the month of August

This year is honestly blowing by and I can't believe August has come and gone already. 

This is how this month began! We had church and I was able to teach in my YSA class. I was grateful that I was able to study and learn from D&C. Also very grateful for the support that I received that day and grateful for the spirit that was brought to the class. I love Sundays, so it was such a nice way to start this month off. 

Had to document our accidental match to church hehe. 

One of my faves. 

This is what a lot of my Monday nights/Tuesday mornings look like. It's Sister Hawea's pday and it's always so nice being able to catch up with her. It's always the best when as many of us join in to catch up on what's been going on in each of our lives. There's always lots of laughs mixed in hehe, I miss them. 

Supported Haia at his last basketball game of the season. He did so well at all his games hehe, super proud of him. 

Kara and I went to the urupa to visit Grandma and Papa. That was really lovely to be able to see where they're buried. I wanna say it might have been my first time visiting them, so it was nice to see where they are. Her and I went to get breakfast after at Lolas cafe. That place never disappoints. So that was a nice time to be able to eat good food and chat. 

Love their french toast.

Aug 10th: 

Sister Hawea turned 20! It was very lovely being able to call her on her day of birth. Love this bunch. 

Aug 13th:

It had been 10 years since papa had passed away, so to celebrate his anniversary, Uncle Theo organized for as many of us to go down to Tok for church and then head to the cemetery for a wee service. It was so nice to celebrate the blessing he was in our lives, and it made me miss him lots more than normal. So nice being able to be together as a family, and I'm super grateful for this lot. #teamrota hehe. 

I love these kids with all my heart, and enjoy being an older cousin to them. 

Love these two's relationship.

Big boy and Taine. 

Obsessed with her is an understatement. 

It was so nice being able to see Haina. Had to make sure we got another pic to add to our 'Haina & Elle' album hehe. 

Here's some more cuzzie pics hehe. 

Love these people. 

Love Emmy girl. 

Funny story: Baby TK took this lol. 

Cuddles with big boy is the best.

It was also nice to be able to see the Nan's. One of my favorite parts to this day was when after we had all eaten, some of us girls went to help Nanny do the dishes. We put on some music and danced and sung in the kitchen together and it was truly one of my best memories I will ever have hehe. 

Aug 17th: When all hell broke loose HAHA. So Arihia and I went to institute and found out that we were going into full lockdown haha. So straight after class we rushed to the grocery store and it was flipping packed as ever. Her and I luckily made it through okay and managed to get us all the things that we needed. What was supposed to only be three days, turned into a bit longer than that haha. 

Aug 22nd:

This guy celebrated his 15th bday in lockdown! All things considered, we celebrated well. We had church, and then lunch. Aunty made burgers and koro made up the best chips I've ever had homemade hehe. We continued the celebrations on with games, a movie, and cake and ice cream to finish the night off. Was such a nice day being able to celebrate Ihaia. 

So grateful he was born. 

Aunty's german choc cake is hands down, one of my favorites. 

Aug 23rd: 

Kaliya and I went on a walk around Temple View. It was nice being able to get some kind of physical activity in haha and of course enjoyed Kaliya's company along the way. 

My fave gal pal hehe. 

Such a gorgeous day, this day was. Looking forward to the temple opening up. 

Lockdown has involved a lot of face timing. Thank goodness for technology! I got to speak to one of my favorite little girls, Anya Lei. She is just the sweetest thing!

Hung out heaps with Arihia! Lockdown has also involved a lot of tv and movies haha. We watched both seasons of outer banks within a few days, and a lot of other movies on top of that haha. 

Sunday's have been my favorite in lockdown. We've been having at home church and it's been really lovely. This Sunday in particular, the weather was gorgeous. Some of us went outside and played darts, and just chatted under the sun and blue skies. It was getting us all in the mood for summer hehe.  

Can't wait to see what September brings!