Finally

Patrick and I started painting Sivai's bedroom 2 weeks ago. We've been planning it in our heads ever since we moved in 2.5 years ago and we finally got around to it. Most of the room is a neutral tan color. Today I finished painting the "mural." It's supposed to represent siapo (tapa) cloth from his native Samoa, plus it just makes for a great visual. It was fun to see how it turned out, but it sure took a lot of time and patience.

Growing up

Lily has discovered hats lately and loves to take them on and off. Plus she has learned to say "cheese" for the camera, but this is the face she makes. She's coming up on 15 months and talking more and more, she says so many words now I can't even begin to list them. Her favorite thing to say is "my baby!" She loves here little glowworm my mom gave her for her birthday.


Austin has discovered humor lately. He's a little teaser and especially loves to get under Sivai's skin by copying everything he says. It's fun to see his little personality grow.

Sivai is progressing in school and learning more quickly than I can keep up with. He likes to hide what he knows but he's already site reading many words and sounding out most 2,3 and 4 letter words. He continues to say some pretty funny things. His grandpa Dotson had knee replacement surgery and I told him about it. He said, "Why? Did he lose his knee?" He came up to me yesterday and said, "Guess what! I can make guitar noises with my mouth! Want to hear?" me, "sure" Sivai, "bwaaa, nwaaa....." and he continued to make electric guitar sounds for quite a while, being very proud of himself.

We had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas in Cedar City this year. All of Patrick's brothers and sisters and all of their children were in town, and we loved spending time with them. Sivai and Austin love playing with all the cousins their age and it's great to see what a close relationship they have, even when we visit only 3 times a year. We miss everyone already.

Before we left for Christmas in Cedar City the boys and I put together a pre-fab. gingerbread house. They did really well working together and carefully decorating it.

Christmas morning Sivai was more than excited to see that Santa had brought him a toy gun that "makes noise," and most everything else on his wish list. This is the first year Austin asked for certain presents and really had a grasp on what Christmas entailed. It was fun the see him become engrossed in anything that he unwrapped. I think he truly wants to be a pirate. Pat put on "Pirate's of the Caribbean" and he asked if he could go in the TV and be on the ship.

Lily enjoyed all the excitement and attention she received, and to our surprise knew exactly what to do with a wrapped present.

and to save the best for last I got this!

Patrick did a great job keeping it a secret.It was a huge surprise and I love it to death!