Gingerbread 2012

As our annual holiday tradition, we host a Gingerbread party where our friends and family gather to build their gingerbread creations.

Here's what Owen and I did the day before to prepare.


Owen helped to make the batter


I helped to roll out the gingerbread


Owen designed a dragon to cut out


Owen's dragon after baking


Here's my dragon after baking

Mama also made 2 sets of gingerbread houses and stars to stack for Christmas trees as well as tons of gingerbread men and women.

We woke up early the next day to help mama make the icing and set up the tables for decorating the gingerbreads.


All ready to decorate!


Here I am heavily concentrating on icing my dragon


Half way done!


Here's Owen with his green dragon


Mama's worried about the house falling down


Aunty Marlene, Grandma, and Ah Mah decorating gingerbread men and women


I'm making a Christmas tree to leave out for Santa Claus


Ah Mah and me with our finished gingerbread house

What a fun tradition! Thanks to all our friends and family who came to join us. Merry Christmas!

Weekend without kids

Mama and Daddy went away to San Francisco for a few days while Owen and I stayed home in Hawaii with Ah Mah and Ah Gong. Apparently, our parents ate their way through the city. Here are some pictures of their trip.

First stop was the Ferry Building for the Saturday Farmers Market.


Ferry Building


Inside Ferry Building


Mama couldn't resist the Porchetta sandwich


Yum!


Who knew there were so many varieties of edible mushrooms?!


Beautiful flowers


Fresh Brussel Sprouts

It wouldn't have been a complete trip to SF without a visit to Chinatown.


Chinatown gate


Festive Lanterns

They also visited the SF Museum of Modern Art.


Yerba Buena Gardens


Mondrian cake at SF MOMA Blue Bottle Coffee


Mama's Cappuccino


Grilled cheese sandwich - a homage to Jasper Johns

No worries. They did see some real art.


Alexander Calder's Crinkly

They also had very nice meals at Great India, Yank Sing, Cotogna, and the House.


And Uncle Eric took them to Gelateria Naia for this hazelnut and egg nog gelato.

Last day was a beautiful, sunny and clear day.


View of Coit Tower


A serendipitous visit to the TCHO chocolate factory


TCHOshot - pure drinking chocolate


In-N-Out was a required visit.

Owen and I did well while our parents were away. We video-chatted everyday... but I'm glad my mommy and daddy are back.

Aulani Weekend

To celebrate Ah Mah and Ah Gong's anniversary, we took a weekend getaway to Aulani Resort.


Makahiki Restaurant for Character Breakfast


Family picture with Mickey


Happy Anniversary, Ah Mah and Ah Gong

After the huge buffet breakfast, we spent the rest of the day lounging around in the Waikolohe Stream, going down the inner tube slide, and swimming in the big pool.


Mama and Aki relaxing at Waikolohe Stream


Ah Gong all smiles after coming down the slide


Owen running under the Menehune Bridge


Owen watching the fishies


Fish in the reef

After all day in the sun and water, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset dinner.



We had a blast. I've already asked Daddy if we can go back again for my birthday. Owen and I can't wait!

Turkey Day 2012

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Owen and I woke up early since we were so excited to have our friends and family over for turkey day!

I was extra-excited to pet-sit Hina, my class rabbit. Isn't she cute?

Hina and me for her morning stretch


Daddy worked hard to brine and cook the turkey. He also made cornbread, sage with sausage stuffing that was super yummy. Mama was in charge of spinach cranberry salad.


Everyone else brought the other dishes. We had a big spread with 3 bean salad, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, sushi, ham, 2 turkeys, gravy, cranberry relish, and frozen cranberry salad (ambrosia)


Another view of the food!


Here's our grandparents, aunties, and uncles enjoying their dinner.


As usual, we played bingo after dinner.


Owen helped Daddy call out numbers for the bingo game. Evan helped too.


And everyone helped decorate our Thanksgiving tree.

What a fun and thankful Thanksgiving!

Dress-up Days

Friday was "Dress up as a Book Character" Day at school in honor of National Literacy Week. I decided to recycle my Halloween costume from last year and dress up at Lulu, the Ladybug Girl. Thank goodness everything still fits!

Also on Friday, Owen attended his first official Cub Scout Meeting. Here he in in full regalia. The uniform was the smallest they had, but still pretty big on him. Mama says that's good since it has to last him for at least 3 years.

Doesn't Owen look pretty good?

Then there was a Bobcat Ceremony. I don't know what happened since Daddy went with Owen while I went to hangout at my friends Luke and Chloe's house. Where was Mama? She has class every Friday nights now - so sad, yeah? I hope I get to go to Luke and Chloe's house everytime Owen has Cub Scout meeting. I have so much fun playing with them.

Stay tuned for more fun adventures...