Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 came and went and I am just now getting around to posting. We had a great Christmas this year. We were lucky to have Fine, Lita, and MJ with us. It was nice to have them here. Tevita and I both worked on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. I wonder if our kids will ever get a true holiday without their parents working! Oh well, I'm glad they got to stay home with Grandma and Grandpa. After the kids opened their presents I had them get ready and we went to Justin's for breakfast. It was nice to go down there and spend some time with my family. I miss them sometimes and I know that sounds weird because they are only 45 minutes away but I don't see them very often and I do miss them and enjoy the time I get to spend with them. After breakfast we delivered presents to my auntie's house and my grandpa's house and then we came back so I could go to work. That day was pretty emotional for me. I loved seeing my kids and the brightness of their eyes as they got their gifts. Tevita gave me a gift and he wrote me a letter with it. The letter started my day off with tears. As I was driving and it was quiet (because all the kids were listening to their MP3 players) I kept thinking about my children in heaven. Spencer would be 7 years old now and Kafa and Finau would be 3 or 4 months old (depending on if they would have made it full term). How would our Christmas have been different if they were all here? I know for sure that Brax and Spencer would have been outside playing with the new basketball. I know my dad would have been holding the twins and crying because he missed mom. I know it would have been different but it wasn't. Instead I said a prayer and made my husband hug me until I could stop crying. I wonder if the hurt will ever go away? I know it will get better but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of them. I know they had the best Christmas where they are and I know they are all watching over us. I know they are with my mom and that comforts me. I know that a part of my heart went with them and there is a little void that will be there until I am with them again. I know that my husband also feels the same way. I am so thankful for all our blessings. We are so blessed and I do realize that. I am a little sad that the holiday season is about over. I feel it came and went so quick but I am looking forward to next year. I love my family so much and am so thankful to be able to spend some quality time with them all. I will post more later. Love to you all!

Graduation and dancers

Just a few more pictures of the graduation and dancers. As soon as Vita gets home I'll have him post more pictures.

Texas trip

For some reason my blogger isn't letting me see the pictures I download. These pictures I put on here are in the van as we were leaving, the kids with Grandma and Grandpa, and the buffet we ate at on Friday night. I will be posting more pictures of everything in a little bit. Anyways, we started our Texas trip last Wednesday morning. We got everybody loaded and off we went. We left Koosharem at about 10:45 am. We drove and drove. We ate dinner in New Mexico somewhere and we drove some more. My husband insisted on driving the whole time so it was interesting to watch his bobbing head. We made it to Texas on Thursday at about 2:00pm. What a long trip! We were so excited to see Pila and his family so the drive was worth it. On Thursday we just kind of hung out and visited. Jamie's family also arrived on Thursday. We let a few of the kids stay with uncle and auntie and some of us went to the hotel for the night. On Friday we went on a little shopping trip to Rockwall. It was so cute to see Tevita with all the kids. I'm sure people were thinking we were crazy but oh well! We also went to Dallas to see the temple. It was so beautiful and the kids enjoyed taking pictures there. After shopping we went back to the house and hung out and waited for the relatives to arrive from Alaska. Jamie, Pou and I kept trying to get the boys to play pounce(card game)with us but we didn't have any luck. We left Pila's house at 3:00am. Saturday was the big day. It was so good to see Viliami accomplish this great thing. He looked really good and I don't think I saw him without a smile the whole graduation. We took a lot of pictures and then went to eat. Once we got home the girls put on their show for their Uncle. It was a great show and they all did such a good job dancing. We tried again to get the boys to play pounce with us but they just liked playing their own games. Sunday morning the relatives went back to Alaska and then we left Texas at about 3:00pm. Tevita was so tired (whenver they get together as a family, there is no sleeping...just talking and laughing). We ended up stopping at some gas station somewhere along the way and sleeping for a bit. Once we got into Arizona there was some snow but it was a lot of snow in Utah. We had to drive about 25-30mph to get home safely. We made it home last night at about 9:00pm. It was a really fun trip and we had a great time. Pila called this morning and said that it was a good thing we left when we did because Texas is frozen and everything is shut down and has lots of frozen ice. Good thing we made it safely!

Snowy girls

These little cuties snuck out on me. I told them it was too cold to play outside and then I got a phone call. I was in my room talking and I realized it was a little too quiet. Well, I heard them laughing and looked out and this is what I saw. Lia said that MJ was so excited to see snow that they just couldn't stay inside. MJ is our neice from New Zealand that just got here Sunday night. We are so excited to have her here and the kids are loving having another girl around the house!

Happy Birthday Mehi

It is so hard to believe that our little girl turned 3 yesterday. She has grown up so fast! On Sunday night the family went to Salt Lake to pick up Fine and MJ. They got home early in the morning. I said, "Happy Birthday Mehi". I asked her what she wanted and she said, "pink playdough and a baby". I asked her who was going to get it for her and she said Santa. I told her Santa doesn't come for her birthday, he comes for Christmas. She said,"Then you and dad go to the store and get it." Life is so simple in the eyes of a 3 year old. She is always coming up with new ideas and is so full of life. She has turned into quite the little character. This morning she told us that her and Uncle Toni were no longer friends because he didn't buy her a present. She said that they will be friends when he gives her a present. She loves her family more than anything and is so willing to help out her brother and sisters. She is so smart and loves to just sit and read. I am so thankful to have this sweet little girl in our lives. She has brought so many blessings into our family and I hope she had a great birthday! We love you little miss.

Before and After

Well, I decided to cut my hair again. Tevita was doing my hair one day and said, "I think I'm getting too old to do your hair everyday." I told him, "if that's the case, maybe I should cut it." So, I made the appointment and cut it. Earlier I had made a goal that when I lost 20 pounds I was going to put color in it. So, I lost the weight and colored it and cut it. It's not the right color so I'm going back in 2 weeks to put the right color in. But for now I guess it will do!

Texas and Viliami

Well we are headed for Texas on Tuesday. Viliami is graduating with his Masters degree. Sorry Viliami, I don't know what your degree is in. I know it is something way smart though! I just have to say how proud of Viliami we all are. He is so smart and has done so well in school. We are so excited to be going to Texas to see him and his family. We sure do miss them and can't wait to see them. Sipola wants to go running so be ready Uncle Pila! Tevita is going to pick up his dad from the airport tomorrow night. We are so excited! He is bringing our niece that we have never met and we can't wait to see them. This will be the second time Vita has seen his dad in about 20 years. He is so excited and can't wait to get to the airport! Anyways, just a little note to let Viliami know how proud of him we are and are excited to see him and his family! We love you guys!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Christmas tree hunting and football

I added these football pictures after the tree pictures but I can't figure out how to get them at the bottom. Anyways, after our tree hunting then Vita got to play in a football tournament. Here is Brax with his dad. Vita getting ready to throw the ball to Toni.

You see how Josh is rubbing his head? Well, that happened a lot in the tournament. They had so much fun playing but there sure was a lot of head scratching trying to figure out what was going on.

On Friday night there were 3 Tongans, 4 Hawaiians, 1 Samoan, and 1 white guy playing. It was so fun watching them. They were really good and won their games. On Saturday there wasn't so many Poly guys there and they lost. They still played pretty good and it was fun for them so that's all that counts!

It has been a tradition in our family for as long as I can remember that we go after Christmas trees the Friday after Thanksgiving. Mom would always make us left over turkey sandwiches and mugs full of hot chocolate and we would go. I thought that this year was going to be different because dad and Justin went the weekend before but they ended up coming and it was a great time. Dad was the lucky one that got all the grandkids (well almost all) to ride with him in his truck. This picture was our lunch break right before we left to come home. This is Lia and Mehi getting ready to go. They thought they were so cute in their beanies and gloves.

Sipola and Kamree had a blast in the snow. I couldn't get Pola to put on her jacket because Justin forgot to take his girls coats and Pola didn't want them to be cold alone!

I wish I could post the picturs of Vita. He had on his fire boots, knee high socks, shorts, and a t-shirt. Once he started hiking he decided to put on his hoodie and his hat. I wish I could post those pictures because they sure are "Vita in the winter" . Anyways, as usual Vita started hiking and we sat waiting for him. He usually hikes for a couple of hours before he finds the perfect tree for us but we didn't have enough time this year so he was only gone for a little bit.

After we got the trees we started back for home. Justin let Pou and I get into my expedition and we were on our way. We were trying to hurry back because I had to work at 3 so I wanted to take a shower. We got ahead quite a ways and I saw a sign that said Koosharem this way so I went that way. After a little bit of traveling I told Pou that I didn't think we were going the right way. Then she said, "I don't think this forest looks familiar". I realized that we were going the wrong way but it was too late to turn around...we were already in deep snow. So I hurried and tried to call my family on the radio but I didn't know if they heard me or not. I finally got ahold of Justin on the cell and told him I was lost. He told me that dad was following me and to just drive slow. I told him I didn't have time to drive slow because I would get stuck. A minor detail that I forgot to tell you is that my tires are so bald. I have absolutely no traction on them and my 4 wheel drive only works in auto 4 wheel. Well anyways, we were driving along and we came to a really icy snowy part that was headed down hill. My brakes locked up, my tires wouldn't catch on anything, and we were headed off the cliff. Luckily I remembered my dad telling me to always tap the breaks and head for the safest part of the road. So, I tapped my brakes and headed for the side of the cliff. I was so lucky to get it stopped and lucky that my dad had caught up to me. I was crying and shaking and so scared. Dad had me drive his truck and him, Braxton, and Ralph got in the expedition. They started down and started sliding. I was so scared for them. Dad was able to get it stopped and then had Brax and Ralph get out. Can I just tell you how scared I was watching my dad slide down the hill? All I could think was that I wasn't ready to loose my dad also. We said a prayer and watched as he was able to get it down the road. I'm so lucky to have a dad that was raised in the mountains and snow and knows what he is doing. We finally got out of the mountain and back to home. It was really one of the most scary experiences of my life. Thanks dad for making it out safely. I hurried and said bye to everybody and went to work.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we had some little Tongan performers for us. Vita and I both had to work the morning shift so we got home at 3:00. This was our first "Tongan Thanksgiving" since we have been married. Lita and Pou cooked dinner for us while we were working and then the girls put on a little show for us. They did so good and I am so thankful for the opportunity to watch my beautiful little girls perform.

Do you think we could find any cuter girls than this? I don't think so!!!

This is one of my favorite pictures of Sipola. This is the smile that we all love!

The girls performing for us. Halamehi wasn't so happy because we couldn't get the flower to stay in her hair but she eventually got over that and did the hula for us. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. We sure did and it is always nice to remember what we are thankful for.

Yesterday I had bought some stuff to take up to the cemetary. Mehi saw it and asked me what I was doing with it. I told her I was taking it down for Grandma Donna. She said, "Mommy, Grandma is an angel." I told her I know. She said, "then how are we going to take it to her if she is an angel in heaven?" I told her, "remember that Grandma has a place in the cemetary that we go and visit sometimes." She said, "who put my grandma in that cemetary?" I told her Heavenly Father. She said, "my Heavenly Father?" I said yes. She said, "will He put me there too?" I said someday and she said, "OK, then I will be an angel like my grandma."

Sometimes I wonder if she is really two or twenty one!!!

We Love BYU

Our boss gave Tevita 4 tickets to the last BYU home game. Tevita, Braxton, Toni, and I went. We had so much fun and I'm so glad Tevita took us.

We had really good seats...only 23 up from the field.

Braxton loves BYU. At the game he told me that he can't wait to play for them and when he does he will get me really good seats so I can see him really well. I love this boy and can't wait for him to be the man that I know he is going to be. (I can wait...he is growing up so fast, it's hard to believe). We are preparing for the BYU/Utah game this Saturday. Go BYU!!!

My brother, my hero, my friend

Yesterday was my big brother's birthday. I tried to do this post yesterday but my computer froze up and wouldn't work, so here it is today. This guy has always been somebody that I look up to. He was my protector all the time. He could bully me but nobody else could. He was the person who I went to that I knew would always be there for me no matter what. I remember one night when I was younger and he took me into his room and said, "Jodi, I am going to teach you how to pray and really mean what you are saying rather than saying the same prayer every night." He taught me a lot of things. He taught me how to stand up for myself, he taught me how to be who I am no matter what, he taught me how to notice when I was being stuck up and how to be nice to others. He taught me that no matter how hard school is/was I could make it as long as I tried. He has always been there to give me advice. To this day I call him and ask him his opinion on things. I love him so much and I am so grateful for this big brother that I have been blessed with. I could go on forever about him but I know he would hate that so I will stop for now and tell him I love him and hope that he had a great birthday. Happy Birthday Just. I love you!

High School Tag

1)Did you date someone from your school? No
2)What kind of car did you drive? Nissan (I can't remember the name) and the boat (Chevy Impala that Tara hid on the floor when I took her home because she was so embarressed to be seen in such a huge car!). When Justin left for his mission I got to drive his truck and then my senior year I bought a Geo Prizm.
3)What was your most embarrassing moment? When I asked a lady when she was going to have her baby (she had already had it and thought I was calling her fat). It was at one of our dance parties at Mama Butch's and I remember that day as if it were yesterday.
4)Were you a party animal? Sometimes with my best friends and only with soda and candy! I do have a picture of Adrienne holding a bottle as if we partied the other way though! (It was some kind of juice:)
5)Were you considered a flirt? Kind of. I had a lot more guy friends than girls.
6)Were you in Band, Orchestra, or Choir? Yes. I was in the choir, only for the credit!
7)Were you a NERD? Definitely not. I sucked at being smart.
8)Were you on any Varsity Teams? No, only JV (volleyball)
9)Did you get suspended or expelled? No. I probably should have. I can still remember the lecture Mr. McCarthur gave me and Tom and Brian when we were sluffing English!
10)Can you still sing the fight song?Yes. Only because I still go to Gunnison football games sometimes.Here it is thanks to Shayla.“We are proud of our valley, its fields and meadows fair. We dwell in peace and plenty, contentment everywhere. There is one of these blessings from mem’ry ne’er depart. It is our dear old grand high school, the pride of every heart. GV High (GVHS), I love thee (I love thee). Thy name I hold in memory. GV High (GVHS), I love thee (I love thee). Let me live and die still true to thee.” I won't do the second verse. ;o)
11)Who were your favorite teachers? Mr. Harwood, Mr. Bjegaarrd (did I spell that right?), Mr. Roberts(Reed). Mr. Harwood because who could not love him? Mr. B because he was a hoot and Mr. Roberts because he was one of my best friend's dad and my grandma's neighbor and he was a great guy! Oh, and Mr. Lambertson when he was there. I think we had a lot of great teachers so they were probably all a favorite at some time!
12)Where did you sit during lunch? I don't remember lunch. I think I hung out with my friends in the hall. I honestly don't ever remember sitting in the cafeteria to eat.I think I went home and to my grandma's most of the time.
13)What was your school mascot? Bulldog. Go Blue!
14)Did you go to Homecoming? Heck no. Are you kidding????
15)If you could go back would you? No. I think high school were some of the hardest times of my life. I think going through it once was definitely enough. I wish I knew back then how my life would have turned out and I wouldn't have sweated the small stuff!
16)What do you remember most about graduation? Sitting next to TJ and talking the whole time! I didn't go to high school my senior year so I loved the week of getting ready for graduation. I caught up with all my friends and I even stayed for the after graduation party! In every picture my mom took TJ and I were talking. I don't think I listened to one speech.
17)Where did you go for your Senior trip? Did we have one? I didn't even know about it if we did. I went to work at Fish Lake the morning after graduation and never really looked back at those yucky years!
18)Were you in any clubs? FHA, FBLA, Yearbook, Wrestling stats, I can't remember anything else.1
19)Have you gained weight since High School? Yes. 4 kids later but I have lost 19 lbs in the last month and a half!
20)Who was your prom date? Chris Costa. Him and his brother Nathan took me and Jennie.
21)Did you go to your 10-year class reunion? No. I went to our five but not the ten. Maybe we'll go to the 20. I did look at the class website to see who changed the most.
22)Looking back, what advice would you give yourself? Don't sweat the small stuff. High school is such a short time in the big picture and life does get better after high school. Oh, and I would have taken the ACT's while I was in school rather than taking them after I graduated and decided to go to college.
23) What year did you graduate? 1996
I am tagging everyone that reads this. It was fun to reflect.

Mommy and Grandma

Yesterday Sipola and I were talking and out of the blue she said, "Mommy I don't want you and daddy to be a grandma and grandpa." I said, "I hope we will be." She said, "No Mommy. I just want you to stay my mommy forever." I said, "but I want to be your mommy forever and your children's grandma." She said, "No mommy, if you become a grandma then you won't look the same and I won't be able to recognize you anymore so you won't be my mommy." I told her no matter what I look like I will always be her mommy and she just said, "I just don't want you and daddy to change." What a cutie!

Halloween

Mehi was Snow White. This pose is how she is lately. Little Miss Sassy with her arms folded!

Lia was a witch and Pola was an olden day princess.

The kids had Toni paint their faces for Halloween this year. Braxton was a Tongan football warrior!

The kids were so excited to have both Tevita and I be able to go to the carnival this year. We had dinner and then the kids went and played all kinds of games while Tevita and I waited to see if we won anything in the drawings. Sipola won a school basket which consisted of a lot of school supplies and markers and such. The carnival was a week before Halloween so the kids had to dress up twice. On Halloween we met Justin, Nancy, and the girls and went trick or treating. We love going with them and it seems as though we will be doing that for a long time. Thanks Justin and Nancy for keeping the tradition alive!

Tongan Stuff

We have enjoyed having Grandma Lita at our house. She is always trying to do Tongan stuff with the kids(which I love) and this is the kids helping her paint some tapa cloth. She also got Lia's outfit ready so Lia will be able to hula for Uncle Pila at his graduation. We love you Grandma Lita!