May

5/1 to 5/7: 

Candi had an interview Tuesday with JetBlue airlines for the work-from-home customer service position. She might get the job but we'll see. The year is flying by, we're into May already.

5/8 to 5/14: 

Mothers Day I fixed Candi breakfast in bed. Breakfast bowl, sausages, yogurt parfait, chocolate strawberries and a card made by the kids. Jet blue is doing a background check for Candi now. She sent them all the info they needed.

5/15 to 5/21: 

Got bad news for Tyrell from Bishop. They want him to get a job for 6 months or so then apply for a mission again. They had concerns about his social skills during his evaluation. It is just sooo frustrating. If he already had a job like we told to do almost a year ago they would have taken that into consideration and probably let him go. His mucking around and not listening to us has come back to bite him in the butt big time.  It's going to take him 6 months just to get a job if he makes the same effort as before. Friday, 8pm Erana and Leila performed with the tausala group at the Living Traditions show in SL. They did really well. The very next night the family except me performed for the maori group at Living Traditions. Candi said the singing and guitars weren't very good and was embarrassing sometimes. Sounds like nothing has changed. We also had rugby Sat. at 8am in Rose Park. It was raining and very cold. Their hands were freezing but they managed to win 2 times out of 3 games. 

5/22 to 5/28: 

I went to the dentist for the first time in about 3 or 4 years. I have one filling but it's a tooth that will need a crown put on. Leila went to a b-ball clinic for 3 days at the Taylorsville HS. It was 2 hours per day. She enjoyed it. Friday we went to Lowes and Home Depot. We bought some new blinds for the living room. It was the last day of school on Friday. Saturday was rugby again. They lost 2 and won a forfeit. At 4:30pm the girls did another tausala performance in Provo at the Pasifika event. Couldn't hardly see Erana at the back. Jaxon bought a nice New Zealand cap.  Later in the evening when Candi and I were hungry we went to Golden China. Tyrell was the only one home so we took him with us.

Erana Sayings:
5/22: We were watching Man of Steel. I said, "I wish I had Superman's powers". Erana says " You have egg toot powers!" I laugh and say, "Egg toot powers?" She says, "It makes everyone pass out."
5/23: I hear Erana talking to Mina saying she got kissed by a boy today! lol
Mina is asks, "By who?"
She says, "Landon, he kissed me on the cheek."
Mina says, "What you got kissed by a boy before ME!" lol

5/29 to 5/31: 

Ariana had her farewell Sunday. She gave an awesome talk. She is very ready and will be a great missionary. We went to a park after and had brunch. Monica provided the food. Breakfast burritos and stuff. Had a good visit with relatives. Said our goodbyes to Ariana. She leaves Monday to the Madrid  Spain MTC then serves in the Madrid mission. Tyrell got a job at Pei Wei where Mina works. His first day is Monday on Memorial day. Yay! Finally has a job! Memorial Day we ate at the Scout breakfast. Cynthia Wood stayed the night with us. We went to 7 Peaks for a few hours. It was a hot day. Heather and her kids came.

April

Scripture of the Month: D&C 10:5

"Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work."

4/1 to 4/9: 

Friday 4/1 we painted the new drywall around the door and windows in the living room. Then at 4pm Candi and I and Mina and Leila saw the new Saturday's Warrior movie at Jordan Commons. It was awesome. Got very teary eyed many times. The kids liked it. When we came out there were some of the cast members so we got a picture. Pam, Emily and a brother. Then Julie and Todd came.

Saturday and Sunday we had General Conference, we just stayed home and watched it on tv. The younger kids did not have worksheets to fill out, and they got a little distracted, I think it is better when they have worksheets to help them think and remember who is talking. General Conference was very uplifting.

Jason had the day off Monday 4/4 because he was working on Friday. We painted the inside, repair above the sliding door. And went shopping at Walmart.

Jaxon went for an over night camp with the Scouts 4/8, they went Geode hunting. He came back just before we had the missionaries over for dinner. He had some Geode's and Erana loved them. The missionaries, Elder Zaugg, and Elder Devereux  are very friendly and speak very well. They like asking the kids questions.

4/3: Erana is in the bathroom and I hear her say "Why did mum raise me like this?" I don't know why she said it but it sounded funny!

4/10 to 4/16: 

Jason and I went for an overnighter 4/14 in Logan at the Anniversary Inn.  On the way their we stopped at our favorite eating place 'Chinese Gourmet', had yummy battered fish, clam chowder, mongolian bbq etc.  Then in Logan it was snowing, we stopped in town and looked at a very big and interesting book store. I bought Leila and Erana ty-beanie boos etc. We stayed there way too long, and finally left to go check in.  Our room I chose was the 'Jessie James' room. And it was awesome, had a cowboy theme, jacuzzi, small pool table and very yummy treats. Jason and I had a really nice time sitting in the jacuzzi watching movies and loving each other lol. In the morning we had breakfast in bed, and Jay stained the bed with his raspberry strudel. We went to the Logan temple to do an endowment session, it was very beautiful inside and we had to move to another room, which was a nice surprise.  We took photos outside, it was very cold and windy. We stopped at the bookstore again, for me to jump out and buy something. And we filled up the car and got yummy snacks.

4/17 to 4/23: 

Jaxon has been practicing rugby Mon, Wed and Thurs since the 6th. Andrew Buehner is the coach and I help him out. I play touch with them. It's fun. Mina got her first job working at the Pei Wei restaurant as cashier/busser. She said they don't train her very well and always has to ask how to do things and it's very busy. She works Fridays and Saturdays and one other day. I told her to hang in there and it will get easier soon. Very proud of her. I worked on getting the sprinklers and the swamo cooler ready this weekend. Had to fix a broken pipe. Showed Tyrell how to do it. Went to Home Depot for some parts. Jeremy Fox helped get a valve working again. It wasn't shutting off. Thought I'd have to replace it. He tapped it a bit, manually turned it off and on then it worked. Then Leila and Erana helped me on the roof cleaning the swamp cooler.

4/24 to 4/30: 

We try to have a scripture to ponderize each month.

March

3/1 to 3/5: 

Not much this week. Just work and stuff. Friday Candi and I went to South Towne mall. First we went to the Ocean mart for asian stuff. Ended up getting some water cress for a boil-up dinner for Sunday. Candi ate at the mart and I ate at the mall. Walked around first. Leila and Erana had Dr.Seuss week, she had crazy hair day, and backwards day and dress as your favorite Dr.Seuss character!

3/6 to 3/12: 

Friday Candi and I got our HealthyUtah testing done at my old work building. Both are healthy and will get our $100 rebate each. We ate at Chinese Gourmet for lunch after to celebrate lol.

3/13 to 3/19: 

I stayed the whole week at home for being sick with sore throat and a cold. I worked half the day at home Monday and Thursday. It was a miserable week. I installed 2 light fixtures in the upper hallway. We got a guy to repair the drywall around the sliding door and windows. Leila learned to knit at activity day and made a yellow scarf. She did a great job. Leila also likes to read so many books. Erana is getting better at reading. She tries hard when it is her turn with scriptures. Friday Candi and I went to Sizzlers for our date. We also went and saw the 15 Cloverfield Lane movie. Kinda lame.

3/20 to 3/26: 

Shaun got free tickets to the Fanx comiccon downtown. I took Tyrell, Mina, Jaxon, Leila, Kage and Drey on Friday afternoon. It was crowded with lots of people dressed up as their favorite characters from movies, tv shows, etc. It was interesting. We looked at all the shops and got some photos. We left after about 3 hours. Saturday the new Batman vs Superman movie came out and I went and saw it with Candi and Erana. It was alright, not bad. Jaxon went back to comiccon Saturday with Julia and thought he would catch trax back with her. Monica met Julia and went to the YW conference and left Jaxon downtown at the City Creek mall. She called Tyrell but he didn't call us. We got a call at the end of the movie in the theater from a security guy from the mall saying he has Jaxon with him. So we went to pick him up at the food court in the mall. We were frustrated and swore he'd never go anywhere again with no adults. He said a security guard came and talked to him after seeing him sitting for ages at a table. He let him hang out at the security office while he waited for us. We were joking with Jaxon that the security guard probably found him curled up in a ball on the ground crying his eyes out. Jaxon said he wasn't crying or worried. Before he went to comiccon he went shooting with the scouts and had fun. Tyrell has his mission papers turned in. It's exciting. I get a little nervous when I think it.

3/27 to 3/31: 

We had Easter dinner at Scott's and the egg hunt in their backyard. Candi made shrimp gumbo which was actually pretty good. Whether was cold this week. In the 30's and 40's but was in the 50's for Easter. Still chilly. I took Thursday off. Was were supposed to go on an overnighter trip with Candi but didn't. We went to Ikea and bought a new couch bed for the reading nook. Finally getting rid of the one we had since Tyrell was a little kid. 19 years old or something like that. It got one too many mimis on it. Erana did it a few times. After I went on a Daddy-Daughter date with Mina. She wanted to see Batman vs Superman and then we ate at Zaxbys after. We talked some. I love spending time with my kids.

February - Candi's 41st Birthday

2/1 to 2/6: 

Candi and I went to Lowe's to look at windows for the living room on Friday. We ended up having a guy come to our house and give us a quote on the windows in the living room and the reading nook and the roof. He quoted 9700 for all without the reading nook windows. We decided those can wait. We weren't sure if we wanted to do it all or just the back roof where it has problems. We decided to bite the bullet and do the whole roof. It will drain a lot of our savings account but we'll manage.

2/7 to 2/13: 

Leila went skiing for class on Tuesday. Candi forgot to put her in the intermediate group instead of beginners so she didn't get to go down the hill by herself. She was bored. That's what happened with Mina so she put Jaxon in intermediate and he had fun but forgot with Leila. The roofers came Wed and Thurs and put the new roof on. It looks good. We've had to go around the house looking for nails on the ground. The new windows won't come for another few weeks. The kids had no school on Friday. Candi and I went to the Chinese Gourmet for lunch on our date. Saturday evening we went to the Stake Conference adult session. Was good. Elder Sitati of the Seventy from Kenya spoke. Candi took the 3 younger kids and Kage and Dray to Burger King after.

2/14 to 2/20: 

Sunday morning we went to Stake Conference. Tyrell's 2 friends Quinn and his adopted brother Alex (formerly Sasha) from the Ukraine spoke. They gave really good talks. Alex talked about how rough his childhood was. Parents divorced. Mother was drunk a lot and beat him, was neglected and had to find and make his own food. Got put in an orphanage. Poor kid. We were all crying. Then we was adopted when he was about 12 or 13 years old. He had prayed to get adopted by a nice family and God heard his prayer. I had Monday off for Presidents day. Took the 3 younger kids to New World market with me to buy Candi some gifts for her birthday. On Friday Candi and I went to Tucano's for her birthday. Then saw a movie. We had tres leches cake and gave her gifts around 7pm. Mina was babysitting for Jared. Candi is 41 and still as beautiful as ever. Saturday I took the metal detector in the backyard and found about 70 more roof nails. Then Jaxon did it again and found another 28 that I missed. I said I'd pay about $1.50 for each nail so I owe him some money.

2/21 to 2/29: 

Mina went to a Jazz game with her friends on Tuesday. Friday Candi took me to the Cheesecake factory at Fashion Place mall. We walked around first. She had a gift card to use. She got a chicken dish and I got a mushroom burger. It was yummy. Candi kept eating my burger. We fed the missionaries on Saturday. Elders Zaugg and Deveraux. Sunday we went to Tama Petersen's farewell. He gave a good talk and mentioned how he got a testimony after Api came home from his mission. We ate at his house after. Monday was Leap year day.

Leila's Primary Talk

Good Afternoon Primary,

1 Nephi 19:23

 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

The Lord has given us scriptures to convince us to believe in the Lord that Jesus is our redeemer.  And he also has given us scriptures to be safe and help us choose the right, so that we can return back to him one day. I love to read the scriptures with my family each night. One of the stories I like is about Nephi and his family found in the Book of Mormon.  Now I'm gonna read this story about nephi from the friend.  (read story) These stories in the scriptures help me know that Heavenly Father loves me, because he helped Nephi, I know he will help me too. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.

January 2016! - Jaxon's 13th Birthday

1/1 to 1/9: 

Mum turned 75 yrs old on January 2nd, we just stopped by and gave her a gift, Jody & kids were there also. Was nice having days off for the holidays, now back to work. Candi and I saw the last Hunger Games Thursday night for our date at the redone AMC theaters which used to be Carmike on redwood rd. They are nice and the chairs are lazy boys type that lay back. We didn't know that until Candi accidentally hit the button on her chair. We had a nice time. We had a blanket and cuddled while watching. It was way snowy on the way home.  Erana went to her friend Lilly's birthday party, it was a 'Frozen' theme, and their were two women dressed up and acted like 'Anna & Elsa', she enjoyed the party.

1/10 to 1/16: 

Our wall leaked again this winter by the sliding door because of the ice in the gutter, happened around New Years, we called our insurance to deal with it. And then they told us that they only fix the outside and not the roof!!? Some people have come in to take off the damaged part and dry it. We had blowers going for 3 or 4 days constantly. They'll wait to fix the wall when we have fixed the outside roof. We went to the temple on friday.

Erana says:

I got a new purse bag from walmart, and have been using it for about a week. I hang it on the chair in our bedroom. Erana said to me, 'mum I don't like your new bag', I said why? she said, 'because I don't like change'.

1/17 to 1/23: 

I had Monday the 18th off for Martin Luther King day. Slept in. Thursday night we saw 13 hours at the AMC theaters. Was pretty good. About the braves americans that went to help fight the terrorists that attacked the US embassy in Benghazi, Libya back in 2012. Obama and Hillary Clinton blamed that attack on a youtube video because it didn't fit his re-election narrative that al queda is on the run. They didn't send any help and cost 4 american lives including the ambassador. Blimin lying sleaze balls. Played outside with the kids and made a snow slide by the side of our house.

 

1/24 to 1/31: 

I took Thursday the 28th off to do some stuff in the morning before we got Jaxon out of school and took him to lunch at the Chinese Gourmet for his birthday. We then went clothes shopping for him at Marshalls and Target. Later on we had his tres leches cake and he opened his presents. He got a sword and Call of Duty Black Ops 3 game. Also money and stuff. Friday we went to Lowe's to look at windows. Ended up having a guy come over to the house and give a quote for the windows by the living room sliding door as well as the roof. Will cost about $9000 for it all so we're thinking about that. On Saturday was Melia's quincenera at the Noah center in Sandy. Started a 6pm. It was more decorated than a wedding reception. They had catered food and mariachi band. Jody and Julia sang in spanish. Jody and Melia danced to pop songs after starting off with a slow dance. Mina was in the court group. They did their ballroom dance thing. They practiced every Thursday for a month. They had a dance after and everyone joined in. It was a good time. A lot of the girls in the court were hanging around Tyrell because they thought he was handsome. We left around 10:45pm.