9 to 5

I've done it before. I can do it again.

I'm gearing up to go back to work full-time on Monday. Not my heart's desire, that's for sure, but it must be done. Having said that, I am extremely grateful to have a job, especially one that I think I will enjoy while it pays the bills.

My kids are at the babysitter's as I type, beginning a trial run this week to get accustomed to a new place and new people. Poor Tevi is adjusting—all at the same time—to no more formula, drinking out of a sippy cup, learning to walk, wearing shoes, taking only one nap a day, and now a new "mama" all day. Maybe some new teeth will come along while he's at it. But he's hanging in there. Such a cute little duffer.
Every day brings a different attitude and feelings about the situation. On one hand, I can be crying in my heart (and literally) when I think of leaving fat Tevi day after day; on the other hand I count my blessings and know this "challenge" is not forever, but is relatively temporary. Then I go back to being stressed thinking of the hectic mornings to come and the short weekends in which I hurry to accomplish all I can; but then ultimately I know that my kids are in good hands, that I am still their mother, and that I can still be a homemaker. And without little ones running through all day, at least my house will be cleaner, right? My mantra, thanks to NieNie is: I can do hard things. Being a working mom may not seem especially hard to some of you, I realize, but it is for me.

For those of you wanting to know, I will be working in Salt Lake City (boo to commuting!)—the Fort Union/Fashion Place Mall area—for a company called URS (engineering/design firm associated with transportation...think road construction projects). I will be a Public Relations/Project Assistant, and the job sounds like it will provide plenty of varied, challenging, and satisfying duties. The people seem to be pretty great, too. My one complaint is that I'll be using a PC instead a Mac. :)

So this is my last week/end as a stay-at-home mom. On the agenda, we have organizing closets, a bit of back-to-school shopping, menu planning, and making homemade ice cream. And lots of loving on the children.

Pool Party

Those of you who know our little family well know that we have the tradition of throwing an all-out party for our kids on their 1st birthday. Crazy, I know.* The child doesn't even know what's going on, won't remember it, and certainly doesn't/won't appreciate the effort, time, and money spent on him or her.

So I'll explain:

It started out as a Tongan thing...it's something the Tongans do, my husband explained, having its roots in celebrating any baby who lived long enough to turn 1, given the high mortality rate in earlier times.

We soon realized that we were throwing a party to, instead of honor the baby, celebrate our having survived the first year—of diapers, spit-up, sleep deprivation and the like. Especially with our first child, Makai. Anyone who remembers him as an infant knows that a celebration was warranted. :)

From there it became an issue of equal treatment for all Funaki children. We had to do one for Ame because we had done one for Makai. And now we "had" to do one for Tevi. It was a lot of fun, and a budget challenge at the same time, but we made it work. I was especially excited about this one because it is during the summer—my other two are both November babies. So here was the invitation we sent out to our family and a few friends:

(click to enlarge) Cute picture of Tevi taken by Jenn S. (thanks again!)

*Disclaimer: This is not to say that those of you who choose to throw your 1-year-old a big birthday party are crazy. It's just "not necessary" to the family I grew up in. :)