Hard Way To Lose 5 Kilos

Today is moving day. We're in the process of moving house to Lalovaea. Maddy has been loving it, the excitement of it all and has been helping out carrying the little stuff. We had no idea we had so much junk.

The next post we make will be from Lalovaea. Now all we're faced with is the monumental task of fixing up Mama's house. The roof is leaking all over the place and the ceiling upstairs has collapsed. The downstairs part needs a new coat of white paint to brighten it up a bit. We're also going to look at buying an oven as well as a bigger fridge.

Who said life was supposed to be easy? Happy Easter everyone!

Proof That Madison Is his Fathers Son

Here are a few things that go to prove that Maddy takes after his daddy:

He sleeps without a blanket at night. No matter how cold it is, he'll kick off his blanket.

He told mommy today that he doesn't like wearing underwear.

He hates veggies.

He has demoted mommy to the back seat when we go for car rides. You can bet mommy doesn't like that!

He doesn't like being helped, he likes to do things for himself.

His favourite song is by Maroon 5.

He loves cold showers (even at night!)

He pretends to not hear mommy when she tells him to do something. I think it's hilarious, mommy doesn't.

The Never Ending Ride

Tonight we made a spur of the moment trip to the circus again. Unlike last time Madison was extra keen to try out a few of the rides. He especially loved the merry-go-round because of the horsies.

After his first ride on the merry-go-round he asked Mommy if he could go again. Eight rides later he went for a hair raising ride on the dragon rollercoaster, which scared Mommy and Daddy a lot more than it did him.

His Highness wants to watch his Lion King II movie on the computer so I'll post pictures of our trip to the Circus after he goes to bed.

The Easter Bunny Arrives Early

Madison received a surprise meaalofa in the post today from the Easter Bunny in Wellington. He was sooooooo pleased to get an airplane filled with chocolate eggs (all uma already), 2 sheets of stickers (already affixed to the fridge door), some M&Ms (daddy finished those oops) and a book (which he can read by heart already too). He's so spoiled :)

Thanks mom for the wonderful meaalofas. I hope everyone has a fun filled easter holiday.

Gluten Steaks Part II

Okay so last night I decided to try making gluten steaks one more time. The last time I tried they came out too salty. This time I used a different soy sauce but they came out too salty again. I give up! Maybe there's something easier to make out there that I can try that's healthy and Maddy will like?

The Circus

We went to the circus last night. Maddy loved it! He was a little reluctant to go on the merry-go-round but agreed to accompany mommy on the ferris wheel. I was a little worried that he might freak out once the ride started going but instead it was his mommy who was scared while he wanted to undo his seatbelt so he could stand up for a better view. This boy really has no fear.

Madison's Persistent Cough

Maddy has had a cough and runny nose for almost 2 weeks now and while we've been to a doctor about it, his cough isn't improving. It's weird though because he has a lot of energy and is still his playful self. Also of concern is his loss of appetitie, he doesn't eat very much unless we FORCE him to eat and even then it's not very much. Anyone have any ideas on what else we should try?

Goodbye Grandma, See Ya Later

Madison's grandma is set to return to NZ on Friday night. She's been with us for almost 3 months now and has been a great help to me and Rach looking after Maddy.

I wish she could stay longer but that would be a selfish wish as she must be missing her own life in NZ. We wish her well and hope she comes back to visit us again soon.

Mom? How Do You Make Gluten Steaks?

Yesterday we went to the Sanitarium shop at Lalovaea and bought some gluten flour. Now if we only knew how to make it. Mom could you send us your recipe please? You should've seen the look on the face of the lady that sold us the flour when I asked her how to make gluten! haha She looked at me as if to say, "You buy gluten flour but don't know how to make it?"

Doctor's Visit

This morning we went to see the doctor about Maddy's cough. The funny thing was that as soon as we got to the clinic, his cough and temperature magically disappeared. Maybe the medicine was finally kicking in but all in all, it was a waste of 20 bucks.

Glad to see my son feeling better though :)

Under the Weather

Madison is a little sicky today and so, we've kept him at home. He didn't like the fact that mommy and daddy went without him this morning and threw a hissy fit when grandma held him from getting in the car. We'll take him for a car ride when we get home and hopefully that will satisfy him, for awhile.

Todays Drama

I thought it was a normal day until Rach and I got home today to find a pouting Madison waiting for us at the door. Apparently he had been playing on the back porch as he always does and fell off the top rail of the guard rails that encircle the porch.

I don't know how many times grandma, mommy and daddy have warned him to be careful when he climbs up but it doesn't stop him from trying to walk the top rail as if it was a tightrope or swinging himself around the pole, with both feet up in the air.

So after an hour of him moaning and groaning (probably out of embarrassment more than anything) he finally went to sleep and all is quiet in the house once again.

Maddy Locks Keys in Car

Our son has managed to lock our only car keys in our car. I've been trying for the past 3 hours to find a way to break in to no avail. Maddy likes running ahead of us with the keys and inserting them into the ignition. But tonight, he put the keys in the car, locked the doors and then jumped out and closed the doors before either of us were even in the garage.

We're going to have to wait til tomorrow and call a locksmith or something to help us get back into the car. *sigh*

Cyclone Percy Approaches

Okay, who comes up with these names?

Cyclone Percy has formed about 218 nautical miles northeast of Apia and is headed in our general direction. Early forcasts have it missing us in much the same way Olaf did but these things have minds of their own so it's still too early to say whether it will hit us or not.

Three more weeks and cyclone season will officially be over. It can't come soon enough!

Would You Believe It?

Part of my job here at Peace Corps is to keep track of impending cyclones that might impact Samoa. As of this morning we have a tropical storm to the northwest and a convergence zone to the northeast heading our way. *sigh*

I guess they don't call this cyclone season for nothing!

Madison the Cock-a-roach Hunter

Last night me and my son were reading books in the room. Well, actually it was more like he was reading books to me. Anyways, while we were halfway through his "Good for You" book a cockroach flew into our room.

Madison jumped up immediately and yelled, "Daddy! Cock-a-roach!! Go kill it!" So I told him to go get my shoe and off he went. He came back with the palagi broom (which as all Samoans know, is completely useless at killing mogamoga's). So I told him to go get my shoe again and off he went.

By the time he got back with my seevae kosokoso, the cockroach had disappeared. So Maddy started looking for it, very carefully mind you, and he managed to find it lurking bythe door. So with a big swat I killed it with my jandal to Maddy's obvious delight. He was jumping up and down as if it was Christmas and he just got a new car or something.

So we swept it outside, me behind the broom and Maddy behind me with a big proud grin as if he was a hunter who just bagged himself the biggest lion in the jungle. It was priceless!

Maddy's Uncles Visit

Nigel and Sonny arrived on Thursday night for a business/kafao week. It's been good to see them. The last time the 3 of us were together were at my wedding back in 2001.

Madison took almost instantly to uncle Nigel which is strange because it took him almost a week to warm up to uncle Sonny. Nigel is with a group of 17 friends from Sydney called the 'Le Manaia Golf Club' (I wonder if they know that literally means not pretty haha) and they seem to be having a good time.

Maddy has been battling a cough lately and it's been a challenge getting him to take his medicine. He likes the grape tasting one but avoids the strawberry one like the plague. We managed to get him to take some this morning by letting him watch us take it too. I didn't mind it but mommy said it tasted yucky so I don't blame the li'l guy too much!

Bring KFC

If you're coming to Samoa and wondering what to bring as an oso, just bring KFC okay? You can't go wrong with KFC!

Bad One Daddy

I forgot to pick Madison up at school today at 12.00pm. OOOPS! If grandma hadn't called me at 12.30pm Maddy would still be at school waiting for me! OMG I can't believe it slipped my mind! What a bad one daddy!

Lucky Escape

A funny thing happened last night, Mr Olaf decided not to drop in after all. Contrary to all the weather reports, Olaf made a 90 degree turn and went around us instead of right over us. It was almost as if there was an invisible force field around Samoa that deflected the cyclone until it went past us, because it resumed it's normal course and hit Manu'a full force.

The winds didn't pick up much at all and apart from some heavy rain, there doesn't seem to be any damage at all from Cyclone Olaf. Thanks for all your prayers!