Last night I drove up to Park City for Makaila's soccer game. I have to brag, Makaila had an awesome game! She scored 4 goals and her team won 4-1. I never thought I would be a soccer mom but I am so happy that she has found something that she loves so much. Makaila is a natural athlete she is good at everything she does. When she was in Kindergarten we signed her up for Jr. Jazz. We went to her first game and they spent the first game and they had all the kids line up and gave them a basketball and showed them how to dribble. We watched each kid take their turn as they tried to dribble down the court and none of them could do it so I anxiously waited for Makaila to see how she would do. Makaila took that ball and full of confidence dribbled it all the way down the court. Some of the other parents turned to Taylor and I and said wow when did you teach her to play basketball. Makaila is full of confidence and determination and whatever she set her mind to she accomplishes. Last season her soccer coach gave each one of the girls a nickname when they passed of their Black Eye Goals. Coach Doug asked Taylor what the word for leader or chief is in Tongan and the word is Si'ifi. Si'ifi has become her name and when she is on the field and I am cheering for her yelling Makaila never comes to my mind it is always GO Si'ifi or GO SI, win it SI, it has become who she is out on that field. I hope my little Si'ifi can continue to go through the rest of her life the same way as she is on that field confident and determined and a leader. I love you Si'ifi!

Swimming with cousins one last time.

Kindergarten starts a week later than the rest of the school but Tila couldn't wait for school to start that she got up and got ready with the other kids for their first day of school and cried when she couldn't ride the bus. I thought Tila looked so cute I wanted to take a picture of her and Isaac of course had to be there too.

And for the girls...

I took this picture of my girls after their cousins baptism I just wish I could get them all to look at the camera.

It's been so long that I have a lot to say ....

or just picutes I want to post. Back in May my brother got married and I thought this was such a cute picture of McKay I had to put it up.

School has started and I have 4 of my 5 kids in school now. The first morning with just Isaac at home felt a little weird. Isaac does not know what to do with himself he is so used to having somebody to play with and I am not used to being the entertainer but we are adjusting. When we moved here last February I put my kids on the waiting list for Renaissance Academy but had no luck so they started at Ridgeline in Highland which is where they bus the kids in Traverse Mountain. Two days after school started I got a call from Renaissance that they had an opening for my 1st grader so they could get my other kids in also. Ridgeline was a good school and my kids were OK there but we decided to make the move for the smaller class sizes and the fine arts emphasis. I have been so impressed my kids are now excited about school and learning. I was really glad I hadn't bought school clothes yet. I had promised my kids when we went to California the end of this month we would do our shopping there. I didn't think I would like uniforms but I actually love it! Vai is in 9th grade at Timberline Junior High in Alpine. It is so weird that she will be 15 in January and in High School next year. I don't feel like I am old enough to be raising a teenager.

I still want to be on vacation!!!!

Thursday morning we got back from 10 days in paradise. Where and what is paradise depends on who you ask. Paradise for me is Maui. Taylor and I flew out to have some time to do what we wanted to do and celebrate our anniversary and then three days later my mom brought our kids down. Paradise to me is being somewhere beautiful, warm, and tranquil and having the person you most want to be with there with you. I had it all in Maui. Three days for Taylor and I to have alone is unheard of. We slept in, went to the beach and soaked up the sun and ate lots of good food! Taylor has always loved sushi and it was something I thought I would never share the love for but I have to say I love sushi. I think the reason I had never liked sushi was because I had not had good sushi. I would eat a California roll every now and then but not really love it. After a trip to NYC last December and eating a ToDai I came to love sushi. While on Maui we wanted to go to dinner for our anniversary and we thought about going to Roy's which is always worth it in Hawaii but last minute decided to try and new place call Sansei Sushi. I highly recommend it in fact we went back the next night after 10 for their 50% off and karaoke. There menu and presentation is amazing!!! I tried to find a picture to post but I couldn't copy of of their website but if you are ever in Hawaii and want good sushi Sansei is the place.

My mom brought our kids out to us on Friday and we were so excited to see them and have them with us for the next week. Actually we would have loved to have the whole time to be alone but we didn't want to hear about it forever either. My kids are really spoiled because Hawaii is our little home away from home so when they go three or so months without going over for a week they feel that life is very unfair. Maui is our favorite of the islands and where we go to relax, unwind, and spend time as a family. On Mondays since it was Labor Day the Kihei ward had a picnic at the beach so we spent the whole day there swimming, playing in the sand, and a little beach volleyball. So if you are not familiar with polynesian culture and picnic at the beach does not mean a little get together between 12 and 2. The picnic started at 8am and went until about 6pm. The kids were totally worn out and we spent all day Tuesday recovering at the condo and didn't step foot on the beach. Those of you who know me know that I am always looking for a good deal. I have always wanted to take my 9 year old snorkeling out to Molokini and Turtle Town. I got scuba certified 9 years ago and love it and had such an amazing time diving over there that I thought she was at a good age to enjoy snorkeling. My kids have all snorkeled at the pool and on the beach but have never been out in the big open ocean. I found a good deal on a boat called the Frogman for $49.95 the normal cost is $74.95. The frogman is not a big double decker catamaran with a slide and water trampoline it is simple and the ride is bumpier but I with it just being the two of us it was worth the cost. As I walked down to the shop to book our trip I happened to pick up and booklet and there was a coupon for a 2 for 1 trip on the same boat so it would only be $29 a person and I thought for that price I might as well take the whole family. While in the shop booking it the sales agent told me that for $95 a person we could take a boat called Quicksilver that is big catamaran with the slide and water trampoline and I was like no thanks. The next morning we went to the harbor to check in and the guy said well you guys are getting an upgrade today since you have such a large group (6) and put us on the Quicksilver. I have to say I did good! My kids loved it and the crew was awesome.