An ode to my sister

Happy birthday sister! We love you and wish u many more to come god bless!

Are you that mom?

Are you this mom? The one who uses technology to best of its ability. This is the usual stance my husband sees me every time he walks in the room. So he says. My face buried in my phone. I admit that Im what they call the "social network" mom. I refer to my phone for everything and Anything. The I phone has pretty much APP's for everything and I love the luxury of it. I blame him for being the sweet husband he is by surprising me with such a techie gift. He didnt have to replace the piece of crap blackberry that I had before this one. But he says that that he cant have a normal conversation without me peeking into my phone on what notification has been "pushed" to my phone. I have been summoned that after 500p that I am stricken from my phone to do what normal families do. I laugh at his assumption of a normal family. He hates the fact that I have a blog and doesn't know why I have to blurt to the world on every little aspect of my life. But I try to convince him this is my outlet to letting things go to the universe. As I doing so right now. lol.

Maybe he is right and I need to cut back on my social networking FB, twitter, and blogging. But I love to faikala and its so much fun seeing the happenings in everyone else's life. So really do you get the nag from the husband that your technology use to too much?

Picky eater with bland taste buds

So lately I have been dealing with some picky eaters. And its just not one of my kids its all three (including my husband)I'm sure there is one in every family but ugh I have to deal with 75% of my family. Luckily, my youngest there is still a chance considering she pretty much eats whatever is in front unless its pica (hot)! Oh the woes! How I wish to eat whatever I want without catering to one's of not liking a particular thing. Its freaking annoying really. I am a big advocate of you eat whats cooked and if you dont like it you dont eat at all. That's what I dealt with growing up. OH how there are nights when my glorious effort of making a beautiful dinner, GONE TO WASTE! With my daughters, I can control with what they eat. But daddy on the other hand, sigh, he is a different story. If they see him and he is not eating something I demand them to eat, oh the battle dinner table is on! For example, yesterday I bought Enchilada plates from my daughter school for a fundraiser. I brought them home plated and was actually relieved that no plates would be dirty and my time could be used chatting it up on how everyones day went. But NOOOO! Onions were discovered and my money was wasted cause there was too much going on in the menu. Daddy advised" no one told you to buy those?!" I went off the limb! Its to support our daughters school ! Why wouldnt I buy those damn plates. So the husband opted to cook Simene (ramen noodles) instead. I was furious! Just for once I would love for the kids not gripe and just eat the damn food I cook or order. I know I didnt cook it but sheesh trying times and saving every penny counts. One day we will be on the same page and hopefully I can blog that hell froze over cause they ate every bite. Until then, WISHFUL thinking! How have you conquered picky eating?

RWW-Austin, TX July 2011

RWW: Returning Warrior Workshop - Returning Warrior Workshops (RWWs) are a key component of the Department of Defense Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program. Designed to honor Sailors who have completed an Individual Augmentee (IA) assignment in combat zones or those Sailors exposed to highly stressful situations during deployment, the RWW addresses personal stress generated by deployment activities. Although a Reserve Component event, Active Components are strongly encouraged to participate.

My husband is a big advocate for family workshops when it comes to dealing with deployments. A representative came to my husbands unit and he jumped all over it. We really did not know what to expect but boy were we impressed and highly recommend it to those who are ever presented the opportunity. All expense paid trip for the Sailor and a guest (whether it be a significant other or a friend that truly supported them through this hard time). We applied to the the one in Austin, TX. In the midst of summer, July is not a time to visit the East side of Texas. With temps in the 100's, 75% humidity you can imagine that staying in doors is all we wanted to do. But we did get out. We were able to visit the Capitol, 6th Street, and other parts of town. Luckily, the hubs had family in town so we were able to site see in the 3 days that we were there.

In the 3 day that we were there, they provided a lot of presentations from various speakers that were also sent to a combat zone. In terms of being the supporter of my sailor, with these presentation, it gave me a better insight on how my husband was feeling and ways to deal with it as a supporter of what they called my "warrior" It also gave an assurance that my husband was not the only one feeling they way he felt when returning back to the "civilian life". I really enjoyed it and got to meet other really good people from all walks of life. It made me and my husband that much closer and I would do another one if we were given the opportunity.

Its not easy having a loved one shipped over seas. But with this workshop, we were given tools and technique as a starter to getting back to where we wanted to be not only as a couple but as a family. I am proud of my Sailor and thank all those who sacrifice the ultimate most to serve their county. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service.

Grandma Ese!

My grandma celebrated her 85th birthday and luckily my cousin sent me some pictures of her celebration.Being half way across the world, its hard to come by pictures like this. She has yet to my new created family and hopefully one day we will make that trip to NZ, but during their summer cause baby jesus NZ has crazy winter. lol. I wish we were closer to family to do the huge shin dig! But life is life! Manuia lou aso Fanau Grandma! May God Bless you and many more years to come. Alofa atu!

Some more awesome pics frm my bros wedding

The girls n my bro


My babies gettn down


The whole Ese Aiga


Us sisters n grand kids


The whole Cali, Samoa, N New zealand clan Olo/Ese Aiga


My nephew


Partyn it up!


- blogging on the go with my iphone!

Happy Birthday Tury Man!

Wishing my nephew a Happy birthday. I hope you reach the stars with more years to come! We love you Tury!

Brothers Wedding

My lil brother finally tied the knot. Nothing like a big way to kick off Summer 2011. We had friends and family come from all over the world. Including NEW ZEALAND and SAMOA. It was such a great night. We are still recovering from it. I wish them nothing but the best. Here is a few photos that I coped from their photographer Dan Dalstra. An excellent wedding photograhper I might add.

Happy Birthday Ms. Elicia

Happy Birthday to miss Elicia! You have blossomed so much in these past two years. We love you dearly and wish you nothing but the best!

Easter 2011

Easter was a blast. We had are usual gathering at my sisters house and it never fails that the kiddes get spoiled with gifts from the Easter Bunny. Its like Christmas all over again. lol.

Girls Night Out

In my previous job,during my college days, I used to work for a medical call center. We were a tight knit family before the company was sold to a corporate call center out of town. That was five years ago and we still find time to get together and scarf down some food and drinks before we turn into pumpkins whether it be with just girls or our lil wee families that we have tagged along. Since then, we have all gotten married, had kids, graduated from college, and have careers. But yet, we have our gatherings couple times a year. Yesterday, we had a girls night out at a sushi spot called SUSAKI that features $5 sushi rolls and $3 you call it drinks. My kind of ladies night that is good for my wallet. I swear when we get together it never fails that we have crazy fun. Catching up on how life is going and reminiscing bout the good times. I had a great time. Here is a pic of me and my girls. Thats only half of our group. Some of the other girls could not make it for one reason or another. But I cant wait for next event with the girls which will include our better halfs.

Family!

So Feb. post was a complete bust. I only had a few more days but laziness got the best of me. Well, the sick fairy got the best of our family and seriously is doing some major work on us. Its like a duck duck goose game with her passing it back and forth between my wee lil family. But we have finally kicked it and are finally to the road to recovery. (Fingers crossed)

But now we are in March and boy has Spring season sprung. Slight Breeze with 70 degree heat is my type of Spring. I'm hoping it sticks around for a few weeks because Summer weather can creep any momment and boy does it get hot. But as I always state,I would pick desert heat over humidity any day!.

With all this Spring weather and Spring Break passing us by,we were able to enjoy the weather and get out and about. The zoo sounded like a grand idea with El Paso finally opening up the Africa part of the Zoo. The girls were so estatic over the girafees. We were also able to dust off the old grill and do so good ol grilling and chillin.

Please stick around Spring cause we are not I have yet to Spring clean my house for the Summer.

Here is some pictures to gock at: (Taken with my IPHONE that my husband spoiled me with..whoop whoop mama is up with Technology)

Thanksgiving 2010

We have so many things to be thankful this year. We did our usual split for Thanksgiving. Morning with Husbands family and evening with mines. I swear we ate so much that day. Some of the things we are thankful for.

1. Our Family is finally whole since Hubby has made it back from the Sand Box.

2. Our Health

3. Being Employed.

4. Friends we have made and are part of lives.

5. Thankful for the little things in life.

Below are pictures of the day. (PICTURE HEAVY)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING


ME AND MY OLDEST CHESSING AWAY AND CANT WAIT TO DIG IN


BABY GIRL WAITING FOR THE GRUB


The Feast


The family set up, the girls even had their own table!


2nd Shot


Enroute to my parents house


Me and my minnie me


The Kiddos on round 2


Me and my Nephew Hamming it up


Goof troops us too!

Surprise Homecoming!

My Husband younger brother was also deployed with my husband. He is in the Marines. He made a surprise visit home to surprise my MIL. After a 7 month long deployment he is back for good. One down and one more to go. God is good. Thank you for your service brother!

where in the world...

This seriously has been me the past 2 1/2 months. I have been juggling work, recitals, dance practice, birthday parties, my youngest turning 1, family coming in to town, try to main tain a yard, trying to implement a garden. Its just so exhausting to have name all of those busy items in my life.

But on a good note, This has been the quickest 2 almost 3 months. Only a couple more weeks and husband will be in our arms for a much needed R&R vacation. But until then ....im still alive just living life and trying to take care of mines. Hope all is well with all my moms, military wives, EP chicas, and what not! Take care and until the next one. I hope you have a wonderful day, week,or even months to actually come on here and give you a true entry.

Weekend Hype!

So we have offically scheduled Friday night as date night with daddy on Skype. Its something to look forward to when the week starts all over again. Isa was especially excited cause she had a mouthfull to tell her dad and he was eager to listen. Ily was excited too but decided that she was too tired to stay up with us and fell asleep while all the excitement was going on. We had a few connection problems and finally the juice on hubbys computer decided to go out. But it was the best 30 minutes our lil family can wish for. Pictures to come!



My MIL went OFT this weekend so I got to keep lil cousin Elicia. Having a teen in a house is quite a different story, but she is such a big helper when it comes to my kids. With her staying with me, it makes me see what is to come when my girls get older. lol Anywho, I took her and Isa and my nephew Tamu to go see Alice in Wonderland. I was a bit skeptical about taking the tots cause of the abnormal costumes and Johnny depps extravagant makeup the kids would think it would be a scary movie. So I we sat them down to watch the trailer to see if they would like it and they obliged and eagerly wanted to come watch. Its been a while since Ive seen a 3D movie, but the movie was awesome. The graphics were spectacular and the movie line was even better. A lot of adult humor. lol. My kids did good to my surprise. They got their kids combo and cool glasses. But then 10 mins into the movie they started to whine and wanted to take the glasses off cause they were WAYYYY to big for their face. It was a bit fuzzy but they didnt complain. It was a 2 hour movie but they were easily entertained with all the action going on. We did the usual potty break request. ONce we got back they were getting anxisous and finally opted that they were tired and both fell asleep in my lap for the remainder of the movie. lol.





After the movie, we headed back to my sisters house to watch the UTEP basketball team play their last home game and try to run for the CUSA champ title. UTEP is my alma mater so I am proud supporter of them. Im not a big fan of BBALL but this was the best game ever that I have seen on TV. We were always on our feet. In the first half they were behind, but with all the sweat and tears they managed to pull through and win it by 2 points. Both my brother and BIL were at the game and texting how nuts the game was and the feeling of being their live was an even more treat. As we were watching, I saw my BIL on TV and called him that he was on and managed to take a picture of him as he was talking to me. It was crazy.lol.



The nutty fans celebrating with the team after their win.


My lil bIL on TV. lol

We did our ususal Sunday brunch at my sisters and ended up cooking for the family. I cooked Carne asada fries for the kids and Stuffed bell peppers with rice for us adults. The weather was really nice and spring is slowly making its way to our city. Im so ready for the warm weather cause Im so over the cold. Hopes everyone has a great week.

Isalei's Say the Darnest things at Bedtime

Its Bedtime and tucking my girls into sleep

Isa: Mama,can I tell you something real quick befor I go mimi's

Me: Real quick and then to bed

Isa: I think we should get a boy, like a brother, for daddy.

Me: Really, why? (puzzled)

Isa: Cause daddy is a boy and i think we should get him somebody like daddy. He would like it mama I know. We can get him from the baby shoppe and surprise daddy when he comes home.

Me: (giggling) baby shoppe, huh?

Isa: Yeah, mama you just go and pick them off the shelf like my animals. So, tommorow when you pick me up from Olga we can go to the shoppe,K.

Me: (laughing) well see baby! Just go to sleep. I'll talk to dada to see what he thinks.

Isa: K mama Ill dream about it while im on the beach.

Me: K, baby go to bed now.

If only Isa knew that it didnt come that Easy. I told my husband about it and stated that we have months to save up for a baby brother and that I better not get a cash in advance while he is over there. lol. Happy Friday guys!

My Roots: Mama Olo

(LtoR Mama Olo, Aunty Maliali, Aunty Ropine, & Aunty Pupa'a)

I was browsing my cousin's FB old school pictures and came across this photo. Its a picture of my mom's mother (tina') and her sisters. My mom's tina'( mama olo) is always known for her mean mugging photo poses.lol That lady is crazy at times and we have endless stories on her. Regardless of her crazy ways, I love this women to death.I love this picture cause it shows that even through time they still find time to spend time with each other. I hope that me and my sisters can make a photo like this when we are old and gray.

Happy Birthday Monique

Today marks a wonderful day of our youngest crew member my litter sister Monique turning the big 23!!! It was just yesterday we were bossing her young butt around and still are.lol. She is a wonderful aunt and an even better sister!

We love you monique and wish you nothing but the best. With God's blessing, we hope you achieve everything in life and many more to come.

Love you, Sis!!

Happy Veterans Day!!!!

Happy Veterans Day! Shout out to all the armed forces who dedicated their lives to fight for our freedom! You have sacraficed everything to make sure our country is safe and for that we appreciate your service. Especially my veterans! It runs in my family. Pop's, brother, and my love, Mike.