MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

We had four Christmases this year!

We started with a nice relaxed morning at our house. I had been up late wrapping some gifts but I was still the first one up. I was so anxious! Finally Wayne and Malia woke up and we got to open presents. Malia got a doll with a stroller and basinet and Wayne got a Rockband. He was so surprised! - it is so not in my nature to buy something like that, but since we got a gift card from the bowl game and Wayne has been pining over it for a month. . . I thought I could stray a little from my norm. Unfortunately, I didn't take a picture of him opening it (aargh!) but it was definitely worth it. He looked like a little boy on Christmas morning!. . .well. . . okay, nevermind.

After our house, we went to Vai and Tevita's house, Wayne's mom and step dad. We brought gifts for the little girls and they LOVED them. They are at the perfect age where they really got what was going on - it was so much fun!!!


Nia, Sili, Ita, Kawika, Leo, little Vai, Wayne, me, Kika, Malia and Vai, Tevita

After we opened gifts, we played outside in the snow. Kina, Wayne and Tevita started to build an igloo in the front yard. It was HUGE. Kina took Malia around for her first time playing in the snow. We bundled her up so much she reminded me of the little boy on "A Christmas Story". She was very curious and a little cold, but had a blast.



Next, we stopped at Wayne's dads house. Everyone had gotten a gift for everyone so it was really nice. Waynes sisters are some of the funnest people to give gifts to. It is so rewarding. No matter what it is they will scream and jump up and down and carry on like you gave them a million dollars. lol. Needless to say, it was hilarious.

Wayne, Leo, Kika, Melba and Malia, Kalo and little Kina, Kina, Ita, Sili and Nia


Lastly, we went to my mom and dads house. Since Tali, David and Shan were in California visiting my grandparents it was just Michael, Joe, Gioey, Mom, Dad and us. Joe and Gioey gave us some yummy homemade cookies which Malia immediately started to enjoy. I didn't take a group shot unfortunately, but it was sweet to hang out with everyone.


My highlight this Christmas was seeing Malia enjoy her present, spending time with family and giving a little something for everybody. It's so fun to watch people open a gift you thought about. Ahhh. I love Christmas!!

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The day after Christmas the festivities continued when Mele and Kaliti came from Sandy for a visit. We watched some movies, ate a lot of food and just enjoyed having them down here with us.

Malia was espeically taken by Junior. Look at her gaze up at him. lol. Man, if they weren't cousins. . . .lol.




What a wonderful Christmas!! err. . . I mean, What wonderful ChristmasES!!:)

alisa toelupe christmas party

My family had our annual white elephant Christmas party on Christmas eve. Nii Kinikini organized it and she made it great. All the families were assigned a color. My dad's family was BLUE. Auntiy Ireen's family was WHITE. Uncle Pupi's family was RED. Uncle Lafi's family was GREEN. It was a good way to keep all organized:) There was MUSIC, FOOD, GAMES and of course, PRESENTS. Overall? A WONDERFUL party and a fun time with the fam.

VIva Las Vegas!!

Last week Saturday was the BYU bowl game in Las Vegas. Wayne, Malia, Kina, big Kina and I all went down on Tuesday with the team for an all expenses paid vacation. WOOHOO! We opted to drive instead of fly so the little girls could have their own schedule. It worked out nicely. To add to the fun Mom, Dad, Tali and Sili drove down on Wednesday and Wayne's dad, Kalo, Melba, Nia, and Kika came down on Friday. PLUS, we have some very good friends on the team SOOOO, it was a fun-filled week of family, friends and relaxation. My favorite thing about a bowl game? THE BOWL GIFTS!! lol. This year we got a Wii among other things. Thank you Pioneer!! Unfortunately, BYU lost to Arizona 31-21 (sad!) but we're still glad we all got to have the experience together.

Here's how it all went down. . .


We left in the morning in the middle of a snow storm. The girls slept for the first 3 hours and when they woke up Malia had some wiggles to get out so we stopped at McDonald's in Cedar City and let her run wild.

When we got back in the car, Malia was happy and fell back asleep till we got to Vegas

Kina came down with us to help me watch the girls since Wayne was busy most of the day with the team. She was seriously a HEAVEN SENT BLESSING! I couldn't have survived without her. This is the first day in Vegas. We went walking down the strip and didn't have a stroller for Malia. She fell asleep in Kina's arms.

Tali, Kina, Sili, me, Candice, Malia

Our favorite thing to do in Vegas was to "SHOP" (ie walk around and look at all the things that are too expensive to buy). We got a lot of miles on those strollers! The following are some pics we took while SHOPPING. . .

We stayed in the beautiful Planet Hollywood Hotel. We especially loved the huge bathtubs and the phones by the toilet. They were at a perfect height for you know who. . .

One thing I did not like about the beautiful hotel - the elevators. They were so fast they made me dizzy every time. BUT there was music and a flat screen TV in each of them so at least I could watch Sili get her groove on.

This is how we rolled in Vegas. It was a Buick Enclave - so beautiful and powerful. Wayne and I have decided THIS is what we want when we are rich one day. lol. Thanks Vai for renting the car!

Malia had so much fun with all her aunties there. We love our family! Can you see how much she was cracking up in these pictures?

After baths we would walk to put the girls to sleep in the Miracle Mile mall under our hotel. Worked like a charm every time . . .

Malia and Michael

Tema, Kina, me and Candice

Malia, Rocky and Tevita

The team set up a hospitality room in the hotel for the players and their families. It was full of ping pong, nintendo, free drinks and of COURSE, CREAMERY ICE CREAM! Needless to say, we spent a lot of time in there:)

Kina and Tali with the little girls

Melba and Kina, Kika, Nia, Sili and Wayne

On Thursday, Wayne got me a pedicure at the spa in the Venetian. One of our friends friend from Hawaii gave us her 60% off employee discount - THANK YOU LORI!! It was the BEST treatment I've ever gotten. They put this ice cream thing in the water which made everything creamy and smooth and their strawberry lemonade was the bomb! Thank you Wayne!


On Friday we got to see my baaaast friend from Hawaii Lono Hanohano and his girlfriend Amber. They were there on vacation. It was so nice to catch up with them. LOVE YOU GUYS!!

When the family came down we lunched at In & Out. It was the very first time most of us had ever eaten there. I gotta say - I was all about Jack in the Box, but the IN & OUT burgers are incredible. YUMMY!!!

Mom, Kina, Kalo, Sis. Hunkin, Malia, Tema, Me, Nia, Kika, Sili

Wayne spoke at the Friday night fireside. He spoke about being a disciple of Christ and shared a little story about Kina. It was very nice.

at the game with the fam

All in all, it was a great trip. It was fun to hang out with the fam and be on vacation. I'm going to miss BYU football in our lives, but I'm excited to watch Michael when he gets home from his mission. Even with their losses, it was a good season and I'm grateful we got to be a part of it.

VIVA LAS VEGAS!!