Mini-Golf Birthday Party

Dinosaur Cake (someone had already removed two of the dinosaurs before I got a chance to take a picture of the cake lol)

Dillon and Maddy enjoying their pizza and drinks

@ the Jefferson Miniature Golf Facility

Food Time

Enjoying each others company

Avery, Gavin and Gregory

Domenico and Nino

Michael, Maddy, Avery and Dillon

The Boys

Happy 7th Birthday Son!

After a lengthy teeth cleaning session for the three of us at the Dentist this morning, we decided to take Madison out for lunch at one of his favorite restaurants, Sakura - Japanese Steak, Seafood and Sushi Bar, to celebrate his birthday. His actual birthday party is not till next Saturday as it was the only day available to play mini golf.

We enjoyed Hibachi style cooking where the chef cooks in front of you - very entertaining and very yummy food. After the main course, the waiter bought in a cheesecake with a candle on it, and sang happy birthday to him. Mommy and Daddy got to enjoy it on his behalf LOL.

We also got a surprise call from Papa and Nana, after visiting Best Buy for his birthday present - a Wii game console and game of his choice - lucky boy. It was nice to hear from them both. We can't wait to see Nana and the rest of the Mano'o Clan in September :)

Swimming free-style

Swimming Cancelled

Not enough kids enrolled in the 2nd round of level four swimming classes this week, so it's been cancelled. The manager of the pool suggested we get maddy into private lessons, which will only cost us an extra $40 on top of the current enrollment fee we paid for the public lessons. After talking it over with the swim coach, he thinks it will only take a few more lessons before Maddy really knows how to swim free-style properly. He learns the swimming stroke techniques very well, and now it's just a matter of coordinating that with his breathing.

He's come a long way since we started and hopefully, if he's up to it, he might want to swim competitively. We will have to wait and see what his cardiologist says first before we enter him in any competitive races.

Private lessons start tommorrow and ends next Tuesday. He'll know how to swim properly by the end of it :)

Basketball Class

I forgot to charge the camera and missed out on taking more videos and pictures of Maddy learning the basics of basketball.

There were suppose to be 13 kids but only 5 turned up. Not surprising, considering the muck up they had last weekend. Everyone was told different times and venues and two of us weren't told about anything lol. Oh well, at least we made it to this one on time and at the right place lol.

The age group ranges from 6-10, with Maddy and Ben (smallest one) being the youngest of the group. They practiced different passing and dribbling skills and also shooting skills as well. Because they only had 5 players, there were no scrimmages, but they did play a few shooting games. Overall he had fun and didn't want it to end.

Bumped up to level 4

After 10 minutes in the pool during his first day of swimming lessons, Maddy was told by his instructor to move on over to the next class, Level 4. He actually completed Level 3 last summer but because he had not been in the pool since then, we thought it would be best for him to repeat the level again. Boy were we wrong !!! He was way ahead of the others in that class and I was impressed that he remembered most, if not all , of what he learnt last year.

His new instructor worked them hard and had them swim lengths of the pool with only a few breaks in between. When she approached me afterwards, she told me that Maddy has a good butterfly kick and is looking forward to working with him in this class :)

Update on Maddy

Sorry, been busy with other things and haven't had time to post any blogs on here lol.

Since the last post, Maddy has had a fun spring season playing soccer, and at the teams prize giving function, he received a trophy and the ROOKIE AWARD certificate for "seamlessly joining the team this season and becoming one of the Gold Guys!! his sportsmanship and effort are a great addition to our team." He's looking forward to playing again in the Fall.



We attended the Viva Vienna Memorial Day Festival last month and had a blast. There were lots of rides for Maddy to go on, stalls to play games and win prizes, as well as lots of american treats to eat and some light entertainment. Pictures and video to come soon.


I went along to Maddy's end of the year class party on Wednesday and boy did I have a lot of laughs. Because of the rain it was held indoors but the kids still had fun. There were games to play, karaoke, dancing and video time. Maddy especially enjoyed the dancing and will put together a video of all his whacky moves - too funny!


Maddy and I were invited to lunch with our neighbors to Old Country Buffet on Thursday to celebrate one of their daughters graduation from 6th grade. She'll be starting 7th grade at another middle school in our area. The other neighbor and her family are also leaving to go back home to Korea. These are the ladies I meet at the bus stop everyday.

For the Summer, we have enrolled Maddy in Swimming lessons at Providence Rec Centre (two weeks starting next Monday), Basketball camp (one day a week for 10 weeks at PineSpring Elementary School) and Tae Kwon Do (1/2 day for a week) at Mt Kim.

Today was suppose to be the first day of basketball camp BUT when we arrived, only one other family was there and the school was closed. I didn't know what happened and when I called to find out, the office was closed for the weekend. I was not a happy chappy and nor was Maddy. He was very dissapointed.

Anyway, if the weather holds up tommorow, we'll be off to the park for a bike ride and playtime.

That's all folks ... for now :)

In El Salvador

I arrived in El Salvador yesterday via Miami. I haven't had a chance to take a look around yet but at first glance San Salvador (the capital) seems to a nice place. I wish I could speak Spanish though! I'll be here for 2 weeks then it's off to Nicaragua for another 2 weeks then back home to DC on the 7th of July. Missing my family already!!!

A Poem for Mum, by Madison

Her hands are like rough scales on a alligator.

Her hair is like a snake slithering on the ground.

Her face is like a marshmallow floating like a leaf.

Her voice is like robins, chirping in the summer.

Her smile is like licorish bending really softly.

Brothers in Arms

Maddy got a haircut like Micah's to show solidarity with his li'l cuzzie in Australia.

Maddy wants Micah to know that this style looks GOOD! Makes you look older :)

Maddy's first soccer game

Maddy has his first soccer game today. It was a gloriously sunny day, just perfect for being outdoors. Maddy scored a goal but I didn't get it on tape since he was on the far field at the time but I witnessed it! We had a celebratory ice cream on the way home.

Soccer Practice

Maddy was all geared up with his new soccer boots, socks, shin and ankle guards, ready for his first practice last Wednesday. There were only six boys that turned up as the rest were away on Spring Break. Considering this was his first time he's ever played, he did OK. He did manage to score a goal but I did not have the camera rolling at the time, as I was too excited, jumping up and down and cheering for him.

Training Wheels No More (Pt. 2)

Training Wheels No More

I can remember my Dad teaching me how to ride a bike and yesterday I returned the favor.

Maddy and I headed to our underground garage since it is nice and smooth plus there is normally noone down there during the day. Maddy tends to get flustered when he is learning something new and hates to 'look bad' while doing it so the garage was perfect.

We pulled his bike out of storage, gave it a quick clean, adjusted the seat and pumped up both tires. I showed him where the brakes were and how to use them and off we went. After 2 or 3 trial runs (with me holding on to his bike while running beside him) he was off on his own. The look of joy and amazement that he was doing it all on his own was priceless. I wish I had the foresight to have brought the camera with me!

Maddy is a natural. He must get it from his mother because when Dad taught me how to ride my bike I ended up in the hospital with a broken arm. I also broke my face when I fell of a bike in Australia so it definitely doesn't come from my side of the family.

After 30 minutes of riding up and down the garage YAAYing and WOOHOOing he wanted to show Mommy so we went and got her. Mommy was surprised that he learned how to ride so quickly.

I told her it was because he had a good teacher!

Maddy at the Stenwood Funfair

Thanks to Aunty Sachi for showing us how to make a mini-movie :)

Playing Around

Welcome Home Daddy

It's nice to have Matt back after a month of being away overseas in Tonga and Samoa. Even though we missed him very much, Maddy and I didn't do too bad coping on our own. Welcome back Daddy!!

More B&W Shots

Practicing His Part

Take 1

Take 2

Basketball season has come to an end

Basketball season ended last weekend with a party at Fuddruckers. Maddy went along with his friend Michael and his Mum to the function. I was very ill and couldn't attend. Maddy was fine about it though and was only interested in receiving his award and playing games at the arcade LOL.

The boys did well this season, learning the basics and the rules of the game. They each received a certificate and trophy for their achievements.

Next on his activity list is Soccer and Tae Kwon Do.

Lalovaea Visit

I went to visit the old house at Lalovaea today. I was hoping that Neta and her husband had an umu ready for toonai but no such luck. So I had to make my own luck and bought an umu from the Fugalei market, some wahoo, mamoe and some koko samoa. My kind of lunch! When we left Samoa Neta didn't have any kids but not three years later, she has 2 kids with another on the way. The house at Lalovaea is looking very old & tired and should be repaired or demolished soon.

Amataga, me and Neta's son Kevin in the faletaavale

Alofa and her brother Amataga

Kaga Makangka on the stairs in Mama's house

Neta with her pepe fou

Neta's eldest son, Kevin

Happy Valentines Daddy

Maddy made this for you at school today :)

Power Goes Out

Due to the storms that hit Oklahoma a few days ago, we experienced very strong winds all day yesterday and last night. Our power went out around 8.30ish for a little while. Maddy and I were reading his book at the time and decided to take this video :) We are fine by the way!

Happy Birthday Aunty Mona

Wishing you a happy and joyful birthday :)

Miss you heaps, love Rach, Matt & Maddy xxx

Happy Birthday Uncle Lloyd

Lloyd is the big one standing next to Mum LOL

Happy 40th birthday bro, Love Us xox

Happy Birthday Cousin Micah!

Have fun on your birthday, eat lots of yummy goodies and hope you get lots of pressies too.

Love always, Uncle Matt, Aunty Rach and Cuzzie Maddy xox

My b'day muffin cake

So much for Maddy helping me out with my blueberry muffin cake LOL I had to do it all myself, but that's ok, I purchased a ready-to-make mixture that only needed water added LOL Yup, my kind of baking. We had no icing nor b'day candles but that's ok, we will make do with the sprinkles.

I spent the morning volunteering at Maddy's school library for an hour then cleaned up the house before Maddy got home from school around 12.45pm. We watched a movie together (Space Chimps) then I made the muffin cake. On Wednesday I get to spoil myself by getting my hair done (long overdue) and a spa treatment (manicure and pedicure). Thanks Daddy & Maddy :)

Thanks for the birthday wishes family and friends :o)

Happy Birthday Mommy!

Dear Mommy,

On your birthday, Maddy and I would like to:

Wish you a very happy birthday and. . .

Hope you have a great day and. . .

Thank you for putting up with us when we don't what we should and. . .

Promise you we'll try harder to help out more and. . .

Think you are the best mommy in the world and

Love you for always looking after and being there for us!

~Daddy and Maddy

Team Photos

Today we went to Thoreau Middle school for Maddy's basketball photos and individual ones too. I ordered one 5x7 and one 8x10 for our photo collection. I took a few of my own but they didn't turn out very well - I think I've buggered up the settings on the camera again LOL.

When we got home, we decided to take a walk up the road to the store to buy a few supplies. We stopped off at Office Depot to buy some poster paper and felt tip pens for Maddy's school project, bank some checks, visit the dollar store, and then we wondered over to Noodles Company for afternoon brunch.

Enjoying his favorite pasta dish - 'house marinara'

Maddy Bakes Cookies

School Closed Today

Due to the snow and ice storm yesterday and last night, all schools in VA and DC were closed today. Guess who was happy about that? Just as well because we both slept in today and when I woke up to check the news around 7.30am, notices were posted across the top of the tv screen announcing the closures.

It looked like the building manager had people shoveling snow off the footpath early this morning, as it was all cleared up. It's suppose to improve tommorrow (touchwood) and then I hear by Monday next week, we are expecting more storms. As long as the power doesn't go off, we are fine.

It's Finally Snowing

Snow fight with Daddy before he left for the airport

The snow was not deep enough for a snow angel

Farewell Dinner at Mango Mike's

This was our first time at Mango Mikes Caribbean Restaurant and what a lovely experience it was. It reminded me of dining out at Coconuts beach resort with it's palm trees, aquarium, sand, and exotic island menu as well as a relaxing atmosphere.

The Mango Island potions (drinks) were something to remember as well as the food selection which I must say was very tasty. Dom and Rosie tried the "puka puka" which consisted of coconut rum, myers, pineapple and mango juice, while Sakib and Kelly had pena colada's. I just stuck to my baileys irish coffee and cream LOL.

The kids enjoyed being seated in front of a big aquarium and while we sat and chatted and enjoyed our meals, when it ended, it was sad to say goodbye to Sakib, Kelly and Khalil. They are moving to Ecuador in March and will be there for at least 2 and 1/2 years.

Maddy with Mo Mo and Pichachu

Khalil, Nino and Maddy

Matt, Domenico, Sakib, Maddy, Rosie, Kelly, Nino and Khalil

Game #5

Inbounds the ball to Sammy who scores one for the team

Rebounds

Nearly makes a shot

Dribbles and hands it off to Sammy who scores another for the team

Defending (or eye-balling his opponent LOL) and Intercepts a pass

To Nanna and Papa

Mo Mo and Picachu

Madison brought home two classroom mascots, Mo Mo and Picachu on Friday to spend the week with us. He was also given a writing journal to take pictures and document things he does throughout the week with his special friends. This is all part of creative writing at home.

He's already had breakfast with his special friends and has taken them along to watch him play basketball as well. Tommorrow we will be taking them with us to dinner, to farewell Matt's friend Sakib and family, who are moving to Ecuador. Monday and Tuesday are teacher conference days, so Maddy, his friends and I will be seeing Daddy off at the airport Tuesday morning.

I'll post a copy of his journal once it's completed :)

Scrapbooking

Den activities are part of the Cub Scouts requirements and at tonights Tiger Den meeting, Maddy and his Daddy made a scrapbook page from photos we took at Seaworld in Orlando Florida a year ago. Matt said he put it together all by himself and was very proud of how it turned out.

Since Maddy likes doing arts and crafts, I might just get him to do a few more, especially of our trip to Rarotonga, Lagi and Tollys wedding, Grandma's visit last year, and a few about our weekend visits to several places around DC.

Maddy in Action - 3rd Game

Warming up before the game

Rebounding

Even though they lost this game, they played a good game overall especially on defence. We have more videos of Maddy in action but because the files are too large, they were taking too long to upload - will try to keep them shorter next time.

Tiger Den Skit

Each den had to perform a skit for this months pack meeting and the Tiger Den did a skit on "Emergency Broadcast System"