leading to the big day

I have somehow missed all the "lead up" to christmas.

I find that living in a place that never looks like Christmas means you have to embrace anything that might get us in the spirit...

So- here we are with Santa at our ward party.  Just wondering who looks happier to see the Big Guy- Braden or Camiron?!

The Relief Society Sisters.

Camers made a gingerbread house at playgroup and was very proud of her work.

She worked very hard on it, and had one very jealous brother. (I won't name any names on who that might be)

We hit the Kapolei Light Parade with our good friends Tom and Shawna.

  I have decide this is the best parade I have ever been to.

It is so nice and warm here, the kids didn't even need sweatshirts to watch the parade.  But it was evening, so it wasn't too hot.

All the floats are covered in lights, they throw candy.

And we got there a little early and played some football in the field before it started.

Really does it get better than that?

We made family gingerbread villages this year. The kids were on a little sugar high by the end of this craft activity- but had so much fun.  I loved the little villages- it was fun to decorate more than just the one house. i will have to look for these again next year.

(on a side note, we will NOT miss making these in hawaii- last year it rained the next day and the houses truly melted away and had to be thrown away. this year we came down the next morning and the ants had found them.  Anything that the ants like- gets thrown out.)

Braden's school put on a christmas concert that was of course just adorable.  He practiced all of his songs very diligently at home. He is at a Baptist preschool and I am not sure where they found the Christmas songs- but i had never heard a single one before.  So I was at a loss when he would ask what came next...  but on the day of the concert he knew all the words and actions and sang his little heart out.  he was just adorable...

I can't seem to find Braden in this picture.  His blond hair just blends in with the other kids so well it is like trying to find where's Waldo... he he.

Our ward playgroup had to hit the christmas train and santa at the mall.  For the first time in a few years braden actually wanted to ride the train.

Camiron would not come near santa, so I had to join in this picture just to get her in the same 10 foot radius with him.

really?!

It isn't often I vent on my blog. but this is an exception to the rule.
I sent a gift to my aunt in a manilla envelope.  It was delivered to her (the manilla envelope that is) with nothing inside and a stamp that read  "delivered without contents".
REALLY!
So i called the post office and filed a "complaint".
I was told someone would get back to me.  Today I was lucky enough to get that phone call....

Post Office Really Sweet, Total Idiot Girl:  "I got a message that you had a gift delivered without anything inside".
Me: "Yes, have you heard anything on it?"
PO "Well, I think there is somewhere, like a building on the mainland where they send those kind of things.  I think.  I'm not sure where it is on the mainland.  But I think they send things there.  I really don't know how to find out about it though. Or really how to track things there.  I could ask my manager for you though if that would help".

(Are you kidding me!!!)

Me:  "So you have no idea how to find the contents of the envelope"
PO "No I think it is somewhere on the mainland though.  Did you get insurance on it?"
Me "No, I didn't have anything breakable in it, it was a gift card, so I didn't think I needed the insurance"
PO "oh, well then other than trying to find it at that building, there isn't really anything we can do without insurance.  maybe they will be able to find your things".
Me "so without the insurance I don't get anything back.  I just paid you to deliver a now empty envelope"
PO " yea, sorry. that is what the insurance is for to cover what is in your package"
Me "well I didn't think when I paid to have it delivered I was only having the envelope delivered".
PO.  "um, well did you want me to ask my supervisor on where things go and get back to you."
Me "yes"-  and pretty much hung up on her I had a feeling we weren't going to get anywhere on our conversation.

I think I just got dumber.  And I am out a present.  But I have a feeling somewhere in some building on the mainland someone is living it up with my aunts gift.  And my lucky aunt got a stamp from hawaii.

And I just want to point out:  If I were to buy a shirt in a store- would they ever just hand me a sleeve and say- hmm I am not sure what happened to the rest of the shirt. Did you get extra insurance on the other sleeve?  oh you didn't?   bummer.

need a super hero? i have 2

only in hawaii is is warm enough to wear a cape and your skivies.  We did

take a trip to home depot is this getup.  and why not! 

I think we need some real cape's one of these days (grandma's??- or anyone else who is handy on the sewing machine will due)

(and if anyone needs a rib- just ask Braden he has a few on display!)

Eddie Aikau

Along with 30,000 others- I flocked to the North Shore for the

Eddie Aikau contest.  It can only be held when the waves

reach 40 feet in Waimea Bay on the North Shore.

The last time this happened was 2004.

My good friend Joy and I loaded the kids in the minivan and cruised over.

Once we got there, we had to cruise right by the competition. Everyone was

parking 5 miles away and hiking/ biking/ skating along this 2 lane road to get

there.  I was not going to hike 5 miles with my two kids.....

so we headed to Pipeline and saw the 25 foot waves and enjoyed the crowds.

Even though we didn't stop at the bay- I still caught some fun pictures of it all.  I loved the people....

a month gone by

my month just disappeared!  I started taking pictures for everyone else...

and mine just went to the sidelines :)

so by demand from the grandparents- here is a little catch up.

playing dress up samari's-  too bad braden thinks he looks like a ninja-

when really he is looking a little like a girl :)

at least i had a good laugh!

I was able to be a parent helper on braders school fieldtrip to the Ewa train.

It was hot- but we had a great time. It was fun to see him with his little friends

the yellow class with the yellow train.  His teachers Ms. Nguyen and Ms. Cadero

My highlight of the month- catching New Moon on opening weekend.

loved it.  Love Jacob.  i don't need to say anymore.

We caught the Dino exhibit at the Bishops Museum downtown.

the kids loved it. the dinos growled and moved.  They were a little nervous at first

but then decided they were pretty great.

With all the beach pictures i have been taking for everyone

my kids have spent a lot of time at the beach this last month... so just a a few...

The zoo...

it never changes. the kids have it memorized. but they still love it.

the turkey bowl.  I am amazed every year that troy makes it out alive. some of the locals could sit on him and he would be umm... squished.

the kids having their own turkey bowl.

Putting up the tree... always a favorite.

too bad camiron has managed to break at least a dozen ornaments again this year.

snow angels in hawaii at the moms club christmas party.

this is as good as the angels get.  funny

and there you have it.... a month of highlights... there are still more to come though- don't get too comfortable!