What we're doing, Where we've been, and Where we're going...

Why I love my job....

2010-10-06T18:36:00.000-07:00

Australia Part 1

2010-10-06T18:26:00.000-07:00

This goes along with my last post of why I love my job. This past summer I was able to go to Australia with Makaila and my parents for two whole weeks. I was a little nervous leaving behind my husband and my 4 other kiddos. I honestly didn't know if I would make it the whole two weeks but I did. The trip was amazing and we loved it. I was a little worried about the 15 hour flight from LA but when you travel business elite you don't feel it. The last time I flew to New Zealand about 3 years ago I remember being tired for days and I think it took me two weeks to adjust to the time change. We landed in Sydney and I did not feel like I had been flying all night it was amazing. Once we arrived in Sydney and got through customs we took the train out of the airport and met up with Brother David Potts. We took the train down to Wollongong where we stayed a couple of nights with him. Brother Potts is an older man who has never married. He takes care of all the missionaries who serve in his area. Potts as we call him was very close with my brother when he served in Australia and comes out a couple of times a year and even came out to his wedding. Potts took us to the largest Buddhist Temple in the southern hemispere, down to at Kiama, and then into the coolest little town called Berry where we at a little bakery that made these amazing meat pies. I never liked meat pies growing up here but the meat pies in Australia are completely different then a meat pie here. We went to Seven Mile Beach and then drove through the mountains and countryside and saw waterfalls and beautiful mountains. We also saw where the missionary fell a few years ago. He is so lucky to be alive!!! I don't have pictures from this part of my trip because I didn't have an sd card in my camera and didn't know.

Just a little longer

2010-09-06T08:41:00.000-07:00

I will be back to blogging soon and have many things to blog about like my trip to Australia, Summer, Sports, and life. I will have to be much better at blogging seeing this will most likely be the way my husband keeps up on our lives since he will be leaving to Asia for 6 months to a year. Yes I am freaking out!!!! We have never really been apart our whole married life and I am not looking forward to being somewhat of a single mom to 5 kids. Thanks goodness for my job so he will be able to come home hopefully once a month and we will be able to go visit him once in a while. The positive side is I will be able to blog more since I won't have him there as a permanent fixture to our computer. So after next Monday I expect to be taking a lot more pictures, videos, and doing alot more blogging.

ksl.com - Thousands converging on Salt Lake City for Days of '47 parade

2010-07-24T22:42:00.000-07:00

Every July 24th my kids go with my mom-in-law and sister-in-laws and camp overnight for the Days Of 47 Parade. This year Tila was interviewed on KSL, you can click the link below to see her, she was really excited!

ksl.com - Thousands converging on Salt Lake City for Days of '47 parade

Two more Alaska pics

2010-07-08T06:45:00.000-07:00

Two more picture from our Alaska trip, the moose I mentioned on our walk through Kincaid Park and a picture taken at the beach.

Summer Fun

2010-06-28T20:43:00.001-07:00

As much as I would love to post the picture along with this post I will spare my son embarrassment for now.

A couple of weeks ago our friends the Proctors invited us to go boating. I was so excited I have missed boating. Growing up my dad always had a boat and we live for the summers going to the lake skiing, wakeboarding, and tubing. Two years ago my Dad's boat killed over and so we have not been able to go.

We packed up the kids and headed down to Provo marina to meet up with the Proctors. We all loaded up the boat for a day of fun. The kids were so excited and couldn't wait to get out in the water. The Porctors had a wake rider, it is like a surfboard but you ride the wake created by the boat. McKay decided he wanted to try it so Brett was out with all of the kids letting the ride with him. McKay wanted to do it on his own. The boat started going and as McKay tried to get up he was pulled forward. We all started yelling at him to let go of the rope. He had a sure look of panic in his face and we thought maybe because he was alone in the lake. We all kept yelling for him to let go of the rope and we were coming for him. He finally let go of the rope and as we came closer we found out the sheer look of panic wasn't because he was alone in the lake, it was because the water pulled his pants right off of him and he was buck naked all but his life jacket! He did manage to grab a hold of his shorts but couldn't get them back on in the water. We do have the butt shot of him standing on the ski deck putting his shorts back on. We will definitely hold onto it for blackmail in the future though. We all had a good time up until the rope got caught on the propeller and we had to be towed back into the dock. Thanks Brett and Selena for the fun day!

Alaska

2010-06-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

My brother Ryan and his wife Megan have been living in Alaska for the past year. Ryan has always loved aviation and knew from the time he was little that he was going to be a pilot and work in aviation. Ryan does have his pilots license but because it's so difficult, expensive, and takes a long time to get your hours if you are not in the military to become a commercial pilot he decided to go into air traffic control. He was accepted into the FAA's program up in Anchorage and will graduate in December.

I have heard so many amazing things about Alaska and what a beautiful place it is that we decided to visit while I had some time off this summer. One of the benefits working for the airline is the free flights so we decided since the flights looked good this past weekend to go up for a visit. Summer is usually a very difficult time to travel standby to Alaska because it the tourist season with all the cruise ships and the salmon fishing.

We left Thursday and we landed in Anchorage at about 12:30am. When we left Salt Lake City at 9:30 it was completely dark and as we flew it was if we were chasing the sun. We landed in Anchorage and it was still light outside! By the time we got our luggage and got to my brothers house around 1:30 it was dark but by 3am it was light again and even the dark wasn't pitch dark.

Alaska is just so BIG! There is so much wildlife and vegetation. Everything was so green, the ground was covered in green, it reminded me a lot of Hawaii without the warm climate and the palm trees. While there we hiked to Byron Glacier, visited the Alaskan Wildlife Conservation Center, Bird Creek, Kincaid Park, Blueberry Loop, and Flattop. While walking down to the beach at Kincaid Park there was a huge moose right off the trail grazing. Seeing these animals in the open is just amazing! We didn't take to many pics but here are a few.

I guess we are Smores!

2010-06-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

The other night Taylor, Isaac, and I were driving home from dinner and this was the conversation Isaac who is 3 and my husband had....

Isaac: Dad you are chocolate.

Taylor: I am chocolate, well if I am chocolate what is mom?

Isaac: Mom is a marshmallow!

Taylor: Well if I am chocolate and mom is marshmallow what are you?

Isaac: I'm a graham cracker!

We all started laughing and Taylor said well then what are your brothers and sisters? and Isaac said they are graham crackers too! I don't why I thought that was the funniest thing for a 3 year old to come up with. Every day since this conversation Isaac will come up to me and give me a love and say, Mom I'm your little graham cracker.

The Belly Fat Cure

2010-06-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

So my new favorite book I have been reading and experementing with this summer is The Belly Fat Cure but Jorge Cruise. I love, love, love this book and all of the recipes I have tried so far. This is really not a diet but a way of living. I know all diets say that but this really is. I find this so simple and satisfying. Basically everyday you eat 6 servings of carbs and 15 grams of sugar. One serving of carbs is anything that has between 5-20 carbs, 21-40 =2, and 40-60=3. I was amazed at what I was putting into my body even when I thought I was eating healthy. I have started reading labels like a mad man and looking how much sugar is in everything I eat. The other day I grabbed some Yoplait 99% fat free yogurt and I look at the lable and it has 27 grams of sugar in just one little yogurt!!! I love fruit and even though fruit is good for you it has lots of sugar so I have to decide where I want my sugar to come from. One banana has 7 grams of sugar. This book has 5 weeks of menus and over 100 recipes. One of the menus is called quick and easy and it is for days that you are on the run and has fast food things to eat and they are not salads. You can go to Taco Bell and get 2 crunchy tacos supreme, Carl's Jr and have a spicy chicken sandwich or a jumbo chili dog, KFC grilled chicken breast w/ mashed potatoes and gravy and green beans, etc. I love that you don't have to leave out the mayo or resort to the fat-free or light versions. I have come to learn that the more fat-free or low fat the more sugar it has. I have lost 4 pounds in a one week just by following the 6/15 ratio. I love that I can eat pancakes for breakfast, eggs, bacon, toast, I can eat pizza for lunch, and I can even eat a hamburger. One of my favorite things is a margherita pizza. I take 2 tomatoes and put them in my food processor and crush them and add a little italian seasoning for my sauce. I then put it on a whole wheat pita and put fresh mozarella cheese on and top with 4 slices of a roma tomatoe, a little evoo, fresh parmesan cheese and some basil and bake it for 10 minutes. You can make a meat version, veggie version, hawaiian version or whatever you like. I have made some amazing enchiladas, stir-fry, barbequed hamburgers, brownies, and pasta. One of my favorite things in the whole wide world is chips and salsa but I have always felt bad eating them before but now I don't. I used to always resort to the soft taco because it had "less fat" than the crunchy but I have learned the white flour and the sugar in the tortilla is worse for the belly than the corn tortilla.

The best part about this is that my kids will eat it and they have loved everything I make and they love making their own pizzas. This has been awesome because having a child with diabetes this way of eating has kept her blood sugar in check because we are eliminating those foods that cause the blood sugar to spike.

Running

2010-06-08T07:24:00.000-07:00

I am not a runner!!!! Around November I was convinced by some friends at Rage to run the Red Rock Relay down in southern Utah in September. I really don't know what I got myself into. I try and run at least 3-4 a week. I really don't enjoy running and I am literally procrastinating my run every day. Lucky for me I have a husband that pushes me and goes with me every time. I keep waiting for it to be easier and for me to start to enjoy it and get that so called runner's high, but nope it's not happening! Last night while running I did get to the end of my run and did not feel done so for the first time I did the loop a second time. I had to stop and walk part of it but then ran again and felt good when I was back home. The Red Rock Relay is is a 170 mile relay race and we have a team of 12. We all run 3 legs of about 6 miles each in 24 hours. This is definately going to be the most challenging thing I've done physically in a long time if ever. I know to you marathoners I probably sound like a whimp! I am really grateful to live where I do because there is no better place to help me train than right here.

It's Been A Very Long Time

2010-03-05T16:32:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a very long time since I have updated my blog. I just don't feel like I have anything to write about when indeed their is alot. We made it through the Holidays and I can't believe it is all ready March. I really don't like to blog when I don't have any pictures so I will have to download my pictures and update again. I will just give a rundown of our year so far.
In January we took all of our kids to Disneyland for a week. We were soaking wet but had a blast. We went when El Nino hit and Disneyland was a lake but we didn't let that stop us, after all that is what ponchos, umbrellas, and jackets are for. We didn't have to stand in any lines because there was nobody there. We also celebrated Vai's 16th birthday and Isaac's 3rd Birthday. February was a complete blur to me because I started with a new work schedule which I now work 4am till 12:30pm with Tuesday and Wednesdays off. I am now adjusted to being up at that time of the day but 12:30 hits and I am beat but with a 3 year old I don't really get to take a nap and then before I know it kids are coming home, homework needs to be done, dinner made, and baths and bedtime. I usually don't get to bed until 9 and probably don't fall asleep until about 10. I pretty much have no energy ever!!! Sundays are by far my hardest because I have to wake up earlier to actually shower and get myself ready so that when I finish work at 12:30 I can go to church from 1-3. I have thought about becoming inactive and taking a nap while the kids and hubby go but just can't bring myself to do it. I guess it is going to church and renewing by covenants and being uplifted that gets me through the week. I feel really blessed that my husband and I both have jobs and that we are able to provide for our family in this day and age. I haven't set any resolutions for this year but I am just taking it a day at a time and striving on being better today than I was yesterday. Everybody has been asking about Vai and what else can I say other than she is a miracle. After being so sick this summer and bringing her home and the Dr. telling us she had just 2-3 months to live she is doing amazing. She is now going to school full time again and her heart looks better than it has looked in a long time. Heavenly Father has a mission for her and their is a reasone she is still here and we are blessed to have her in our lives and part of our family.

Family Pictures

2009-11-23T17:45:00.000-08:00

Finally something to blog about! I have been slacking and haven't felt like blogging about anything lately until today. We had our family pictures done two weeks ago and I was little worried because we had major wind and my hair kept blowing across my face and getting stuck in my lipstick. I just got them back and was very pleased. Thank you so much to our awesome photographer Caroline. Here are a few of my favorites.

4th of July and 24th of July

2009-09-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

We had fun this summer spending the Holidays with family. For the 4th of July we went to my sister Emily's and had a BBQ with their family, my parents, and their friends Colt and Christy. The food was great and the kids had a lot of fun playing and watching fireworks together. The 24th of July we went to Shawn and Britney's for a a BBQ and then we drove up to the hospital to watch the fireworks with Vai out on the hospital rooftop patio. Britney had a ton of glow sticks and gave them to me to give to my kids. When we got to the hospital there were a lot of other families up there with their kids. I decided my kids didn't need anymore glow sticks and so I decided to pass them out to all the other kids up on the patio. Most of those kids faces lit up, they were so excited to have a bracelet or a necklace. It turned out to be alot of fun. I am grateful to live in this country where we have such amazing access to good health care, wonderful Doctors, and the advanced medical technology we have to save lives. I am grateful for the freedoms we enjoy as part of living in this great nation.

Vai

2009-09-30T14:59:00.000-07:00

So as most of you know Vai spent most of her summer in the hospital. Since coming home from the hospital she has done surprisingly well but her life is consumed with taking pills and giving shots for diabetes. She swallows pills 5 time a day and gives herself about 4 shots a day. We spend every Thursday at Primary Childrens for her cardiology appts where they do her lab work and check all of her drug levels, she has an EKG, and an echocraiogram, and then she sees the DR. The staff and Dr's there are wonderful and we love them all they are a huge part of our lives. I took a few pictures just to give you an idea of what she has and is going through and another look at our summer.

Summer Fun

2009-09-30T14:50:00.000-07:00

Our summer was a little hectic and we weren't able to do a lot with Vai in the hospital. We did take the kids a couple of times up the mountains to have a picnic and spend some time together. We went once up to American Fork Canyon as a family and then once up to Bridal Veil Falls with our cousins and also with the Warner's while they were visiting from Texas.

Our little Wannabee

2009-09-30T14:10:00.000-07:00

Makaila and Tila play soccer, McKay plays football, and Isaac thinks he does it all! These past few months I find Isaac putting on the shinguards, socks, and cleats asking me to take him to his soccer game. The next minute I find him in McKay's football pads, helmet, and football cleats telling me he's gonna go play football. I have also caught him ready to go scuba diving. By the end of the day after all his adventures I find him sleeping with the football helmet and if I try to put it away, he wakes up and screams at me.

Tila's Question...

2009-08-31T13:47:00.000-07:00

The other day I was helping Tila get ready for school and this was the conversation...

Tila: Mom do people ever ask you if I was adopted?
Mom: No, why would they ask that?
Tila: Because I look like I am adopted, I don't look anything like you.
Mom: Well you may not look like me but you do look a lot like your Dad and I promise you that you came out of my tummy!
Tila: Yeah, I know I just look like my Dad, but none of your kids look like you. We all look like we are adopted.

I thought it was pretty funny because none of my other kids have ever questioned the fact that they are mine.

Vai

2009-07-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have had so many people asking about Vai. I don't want to put the information out their on facebook because it's so public. A friend told me about a website that I can go on and create a page for Vai that I can update and people can leave comments etc. Please feel free to check it out.

www.caringbridge.org/visit/vai

Thanks for all your prayers and thoughtfulness on our behalf, we love you all.

A Boy's Best Friend

2009-06-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Isaac loves my Mom's little dog Lizzie. The other day I went running and left Isaac at my Mom's. Usually I take Isaac with me and push him in the stroller and if I go with my Mom we sometimes take Lizzie and she sits on Isaac's lap as we go. Well I guess Isaac was mad that I left them home and insisted that we take Lizzie for a walk. I thought we would walk to the end of the street and back but NO, Isaac dragged Lizzie and I about another mile. Isaac had so much fun and didn't want to go home.

Taking care of baby birds.

2009-06-13T17:55:00.000-07:00

Tila is my little animal lover. The kids go to Grandma's when I'm at work and it seems that stray dogs, stray cats, and anything else always finds its way to Grandma's. There was a nest in one of my Mom's trees and apparently the baby bird fell out of the nest and broke it's wing. Tila spent the whole day worried about this poor baby bird and sat out on the lawn with it, finding it worms, and just caring for it.

All the girls!!!

2009-06-13T17:53:00.001-07:00

I wish I had a better camera with me but the kids have a ton of fun with their cousins!

CALIFORNIA

2009-06-13T17:28:00.000-07:00

We went to California for Taylor's cousins graduation the first of the month. We flew into Orange County on Friday and thought we would spend the day at the beach. I was quite disappointed that it was freezing cold in California but nothing could keep my kids from getting in the water! Saturday we spent the morning at the Fontana Bel-Air Swap Meet and that afternoon took the kids to see UP with all their cousins. Saturday night was the big Graduation Party and eating. For all my Palangi friends and family when you go to a Tongan wedding, graduation or any other signifigant event there is a person from each family that does a Ta'alunga (cultural dance) where the rest of the family members get up and dance around behind them while others come and stick money on their oiled skin. After the dance they gather up the money and it goes in a basket that all goes to the one that the celebration is for. Makaila has been the one requested to represent our family and do the Ta'alunga. Makaila gets really nervous but she likes to do it because Grandma and her Aunties always make sure they sneak a couple dollars under her dress that she can keep. My husband's family is so much fun and we always have a great time going to Cali and spending time with them.

I miss my man!

2009-05-26T21:53:00.000-07:00

I know I am pathetic but I miss my husband. This week Taylor's shift at work changed and he now works graveyards which means I am sleeping alone and it sucks! When we were first married Taylor had this same graveyard shift where he worked midnight to 8am. I don't remember it being this terrible but maybe I was just used to it since he had worked that shift since we started dating and for about two years into our marriage. Now that he has been on days for so long and I am used to having him here at night I am struggling and it is only the second night. He is supposed to start at midnight but they have had him coming him at 10 which means he is leaving here at 9:30. That is my time! I always look so forward to 9pm because that is OUR time. Our kids are in bed and that is when we snuggle on the couch and watch a movie, or catch up on the shows we haven't watched, and talk. Now 9pm comes and I am alone. I don't want to watch anything by myself and I can't go to sleep, so here I am blogging and playing on Facebook and it is only 11pm. I will probably end up putting on a movie I have all ready seen and fall asleep on the couch like last night. I feel really bad for all those wives who have to live apart from their husbands for any period of time, or who's husbands travel a lot. I guess you get used to it and hopefully I will too. I love you Taylor!

There is no stopping him now...

2009-05-26T21:39:00.000-07:00

I decided last week when the weather was nice that Isaac needed a bike that he could ride. Last Wednesday we went to Kid to Kid to go see if they had bikes. The moment we walked in the store Isaac found the perfect bike so we paid for it and went straight home. The minute we got home he wanted to ride his bike. I tortured him by making him come inside and wait for me to make him a little lunch since it was 11:00. Normally we don't eat that early but I had to meet my visiting teaching partner and the girl we visit at 11:15 at the park so I knew he would get hungry. Well he decided to take his lunch with us and knew just how to get it there.

He loves his new bike and I cannot keep in the house. The first thing he asks when he wakes up in the morning is, "ride bike"?. I love this kid so much!!!

Dance Festival

2009-05-26T21:20:00.000-07:00

This year my kids school had a Spanish themed dance festival where all the grades performed a different dance representing a spanish country. Makaila's class did a street Samba, I'm not sure what the !st grade did cause I missed it, and the kindergartners did the chicken dance and then sang a song in Spanish. After all the grades performed there was a school picnic where they sold tacos and nachos and had a family dance. I tried to take some pictures but my camera batteries died right as soon as I turned it on, however, I was able to snap a couple pictures with my phone. Cell phones are so useful and come in handy for so many purposes.

Out with a BANG!

2009-05-17T21:19:00.000-07:00

Makaila's team had their last game against Sparta on Saturday. This team is doing such a fantastic job! Their team has been through some ups and down this past year and is on their 3rd coach but they have grown and pulled through strong. We don't know the final standing but we believe they are solidly in 2nd place or tied for 1st. This last game was so exciting for me and I have to brag a minute. Makaila came out and played so hard she scored the first goal of the game with a hard left foot and she is not a lefty when we saw her take the shot we were waiting for her to shank it but she cleared it hard and it was powerful, she sent the goalie out with it actually. That first goal changed the momentum for the whole team. Makaila scored the 2nd goal with a penaly kick from nearly mid-field. Right before the end of the first half she then headed it and almost got a 3rd goal and quite a reaction from the coaches. She was on fire and aggressive and won the MVP award. The rest of the game she made great passes and great assists and her team went on to win 6-0.

9th Grade Night Dance

2009-05-17T21:03:00.000-07:00

Timberline Junior High had their 9th Grade Night Dance on Friday Night. Vai had told me for the past two weeks that she didn't want to go. When the couple she was supposed to babysit for called to cancel that all changed. It was 4pm on Friday and she decided she wanted to go but she didn't have a dress. I told her to go take a shower so we could do her hair and make-up and then we would run and find a dress. The great thing about Vai is that she is so easy to please! It does not take Vai a week of shopping and trying things on, when she find something she likes, she takes right then and there. So when she was ready we jumped in the car and we were going to run to Kohl's but the I decided we would try Ross first. I have to admit I never think to go to Ross because I never really shopped there but my in-laws love it and always find things. We walked into Ross and within 5 minutes Vai found a dress she loved and 2 minutes later shoes she loved. The dress was sleeveless it just had these tiny spaghetti straps and also a pretty deep v-cut. I told her she could have it if she would wear a shades shirt under it. She looked adorable and was very happy she couldn't stop smiling all night. Once she got to the dance she called to see if she could got to a friends after and watch a movie and have a treat so I told her yes. The dance ended at 9pm and she called at 8:45 telling me ot pick her up at the school at 9 instead. Taylor when to get her and asked her why she didn't go to her friends and she said she wanted to come home and hang out with us. WHAT! at that age the last thing I wanted to do was hang with my family on a weekend. Taylor told her next time she had to gow ith her friends and be social. Vai is a good girl and I am glad that she likes being home and that home is a safe and secure place for her. I feel very blessed that she likes being a part of our family as much as we like having her a part of our family and that is this is home and we are her family. You always worry a little when raising somebody else's child how that child really feels and I am able to know. Her dress had a really cute bubble skirt and her hair looked really cute but it is hard to tell cause the wind was blowing so hard when we were trying to take the picture. I should have taken it inside.

What a week!

2009-05-17T19:48:00.000-07:00

I am so glad this week is finally over! I had two secrets I was keeping and this week just seemed to drag on. My Dad turned 60 on Mother's Day and my mom, sister, and I decided to have a surprise Birthday party for him on Thursday night. My Dad doesn't like attention and does not like people to make a fuss over him so we thought he might be a little annoyed with us but 60 is big one and thought we should celebrate. My Dad has been very fortunate to have great friends and they have a friendship that has spanned 50 years. So lying to my Dad when he asked me what I had going on this week was secret #1. My brother Ryan moved to Alaska to start school the end of April and his wife Megan stayed behind to work until June 12 when she can start her job in Alaska. Well Ryan got up to Alaska and as it turned out his program was pushed back and he didn't start school until May 18th so he has been up in Alaska all alone knowing nobody. Mother's Day Sunday his wife came over and Megan and I were talking and I reminded her that he still had a round trip buddy pass from last month and asked her if she would want to fly him down this week since he didn't have school so he could be here for my Dad's party and so we called Ryan and conspired and decided not to tell anybody and surprise them all at the party. Ryan flew down Monday night on a red-eye and that was secret #2. I was so excited for my Dad's party and very excited for everybody's reaction when Ryan was there. The party was a hit and my Dad was very surprised and both my parents were shocked and very excited to have Ryan there.
These are some of my Dad's good friends socializing before the party Robert and Catherine Chatfield and Layne and Diane Downs. The awesome Birthday cake above was made by one of my Dad's coworkers Larry Newton's wife Geri.

I look like...

2009-04-28T11:50:00.000-07:00

This morning Tila didn't have to be to school until 10am because the Kindergartner's were going on a fieldtrip. Since she fell asleep last night while we were reading scriptures she didn't get a bath so I had her take one this morning since we had some extra time. After her bath she got dressed and I had her come to my bathroom so I could do her hair and when she saw herself in the mirror she said Mom, I almost look like Beyonce!

Isaac's new thing to say is, move you're in my spot. The other night Taylor and I were in bed and Isaac wandered into our room, pushed the computer chair over to our bed and climbed in and was pushing his way in between us when he started kicking me away and said, Move you're in my spot! I turned to him and said no this is my bed this is my spot and then he said no this is my daddy! It doesn't matter what it is whether it is somebody sitting at certain spot at the bar at my house or at Grandma's house if someone is sitting where he is used to sitting he immediately gets upset telling them to move, that is his spot!

Puppies

2009-04-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Last month Grandpa and Grandma's dog Maggie had puppies. The kids love going over to their house to play with the puppies especially Isaac. Isaac like to go hang out in the kennel with puppies and open and close the gate for them. Isaac really loves to try and pick them up and carry them and help them get a drink by putting them right into their water. My kids are really begging to take one home but I have not quite decided if I want to be cleaning up after a dog since our yard is quite small. I refuse to have animals indoor and so it would definitely need to be outdoors and I don't want to have to worry about scooping up poop and kids stepping in it etc. We will see.

Dallas

2009-04-28T11:21:00.001-07:00

Taylor, me, and McKay made a quick trip to Dallas over the weekend to go to April and Stephen's wedding. We left on Friday and came back early Sunday and had an amazing weekend. The trip was very fast but much needed for Taylor and I. We only took McKay with us because we knew we were going to be very busy and not really enjoyable for the rest of the kids. The reason we took McKay was that all of my cousins that were going to be there all have boys and he is always surrounded by girls. I a so glad we took him, there were 11 boys to play with and he was in Heaven literally. We arrived Friday at noon and headed to the Temple for April's endowment session and it was so great to be at the temple with Taylor. This was the first time we have been to the Temple together in almost two years and I know it is sad but with our work schedules he goes, and I go but it is hard to go together so it was wonderful! That night my Aunt Jane had a an awesome dinner at her home with both sides of the family. Saturday was also eventful as we all went to IHOP for breakfast the next morning and when is IHOP not good. The sealing was a 2pm and again I felt so blessed to be able to be there with my Husband. They were sealed by the Temple President President Gerrard. He had amazing cousel for them and the rest of us were blessed to be there and be reminded of our day and how blessed we are to have each other. I am so greatful for my job which makes it possible for me to be able to go and share these important events in the lives of those I love. I am also grateful for the Temple and the peace, happiness, and meaning it brings to the life of me and my family and also gratefule that I am able to be with my Husband and family forever. I didn't take many pictures but I did take a picture of Taylor and McKay outside the Temple before the sealing. They are both squinting cause they were looking into the sun but it is still a good picture.

A New Cousin

2009-04-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Harlie has arrived! My brother Shawn and his wife Britney welcomed a new baby girl into the family on April 7th. Poor Britney had such a rough delivery that all were relieved when she finally arrived just before midnight. Harlie weighed 7 lbs and 140z and was 20 inches long. She is a beautiful healthy baby and we are so excited to have a new cousin. The kids were so excited to go to the hospital and see her. I wasn't going to let Tila go in and hold her because she had a little cold the week before and although she was pretty much over it I still wanted to be safe but Britney was so nice and said if she washed her hands and wore a mask she could see the baby. I'm glad that all is well and it has been a month and she is still healthy, tiny, and adorable.

Wickedly Amazing!!

2009-04-28T10:31:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago we bought tickets to see Wicked when it came to Salt Lake City. I knew it was the story of the Good Witch and the Bad Witch from the Wizard of Oz and a few other details just from listening to the music. I loved the soundtrack and all of my family and friends who had seen it just went on about how great it was. When tickets went on sale last year to season pass holders which my sister is, she called to see how many we wanted. At first I was think of just getting two for Taylor and I and then Taylor said to get four so we did and I was go glad that I was able to take the girls. I took Vai, Makaila, and my Mother-In-Law. What a great girls night out we had! Wicked was Wickedly Amazing and just as awesome as Wicked was seeing it with President Monson, President Uchtdorff, and Elder L. Tom Perry and their wives and some family members. When we arrived at the theater we were one of the first two our seats on the mezzanine and as we looked to our right and 10 in front we saw them standing at their seats. It is always exciting to be in the same room as the Prophet and made it even a more memorable night for the girls. As the theater started to fill in it was kind of funny how everybody noticed them and was trying to get pictures and texting their friends and family. After the show was over everybody stood up and waited for them to exit before leaving just like they do at conference. I thought it was neat that even thought it wasn't General Conference or a Church function the respect that was shown for them. So back, I wasn't expecting to be laughing so much, it was hilarious. The girl that played Glinda was so funny she reminded me alot of Amy Pohler from Saturday Night Live, just her voice and her mannerisms. Elphaba was also fantastic and had an amazing voice. The only person I didn't love was Fiero but he did a good job still. Although I don't like Adam Lambert on AI, I would have loved to see him play Fiero. When we walked out the first thing we all said was that we want to see it again. I was trying to take a few pictures of us but didn't have much luck before a theater worker was worried I was going to get the copyrighted set in my pictures and told me there was no picture taking but here is what I did get.

A conversation...

2009-04-09T13:42:00.000-07:00

My McKay is definately my funny one. The other day I picked the kids up from school and the conversation goes as followed...

McKay: Mom, Luke said a bad word at school today and got in trouble.

Mom: He did!

McKay: He said the G-- word.

Makaila: McKay is Luke Mormon?

McKay: No mom, he's white like you!

I just cracked up laughing. I don't what me being white has anything to do with the conversation but it was definatley funny and not what I was expecting to hear. Makaila then turned around and asked McKay, "What do you think you are?" McKay's response, "I'm a Tongan boy."

Ethan's Baptism

2009-04-05T20:09:00.000-07:00

My nephew Ethan was baptized this past week and we are so happy for him. Ethan had a very nice program and the Spirit was very strong. All of the kids sang and they sounded great. Thank you Ethan for the example you set for your cousins.

Happy Birthday Grandma Meme!

2009-04-05T20:01:00.000-07:00

Grandma Meme celebrated her birthday this week but we won't say how old she is. I checked the kids out of school at lunch time and we drove up to her work and surprised her with a Birthday cake and a pack of Snickers. Grandma teaches 7th, 8th, and 9th grade special ed at Glendale Middle School. The kids had a great time hanging out in her classroom during her lunch with her and writing all over her white board. We love you Grandma Meme and hope you had a great birthday!

Unfortunately...

2009-03-12T10:15:00.000-07:00

This is thanks to my cousins April who posted this on her blog and being that I am really bored at work decided to try it. With the help of google type in unfortunately, (your name) and see what you come up with.

Unfortunately, Jessica was taken by a nasty chest infection, very unusual for Jess, and was unable to perform on the first night.
Unfortunately, Jessica and Sydney are both very well-endowed.
Unfortunately, Jessica's action figure was one of several from the Droids and Ewoks line that was never released to distributors.
Unfortunately, Jessica was the first to be voted off the island, to her total shock and disbelief.
Unfortunately, Jessica's beach volleyball career was cut short due to a back injury.
Unfortunately, Jessica was unable to resist the sexy power of Seductryanyca's Diamond Claw, and she died.
Unfortunately, Jessica had just gotten into that car less than 10 minutes before the accident happened.
Unfortunately, Jessica has left us thinking that she is just another "blonde bimbo".
Unfortunately, Jessica became ill due to the uranium deposits in the mountain, and her father was unable to treat her.
Unfortunately, Jessica's time is running out. She must try and reach the Halloween Ball.
Unfortunately, Jessica's family would not allow the relationship to continue, due to her royal status.
*Unfortunately, Jessica is cursed with a tendency towards major faux pas.
Unfortunately Jessica had an accident with the skate blade to her face.
*Unfortunately, Jessica did not know what that was, but tried unsuccessfully to find it.
*Unfortunately, Jessica does not lack any in the brains department and easily outwitted him, despite his telepathic abilities.Unfortunately, Jessica's motherhood glow and smiles are already gone, and it's back to the pouty frowny face.

Plumbing is no job for woman!

2009-03-04T19:30:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I noticed that my dishwasher was not draining. First of all let me start of saying that I have never liked this dishwasher but it's what came with the house so I have dealt with it. I don't think the dishes ever look clean. I have tried different detergents, jet-dry, and vinegar and they still always come out with a film. I decided that maybe I needed to look in my pipes under the sink and see if there was something backing it up. I am not completely dumb I got a big huge bowl and stuck it under the sink before I took the pipes apart. As soon as I got the pipes pulled apart a big gush of dirty water spilled into the bowl so I pulled the pipe out to look in it and see if I could see anything stuck and there was nothing except for this really gross looking slimy buildup around the inside. So being a woman and seeing that it was dirty and needed to be clean I took the pipe, stood up, turned on my kitchen sink and began scrubbing the inside of the pipe clean until I felt water on my feet! Now yes you can say it and I will agree. I have decided to leave these types of jobs for my husband even if I have to wait five days because he doesn't care about the dirt and grime and isn't going to want to clean it out!

It's going to be a girl for Britney and Shawn!

2009-02-25T09:23:00.000-08:00

Last night we had a baby shower for my brother Shawn's wife Britney. The little girls were so excited to go and be a part of it. All of the niece's love to put their hands on Britney's tummy and feel the baby move and Brit is so good to let them. When I was pregnant I hated people touching my stomach! We all had a great time visiting and eating yummy treats. I don't why these pictures made me laugh but between Tila refusing to smile in one and Kate looking totally put out in the other one... Although they are pretty much the same picture I had to post them both.

2009-02-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I went down to throw in a load of wash and the washing machine was running so I walked out and shut the door and assumed that either Vai or Makaila were doing some wash. After an hour I went down and moved the wet clothes from the washer to the dryer and I could smell bleach but it looked like most of the clothes were Isaac's and McKay's pajamas and sweats and they all looked fine. So after the clothes were done drying I went down and pulled them out of the dyrer and found my brown sweater and Isaac's brown cords and they were no longer brown! I asked Vai and Makaila if they had done a load of laundry and they both said no so next I went and asked McKay who is 6 and he admitted that it was him. I told him that was so nice of him to help me with the laundry but to look at my sweater and I held it up for him. I asked him what do you think, and he said, Oooh it Looks GOOD! I had to laugh. The last time McKay tried to do his own laundry he didn't put detergent in at all and this time he definately used the wrong kind. I love my washer and dryer but between McKay wanting to do his own wash and Isaac turning the dryer off I really need to put them on pedestals! I have the LG front loader steam and the buttons are on the front and my baby loves to push them because of the noise they make and because he can. Whenever I start the dryer if I forget to shut the door to my laundry room Isaac always turns it off.

After an all day snorkeling trip we were all exhausted!

2009-02-17T18:59:00.001-08:00

Hopefully pictures!

2009-02-17T18:50:00.001-08:00

2009-02-16T10:13:00.000-08:00

These are some pictures from our Molokini snorkel that we did back in October. The kids had tons fun and as you can see if the baby was able to enjoy it.

2009-02-15T16:17:00.000-08:00

Friday morning I was coming home from my Mom's and when I turned into Traverse Mountain I saw all these cars stopping and pulling over so I looked to my right to see what everybody was looking at and there was a huge heard of Elk. I am used to seeing deer all over the place around here at night but I had never seen Elk. These animals were gigantic the pictures don't do them justice. You definately don't see this in the City.

Crazy Sunday!!!

2009-02-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

I went Visiting Teaching after church today and while I was gone the kids decided to they wanted to have Crazy Day and so this is what I came home to...

She is finally getting it- I hope!

2009-01-11T15:46:00.000-08:00

Having a teenager is tough! Last week we celebrated Vai's 15th Birthday with family and had a great time. We love Vai and are very thankful to have her as part of our family. Teenagers sometime do some things that make you ask what were you thinking? Well Taylor and I have been working on building trust with Vai. Vai had a difficult past with her biological family and most of them live out of state now so she doesn't see them often. She has one biological brother that is here in Salt Lake and is married. Although they didn't really grow up together the blood runs deep and and she lovers her brother but does not see him often either he still parties and hangs out so it's not his first priority. Just before Christmas we found out he had been arrested by INS and is being deported back to Tonga since he is here illegally. The news was heartbreaking to Vai it is really the only family she has here. Although she doesn't see him ofter it is just knowing he is here and he is her brother. We invited his wife to her party last weekend and she came. She asked us if she could take Vai up to Ogden to see her brother today since Sunday is the only day they allow visitors. We told her she could go so she got up and ready this morning since she was supposed to be picked up at 9. Her ride called about 10:30 and said she was on her way. Taylor and me and the kids left for church at 11. We were sitting in sacrament when about 11:40 Vai walks in with puffy eyes. Pala had called to tell her she wasn't coming anymore because she couldn't find her ID. Vai was devastated. Vai decided to get dressed and walked to church. When she walked in to sacrament and sat down next to me and she told me what happened I was devastated for her. After sacrament I gave Vai a hug and told her how proud I was of her for getting dressed and coming to church. She is 15 and could have easily chose to stay home and take a nap or listen to the radio or watch a movie but she came to church. In Relief Society our lesson was about our leaders and the qualities that make them leaders and about Zion's Camp. Sister Melville put a quote on the board that went something like this, " To teach them correct principles that they may learn and lead that they may govern themselves. " I read that quote and was overcome with Spirit and felt that this lesson was just pertaining to our leaders in the church which is what our lesson focused on today but that it pertained to us as parents as leaders of our children. We are here to teach them correct principles that may learn and lead and be able to govern themselves. With my experience with Vai today I realized how powerful just the example of going to church every Sunday, and especially today, we are teaching our children. When she had a choice today she made a very good one. After church we got in our car to drive home and again told her how proud I was of her and it choices like this today that build our trust her so that she can govern herself. See had I not gone to church today I would have missed this also!

Where I needed to be most....

2009-01-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I worked a 12 hour day. I left my home at 8am and didn't get home until 10:30pm. My husband was home with our kids until about 2pm when he left for work. I did speak with him many times during the day and asked him if the kids had done any work. His reply was yes the kids have done some cleaning up. Well I come home and I am exhausted and my house is a disaster! The dishwasher that I had loaded Friday night but didn't start because I knew there would be enough dishes after breakfast that somebody could add si it would then be full and start it. Yes, I am trying do my part in conserving water too. Well I guess I have really wishfull thinking. I came home had to put kids to bed and I was too exhausted to even really notice or look. I wake up this morning and go in to my kitchen to find the sink overflowing with dishes. I thought I would unload and load it back up because I hate dishes in the sink. Well I realized nobody had done a dang thing yesterday because everything in the dishwasher was still dirty and it just set me off. We had no clean glasses, silverware, or bowls. I didn't want to trun on the dishwasher because everybody needed baths for church and there wouldn't be any hot water so that means the mess was going to have to be around a little longer. Now I am kind of upset at myself that I just didn't make them all take cold baths. My punishment was that I didn't make them breakfast and told them they would have to eat whatever they could eat with their hands. They made cinnamon toast so I really didn't get my point across I think the cold shower would have been better. I was really not in the mood to go to church at all. I felt that I needed to stay home and get my house in order after all I go back to work tomorrow so if not today when will I get to it. I have come to learn that the times I feel like I don't want to go to church are the times I need to be there the most. I am so thankful for the truth and light I find in the gospel and it's teachings. I am so grateful for the wonderful leaders we have and the sacrifices the make and for their preparations to make these lessons so meaningful. Our most important relationship should be with our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ and I was reminded of that today. I have been so overcome with the Spirit today that had I not gone to church I would have missed out on this and probably would have treated my family, the people what matter most to me so differently. Through the Spirit I have been able to forgive and deal- even though I still have dishes in my sink.

Here's to a New Year

2009-01-11T14:47:00.000-08:00

So it's that time again that I look back and wonder where the time went. I start thinking about all those things that I said I was going to do differently, what I want to accomplish, and how I can improve different aspects of my life and my relationships. Well I don't ever right them down and I tend to forget and then I am really not accountable and when this time of year comes around I say hmmm I guess I will have to try again. Well this year I am writing it all down and posting my goals so that I will look at them and be reminded every day. So yes I am just as bad as my children, I need a chore chart. I know by posting my goals in my home I will be accountable not just to myself but to my husband and children and it will make me do it- HOPEFULLY! This past year one of the things I was able to accomplish was that I lost 25lbs. My goal this year is now to tone and build my strength and endurance so I can complete a triathalon. I have been watching what I eat and I also started my running program. I am down 7 lbs in the New Year so far. I have commited to drinking more water and have not had a Diet Coke in two weeks and the headaches haven't been to bad. I have many other more important things to do in this New Year but that's all I will share for now.

Chillin on a Sunday Afternoon

2008-12-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

I had to work a crummy 3:30 am shift this morning so I didn't make it to church. I was looking so forward to getting up and getting my kids dressed up for church in their new church clothes but it didn't happen. I was able to get home from work just as they were walking in the door from church. When dad gets them or they get themselves ready it just isn't the same. I appreciate the effort thought honey. I decided to snap a few pictures anyway. Maybe next Sunday since I don't have to work and church is at 11- Yeah!

Christmas 2008

2008-12-26T17:56:00.000-08:00

Well it's been a long time so I have some catching up to do. Luckily life has been either pretty uneventful until now or I have just been to preoccupied with other things. Thanksgiving has come and gone and now Christmas has come and gone. This year was kind of a weird year for me in the sense that the Holidays didn't really feel like the Holidays. I had a really hard time getting into the "Christmas Spirit" this year. Every year after Christmas I say next year we won't spend as much, we will have a smaller Christmas but it seems like every year it gets bigger! Well this year we did it, we had a smaller Christmas, a Christmas of praticality is what I called it. Each of our kids got one thing that they really, really wanted and everything else was necessity. Vai really wanted a pair of boots, Makaila wanted a video Ipod (she got a video MP3 instead), Mckay wanted Bakugan battle brawlers, Tila a Littlest Pet Shop House, and Isaac a truck to push. This year instead of the pj's they usually get they each got new church clothes and dress shoes, snow pants, coats, mittens, boots, and hats. The Christmas gift that turned out to be a hit this year though was the whoopee cushion grandma put in McKay's sock. Isaac entertained us all morning.

This year was fun for the kids because it was the first time Grandma and Grandpa Goodwin have been to our house on Christmas morning. We also had uncle Devin here as well and yes, that is him talking about gambling and poker in the background. I think all the kids were really happy and nobody complained that there wasn't more and they seemed to be keep themselves happy and occupied all day! I think definately this year less was more because they weren't so overwhelmed. Christmas night we went over to my parents to eat dinner and Taylor and I ended up having to take Isaac to the emergency room for four stitches in his foot just inside and below the big toe. I had a drink in little glass and he wanted some and so I gave him the last swallow and after he drank it he dropped the glass and it broke. Needless to say he stepped right into a big piece of glass.
Once we were able to leave the hospital we headed back to my parents to pick up our kids so we could go home. We were so ready to get home and put our kids to bed but the storm hit and when we tried to exit the police had blocked off the road to SR 92 and were not going to let us through. We had to turn around and go back to mom and dad's and spend the night. Friday morning was waisted playing Wii Fit and I hold the ski jumping record and yes I am dang proud. When we finally got home I took down all of my Christmas decorations and through out my tree. I am so glad that I don't have to vaccuum up pine needles anymore!

Then and Now...

2008-11-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

So I don't really like having my picture taken so I don't have very many pictures of myself. Since I started blogging and I joined facebook I decided to try and find a decent recent picture and I couldn't. We went over to my parents on Halloween and I was taking pictures of all the kids in their costumes and so I asked Emily to snap a quick picture of Taylor and me. When I got home and saw the picture it reminded me of another picture.... Our engagement picture years ago. I looked at it and thought we really haven't changed that much. Well someone has lost a little hair and both of us are a little chunkier but we still love eachother and that hasn't changed.

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-03T19:42:00.001-08:00

2008-10-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

HAPPY 10TH BIRTHDAY MAKAILA!

I just wanted to let you know how much we love you and feels so blessed to have you as our daughter. You are such a good girl and good example. Never forget you are a daughter of your Heavenly Father. He has blessed you with so many Gifts and Talents. You are an exceptional leader, athlete, student, and friend. We hope you always continue to use those gifts and talents to bless the life of yourself and those around you.

I Should read before I post..

2008-10-20T10:19:00.000-07:00

So I should really read my entries before I post them. I tend to ramble and my fingers start moving and I have a lot of typographical errors and run on sentences. I probably seem to be a little uneducated but what can I say I graduated from Lehi High. My husband is tongan and he is correcting my english, shouldn't it be the other way around? Actually people are always surprised when Taylor opens his mouth because they expect him to fob out. Taylor is very well spoken and he doesn't even speak pigeon after all the time he lived in Hawaii. So I am sitting at work waiting for the email that I have been awarded PTO. Hope it comes soon we are slow and I've got things I could be doing. Tomorrow is Makaila's 10th birthday and I need to do some shopping and cleaning we have the whole family coming over tonight.

The Big Win

2008-10-20T09:58:00.000-07:00

Friday night Makaila's soccer team had their biggest win of the season with a 2-1 win over Sparta Premier. The team played awesome together! Over the summer we played against Sparta and tied 2-2 then one month ago played them again and got killed 7-0. This game was payback and our girls came out determined to win. Makaila started it out with the first goal, a nice slip kick right in front of the goalie. The whole team got excited and did not let down. Way to go girls! This was Sparta's first loss this season. Sparta has been playing together three years and they have paid coaches. We are just starting our second year and we have parent volunteer coaches. I never thought I would be a soccer mom but I am loving every minute of it. I can't believe how much I love to watch her play. McKay and Tila keep asking when will I sign them up for soccer. One keeps me busy enough I don't know how I would get all of them to practice and games. McKay has been asking me lately to sign him up for football which is kind of surprising if you know McKay. I really need to go down to the Legacy Center and see what I can get him into. Tila is like Makaila and just wants to play soccer. I asked her if she would like to take a dance class with her cousin Olivia or try gymnastics but she said no she just wants to play soccer so maybe I can find indoor soccer for her this winter.

2008-09-17T20:47:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-09-06T19:39:00.000-07:00

Swimming with cousins one last time.

2008-09-06T19:36:00.000-07:00

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...

2008-09-06T19:35:00.000-07:00

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 ....

2008-09-06T19:31:00.001-07:00

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.

2008-09-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

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!!!!

2008-09-06T18:19:00.000-07:00

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.

2008-07-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

So I have been looking at everybody else's amazing blogs and realized how much work mine needs. I am really not very computer savvy so I may need to recruit some help. Well today is day 21 of the diet I have been doing and I am happy to report I have lost 16lbs. I have 3 more days left and I am trying to lose at least another 4 lbs by Saturday. I will then enter a stabilization phase and then start again on August 14 and see if I can lose another 15-20 lbs. My goal is to be the same weight as when I got married. I can say this is by far the best thing I have done for myself in the last two years. Taylor and I are still liking it here in Lehi. Our kids are loving the neighborhood and have so many friends to play with. I can't believe how many kids there are here. In our ward we have 3 nurseries, 3 CTR 6 primary classes, 2 CTR 5 classes. Taylor and I are primary teachers of one of the CTR 6 classes and we have 10 kids on our roll and I believe we have smallest of the 3 classes. They announced on Sunday that our ward was splitting the statistics were pretty amazing. Our ward was created in September with 300 members since then it has grown to over 750. Here in Traverse Mountain alone we now have 6 wards which is pretty amazing for this small area. Meghan will be happy to know that I finally got my turn to speak in sacrament meeting. Well I better get off the computer and accomplish somethings today before I go to work.

2008-07-29T07:19:00.000-07:00

Well time really does fly...I can't believe I haven't blogged since March. I knew it had been a while since I had posted but I was thinking more like June maybe because I read everyone else's blogs. Life has been a little busy this summer. Makaila is playing competition soccer for the Lehi Strikers. They have an amazing coaching staff that puts in a lot of hard work and is really dedicated to the team and their development. I have learned having kids in sports takes a lot of time and commitment on the parents side as well. Makaila really loves soccer and excels at it so I really need to give her the opportunity to excel at it. McKay and Tila have stayed busy this summer with the summer reading program they have been attending. When I moved to Lehi I actually heard about the Rippy Literacy Center right here in Lehi Utah on the Oprah Winfrey show. The center was started by Hester Rippy who is 88 years old and still works at the center everyday. The center is open to everybody and is free of charge. The center has ESL classes as well as adult reading programs and math help. They offer reading classes and tutors to assist in all areas. I thought it would be a great program to take advantage of since I live right here. McKay and Tila have really enjoyed it as well. Vaioleti is doing well and is a typical teenager. She spent a week at transplant camp at Camp Kostopolous again always has a good time mingling and getting to know other kids who have been through similar experiences. This past week we had her cousin Suli from Boise here and they went to Lagoon, the movies, and spent some time up at Grandma Meme's hanging out with Tui, Sita, and Trina. What can I say about Isaac...He is all boy and part shark. He has to put his teeth into everything and everyone. We are trying to work on it. He has bite kids in nursery, kids at restaurants, kids at the park, or anyone who appears to be in his way or has something he wants. Isaac is definatly all boy. He is rough, tough and very strong there is no softness here. Every summer the kids have a tradition of spending the night before the 24th of July camping out a t Liberty Park with the Malungahu's for the big Days of 47 parade. This year was especially exciting because Grandpa Misi did the float for the Tongan Stake and it was incredible it won the Utah award. Taylor and I have spent our time at work, chauffering, soccer tournaments and spending time with our kids. We are looking forward to going camping, Hawaii, and mom is looking forward to school staring.

I'm Learning

2008-03-30T13:40:00.000-07:00

So today we came home from church and my baby went down for a nap so I decided I would work on my blog and try to make it more interesting. I thought I would start by adding some pictures and then realized I don't have very many on my computer and decided I needed to start taking more pictures. I am not much of a journal keeper but after Sunday School today decided I needed to try and this will me a much easier way than actually sitting and writing with pen and paper. My husband just came home so I am going to go chat with him.

2008-03-21T22:53:00.000-07:00

Well this what a productive employee I am! I am so bored and I have ran out of sites to visit so here I am creating a blog on company time. They might as well pay me to do something if they don't want me to go home. To actually be sitting here at work and say I don't have anything to do you may wonder what kind of job I have... well I work for and airline and take reservation and customer service calls so if our phones aren't ringing I am just sitting here messing with my computer.

I have never blogged before so I don't really know what to do but I guess I will start with a little background. My name is Jessica Goodwin Malungahu. I was born and raised in Utah County. My parent are Byron and Shauna Davidson Goodwin. I am the oldest of six children. I graduated from Lehi High School in 1994 and then attended Snow College, Weber State, and UVSC. I married Taylor Tongolei Malungahu in August of 2001 in Lehi Utah. We have 5 children. Our children are Vaioleti, Makaila, McKay, Audrey, and Fisilau. Yes we have been busy! We lived in Salt Lake for the past six years but just recently moved to my hometown of Lehi. We are enjoying living in a new place where there are a lot of kids for our kids to run around with and meeting new people. We will see where our lives take us from here.