Happy Birthday Bronte

The stuff we bought for Bronte to decorate her room
Tapua and Bronte

Today Bronte turned 7.
Since everyone is so busy, she didnt get to have much of a celebration because her brothers had football til 9pm, so we decided to get her somethings to re-decorate (decorate) her room.
She barely sleeps in there, so hopefully since its fun colours she might like it.
We love you Bayay, and hope you have a great year this year.

Goodbye Jess and Kelly

On Sunday we had a dinner for my cousin Jess who was headed back to NZ and my cousin Kelly, he's moving to London.
It was good to see you both, hopefully we will see you next year at Nans 80th in Porirua !

Samoan Flag Day

On Friday Night we went to Samoan Flag day.
It was at Wheeler Farm and it was nice because there was a ton of shade.
We wanted to go to listen to Jamoa Jam and 3 Houses down, and since it was free that was an even better deal.
My parents went to Park City with some friends so we took my little brothers and sister for the night.
There were so many acts that Jamoa Jam only ended up singing one or two songs and 3 Houses down did the same thing.
It was a long night, we got there around 8 and left at 11:30, but the food was good and Stephen was able to see some of his cousins so I guess it was a good night.

Mana had this annoying light up music thing that he loved

Katchafire

We went to the Sandy Ampitheatre on Wednesday to watch Katchafire, there was a bunch of other people playing but we mainly went for them.
It was so HOT, there wasnt much shade and when the sun finally went down it was STILL hot.
Dad and the boys all had to get up and do the haka on stage since they are haka monsters, it was really good, Ariel led it.
I was pretty sore after standing up for so long to watch them, we have a couple more concerts before this next baby, should be interesting.

us with Vanz
Ka mate
Logan

Goodbye Sammy

Sammy left on Wednesday, he has gone to Australia to work before his mission and get out of Utah for awhile.
He is going to stay with Phil, whose wife is due on Sunday with their first baby, so I'm sure Phil will be excited to see Sammy.

We will miss you and we love you !!

Sam and his helper
Sam and the little kids
With mum and Dad and the kids
With the Mata'afa's
With us

Markie got married

My cousin Mark got married on Wednesday, July 17th.
It was a beautiful hot day, the looked stoked, she is a really sweet girl and we are so happy.
Arawa, Kelly and Arawa's girlfriend came over from Australia and Jess came from New Zealand for the occassion, its been good to see them.

Kelly, Arawa, Jackson and Ariel
Aunty Judith and Mark
Me and Mana
The Metekingi Boys laughing at their dad
Mana and Uncle Arawa
Mana and Aunty Jess
Mana and Lolo Mark
Siah, Tapua, Dad and Uncle Mark

Cheese before Mana got ready to go
At the ring ceremony
My parents
Mark and his blushing bride
Arawa and his speech to the queen

Sams Eagle Scout

On Wednesday night Sam had his Court of Honor for his Eagle Scout award, I think that was his last big accomplishment before he heads out to Australia.

Way to go Sam, I dont actually know what the Eagle Scout award entails or what its for, but good on ya !Sam, Dad and Sams scout master ? I dont know what its called
Nice lunge Ham
Pinning his Eagle thing on
Sam and parents

My Selfless little Sister

So my 6 year old sister has had very LONG hair for a very LONG time.

Shes not a girly girl at all, she is the youngest of 9 children, and the 4 people in our family older than her are boys, so shes quite the rough little girl.
I'm mean sometimes, and I've told her that if she doesnt take care of her hair, its going to get chopped off and she will look like a boy.
Inspite of my teasing, and her worry that she might look like a boy, today she got a haircut.
She donated 10 inches of her hair to LOCKS OF LOVE, and I'm very proud of her.
She looks abit older, and shes standing a little taller today.

Bronte after her haircut today

This was how long her hair was, this pic was taken July 4th 2008

Waterguns are CRAZY !

We went to Edens birthday party on Saturday and it was so cute. Jes always does a really cute job with her decorations and original ideas. Mana was so into the Watergun he got in the treat bag, he was playing with it for ages.

July 4th

Since Mana wasnt feeling the greatest, we decided to stay home with him, and just let him sleep the day away.

It was good because we can see his mouth is finally clearing up and he was eating today, so after sleeping the day away, around 6pm we decided to go to my parents house for a BBQ, so we would have some kind of celebration for the day.

It was just my family, very simple and very nice.

We went to the Park down the road for a little bit.

The boys decided to play some football, and Bronte and Mana played on the playground, until Mana decided he wanted to play football as well.

We watched my little brothers and sister light there fireworks, and went home.

All in all it was a good, day, nothing to crazy going on so,

Scabby lips..

He falls asleep in the oddest positions

Our poor son has been sick this week.

It started with a fever, then he got one cold sore on the inside of his lip followed by coldsores on his tongue, the inside of his lip and the roof of his mouth.

Friday I think was the worst day for him, his gums were inflammed and one of his coldsores split and started bleeding, poor kid.

I had looked up the symptoms on the net and had been giving him childrens tylenol and using orajel, just to easy the pain in his mouth and try to help him eat.

We decided to go to Instacare on Friday night, and the doctor told us Mana had herpes angina, which is coldsores, and alot of pain, and that the only thing we could give him was exactly what I was giving him.

He also said Mana wasnt contagious, and that it just had to run its course.

Our poor scabby lipped son