Nani turns 6!!!!!

Nani is such a beautiful, fun, intelligent little girl who loves to make people smile. She enjoys dancing, bugs, animals, riding her bike, playing with friends and cousins, reading, and drawing. She is so caring, especially to her parents and to animals. She has dreams of becoming a doctor/nurse, a dentist, a veterinarian, or a beautician. (all 'caring' professions!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Nani was all smiles from the moment she woke up!

The "angels" dancing to primary music as we wait for church time.

We normally let the children choose their birthday dinner...but when this girl started talking about wanting 'those big crab legs' we had to draw the line. :) That was a busy saturday, so luckily she was happy with what I had on hand. We owe you a fish dinner Nani!

The Cake! I always have high hopes for decorating beautiful cakes...but at 8pm, the pressure is on. I found a cool trick though. Soften starburst candy in the microwave and you can 'cookie-cutter' it into all kinds of shapes and such. Too bad we only had 3 candies! She thought it was all great.

Hopoate girls on a sugar high! After blowing out the candles I asked Nani what she wished for... she replied, "The same thing I always wish for...a puppy!" That is a wish I would love to grant... we just need a yard.

I love watching Samara in this video...2 year olds rock! (atleast most of the time).

Labor day/Nani's Birthday BBQ at the park with the Hopoate clan

I had a full camara memory...so all I captured was the Pinata...and a few of the children.

Baby Dexton had the honor of the first swing...

Kea gives it a good whack!

Austin's daddy making it hard for the little guy... (look at all the anticipation behind him!)

Nani, blindfolded and bare-foot almost knocks Hello Kitty's body off!

Tino got his DREAM job!

We have been blessed...with security, income, peace...and a happy husband/daddy. :)

(The following is a letter written by Tino to his family)

I want to take this time to share with you great personal experiences I've had and hopefully that it may increase all of our faith. This past weeks has been great. It started with talks I had with dad and hearing how faith has been and continue to put to work by him. It deeply hit me to realize we are direct offsprings of very righteous parents, who sacrifices their talents, knowledge, time and everything they to serving the Lord and on his time table. With that said and shared by our parents, answers to my own questions of my purpose in life was answered. More than any other time in my life, I know the purpose of life, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." I realized this life is a spec compared to no beginning and end of time, but we are here to grow, tested, etc. then return to ourFather in Heaven. With this understanding, I testify to you all, it gave me and my little family peace. Why? Because I know that all I do directly affects and relates to my eternal progress, my neighbors' eternal progression, friends' eternal progression, ward's eternal progression, and so on. It has also given me literally energy and willingness to do what is right. In return, "willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his ^ccommandments which he has given them; that they may always have his ^dSpirit to be with them (D&C20:77)", yes, the spirit has come to me strong. Here is what he led me to. On Friday the fourteenth, I had a strong prompting that I needed to quit my job at Utah Family Institute and to look in the Internet and check out job opening at Wasatch Mental Health-Youth Outpatient (WMH). I immediately called Katie that I needed to quit. She was supportive. I then looked at the jobs with WMH and found there was an opening. I immediately filled out an application, went to Louis' and made copies then turned in the application that same day. Over the weekend, Katie and I felt peace with making the decision finalized by talking to my boss on Monday about it. Well, Monday the seventeenth came and I notified my boss about quitting. The trial of our faith continued, but our hopes was clear and we continued to feel peace. On Wednesday the 20th, my boss came and said he was worried for me because I had no leads for any new job (interview, etc.). He offered me to continue working with him until I had a job and he also offered to work part time for him when I get another job. This was comforting, but I strongly felt something good was going to happen. That same afternoon, WMH called and set an interview for Monday the 24th. On the 22nd I took my licensing test and failed by one point. Although I was sad, my faith was not shaken. On Monday the 24th I had my interview and felt good about it. For the next two days, Katie and I prayed and fasted. Now, it was one of the hardest two days as our faith was being tested. However, we knew the Lord will take care of us. On the 26th, I received a call from WMH that they would like to offer me the job and I will start on Monday the 31st. "I, Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that ^afaith is things which are ^bhoped for and ^cnot seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no ^dwitness until after the ^etrial of your faith (Ether 12:6)". I know it's not going to be happy ever after from now on, I also know faith in our Lord Jesus Christ will conquer anything. Famili, I witness and testify to you that whatever you desire in righteousness, it "shall be opened unto you." I know the Lord will bless us, because he knows and is aware of what we need, especially when we dedicate our lives to him as shown already by our own goodly parents and many other good people. It is my hope that we become closer as a family as we apply the doctrines and principles of the gospel. BBQ, Jet Skiing, talk story are all bonuses. 'Oku ou 'ofa atu kia tekimoutolu hono kotoa. Okay fo'i mei:-)

Tino