Happy Birthday Hinalei

Wow. I can't believe that I am so behind on posting about Hinaleis birthday. We must have put pictures up on FB and for some reason I must of thought I completed the blog post. No excuses. I don't know where those four years have disappeared to. I still remember our trip home from Castle Hospital with Hinalei and crying as I realized it was for real now. Absolutely Heavenly Father knew I need to have a daughter first. She is a darling and a joy to have in our lives. She keeps us on our toes and has a fiery personality. She reminds me completely of myself at that age and I have to try not to be to critical of that :/

She loves anything to do with dance, music, singing or princesses. She absolutely adores dressing up and refuses to let me chose clothes for her as apparently I don't let her wear enough dresses. She has stopped napping in the afternoon which means by 5pm she is absolutely wasted but we keep her going till 7:30pm. She loves to read books and to have books read to her. We try to trick her with the story as she has most of her books memorized (She has tons of books) and she always catches us out and corrects us.

She is a big help with her two siblings but has made it clear that she expects a sister! Lol. She loves to cook and especially crack eggs and taste test food for me. Her and her brother Joe fight like cats and dogs but I know that they are just both strong willed. She is kind to her brother and won't hit him back just screams for me. She keeps her room tidy and in a conversation with her aunty said her favorite thing was making her bed and picking up her toys.

For her birthday she was spoiled with her favorite takeaways - KFC and two cakes. One from her Aunty Jenna and one from her Aunty and Uncle Laulu. It was fun party that was strawberry themed and even had a pinata. She continues to go to preschool and will start elementary next year.

When: February 9, 2013
Where: 14 Garner Place, Glenfield New Zealand
Time: 4pm
Who came: Nanny and Grandpa and Aunty Jenna, Aneta and Haare, Uncle John, Aunty Pio, Conrad, Mason, Johnny and our family.

Presents:
Barbie
Mermaid Barbie
Clothes
Shoes
Strawberry items
Necklace

Food:
KFC
Punch
2 birthday cakes - 1 was shaped like the number four and one was from the cheesecake shop and had "Happy Birthday Hinalei" written on it.

Very blessed day

After about a year of filling out forms, saving money, praying for things to come back from Thailand and overall just being patient - Joseph is official a resident of New Zealand. It has been a major pain but I know it is all worth it. He will now be privy to bonuses and pay increases and can also apply for positions that require residency status. We can apply for loans or credit cards (not that we are going to) and most importantly it means that he will not be deported anytime soon. It was very anti climatic when it arrived by courier this morning- I wish someone would have shouted congratulations you did! Your hard work paid off but I know what it took and that makes it all the more valuable.

Then to top off the week we received news that we have a new place to move into come Feb 23rd. Our current landlord wanted to sell his place so he wanted us out ASAP or at least by April 6. Our place is on the same street as my parents and is a real blessing. I poured out my heart one night to The Lord asking him to provide a place that was both accommodating as well as affordable (homes are avg. of $450 per week). Well this place was $390 and it will be receiving some major renovations before we move in. I am so grateful for The Lord blessing our family with the residence and our new place.

I am putting in a picture of Rawiri because he has started sleeping through the night and I am so proud of him!