I have been thinking and decided to write some of my thoughts down. For some reason I keep thinking about Sipola and the time we spent in the hospital. I don't ever want to go through something like that again. But I have to be honest, we might. We never know. We have all these kids and they are bound to get sick. Right now we are battling strep throat at our house. I hate it. The kids are throwing up, have fevers, and their little throats are so sore. I feel so bad for them. I wish there was some way of making everybody feel better and feel good all the time. I can't even imagine how Heavenly Father feels. Watching all of us suffer or be in pain. Anyway, enough of that. School has been out for a week now. The kids are bored. My eyes have been so swollen that I haven't wanted to go anywhere. Hopefully the weeks to follow will get better. The kids all had successful years at school. Their test scores were amazing. It's hard to believe how much they are all growing up! Tevon continues to be our little cowboy. He loves everything that has to do with farm, tractors, cowboys, and horses. It is so hard to get upset with this little boy. Now I know why my little sister was always so spoiled. I never got it until I now have my "baby" of the family. He is so stinkin cute and says the funniest things! But it is hard to see him growing up and knowing that he is the last. I tried to load some pictures on here but for some reason it is not letting me. I will try again later.

No Fear

This weekend we were up north. We decided to take the kids swimming. Usually when we go swimming we have a great time! Well, this time was a little different. It started out fun until our brave little two year old got out of the pool. We asked him what he was doing and all of a sudden he took off running. Running turned into jumping! He jumped so far into the pool and nobody was close to where he jumped in! Alani hurried and got him out and he was ok. He came up with a surprised look on his face and got so mad when I wouldn't let him get right back in the pool. I made sure he was ok and then he got back in. The whole time he kept saying, "let me go!! let me go!" Tevita didn't let him go but he had to keep dunking him because Tevon likes to get his hair wet. Well, I was sitting over by the hot tub and Mehi was sitting in it. Somehow Tevon got out of the pool and started running around. We were all trying to get him when all of a sudden he jumped head first into the hot tub. Lia was the first one to jump in and get him and when she pulled him out she pulled him out feet first so she was so proud she got him and said, "I have him!" but his head was still under. So this time he came up coughing a little bit. I got him and just started crying. He said,"Mommy, what's wrong?" and then he started crying a little bit. He said, "Mommy, let's swim. It's so fun!" What a kid. When he was first starting to crawl my dad said,"Tevon is going to be your kid that gives you a run for your money!" I didn't believe him but the more he gets older the more I believe him! Tevon has no fear! Just like walking out to the middle of the field surrounded by a dozen horses and him standing in the middle of them giving them kisses. No fear I tell you! We are definitely going to have to keep our eyes on this kid at all times! We are so thankful he is ok! Love you little Buddy!

Making Out

Today I was getting ready to leave from work. Sipola's teacher came in and said, "you have to hear this story." So I asked her what was up. She said, "there is a boy in my class that is really girl crazy so we were having a talk. And there is this one student that says, "my mommy says it is a good thing to make out when you are married!" I blushed and started laughing. She said, "Sipola then turned red as we were all looking at her and she said, "what, my mommy said it is good to make out when you are married but NEVER before!" Her teacher said, "guess we all know what you are doing at your house, Jodi!" Ha ha. What could I say? It is true. I did say that. But I was trying to make a point to my older kids that they should definitely not be making out!! Oh Sipola, you always tell the truth! I love you Bear!

A long time

Wow! I can't believe how long it has been since I updated my blog! I totally blame it on Facebook and Pinterest! It is so easy to just take a picture on my phone and quickly post it to facebook. I have gotten so bad that I hardly every take my camera with me, I just always take pictures on my phone. I need to get better because this is like my journal but life is just so crazy!! I did want to post, however, that we just took Sipola back up to Primary Children's last week and we received great news! All of the doctors were so happy to see her and gave her big hugs! They said she is doing so well and is such a miracle! Her numbers when she first went in to the hospital were in the thousands. Friday the doctor called and was amazed that her number was now 21. I was so happy to hear all the good news. She said that all her labs are normal and that she doesn't have to go back until May! I am so thankful for all the prayers that were said on her behalf. I know that is why she is here today! In other news, Alani finally made it into school and is playing on the basketball team. Braton (that letter doesn't work on my laptop) made the all star basketball team. Such a change for him, he was a State Champion wrestler last year and chose to only do one wrestling tournament this year and has done really well in basketball. He has also made the high honor roll every quarter this year! Lia played jr. jazz basketball and loved it! She wasn't supposed to play until she is a 5th grader but luckily for her they let her in as a 4th grader. She did really well and is now looking forward to volleyball. Sipola is doing really well. She was able to start dancing in January and has loved every minute of it. She is also taking piano lessons and her teacher says she is a natural. Halamehi started this year not knowing any of the alphabet and is now reading books to us. She is loving kindergarten and loves her best friend, Laken. She is such a little social bug and is doing well also. Tevon is our little cowboy. He goes to his babysitter and they watch hunting movies. He also feeds the sheep, gathers eggs from the chickens, and plays with the horses. The other day we were driving to Richfield and he said, "Mommy, can I be a cowboy?" I said, "don't you want to be a football player?" and he said, "Nope, I want to be a cowboy!" Tevita is working at the middle school working with troubled youth and I am still at the elementary school working with special needs. Time is going by so quickly and we are just trying to get everything done. I didn't ever think about how hard it was going to be doing all the homework, church activities, outside activities with all these kids. I wouldn't change it for the world though! I love them so much and I love supporting them in all they do! I'm going to try to get better at updating the blog!

Fall Pictures

Just a few of my favorites. We went on the mountain one Saturday afternoon and took a few pictures.

Annie Bangs

It is a tradition for the kids in the 3rd grade to go on a field trip to Gooseberry every year. Annie Bangs lives at Gooseberry and she always pays a visit to the 3rd graders. It is so fun for the kids to prepare for this field trip. Well, this year Sipola's field trip was to Primary Children's instead of going to Gooseberry. She was so upset about missing the field trip. She told everybody about Annie Bangs and even had quite a few nurses come back the next shift and tell her that they had looked Annie up on the internet. Mrs. Bringhurst (Sipola's teacher) was so good and sent pictures and took video of the whole field trip so that Sipola could kind of experience it. Then she was so excited that Sipola was able to attend the Gooseberry assembly! She told me that she had never had a child so nervous about the assembly before. The reason for it was because all the other kids had got to see Annie on the mountain but Sipola didn't so she was nervous to see her at the assembly. It was so cute. They sang a bunch of songs and then Annie came and made her appearance. Sipola was so excited to see her! It was pretty fun. Mrs. Bringhurst even said that if Sipola wants to go next year she will let her. We will see if Pola will even want to!

Pumpkin Patch

In October Halamehi was able to go to the pumpkin patch with her class. She had a great time. Her teacher even let her hang out with her best friend! (usually she separates them so they don't talk)They picked out their pumpkins and then got to go on a train ride. She had a great time!