Mina's 14th Birthday

Our beautiful oldest daughter is getting older. 14 years old now. Time is flying by. She gets A's in school and helps out a lot when asked. She still has spill powers though. She always seems to spill stuff all the time ever since she was a little girl. She had her friends Julia and Sophia sleep over for her birthday Friday night. We had cake Saturday night with Grandma, Camila, Talia and baby Alessandra visiting. She got clothes, money, a red ukulele and a red xbox controller.

Wednesday, Sept 4th Mina's mutual activity was a Stake Daddy-Daughter Prom at the chapel so I went with her. They had decorated the gym and had punch & cookies and music. We danced a little whenever they had a good song. Most weren't. Bro. Morgan kept doing his funny sprinkler dance to every song. He called it the sprinkler but looked more like a pistol.

Monday, Sept 2nd was a day off for me for Labor Day. I didn't do much but we had dinner at Scott's house.

Mina's Sacrament Talk

Mina did an awesome job talking about her Young Women camp in Sacrament. So proud of her.

Hi, my name is Wiramina Wihongi, and I'll be telling you about my girls camp experience this year. This years theme was “Oh, the places you'll stand!” It was a Dr.Suess theme and it was very cute. We decorated our camp with truffala trees and hung up signs and quotes with cat and the hat on them, our leaders did an awesome job.

On the 1^st day I got sick and threw up twice so I had to come home. I learned to never eat spicy noodles before going to girls camp. 

On the 2^nd day my mum woke me up and told me I had to go back to camp because there was only going to be three girls... of course I didn’t want too, but I came any way. That day I still had a choice to go back home but I chose not to. And Im soooo happy I stayed because we went zip lining and let me tell you something, sister Smith is the craziest, funniest, awesomest Young Women Leader ever! She was able to go upside down with no hands on the zip line! I am so glad I came that day instead of staying at home.

On the 3^rd day we went canoeing, it was tiring but fun at the same time. Then we had our testimony meeting, tears and all, and I really felt the spirit there.

On the 4^th day we woke up and packed up and left. I was sad and glad that morning.

What I learned at camp was mainly about trials. When I was sick Jami said something to me that hit me. She said “It sucks to be sick especially when you're alone”. That day I admit that I had many complaining thoughts like, “Why can't someone else be sick. Why am I sick, why does it have to be me?” and “I wish someone else can feel the pain I’m feeling so they would understand how much it hurts.” But hearing that from Jami, I knew that she has gone through the same things I have. Like she said, it does suck more when you are alone and sick but it has made me think if we are ever really alone? I have learned that I don't ever have to wonder if there would be someone who would understand my problems or trials because the Lord has gone through worse and has felt all our pains by going through the Atonement. I can always turn to him for strength and for peace. We learned a lot about this when we had a devotional, and it was about trials. We heard the story about Job who went through many, many hard, sad trials like illnesses and when he lost his riches and property, when his children died, and even when family and friends left him. During all those trials he had, he didn’t complain one bit. He didn’t blame God, or anyone. He was faithful the whole time. And in the end, he got double the blessings. In the May General Conference Ensign that I got at camp, thanks Jami. There's this quote by Elder Quentin L. Cook that says,

“Even with the trials of life, because of the Savior's Atonement and His grace, righteous living will be rewarded with personal peace”.

I had a feeling that that devotional was meant for me. It was also telling me that I should be more like Job and not complain when things aren't going my way like I was doing in my mind when I got sick. It was telling me that if I endure trials and turn to the Lord that I would feel peace. When I had returned to camp after being sick at home I was still feeling a little ill and I had the option of going home again but I'm glad that I endured it a little longer and stayed at the camp because I received so many blessings for doing so. I gotta say my best blessing was probably eating the roast and funeral potatoes and having a yummy feast at camp!

And now I would like to bear my testimony, that I know the church is true and that Jesus did die for us and gave us the atonement and Joseph Smith did translate the book of Mormon and that it is true. I love my family and ward especially the young women and in the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

Thursday, 15th was the Ward pool party at the Taylorsville Rec Center. Tyrell's friend Tyler came with us. They took Erana down the slide a few times.

Wednesday, 14th, Tyrell got his drivers license. Him and Candi didn't make an appt so they waited for an hour. He had done most of his testing and driving with the Drivers Ed class he had in high school. My boy is sure growing up fast.

Seadoo at Pineview

This week Maddy has been staying with us. On Friday the 8th we spent the day at Pineview. We rented a Seadoo Jetski from the place at the lake, Club Rec or something. We had it from 1pm to 5pm. It was the first time I had driven one but Tyrell had at Lake Powell. We had a blast. I would take 2 kids with me. Jaxon and Leila and Mina.

Tyrell drove it and took Erana one time. Mina drove it too and took Maddy. I would go all over the lake and try to go as fast as it could. It would get fast and scary almost so I would slow down a bit, especially when boats made waves.

It was a nice sunny day but about 4:30pm a wind storm hit and rain clouds moved over. The water got choppy when Mina, Maddy and Leila were out there and they got wet from the wind blowing the spray onto them and Leila was shivering.

The wind broke a pole on our half-tent shelter. It wouldn't stop so we had the kids take the stuff back to the van. I waited with the seadoo until Candi came back from the van. The waves were bumping it and filling it with water. When Candi came I was on the water riding it so I went to shore to get close so she could get on. I tried to get off in the water to guide it but it wasn't shallow when I thought it was and I fell in and it came up to my chest. We rode it around in the wind, bumpy waves and light rain for a bit until we had to turn it in. It was cold when we went fast. I realized later that my ring was missing. It must have came off when I was holding the Seadoo handle when it was bumpy and slippery. It was still a good day.

Saturday the 10th, Candi, Mina and Leila performed at Sreeve & Ryan's ward luau. Mina and Leila did a Tahitian and Samoan dance. They were awesome. I was very proud of them. I joined the Maori group just to sing a couple songs and do the haka.

Farewell FHE for Josh

Friday the 2nd, Tyrell and Mina went with the youth in the ward to see the Martin Harris pageant up in Clarkston, Utah, somewhere north of Logan. They had stopped in Brigham City to do baptism in the Temple and then ate dinner in Logan I think. The pageant didn't start until 9pm. They had a good time from what they said.

For Family Home Evening on the 5th we went up to Tanner Flat campground way up Little Cottonwood canyon with Jody's family and some of Monica's family and friends for a final FHE with Josh before went into the MTC Wednesday. We roasted hot dogs and marshmallows then had a sort of farewell speech/testimony time for Josh. We said our good byes to him and gave a hug and stuff when we left.

Erana & the Baby Powder

Candy and I got home at 1am from seeing 'The Wolverine' movie and we see Erana on our bed still awake next to Mina who was sleeping and Erana had put baby powder all over them. Lol!

Pioneer Weekend

For the last few weeks Candi has been busy making Mina and Leila's costumes for polynesian festivities they will be performing in with their Tausala group over the Pioneer Day weekend. So Pioneer day we watched the parade on t.v. and saw Cynthia Wood holding her flag with the Grantsville marching band. They had a close-up shot for a second. At night we went to the Fagogo Samoa festivity at a Equestrian pavilion on 11400 south. The girls were in some numbers during a play production they were in about Samoan stuff. It was boring as until the girls parts. They did really well but couldn't see them very good where I was sitting. The fireworks going on around us was more interesting. Erana is quite a nuisance when she is out and about. We tried keeping her belted in the stoller which worked for most of it but she kept whining at Candi to get her out. Once out we had to keep an eye on her as she goes off playing.

Thursday the 25th I took off from work. We had a nice day at Pineview on the beach. Tyrell went to Lake Powell with Tyler Breinholt's family and stayed on a house boat until Sunday. We swam and ate KFC for lunch, laid out and swam more. Candi and I had fun in the lake with our life vests on floating together. Erana would occupy herself playing with sand toys and had fun. We left around 6pm after a walk along the beach, then stopped for shakes.

Friday the 26th, Jaxon spent the day at the Webelos camp in Millcreek canyon. In the evening we went back to the Samoan festival. The girls did more dances with the Tausala group this time, not just the play numbers. They used all the costumes Candi made. Mum, and Scott's family came. The seats we had still weren't the best but oh well. The girls were awesome, I am very impressed at how good they are with their Tahitian and Samoan dances. Those lessons aren't a waste of money. Now to get Candi to have them be as good with Maori stuff.

Saturday the 27th was the last games for rugby. We had pizza and food after our games at the South Jordan rec fields. I had enough rugby balls they gave me for coaching that I gave one to each kid. It was fun but glad it is over. Jaxon did well this season. He made a lot of his own decision making on the field as half-back and that's what I wanted instead of me yelling at him with what to do. He is a better player.

Sunday the 28th, we went to Joshua's missionary farewell. He did a good job. I'm very proud of my nephew. He has a strong testimony. After we gathered at a home of a friend of Monica who said they could use for the feed as they were out of town. They had a big backyard with a pavilion. Monica wants to buy it someday. They had lots of mexican food since Josh is going to Mexico.

July Fun

I had a nice day off on the 4th. We went to the West Jordan parade at our usual place on 72nd south by the old Albertson exit. Auntie Raihi and Uncle Craig were on the roadside on their chairs. Candi and the kids sat by them and got lots of lollies during the parade. I sat behind them on a grassy knoll under a tree's shade and soon got surrounded by mi familia (a bunch of hispanics trying to scab the same shade). Mina was staying in Tooele for the week. Tyrell stayed home. In the evening we picked Mum up and went to Jody's for dinner and lit fireworks in the evening. Jody had a bunch of aerials. A couple times he gave us a fright when it tipped over and they shot off along the ground. The second time it hit a car passing by then started shooting at the home across the street after the car passed. After that the kids wanted to hide behind chairs for the next ones and so did I. We went home around 10:30pm.

July 6th, Saturday we helped Danny and Raina move stuff out of the apartment. They are renting a home in Sugarhouse or somewhere, can't remember.

From the 8th to the 12th Tyrell went on a Bear Lake Scout camp. He said he had fun riding horses, shooting shotguns and other stuff. He did really well clay pigeon shooting he said, passing his badge qualification easily when he had to get a certain amount with 50 shots.

Thursday night, 11th, Candi and I saw the Pacific Rim movie about giant monsters from the ocean attacking cities so the humans built giant robots with 2 people that pilot them and fight back. It was pretty cool and fun but kinda ripped off Independence Day movie in many ways. I took Tyrell and Jaxon to see it on Saturday 13th. They liked it.

Friday morning, 12th, Candi and I went to have breakfast at the Belgian Waffle place across from Hillcrest HS because we had a 'buy one get one free' coupon. Summer monsoon rains, thunder storms have come a few times and has been a nice change from the hot weather.

Saturday, 13th, Jaxon scored 2 tries in rugby. They were awesome too. I owe him 10 bucks now.

On the 17th to the 19th Jaxon went on a school camp trip to Mill Hollow camp. The same one Mina went on a few years back. He said he had fun. Rugby is still going on and we've had not many kids at practices. I have had to cancel twice because of rain. We have still been doing well. We played Herriman again Saturday 20th and did much better but lost by 1 try 20-25. It was a hot, hot day for rugby. We won the 2nd game but had to give them one of our players. I'm glad I have one week left. Coaching is fun but is getting old as the weeks have gone on. I don't think I'll do it next year.