One more of Siri from the beach

Helen is learning to walk

One of the ladies at daycare told Melissa that Helen has "weak knees" and that is why she is not walking yet, to which my response was *eyeroll* "Oh-noes... she is over a year old and not walking yet - clearly something is wrong..." Anyway, the Samoan solution for this is burial in sand, which we tried on Sunday - everyone had lots of fun with this "treatment" and *eyeroll* "Clearly" it worked because Helen can now take a step or two unassisted.

Siri turns three, gets her first mobile phone

Thankfully, she is just as interested in the baseball bat as the phone

Tisa's Tattoo Festival and Halloween

We had fun hanging out at Tisa's beach during her annual Tattoo Festival. Some of you will remember that Helen was delivered the day after we attended the Tattoo Festival last year.

Our neighbor has a birthday on Halloween, so they had a Halloween themed birthday party for her. Siri was Mini Mouse, the mask didn't stay on long - and the puppies kept pulling on her feather boa. Later Missy took her trick or treating in our village and had a great time.

Helen turns one

Where the Wild Things Are

Mommy took Siriana to her first big-screen movie. We met up with her friend Noa and purchased the requisite popcorn, soda, and red vines. When we entered the theater it was already dark, the previews had begun and Siriana seemed a bit timid. We found some seats and Siri and Noa sat next to each other. Siri looked at the big screen with her blue eyes wide open and passed up my offers for her favorite food: popcorn. She was fairly well captivated for the beginning, but when Max takes his voyage, gets almost swept to sea and encounters the 'Monsters' Siri tells me that she has had enough and wants to go "Home Now." I tried to convince her that the monsters were nice but she started to tear up and repeat over and over "Home Now, Home Now, Home Now." Her face looked a lot like Max in this picture, like "Why did you take me here Mommy?" What could I do but take her home. We spent the rest of the afternoon playing with her neighbors Juliana and Francesca (who moved here from Duluth). It was fun to take her to her first movie. I wished she actually would have liked it. Next time, Disney with princesses.

Two more X chromosomes in the Simonsen Family

I once remarked to Melissa, "The next one better be a boy, or I am hiring a concubine!" Melissa had an ultrasound yesterday revealing that she did not heed my warning, the next addition to the Simonsen Family appears to be yet another girl. I know, I know, some of you are wondering how I can blame Melissa for determining the gender of the baby when it is clearly the genetics of the sperm that are the deciding factor. I once thought the same thing, but Melissa is really the one who helped me see the light on this one, way back when she was training to be a good little Feminazi at the college of St.Catherine she introduced me to a little something called the "Aggressive Egg Theory" whereby the egg actually selects which sperm it will allow to fertilize it. On the bright side, I guess we will save a bunch of money by not having to buy boy clothes.

We may not have USA grade medical care here... but at least it's "FREE"

Pop quiz. What is Helen holding in her left hand?

Fingernail Time

Siriana and Helen are always a challenge when it comes to keeping their nails short. It is especially important for Siriana who just loves to scratch her mosquito bites. Our latest trick is to convince Siri that it's wonderful to have painted fingernails and she only gets her nails painted after we have cut them. I only have a couple of bottles of paint so if anyone is sending a package (grandma's?) you could throw in some old bottles and she would just love it (also some kid friendly cream to stop her dang itching of the bites)! Helen can be soothed and coxed into this ordeal by putting Barney on.

The Magic Circus of Samoa

In September, before the Tsunami, our island hosted the Magic Circus of Samoa, from our neighbor country. We brought Siriana and Helen and many of our neighborhood friends were there. It was their first circus. Erick and I, and all other adults I spoke with, were truly amazed at what a wonderful circus it was. It was like one you would envision from the railroad days, akin to that described in 'Water for Elephants' minus the Elephants. Helen had a GRAND time. Siriana on the other hand had a TERRIBLE time. Every time that the tent darkened between acts she would burst into frightful tears and exclaim 'Home, Home, I wanna go Home!' During intermission we encouraged her to stay and bought an overpriced light-up purple bracelet. This seemed to cure her fears and we survived the second act. When we got to the car she asked if we could go to the circus again.

Tsunami

On Tuesday September 29 at approximately 7:15 a.m. an earthquake and tsunami hit the island and caused great devastation to the villages here as well as in our neighboring country of Samoa. Our family and home are safe. Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers as relief efforts are underway.

Helen and Baby Kai on the day of the Tsunami. The parents were all emotional and strained but the babes were sheltered from knowing what happened and had a nice time playing with each other.

Mommy's Birthday

The Fireworks

Helen is getting so tall and just loves to play with the big girls.

Helen and Sarah

Siriana and Helen had an eventful Sunday September 7th. Our neighbor Ben and Melissa had a joint birthday celebration with an abundance of food and great friends. The weather was a bit rainy and windy, but we all enjoyed ourselves despite the chill. There were an abundance of children so Siriana was running all around the house but did take a little break to hide with her friend Juliana and read books together. Helen's favorite activity was to crawl outside. She loves being outside and really gets a temper when we keep her in and block the door. In fact, she will crawl outside, down the front step which is about a foot and a half high, across the yard to the swing set (about 25 yards) and up the slide! It is amazing to watch her engage these adventures without hesitation or fear. Yes, she's a Simonsen. We had a wonderful birthday celebration and give thanks to all of the great people that we have met here.

Siriana taking a break and enjoying the birthday cake Emily made that actually had a real firework on the top.

Hammock time, flashback time

Siri and Helen in the hammock today...

... and back in February.

Big spider, New teeth, Fun expressions

When it rains, spiders seek refuge indoors. This one chose to seek refuge in our kitchen, I scared it into hiding by taking too many pictures. I was going to leave it alone and hope it would find a few cockroaches to eat before going back outdoors but my wife did not think that was an acceptable option. One little squirt of Raid into it's hiding hole sure did the trick, Siri was quite impressed to see how quickly a spider in it's death throes can move around the kitchen floor.

Look closely... two bottom teeth.

Helen is exited.

Siri is reluctantly posing.

And not so reluctantly.

Siri mad.

Helen is still excited.

Kim's Baby Shower

One of our neighbors is pregnant with her first child who is due November 11th, just a few days after Siriana will turn 3. Our other neighbor Cheryl hosted a wonderful baby shower with an abundance of food and fun games. Siriana had a great time playing with the kids and all of the fabulous toys that Cheryl has. Siri's favorite toy was the little toy kitchen set with plastic food. She played there for at least an hour. She must take after her Dad.

In other news about Siriana, she LOVES to read and go to the library. She sleeps with her books at night and throws a fit if she doesn't have one in bed. Every night she asks us to go to the library and we have to calmly explain that it is already closed and we will have to wait until Saturday morning.

Once again her vocabulary is growing exponentially. We are constantly surprised at how much she knows. Sometimes we throw her when we say something in Samoan. She will look at us like "Wow, how do you know that?" Then she will smile and repeat what we just said. She loves to say Faamolemole which is a very formal way of saying please.

She is also very good with Helen. They LOVE to take baths together and play. Helen is Siri's absolute favorite 'thing' to play with. The two of them will just laugh and laugh with each other.

Helen has her first tooth coming in. It one of her bottom front teeth and it is about a quarter of the way up. She smiles and smiles all day. She rarely cries.

When Helen starts to get tired at about 7:30 she won't let you hold her, she just wiggles and wiggles until you put her in her crib at which point she rolls over, gives a few cries, then passes out while sucking her thumb and doesn't get up until about 7 am.

And saving the best for last, Erick and I recently found out that we are expecting another new addition to our South Pacific Simonsen Clan. A possible due date in March but more certain numbers will be forthcoming. We are extremely excited and hoping for a little boy this time, but three girls will be a joy as well.

Time for Spagetti! and the Paloa beach.

Spagetti is one of Siri's favorate foods. Last weekend while Mom was out, she insisted on spagetti for lunch, I was happy to oblige and dutifully prepared a meal of spagetti. In the meantime, Siriana decided to throw a tantrum, because she wanted her Spagetti RIGHT NOW! Eventually she just fell asleep under the high chair.

Three hours later, when Siriana finally woke up, we ate Spagetti!

Later, when mom got home, Siri went for a swing in the front yard.

while Helen watched.

Saturday we went to the beach at Paloa. The girls hung out on the beach.

Dad went snorkeling.

Marina's Baby Shower

Our friend Marina is having her baby any day now. We had a wonderful baby shower with great games and tons of beautiful women and babies to celebrate the imminent arrival of the new hombrecito. Little Helen had a fabulous time and it was great to see just how big she is compared to the newer babies. The littlest little baby is Nadia's son Ki who is tucked away in her wrap. Ki is Siri's best friend Noa's baby brother. He is just a few months old now.

Helen pulls herself up, has fun at daycare

Helen pulls herself up on couch, for the first time in recorded history!

Helen in her walker, the kid next to her is named Duane. He is reported to be the only one of the kids at daycare that Siri will allow to touch or get near Helen. If one of the other kids gets near Helen, apparently the consequenses are severe.

Helen likes her walker

Kids at daycare, I do not recall the name of the boy on the left, the boy in the middle is Duane again (or maybe D'Wayne) I showed Siri this picture and asked her what the girl's name is. She replied "Hippopotumus". Don't ask me. While I am on the subject of "things Siri says" I will report what she told me the other night; "Daddy, what are you doing? Stop it. You're making a big mess." What was I doing? Barbacueing chicken. I may have dripped a little marinade on the porch.

A Fautasi team flipping over their 50 person boat

I'm headed back to the office