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.]