Ta'iala Academy is IN SESSION!

Big doings around here! I'll catch you up. Ephraim went to Oregon and Hawaii for 3 weeks (photos coming). Our camera here was broken. I worked night and day on our new school Ta'iala Academy. Before pictures here. The kids endured late nights, many meetings, and a heap of crankiness (from me). Ephraim came home Sunday the 22nd (with a new camera). School started Monday the 23rd. The school's going great! That's where we are. And here are the pictures.

Our faletalimalo, for assemblies, lunch, and rainy PE

About our logo: Our school logo was designed by my creative sister Jan. The awesome Samoan print was drawn by Cherish Schwenke from our ward. It represents growth (tree), culture (tapa print), and a bright future (child looking upward).

Our selfless teachers who make it all possible

And the reason for it all:
Our kids

(Do you like Owen's onesie?)

Today we took class pictures:

Kindergarten

Grades 1/2

Grades 3/4

Grades 5/6/7

School in session:

Science (condensation lesson)
Phys. Ed.

Mr. Alaiasa our dear director got more opportunities to counsel kids than we all expected him to have in the first week.My exuberant class:

So far so good. Everyone seems really happy, and we are so glad. There is a long story involved with this, but it will have to wait until much later.

Tooth Fairy Tonight

Today Ella was running on concrete, tripped, and ... lost BOTH her two front teeth. OUCH!
She was really brave about it. (But she was screaming her brains out.) And I remained calm. (I panicked on the inside.)

We managed to find one tooth, and I reminded her that the tooth fairy would come tonight, and that they were her baby teeth, and they were going to come out soon anyway. And we were okay after awhile.

So now our sweet little one talks a little more lispy than before. She has to adjust how she bites food. And fortunately she stopped sucking her fingers just two weeks ago (a huge accomplishment), so these new ones will grow in straight.

Now I'm off to see if the tooth fairy needs help finding 8 shiny quarters.