Jr Jazz Basketball

Another season of Jr Jazz has ended and I'm excited.. I love when seasons come to an end it means some FREE weekends for me.. LOL..
Amone loves the game of basketball and has really taken off with it, I love to watch him play and think "Why cant this kid move this fast at home while doing his chores?" But then again I guess the same question can be asked by everyone in almost every situation. Its fun to see how he has grown with this game, my brothers and sisters are always saying that he should live his whole life on the court because he never moves like that anywhere else.. LOL.. His team did well they loss only 2 games which is really good considering they played UP a grade this season. I've had a hard time finding a team for Amone to grow with but this season I think I finally found one for him, they plan on entering an AAU tournament next month, so we will see where things go from there..
Sione team is the funniest to watch.. Sione is all over the place (that's just how Sione is). He plays with his football team and so they connect real well, they all know each other strengths and weaknesses. I truly believe that a TEAM THAT PLAYS TOGETHER STAYS TOGETHER. Sione Jr Jazz basketball team did well they lost 3 I believe, Sione missed 2 games due to the whole stitches thing. Once Sione learns to control his need to be everywhere on the court and SLOW DOWN he will be a THREAT.. But when that is going to happen I'm not sure and I'm not holding my breathe until then either. He is fun to watch, because he thinks he can do everything this year he even stole the ball from his own teammate.. (what the ball hog?) He hasn't learned the whole TEAM thing and I keep trying to tell him to trust his teammates, but his answer is "Why mom they cant do it." LOL.. I guess one day he is going to play on a team with someone and they are either going to beat him up because he his a ball hog or the coach is going to bench him. Either way I think the only way to teach a kid TEAM play is for a TEAM to teach it to him.. Until then we will just watch and laugh at Sione running from one end of the court to the other..

Tooth Fairy

So my son Sione lost a tooth last Thursday.. And of course like a good mom I didn't notice.. Sione is at that age (well lets be honest he WAAAAAY past the age) of believing in the Tooth fairy, but I always tell my kids (as they roll their eyes and laugh) that if you dont believe in things ie Santa, Tooth fairy, Elves then they wont come and visit you.. So this morning Sione wakes up to get dressed for school and says..
"Mom I've left my tooth under my pillow for a week and I've got nothing, whats up with that?"
My response
"When did you loose a tooth?"
Sione "Last Thursday when I went to the hospital to get stitches when I feel into the sign, it cut me and knocked my tooth out."
Mom.. "Oh well just try again tonight, maybe the tooth fairy will come tonight."
Sione.. "Mom can you text the toothfairy and tell her that I need some money bad."
Mom.. "Do you know the tooth fairy number?"
Sione.. "Yes I have it memorized, it's the same as yours, remember MOM I believe.."
Then he laughs and walks away.. I couldnt stop laughinging..
So I think I am going to leave him something else tonight when he sleeps, something like a toothbrush or floss or maybe even a candy bar.. That should solve this little boy from cashing IN on the toothfairy when his teeth falls out..
Consider this a lesson learned, never give out MONEY as a prize for anything, because when they get older they will keep expecting MONEY for everything they do...

Funerals

I've been gone for a couple of days to SFO.. I went for a funeral for a very dear man Lepuha Kula. I've grown up with his kids, besides the whole related thing that we have in common, we also grew up together as neighbors. They use to live right next door for about 10 years, a lot of my childhood memories involve them in one way or another. I love these girls they have been here for my family through it all, they came for my mother funeral in '99, they made it out for my dads 70th birthday in '08 and they came without a question to both events.
When our family recieved the call about the passing of the their father, my dad was ready to go. He looked at me and said " What time do I leave?". Our fathers have been the best of friends for a long time, they share a bond with boxing that noone else can seem to figure out, they look like little kids when they would talk about it or teach it to someone. My father has always told stories about Lepuha being the ONLY one that believed in him and his dream for his son Samson to be the Champ.. It's a hard sport where you train with people but when it comes down to it, it's just YOU in the ring..
I remembered when I was little both our families would go to Kearns Rec to swim, back then there was only the one pool (in the old building), we went on Mondays because it was Family Night and it only cost .50 cents to go in (wow that price dates me).. Our parents use to sit from above to watch us and only Lepuha would get in the pool with all us kids, he use to throw us from the shallow end of the pool to the deep end of the pool, even if you didnt know how to swim (which I didnt at the time).. I literally learned how to swim, just so he could throw me into the deep end and I not be scared.. LOL.. Lepuha was a great man, who loved kids and always took the time to play with us, remember there were 2 families which meant 8 kids begging to play.. He taught us to have humility in everything we do, and to just play with your kids because when they grow up that is what they will remember..
My heart goes out to the Kula girls for their loss, I thank them for including his best friend my dad in their program and I thank them for sharing my childhood with me and for sharing their dad with us NEIGHBOR kids..

Happy New Year

I haven't been blogging that much lately, but I mean to start getting better.. So the New Year is upon us and our family had a great 2008.. We found out that by STICKING together we can accomplish anything. Our family has been through a lot but we have always been together, and that is how we managed to come out on top..
With the new year comes GOALS.. And of course I have set some for myself:
1. Become more active in church
2. Build a better relationship with my husband and my children
3. Become healthier
4. Slow down
5. CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN
The last one you may laugh at but with 6 kids and so many activities that we all do, cleaning gets lost in the shuffle, and my house on most days is turned upside down. My husband has informed me (in his ohh so nice husband way) that I need to stick to my guns when it comes to making the kids do their chores.. Sometimes I slack because I know how tired they are after coming home from school, then homework then practice, and then to the boxing gym with grandpa.. Heck I'm satisfied if they shower after all of that.. LOL.. But this year I think I'm going to SLOW DOWN and get back to the basics.. Do my kids need to be involved in so much that they cant do their chores at home? Probably not! That will probably get rid of the headache I always have and bring my BLOOD PRESSURE down.. LOL.. So I am going to have them pick 2 sports to play each year.. No more of the schedule of coming home from wrestling practice just to change and go to basketball practice just to come home and go the the boxing gym.. Something has to give, and it's going to be the sports they are joining. What ever happened to the days of school, home, homework, chores, sleep.. When I was younger I so wanted to get out of that routine and now I'm just trying to get back to it. I know if my mom was still alive she would have a BIG I told you so look.. LOL.. So wish me luck on informing the kids to pick 2 activities they can do this year..
So from our family to yours hope you had a great 2008 and may your 2009 be better, for you and your family. May you reach all the goals you have set for yourself, family, business and your children.. We love you all and thank you all for everything you have done for our family..

CHRISTMAS DAY

Well another Christmas Day has come and gone.. And again I'm left with the thought of Where did the time go.
Our Christmas morning started WAY before the kids woke up.. My helper David stayed up to help wrap things and to help with the two babies. Jr went to bed after taking some medicine he has a tooth ache that is KILLING him.. ( I think he just didnt want to wrap). LOL..
The kids woke up right after I finally got to bed, so it seems like I just clolsed my eyes and they were trying to wake me up so they could OPEN their presents, I stalled as long as I could but decided that I better get up because I was not going to get any sleep anyway because of the nagging of the children.
We started opening gifts and the boys quickly began to realize that Lelu had WAY more gifts then they did. I explained that the big one for the boys was to be opened last after all other gifts, Lelu of course loves the spotlight so she opened each gift as slow as she could commenting on each gift and then looking at the boys. I finally realized her game she was playing and told her to HURRY.. She got to her last gift and opened a Nintendo DS.. She jumped with glee for that was her TOP of the list request.. Now the grand finale both Sione and Amone started tearing the BIG gift for them and there it was right in front of both of them X BOX 360... A item that had been on the top of their list for 2 years now.. They could always play Uncle Siones but now it was their own.. The look on their faces were priceless.. Then it all seemed worth it, the staying up to wrap, the NO sleep just to watch them.. SO WORTH IT..
I've decided that next year we as a family are going to work more on the GIVING of the Christmas spirit.. My kids are older so they will understand the lesson being taught to them.. We are going to do the 12 days of Christmas but instead of giving each other gifts we are going to do SERVICE PROJECTS each day.. And then as gifts to each other instead of buying we are going to offer a service to each other ie.. a day of doing their chores, or a day of cooking for them, something like that.. I want them to know HOW much can be done with NO money, that doing service is worth so much more then anything else..
Well from our family to yours I hope you had a Merry Christmas and We wish you a Happy New Year...
Love
The Finau Family

2 birthday parties...

As per my previous post we had to do 2 birthday parties.. We are not a BIG birthday party throwing family, so it was very simple and very JUST US.. My baby Teki turned 1 and got to eat his very first piece of cake all by himself.. He was treated by being carried all day by everyone.. His feet did NOT touch the ground..
Iman turned 2 and because Imans only friend is my nephew Raymond they were invited.. She loves being the center of attention and just can't get enough of it.. I let her watch ELMO all day on the computer, so of course she was excited. She ate her cake opened presents, she got a motorcycle from Raymond and clothes and toys from us.. I think I'm going to hide her motorcycle just so she can get it again for Christmas.. ( I know ghetto but it's really to cold for her to take it out and play)
Now that these two parties are behind us, we can finally get ready for Christmas.. Only a few day left and lots to do...

Iman is TWO.. and baby Teki is ONE...

What can I say I have two babies in December.. Where does that leave me.. I'm not sure.. Sad is where it leaves me.. If anyone knows me then you all know my story.. We (my husband and I) had 4 kids then we were both satisfied with that then 8 yrs later we (actually me) had 2 more and they are less then a yr apart.. Crazy I know, but in some sort of weird way they actually have brought us closer together as a family.
My daughter Iman Tilah Finau will be 2 on Dec 18th.. I had her in Chicago (yes I said Chicago) She is so tiny and yet is so head strong that she yells at everyone and tries to fight everyone. The older kids laugh at her because she is so small.. They say her attitude is from Chicago. When she dances they all yell "Go Chi-Town, Go Chi-Town." and then they all laugh.. Iman was born as a chapter in my life was coming to end, she started the new chapter with happiness and a lot of forgiving (mainly of myself). When I look at her I am reminded at how simple things should be in our lives, and how the Lord remember you even in the BAD times.. Happy Birthday Iman I love you my Chi-Town BABY..
Baby Teki is 1.. His birthday was Dec 3rd.. Yes that means for 15 days Iman and him are the same age.. LOL.. I guess I'm really sad to see him grow because he is the baby of family.. He has brought so much joy to our lives we can not put it into words. When he smiles the whole family smiles, and when he cries the whole family cries.. The older kids hate to see him cry.. The older boys walk in from school and they go directly to him to bother him.. He has been the easiest baby to care for, he just wants his stomach full and a clean diaper and he is good to go.. (takes after his namesake).. I love you baby Teki Happy birthday..