New Year, New BLOG.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I can not believe we are already in 2017! Crazy how times flies so quickly. Especially when you have kids. 2016 was by far one of the most exciting and fun year, I have had in a long time. We started off the year by bringing in a new baby. The 4th one. Eek. In September we went to our first annual family camp out. So much fun to see the new generation enjoy camping with their cousins and creating memories. Then we went to Florida in September for vacation. First family vacation with the family of 6. First time on a plane and in Florida and Alabama. It was beautiful but too hot and humid. We went to visit my husbands sister. It was nice to have them bond since they really don't see each other that often. Then the last three months we had so much going on. Christmas had so many new traditions. Now we are here. Stay tuned for more post.

-Alma Afu

Summer adventures

Since my last post, many things have happened with my little family and my big family.
Starting with my BIG family. One of my brothers has been going through a very stressful and emotional trail. We as family have been by his side since day 1 and really are tired of seeing him go through this. But I know at the end it will be like nothing ever happened. I guess sometimes we need to fall on our knees and feel like no one is there and fell real lonely to know who really is in charge here. Our Heavenly Father.  I had to re post a video that Elder Christofferson gave about knowing that everything will be ok when we let the lord be our Gardner. It made me cry but it is so true. It's just so crazy how we are the only ones that go through stuff like this. With the rest of the family we have been missing my mom so much, she would have been the person we would have been going to for advice on the trail that my brother is going through, but she has the perfect way of showing that she is still here and still giving us advice. I also know that Heavenly Father does certain things to humble us so that we can appreciate everything he gives us. Then, we have one of my younger brothers preparing to go on his mission. So exciting since he is the first to go on a mission. :D  Let's see when he will leave and where to?!

Off with the little family. I have been pregnant and finally in my 3rd Trimester. I am going to be 36 weeks tomorrow. So that will make me officially 9 MONTHS! woo! I never thought that I would make it this far along. But feel so blessed that Heavenly Father has taken care of me throughout this pregnancy. I feel so big, tired, stressed and emotional. I guess it must be the hormones. But everyone in my family has taken care of me perfectly. I am so glad I have the family that I have. Tani has been working out and boy does he look good!  Josiah is talking and I know he is starting his terrible 2's!! But that's what we all went through so just got to go with the flow. Other than all this we have been preparing ourselves for Baby Gwendolyn. I am so nervous but at the same time EXCITED!! :D

Here are a few pics that I have taken or found this summer...

Josiah reading Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see? He LOVES this book.

 Josiah with mommy at the doctor's appointment. Can you see the shirt,, he LOVES Yo Gabba Gabba!!

Pregnant.. I was 34 weeks here. :)

We went to the temple with the YW/YM of Upland 4th Branch to have them do Baptizm's for the dead. I had to take a picture of my nephews 1st time going to the templ. I know Grandma is very proud of them for choosing the right. :) (Handsome little men.. I know! )

My mother. Beautiful like always! :D

Annoucing my pregnancy

Well as you should all know now... I am having another baby this year. So I didn't know how to announce it. Since everyone is pregnant and making cute announcements. Serious every week someone is announcing they are preggo. So, when I finally turn 14 weeks which was April 22nd. I said to bad I am going to do it, and I don't care if someone else does it either. So I asked my sister Bonnie if she can take some cute pics and she did. Because she is AMAZING! She seriously is. I hope one day I can repay her by buying her a Camera. :) We finally choose the right one, because it came out so natural. Thank you Bonnie! Here is a pic of my annoucment.

SO Exicted for this bundle of Joy! :D

I will find out the gender of the baby this month on the 23rd. :D 

on the side NOTE: Daddy will not be doing Chemo, he still has cancer but its not to the point where they have to start Chemo. They will give him other remedies or meds and hopefully he gets rid of the cancer. I Love my daddy.

here he is...

So much going on..

Many things have been happening since mommy passed away. Tani and I found out we are pregnant with our 2nd baby. We found out the day after Mommy's b-day. So I told Bonnie when I took the test, well probably 10 minutes after that. I then told Cristina and Daddy on Sunday when we went visit mommy's grave that I was expecting. They were so happy but said to take it slow. But now, everyone in the family knows, but we are waiting until Easter to announce it. As you may know I lost a baby last year in June, I was 6 weeks when I had a miscarriage so that is the reason why we are waiting. :)

We also found out this Wednesday that Daddy has type 1 Cancer on his neck. He had an extra head growing on the side of his neck right after mommy had passed away. He's been going to doctors and specialist and had testing done. Finally, they told us what it is. So he will start Chemo in 2 weeks and we are just praying for the best. But daddy, is hoping he gets reunited with mommy but at the same time he doesn't want to leave his 2 youngest boys at the same time their mommy left. We will hold a special fast for him. :)

Then.. here comes the best part! My younger brother Manny will be graduating this year. Woot Woot!! :) He has been so good through high school and we know he deserves it. WE are very happy for him and he is the first boy to graduate high school from all my brothers. Yes my other ones graduated but got there GED. I am thinking of making this for him when he graduates... but dont tell him because then it wont be a suprise. :)


I KNOW he will like the money Lei for sure. :)

Oh.. JANUARY!

The year had begun great. Until the 7th of January. Mom had decided to go check herself into the hospital to do Dialysis. She had denied it for 1 year and 1/2. But she knew it was time. Well she had her ups and downs while she was in the hospital. The day she was going to be release mommy had fallen into a coma. Dad had to decide if he would pull the plug or leave her on. NOTE: the machine was the only thing keeping her alive. So all Wednesday we were all visiting and crying. It was until Thursday January 26 that daddy finally had the answer from our father in heaven. He was going to pull the plug. So when he did it was the hardest part for all of us. Especially for Dad, Bonnie, Manny and David. (writing this makes me cry). There are so much more things while this was happening, but I feel that is for the family only. Sorry.



Mom had her funeral on Friday February 3rd, 2012. So many people were there at the funeral. It was amazing of all the support we had inside the church, work and the Boys high school. It is amazing to know that no matter the situation Heavenly Father will never let his children. The funeral was nice and calm. I think we had cried everything prior to the Funeral. Which was good, because we didn't get a headache. Well that's pretty much it. Other than that we had a b-day party for David, have Tani's sister from Florida visiting and went out to eat some Ribs for mom's b-day. She always had ribs on her b-day. So we will keep her in our memories. She has brought us even closer then we were. :)

RIP mom.. you have been a great example, friend, daughter, wife, sister and MOTHER! I love you and MISS you so much!! :( But I know for sure that you are in a better place and at ease from all the pain you were going through in this life. :)

You always wanted us this close and you always got your way. :)

Fall into....

This year has gone by so quickly. So many things this year have happened.

Well yesterday was Thanksgiving and for those that know me really well know that I LOVE Thanksgiving. For the food mostly! lol jk!! I love it because we get to eat, play volleyball, play Wii and games, go to the movies and pretty much spend time with the family.

This year was different in a good way. Josiah had his 1st OFFICAL Thanksgiving. At least with his mommy and daddy. Last year he was at the hospital with the rest of his NICU buddies, and I cried last year since he wasn't with us. But back to this year. Well we all went around the room to say what we are thankful for. It amazes me how close our family is even with some drama that we may have had this past year. But what kind I say... I have the BESTEST family in the whole wide world and eternity. :) I just love being having the Hernandez-Thompson blood and I love being an Afu as well. Great families on both sides. I already shared what i was grateful for and just can't stop. So here it goes.

What am I grateful for??

- Well my son, although at times I can be a little bossy and get easily angered, this kid helps me strive to be better, happier and be humble. He really does help me do what I need to do to be with our father in heaven. My hubba bubba, he really teaches me to be a wife and mother. Although that can bother me sometimes when I'm ready to sleep and he tells me to go and wash the dishes before I go to sleep. hmm. >:[ My family Hernandez & Afu, these are great examples of what a family should really be about. I just love the fact that they will stick together through any challenges and trails. My job, I dont think there can be any other job that can care more about a person than Honeyville. Gospel.. I really don't know where I would be or who I would be. && the trails that I encounter. Because out of those I become a stronger person. I really think that those can seem to us like challenges, but at the end a blessing comes out of it. Whoa!! ;)

So what are you really grateful for? (inside your head)

Love ya!

-Alma Afu

Let's celebrate because Josiah turns 1!

1! Ahh.. where has the time gone with my little baby boy. Where let me refresh your memory if you forgot.

October 7th - Josiah was born at 8:48 pm
October 7th- December 8th Josiah was in the NICU
November 30th - Nurse burns Josiah with the water to thaw the milk
December 8th- Josiah came home
January 2nd- Josiah's blessing
January 13th- Josiah's 1st trip to the ER. :(
February 28th- Josiah has his first Inland Regional Class with teacher
April 25th- Josiah has his 1st Surgery (Cleft Lip repair and ear drums)
June 29th- Josiah's 1st tooth comes out
July 8th- Josiah crawls
July 30th- August 6th Josiah visits Mexico
August 30th- Josiah dances to "Runaway Baby" from Brumo Mars
October 7th- Josiah turns 1 year
October 24th- Josiah has his 2nd Surgery (Cleft Palate repair)


So these are the important events that have gone on the past year. So much. But So grateful to have my baby boy with me.

We had the pleasure to celebrate Josiah's birthday a few weeks ago. It was so much fun. You have heard in the past blogs about the theme and what was planned. Boy oh..boy! What more can I say, it was so much work put in to plan, but at the end all the kiddos LOVED the party. I am just grateful that I have the sisters and mom I have, they helped out every way possible. :)

All six table had a Care Bear stuff bear and Cotton Candy bags


We decided to go with Juan Polla, rice, beans and Chivhe'


Care Bear cake and cupcakes


I had surprised everyone with the inside of the cake... YUP, my baby is going to have the best cakes.



His presents


So we decided to have arts and crafts for the kiddos, since it is a kids party. :)

TABLE #1 "Make yourself"


TABLE #2 Face Painting (the adults... had more fun with this than the kiddos)


TABLE #3 Fishing


TABLE #4 Scratchers



TABLE #5 Tattoos


There was another game we had.. Musical Clouds. Unfortunately I didn't' take pics of that. It is like Musical Chairs, but we made clouds out of white paper and tape it on the floor. Its the same concept except, everyone wins. :)

family & friends


more family && friends


even more family &&& friends


Pinata time.. so I got this really good deal since they didn't have any more of Care Bears pinata and had to use an old balloon for the sides.


the kiddos waiting to hit the pinata


singing Happy birthday to my Josiah


my Josiah at 1 year ... handsome, right? :)