A Summary

I could come up with some great excuses as to why my posts have been lacking of late ... but ultimately - I have been lazy! And although the blog love was dying, I am trying to resuscitate it!

But rather then catch up on the list of posts I have in my phone notepad, I will instead post some pictures with a little summary:

So back in February we decided to have a last minute birthday for Cassius at McDonalds. We have ALOT of family, so whilst we try and do something for the boys every birthday, when it comes to having a party, its either just their first cousins or the bigger option of over fifty kids. This party was the later, but Cassius had an awesome time so all worth it! And how good was his Cake! He received so many presents he thinks birthdays truly are the best thing ever!

Here I am doing the unthinkable! Taking a selfie. My sister and I tend to mock the selfie culprits but I liked the way I looked in this and thought, why not! We're all allowed a vain moment once in awhile right?
 

These pictures are all out of order, but here we are on Phoenix's third birthday in April! I took him to the movies during the day, he opted to watch 'The Croods' again and I really enjoyed the one on one time I had with him. We then hit kmart for him to choose some presents, and then a night at AMF bowling with our family. This boy LOVES his dinosaurs and dragons, so I got Siu (Ricks cousins wife) to make another of her beautiful cakes. She did yet another amazing job! Phoenix just loved it and didn't want anyone to eat the dragon!

When cousin Rick was over for a sleepover, I took the boys with me to find some material in Cabramatta. I wondered if I would live to regret that decision, but we had a fun day and the boys were quite fascinated with all the animal statutes!

 



Becoming a school mum has brought with it some interesting new ventures. One such thing is the regular birthdays we have begun attending where I don't know anyone! This was Cassius's first such party held at the Bicycle centre in Campbelltown. A pretty cool place - they have roads set up for the bikes with lights and traffic signs etc which the kiddies love!

 

Here Cassius and I were at another party, I told him to smile for the camera. He said 'I don't do that mum'!

 

Rick doesn't have the same love for the camera as I, so I love it when we get a photo together!

Four out of my seven siblings:

 After doing a workshop at a YSA fireside, we locked both sets of keys in the car. This photo was taken at that tense moment where we had almost located the keys!

 Baking with my boys!

 

The best picture ever! Here McCaw is chatting away with Laker who seems a little stunned!

McCaw looks so young here, I think this picture was taken back in March when we were going to lunch on Wednesday, my day I only have one child and so I often hit the shops!  

 

This is a more recent picture, taken this week. I was cleaning the house and as usual Phoenix wanted to help. I gave him the cloth and told him to clean the oven. Soon McCaw was next to him trying to pull everything out of the next cupboard, as was Kingston who I am currently toilet training. Definitely a balanced life!

 

A typical photo of all four, where each is looking at something different!  Taken after they had their hair cut by the amazing Max! I have searched far and wide (well maybe not that much) for a good barber for my boys. I feel like we have hit the jackpot now!

And finally, here is Cassius after having his haircut attempting to box like his namesake. Hopefully this is not a sign of things to come as boxing isn't exactly my idea of an ideal sport for my boys! Probably should have thought of that before we named him after the worlds greatest!!

Three Generations

Earlier this month we celebrated my mums 57th birthday. My mum doesn't get out much, not because she is restricted, she just prefers to be 'home'. We're a little different like that. Actually my mother and I are different in many ways, but I am grateful to have been raised by such a phenomenal woman.

I have had it said to me that I had an 'unrealistic' up-bringing. I had parents who loved each other dearly who I rarely saw have a disagreement. I had a mother who never complained, who supported and stood by my father in all his responsibilities, and who worked endlessly in 'building the kingdom'. I had a father who studied part-time for almost ten years to be properly qualified, worked security to support a family of four kids under four, and was the Bishop of the ward. Rick often says he is the hardest working man he knows. So maybe some would say that is 'unrealistic', but for me, that was the norm. We didn't have a perfect upbringing, we didn't have alot of money and being 'religious' can often invite the redicule of others. but I am grateful for the childhood I had and the role my mother played in that.

So for her birthday I decided to take her and grandma out for lunch. At one point when the waiter asked if we had enough bread, my mother and I looked at each other and said 'we're samoan?!?' My mother isn't much of a talker though, but my grandmother is. We sat there laughing and gossipping and my mum looked on rolling her eyes, telling us to 'be nice'. To those comments my grandmother said 'we need Nola!'. There was a moment there with my grandmother as we laughed and moved in towards each other that I really felt like I was being reunited with an old friend. And speaking of my grandmother, doesn't she look amazing. I hope I look as  good as her at her age! I love that about her, that she still always presents herself well. She is beginning to really show signs of her age though which is hard, but I know she misses my grandfather daily. He passed away when I was 8. They were serving a mission together at the Hamilton Temple and he had a heart attack. He was a great man. A kind man. I could see it as a child and I am reminded of it often. People never cease to tell my what a wonderful man he was. I look forward to being reunited with him x

The Bond Between Brothers

Sometimes we go about our day and we catch a glimpse of something precious. I had one of those moments today.

 

Cassius and Phoenix had asked me to get them a cup of 'frappe' (the name they give Rick's mum Otai drink). I poured their drinks and they went outside whilst I continued on with the dishes.

 

Moments later I observed them sitting together, laughing at each others comments, and just enjoying the bond that comes from being a brother. It made my heart melt! I wanted to capture the moment so that they could always remember just how close they were growing up. As I quickly went outside and took some photos, Kingston observed the fun and came over and started laughing uncontrolably. That's our Kingston for you - always wanting to be part of the fun!

 

Here's a couple of the pictures I took ... priceless isn't it!?!

 

 

An Epiphany

Having all boys can at times invite the attention of others. I don't mind it, except when that attention is accompanied with a sense of pity. I have to bite my tongue when I get those comments, because there's an implication that my life is missing something.

 

This was brought to light a few days ago I sat at a friends house who has all girls. I was playing with the girls and doing their make up and hair, when their father commented to Rick 'your wife really wants a girl'.

 

The comment took me back because I wasn't thinking along those lines at all. I guess I'm so use to the gel and moisturise routine with my boys that putting make up on someone else was almost foreign to me. And it hit me - I really don't need a girl at all.

 

Sure, in an ideal world I would have a girl. But I have four amazing boys and I love that that of itself is unique and sets us as apart from others. Don't get me wrong, if it was to happen I would be over the moon. But I would be equally happy with another boy. I really do feel that boys are my lot in life and that is a role I both invite and enjoy.

 

Wellington in Color

Here are the rest of the (selected) pics from our little trip, in color now ... Look at how handsome my boys are and how they adore their father!

Wellington in the Summertime

 

 

As has become the 'norm' with my blogging of late, I am posting this a little late!

 

In January we went on a 10 day trip to my hometown of Wellington, New Zealand.

 

There's something about Wellington that I find hard to put into words. Maybe it's the feelings of nostalgia, maybe it's being there with my older brothers and their families, maybe it's the fact that so many of the places evoke many a childhood memory. Whatever it may be, I do love that place!

 

We have a habit of going back when the weather is not so pretty. If you know Wellington, that can sometimes be a good part of the year. There's a saying that you can't beat Wellington on a good day. The inference of that is the fact that those 'good days' are sometimes few and far between. But we went back in summer this time, and it was beautiful.

 

My older brothers have young children too so every day was spent doing things for the kids. We visited parks that I played at as a kid, play centres, pools, beaches and the like. Add to the mix the beautiful food that country delivers and you have the recipe for a perfect family holiday.

 

But if I was to pick one thing I loved the most, it would be the simple moments of sitting around the table and chatting with my siblings and our spouses. It's moments like those that remind me why I want a big family. That even though having a lot of children can be difficult at times, there is a bond between siblings that is hard for anyone to break. And I want my boys to have that for themselves.

 

Ps - Here are a few of my favourite pics from the trip. For some reason blogger is not allowing me to load more and I'm over it. I will load more tomorrow. Or maybe the next day :P