Summer At Last...

     Summer was worth the wait! It is so great to finally have more time to hang out with family and friends and to be outside!
    Larie Manutai was in town for Alisi's graduation from law school so Mary hosted an FHE for all the Laie people in town.  There are so many of us here - it's always so nice to see everyone and watch everyone's families grow!

     Noke took me shopping for some summer clothes in my new size... always a frustrating, depressing experience but he's always complimentary and sweet.... and patient :) 

    Mone came home from his mission!

  

     Amalani and Pesi tried to stay cool at one of Noke's last BYU rugby games...

     Baby Joseph turned 2 and Joe had a big barbecue at Kiwanis park to celebrate.  All the kids love being outside and getting dirty.  Amalani and Tali tried to keep their hands to themselves while they waited for their food...

 

Amalani found a big fish...

And grew some teeth...

    We went to the Bean Museum at BYU with all the Alisa cousins.  There was a sign by the Zebra that said "Do Not Touch", but Amalani just couldn't help herself...

   The big kids looked for prairie dogs and mice...

    And tried to figure out what these sheep had on their heads...

 And Maddox met a bear.

 BYU went to the national championship and we were there at the Rio Tinto stadium 

to cheer them on.  The game was close but Cal came out on top.  

Thanks for the exciting season BYU! Go Cougs!

Lose left for her mission in Argentina!

    She had a big send off at the
MTC parking lot.

 We went for a family hike up Y mountain....but not until after 

princess Amalani looked over her kingdom of Provo...

     I used to do this hike and not think much of it but I underestimated how much I've let myself get out of shape.  My legs felt like they were literally going to fall off.  I'm glad Noke was insisted on carrying the baby because she loved it!  She sang and kicked her legs the whole time.

BYU GRADUATION

 Noke's done!!  

I'm so proud of Noke for getting through school.  He's done an amazing job with very little help from anyone else.  I feel like my parents and family held my hand every step of the way when I was getting through school - financially, academically, and even socially and spiritually.  I was definitely a little spoiled.  But Noke is incredibly independent and self-reliant.  He's blessed to have an amazing scholarship - even helped me pay off my credit card with it when we got married.  Thank you Bill Gates!  If all goes according to plan, I'll be done too by April at the latest and Noke can start grad school.  We feel blessed to have experienced BYU together! 

And so grateful to have started our family here!

 

 One of the highlights of graduation: a lot of family was in town.  

We love all our Kinikini, Zukin, Alisa, and Hafoka families!

Joe also graduated from Law School! 

Way to go Joe!!  So proud of him.

After the formal festivities, we went back to the Latus' to hang out with the Zukins and sit in a circle and tell each other how grateful we are for each other and how much we love each other, etc.

And the next morning we were at the Latus' again for an Easter egg hunt.  

The adults really got into the egg decorating.

   

 

BYU LUAU

In March we had BYU's annual Luau.  Phew! I am glaaaad that is over.  Last year, Noke and I agreed to help out with the Tonga section, even though we knew we'd be taking care of a new baby and that we'd both be in the middle of a difficult semester.  It was a ton of work and took up lots of time that we didn't have in the first place....BUT, it was a great experience.  Some highlights: we got to work with Paul and Ana Feletoa! And we got to bond kick it with some old Laie/PCC friends...so fun being on stage with them again. Even more fun being backstage with them again! Felt like old times...(sigh).

Sarah, Mary, Kaisha, Mary, Olo, Terina, Me, Tilly, Kaiini

Me, Mary, Mel, Terina, Mary, Liu, Sarah, Charlotte,
Colin, and Lala

Thank you to the Po'uha family!  Esu represented on his banjo! 

The girls in our community dressing room...

Tau'olunga girls with expert....ANA!

The boys and some of the band.   Salt Lake made the whole show.  It was live, authentic, and well done!

Tau'olunga was the bomb...all the girls looked so good up there.