Monster Fish

It has taken Dad a while to be happy in California again.  He has had days where he only catches one fish or no fish and he has a hard time with that.  I haven't had any work at the ranch for him, so he feels like he is just sitting around and not contributing. 

Today that all changed.  He caught the biggest trout at Lake Wohlford so far this year.  (Yes, it's only January 5th, but chances are nobody is going to beat this one.)  He is so happy that he is on top and wants to show the fish to everyone.  It weighed 11.45 pounds and was 28 1/3 inches long from mouth to the end of the tail. 

Enjoy the pictures and make sure to call Dad and congratulate him.  I haven't seen him this excited in a long time.  It is going in the freezer and he can't wait to bring it back to Utah and show all his friends. 

Happy New Year

I have made New Year's Resolutions every year since I was small.  For the last 40 years or so, one of those resolutions has been to lose weight.  This is the last year that losing weight will be a resolution because this is the year that I finally take off the rest of what I need to.  I have been at the pH Miracle Center for over a year and a half and have lost about half the weight I need to.  This is the year that I finish it and then all I have to do is maintain.

My other resolution is to be better about remembering birthdays and anniversarys.  I have written them all on my calendar and will do a better job of checking it every week. 

Thank you to all my family for a great holiday season.  I love and appreciate all of you.  Hopefully I can get out of debt in the next few years and then rejoin you all in Utah.

Obedience

Two weeks ago I was asked to teach the Relief Society Lesson on Obedience.  Studying and giving this lesson made me aware of how truly disobedient I have been since moving down here.  Yes, it took me two months to find the ward I should go to, but once I found it I was very lax about going.  It was just too easy to stay home and relax, especially after Dad came down and didn't want to go.  I made a decision that this had to change and I have been much better about attending my meetings and partaking of the sacrament.  I have also chosen to take on the Stake President's challenge to read from the Book of Mormon daily along with daily prayer.  What a blessing this has been to experience the change of heart that has come in just two weeks.  I look forward to reading from the scriptures every morning and I no longer feel the need to stay home on Sunday's.  I would challenge everyone to accept the Book of Mormon challenge in your lives too and see how much better it makes your days.  Here are two scriptures that I have read the past two days that have particular meaning to me.

1 Nephi 15:11
Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?--If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in faith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

1 Nephi 17:3
And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled.  And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God He doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them;

Family Changes

It has been a long time since I did a post.  In that time our family has grown by three.  I apologize that there are no pictures to view on this blog post, but my computer is on the fritz and I lost all the pictures I took at the wedding.  It is also giving me a hard time loading pictures to the blog.

On May 12th we welcomed a new grandson, Inoke to Sione and Lorien's family.  He is such a sweetie and we love him very much.  Glad to have you join the family Inoke.

Lindsay joined the family as Naki's wife on June 8th.  The wedding was perfect and everyone had a good time.  We are so happy to have Lindsay as our newest daughter-in-law and happy to get to know her family as well.  Welcome Lindsay!!!

Then last but definitely not least, little Vivienne joined Tevita, Makenzie and Vea June 22nd.  We have not had the privilege of seeing her yet, but we love our newest granddaughter so much and can't wait to cuddle her.  Grandpa will get that opportunity first as he will be flying to Utah on July 16th.  Hope all of you will get together and show Grandpa a good time. 

We look forward to future visits from Fia, Tre and Clay in August and Ela and Daniel over the Labor Day weekend.  We love you all and can't believe that our little family of eight has now grown to 24. 

Visit from Lua and Ari

Lua and Ari came to visit for Easter and we had so much fun.  Dad had been home for 3 weeks and he flew back with them.  It was great to pick them up at the airport.  Ari has gotten so big and talks so good now.

We went to the beach.  Ari had fun even though it was cold and overcast that day.  We got out feet wet in the cold ocean and Ari played on the playground.

We tried to go to Legoland and even bought our tickets.  When we got to Legoland, they were closed (very sad day).  We ended up going to the Legoland Sea Life Aquarium instead. 

Ari wasn't feeling well, so just kind of buzzed through the aquarium.  Her favorite thing was the legos at the end.

On the day I had to work Lua and Ari went fishing with Dad and Lake Wohlford.  Ari had so much fun fishing with Grandpa.  They used Ari's goldfish crackers to lure a squirrel close and then Grandpa caught it in the fishing net.  Ari laughed and laughed at the squirrel.  They didn't catch any fish, but had a good time.

The poor squirrel escaping from Grandpa's fishing net.

After fishing, I left work a little early and we went to the Pala Casino Buffet for dinner.  Yummy, yummy food and so many choices.  Lua and Ari spent their last day here swimming in the pool and finally getting some sun.  Then it was off to the airport where we took pictures and shed tears of goodbye.

Thanks for visiting and come back soon.

Naki and Lindsay

It was so much fun to have Naki and Lindsay visit.  We were able to get to know Lindsay and we are so happy that Naki is marrying such a wonderful girl.  They were able to do some sight seeing and came back to the apartment every night to play Skip Bo.  Of course they are pros and I didn't stand a chance.  One day they came to the ranch to visit me and look around.  They picked oranges and lemons and enjoyed the sights.  They also went fishing with Dad and got to see how they stock the lake with fish.  That night we went to the buffet at Valley View Casino for dinner.  These are pictures of them sitting high up on the parking garage.

Naki was very taken by the pool far below.

Thanks for coming to visit!!  It was fun to have you and we look forward to coming to your wedding.

January in California

Okay, so I figured I needed to get my blog updated.  After all it has been at least a month.  Christmas was great in Utah, but I had to come back too soon.  Don, Marie and Beth came down to visit for New Year's and mine and Marie's birthday.  We had a great time even though it rained a good deal of the time they were here.  We played Tonk or Quibbler at night and laughed until we cried and our sides ached.

Don't you just love our card table.

We put together a puzzle of Bear Lake, well Garden City actually complete with Le Beau's, Bear Lake Pizza, and the Bear Lake Monster.

Sunday after church Kamden, Stefanie, Kylee, George, and the twins came for dinner.  It was great to get together with everyone and catch up.  It's been a long time since I have seen them and I have never seen the twins.  They are very cute.

The very next Sunday Sione and Lorien brought Tevita down to stay with me.  Sione and Lorien were able to go visit friends and enjoy three good days here.  Thank you so much for bringing Dad here to be with me.  It has been wonderful to finally have my husband here with me.  The only time in our marriage that we have ever been just the two of us is between the time we were married and when Ela was born.  We are learning how to be companions to each other after 31 years and I have to say it is going well.  Of course, it kind of helps that he doesn't know any other Tongans here yet to hang out with instead of me.

On the 15th we went fishing at the Oceanside Pier where Dad caught two little fish.  Then we went to the Oceanside Harbor were we had a great dinner of Mahi Mahi for Dad and salad for me.  Today, the 22nd we went fishing at Lake Poway.  It was a gorgeous day in the low 70's.  Dad fished all day but didn't catch anything.  The people next to us caught 3 huge trout.  Dad is anxious to go back next Saturday and beat them to the spot where they were so he can catch the fish next week.  After fishing we went to Dad's new favorite Chinese buffet in San Marcos.  They have practically a whole steam table of nothing but fish. 

Lake Poway was really pretty, small by Utah standards and crowded with fishermen.  I went for a hike up this hill.

The trail goes all around the lake and even over to Lake Ramona.  Next time we go Dad wants to rent a boat.  It's only $16 per day for a little fishing boat.  I plan on hiking all around the lake 2.7 miles.  We miss the family, but it is nice getting to know each other all over again.  Love to everyone.