Snow?!

One year ago tomorrow, we were enjoying a swim at Coconut Point.

Today, September 29, 2007, it's SNOWING!

First snow in over a year for us. Weird!

Bathroom humor...

...is not allowed on this blog!! Never, never! Found this sign on a gas station in West Yellowstone.

I know the real meaning of the sign, but am not telling! See if you can guess.

Yellowstone Weekend

Ah, nothing like a weekend in Yellowstone. Well, I guess it was just an overnighter, but we did spend today at some of the sights. This was Jaydn's first time, and he loved every minute.

If you've never been to Yellowstone, let me key you in on some of the tell-tale signs that you're in Yellowstone.

1. You'll probably see lots of steam,

2. Dead trees, hot water on the ground,

3. Bubbling pots of goo in the ground, smiling children,

4. Kids looking at their new Yellowstone rock collections,

5. Huge black birds flying everywhere,

6. Buffalo the size of half a car walking in the parking lot,

I could almost reach out and touch you, big fella (but I most definitely won't).

7. Huge hotels made up of enough cut wood to plant a fully-grown forest,

8. Large bursts of water coming out of the ground that make blowholes look like baby spit,




Sorry about it being sideways. I couldn't figure out how to flip it. And I promise that the guy saying "WOW" behind me, IS NOT ME!!! So just get that thought out of your mind.

8. Ahem, where was I? Bald eagles,

9. Beautiful canyons,

10. Interesting trees, happy people,

11. And wet waterfalls.
12. Don't forget a happy son (did I already say that?).

King Size

You all knew this post was coming. After one year of sleeping on hard, moldy mattresses and 1 1/2 months of sleeping on futons at the in-law's, I decided I'd had enough. Enough already! I'm setting up our king size Serta bed, and I'm sleeping on it! Tonight's the night! I can't believe I'm going to sleep on this beauty on a Thursday night--I mean, I have work tomorrow. Do you think I'll be able to wake up on time? And to think--I can actually sleep ... in a bed ... and not bang shoulders or knees or legs or arms or whatever other body part with my beautiful wife? (Not that I'm totally bothered by that, mind you.)

Lookout everyone--I'm going in tonight, and I may not be coming back!

Our trip to Twin Falls

On Friday we took a road trip to Twin Falls to visit our friends there. I clerked there before coming to American Samoa.

We stayed with our former neighbors, the Christensen's. Jaydn really enjoys playing with the Christensen's four great, energetic boys. Here's Jaydn, J.T., and Aaron:

Jaydn and J.T. got extremely dirty.

Before church we took pictures with the family. Here's Aaron, J.T., Jaydn and older brother Nathan.

And even older brother, Jacob.

The whole family, with Jessi and Jaydn. John, Fran, Jessi, Jacob, J.T., Jaydn, Aaron, Nathan and dog.

We had a great weekend. John cooked some wonderful meals on his outdoor slow-cooker. Jaydn especially misses his neighbor-friends in TF.

On Saturday we visited with our friends, the Andersons. Loren clerked with me in TF. They're really great friends.

Jaydn and his friend Ethan.Jaydn sacrificed a year of potential bike riding for a year of swimming and snorkeling. This year, it's time to teach how to ride a bike!

After visiting with Loren and Tama, we went to visit the Tarchione family. Jessi was really happy to see Tina.

Jaydn hung out with his friends Ben, Isabelle and Sophie.
He even showed me a new way to skateboard.



On Sunday we went to our old Ward. We just have so many friends there, it would have been nice to be able to visit for a long time with all of them!

After church, we visited our good friends, the Young's. Me, Jessi, Susan, Dallin and new baby (in front): Katelyn, Tanner, and you-know-who.

Trapped!

After visiting the Young's, we made our way back to IF. But first we had to check out the TF canyon again. If you ever are driving through the area, this is a must-see.

Here's the new Twin Falls Temple (from the opposite side of the canyon):

We walked down to the lookout point, and . . . whoa! What a breathtaking view! The canyon was nice, too.

To the east:
And the west (with bridge overpass):

And beautiful golf course in the distance:

Canyon pictures seem to be much nicer with Jessi in them. Hmmm.....

Before we left, I decided to try jumping off the bridge. It was probably the craziest thing I've ever done. I highly recommend that you DON'T do it.



OK, that wasn't really me, I'll admit it. I'm afraid I'll probably never try something so stupid (doh! Don't speak too soon!). Jumping off this bridge is really popular, among thrill-seekers and suicidals alike, unfortunately. These guys seemed to be more of the former, although you can never be too sure...

That's not how you do it...

You know you've got a unique kid when he's watching the Animal Planet network (Jeff Corwin's show) and he's telling me, "that's not how you pick up geckos. That guy doesn't know how to pick up geckos." I mean, he's getting frustrated with how a trained biologist handles a gecko.

Now that's one unique six-year old!

The Lieutenant Governor of AS has been arrested

Crazy, but true! Sunia is in FBI custody! The story doesn't really reveal much, though:

FBI arrests Lt. Gov. Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia

by Fili Sagapolutele
Samoa News Correspondent

Lt. Gov. Ipulasi Aitofele Sunia was taken into custody over the weekend by the FBI based on a federal arrest warrant and was then transported to Honolulu on board a military plane.

Ipulasi reportedly surrendered himself to the FBI on Saturday morning at an undisclosed location under a very discreet arrangement with the federal agency, that included Honolulu-based FBI supervisor Tom Glorioso, who had arrived on island late last week.

The Lt. Governor was taken to Honolulu on board a C-140 U.S. Coast Guard aircraft. The plane is purported to have left on the same morning of his arrest.

The U.S. Coast Guard plane arrived last Thursday to bring back two TCF inmates that were to testify in the federal case against former TCF warden Mika Kelemete.

Messages left with Glorioso and the FBI's spokesman Tony Lang in Honolulu seeking comments were not returned at press time.

Samoa News understands that Ipulasi is to be officially charged under a federal indictment currently under seal at the federal court. It was not immediately clear if the Honolulu or Washington D.C. federal court will handle this case.

As of yesterday Ipulasi's name does not appear on today's court calenders for Honolulu or Washington.

Last year Ipulasi retained the Washington D.C. based law firm of Covington & Burling to handle his defense during the U.S. Justice Department probe.

At the time, Ipulasi said in a letter to family members that he hired this firm "to defend him against "the false allegations that federal prosecutors are threatening to file against me in a federal court in Washington".

Investigation by the law firm "has found no evidence of wrongdoing by me. I am innocent and I intend to fight the federal government as hard as is necessary to clear my name," he wrote.

Lanny A. Breuer with Covington & Burling was in the territory around May and met with Ipulasi's family members. Because its was the weekend, an e-mail message seeking comments from Breuer was not immediately answered.

Early last year, Samoa News learned that Ipulasi was advised by the FBI to consider hiring an attorney to counsel him regarding the federal investigation of the local Department of Education. The investigation focuses on the time when Ipulasi was ASG Treasurer.

In early March 2005, about 20 federal agents executed federal search warrants on the offices of the Lt. Governor and Attorney General and the main ASG computer room at the Executive Office Building in Utulei.

The governor's radio program held each Saturday, was cancelled for this last Saturday, with no explanation. Ipulasi often substituted for the governor when he was off island.

The Governor was slated to arrive last night, along with the Attorney General.

New Job, New House, New Headaches

Monday was Labor Day, and Tuesday I started the real labor. My new job started on Tuesday, and now, after 3 years of law school and 2 years of clerking, I am now learning how to be an attorney. Not to mention that on Monday night we made an offer on a home which was accepted by the buyer. Yep, things are moving fast, and I'm not sure I know what's going on?!

Hangin' out with Melissa and Logan

It's fun to be near family. I haven't been able to spend enough time with Melissa, my sister, and now she just lives a short distance away.

Last night we got together for pizza and a movie. Melissa straightened Jessi's hair--girl stuff. Logan invited intimidated me to go paintballing--boy stuff. Jessi thought it would be cool to show her naturally-curly-hair friends in AS what you can do with hair in the states.
And yes, that is a brownie in her hand.