Mamo's. A couple of days before Thanksgiving Lilli ran into a pole at school and broke her nose. She was in alot of pain for few days but got through it.
Marcus finally finished his football season in December. We traveled to Las Vegas the first weekend in December for his final game. This was their first lost all season, which was a bummer but they did a good job. It was fun to be there with all the Magalei's. Yannick(marcus's sister) drove from Utah to spend the weekend with us. We had such a good time there. Lilli got to celebrate her 9th birthday in Vegas. She thinks she's so cool for that.
Lafai turned 4 on the 16th. The Laws went out to dinner with us for that special night.
Leilani turned 7 on the 23rd. We always do the wild lights at the zoo, but this year nothing seem to work out and besides it was really cold. So she chose Red Robin for dinner.(I've taught her well.)
The kids did get a swimming party for all three of their birthdays on the 20th of december. I love going swimming in the winter. I know some people might think I'm crazy.
I'm going to try and get caught upon all of my blogging.

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.