Temple visit, wedding, fall portraits

Our goal is to attend the temple at least every other week, though we sometimes fall short we enjoy our visits and are grateful the temple's so much closer! We like to take Mere and Glenn often too, so that they can feel the spirit on the grounds. Mere often asks to go to the temple, so that's neat to hear from her and we want to encourage that. The temple is such a place of peace and comfort. The Oakland temple has a visitor's center and you can walk around the gardens on the top. You can see Mere was particularly interested in the statue of the children in front. . .

I tried to get some photos of the kids together, not as easy as one...and Mere makes some funny faces when you ask her to "smile nicely." Glenn is now one year and two months and Mere is 2 years and 8 months old.

We also attended a wedding at the Methodist church and Saki and his friend Pene danced a Fijian and a Tongan number. I glad Saki still gets the chance to use his talents in dancing! Saki and I made the spears and waistbands. The first pompom I made for the spear was WAY too big, and took hours, but I figured out a way to do it faster and we were very happy with the results! Our kind neighbor also lent us his tools and the wife helped with one of the pompoms.










Mere wanted to join in the dancing and was mesmerized by the special numbers. I really would like to give her dance classes for her birthday or Christmas!






Notice the scripture by the statue. . .

Family Visit!

Saki's sister and her family made the trip from Utah out to the bay for a fun filled week! Brenna and Mere are close in age and enjoyed being wild together :) We spent some time around the house and also got to go to Stinson Beach, the zoo, a church baptism for a distant relative of Saki's family, and a (Fijian Branch) family dance. Saki and I blew up lots of balloons the night before with some other members of the branch :)

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couldn't quite figure out the timer on the camera...



Mere and Nina, Glenn wandering around-he wandered with a dazed look and a bun in his hand for some time as he was tired and didn't get what was going on, but then he started joining in the fun :)Mere just wanted to dance with others all night long.





Tima and Tess, Saki's mom Seru with the kids :)

Brenna and Mere looking out the window at the wind blowing the clouds.







Glenn loved the loud penguins. Glenn and Tess.