Wisdom from Anne (with an 'e')

My niece, Nina, heading home on a country road. Photo courtesy of her mom.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the publication of Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. The newspaper published a list of Anne Shirley's musings, and these were my favorites:

• It's a serious thing to grow up, isn't it? ... it's a great responsibility because I have only one chance.

• What a splendid day! ... I pity people who aren't born yet for missing it. They may have good days, of course, but they can never have this one.

• There must be a limit to the mistakes one person can make, and when I get to the end of them, then I'll be through with them. That's a very comforting thought.

• No matter how hard I try to be good I can never make such a success of it. ... But don't you think the trying so hard ought to count for something?

• I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. It would be terrible if we just skipped from September to November, wouldn't it?

• I'm so glad it's a sunshiny morning. But I like rainy mornings real well, too. You don't know what's going to happen through the day, and there's so much scope for imagination.

• It's such a solemn thing to be almost 14. ... It's perfectly appalling to think of being 20. It sounds so fearfully old and grown up.

• I make so many mistakes. But then just think of all the mistakes I don't make.

• Kindred spirits are not so scarce as I used to think. It's splendid to find out that there are so many of them in the world.

• The world looks like something God had just imagined for his own pleasure, doesn't it?

Blessing Day

Here's the star of the show, waiting to be dressed for the occasion.

I'm glad neither of us has to hold Makai for family pictures anymore. Too heavy. I'll take Tevi. Hey, that rhymed.

The proud parents admiring their work.

The men who joined Aki in giving the blessing: Jared Small, Justin Piacitelli, Inoke Funaki, Dad Aki holding Tevita, Marcus Bell, Armando Reyes, and Mark Johansen.

Those four siblings (Inoke, Tema, Melinda, and Aki) have not been together at the same time in 10 years...Inoke, the youngest, was 10 going on 11. They were only missing Tevita, Jr., who is in Hawaii. Some day they will ALL be together again, maybe even with their parents!

My sister, Symonie, and her family were there. Cord's wife, Heidi, also came with her kids (how she managed to miss the camera, I don't know). We love our families!

Nina and Ame, the best of friends and cousins.

After the blessing, we held a luau dinner to celebrate Elder Inoke Funaki's return from his mission.

Aki says "We look like an old married couple in that picture." Whatever. Just for that, I'm going to post this one of you stuffing your face (with roasted pig, no doubt. . .see the greasy fingers?).

.We were so happy to have our friends and family with us. Here are some other relatives that came to support us. Above: Crystal, Tema, Alisi, Pasi, Melinda, Auntie Sepi. Below: Marcus and Cortney Bell, yours truly.

Ready for bed after a LONG day. He's just starting to smile these days. I love it.

A gracias grande goes to my wonderful friend Daisy for taking the blessing/dinner snapshots.

[For those of you wondering what a baby blessing is, it's not an infant baptism. It's a prayer given by the baby's father or someone else who holds the priesthood, with the special purpose of bestowing first, a name, and second, promises and blessings on the child regarding its future (the parents' hopes and desires for the child such as qualities or attributes, good health, loving family, Christlike life, etc.). It is not a set prayer, but is rather said from the father's heart, whatever he is prompted to bless the child with.]

He's baa-aaack

Well, kind of. He's not going back to Tonga, but he has come back to real life. Aki and his sisters drove to Ogden to pick up Inoke, who completed his mission this week. We've enjoyed having him in our home, getting to know him better. Here are some photos for his parents to enjoy. President and Sister Joyce have enjoyed working with Elder Funaki and said how much they will miss having him around--they said he always makes people feel happy and comfortable when he's in the room. (Mom and Dad, you'll see him in just a few days! We'll send him on his way on Thursday).

Reminder to self

Tevi's wondering what he did to deserve these people as siblings

As I sat in the waiting room at the doctor's office yesterday, awaiting my six-week postpartum check-up, I realized that had I still been working full time, I would be going back to work around now. I felt my stomach turn at the thought.

Though in many ways, it would be much easier and convenient to take my kids to daycare while I was alone sitting in front of a computer using my brain and talking to adults when I wanted to, earning money all the while, it would not be easier on my heart strings.

I have not erased from my memory the tugs at those strings when visiting my kids at daycare on my lunch break. Seeing Ame toddle over to me for a hug with a huge grin on her face, watching Makai sleep peacefully with his rosy cheeks and sweaty head, or eating lunch with them and reading a book afterwards. At the time I felt I would give anything to be able to spend the day with them. Sometimes I would walk back to my office with tears in my eyes and a hole in my heart. Being a full-time mother was my one true desire.

If I had to be working, which I did, then I couldn't think of a different situation I'd rather be in: I had the greatest job, the best boss, and a wonderful daycare situation (really, my kids are no worse for the wear). But I was determined to stay home with the next baby, and I'm glad that I am here. I'm thankful to my husband for working hard to be able to make this possible. I know I'll have to go back to work at some point, however, so I'm trying to enjoy my days at home while I can.

I've said before that I'm not very good at being a stay-at-home mom, and it's more difficult in many ways than I had anticipated, but this is where I need to be. I don't have a salary, but when Ame's observations about life make me laugh, or Makai encourages me with a hug when I'm feeling frustrated, I'm reassured that this is where my joy is.

I'm off to tackle the to-do list while kids are in school, but I wanted to remember how I am feeling. I'll kiss my precious sleeping baby before I do anything, though.

And just for my viewing pleasure, a little trip down daycare memory lane:

Ame eating her lunch (look at those little chairs!)

"Reading" a book. No hair.

Can you see Makai back there? Doing the actions to "I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee."

Little Makai excited to go outside for a ride in the wagon. That hair!

'Twas a Sunday afternoon

'Twas a Sunday afternoon, and all through the house

The whole family was sleeping, except this little mouse.

Dear BYU Cougars,

I'm writing to say thank you. Thank you for making my husband one happy man today. This evening he's still reveling in the glory that is a BYU win, a shut-out no less. I hear it was your opponent's worst loss in 80 years!

As I sat upstairs nursing my son, I could hear hoots and hollers accompanied by clapping coming from my husband downstairs. I imagine there were a few jump-off-the-couch moments too, with an occasional power-to-the-people fist in the air. No matter that he was alone down there; nothing could get between him and that TV screen.

He can't get enough of BYU football. When a game is all over, he likes to recount his favorite plays to me: his eyes get big and he starts talking louder and faster, he uses hand motions, and some full-body reenactments if I'm lucky. I try to appear as if I know who he's talking about and understand what it all means (it's a wonder that I haven't learned more about football than just the very basics, but I haven't, much to his dismay). I'm sorry I'm not a more faithful follower; but, to Unga, Hall, Jorgensen, Collie, Pitta, and others whose names I hear, I THANK YOU for that smile on my husband's face.

Stand and shout, over and out—

Mrs. Aki Funaki

P.S. I have enclosed a photo of my husband attending one of last year's games. That's him in the lower-right-hand corner, looking all gangsta style (just bringing a little diversity to the BYU fans, that's all.)

Today

I love the smell of

my newborn's sweet skin

I love the sound of
my love's voice when I answer the phone

I love the taste of
toast with homemade jam

I love the sight of
Ame's bed head when she wakes me up

I love the feel of
a new, soft, fluffy towel after my shower

a la marta

Strike a pose

My friend Jenn came over to take photos of Tevi and did a stellar job (and the baby was so good the whole time—we lucked out). Jenn's amazing...I called her Monday afternoon to schedule the shoot and 24 hours later she was handing me the disc of edited photos—I'm not kidding.

I'm making a birth announcement to send to our grandmas, aunts & uncles, since most of them don't use the internet. Once I get those sent out I will post more of my favorite Tevi photos.

P.S. For those of you quote lovers, I have finally changed the QUOTABLES section of my sidebar.

I should be fired

My ineptitude continues. That photo up there happened last night. Pretty momentous occasion, don't you think? Well, Makai thought so. I can't remember the last time I saw him so excited. He asked me five times if the tooth fairy was real and would really bring him some money for his tooth. I assured him, that yes, she would come.

Guess who forgot to notify the tooth fairy?

There's one sad and disenchanted little boy sitting in kindergarten right now. Maybe the tooth fairy will have to add a little extra dough under his pillow—a late fee.

So I've had a bad day

I woke up late, got Makai and Ame to school late, locked the keys and the baby in the van at the post office, tried to be calm while he screamed frantically and onlookers gawked, got reprimanded by the policeman for my carelessness, got reprimanded—but thankfully, not ticketed—for having expired registration (that's right, August is over now), raced to pick up Ame from preschool only to realize I was an hour early—seriously, sat in the van and had a cry while I held my sweaty baby who, regardless of my very-stupid-mom moments, still loves me.

And it's not even noon yet.

On my mind

I can't stop thinking about the Nielsons. I've been looking back through Stephanie's blog archives, being reminded of why so many people are drawn to her blog and relate to her.

Another blogger (Mrs. Dub) recently noted what she had learned from Nie, and I ditto her:

1. Life is beautiful even when it's boring or monotonous. We need to appreciate the present because it's the only thing we can count on, so make every day special.
   
2. Take pictures! Even of yourself on a fat day/bad-hair day/frumpy day. You might surprise yourself at how beautiful and confident you'll look a year from now. Plus, your posterity will have lots to remember you by.
3. Treasure your children. Have lots of children. Be the mom you are naturally, not the mom you think you should be.
4. Have an affair with your spouse.
5. Wear more red lipstick. Or, in my case, buy some red lipstick. Life is too short for taupe.

Get to know Nie a little better...

• Check out two of my (many) favorite blog posts by Nie: Treasure and Slow Cooker Day

• More on Nie (pre-crash) elsewhere on-line: Cookie Magazine's Nesting Blog (feature on her home),Arizona Republic (feature on her home), an interview about her blog

• And finally, Mr. and Mrs. Nielson were featured in yesterday's New York Times. See the article here.

1 month

This also happens to be my 200th post.

Ame starts preschool

That means 2 hours 3x/week of just-me-and-Tevi time. And she gets a break from Mom's nagging. Huzzah! (By the way, the bangs she has were not on purpose...Makai got a hold of some scissors and convinced her to let him cut her hair. Wonderful. I still haven't fixed it.)