Playing catch-up, Part 1 - Thanksgiving 2011

Now that mama has a little time off work, it's time to back log our activities from the end of 2011. You may have also noticed the new layout. Mama thought our blog needed a new look for the new year. You can choose the "view" you like best... ranging from classic to snapshot to sidebar. Hope you like it!

Thanksgiving means Daddy's Good Eats Turkey. This year, he made some minor changes to the recipe but it was still tasty! We forgot to take a picture of the turkey before it was carved. Too hungry, I think.


Our Thanksgiving table... lots of onolicious food.


Owen showed off his Wampanoag costume for his "Pilgrims and Indians" banquet at school.


Here's the back.


Thanksgiving means family and filled-bellies.

Happy Birthday Owen!

It's hard to imagine that only 6 short years ago, I was born. This is what I looked like for the first few months.



Then I turned 1:



And 2:



3:



4:



5:



and now 6!

Well, 5 years and 364 days in this picture anyway.

Happy birthday to me!

Happy Birthday Mama!

We went out to dinner tonight and then came back to our house.


Grandma picked up mama's chocolate birthday cake and Aki led us in singing her happy birthday.


Aki helped Mama blow out her candle before she was ready.


Mama had a second chance and I helped her


She didn't just get a big card...

Happy Birthday to you, mama! We love you!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone!

Here are the jack-o-lanterns mommy and daddy carved over the weekend.

Daddy carved bats for me

Mama carved a dragon for Owen

This year, Owen dressed up as a Dragonaut and I was Lulu from Ladybug Girl. Owen started the day with a Halloween Parade with the senior class at his school.

Owen's ghost on the class bulletin board. Can you tell he loves dragons?

Kindergarteners all lined up

After school, we all rushed home to have a quick dinner with our neighbors and buddies, Luke and Chloe. As soon as it was dark enough out, daddy took us around the neighborhood to trick-or-treat.

Here I am getting ready, making sure I have everything I need for the journey

After we were all ready, we took off!

About an hour and 3 streets later, we returned with our pumpkins filled with treats. Owen says he loves all different kinds of candy. My favorites are the M&Ms. 

Another fun and busy weekend

Owen and I had a blast visiting the SOEST Open House at UH on Friday and Saturrday. Our favorite part was watching the Explosive Eruptions every 20 minutes.

We also went to the UH Homecoming Football Game to support Kung Kung and the Alumni Band. We got there early to do the Keiki activities before the game. Here, Owen and I are showing off our tattoos.

We also had yummy brunch with Aunty Noriko.

And I helped Hannah and Hans celebrate their birthdays on the train ride from Ewa to Kahe Point.

Pumpkin time!

After weeks of sticky humid and hot weather, it's finally getting cooler down. Owen and I are having fun celebrating fall Hawaiian style.

We checked out a pumpkin patch not too far from our house. There were so many pumpkins! Which one should we get?

After we picked out our pumpkins, we rode on the hayride and chowed down on yummy lunch at the farm.

Spam musubis!

Fresh squeezed lemonade.

We can't wait for Halloween!

Hot and muggy September

We spent most of September in the water since it was super hot and humid.

I was taking aim at Daddy with the water shooter.

Owen and Alana digging sand tunnel.

I went to my first Princess party for my friend Hannie.

Owen dressed up as a pirate.

For Daddy's birthday, we went on our first camping trip at Bellows.

I helped Daddy set up the tent.

Owen and Alana dug more sand tunnels.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you!

Catching up from summer adventures

We've been busy bees the past few months.

Mommy, Owen, and I were all in summer school. As soon as school gets out, we went on two big airplanes to visit Ronak, Naina, Aunty Sarita, and Uncle Sameer.

Owen and Ronak went to Summer Camp, while I took mommy and Daddy sightseeing around Boston.

The boys getting ready for Mud Day.

Me riding on the mama duck at Boston Public Garden.

After the week in Boston, we went to visit more friends and family in California. We spent time hanging out with Ah Mah and Ah Gong, eating yummy food.

Aki had fun cooking with Mia and Aunty Jeanie.

Ronak came to LegoLand with us!

We loved visiting the San Diego Zoo with Emmie and Andrew.

We spent the last leg of our trip up in Northern California to celebrate Aunty Melissa and Uncle Jason's wedding. It was so much fun.

Owen digging in the sand.

Mommy and me at Mission San Juan Bautista.

Mommy and her college roomates.

Yay for Uncle Jason and Aunty Melissa.

I loved the roasted marshmallows.