happy halloween!

Halloween is so much more fun for me with kids! Probably just because I get to see an old holiday through brand new eyes. Malia's favorite words this month were "pumpkin", "scary?" and "halloweeeen". She got very good at spotting jack-o-lanterns on porches while driving in the car and asking for candy everywhere we went (probably cause for the first time in her life she knew she would always get some).

When people asked, "What are the girls gonna be for Halloween?" I would just kinda shrug my shoulders. My mom had sent a box of random different costumes she had bought cheap in Hawaii, so I just chose from those. It was easy and I loved not spending money. Next year, I'm gonna really try to go the hard route to be super creative and actually think of something for them to BE. Woohoo. It was a week long celebration of Halloween!

On Monday, we had a Halloween themed FHE at the Hafokas. . . Okay, now that I think about it, it was actually just a normal FHE with the kids wearing costumes. ha ha.
(Line and Spencer, Candice and Kaylene, me and Kina, Mata and Malia)

On Wednesday, we went to story-time at the library. The theme this week was Halloween and all the kids came dressed up. At the end, they gave out masks instead of coloring pages like they usually do. Malia was excited to have Tali and Inoke there with us!

On Thursday, we went to the BYU Spooktacular. This was definitely the LEAST fun thing we did this week - too crowded, too hot, and no organization. The girls went as sheep (you know, Mary's little lambs? - ha ha I thought it was cute), but it was too hot to wear them long. I don't think we'll be going back next year.

This is a little bday party we went to (Adalie is the mermaid and birthday girl). Kina was a tortoise and Malia was a hare. I crack myself up. lol


On Halloween day, Malia took a late nap so we MISSED our wards trunk-or-treat (we are STILL bummed!), but we made it to the mall for some trick-or-treating fun. We met up with Saia, Line and Spencer and Ula and Tupu. The kids were tired about half way through, but the adults still had blast.


Afterwards, we went to the Uyemas halloween party. There was lots of food and games for the kids. Aaand the best couple costume of the day award went to. . . CRYSTAL AND SPENCER! LOL! Ah, You guys crack me up!

It was so fun to see Malia actually "get it" this year. She loved dressing up, seeing other kids' costumes and saying "trick-or-treat" for candy. We can't wait till next year. Hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

i feel ya girl

At almost every luau I've gone to, the MC's always say the same corny lines. A favorite is, "In Polynesia we don't eat till we're full. We eat till we're tired." That line came into mind as I watched my poor little girl try to get comfortable while finishing her toast today.


Faka ofa

(Bonus points for the day - Can anyone name the TV show I was watching? he he)

a halloween party for the books

Yesterday, we got the party season started with a Halloween party at Vao's house. I first met Vao when we danced together at PCC way back when and she's been my dear friend ever since. She just moved here from Texas and I am SO excited that we now live close enough to hang out. She invited us over to her house for what I thought was gonna be a small kine Halloween playdate. . . but it turned out to be like, the bombest Halloween party ever. Seriously, Martha's got nothin' on this girl. She prepared so well and all the kids had so much fun. Even though it's going to take forever, I want to record every detail so I can use her great ideas next year. he he


They started out with pumpkins! Each kid had their own to decorate and instead of knives or paint (too messy) they had a bajillion different foam stickers to put on their pumpkins. The kids loved it and the moms were very pleased with the cleanup.


When Vao said we'd be playing games, I was slightly wary of the idea of organized games for such young kids. BUT she made them all simple and short so they understood it and never got bored. Malia LOVED it! The first was a Ghost Race - they had to keep a white balloon (with a ghost face) on their plate while running races - and then Pumpkin Ring Toss - Malia didn't get any of her rings on the pumpkins but she sure celebrated like she had.


After, they played Pin the Sticker on the Skeletons Head (random, huh, but they loved it) and Find the Scary Critter - the kids had to unroll a bundle of toilet paper until they found different little insects in the bundle (again, very random - but they LOVED it!)


Then, we went outside! The kids had a Pumpkin Toss (just a blanket and soft pumpkin - so easy!) and a Mummy Making. Tali made a very good mummy.


They played Musical Mats (with Halloween music, of course) and then my favorite game of the day - Monsters Gonna Get YOu . . . I think it was just an excuse for the moms to spray the kids and each other with silly string . . .

But we all loved it! ha ha

The games worked up quite an appetite. We went back inside for the lunch of champions - Pizza, fresh fruit, Capri Sun and CUPCAKES! YuM!!


This was my favorite idea of the whole day - caramel apple lollipops! Instead of dipping the whole apple into caramel - messy and too much for kids to finish - she used a melon scooper to get little apple balls, stuck them on lollipop sticks then dipped them in caramel! So smart, huh! There was also sprinkles and nuts to roll on if desired. It was super yummy and VERY easy to clean up. We finished the party with a pumpkin pinata. Someone please teach that poor little girl how to hold a bat.

Whew! A day full of fun and laughs. . . AND great ideas to one day duplicate. ha ha Thanks Vao!!!
Love these girls! - me, Muimui, Tali, Lene, Vao

Happy Halloween!!

introducing HERMANA LATU

Nia got her mission call!! Don't worry, if you didn't know she was working on her papers you are not alone. She kinda surprised everyone and did all her work in secret. ha ha. I love it when missionaries do that - it's such a fun surprise! Soo, she received her call this morning and we all gathered this evening to open it. She is going to the. . .

SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA SPANISH SPEAKING MISSION!

Woohoo! We are so excited for Nia and the experiences she will have as a missionary. Here's some pictures to document the special occasion . . .


Latu siblings from oldest to youngest - Kalo, Leo, Melba, Wayne, Kina, Nia, Sili and Kika


Latu girls

The Popes and the boys

Everybody

Congratulations Nia!!

jack-o-lanterns for fhe

I've never been a big jack-o-lantern person. As a family we just never really did it and if we did my artistically inclined brother Joseph would always get nominated to the job so I would really only see the before and after product. Therefore, you can understand why I was so shocked at the messiness of pumpkins when we decided to carve jack-o-lanterns for our FHE activity. Seriously, it's pretty gross. BUT, I'm glad we did it and like haunted houses, I think it's safe to say I've had my fill of jack-o-lanterns for the year. he he


Wayne and Malia were not nearly as grossed out as I was with all the pumpkin goo


Kina played it cool and just chilled while the rest of us worked. (By the way, I got that cute pink Osh Kosh reversable jacket at the BYU Lost and Found sale for a BUCK!! Woohoo!)

Our finished jack-o-lanterns. Take a good look kiddos - they're probably the last ones you'll see for a while. he he

boo!

Last night, we went to a haunted house with the Hafokas for our date night. It was good Halloween fun. I screamed the whole time while Wayne laughed his head off. . . ugh. guys. See, I didn't mind the initial scaring, but after that the monsters and stuff would follow me and like, purposefully breathe down my neck - probably cause they could already see I was scared. Soo, I was a little shaken up afterward, BUT I'm glad I got to get my scare on to get in the Halloween mood. And, yes, I think I've had my haunted house fill for the season.


Me and Wayne - Poor guy. I was either clawing at his arm or shoving him into the oncoming monster. Sorry hon.

Saia and Line - They were so brave. They went first and took on a lot of the scary stuff for us. Thanks guys!

Afterward, Line suggested we go to Yozone in Provo for dessert. It is seriously my new FAVORITE place in the whole wide world - it's SOOO yummy! And since it's either non-fat or low-fat yogurt, I figure it's practically like drinking a big glass of milk and running a few miles. Woohoo! Healthy and Delicious!! ha ha Ah! I can't wait till we go back next weekend. Thanks Line!

Special thanks to our numero UNO babysitter, MELBA!! THANK YOU!!

pumpkins!!!

Being OCTOBER and all, we decided to go to PUMPKIN LAND! It's a farm with a corn maze, a pumpkin themed playground, animals, a light display AND pumpkins on sale for less than a dollar. MY kind of place. And best of all, it was only about 10 minutes away from our house. We went with some friends a made it a playdate. The kids had a blast and I should have worn closed toe shoes. . . things got slightly dirty. ha ha.


All the kiddies on the giant pumpkins - Elenoa, Elise, Unga, Kina, Malia, Spencer, Talai, Rachel and Tau

First Elenoa liked Kina. . . then she wanted to eat her.

In the jack-o-lantern

I think Malia's pumpkin was a little heavy

With the Fales

Tubing

Love my little girls!

Happy October everyone!

alo! from puerto rico!

My little bro Michael has been a missionary for almost a whole year!! He's doing great! His first few months were spent in Puerto Rico speaking Spanish, then he was transferred to Aruba and was speaking Papamiento, NOW he is in Curacao and learning Dutch. Oh my goodness!! ha ha. I had no idea there were so many places OR languages included in the Puerto Rican mission. It is so fun to hear about his experiences. He is such a good example to me. I'm so proud of him for being such a great missionary. Here's a little excerpt from his last letter and some pics he sent with their captions . . .

"I am so grateful for this gospel. I know that this church is true. It has been restored and set up for the strengthening of us, Gods children. It is simple, pure, and beautiful. God makes us stretch but does all he can to give us the support needed to not break. True happiness has one source, God. And he is the source of all truth and righteousness."

"two neighborhood kids that help me learn papiamento"

"The rat in our house that we killed! haha" (I swear, why do all Elders love pictures like this? lol)

LOVE YOU Elder Alisa!!
!Sigue Adelante!

see Kina walk!

Today marks ONE MONTH that Kina has been walking! The first couple of weeks were pretty wobbly - all the bruises and scabs on her face made her look like quite the scrapper - but she's slowly getting the hang of it. I think she likes walking mostly cause it helps her keep up with her big sister, Malia and makes her feel like a big girl too. Goodness, she's growing up so fast!

Yay for Kina!!

general conference

Last weekend was General Conference. We debated for days whether to travel up to Temple Square or stay home to watch it, but in the end we went up both days. I'm so glad we did! - it was a wonderful conference. My favorite talk of all sessions was Elder Bednar's "More Diligent and Concerned at Home" - I'm excited to study it as a family for FHE. Sunday drizzled a bit, but the rain just made for more fun for Malia in between sessions - she can say "umbrella" now and she used it a LOT that day. And of course, it was so fun to eat with family and friends during the break. It was a very special weekend.

Sili and Malia, me and Kina, Tali and Inoke - I love this pool

If you're wondering if she could see where she was going, the answer in no. Add that to the fact that no one could see HER and you got a pretty funny picture.

Kina walking with Inoke and Tali - I don't think she could see where she was going either.

Our lunch table - Crichton was walking into this room and passed an older haole woman coming out. He overheard her friend ask her, "What's going on in there?" "It's a Polynesian FEAST" she says. LOL!

It's such a blessing for me to be able to hear and attend conference. I was humbled meeting several people who had traveled thousands of miles just to be there to hear our prophets voice. It is something I am grateful for and never want to take for granted. I have a testimony the gospel is true! We loved conference!

play ball!

KICKBALL that is! ha ha.

Wayne and I are playing on an intramural kickball team with some friends (I know, who knew they considered kickball a sport, right?) Even though the last time I played this game was in the fourth grade, one kick brought it all back to me. We only play once a week so it serves as a little exercise and a little diversion - we love it! The guys on our team are all athletes so they can get pretty competitive - it's hilarious.

BR - Wayne, Manti, Jay, Bernard, Travis, Mikey, Tana,
FR-Crystal, Kalo, me, Kika and Mata
Missing - Steve St. Pierre


Go TEAM!!