Waking Up in Vegas!

This past weekend Anthony and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary in the city that literally never sleeps - Las Vegas! We left Bountiful at noon on Friday after giving Sina a million kisses because we are suckers when we have to be away from Sina for more than a day. We arrived in Las Vegas at about 5:30 and checked in to the Grandview Hotel on Las Vegas Blvd. When we got to our room the first thing I noticed was the awesome living room with flat screen TV and then the bedroom with a jaccuzi tub....aahh...it seriously was like a dream. This was the fanciest hotel we had ever stayed in. Usually our hotel stays consist of six people in a two bedroom room with everyone camping on the floor!! haha...love that about my family...we have too much fun together...



So after checking the place out we decided to give the jacuzzi tub a try...so awesome!! After hanging out for a little bit we decided to get some dinner. We cruised down Las Vegas Blvd and found a Popeye's chicken. I haven't had Popeye's since my mission. We decided to save our elaborate anniversary dinner for the next night while we splurge on chicke and red beans and rice. My childhood friend,Alvin Pritchard, was supposed to meet up with us that night, but we decided we would spend some "us" time and postponed all friends and family time until Saturday. We ended up spending the night in our hotel room "watching movies" ;)

Saturday was awesome. We got to spend time with Alvin and his whole family. We chatted for a few hours reminiscing about the good old days. We ended up going back to the hotel and swimming in the very cool waterfall pool! We ended the night by going to the Aloha bar with Serine and her huband Daryll. It was such a blast!! We sang karaoke after getting drunk off of water and cokes...we sang some Alicia Keys and Lauryn Hill...just like old times! That night we ate dinner at the famous Rio Buffet. It was hands down the best buffet I have ever been to. We look forward to going there again next month on our way to San Diego. The Hawaiian coconut ice cream and eclairs were to die for!

Needless to say, we didn't sleep much the whole time we were there. We checked out of our hotel at 10 am and started our trek back to good old SLC. The anniversary was the perfect vacation and just the break we needed from life. It is good to be back now and to be with our Sina and mom and the family.

These past two years we have made time to take short weekend vacations and I have become a firm believer in taking advantage of opportunities in life to get out and enjoy family and friends because we only live once and since turning 30 I realize I am not getting any younger...so I look foward to many more of these weekend getaways!!

another milestone

I just had to note that Sina used the toilet for the first time last Saturday - Sept 5th! She thought she was a big girl...no diaper, getting the toilet paper all by herself....I just knew she would do it when she was ready....My lil' girl is growing up!!!

week 1 successfully completed

So the daily journal thing isn't working out too well, but the past 4 days have been amazing!

**Thursday**
Zumba dance class kicked butt. It is well worth the $5 I sacrifice for lunch. Looking forward to doing this every Tues and Thurs

**Friday**

Upper body workout - 1hr 2 mins
FLYS
PULL DOWNS
ARM CURLS
TRICEPS
SHOULDER LIFTS

**Saturday**
No Zumba. 20 mins intensity on elliptical machine with a 5 min cool down

**Sunday - FREE DAY **
Ate whatever I wanted and rested from the workouts

**Monday**
Lower body again - this time with intensity level crunches
Calves were straining from last Wed, but it feels dang good

WEEK 1 is completed....the hard part is over now for CONSISTENCY!!!

body for life...

It has been 3 days since I started hitting the gym again and getting on a 'good' eating plan. It took some very depressing recent family portraits to make me realize that "it is time".

** Tuesday 9/1/09***
Cardio - 20 mins on the elliptical machine (intensity level workout)

**Wednesday 9/2/09***
Lower Body -
Leg lifts
Hamstring lifts
Calf raises
Crunches and leg lifts

**Thursday 9/3/09**
Cardio - potential "Zumba" dance class

I'm keeping an on-going log of workout and meal activities. As extra motivation I will try to keep a daily journal of it all right here....

we are blessed

After all my ranting about being burnt out, I feel like I should share how blessed we've been this past month. Geez...where to begin....

Last time Brian was in town (Brian is my palagi brutha from another mother) he recommended we see a vascular specialist for mom's back and leg pains. It took a good 2 months to get an appt, but we finally went in for some testing. We were happy to find out that she does NOT have any vascular issues, but the pain may be due to pinched nerves in the back that come from old age, etc. We are going to see a back specialist in 2 weeks for an MRI and hopefully a miracle shot to help her stand straight and relieve some of the pain.

About two weeks ago I decided that it was time to see an OBGYN to see if we can get Sina a little brother or sister. Anthony and I are due to see Dr. Irian on Sept 25th. I'm nervous of any bad news, but excited to see what we can do to "get this party started". haha...hopefully its nothing too drastic. Anthony is praying for his son and I wouldn't mind that too much.

August is coming to a close and with it all of the summer activities we had with the youth in our ward. Starting with youth conference, stake girls camp, Raging Waters, mutuals, YW medallions, the banquet to honor the medallion recipients, and the back to school fireside, not to mention the sleepovers, new presidencies and trainings - the summer was a tad busy! It will be nice to mellow out for a while. Though it has been stressful at times, I feel extremely blessed for the time we spend and the sacrifices that are made for our callings in the church. I know the blessings far surpass the hardships and trials, though sometimes I only realize it when I sit and think about what all the Lord has done for us...we could never repay Him really, but we try by magnifying our callings and helping to build His church here.

About 3 weeks ago we received a surprise in the mail. To make a long story short, about a year and a half ago I submitted all of Anthony's paperwork to the Immigration to adjust his status to a permanent resident. In a nutshell, he was approved to stay in the US, but denied the permanent residence until I changed my status from US national to US citizen. We were devastated at the time because of all the money that was spent and how much money was to be spent on more paperwork. I even did all of the research myself and filed all of the papers myself to save money by not having to hire a lawyer. Well, about 2 months ago I finally submitted my citizenship papers. When the immigration received them, they overturned their decision on Anthony's permanent residence and granted it to him. We didn't have to spend more money, we didn't have to do another interview or anything. He got his card in the mail last Thursday. It was an amazing feeling to finally have that past us. What a relief! In addition to that, when Anthony told Chris (the boss) that he got his PR card to replace his work permit that just expired, he got a raise....not sure if it was a gesture of congratulations or if it was a desperate plea to stay with the company...whatever it was...we are happy!

Finally, my brother Mani was with us this past weekend. He flew in on Saturday, helped me with my YW banquet and sang at our youth fireside. We stayed up all night Saturday playing games and then again on Sunday night jamming with the uke and guitar just like old times. We went to Raging Waters on Monday and had FHE at Crazy Buffet. He flew back yesterday after one last game of Mexican Train. It was sad to say goodbye. Its so nice to have my brothers visit, but hard when its time to for them to leave.

Just had to take a moment to name a FEW of the many blessings we have received this year. I don't have time to update the blog as often as I would like to so I think I will start a generic post entitled "Sina update" so that I can post things new about Sina.....

SLUMBER PARTY / CONGRATS NEPHI!!!

This last weekend was a blast. Saturday we were able to help Fua and Belle move to their new house closer to the Bountiful temple. Sulu and Pe'e lucked out by getting the sectional couch they had in their family room. They finally have furniture and people can visit! Yay!

Later that day, Cine and Sa came over with the girls and we hung out in the pool. Sina and Leka have no fear of the water - jumping in the deep end, swimming from one end to the other and Sina giving her uncle instructions on how to hold your breathe under water...nice!

After watching La Bamba on TV we decided to play Mexican Train. Needless to say, yours truly prevailed AGAIN to hold tight to the title of Mexican Train Champion. That all ended at about 2 in the morning...so much fun!

Church on Sunday seemed extra special. I walked in to YW's after sunday school expecting to see a few girls and then having to round up everyone else like I usually do, but that was not the case that day. I walked in and ALL my girls were sitting in two straight lines with folded arms and it was actually QUIET! That in of itself was AMAZING! They teach me so much and I really am grateful to have this calling.

Later that night Fua and Belle and the kids came by to drop off some extra blankets they had at their house. We were hanging out at Sulu' house and ended up having a slumber party there. We stayed up talking stories and clowning on each other. We drank koko Samoa with bread. We didn't get to bed until almost 3. The last thing I hear before dozing off was Sina saying "Good night Uncle", "Good night honey"....mimicking her aunty...oh my gosh...

***Nephi called us Sunday night to say that he is officially hired on with the California Corrections Dept. We are so happy and proud of Nephi and all his accomplishments. He will start his boot camp training in November and we will be cheering him on! ***

Burnt Out . . .

The month of June seemed to come and go in a whirlwind and I find myself totally drained and exhausted. We had youth conference in the beginning of June and the Stake girls camp the last part of June in which I camped out at both activities. We even drove to St. George for Nathan's wedding in June. I have to say that I am officially burnt out. I am burnt out on life and church and everything in between and there is very little you can squeeze in between those two things.

On any other day I would feel bad saying this, but not today. I seriously have been functioning on over-drive and absolutely cannot do it anymore. So if there is anyone else out there that is feeling my pain, just know that you are not alone.

Im just happy it's the weekend for me (we don't work on Fridays) and that I can relax when I get home. Even with 3 day weekends I haven't managed to recuperate from the June slump. I do have to say that the one thing that I recently discovered that is keeping me somewhat sane is the game Farmville on facebook. It's just a stupid game where you grow crops and sell them, but I find myself worrying about my wheat and eggplants dying on me. I know it's totally lame-o, but it actually brings a smile to my face when I see the purple buds starting to sprout. I promise I have not lost my mind....yet...

And of course Sina always makes me smile. When she wants me to watch Barney with her she will come and grab my hand and say "sit here mommy...watch barney". And then before we sleep at night she makes me sing all the songs from Barney, Little Einsteins, and Berenstain Bears. I love watching her sing along and she knows all the words! So amazing.... I just have to ask sometimes, How can she be so smart? But then again...I AM her mom! (hahahaha....howz that for conceit)

Just talking about her makes me smile. Gee...I'm feeling better already. This blog thing is awesome! Alrighty...gotta go check on the farm.....