First Day of School

Today is the first day of school. I can't believe it is already here. We had so much that we wanted to do over the summer and it seems as though it came and went. The kids were so excited for school this year. Except Brax. He did not want to go. They all woke up early this morning and got ready. Sipola, who is always the first person to ask what is for breakfast told us she didn't want to eat breakfast because she gets to eat lunch at school. What a silly. I told her breakfast was the most important meal of the day and she needed to eat. So, she had a leftover piece of pizza. What a girl! It was such a good feeling to have family prayer this morning. Then Vita gave each one of them a blessing to start their school year. I love that. He does it every year with them and I feel like it just helps them. I love that I started my morning off with all the tears!:) At least they were good tears. So, Vita stayed and got ready for work and I dropped the kids off. They didn't want me to walk them into school. They just gave me a kiss and off they went. Mehi climbed into the front seat and said, "Well mommy, it's just you and me cuz the kids are at school and daddy is at work. I guess we should go shopping!" I laughed and told her, "No, I think we should go home and clean the house!" But instead we are here blogging with me typing and her sitting behind me doing my hair. I feel so bad for her but I think it will get better once she starts preschool and the baby gets here. I forgot to take a picture of the kids before they left so I will get one after they get home. For now I will just post a picture of them because I hate to blog without the pictures. Good luck kids on the start of a new year!

Grandma Christensen

My computer has been in the shop a couple of times and I haven't been able to download pictures. Well, today I finally got it figured out so I need to blog about my Grandma Christensen. On July 24th, she turned 101. What a woman! I think often about her and wonder why she is still on this earth. She prays daily to be able to return "home" but still she stays. She has taught me so much throughout the years. I was fortunate to be able to live with her when my parents got divorced. I loved every minute of living with her. She taught me so much and I loved sitting around listening to all of her stories. When I go see her now, I cry. I cry because sometimes she remembers me and sometimes she doesn't. She always remembers Tevita though. Before we got married I took him to meet her. She loved him instantly. She whispered to me that day something I will never forget. She said, "Jodi, I knew him in heaven. We were friends and I am glad he found you." I so believe that was true. There is a picture of her hands that I am blogging about. Look at those beautiful hands. They have been through so much hardship, but look at them. They are hands of a hard worker, of a loving mother, grandmother, great grandma, great great grandma. Those hands have made countless amounts of bread. Those hands have crocheted (sp) so many beautiful afaghans. Those hands are the hands that I used to hold when I couldn't hold my mom's hands. They have always been comforting to me. When we went over to celebrate her birthday I had a hard time letting go of those hands. I love her so much and am so thankful to have her be here still. I am sad for her but I know she is still here to teach us all some lessons. I love you Grandma!

Happy Birthday Sipola!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to our beautiful little girl. Her big day was Aug. 13th and I am so sorry I am just now blogging. We have been so busy but her day was not forgotten. Vita and I took her to lunch and then she went shopping. She had some birthday money from Grandpa Rod and she wanted to go to the dollar store with it. I was so touched that as she was shopping, she had to buy for her brother and sisters first and then she bought her some stuff she wanted. Then Vita and I gave her some lip gloss and things for her and before she took any for her, she gave the sisters some first. What a kind heart this little girl has. Vita baked her a cake on Thursday and then made her pancakes for breakfast. She was so happy because he had to work that day but made her the cake before he left. Then when Vita came home from work and I had already left for work, Brax had put a bouquet of flowers and set up the table with birthday decorations and her cake and Vita and the kids had a party. They had such a great time and she was so thankful for everything. She is such a cute kid and I am so thankful to be her mommy! Happy Birthday sis, we hope you had a great day and we love you so much!

Happy

Just thinking

I have a ton that I want to blog about. I have a list that I am writing so that I will remember what I need to blog. However, when I took my computer to the "fix it shop" they sent it home to me without the program to download my pictures. I think that is what happened anyways. I just don't know. I am waiting for my husband to have 5 minutes of free time to check it out. Anyways, I have been thinking so I thought I might blog a little without a picture. I went to lunch with my sister-in-law and her kids on Monday. We were talking about how fast summer has gone by. It is so true. I had so much planned that I wanted to get done this summer and it seems like I am running out of days and not everything is getting done. I have about 13 weeks left in my pregnancy. That is crazy to me. I have not bought one thing for this child. My friend, Heather, gave me some clothes for him and that is it. We are getting so excited to have him join our family, but we sure aren't prepared. Both Vita and I have been too nervous to buy anything for him. We both say that we should make sure he makes it here safely and then buy afterwards. But we finally set a time that Vita needs to paint his room. It's even on the calendar so we will get it done! It seems like once football season starts everything has to go on the calendar or we won't get anything done. We were talking with the kids today about when the baby gets here and how we are going to have to take him out into public before we did with our other kids. Vita and I don't like to take our babies out into public until after they are blessed. But with this little one, we aren't going to be able to do that. We have so many football games and soccer games that we are going to have to go to. The conversation made me cry.(what doesn't make me cry these days?) In the past, I would drop the new baby off with mom and she would sit with him/her on her chest the whole time I was gone. This time, that can't happen. I told my kids that I was so sad that this little one wouldn't get to know grandma. Braxton said, "Mom, he already knows her. He has been with her in heaven all this time and she is going to be so sad when he comes to be with us. She is going to miss him." What a kid. He is right. I know that my mom has been watching over my little ones in heaven. I know she is going to be so sad to see him leave her. But I am so thankful for the knowledge that we are all going to be together one day. I wish that my mom was still here. I wish I could call her and ask her questions like I have in the past. I wish we were picking out the pattern for his blessing afaghan. I need to get one made but everytime I go to the store to buy the yarn, I just break down and can't bring myself to buy it. My mom made all the afaghans and blessing dresses. That was her job. How can I make one for this little guy and have it be as special as my other kids? I'm sorry about this post. Just some days I miss her more than anything. I saw my Aunt D today and my first thought was, "mom should be with her, they should be running errands together." Today Vita and I had a talk with each one of our kids. We like to check up on them and see how they are doing every so often. Vita was talking with Lia and I couldn't control my tears. My little girl misses her twin brother. She talks about him all the time but today she actually expressed that she misses him and wishes he would have made it. Vita said, "I know you two would have been best friends." She just cried and said, "maybe one day." Life sure is interesting. I love these kids so much and so thankful that they have been able to be so strong with all the loss in their lives. Well, enough rambling for now. Oh, I do need to tell my dad how much I love him and appreciate him for everything. Hopefully pictures and fun posts are soon to come.

Bikini Bread

Dad sent home a zuchini (I hope that is spelled right) the other day. I took it to work and asked one of the ladies to help me make zuchini bread. Halamehi came to see me and asked, "Mommy, where is the bikini bread? I really want a piece!" What a cutie!