Les Vacances. . . Enfin!

Saki finally got some time off-Friday through Monday, so we had an excellent time driving up and relaxing with Saki's parents. We were also able to enjoy time together when they watched Mere for us, very nice! I love traveling with Saki-he's fun and relaxed and up for any whim.

I'd been eying this puppy for Mere and finally got it for $1.25 in an after Valentine sale!

Cooking breakfast with dad.

View from the Oakland temple-way up on a hill. We went to the temple while Saki's parents watched Mere. It is a gorgeous temple, it made me think of what a Nephite temple may have looked like.

Oakland temple

I loved the front mural of Christ teaching His disciples. . .

Front view from parking lot. It is always so peaceful to be with Saki in the temple :)

CHINA TOWN Fun museum in a little room with random artifacts from around the world.


Hats we tried on when the rain was pouring outside.


Sunday dinner :) We had a broadcast from SLC encouraging California members to continue strengthening the stakes where they live.

Singing a traditional Fijian song with grandma and grandpa

Tua and Nau


On the way home we were excited to be able to see Kristin who is working as a nanny in CA!

Singing again. . . Cute dress from our friend :)




Our kitten is now a preteen!

Kiwi birds

Just so those of you who are confused know, our blog address "my kiwi birds" has nothing to do with New Zealand-though we'd love to travel there. I actually just think kiwi birds are very cute and didn't think anything of it until Saki mentioned it and then it was too late-above you see a kiwi bird.

Playing around

Valentine's Day toes

Our little love bug :) For Valentines we went to a ward dinner, as I am now on the ward activities comittee. We did a 4 course meal and the young women served the food, then we had a slideshow and did a valentines trivia questionnaire. I was in the kitchen pretty much the whole time, but it was fun, almost like being back at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building :) I would love to own a wedding reception center some day. . . The day ended sadly with Saki only being able to attend for about 20 minutes because he had to go to work :( But we chatted on the phone when I got home since the job still hadn't started yet.

Still a messy eater.



Playing on a slide we got with some money from an Aunty :)

I came in the living room the other day to find Mere bouncing and squealing on the stuffed slug my brother sewed for me.

New Things

Some new things for Mere

1. Has learned how to pick up her bath toys and duplos.
2. Chattering a lot-holding a conversation, mostly in her own language.
3. A lot more capable at opening drawers and containers.
4. Words: kitty cat (first word in November), daddy, hi, yeah, mama, baby (the intonations).
5. She has been watching a signing time DVD and has finally connected the signs eat, dog, drink, baby, and bird with what they really are and can sign them.
6. Introduction to "go potty" I'm not doing an all out potty training, more of an after breakfast and a couple of times throughout the day so she understands that the diaper is not the only place to go potty.
7. Was getting hysterical for a couple weeks if mom or dad walked away and left her with someone else, but seems to be growing out of it, lets hope. . .
8. Has learned how to climb up and go down her new slide.
9. LOVES CLIMBING on everything, not into walking yet, just pushing things around.
10. Likes to watch the missionaries at church or if they come over.


Note from Robert in regards to some questions: It was a huge surprise, and a bit daunting, to come home with them so soon.

No, fortunately she didn't have to have a c section. They were actually checking to see how dilated she was and saw that to everyone's surprise a prolapsed cord. Fortunately Lydia didn't show any signs of distress, and the cord was still pulsating, so the doctor hopped onto the end of the bed and held her head away as they wheeled her into the operating room to do an emergency C section. They started prepping her when the attending doctor came in and said "I can see her right here, let's just get her out that way--it'll be faster" and Camille pushed and they tried to pull and out she came. Ruby was breach so they reached in and pulled her out by her feet just minutes later. Ouch. The pain meds finally kicked in when she delivered the placentas. However the recovery has been pretty good now that we're several days away.

Some more pictures are up on our "blog" and we will make another post at that same site soon. They are so wonderful!

Lydia and Ruby get to go home!