Haircut

 My hair thinks it's a jungle plant here in Samoa.  Since we moved here it has become ultra wavy, frizzy and bushy.  It's been fun to have ringlets and dreadlocks since I've had either really short hair or straight hair my whole life.  But lately it's just too much.

Last weekend I decided I'd had enough of losing brushes, pencils, and earrings in my hair. It was time for a haircut.  I went to Vogue barbershop.  I knew I wanted someone Asian since my favorite haircuts have come from Asian people.  These ladies were Chinese and they were very efficient.  I had her do Ella's hair first-- test the waters.  It turned out fine, so I got in the chair and explained I wanted her to thin it, layer it, and add bangs.  She held my hair in her fist and tried to get a comb through it.  After lots of tugging, she finally gestured that she was just going to chop off the bottom six inches.  Which I thought was great.  She did lots of chopping, thinning, tugging with a comb, (all the while sighing and grumbling) more thinning, layering with a blade, and finally we were done.  I now have half the hair, a nice thin ponytail, and I'm so relieved!  Maybe I shouldn't wait so long to go back.

Blue-Eyed Beauties

 I can't believe how my babies are growing up.  Ella will be eight in May.  She's definitely my favorite daughter.  She's a great help and companion.  She's like my little shadow, and I adore her.

 And this one will be three in March.  He claims to be a big boy.  Although he still wears diapers.

 I don't know why it's just these two in the photo shoot, but aren't they lovely?  My blue-eyed cuties.

 

(What's up with Owen? Ha!)

Sneaky Treat

Ephraim's been telling me about sneaky treat for years, and tonight he finally made it. 
Sneaky treat is the concoction that Temple children would make when they had free reign of the kitchen and needed something sweet.  (Did you know about this Ma?  Am I getting Ephraim in trouble?)
It is made by combining a spoonful of butter with some sugar and cocoa powder, then adding oats.  No exact recipe needed. 
When he was mixing up the butter and sugar I thought, "I'm not eating that much butter."  But once the oats were added, it just looks like granola.  Healthy. 
He reports it tasted okay.  He says it's not amazing.  That's why he hasn't made it this whole time.  Apparently, it's the aspect of sneaking the forbidden treat that gives it its true taste.  That forbidden flavor is lost when it's your own home and you've bought the ingredients, and no one's going to come home and discover missing butter and get suspicious.  I wonder what my kids' sneaky treat will be.

Ella's First Piano Recital

Ella had her very first piano recital last Saturday.  She was a little nervous at first, but when her turn came she was cool as a cucumber.  She played "She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain" as a duet with Ms. Edna and "Shall We Waltz".  We all enjoyed the day.

Thank you Ms. Edna!

Misadventures of Ikey the Chick

I've mentioned before that we swap childcare with our friends the Monsons so each couple can go on dates.  Last Thursday was our turn to host, so after homework and snacks we headed outside to play.

After a short time we heard Matthew run inside calling, "I caught a chick!"  And he had!  He had a baby chick in his hand.  I asked him how he caught it and he said he just reached down and grabbed it. The kids were all very excited.  I was too!  I've been wanting to raise chickens.  They run free all around, but I'd like my own for the eggs.  So I was thrilled Matthew had caught it and ran to get a box.

They put the chick in the box, but it discovered a little hole in the side and ran out into the bushes.  The kids all followed it and tried to recapture it for some time, but soon tired of the business.

But not Matthew.  He wasn't deterred.  And after a few minutes he came back excited and said, "I caught it again!"  Smile.  "But I accidentally stepped on it."  Frown.

 The poor thing didn't look so good.  It's head was floppy, it couldn't stand on its legs. When they set it down, it didn't move.

 The kids were so cute about it.
Some comments: Are you okay, little chicky?  He's alive!  He needs his daddy.  We think he's injured.  We accidentally stepped on him.  In awhile he might feel better.  Be careful he might run away.  Don't worry, he's okay.  Stand back, he might run away any second.  Surround him so he won't run away.  

 They put him in the box so "he wouldn't run away."  When he didn't move, they thought he was taking a nap.  So they put leaves and grass all around him to keep him comfortable.

They soon realized his wasn't going to pull through, so they decided to give him a proper burial in the bushes.  The marker still stands there today.  It reads, "Ikey the chick, Died on 1/6/12."

Their parents were surprised when we told them about the day.  Well, we learned about the circle of life.   It's always an adventure here in American Samoa.

Baby Food Mess

 Above: January 2007- Ella feeding peas to Baby Isaac.
Below: January 2012- Isaac feeding bananas to Baby Linus.

I love Baby Food Messes.

Christmas with Rachel

Well, we've been busy having fun this Christmas Break.  My sister Rachel and her friend Paul came to visit us for a week.  We had SOOooo much fun, and packed adventures into everyday.

Just off the plane and into the humidity!

Snorkeling in Faga'alu.  This was their first official day in AS.  Paul got stung by wasps at Fatumafuti, and then attacked by fire ants here at the beach.  Lucky kid!  First of many encounters with our wildlife. (They also were startled by a big gecko in Rachel's room which Paul thought he later killed, and then they rescued a hermit crab which somehow was crawling down our HALLWAY!)

We hiked to Nuuuli Falls.  The kids were in heaven playing with Aunty Rachel.  And the mosquitos liked her too.

Early morning Paddling with the gang.  Beautiful morning!

Afternoon hike to Mt. Alava.  The tough hike--from Vatia with lots of ropes and ladders.

Our Nativity cast party. Wise guy and chic shepherd

We braved a gray day to find Airport beach passing the explosive blowholes.

On Tuesday to Wednesday we flew over to Western Samoa.

Apia Market place

Traditional Samoan lunch:  fried chicken, rice, boiled green banana, palusami (boiled taro leaves in coconut milk), panikeke, koko esi (tasty but looked like snot).

Apia Temple

Baking at Larson's cove. 

Utulei Beach

We loved having Rachel and Paul here.  We tried to make them miss their flight, but unfortunately it didn't work and they had to go.  Off on that lovely Hawaiian maiden plane.  Rachel, you're welcome back anytime!  You really could sit and watch the waves all day...