Crafting Night II

On this night of Arts & Craft, we made some necklaces, watches and blankets. One of the best things on this night, was not having the guys there. While we were having our GCN (Girls Craft Night) the guys were having a sports night at my house. It was nice to craft in peace ... LOL! We had the little girls(Rosileni & Tanaeya) join us in making some neclaces and bracelets of their own. Another fun night of jokes, stories, laughs, food, drinks and good times.

The start of making my watch.

Verlynn helping me make my watch...she's awesome at this crafting stuff.

The finished product...

Dez and Beatrice working on her blanket for bby Thor

Starting on my matching necklace to go with my watch

Dez cutting out letters for bby Thors blanket

Lyle was our letter maker...good job Lyle

My matching set...watch and necklace

BBy Thors finished blanket with his name...Thor II

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving this year was spent with my wonderful "Etuina & OtaOta Purcell" Family. We had lots to eat, great dancing and fun games to play. We even had one of the kids (Tyrone Sagapolutele) open his LDS mission call at the end of our gathering. Tyrone was called to serve in the Apia, Samoa mission and will leave on Jan. 26, 2011 to 2013. We shared laughs, stories and things/who we were grateful for. We received some great family advise from the Matriarch of our Etuina Purcell family line, Uoma Sagapolutele.

I am so grateful for my family and the fun, good times we have. We've come thru some hard times, tribulations, difficult trials and yes, verbal disagreements. It's always a joy when a family can get together during the Holiday seasons and forget all that has past. I am grateful for my loving husband, who is always trying to do his best to make me happy. He is my rock and I would not be where I'm at in my life had he not been a part of it. I LOVE YOU, babe. Last, but not least...I'm extremely grateful for the "Plan of Salvation" that allows us to return to our Heavenly Father and be with our loved ones that have passed on to the other side of the veil. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!




OUR MENU

Faalifo Kalo (Taro in Coconut Milk)

Kalo Kao (Baked Taro)

Faalifo Fe'e (Octopus in Coconut Milk)

Rice

Turkey

Ham

Stuffing

Sosisi (Sausage with onions & bell peppers)

Luau/Palusami

Sapasui (Chop Suey)

Pua'a (Pig)

Meat Loaf

Baked Goods

Baking has become one of my favorite things to do since Spencer and I have moved to Utah. I have always liked baking the simple things like cookies, brownies and cakes while living in California with my parents. I have come to LOVE baking new recipes since our move to Utah and moving into a place of our own, where the kitchen is at my disposal. I'm still baking cookies, brownies and cakes, but I've been more creative with the types of cookies, brownies and cakes I bake. I've even learned new baked good recipes that I have made into my own. Some of these new recipes have been passed on to me from my wonderful sister Rubie. One of my favorite new recipes from my sister is her Lemon Bar recipe that is to die for. A new baked good recipe that I recently learned to make is my Pumpkin Roll. I will not reveal where I got this recipe from, but I will tell you that it's an awesome recipe.

Pumpkin Roll's baked for our family Thanksgiving Feast
I Love these Lemon Bars... also for our Thanksgiving Feast

Having a husband who loves baked goods is a blessing, because he becomes my taste tester. I always tell him to be honest with me when trying one of my new recipes. He even helps me bake sometimes, but he'd prefer to just be the taste tester.

Date Night ... with the Nonu's

Another great couples date night with my cousin Verlynn and her husband Dwayne. Spencer and I enjoy the company of this lovely couple any time we have the chance to hang out with them. As a matter of fact, we enjoy hanging out with many of my cousins and their other/better half's.
On this night, our plans were to go and have dinner at "Tucanos" then watch a movie. We made it to Tucanos at the Riverwoods in Orem, but couldn't get our husbands to the movie theater. Should've remembered that once our husbands get their stomach's full of delicious food, all they wanna do is sleep. We did however, get them to walk around the Riverwoods Plaza for a while and take pictures. We had great food, lots of laughs and funny jokes that kept us laughing and giggling all night. It's never a dull moment when my husband starts on his jokes, LOL.

Making Blankets

I've had the special priviledge of making blankets with my "Purcell" family here in Utah. I've been learning a lot of new and exciting homemaking, arts & craft ideas since Spencer and I have moved to Utah. A big part in my motivation to being a good cook and learning how to make my own blankets, clothes etc. is my beloved mother. I am truly grateful for my Aunty Rosita Letalu who takes the time out of her busy schedule to set up a day when we get together and have a little arts & crafts night. It's our GNO (Girls Night Out) thing to do ... instead of going to the movies or clubing/dancing (cause we're past that stage of life). I'm also grateful for my cousins and "sisters in crime"(lol), Verlynn and Beatrice for their support and help in teaching me the secrets and ropes to homemaking.

Our first night of crafting, we made beautiful blankets. We didn't have all the girls there, but we still had our blanket making night. Rosita, Beatrice and I had a fun time making blanket, eating chicken tostada's and listening to the guys play their card games. I was so engulfed in making my blanket, I lost track of time and didn't notice the time. Spencer and I left Rosita's house at 2:30 am that morning and I had to be at work at 8:00am that same morning. I was tired, but it was all worth it.

Just to share with you the beautiful blankets I made, I've posted some pictures of them for you. Our next craft, is making watches and brachlets...Can't wait for that night or arts & crafts. Another long, fun filled night with family.

Family Halloween Party

Spencer and I had the best time with my Purcell family in Lehi, UT. Every year, Rosita and Lokeni Letalu along with their children and grandchildren have a Halloween Party for the kids (and adults). We were invited to join them this year in their festivities for this fun holiday. All the children were in their costumes and so were the adults. We had good food, good laughs, fun games, and funny costumes. The best game of the night would have to be the men doing the donut eating contest. I posted the video up for you guys to watch and get a good laugh at. Our charades game was the best, because the guys were terrible at guessing, but awesome at acting out scenes.

I am truly grateful for my extended family and the love they have for my husband and I to include us in their activities and get togethers. I wish that my siblings (along with their families) and I lived closer to each other so that we could come together and celebrate holidays like these together.

I look forward to next years Halloween party and all the fun, excitement, laughter and good times we will have again.