Yuba Lake

Well, Tevita and Toni had to work on Memorial Day so we decided to leave right after they got off. We left our house at about 3:45pm on Monday and headed for Yuba Lake. I thought we would be camping right as you got there but nope, that wasn't the case. Tevita had to make 3 trips on the boat taking stuff and us to the campsite. We ended up on this little island where there was a nice campsite(outhouse included!) and a sandy beach. It was a really nice sight. We had enough time to set up camp and BBQ a hamburger and go to bed. Lia had me walk her to the bathroom and on my way there I was thinking, "how am I going to do this. I used to have my mom walk me to the bathrooms all the time because first of all I am a little scared of the dark and second I am afraid of those outhouses! I have to be brave and not show my daughter that I am scared". It turned out ok and we were just fine but wow, I realized that I am a mom and instead of me depending on my mom all the time, now my kids are depending on me. I don't know why this thought came now, after all, I have been a mom for 9 years but I guess I just needed to be reminded what a great responsibility I have. Well, last year I took an activity for work to Yuba. I ended up with heat stroke due to the fact of being in the water most of the day and getting so burnt that I couldn't even move for about a week. So, this trip I thought I would do better and I put even more sunscreen on than last year. Needless to say, I am red and swollen and having a hard time walking because my feet are so red! My kids and husband are nice and brown and look great and I look like a tomatoe! I really wish I could find some sunscreen that actually works. On Tuesday we took the boat out and Tevita and Toni couldn't resist the temptation of the water and jumped in. The water was really cold but that didn't stop them. Braxton just did a cannonball in without feeling the water first and I thought he was going to go into shock. We had to help him calm his breathing down and after that he was ok. Lia also just jumped in but after this trip I think she is part fish! She didn't want to get out of the water at all. We rode around for a little bit and then went back to camp and ate hot dogs. The kids decided to have a sand castle competition. This turned into Tevita, Lia, Sipola, and Mehi vs. Toni and Braxton. They told me that I had to judge. Both castles turned out to be great, and I called it a tie. After that, we went back out to play in the water. This time we took Toni on the tube and he had a blast! We were going back in and Braxton decided that he wanted to go on the tube but he didn't want his dad to pull him very fast. Well, Tevita ended up pulling Brax just as fast as he did Toni and I was so proud of Braxton for holding on! We were out a little past the buoy(I think that is what it is called) and Tevita told Braxton to get out and swim back to shore. Brax was very scared and he got half way there and started crying saying, "Dad, I need you. I can't do it alone." Tevita said, " Keep going, I'm right behind you and I won't let anything happen to you." Braxton made it to the shore and the tears started rolling down my face. Lia decided that she wanted to drive the boat and Tevita told her if she was going to drive she had to swim out to the boat. Again, we were a little past the buoy (I sure do hope that's what that thing is called) and here came Lia. It was like nothing for her to swim to us. She drove a little and then she wanted to swim back. She got three quarters of the way there and she said,"Dad, help. I can't go any further." Tevita said, "You're doing great. Keep going, I'm right behind you and I won't let anything happen to you." Lia swam the rest of the way and again the tears started rolling down my face. Tevita asked me why I was crying and I told him what a great lesson I had just learned. Especially after the last night's experience at the bathroom. I told him it was like we are with Christ. We are never alone and he is there, right behind us, not letting anything happen to us. Our kids are constantly watching us and depending on us and we have such a great responsibility to teach them what is right. Anyways, it was an overwhelming experience and I am so thankful it happened! The rest of the night we spent playing in the sand, having dutch oven chicken and potatoes, roasting smores, fishing, and having a great time. We went to bed and the weather was nice. I don't know what time it was but I was woken up by Sipola who was crying saying she was afraid of the wind. She was in the middle of Tevita and I and she just kept sliding further and further down under the covers. I really thought the wind was going to knock our tent over but it survived. Today we just cleaned up and headed back so Tevita could go to work. It was such a great camping trip and there were so many little experiences that I will always be grateful for. Our kids did great, no fighting, just playing all nicely together. Sorry this post is so long, but I had to get it all in:) Now I am off to find something to put on my burns. Oh by the way, there are no pictures because we forgot the camera:( We did get some on the phones, but I don't know how to put them on here.

Tevita's Birthday

Ok, yesterday May 24th was Tevita's birthday. I had this great plan to do something cute for him on the blog but I didn't get it done. He has been playing around with the blog and re-designing it and I didn't get a chance to get on the computer. The kids and I went to Richfield to get him his birthday present and then we came and got him. Too bad he had to work on his birthday but we still had fun afterwards. The carnival was in town so we went to that. After the carnival (which was really fun for the kids!) I took him to dinner. It was really good and then we went shopping. It was great to spend time with him and I hope he had a great birthday. Braxton asked what we were going to get him and Lia said, "Braxton, dad doesn't need anything for his birthday. He already has everything he needs." Braxton said, "What do you mean Lia? Of course he needs a present." Lia said, "Nope, he has us kids and mom for a wife, what more could he need??" I thought that was pretty cute of Lia and such a "Lia" thing to say! So, me and the kids were talking and we decided to post a few things we love about Tevita... 10. Sipola loves that daddy bought her a new fishing pole. 9. Lia loves that daddy takes her camping and takes her for rides in the jeep. 8. Braxton loves that Dad is willing to coach him in any sport that he plays. 7. Mehi loves that she can squeeze daddy's lips and give him a big kiss. 6. I love that Tevita is willing to give the shirt off his back to anyone who needs it. 5. I love that Tevita has such great wisdom and we can all learn something from him. 4. I love that no matter where we go he can find somebody to smile to or talk to. 3. I love his "Tongan-ness". He tries to act Americanized but he never gives up where he came from and who he truly is. 2. I love the way he loves my family. My great grandma (who is turning 100 in July) and Tevita are best friends. She always says that they were best friends in Heaven. He loved my mom just like she was his own mom and they truly had a great relationship. 1. I love that Tevita is a strong member of the Church and that he honors his Priesthood. It is so comforting to me that me and my kids can go to him at any time and he is worthy to give us the blessings we need. I am so thankful that we found each other and that I have such a great husband! I hope you had a great birthday hon. I love you!

GO LAKERS!!!!

This is our beautiful little Pola. She is posing by the Seattle temple. Sorry it's taken us so long to post some pictures but here they are! We love you Sipola!

Last Day

So, today was Lia's last day of school! She is so excited and can't wait to go into 1st grade. The funny thing is, she has done nothing but the packet of school work her teacher gave her since she got home. I keep telling her she has all of the summer to do that work and she says, "Mom, if I get it done now I don't have to worry about it the whole summer!" If only it were that easy...I have to keep her working all summer so she doesn't forget all she has learned! Tevita, Toni, and I were able to go to a wedding at the temple today. It was so nice! I always love sitting next to my husband inside the temple. I always walk away thinking, "I am so stinkin' lucky to have this man in my life!" This week I have been trying really hard to focus on the positive things in our lives and not really dwell on the negative. I have also tried to point out good things about people that drive me nuts(mostly at work). It has been pretty fun trying to do this. I realized that we all have faults and we just need to try and stay positive. I can't believe that my daughter is already done with her first school year. This means that next year I will only have one kid at home. I can't believe how time flies by! I dropped Braxton off at home today and as I drove away I thought, "I can't believe I am old enough to have a son that can stay home by himself". I never thought I would see that day. I remember a lady at my work told me to never wish my kids lives away. She said that they would grow up so fast that I wouldn't even realize it was happening. Well, today I get that. It seems like just yesterday that I would only let my mom babysit him and now today he is "babysitting" himself! Well, Lia needs help with her "homework" so I guess I should go for now. Have a great weekend everybody!

Still here

Well, I received an email from one of my friends and it seems that I am not keeping up on the blog as often as I should! We are still here, just busy living life. I have had a lot of things happen in the last little while that has made me really think about where we are in life. I have had the question "Am I doing good enough as a parent?" enter my head a lot lately. There have been a few times that I have thought definitely not and then other times when I think I am doing ok. Tevita and Toni took Sipola and Mehi to Salt Lake the other day leaving Lia and I home alone (Braxton was at school). I first thought this would be so fun because I would only have one kid at home. After about a half hour of Lia and I wandering around I finally broke down and called Tevita and told him I was not enjoying myself and neither was Lia. She kept telling me how bored she was and I had to agree with her. I wasn't having to tell Sipola to stop fighting or tell Mehi to stop teasing. I sat and read stories to Lia and tried to clean the house but I have to say I didn't enjoy it. I know that we need some alone time sometimes but I can honestly say that I just didn't like it. I wanted to be surrounded by all my kids, not just one. As I was sitting there thinking about this, I thought about how Heavenly Father feels. It made me think that we really should be living as if these are the last days and we never know when it is going to end. We should also be living to make Him proud. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you, but I got a new calling! I am the Primary Secretary. I am excited to be back in Primary again! I hope that everybody had a great Mother's Day. I had to work and Dad watched the kids. Thanks Dad. The kids love going to my dad's so much and I know it is a handfull for him so I thank him much. On my mom's side of the family there are a lot of May birthdays. So, after work we went to Richfield for a Mother's Day/Birthday get together. I made a huge cake(there were 5 birthdays this month) and we had a great time. I always like getting together with my cousins. It seems like it doesn't happen much, but when it does it is a good time. Other than that, we are just living life and loving each other. The kids are loving having Toni live with us. I am always worried that they are going to drive him nuts but so far it is working out well. I hope all is well with everyone and I'll try to keep up to date from now on! P.S. It is snowing here again today. So the question is, When will Spring come??????