Anniversary celebration continues...

This past 3 day weekend Karl continued his anniversary plans for us with a trip to Pine Valley, Utah. Here is my handsome chauffer getting ready for our drive out-of-town...

We stayed at the home of a friend of Karl's (he helped pour concrete there over the summer). It was a great home and we had fun with the whole place to ourselves. I had never been to Pine Valley before; it is a beautiful place. We saw a few deer, Karl did some spotlighting for coyotes on the drive up (what can I say, he's a hunter), we had dinner in St. George, and enjoyed the lack of cell phone coverage!!!

What a sweet celebration of our 1st anniversary. I truly am a lucky girl!!!

And to top it all off, my wonderful husband surprised me with a wedding cake... complete with fresh orchids!! A sentimental gesture I will always cherish and hold close to my heart.

(The cake took a bit of a tumble in the truck, but it was still perfect to me!!!)

One year down....

....eternity to go! Karl and I celebrated our 1st anniversary October 25th and Karl surprised me with a weekend at the M Resort. (When we got married we decided take turns planning the anniversary festivities-- so Karl got odd years and I got the even ones.) We had never been to the M Resort and had the Classic One Room Suite on the 15th floor (I highly recommend it). We had such a great time!! We had some delicious treats from Babycakes Bakery.... YUM!

Our room was beautiful, with all the luxuries of the home I'd love to have, complete with a tv in the bathroom mirror (so you can soak in tub and watch tv) and a maid, of course!

And what weekend retreat would be complete without room service!! What a cute waiter!!

It was a wonderful anniversary with my handsome hunter husband!! Thanks babe, I love you!!

An "awwwwwww" moment...

I have the best nephews. Period. I love everything about them. I love the memory of holding them close after they were born and smelling their new baby smell, of watching them learn to walk, of Drake's dance machine moves at football games and Guy's big brown eyes as he asked through the years "Auntie Sia, you're not married yet, right?" and when I said "no" he'd always smile and say "Just checking". I love how we'd get Baby Teni to smile by asking him to show his nifo (teeth in Samoan). This list of things I love about them is infinite. It has been tough having them move so far away (to say nothing of missing my sis and Eddie... nobody can cook quite like Eddie, or understands the Fau girls so well, poor guy!) .

Knowing how much I miss Ana and her gang, Karl and I decided we should spend this Thanksgiving in Oregon (thanks babe!!!--- bonus for Karl and Eddie is they get to do some hunting.... a grouse, some sort of big chicken like bird). So I decided to call the boys and let them know the good news. After telling Drake we would be there for Thanksgiving my "awwww" moment came.....

Auntie Sia to Drake: "So, is there anything you can think of that you want from Las Vegas that you can't get in Oregon?"

Drake: "You."

Awwwwwwwwww.... what a sweetheart. I get all sentimental just thinking about his little voice on the phone!! I can't wait for Thanksgiving!!!

*In true boy fashion it was too much to hope for this response from all 3 boys. Guy got on the phone and was pretty laid back in a "that's cool, but I'm getting ready for school can we talk about this later" way and apparently negotiations weren't to Teni's liking as he no longer will talk on the phone unless the proper incentive is provided-- gotta love it!

Blessed...

As a young child, my dad would tell me stories of his homeland-- a far off exotic place that existed in my imagination as a paradise on Earth. My dad would tell us stories of his life on the plantation, studying by latern and riding the horse through the village. Then came the day when, at age 12, our family went to Samoa, and what existed in my imagination became a reality... and it was more beautiful then I imagined.

The water was clear, the beaches were ideal and it was a paradise for a kid. And it still is...

But what makes Samoa so special is not just the physical beauty but also that, to my sibilings and I, it represents a home away from home and a connection to our much loved and missed Dad. (This is my dad's brother, my Uncle Sale).

A paradise for the body, mind and spirit...

So as I sit writing this blog I am so very blessed to know that in the aftermath of the recent earthquake and tsunami that my family in Samoa survived and are safe and sound. My heart goes out to all those who lost loved ones, some of which I am sure we will find in the future to be distant relatives of some sort (it is a small island after all!)-- but I am so very grateful that our family members are alive and well and that paradise, though battered and bruised, is still a reality for me.

Dining with a Mouse...

Since Karl and I began dating, his brother Aaron and his family have graciously invited us for dinner many a Sunday evening (Thank you!). Wanting to return the favor, but having a non-functioning oven not to mention a condo that isn't too fun for kids (I used to have toys for when my nephews came over but gave them away when they moved), Karl and I decided we'd take them out for dinner, but not just any dinner. We wanted to do something the girls would really enjoy, so we went the place kids seem to love the best...

Okay, so we didn't so much go for the food, but the fun. Now I don't know the last time you were at Chuck E Cheese, but let's just say 6:00 on a Saturday night is probably the worst time to go-- every kid in Henderson had their birthday party at that Chuck E. Cheese that night!! But, did that stop us from having fun and playing our share of games--- no way!

Lauren was a bit shy, I think the noise and all the kids were intimidating, but Uncle Karl kept her company.

Mallory and Halle hit the ground running. It was cute to watch them play -- it reminded me of when my sisters and I would go places and we always stayed together and watched out for each other. We had 80 tokens, or "pennies" as Halle called them, and the girls were in Heaven (so was Uncle Karl)

Even the big boys got a chance to play a game or two. I should have known that they would choose a shooting game!

And, believe it or not, we even managed to eat a bit of pizza,too!

We had a great time and hope that Aaron and his girls had fun as well!!

(F.Y.I.-- If you are looking for inexpensive birth control, Chuck E. Cheese is the place....let's just say that after one dinner at Chuck E. Cheese and my "baby fever" has gone into remission! Don't worry mom, I'm just kidding! But seriously, Karl and I were exhausted when we left!)

A sign??? Nah, the ward's just getting small....

So, lately I have had a bout with a sickness sometimes refered to as "baby fever"--- I wouldn't say I have a full blown fever, but more like I'm running a little warm. With so much baby talk around lately and between cousins having kids, friend's having kids, family talking about babies, etc., I've been mildly infected. Could be I miss my nephews like crazy, too (see Ana, it's your fault!). But anyway, I've been thinking about little bundles of joy when I got a call, out of the blue, to serve in a new calling in the ward (no more seminary). And what would that calling be??? Primary chorister!! Now I've had many church callings-- YW, Relief Society, Seminary-- but never a calling in the primary, and never as anything related to music. So I started to wonder-- could this be a sign? Is there a message I'm supposed to get from this? I thought getting married meant learning enough about patience already, right? :) Hmmmmmmmm.

Then it happened, I called my mom and heard the ear piercing shrieks of several crying babies. Which started me thinking....you know, there have been a lot of families that have moved out of our ward lately, so really my calling was probably a sign of desperation to fill vacancies because the ward is getting smaller---- yes!! We are, after all, not supposed to be a sign seeking people, right.....

Needless to say I'm not over my "sickness", but my temperature may have cooled a little bit :) We'll see...

All aboard the Birthday Train....

August is a big birthday month for Karl and I (his birthday is the 18th and mine is the 29th), and given that it was Karl's big 30th birthday I thought he'd enjoy a blast from the past....

Karl's favorite birthday cake is the mint chocolate chip ice cream "train" cake from Baskin-Robbins. What a cute little boy! Now I know where he get's his attachment to baseball hats...thank goodness he didn't form the same attachment to overalls!!

So I thought it would be fun to order him his very own train cake! Yum!!

Here is the birthday boy blowing out his candles. The cake was delicious, I might just make this a family tradition!!

As for me, I've always been a fan of german chocolate cake (I get it from my Dad!) so Karl had his sister make me a cake with her homemade german chocolate frosting. It was delicious (at least what I got of it-- Karl's 2nd favorite cake is german chocolate!) Oh, and don't bother trying to count candles, I think we only had 21 ;)

All in all, it was a great birthday month. And while I'm not in a rush to turn another year older, it doesn't feel so bad when the celebration is this sweet! !

Happy Happy Birthday!!!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY TO MY HANDSOME HUSBAND!!!!
I have a million photos to post of Karl, but I wanted to get something up this morning to wish my husband a happy 30th birthday!!

So, in the spirit of starting a new decade of life, here are 30 things I love and appreciate about Karl (in no particular order) .......
1. He asked me to marry him for time and all eternity!

2. He has a great sense of humor and is always making me laugh.
3. The mischevious look he gets when he is up to trouble.
4. That he always has a knife in his pocket, I never appreciated how handy this was 'til Karl!
5. That he is a worthy Priesthood holder.
6. Broad shoulders...yeah, nice.
7. Nice calves (if you've known me since childhood, you'll know what I mean!!)
8. His laugh-- he can make me laugh just hearing is laugh!

9. He is an amazing kisser ;)
10. That kids and animals LOVE him, seriously, wherever he goes kids are attracted to him.
11. That we can stay up all night talking and giggling about nothing in particular.
12. Jabba tongue.
13. That he is perfectly content to eat cereal for dinner every day of the week.
14. He loves my family like his own.
15. He is a loyal friend.
16. No matter where we are, if he sees someone in need of help he always stops to give a hand.

17. He likes chick flicks-- which balances my love of action movies.
18. He looks great in a suit.
19. He always reaches for my hand whenever we're walking anywhere.
20. He is a genuine romantic.
21. That at any given time he is DVRing a show about bears, lions, tigers or venemous snakes.
22. He has a tender heart.
23. He loves music--- usually some old country song or ballad.
24. He is very intelligent (degree in biology!) and if you want to know about organic chemistry, he's your man!!
25. He can change the oil in the car and always fills it up with gas for me.
26. He is great at sharing, especially his truck!
27. He kills bugs for me, without complaining, even when I wake him up from a dead sleep or he's just had jaw surgery!
28. He is strong and can do anything he puts his mind to-- he is a hard worker.
29. He is a good son.
30. He lets me be me...and still loves me.

Happy Birthday Karl!! I hope you have a wonderful day! I can't wait to celebrate many more birthdays to come!! Love you Babe!

Date Night

For date night this past Friday Karl had a great idea to go out for a good ol' fashion ice cream sundae....

But not just a sundae from anywhere, he thought it would be fun to head to some place neither of us had been in ages, so, we decided to go to .....

That's right, good ol' Leatherby's. I remember going to Leatherby's as a kid with my family, we even took the missionaries there for dinner. It has been forever since I have been there, and in fact, the last time I was at Leatherby's it was with LaAna and Eddie, back when they were engaged!! (That's over 10 years ago!). Karl hadn't been there in about 10 years too, and while the location has changed, the interior looked familiar (though I don't remember Sponge Bob Square Pants being a part of the decor).

We had the place to ourselves and enjoyed a Grandma's Sundae... yum! A sweet way to end the week and start the weekend!

Swimming with the Little Ladies

Last Tuesday night Karl and I invited Aaron and his three little ladies, Mallory, Halle and Lauren, to swim at mom's house. It was a treat to have the girls over and Karl and I loved swimming with them and hearing them giggle. Aaron didn't swim, but he made a great pool boy skimming the pool!

The girls are great swimmers, and before we knew it we went from evening to night swimming!

Lauren slept most of the evening, but woke up just in time for a quick drive around the backyard.

Uncle Karl and the girls.

It was a fun night for all and a great way to beat the summer heat!

A quick pick-me-up

Today I was taking a mental break at the office and I came across an article on-line that said one of the best ways for a quick "pick-me-up" that doesn't cost a dime is to look at old photos and smile. So, when I got home today I opened up an old photo folder and found a "pick-me-up" that was just priceless...

How can you not feel better after looking at these big brown eyes!!!! Ahh, aren't nephews the best!!

Fun in the summer sun!

With temperatures breaking 110 degress this Saturday, Karl and I decided to take advantage of the oasis in mom's backyard. What can be better then a cool pool on a hot day!! (What do you think about the new paint, Ana?)



With Mom gone for the weekend Karl decided to take it upon himself to give Tiki a swimming lesson. Okay, so he wanted to throw her in the pool but decided to ease her into the process.

I'd like to say she loved it, but "love" may be a strong word! She most definitely cooled down, but I think it will be quite a while until her next swim lesson!

Overall it was a wonderful day relaxing in the water and soaking in the sun!!

Happy Birthday Pops!!

Saturday was Karl's dad's (a.k.a. "Pops") 59th birthday.

And what do you give the man who loves to hunt....

A GUN!!

So Karl and all the siblings went in and got Pops a gun. Now Pops has a ton of guns...big ones, little ones, the kind that can stop tanks, automatic ones (he has special permits), semi-automatic, the list goes on and on and on (he has several large gun vaults)---- BUT, he didn't have this one ... a Sig .357. Now to me it looks like, well, a gun. However, I have been informed that it is a new and improved gun that shoots a .357 caliber bullet, which means it can shoot through car doors and stuff like that --- just what you need when hunting that all ellusive urban elk in its Cadillac Escalade! ha ha ha!!

We had a great time having lunch with Pops and some of the family . Though I don't know who was more excited about the gift, Karl or Pops! What can I say, like father like son! Aren't these a good looking pair? (the dog is cute too!)

Happy Birthday Pops!
We love you!!

Who needs Nacho.....

Who needs Nacho Libre and Eskeleto when you have your own luchadors....


Meet the Fau Family Luchadors.... (I couldn't come up with any great names that I could post without them killing me, or worse them getting even, so I'm open to suggestions....)

Move over Ray Mysterio.....

Watch out Mucha Lucha....

That's right, we're ready to take over the ring...and then the world!!

Who said you have to grow up ..... thank's to my brother and his discount mall purchase, we had plenty of fun posing for "luchador" photo ops!! Where is Eddie when we need him?!?!?

Food, Family, Fireworks...and Fourth of July Fun!

This year was a relatively quiet 4th of July for us, with Mom visiting Ana, Eddie and the boys in Oregon and most of Karl's family out of town, but we managed to have fun nonetheless! We had a good food-- courtesy of our BBQ chef...

Family to keep us laughing. Still hard to believe this my "little" brother and "baby "sister! I can safely say that Aniva and Tenny have the best laughs I've ever heard-- they acutally laugh the same, one is just lower pitched then the other!!

The latest newlywed couple... Aniva and David Green. Don't they look good together!

The fireworks were amazing.... we swam and had BBQ in mom's backyard, which is right across the freeway from GV Ranch, so we had an upclose and unobstructed view of the firework spectacular.

Over all it was a wonderful 4th of July!! What a blessing to celebrate the wonderful freedoms of this great country in the company of family. To all those who work to keep our country free, thank you for the sacrafices you make to keep us safe and our country strong!!!