When Evannah was 10 months old Lavania took her to Western Samoa to be cared for by Lavania's mother. Lavania found it too difficult to try to hold down a full time job and give Evannah the care and attention she deserved.

Evannah returned to American Samoa shortly after Lavania and Ed were married. She was a very shy little girl who hid behind her mother whenever someone unknown to her came to visit.

Though Evannah started walking around the time in her life when she should have, she was slow to begin talking. Ed attributed it to the change in languages between Evannah's grandmother's home in Western Samoa and her new home with Ed and Lavania. Samoan is the language spoken in the grandmother's home. Ed doesn't speak or understand much Samoan, so English is spoken in Ed and Lavania's home.

Though she was slow in beginning to talk, once she did start, she made up for the slowness in spades. Today Evannah is a little magpie. She talks constantly, even when she's alone in her bedroom.

In the Summer of 1996, as soon as Evannah was old enough to attend the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program, Ed and Lavania enrolled her in the Summer session at Manumalo Baptist School. She took to school like a pig takes to a mud puddle. She can't wait to get out the door in the morning and be on her way.

In September 1996, Evannah started the Fall semester at Manumalo in Grade K3 of the ECE program. Proud parents Ed and Lavania are pleased to report that she ended the 1996-1997 school year on the honor roll and was advanced to Grade K4. After another stint of Summer school, she attended Grade K4 of the ECE program from September 1997 to June 1998, again ending the school year on the honor roll. After her third straight Summer of attending Summer classes, Evannah started Grade K5, which is the equivalent of Kindergarten in the states, in September 1998. She still hasn't lost her enthusiasm for school and is progressing at an amazing rate. Manumalo Baptist School uses the A Beka Book curriculum, which has the children learning to write in cursive and to read at the K5 level.

In February 1997, Evannah received one of the greatest presents a young girl could receive. After growing for four years without a father, she was legally adopted by Ed. It's as it should be, as she and Ed are extremely close.

When the family moved to the mainland in January 1999, Evannah attended Oak Hill Elementary School where she finished her Kindergarten year. Upon her return to the island with her mother in July 1999, she started the new school year in First Grade back at Manuamalo Baptist School. She has brought home report cards with straight "A"s since the First Grade school year started. She, like her mother, is looking forward to returning to California and home.

Evannah is always on the move, except possibly when she's sleeping. It amazes Ed that something so small can have so much energy.

Evannah enjoys school, reading, coloring, school, reading, writing, school, reading, talking and school, reading and The Cartoon Network.