2008 Year in Review

As we're getting ready to ring in the New Year tonight, I have been reflecting on this past year and what our family has done. So here is a recap of 2008.

January started off with Vai falling at a church function and busting his forehead open. It was serious enough to warrant an ambulance ride to a hospital in the bay area. A nice looking plastic surgeon gave him what seemed like 50 stitches (mostly under the skin for minimal scaring). We felt that we had finally arrived as parents of a dare-devil boy! Our first trip to the ER.

The spring was spent busily getting ready for the "big wedding" of Uncle B and Auntie M. It was a beautiful day and Tata, Vai and Girly were perfect in their duties of groomsmen, ring boy and flower girl. It was a day we won't soon forget.

Shortly before the wedding we lost our Aunt Lisa. It was very, very sudden and we are still mourning our loss. Luckily her oldest daughter has since moved closer to us and so now we don't have to wait for so long to see each other.

Also in the spring we started this blog thingy. Sometimes it is incredibly fun and sometimes can be annoying. But I think we are still dedicated to it for the most part.

Summertime brought about a big change as Tata is now a full fledged US Citizen. Something we actually didn't foresee happening; for at least a few more years. Although not much has changed in our daily lives, it was wonderful to be able to go and vote with him and I can't wait to see his new US passport.

We took lots of weekend trips over the summer, to Paso Robles, Monterey, and southern California. Asides from their swim classes, Vai and Girly also tried their hand at baseball and both seemed to enjoy the sport. But we mostly had a great time being out of school and just hanging with friends.

Vai and Girly started school in the fall. Vai is in the big K and Girly in preschool. They both love it and even Clown boy (Tata gave him that name but I am not sure if it is the right one) wants to stay and "play" when we drop them off.

We hit Oregon in Oct. and had a blast visiting friends and family. Tata even got to play in a rugby tournament and came home with some memorable bruieses. It was a great trip and we hope we can return soon.

The fall was also one of excitement as Tata and I have gotten back to our political routes. We were both on a couple of campaign trails and loved participating in them. We both love the political arena and it was nice to be back and feel involved in our community.

As mentioned, we started off the year in the ER and we almost ended the year the same way . Clown Boy dropped a bar stool on his foot one night and we thought he broke his toe, but nope; just badly bruised it. He didn't walk for almost 5 days. Imagine carrying around a 2 1/2 year old who weighs 32 lbs. Not easy. The toe nail is still black and I am sure it will fall off in a couple of weeks.

Our Thanksgiving and Christmas was spent with lots of family around, just the way we like it. Our children love their cousins and aunties and uncles. We love being from such a big, loud and fun family. The best part is that we keep growing and so there is always someone new to love! This year we welcomed in a new aunt, two new cousins and a new cousin-in-law but we just call him uncle. Our family is our greatest blessing.

We are excited for the new year and all the adventures that it will bring.

Hair Cuts

I would like to be able to claim that my 4 1/2 year old daughter has never had a hair cut, but I can't. She was born with a full head of hair and at 3 months old we had to style it with bows and head bands just to keep it out of her face. Both her Tata and I are in love with long flowing Polynesian hair. She has the perfect combination, soft, wavy and silky hair. There is some Fijian tradition that you don't cut little girls hair until a certain date. My sister-in-law didn't have her first hair cut until she was 10 years old. However, I told Tata at the rate Girly's hair grows she will be walking on it by the age of 10. So we settled on her 5th birthday as the time when she would receive her first hair cut. Well that was a few years ago. Girly has taken it upon herself to cut her own hair. To date she has had 5 hair cuts total! Yep 5! and 4 were in the last month alone. Her first self hair cut was in March of 2006. I cried so hard, because she cut it so short in the front section it looked like she was trying to scalp herself. Until that piece grew long enough to hide in a pony tail she wore what we called the "Donald Comb-over!" I think we made her feel so bad after that because anytime we mentioned cutting her hair she would cry! Great our guilt worked! Or so we thought. If we even talked about having a professional cut it she would swell up with tears, shouting, NO! NO! NO! Phew we were safe. The first hair cut!

Well, in the last month she decided that when ever anything gets stuck in her hair she just takes a pair of scissors to remove it herself. To date she has cut out chewing gum, and 3 pony tail holders. Instead of coming to one of us and asking if we will help get them out she just finds the nearest pair of scissors and simply removes the object with long strand of hair attached. Then she proceeds to bring us the handful of hair. Some times we find the hair on the floor. She just drops it there once the annoyance is removed. Lucky for us with her curls you can't tell and it looks like she has layered hair. However there is no rhyme or reason to her layers because she just cuts randomly. After this last episode I decided that was it. We were heading to a professional to try and fix the damage. But we had another instance of immense tears. Seriously I don't get why she is so scared to have someone else cut her hair when she is willing to do it herself all the time. I have caught her trying to attempt to remove another pony tail holder and told her to come to me and I was able to untangle it with out having to remove any hair. So now I am at a loss as to what to do. I've decided I won't mention getting a professional hair cut again until her birthday. Then we can play it up to what a grown up thing it will be and how much fun it is to go and have your hair styled. I have also removed all the scissors from her sight; they are now hidden in a special place in our office. Hopefully this will derail any thoughts of cutting her hair again. Maybe this is her secret addiction. Who knows.

This is what her hair looks like today. It is any one's guess as to what it will look like tomorrow!

Was it Black Friday?

I am one of those crazy people who have the tradition of getting up early and shopping the day after Thanksgiving. I do it every year. While living in Hawaii one year we did the midnight run to Wal-Mart to line up for the 5 am opening. (Wal-Mart had to do as Hawaii still does not have a Target!) This has become my holiday weekend tradition. Some years I even have all my Christmas shopping finished in one day. I make a plan, scour the adds and have in mind which items I will buy. I usually go with a buddy so that someone can stand in line while the other person shops and then switch. I am a shopper at heart so I really look forward to this tradition. This year something was different. I am still a little perplexed as to what happened. I had every intention of hitting the stores early on Friday. I have my Christmas list completed so I knew what I needed to purchase but as I looked through all of the adds for Black Friday, nothing on my list was on major sale. Most items were $5-$10 off but not the hot door buster deals that I usually get. I found plenty of things that were on sale that I personally would like to buy for myself but I feel weird buying something for myself so close to Christmas as I feel that my husband should! After several attempts to find that one hot item that would be my excuse to hit the stores early, I decided that there was nothing worth fighting all the crowds for! I stayed home, slept in, laid around the house until my kids said that we needed to do something. At 2 pm we finally got dressed, and went bowling with the kids. Then we came back home fixed the kids some pizza. At 8 pm my hubby and I went out to dinner for a date and just 45 minutes before closing I stepped into my first store, but not to buy anything, just to look. What happened to my fabulous tradition...is it because of the bad economy? Am I growing up and finding that I shouldn't spend money if it isn't want I really want? I am feeling lost this morning. Something is not right in the universe.

What's in a name

We have been trying to decide on a nick name for our youngest child. He is already 2 1/2 and his siblings nick names came rather quickly, since birth! But we just haven't settled on one for the baby yet. But usually that is what he ends up being called "baby." I don't like it because I am sure at age 15 he will hate it, and probably before that. Tata calls him the clown because he is the joker of the group. He makes the funny faces, has the strangest responses to things, and usually has something funny to say. Most of the time when people hear him talk and they hear his logic they are shocked that he is only 2 1/2 . When we ask him what his name should be it usually is something different like today he wants to be called by his first name and then the last name of Incredible. Should I be worried that we can't figure out a nick name for him? I feel like we are leaving him out of something since we don't have another name for him like his siblings. Or maybe I am just too concerned about nothing.

Yes, School House Still Rocks

I am sitting in my office listenting to the DVD my children are watching and I am washed over with a flood of memories. If you have never seen School House Rock, I suggest you race out to your store immediately and purchase it. It is one of the ages!

Conjunction junction what's your function?

I remember taking American Government in high school and singing the Just a Bill song in my head as I took the final.

Whew...it's over!

I don't think I am the only person who feels this way. I want to scream it from the roof tops... the election is FINALLY over. I have been so bombarded with phone calls, mailers and nastiness from neighbors, I am so glad it is over.

As I stayed up late last night watching returns I had many mixed emotions. I didn't vote for our new president elect, (the person who I would have like to see win wasn't even listed on my ballot) but I seriously recognized the history being made as we elected our first African-American president. I felt sincerity in his speech as he reached out to those of us who are still very skeptical of him and his plan for our country. Going into last night I thought I would be pretty depressed but surprisingly I wasn't. As I listened to him, my thoughts were all right man, here is your shot. You Democrats have no more excuses! I am willing to cross party lines I will be open. As much as I wasn't a strong McCain supporter either I was equally impressed with his speech. Wither or not you agree with his policies you must recognize that he has made a tremendous contribution to our country. There have been elections in the past where we have seen sore losers. Even as recent as 4 years ago. However, you can't say that about McCain he was gracious in his defeat and in offering his full support to our President-elect and also encouraging his supporters to do so.

It wasn't all disappointing. We were successful in CA, the one part of this election where I worked the hardest. As much as it was an up hill battle, Prop. 8 passed! As many people said last night now is a time to heal and come together. Bob Marley said it best..."Don't worry about a thing...Everything little thing gonna be alright."

Yes on Prop. 8

In our state of California we have a very heated election in regards to a proposition. In 2000 61% of California voters stated that they wanted marriage to be defined as between a man and a woman. This summer 4 judges ignored the will of the people and overturned that decision and allowed same sex marriage in our state. Now with election nearing voters will be asked to define marriage for the California state Constitution. Only 14 words will be added to the constitution if Prop 8 passes. It will state "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California."

There are several reasons why I am in favor of this proposition; religious freedom, parental rights, a government that is actually governed by the people and not judges who ignore the people. I have heard and read a lot of hateful things about people like me who are in favor of traditional marriage. I do not hate gay or lesbians, nor do I attack their lifestyle. Let them live as they choose but please afford me the same respect. Under California law gay and lesbian domestic partners already have all the same rights and privileges as married couples. Prop 8 isn't taking any rights they already have away.

The supporters of "No on 8" claim that this is about hate. Some friends of friends asked us to share their experience as they participate in this political process. I will let you judge for yourself who is promoting hate and intolerance here.

In response to having lawn signs stolen on a regular basis in our area, we decided to display our position on Prop 8 with a large banner. This afternoon a couple of women pulled up in front of our home and started painting on the windows of their car. I guess they disagreed with us. As they were painting these messages, my husband came out and asked them if they would like to have a conversation. The "conversation"consisted of them calling us bigots, promoters of hate & prejudice, parents who didn't protect their children and un-Christian (this last comment causing my 11 year old son to cry because he IS a Christian and is so very proud of it!) My husband and children tried to engage in conversation to share our concerns and point of view and were met with increased intensity and anger. Their entire message was that we were closed-minded, motivated by hate and prejudice. In the end, we left them to their project...knowing that sharing and trying to understand one another's point of view was NOT something they were interested in. Here's what we were left with in front of our home.

By the way...we live across the street from a kindergarten playground...what a nice thing the kids will be able to see at recess and as they walk to and from home. Now for the good news...since this happened this afternoon we've had all kinds of people drive by taking pictures, talking with us and expressing support. In fact, a wonderful family from our school stopped by to tell us how sorry they were. They are voting No on 8 and long ago we decided that we would be that balancing force for each other in the universe. I was impressed by the way they went out of their way to make sure all was well with us and to let us know that they supported us even though we disagree on this issue. THIS is the American way... I wish this whole election process would be designed to promote these types of feelings among neighbors instead of the hate and intolerance that seems to be becoming such a prevalent part of our daily lives.

Even if you are against Prop 8 I respect the fact that you are entitled to your views and encourage EVERYONE to vote no matter where you stand on the issue. We all have that right. But as I show respect for you and your views I hope you would afford me the same. No more stealing signs and calling names, you don't have to run me off the road or flip me off while my children are in the car. We are all trying to live and do what we think is right according to your own hearts and minds. Hopefully once the election is over we can all come together again as neighbors and humans who all share this place called earth.