Who needs Mommy?

Who needs mommy when they can feed themselves at 11 months.  Lol!  Talanoa found Elina's empty yogurt and spoon on the ground today and pretended to feed herself.  It was quite impressive actually and I think she really could have fed herself had there been yogurt inside it.  Maybe I'll let her feed herself her baby food tomorrow since she did such a good job practicing today.  Wouldn't hurt right?  Lol.

And notice the way she's sitting?  She sits like this ALL the time and so did Elina when she was this age.  My mom tells me I used to sit the same way.  It bugs the hell out of my in-laws that they sit like this but I don't think it's a big deal.  I mean, I came out normal right?  Hahaha!  My theory is they're so chubby and flexible still that it's not uncomfortable for them.  If my kids are bowlegged when they grow up I'm deleting this post and all evidence that may make me look guilty.  LOL!

March Madness

No, not basketball but family updates.  Haha!  Lots and lots to tell this month so here's the usual bullet list because I didn't want to blog about each thing individually.  Does that make me a lazy mom?  Whatevs.  I love making lists so here goes....

TALANOA:
-got her 7th tooth.
-pretends to brush her bald head now with Elina's brush.
-holds the phone to her head and tries to say "Hello" and uses shoes, toys, etc as phones as well.
-can clap.
-waves bye-bye.
-is the cutest little copycat.  She sticks her tongue out when we do, copies us when we rub our bellies, covers her face to play peek-a-boo with us and tries to copy words we say.
-understands when we say "uma" by bringing her lips or head in for a kiss.
-lays down to sleep when we tell her to "nite nite"
-plays Ring Around the Rosey with us but now sits down in the middle of the song and screams "Dooown!"  It's sooo funny!  I guess she thinks she's cool that she knows the next part of the song?
-use her walking toy to balance and is learning to walk.

ELINA:
-can say a prayer now with our help!  She usually does the food prayer because those are always nice and short and she does a great job.
-says "Bless you" when we sneeze.  Never taught her this.  She just learned by seeing us do it.
- not-so-good phrases she uses:  "Nigga what? and Damn it".  She uses them correctly which makes it even worse.  I am a horrible example.  Should've listened to my mom growing up when she said watch my language.
-asks for McDonald's on a regular basis now.  Lol.
-new favorite songs:  Pat-a-cake, Wiggles (song from story time at the library).
-has been quite the little scardy cat lately.  Any loud unexpected noise to her are "the mooonsters" (in the lowest deepest voice she can make) to her.  Doesn't help that Vili scares her more on purpose.
-is the best little helper around the house even when her help is not wanted.  Lol!  She helps me find things all the time like my phone and keys and gets me diapers, wipers, and baby powder when I'm changing her sister's diaper.  All I here is, "Mommy I find it!"  I love it!

VILI AND I:
-got my first facial experience this month from Shanel.  One whole hour and it was the bomb!
-debating what color to dye my hair next month.  Excited!
-finally got to use my running shoes Vili bought for my birthday back in 2009.  Hahahaha!  Walked Timpview/Quail with Dom, Cheka, Amy Freeman and our bebes.  Hard but so fun :)  Gotta get this body toned and ready for summer.
-took the kids to the BYU luau yesterday (thanks Mom for the free tickets).  Seeing people perform makes me miss dancing sooo much!  I need to get back into it but then I think I'm old, out of shape, and need to STOP.  hahahaha
-Vili roasted three pigs for our ward conference this past Sunday and they were soooo yummy!  He missed church to make them and I'm sure he volunteered himself for that reason alone.  Lol!
-Vili had a waste-of-time interview at the airport.  Who interviews people when they're not hiring? Annoying!
-Vili feels like he's being deprived of guys nights.  I say he's lucky I let him go at all.  Lol.

Wrestle Me!  Lol

Smothering Talanoa

Peek-a-Boo

Cat Fights

My girls are already fighting over things.  I grew up with a lot of siblings and lots of sisters so I knew the fighting  was inevitable but I never realized they would start this young (Elina is 2 and Talanoa turns 1 next month).  My girls get along well most of the time but when they both want the same toy, cookie, whatever.....it's on!  Lol.  The fight this morning was over Elina's toothbrush.  Random, right?  Talanoa wanted her toothbrush so they're both screaming and pulling on the poor thing.  But are the tears really necessary?  Over a toothbrush?  Lol!  So what do I do?  I did what my parents would do when we'd fight over things.  Everyday in our house we'd hear, "If you can't play with it nicely together then I'm taking it away."  AaAaaaHhhHhhhhh.....I'm turning into my parents!!!  Hahaha

Hogle Zoo Adventure

We took the kids to the zoo yesterday because it's spring break and the weather has been perfect all week.  We enjoyed seeing the kids reactions to the animals especially Elina's because she can talk and point them out.  Things to remember about our trip: 

1)  Elina seeing the ostriches that were about 7-8 ft tall and yelling, "Oh my goooosh!  Big birds, Mommy!  Biiiig biiiirrrdddsss!"  First of all, she's never even said "Oh my gosh" before and for her to use it in the right context her first time using the phrase was pretty dang hilarious! 

2)  We got ice cream while Talanoa was napping and I told Vili to put his cone by her mouth to see if she'd wake up.  She didn't wake up but it didn't stop her from taking a huge bite out of it.  Lol.  She probably thought it was the most realistic dream ever!  Lol!

3)  We got to ride the carousel and the train.  Elina was a huge of the carousel until she had to ride it.  Hahaha.  So typical of her to whine to get on it and then whine to get right off.  Lol!  She wouldn't even eat lunch because she wanted to ride it so bad. 

4)  We bought each of the girls something to remember our trip by.  Elina got a giraffe backpack and Talanoa got a monkey stuffed animal that turns into a pillow.  The funniest is that Talanoa is so attached to her monkey from the moment she saw it in the shop.  We tell her to "night night" on it and she does.  It is too cute!

5)  We got to take a picture with Haloti Ngata!  He was there with his family and probably annoyed that we asked for a picture but we HAD to!  Lol.  Vili keeps telling the girls they got to meet the biggest beast of all....Haloti.  Hahahahaha!

Haloti Ngata @ Hogle Zoo.  Who woulda thought?  Lol

 

 

CTR 5

I recently got released from Nursery and called to teach CTR 5.  Today was my first day teaching them and it was kind of a complete nightmare.  Lol!  I even planned a lesson so I thought I had this in the bag.  NOT!  It was all boys today and they were little troublemakers.  I think I'm gonna take snacks next week to bribe them.  Probably not a great idea but I'm pretty sure it'll work.  Right?  Haha.

Bright Sunshiny Day

It was such a nice day today so we took full advantage!  Out to eat (Ernie's).  Out to play (Carterville Park).  Out to sleep (well, Talanoa did anyway).

Here we gooooo!  Lol

Someone had other plans for this nice day!  Lol

Running away cause we said let's go.  Haha!

Date Night with the Fale's

We had the best double date yesterday with Chelsie and Tua.  Chelsie and I made a mini scavenger hunt for Vili and Tua sending them to a few places down "memory lane".  We had corny sayings with clues attached to some of their favorite snacks to keep them motivated along the way.  Hahaha!  I'm surprised they actually finished it and enjoyed it somewhat.  Lol!  After that, we had our very own make shift Tepanyaki dinner at the Fale's place.  It was soooo good!  I will definitely be doing that idea again soon.  The food was seriously endless and so so yummy.  We had beef, chicken, shrimp, halibut, salmon, rice, and all kinds of veggies available to cook.  My mouth is watering thinking about it so I'm gonna stop talking about it right now.  Lol!  We picked up all the girls from the sitters after dinner and came back to play 10's.  I got a workout from laughing so hard!  Gotta do more double dates so I can get in my laughing/exercise in.  Lol.

Target Order's Here :)

I've never been one to shop online but I must say I kinda like it.....a lot!  I got four hoodies and a shirt (in a size bigger, of course, to fit next winter too) all for only $13 from target.com last week.  The kids clothes were all an additional 10% off AND shipping was free that day.  Best part of the whole thing is that I didn't have to drag my husband/kids anywhere or waste gas driving everywhere and I didn't have to go out in the cold.  I don't mean to toot my own horn or anything but......TOOT TOOT!  Lol!  

Why Hello There.....Stranger!

Baby Talanoa waved at a complete stranger today!  I've been trying to get her to wave back at me for weeks now and today she decides to waste her first wave at some random girl at Sam's Club.  Hahaha!  I'm a little jealous.  Lol.  It was adorable though and now she does it every chance she gets.

We went to my in-laws today to visit and Elina felt the need to bring her doll along.  The past couple of days Elina has been doing this thing where she buckles her doll in its mini stroller, grabs her toy box with a handle and puts things in it and carries it on her arm like a diaper bag, then waves bye-bye to us and heads to the door.  So when we left for grandma's it was just routine for her to grab her doll and head out the door.  Lol!  She pushed that thing everywhere and even asked if we could buckle her doll in with her when we got to the car.  Hahaha she is so funny!

After grandma's we all went to visit Elisha, Ikani, and Lynnea because they're off to Oregon tomorrow for a whole week.  Lucky ducks!  We haven't been able to see Neinei (what Elina calls Lynnea....lol) for like a week because the kids have all been spreading sick germs.  Haha but it was so good to see her before they left because my girls love her.

Dom's 23rd Birthday!

Today was Dom's birthday so we decided to have a "girls day".  Vili watched our girls so I was children-free and it was sooo nice!  I love my girls but a healthy break is always appreciated ;)  We went shopping at the Fashion Place Mall then ate at The Cheesecake Factory which was DELICIOUS as always.  We got to see Robin for a little too because he lives right up the street from there.  

Dom is honestly such a ray of sunshine!  She's been that way since we were kids.  She can somehow find the positive in everything and is so kind and loving to everyone around her and it's contagious.  She is the the best sister to me and the best aunty to my daughters.  We appreciate everything you do for us and look forward to celebrating more birthdays with you.  We love you so much!

Cruising the Mall

Cheesecake Factory

Happy Birthday Dom Dom!

Silence can be golden......

So tonight while I was helping Vili do some Math 1010 homework I noticed that the kids were extremely quiet.  Quiet kids to any mom equals RED ALERT!  Hahaha!  I turn around to find Elina trying to open a wedge of Laughing Cow swiss cheese she sneaked from the fridge and Talanoa scarfing down a huge piece of chocolate chip banana bread I made earlier.  Mind you, she shouldn't even be eating any chocolate!  But today.....the silence was much needed and well worth it so instead of freaking out I helped Elina open her wedge of cheese and let Talanoa enjoy her banana bread and went back to help Vili out.  Vili got his homework done in time, the kids are happy and full, and I am still sane :)  The end.

Wiper Pulling Champ.....if there was such a thing!

Yesterday I went to the kitchen to grab something for like two seconds and came back to this......

Really, Talanoa?!?!  Lol.  I was literally gone for a couple seconds.  This girl is fast! Don't worry....I didn't throw them away.  I put them in a ziploc bag and put it in their diaper bag.  Hahahaha

Fake Baby, Real Diapers

The other day I noticed Elina pretending to change her doll's diaper with make-believe wipes and diapers.  She has quite the imagination.  I mentioned it to Dom and she decided to make a few donations.  Lol.  Dom gave us some of Molly's leftover newborn diapers to use and now Elina is out of control.  Her baby "boo-boo's" or goes "pee-pee" every five minutes and requires a diaper change complete with a real Huggies diaper and a gazillion real wipes.  She keeps saying, "stinky stinky baby" and making disgusted facial expressions too.  Guess that's what I look like when I change her diaper.  Lol.  She's a pro now.  She even goes as far as to ask me throw her "dirty" wipes in the trash can and rolls up the diaper  like we do to throw it away.  If only she knew how much those cost!  Hahaha!

Checking out the damage

Wipers for daysss

Closing it up 

I told you I could!  Lol

Diaper Change Complete!