Sleepless Nights

I know it's hard to believe, but I am about to shock all of my friends out there with an actual update on my blog. I have just spent an hour trying to figure out my username for the music playlist that has been playing the same song for about 9 months now. FINALLY I figured it out. I will give you peace and quiet for now. For some of you, my blog address sends you to a rascal flatts song and I have absolutely no idea what I have done. I can't control my computer and most of the time and just guessing at everything I do. If this happens to you, will you let me know because I might just start my whole blog over to try to fix this big mess. In about two weeks (which will probably be two months for me) I am going to have my blog go private too. I've heard some funky stories, so please email if you'd like to keep up with my posts (piliaiga@cox.net).

So like my title said, I've been having some sleepless nights or at least nights that I have about a two hour wait before I can actually sleep. My mind starts thinking about whatever is bugging me for the day and then I can't shut it off. Last night I got irritated because this computer would not read my camera's memory card and none of the usb ports would accept my cord. I got so irritated I laid awake thinking I might throw the whole thing at the window and buy a new one tomorrow. Instead, I went to Costco while Trajan was at football practice today and had my pictures copied onto a disk so that I could load them onto my computer and hopefully sleep tonight. It took me 45 minutes to load just three disks because as clearly stated before......I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'M DOING :0) In order to renew my teaching license this fall, I have been taking classes since January (I will have completed six by May). Most of these I took on technology so I could figure out what to do and try to catch up with my children' s knowledge. At school, I can run my computer with no problem. At home....this thing drives me crazy. I suppose I should break down and pay someone to figure out why it messing up and won't recognize anything. We can't load our ipod, pictures or anything else that uses a usb port....if any of you have an ideas, please tell.

I figured I wouldn't want you to spend your entire blogging moments trying to read a gigantic post from the Pili crew, so I will summarize the last few months from us......man, where to start?

THE HOLIDAYS

*Halloween: Wayland is the activities committee chairperson so we hosted trunk or treat for our ward. There were some glitches here and there, but overall it was super fun with everyone. Our ward is awesome so the kids had a blast. The bummer thing about being in charge is that you don't get to see your own children trunk or treating because you're helping with everything else. Next year, we will delegate better. Trajan wore a wig and dressed up as Troy Polamalu (samoan football player). Kira was straight from the 80's, the boys were from the dance crew Jabawokeez, and Celine was a cheerleader.

*Thanksgiving was really relaxing this year. We spent it with family in town and besides eating ourselves to death, we watched Trajan in a Turkey Bowl football tournament. His team took the gold, so that was super fun. I haven't downloaded that picture and if I try to do it now, I most likely will be here 'til 3 am.

*Christmas was so nice. We of course hosted our ward activity which was a dance and video night. We were a bit short on the budget, so it was pretty easy. As for our own children, it was one of our favorite Christmases ever. We didn't have gobs of gifts, but we spent a lot of time together and really savored the moments we had. As our children are getting older, we relish the time our family can focus just on one another. Beautiful day for us.

SPORTS

* Fall football season ended really awesome!!! Trajan had an exceptional season and was named Team Iron Man and Defensive MVP. He is just starting his spring season and is playing middle linebacker and tight end. At 14 he stands almost 6'1" and weighs 178 pounds. It is REALLY WEIRD to have my little baby boy growing up so fast. We are pretty excited for him to start high school and football next fall. He is doing exceptionally well in school too and is in the finals for Nevada's geography bee this friday. If he wins, he will represent our state in the nationals finals in Washington D.C. We are hoping for the best....mama would love a trip to D.C. :0)

Keenan also finished his football season well being named Offensive MVP . He plays running back and strong safety so not only did he score some touchdowns, but he was able to throw in plenty of interceptions too. It was pretty fun to watch him because it was his first season of tackle and he loved every second of it. Keenan also won the school science fair and was pretty proud. His project was on what was healthier...Vegas tap water or bottled water. Let's just say Vegas DEFINITELY didn't do well. :0)


Logan is playing flag football this season, but I haven't taken one picture yet. I will get that asap!! He is in first grade and seriously loving it. He works really hard and especially loves reading and math. He just celebrated his 8th birthday and will be baptized on April 11th. We can't wait for that special day and will update again on my baby boy. I can't believe he is 8 years old. Times goes so, so fast. As always, he's an outgoing happy boy who still makes us laugh every day.

Kira is not playing any sports right now, but will have cheerleading tryouts in three weeks. She has been stretching like a maniac to try to be able to do the splits by then. She turned 12 in November so I have LOVED being in Young Women's with her. We just went and did baptisms for the dead this past week and I was humbled to be her witness while she did it. There is nothing more special than watching your own daughter serve in the temple. I can't wait until we can go again so I can be there with Trajan too. He cut his leg on a football cleat the night before and wasn't able to attend because it was still pretty yucky. Kira and I are especially looking forward to camp together. She started playing the violin this year and had her first concert. She did awesome!!! She will also be starting her polynesian dancing class next month which I'm looking forward too. I love my kids to know every aspect of their culture.
Celine is way into her Mary Kate and Ashley DVD's. You know....the old ones when they were little and singing and dancing. She loves to have her picture taken and thinks she's "totally into anything with fashion". It makes me laugh because she is so like Kira when she was that age. Celine stays with my mom during the day while I'm at work and loves getting spoiled by Grandma. It makes me quite sad to have my baby girl be five years old. Next year I will have a child in kindergarten, one in second grade, two in middle school and a high schooler. Where has the time gone?
SNOW DAY

*I realize this is really old news, but I'm going to blog about it just because I want to remember it. Las Vegas got so much snow this year that we actually had a snow day off school. That was a miracle for a junior high teacher like me. My kids and I had the best day ever.......so here are the pics! For those of you in 'real snow country', this will appear but a measly dropping of snow. For Vegas....we were in heaven and seriously, our school buses are not equipped for snow. It was great!!!

Wayland is still working hard at Fed Ex and I am fully adjusted to teaching full time again. Amidst all of the struggles that are going on in the world today, we feel very blessed by Heavenly Father and are grateful for all he has done for us. Life has thrown us some curve balls, but we have had guidance all the way and that's all that matters. I can feel that I am about to go into a tangent of babbling right now, so I'm going to stop myself. It's midnight and I think I actually might be tired...YEA!!! So there ya have it everyone...a mini update. Of course I missed a thousand things, but we'll just pick up from here on out. I read on somebody's blog that yesterday is a dream and tomorrow is a hope, but today is precious. Make the most out of your day today. Enjoy every ounce of every moment, good, bad and in between, for today will never happen again. Memories are in the making so make them awesome!