Happy Thanksgiving

Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart. 

I am indeed GRATEFUL from much this year.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Keeps me on the straight path.

My family.  Keeps me motivated and determined.

My job.  Keeps me secure and warm.

My friends.  Keeps me sane and care-free.

That is enough to keep me happy!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Blizzard

If your in Utah then you know today they have been warning about a big blizzard storm through out Utah.  I seriously wasn't thinking anything of it.  Then our bosses let us leave early to get home and not be in the storm when it does actually hit.  I stopped off at the store and bought a few necessity I thought we might need incase we are snowed in.  Well I didn't get any candles or matches.  Go figure.  So now I have the kids going through all our camp equip to look for our flash lights and lamps.  I hope they find it.  I'm cooking a hot dinner for us to eat incase the power goes.  And of course some hot cocoa.  Dangit no bread though...ugh.  I really hope this storm is really comming cause its got me all panicing. 
Hopefully you all are prepared and not like me...hehehe  Have fun in the blizzard.  Stay warm and safe.  What you got planned for family?  Just wondering......

Righteous Silly Bandz

Do you have kids who are just crazy over those silly bands?  I'm sure you do.  Its hard to resist buying them for my daughter when they are at every check out stand.  They've come in handy when I'm out of bands for her hair.  LOL  Yep, ghetto.  They are fun though.  Well did you know that you can purchase LDS bands?  Pretty cool.  Check it out here http://righteousbandz.com/  I just know my lil one would love these.  She'd go crazy trading them away with your buddies.

New Dew

I tend to forget that kids never forget anything. Several weeks, infact I think it may have been months ago DaisyGirl and I talked about cutting her hair. I love her hair long. She didn't. She wanted to have short hair. So I told her she could cut her hair one day. Well, that one day came. While getting Jeremiah's hair cut. She reminded me of my promise. And well..I couldn't back out. She was so excited. I was totally opposite. I was nervous too. We did it and she has short hair now. I wasn't sure how to have it cut. I just told the girl to chop it off to her shoulder. And there we have, my lil baby has a NEW DEW. I don't even know what to do with it...hahaha Been looking online for some cute styles to play with it. This is definitely her first and LAST hair cut. Hahahaha. Well as long as she's under my roof thats the rule LOL.

Gummi WHAT Lei

During my nieces graduation last year her gma from Cali gave her a gummi lei.  When I saw it, i couldn't figure out what it was.  It was soft, colorful and just really nice.  Trust I studied it well thinking I could possibly make it.  I asked her gma what it was and she said gummi bears.  Um...ok, nevermind..not gonna try it.  Already sounds difficult.  Tried to explain it to my sis and everything.  Then forgot all about it.  During grads this year, I saw the lei's again.  Then thought, maybe its gummi worms...ten years later LOL.  So for Fathers Day this year, my sis and I stayed up all night long to make the lei's for our Father's.  The first lei took us a good hour...hahaha.  Then we got smart and figured it out and then next thing you know, we were making one in 20 minutes.  Still have to perfect it though.  Cause our braid is kinda bulky and sloppy hehehe.  We ended up making a total of 8 lei's and were soooo proud of ourselves.  hahaha.  My BIL worked that day and decided to wear his to work.  He had never seen it before and wanted to show it off..hahaha.  I like this lei cause its something different from your regular candy lei's.  I heard some lady up north sells these for $20.  Trust, it cost us $7 for the big bag of worms which makes about 4 or 5 leis.  Used ribbons and saran wrap already in our homes.  All it takes is patience and you've got yourself a really cost effecient beautiful lei.  Also try them with twizzlers and red vines or the colorful vines..hehehe.  YAY!!!

Our NEW hang out..

The day finally came..  And now SLC/Rose Park has its very own Family Fitness Center.  YAY!!!  We've had a membership at the West Valley Rec several times.  And we'd be sooo gong-ho about it and make the long drive out there several times a week.  Then slowly we'd slack off and our money would go to waste.  But now, we have our very own close to home.  Since its opening earlier this month we have been there almost everyday working out, playing basketball, some volleyball and of course swimming.  And not just our family.  Everyone.  All my BFs and their families.  Got my sis and her family to come out.  So as one big community family, we have been utilizing our rec center to the fullest.  I love love love it.  And I hope and pray that I never ever get sick of it.  It isn't as big as West Valley or even Kearns, but its enough for our needs.  So if your ever in the hood....stop on by, I'll bet we'll already by there...hehehe.

In NEW YORK...

Me riding shotgun in our taxi!!

IN NEW YORK..

..there are tons of people.  People of many different ethnicity.  Speaking many different languages.  Alot of different types of accents.  Alot of European decent..  Alot of arabic decent..  We were hawaiians..no one knew what Samoan or Tongan was...LOL  It was interesting.
..there are tons of cars.  Well mostly transportation cars.  Like the Taxi Cab.  My kids would have a hay day playing bingo in NY...hahaha.  (Call bingo and a punch for every yellow car haha).  And they drive fast.  Even the buses.  hahaha.  Got to experience the monterail (from jersey to ny) the most relaxing of all of them.., subway --dark and dreary and boy we still had to walk alot to get to it..hehe, taxi -- most scariest of them all.  fast driver and all..  and then the bus.  Fun!! Ha!!  BTW, every time they said, lets find the subway, at first I was thinking Subway Sandwich shop...Not the subway underground...hahaha  Yes, true Fob or true west coast chicc haha
..even with all the transportation, we walked alot..I mean ALOT.  I think we walked about 5000000000 miles.  Hahaha  Well at least to me if felt that way.  First trip ever where I probably lost some weight...hahaha  Just a dreamer LOL!!!
..there are tons and tons of TALL building.  Sky-scrapers galore.  Couldn't phathom how tall the Twin Towers were being there standing where they stood.  All the buildings there now are already sooooo TALL.  And then the busy crowd going to and from.  Wow...I could only imagine the sadness and craziness of 9/11 with all the tall buildings and people galore.
..everyone is HUSTLING trying to make that paypuh.  From food to jewelry to purses to perfume/cologne to shades to ticket shows and tours, everything.  One guy was even trying to get his hustle on with a pack of cigarette.. Walking up and down the street trying to get that dolla dolla.  Even had a group of kids who did tricks for the crowd to get paid.  And it was a big crowd right there in the middle of Times Square.  Wasn't even all that but I bet they made bookoo bucks for it..haha  It was definitely something different.
..everything is expensive.  Unless you get your own hustle on and talk 'em down to your price.  On Canal St that is...hahaha  Everywhere else, is expensive. 
..Times Square is definitely what it is on TV.  I loved the craziness.  I loved the crowd of people.  Well not loved..I tolerated the crowd of people.  I loved all the flashing lights.  All the big flashing bill boards.  All the noise from the honking fast driving taxi drivers.  Sitting in the middle of Times Square and taking it all in....Amazing!!
..the history of NY is fascinating.  From the immigrants who settled in NY.  The Empire State building.  The Statue of Liberty.  The Financial district.  Brooklyn Bridge.  Everything was amazing.. 
..got go everywhere but central park...hehehe  I really wanted to go there..fo'reals!!!  Its probably just your normal park..  But hello its Central Park.  Guess for now I'll settle for being able to go to Battery Park..haha.
..it definitely was an amazing trip.  We got to see alot in the couple days we were there.  Dream come true for me.  Definitely will have to go back and do it all again with my husband.  I talked nonstop all day when I got back about my whole experience.
..we had a little incident with some impatient guy who felt we were taking too long getting our ticket for the subway.....hahaha.  Like SLOW DOWN and smell the COFFEE dude..haha  But after it all..I thought he actually was trying to be polite but just the way he came at us didn't sound polite.  In the end, we didn't get mugged and went on about our day LOL..
I HEART NEW YORK and I HEART my BFF who made it all happen.  So nice to be able to enjoy a lil mini vaca with my girls...  Love these ladies to death!!! 

Ligi, Blue M&M, Me, Mandy and Linda

Welcome baby MADISYN LEFETAUI TUINEI

Its a happy joy joy day for our family. My sis Rissa and her husband Va'a welcomed home their baby girl Madi.. I'm soooo happy for them. She is precious and I know they will be awesome parents. She is gonna be one spoiled lil diva. Just make sure to keep her away from Jerzy LOL.. They are soooo excited to have her home. Va'a I swear will not put her down even when he don't need to be smothering her...hahaha Every lil noise she makes he looks to be sure she is ok. Its the cutest thing. Rissa tries to pretend that she won't spoil her and all but I know she is just as excited to have her lil mama here with her. I can't help but smile at the site of the 3 of them together. I'm extremely happy for them. Congrats to the Tuinei family. We love you all.

My review: FIVE GUYS Burger & Fries

I noticed a new burger joint on 5600 west in West Valley. Surprisingly for a Saturday we had nothing planned. So we went there to check it out.. We walked in and I think everyone (about 10 ppl) behind the counter greeted us..hehehe. I was in shock I didn't even get what they said. I know I heard something as we walked in and all these big grins on their faces. Getting excited at this point. The atmosphere seemed fun and it was pretty crowded too. We looked over the menu and I immediately thought of In and Out where you just have your burgers. Nothing special or exotic on the menu. Just burgers and fries. We each ordered a bacon cheeseburger with the fixens.. My kids the lil kids version of course. Totally yummy. Juicy burger and hooked up to your likings with cooked onions mushrooms lettuce tomato mayo...yummy!!! ...but for the price, not worth it. For a burger and fries joint, too too pricey. Total price $33 for a family of four. And thats with my kids getting water. So yeah..PRICEY. So I'll stick to my Mcdonald's dollar menu..LOL. Seriously!!!

Scrambled April..LOL

Don’t know what else to title this blog.. I can’t believe that April has come and gone and not one post from me. Was I not just excited about blogging..Terrible! Anyhoo, here is my attempt to summarize all the happenings this month. There were a few important events that I can not believe I did not document. Here it goes….

April – I’m back in the YW presidency. As 2nd counselor. I have mixed feelings about my newest calling. The youth is a very demanding calling with something to do everyweek. That’s probably the most worst part of it. However, I love the ladies that I serve with and know that we will all work together to have a great program. Total in the past 2-3 years we’ve been at our RP ward, I’ve been called in and out of the YW like 10 times..Serious. Well wish me luck!!!
April 1st – Not only is it April Fool’s day to the world, but it is Happy Birthday to mommy and mama dearest. And anyone who knows my mom, knows that her birthday suits her. She’s is not your prankster type at all, but always sees the humor in everything. Probably even when it shouldn’t be funny…haha. We gathered together with the family to celebrate her bday with dinner and dessert. The family had a good time..
April 2nd – My mom goes in for knee surgery. Honestly knee surgery is not all that serious. But for us, it was. This is our mom and when you think of hospitals and surgery, I just get nervous. My mom was a good sport about her surgery. She had to get pics of her in her gown and everything to send to her friends. Who does that? Hahah. That’s how dorky my mom is. Fortunate to see the surgery was a success. We greatly appreciate all the flowers and words of comfort she received from everyone. We knew by all those who visited and called how loved our mother is. Thank you all very much.
April 4th – My baby PRINCESS turned 7. OMG..she is growing up too too fast. Please can we go back a couple of years..well maybe not. LOL. Kept her bday simple with cake and ice cream. She has outgrown her toddler bike so all she wanted was a big girl bike. And that she got. Love you babygirl.
April 10th – Mr COD and I celebrated our 10th year wedding anniversary. Like Whoa…Oldies. Hahaha. Time flies by too too fast. It definitely is an anniversary worth celebrating. Too bad Mr George Washington was no where to be found. LOL. So we kept it simple with dinner at Tuscano at the gateway and a sleepover at Mr. Holiday Inn. Thanks to my BF for the hookup. It honestly felt like we were far away.. Love the 10 years so far and look forward too many many more happy times and headaches with my honey bunches of COD.
April 12th - EASTER. This year everything didn’t go as plan. The weather Easter weekend was crappy. I was too into spending quality time for my anniversary that I really didn’t get into Easter. Sorry kids. Thank you to my SILs (love ya ladies) who were sweet enuf to provide easter baskets for my kids. And luckily JCP was having a good enuf sale that my children got easter outfits. I left it for FHE to help them understand the true meaning of easter. Next Easter I’ll be more prepared. HOPEFULLY!!!
April 14th – PRINCESS’s first dance class with the talents of MH. She was way excited to start her classes. She loves the dances of Polynesia. And I’m grateful she’ll have the opportunity to learn from someone who knows whats she’s doing. So no more youtube.com for us. LOL.
April 18th – A and K’s wedding.. So for the most part the whole month of April we tried to fit in the kids dance practice along with the already busy schedule we all have. A and K were sealed in the SLC Temple. The sealing was as always beautiful and the spirit was truly felt. It was the first boy wedding and also first palagi wedding (lol) for my mom’s side of the family. So it was very laid back compared to the other weddings. Everything was wonderful. From the sealing, pictures, reception, afterwards....the whole nine yard. Not bragging or anything. But it truly was a great wedding. K’s family are wonderful people and my cuzzin A is blessed to have awesome in-laws. Congrats you two…
April 19th – Sad day for me and my kids..LOL. Mr COD left today to cali and then on to NZ. My FIL will be getting married in NZ on April 25th. This is the first long trip he has taken by himself. And I hate it. I miss my honeyboo sooo much. And so do the kids. My PRINCESS cried the first nite so we had to make a call to daddy to make her better. And then every nite after that..hehe. We really were happy he could be there for his dads special day. But dang, I hate these long trips. Next time around, we’re all going. Hahaha. Meaning next LONG trip around…duh! I have to do a whole separate blog about his time in NZ. First for him….
April 25th – Happy 2nd Birthday to my niecey J-TAP. We were busy this weekend with Jerzy’s bday bash. She shares close bdays with her first cousin on her dads side. And since he was having a big 1st bday last year, my sis and bro-in-law didn’t want to take away from his celebration to give her a big party. So they waited and this year Miss J was able to have her big celebration. Thanks also to her 2nd parents, V&M T. The weather was crappy still. But that did not stop the Tapusoa’s and Tuinei’s from getting the party started..hahaha. J had a circus themed party with fun, food and games. All went well and J enjoyed herself and all the goodies she got. Thank you to our family and friends for your support.
April 29th – Preseason just ended and today is the first game of the regular softball season for my PRINCESS. Another one of her pastime activities. I love the game of softball and want my daughter to love it and play it. This is her 2nd year playing and so far she likes it but not love it. LOL. She’ll come around though. She better..Hahaha. I think she likes that she is playing with her favorite buddies. BTW, they won 5 to 3. Hehehe. Good luck Sweet Peas (her team name) for the rest of the season.

Well as you can see, its been a crazy month. And I’m glad its finally come to an end and I can sort of breathe.. My honeyboo is home and my kids are healthy. My life is truly blessed. So I can’t complain. Now…on to the next month. We’ll see what May has to bring….

This post would have been better with pictures but unfortunately I have no working cameras. I’ll be saving up to get one. Hopefully soon…

the ECONOMY sucks...

When I learned of the Great Depression during my school days, never did I think that I would have to live thru it during my life time. Grant it, we have been more fortunate now as they were back then. And have been advised from great leaders to be prepared. But losing your job is a big deal. And changes ones life drastically. Or at least I know it will mine..

With the economy the way it is, it should be no surprise that they would start to make job cuts in my company. Especially given the fact that I work for a retail company. Our success for the most part depends on the success of our stores. I find pride in the fact that I work for a company that has been around for over 100 years. And try to be very optimistic and just hope that with our past success that we will be able to get thru the hard times. But who am I kidding, I could very well lose my job. Soon too!! It has been a sad week at work as we’ve had some job cuts in the accounting center. Some of which is my direct area manager and assistant manager. Two of the most smart, honest and hard working individuals I’ve ever worked with. I was speechless as I heard the news. We have known for some time now of cut backs, but never did I think that it would be individuals that I work directly with. My heart aches for these women who have families to care for. One of which whose spouse has also lost his job. It’s been a few days of sorrow and tears. I would compare the feelings as if going thru the death of a close friend. The morale of our area has just plummet. I personally haven’t been able to concentrate on work and get anything done. I’ll have angry suppliers wondering why they haven’t been paid..hehehe. But I can’t help but to think of these outstanding women who have worked practically there entire adult life for this company and to pretty much be toss to the side. They were notified yesterday and today is there last day of work. Like Whoa…where is the love. I hope and pray that they will have much luck in the employment world. May they have many doors of opportunity opened up to them. They are very talented and smart and I know that they’ll get thru this hardship. Its been a pleasure working with these ladies and I have learned soooo much from them. Good Luck SR and JH.

BTW, if your looking for something for your family and home, stop by any JCPenney store or check us out online at http://www.jcpenney.com/ . Hahaha. Hey, I’ve gotta do my part to keep the company going so I can hold on to my JOB.. Hehehe.

OMW..just noticed today is Friday the 13th...hmmmmmmm. LOL.