Christmas 2013 card

 

My homemade Christmas card :) 

We hope you have a fantastic Christmas and wish you nothing but joy, love and abundance in the New Year. 

Feliz Navidad, Kilisamasi Fiefia, Mele Kalikimaka and Merry Christmas!!

Love,

The Garcia's

Joshua, Heilala, Gabriel, Gissela, Melena'a and baby

Life is amazing!

Our lives have been pretty busy these past couple of months. I'm not sure what happened but I don't have the time to blog as much as I thought! With the holidays around the corner things are sure to be busy regardless of what we're doing. But I am excited for these next couple of months because of the additions to our family! (No I'm not going to give birth yet. LOL)

My sweet cousin Lucy and her husband are having their first baby next month! They have been married a little longer than my husband and I and we are so excited for them to start growing their little family!!! Now Eni, Sio and I will have to slow down to let everyone catch up. LOL. I'm just kidding (actually Sio and Trixie I'm not kidding about YOU TWO). Anyways, I love love LOVE new baby's and can't wait to see this ones smiling face around Christmas time!! YAY!!

In addition to a new nephew, I have been waiting for 5 years for another sister. Joshua only has brothers and so it's usually me and them with either my mother-in-law or step-mother-in-law. My only other female interaction is with my daughters or when their cousins come over. But NOW, my awesomely talented brother-in-law is finally getting married!!! WOOHOOOOOO!!! Also by the end of this year I'll have a new sister-in-law!!!! YESSSSSSSSS!!! Plus she has my half birthday, it was TOTALLY meant to be. (I'm just kidding Thorny, she's amazing).

But sadly, tomorrow my little brother Ofa aka Fatso, will be heading out to the Mexico MTC for some Spanish before heading out to Indiana. I mean obviously I'm super stoked, super proud and super excited for his adventures as a missionary, but at the same time, I will miss his annoying laugh, dumb jokes and overall goofy-ness that I hope the mission will help tone down. (A LOT PLEASE).

Then in January, I'll be loosing another brother and gaining another Elder to write to when TJ aka Baby/Small Dawg, will be entering the MTC here in Provo. At least he'll be coming here so I can annoy him for a few days. He'll be heading to the homeland in Tonga and finally learn Tongan you palangi boy. So thanks to these two brothers of mine I'll have to learn Spanish and catch up on my Tongan cuz I KNOW YA'LL GONNA BE SAYIN SOMETHIN ABOUT ME. I know you two too well!

Then the end of January I'll gain another brother-in-law when my sweet cousin Mino (Jingy) gets married to Junior (who makes amazing truffles by the way. by himself. and they are awesome. and I will probably refer to you as the truffle boyfriend for the rest of my life.) WOOHOOOOO!!!

With all of these events going on we'll have to fit in birthdays, holidays, our callings, ROC, school, work and taking care of our sweet little babies while a new one grows within my bellayyyy. Man I am so excited!! And we haven't even gotten to my favorite holiday!! (Thanksgiving. We have to have 3 feasts that day, at least, and I can tell you that I am so excited I might just have to fast until then.)

Last but not least, I cannot help but feel gratitude. Not because it's Thanksgiving, not because I feel immensely blessed (because I do), but because life is just so wonderful that all I'm missing is the musical numbers in my life drama. Of course we have our trials, we still struggle, we are still carrying on day by day, but it's the wonderful experiences in life like a new baby, wedding, missions, celebrations, ect that make you realize how wonderful life really is. Life is really amazing. At least mine is. Not because I have a "perfect" life (ha! if you walk past my house, pray the door is close because my kids get an earful everyday) but because I take each "perfect" moment and embed them into my heart and remember them on days when I feel like sending my kids to Tonga.

I hope you take this time of the year to remember all that we have been blessed with and all that we take for granted. I hate socks and never care for them until I'm freezing in my slippers outside realizing how a small sometimes ugly piece of cloth actually makes a difference in my life. I'm not sure how my blogging schedule will be, I am so upset with myself that I forgot NaNoWriMo this month, so hopefully I will be able to make up for it by blogging regularly.

Enjoy the day, seize the day and remember to whom your day is dedicated to. Whether it be God, your family, you, your clients, your students, ect, never let a day go wasted! Life is AMAZING!!!

And then there were 6...

...in the Garcia family!!! We just found out on Friday that we are EXPECTING!! Baby #4 will make his/her debut in spring of 2014 :) We are SOOOOOOOOOOO excited! Our kids are ecstatic and we just can't wait for baby to come.

We have been asking Gabriel, "Do you want a brother or a puppy?" (I know they aren't comparable but I just thought it'd be funny to see what he'd say) He has answered puppy every single time. Friday night he finally got his puppy! Abuelita Olga got him a little black and white sweet little chihuahua mix. Then right before bed, I took a test, and it came out positive! So apparently he gets BOTH!! Lol. Well we just wanted to share our news and if you see me eating A LOT, lets just say it's the baby ;) Wish us luck, cuz we are surely going to need it. (School, work, kids, new baby, it's a lot but it'll be fun!)

Xoxox,

Josh and Lala

Elder Latu

Words can't express how proud, grateful and humbled I am to have Ofa Latu as my brother. But I will try my best to express it through this blog post. (cuz I'm cool like that. Right fatso?)

Senior year?

Ofa Latu has been the most annoying, irritating, weird, strange, stink little brother to have walked this earth. (Except maybe Vini.) People do not understand the annoyance I had to deal with, with this boy. People will try and argue with me on how "annoying" their sibling is, but as soon as I'm done explaining, I simply rest my case with them replying with "dang that is annoying". He is the type that did ANYTHING to prove he was right. And I mean anything. He is the type that will convince you that you are wrong even if you really are right. And he will manipulate the conversation/story/fact to fit his opinion. He always has to have the last say. I seriously mean it. Under his breath, in a text, on a piece of paper that he throws at your face. Plus he is extremely talented. He runs extremely fast (so NO ONE ever got him), he always had to touch you last (even if it meant he brushed by you 6 hours later), and he always got his way (perks of being mommy's favorite. admit it MOM you and gramma's fave is the OFA ki LIAHONA child). And he was so goofy, regardless of if you were right/wrong/whatever, he would make you laugh and forget about it instantly, which is probably the most annoying thing of all for a person who is ALWAYS unhappy. (me)

Maui 2005

With that said, Fatso (Ofa) is also the most loving, caring, considerate and brave boys I've ever known. He always looked out for me. In Jr High he would let me hang out with him and his friends cuz I wasn't cool enough to really have my own. He watched out for me in high school, always made sure I ate, gave me his candy (that wasn't hidden or half eaten, and he ALWAYS had candy), let me make mistakes (even in front of him) and let me fall when I needed too (while laughing). Even after I got married, he watched my son every night with his girlfriend (Nini I will forever be in debt to you too), gave me money when I needed it (even though he was a poor high school/college student) and loved me regardless of my mistakes and flaws. He is everybody's favorite. (well him and Na'a are technically at a tie) Kids (not just mine) LOVE HIM. They flock to him like flies on doodoo (hahahahahaha) and they love his free spirit and jokes.

Semi-Finals Senior year

Without a doubt, I am so blessed to have your stink face in my life. You have always been there for me. Regardless of all the things we went through (and we've been through a lot), you always had a smile (teeth or no teeth), was sure that things would be alright and laughed the whole way. I love you for all you've done for me because I know that's just YOU. You're going to be a great missionary, not because I'm supposed to say that to all missionaries, but because you'll be able to bless others lives like you have blessed mine. I've written about you before, but I wanted to share again because you're simply one of the best brothers I've had so far... (no I don't think mom them will have another child, but when na'a and my other sisters get married that adds more brothers.) May God continue to watch over you and guide you in your journey. You're the best. I love you stink boy!! (Indiana you better be good to my brother!!)

Fatso and Monster graduation w/grandpa Hevaha

after game w/Gabriel

After game

one of the many lovely faces of fatso

XXI model

after states '07-'08

monkey boy

hitachi

after Sio's grad. don't ask, none of us know

cruisin the Point w/Rish and Vai

Kahuku Football game

Halloween w/Gissi

Jammin

New Years 2011

Family pictures 2011

Kahuku '05?

beating up Sione

youth dance Kahuku 2005

Maui Halloween 2005

Independence week

After the temple w/tia Lupita's family

We've had such a fun week!! We got to see Josh's tia Lupita's family before they left. Well we practically got to see most of his family this week and it has been a while. We got to go to the temple with Lupita and her boys before Aaron left to the MTC. My kids loved spending time with them and harassing their kids. (My three are CRAZYYY.) Independence day we went to the Freedom Days in Provo with Glenin and Annette. My kids looooooooved it. Although it was crazy busy Gissi got her face painted, Gabriel went on a fun ride, I went with both of them on the spiny ride (which I will NEVER do again) and they all got prizes at the end! I think it'd be fun to start a booth. I just need to find something to sell. Lol. But later we went to Olga's again and had a family dinner which Abuela, Mario, tia Elizabeth and Veronica came to join us and tia Lupita's family. And we got to end the night with our fabulous neighbors to watch some fireworks! (did you see that one chelle??) It's hard to write about all of it without going all over the place so I'll just post some pictures. Lol.

getting her face painted

Her cute butterfly!

(don't mind my screenshots. my phone wouldn't let me save it. lol)

sparkelers!

I am also very grateful to live in this beautiful country. I feel so privileged to be an AMERICAN! Although my roots came from the small (tiny) islands of Tonga, I will forever be an American. Born and raised in this country, with international roots has opened my eyes to the blessings and privileges most American's take for granted. I love indoor plumbing, A/C, heaters, all the technologies along with the right to speak my mind, cuz I am a girl, the right to marry who I want (yes Josh I'm grateful we're married :)) and to have as many kids as I want! (even though I think we're good for now. lol) I am grateful to those who prepared the way and sacrificed and still do sacrifice for our freedoms in this country. I pray that with God as our guide, we will be able to move forward with peace and love. Life is to short to not see the beauties all around! I hope you have had as great of a week as I have and it's not even over yet!! Happy birthday America! I love you!!

my complaint about the fireworks. LOL

Lehi Roundup

Living in Hawaii, every end of June I always ask everyone, "isn't there a holiday around this time before the 4th of July??!" And every year they always have to remind me, only in Utah. Well luckily this year, we ARE in Utah!! And even better, we are in Lehi!! Lehi has what they call the Lehi Roundup Days. They celebrate the whole week with different activities each day and the last day the have a parade. (Well they have more than one, but the last one is the BIG one!)

Anyways, our ward had the chance to be in the parade and my oldest was able to join and be a part of it! He was only in the mini parade Friday night but that seemed to be enough for him cuz he burned out a third of the way through and passed out on the float. (That is how you KNOW he is MY child.) I was panicking afterwards cuz I could not find him but finally a sister in the ward told me where he was. Poor ting was out like a light. But he did say he had tons of fun and enjoyed it!

Although the next day he wanted to watch the parade instead of being in it. I was babysitting my niece and they were all troopers. They were practically running to get there and when we did they were dancing and jumping up and down like it was not 98degrees outside and we were not in the sun. Oka I was getting hot just watching them! They just absolutely enjoyed themselves and I really hope we are here long enough to enjoy this many more times!!

                       The finish product with mommy :) He was so proud. Lol.

                       Here he is on the float. They were the "baby" butterflies!

  Yay!! Here's our ward in the float! Little man was on the other side tho. But he was so proud of himself for doing it. Even though he passed out a little after he passed us. Stayed up long enough to see mommy ;)

After they had a carnival like thing at the park. Like family activities with bouncy houses, animals, food and a stage with performances. The kids wanted to ride the horses/ponies so this is Na'a riding hers! They all just loved it. I wish I took more pictures but my camera is small kine blurry in the front so this was all I got. Thank you Lehi for a great Pioneer Day celebration! It was so much fun!!