Tula'i's BIG 13

Another normal day? NO WAY, it is a day of another teenager in the house now. He is a pretty good teenager at that so far. He wanted to play Xbox all day for his birthday as well, but in between Maika's and his there was a HUGE blow up about the Xbox and the kids being so lazy, that their privilege was taken away for indefinitely! Cliff was so mad at them, that he almost smashed them himself. I wouldn't let him though because I was thinking that is a lot of money wasted, at least sell them and get some money off of them. 

Anyway, went and played tennis with Erin and then I had to run to the store and make sure we had everything for his birthday as well. I had the kids come with me to the park while I played tennis with Erin. Afterward, we picked Kalena up from practice and went shopping for food. He wanted to have Chic-fil-A for his birthday dinner. I can't explain how much this kid LOVES chicken fingers and French fries. We were just going to eat out at Chic-Fil-A, but then I had the idea that we should just get the imitation sandwiches and nuggets from Sam's Club and then invite the Graybill's over. We did just that and he seemed pretty happy about it. It was cheaper and had more food. Everyone was satisfied with the meal. 

He requested the chocolate raspberry cake. I made 2 knowing that one wouldn't be enough and I also made homemade ice cream again for him. He was in heaven with all of the food. 

Like Maika, Tula'i got $70 for his birthday. I know that he won't save it because money burns a hole in this kids pocket. He is addicted to Dr Pepper and will spend all of his money on this if he it. 

Cliff and I did let him play for a couple of hours and the rest of the kids only got 1 hour of playing time on the Xbox. He seemed happy with that. We really have to not monitor the time on electronics for the kids. If they are given a little bit of time, they tend to be ok with it and not so lazy. Too much, not good!

Anyway, Tula'i had a Dr appointment as well. He is 5'8" and 120lbs. Maika has 57 lbs on him. It is so crazy how skinny Tula'i is, but he stops eating when he is satisfied, not full. He is always trying to steal people's water no matter what time of the day. He loves to read Big Nate and comic books. He and Kalena have this tickle my back thing whenever a movie is being watched, or reading scriptures, family council, etc. is going on. He eggs people on because he likes to get a reaction out of them. He is ALWAYS sneaking off oh so quietly to get out of doing chores! I often forget that he isn't there until I need him for something and he doesn't answer. Tula'i is always up for a game or two even if he loses. He just wants to have fun and enjoy life.

Him and his Dr Pepper. He is probably telling Lavea'i he can't hav it, HAHA!

I always try to get one picture of them actually blowing out the candles. This year, I only had one candle for him to blow out. My stash has slowly disappeared.

Already a couple of inches taller than me. I feel like a shrimp compared to my older kids. 

First Olympic Triathlon in the Books

I have wanted to try a Triathlon for a few years now and finally accomplished one virtually. Because of Covid, the race went from being in Atlantic City, NJ to being done virtually. Not the best one to do for the first time...virtually, I mean. There was some positives about it, but not having anyone there to cheer you on at the end was one of the hardest things I have ever done. The Hobble Creek 1/2 marathon was a cake walk in comparison to this. I just wanted to give up at the end of the run on this race. It didn't help that we ended up being an hour behind schedule because Ben forgot his shoes to run in. 

I talked my friend, Kami Adcock, to join in with me in doing this Olympic Triathlon. The distances were a 1 mile swim, 22 mile bike ride, and a 6.2 mile run. I thought the swim and the bike was going to be brutal, but it ended up being the easiest portion of the race. The run was a killer. It was at the heat of the day 2:30pm. It was so hot and we were dehydrated because we hadn't carried any water on our run with us. I was weaving in and out of the shade and grass so try and lessen the heat. My legs were quads would start to cramp every time I would run. We ran the whole first 3 miles of the run and then walked most of the last 3 miles. Kami's calf was killing her because she got a charley horse after the swim. My mind was trying to keep me motivated to finish, but my legs were so done with all of it.

I didn't do too bad for a first time. I even got a winners metal in my age bracket! My times were as follows, swim was 47:41.33, bike 1:27:33, run 1:12:09. Brutal, but enjoyable and I would definitely do it again!

All of my swag because the race was done virtually. If it was in Atlantic City, we wouldn't have gotten all of this. There weren't very many people that participated virtually, I guess they all weren't happy about it all being virtual like myself.

Ocean City, NJ continued...

Monday morning came and Cliff and I went to go play tennis after he read his scriptures. Cliff likes to see how hard he can hit the ball over the net. We started to play a couple of games and he hit 4 balls over the fence. Two of them were on the street into traffic. I just laughed and enjoyed the time to be outside and hit a few balls. One ball bounced on the road and hit the front of the car. I am sure I had a look of shock while wearing a smile. After that game was over, he asked me how to hit the ball. I had to show him how to grip the racquet and then how to swing. From that point on, he did pretty good! He nailed some balls over the net that were so fast!

After tennis that morning, we had to run to Walmart to get some things that were forgotten home. A list of items consisted of food for lunches, more watermelon, boogie boards (just a couple of them), a canopy, beach chairs, snacks for the beach, bottles of water, and sand toys. In all the purchase was about $250 dollars. 

We made it home around noon and then ate lunch before heading out to the beach around 1:30pm. We all went along carrying our towels and things to play with with. The sand felt so warm underneath our feet. It was a perfect day for playing in the water. The kids didn't want to use the boogie boards, but then Cliff went in with one and came back with it. None of them wanted them until I went out and showed them how to catch the waves. They grasped the concept pretty quickly of having to catch the wave at the bottom after I pushed them a couple of times. From that point, Tula'i didn't want to share the boogie board. Him and Maika were literally wrestling over the board. Leilani wanted the other one and wouldn't really share it. After I told her she had to give it up to someone else, Kalena and Lavea'i were happy to use it. The boogie boards were a HIT!!!

The next morning we decided to try and get some more boogie boards after Cliff and I went and golfed on a par 3 course that was so laid back and funny! It was so foggy when we first teed off that we couldn't even see where our balls landed. All we knew was the general direction where they landed. It was fun! We ended up challenging each other on the last hole straight up, no mulligans, and I ended up hitting it over the fence and lost by one stroke. BUMMER!! Around hole 7 I was eaten alive by mosquitoes!!! I had so many bites all over my legs the next few days that itched like crazy!

After golf, we headed to a store in Ocean City that was right around the corner from where we were staying for boogie boards and got there just as the last 2 were being taken. We went to a Walmart that was closer to us, but they were out of them as well. So, off we drove another 45 minutes from that Walmart to the one we had been at just the day before and finally was able to round 5 more up. We also found a wagon to load everything up in for the beach. That was another $175. Everyone had their own and now we could all compete who would go the furthest. It became a war between Kalena, Tula'i and myself. But, wait for it, Tunoa amazed us all and was a pro on the board before long and was wasting on all of us. 

Kalena was the first one done on that first day. She was such a grouch about it and just wanted to go back to the rental and shower. 

But then this happened and she was just fine...BUT don't smile too much or you will get sand in your mouth!

The kids and all their boogie boards. The water, not as clear as the Pacific Ocean, but it is still the ocean and still just as fun!

Our view from the canopy every day!!! So enjoyable...

Leilani and I just getting another picture in on the sidewalk walking home from that Sunday of taking a walk. 

Kalena and Maika enjoying the boogie board the first day and finally getting a hang of it! I had to tell them when to switch with each other so a war wouldn't break out between all of them.

Leilani and I trying to get a good selfie with the selfie stick! After about 5 of them, it works out!

Tunoa getting a hang of it and beating all of us catching waves. PURE JOY!!!

In between waves...

We didn't leave the beach that night until about 6:30 or 7pm. Even at that, it was like pulling teeth to get them out of the water. Tula'i thought he was done, but then came back and rejoined the havoc after about 20 minutes of sitting. 

Our last day there, Wednesday, we got to the beach around the same time again and stayed again for about another 4 hours. That evening we took those who wanted for a walk on the boardwalk. We quickly realized that the same stores kept reoccurring. We got custard cones for those that came and they were about $6 bucks a piece. Lavea'i got a mint chocolate mix and I ended up switching my orange vanilla one because he didn't like his. AND YES, it SUCKED!!! The mint overpowered the chocolate that it was all that could be tasted.

What a wonderful trip! I would do it every year, but we are going to try Morraine Lake next year with the Adcock's in the cabin's for a whole week. It should be fun! We need a tandem kayak though. It should be a blast! If it is just as fun, we will be rotating each year with our week long trips. 

It is nice to start finally enjoying adventures out here instead of always wanting to go back to Utah. I hope the kids will begin to realize that Utah isn't everything and that there is much more to enjoy in the United States. Adventures await anywhere we go!!!

Ocean City, New Jersey

What an amazing place, Ocean City! The beach was phenomenal and so clean. The kids had a blast boogie boarding every day for hours on end. We drove out there on the 8th of August, which was a Saturday, and arrived there around 4pm. The weather was sunny and humid. The kids really wanted to go to the beach that day, but we had to buy beach tags first in order to swim and enjoy it. So, after we unpacked all of our stuff in the small vacation rental, Cliff and I rode our bikes to buy the beach tags so we wouldn't have to do it Monday morning. That was a fun little bike ride on the boardwalk...most of the way. Anyway, until we got stopped by a police officer telling us that there is no bike riding on the board walk after 12p.m. We still had a ways to go after jumping off, but didn't mind the walk the rest of the way. It was a good stroll looking at the stores and what was around. We got to the place to purchase the tags and was able to get mine for free because I am a Veteran. I only had to pay for the older 4 kids and Cliff. The money goes towards keeping the beaches clean, lifeguards and other things of that sort. We rode our bikes back the whole way on the road and enjoyed it. When we got back, we had dinner and just chilled out the rest of the evening. 

Sunday, the younger 3 really wanted to go for a walk on the beach and kept asking the whole day. I finally gave in around 2p.m. I was ready to get out as well and done sitting in the rental. I can only read so many chapters in the scriptures and play so many games before going insane. Cliff was taking a nap and after he woke up, we went down to the beach. It was nice to get out and walk in the really squishy, fine sand. The water was a bit chilly on the skin as we waded in it. Tunoa kept going further and further out each time, getting his shorts wet. I actually had to roll the waist over a couple of times so they wouldn't fall off of him. We walked about a mile down the shoreline and then turned around. Leilani, Kalena and I picked up shells that Leilani kept and now has them in a jar of water. Tunoa found a little crab that tickled as we held it in the palm of our hands. This was the only one we found. There were a bunch of clam shells, tiny ones, that when the waves came and moved the sand uncovering them, they would quickly bury themselves again as the water resided. This was something I had never seen before. 

You can see the pure peace and joy on the kids faces as we surround ourselves with one of God's beautiful creations.

I am enchanted with sand underneath my feet! This sand was so fine and "squishy" (as Dory would put it) in-between my toes. 

I love my children and the fun we were able to have with each other on this walk.

When we got back from the walk, we played "Catch Phrase." At first, it was everyone but Tunoa and Cliff. My team lost! So, we started another round and Cliff decided to join in the fun. It made the teams uneven, but what was funny was Lavea'i was the one he would pass the machine to for his turn, but would place it on the floor instead of handing it directly to him. This lead to the buzzer going off in Lavea'i's hand. From then on out, it was a game of not giving the buzzer to the person and making them go run for it across the room. Kalena did it to me and I climbed on her and sat on her instead of going to get the machine. Lavea'i at one point threw it into the room where he was sleeping and Tula'i had to hurry and run after it. 

After getting back from the walk and playing the game, we had steak for dinner. It wasn't the best, but it tasted good enough if it was dipped in the juice and had salt sprinkled on it. We also had baked potatoes and cantaloupe. 

After cleaning up and watching "God's Not Dead," we went to bed. Our vacation had begun on this day and was such a joy!!!

Maika's 14th

All this boy wanted for his birthday was to play Xbox ALL DAY LONG!!! He did just that as well. So did everyone else! He requested BBQ chicken salad for dinner and apple pies instead of cake. It was a pretty low key birthday other than being in the kitchen all afternoon making everything. Earlier that day, Cliff and I had run to Sam's Club to make sure I had everything, especially apples, for his birthday dinner and dessert. Cliff ended up getting Ahi and making poke when we got home. Everything tasted so yummy! 

The Graybill's came over for the evening to celebrate with us. After singing happy birthday to Maika and eating the apple pie and homemade ice cream, we played hand and foot. The saga of beating Riki and Cliff came to an end that night. It was a sore loss! First time losing to them in a very long time, but Cliff had to keep rubbing it in that they were the champions now after winning the one game. It was pretty funny!

Maika is such a sweet boy! Love him to pieces and he makes it so easy to love him. I understand how the Lord can favor those who keep His commandments. It is so much easier to handle those who do what you ask of them. He is always to so helpful around the house and easy going. He gets pretty irritated with Tula'i at times because Tula'i eggs him on. He is still a homebody and doesn't care for much social interaction. I wish that he would have more confidence in himself because he is an amazing kid! He does things to earn money around the house and is much like his father with spending money, a tight wad. I know he has quite a bit saved and he is trying to save fore something he really wants. I am not sure what that is though. He hasn't spent any of his birthday money which was equivalent to $70.

He has a check up with the doctor and had one shot for the HPV. Maika stands at 5'11" and weighs 177lbs. Such a ROCK!!! He could pummel me if he really wanted to, but I don't let him think that way. I always tell the kids, "You may be bigger than me, but I can still kick your butt!" They all agree.

Just before singing happy birthday to him, I snapped a picture. His nose was already peeling from Ocean City. His eyes look bloodshot because of playing Xbox all day.

He is so serious right here while Leilani is always being goofy.

14 YEARS OLD and only one candle for his personal apple pie!