July

7/7/19

Hi Mina,
We had a pretty good 4th of July. We ate breakfast at the Masina’s for a Ward/Neighborhood breakfast. We talked to the Sister missionaries. Then we we're so bummed when Jaslyn came with a boyfriend. A tall lanky pakeha. We thought Tyrell would have totally had a chance. Oh well. Tyrell went on another app date. A pakeha girl named Samantha.  We went to the parade then went to go swimming but it started raining and they closed the pool as we got there. It stayed cloudy cooler temps. We went to the carnival at the Castle park. But they have torn down the Castle park but it’s actually called the Veteran’s Memorial park. We ate some expensive food before going to the rodeo stadium behind the library. It was cold so we went home and got warm clothes on then went back. I was wearing a sweater and a winter coat. It was the coldest and most I’ve ever had to wear in July. But the rain stopped and it warmed up as the evening went on. The rodeo was pretty fun but a little too long for my bum on those metal benches even with a soft bench pillow I took. The fireworks were after that. We saw Spiderman Far From Home on Friday. It was pretty good. Mum and I did a lot of cleaning out and rearranging in the crawl space to make more room.
We love you so much, Mum and Dad

Hello Mina,
We watched not even half way of the Lord of The Rings. Mom, Jaxon, Erana, and I went to Regal on Monday to see Toy Story 4. Erana and I had piano lessons on Tuesday and we had lunch at the park that’s behind the stores. Erana and I swam with the Ferguson’s at the Murray pool. Suzy played over for a little bit. Erana and I hung out at Kage’s for a while on Wednesday. Thursday, we had breakfast at the Masina’s and Suzy came with us to the parade I played at Suzy’s house for a little and we swam at the Bell’s house. After that, the family went to a carnival but didn’t do anything besides get some food there which was a rip off, but I enjoyed my foot-long corn dog. We went to the rodeo that was right by it and it was very amazing. My favorite of the rodeo was kids riding on sheep like men on bulls. There was an amazing sunset right behind us that I would look at whenever they would get the next person on the next animal. We watched their firework show after that. We went to AMC on Friday to see Spider-Man : Far From Home. Erana and I were at Kage’s again. We watched the fireworks on our roof with dad. I hope you have a great week, stay safe! I LOVE YOU!!!
Love, Leila XOXO

Hi Mina,
I went to Kage and Drays house and watched cartoon network.  Dad and I biked to my friend's house but she wasn't home then I biked to the Ballard's house.
Love Erana xoxoXoXoxOxO

7/14/19

Hello Mina,

I forgot to tell you that Erana and I had Tausala on Monday last week, when we went to see Toy Story 4. We watched the rest of The Lord Of The Rings : The Fellowship Of The Ring and watched some of The Lord Of The Rings : The Two Towers. Mom, Erana, and I went to the pool on Monday, and we bought ourselves 2 pizza sticks, a creamie for Erana, and Dibs for me. After that, we went to Tausala. Erana and I had piano on Tuesday. I went with mom to pick up Kage’s family at the airport. We left for Bryce Canyon on Wednesday and stopped by the Cheese Factory. They moved their shop to a nicer, bigger, building that was right behind the factory. They had bean bag toss on the outside where you eat and the samples of the cheese had their own corner. After that, we went to a few viewpoints in Bryce Canyon, then we went to the Visitors Center and Erana and I got another Junior Ranger activity book. We went to our hotel and unpacked our stuff and then we looked at the stores across the road. I saw baby birds in a nest and the parents were on a pair of antlers hanging on the wall of the outside of a store. Erana and I swam in the hotel pool and then we went ATV riding and it was really fun. I got a blue face scarf for it. We saw Pronghorn. Thursday, we had a yummy buffet breakfast and then we went on the 2 hour horse ride. I loved it because we had a little more control over the horses like if you were behind you just kick them on the sides and they trott over to catch up. I felt like I've been doing it for years, my horse’s name was Weep, like the poker saying,“Read ‘em and weep”. After the horse ride, we went to this little building and it also had a Junior Ranger activity book so Erana and I did that while we went on the hike where the heatstroke lady was. After 2 hours of helping Jane, the heatstroke lady, we went back to the little building to get our badges. Once we got back to the hotel, Erana and I went for a swim, and we went to a country song dinner show after Erana and I swam in the pool. The food was yummy and the show was good. On Friday, we had another delicious buffet breakfast and then we packed up and went on a hike down in the hoodoos. We saw the famous tree in between the hoodoos. Look up what a hoodoo is because I don’t want to explain. Then we headed home. Yesterday, Kage and I had basketball practice and it was really exhausting, I could hardly breathe. After that, I went to help set up the Auction/Talent Show at the stake center. Once I saw how amazing it looked, I did not want to go with the family to the Finlayson wedding. I told mom and dad and I grabbed my performance costume, and I got dropped off at the stake center. I helped pass out the food and concessions, it was really fun. Suzy was really nice and she bought me eight tickets. To repay her, I did a duet with her on the piano for her talent. I bought a brownie, pizza, fruit kabob, popcorn, little sprite soda, and a guess for how many M&M’s were in a jar. The talents were funny, boring, cringey, talented, and cute. Once it got to me, the music would start at the wrong part, but then it finally started at the right part. I performed Leafaitulagi if you were wondering, and everyone loved it. I helped clean up and I got dropped off at Kage’s house and I played there for a while. I hope you have a great week, stay safe! I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Leila XOXO

Hi Mina,

We don’t have much time to write a whole lot today as we are going to Julia’s to support her and sing some waiata with the Hiona group because of Nephi passing away last night. But we had an awesome 2 night stay at Bryce Canyon. We stayed at Ruby’s Inn where there were people from all over the world. We heard so many different languages, french, german, russian, swiss, austrians, chinese, japanese, hindi and others. But Leila did a good summary of it all. We had a good visit with many of the Finlayson’s at Yasmeen’s reception. Jaxon and I had to help with the haka for her. Do your best in the new area, be confident and bold and humble and loving. You’ll have a great impact with the Spirit as your guide and the love in your heart. 

Love you always, Dad and Mum

 

7/21/19

Kia Ora Mina,

Looks like Leila covered the whole week lol So I'll be brief. Spent a lot of time with extended family and friends this week because of your Uncle Nephi's passing. Brought back memories of your grandma Barbara's passing and funeral, and how sad that was but how loving and more close we became as a family. Knowing we will see our loved ones again brings comfort. We are so proud of you and the work you are doing to help others know that families can be together because of our Savior. Keep up the GOOD work!!! 

Love Mum and Dad xxx

Hello Mina,

Kage’s family came over for dinner and we played while the adults went to Aunty Julia’s house. Aunty Heather took Kage, Dray, Jaxon, Erana, and I to free lunch on Monday and then we picked up mom and went to the Taylorsville pool. Erana and I played at Kage’s house for a little bit after the pool. Erana and I had piano lessons on Tuesday. We played at Kage’s for the whole day. I went to the ortho right after free lunch and we played at Kage’s house. I did temple confirmations with the youth at the Jordan River Temple. We had donuts afterwards. Mom, Erana, and I went to Aunty Julia’s house for the open house, and then we went to our Tahitian class. Erana, Jaxon, and I went to Kage’s house and Connor, Jamie, Gracie, Jonah, and Maya were there and we headed out to the Wairhouse for Dray’s birthday and we had pizza and ice cream cake after our time was up. We went back to the house to change into our togs and we went swimming. Mom took Erana, Jaxon, and I back home so we could have a shower and pack our clothes. We ate food at their house and sang Happy Birthday to Dray and he opened presents. One of his presents was badminton so we played that for about an hour. We all slept over at Dray’s house except Maya, Gracie, and Erana went to our house. Yesterday, Kage and I went to the first half of Uncle Nephi’s funeral. Then, Aunty Heather took us to our basketball game and I wasn’t so nervous as I usually am, it was more fun than I thought it would be. Anyways, we won and I scored a point and we each got pringles for our treat. We went to the cemetery and then back to the chapel for the luncheon. Talia slept over. Today, we went to Tama’s (Uncle Vaughn’s son) Farewell party. We watched the rest of The Lord Of The Rings : The Two Towers. I hope you have a great week, stay safe! I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Leila XOXO

Hi Mina,  I went to the pool went to the warehouse for Drays B-day then went to the pool with Maya and Gracie well went to the warehouse with Maya and Gracie to then had a shower at home went to Drays house had hot dogs played and had desert and opened presents for Dray then played after and then Maya and Gracie slept over and we stayed up and played with our teddys  and we played would you rather truth or dare and never have I ever then we fell asleep.
Love Erana xoxoXoXoxOxO

7/28/19

Hello Mina,

Jaxon, Erana, and I went to AMC on Monday after free lunch to see The Lion King. Erana and I had piano lessons on Tuesday. We went to the pool on Wednesday, then we went to Kage’s house and had a BBQ and watched fireworks. Erana and I had Tahitian practice on Thursday and I forgot to tell you last week that over a wall behind the trash by the buildings were stray kittens in this man’s backyard that had a lot of bricks that they were hiding in. I watched them and tried to make them be comfortable around me. They all looked nothing alike. I’ll tell you all of the colors that they were individually. Orange, black, gray, white with gray paws and face, and a mix of colors like brown, white, orange, and black. I saw the mom and it was black with an orange pattern. We slept over at Kage’s house. Yesterday, we hung out at Kage’s again, but we didn’t sleep there. Today, we picked up Talia for church and we watched The Lord Of The Rings : The Return Of The King. I hope you have a great week, stay safe! I LOVE YOU!!!

Love, Leila XOXO

Hi Mina,

We had a quieter week. I had Wednesday off for Pioneer Day. We went to the pool and I got a bit sunburned. We ate grilled burgers and hotdogs at Uncle Scott’s. They were out of town so we went over there to eat and light fireworks. Mum bought a box of fireworks from Maceys but it didn’t have any aerials so they were pretty lame. That’s what we get for being cheapo. But the Petts and Casey and fam were there and they had the good kind. Mum and I had a walk around Ikea and RC willey yesterday and bought some curtains we’ll put up in our room. We also forgot to take Leila to her basketball game. Mum didn’t put it on her calendar. The first new tree we planted this year in the corner already died. It just went crispy in a matter of days when it went hot. I mustn't have watered it enough or it gets hot in that corner. We returned it and got our money back from Lowes. If our others go bad then I’m blaming it on our soil. I’ve been watering them alot. Well keep working hard, we enjoy hearing from you each week.

Love always, Dad and Mum