HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAIA!!!

*** Maia in Hawai'i almost 4 ***

*** Princess Jasmine at Halloween ***

Today Maia turns 12. I really can't believe it. She's going to be in the 7th grade already!!! Everyone that I talk to feels the same way. Just last week, we were all watching the video from her 2nd birthday. She was so curious, strong-willed and smart. Still the same today! I can't believe that in a few years, we'll be getting ready for Proms and planning for college. It's both scary and exciting at the same time!!!

A Celebration of 7

On Saturday, we had Kiale's birthday party. Being that Maia is 12 (today) and Kalani is 13, it'd been a while since I had to put thought into planning a kid-style party. In the past few years, all it took was simple, easy stuff like some water balloons or a bounce house. This year, Kiale had some thoughts of his own...

We started the day off with a magician that we hired. Kiale and all the kids absolutely LOVED it! He did a card trick that left the adults baffled. Lets just say that the card that Kiale wrote his name on is still on the ceiling of the garage. Kiale was the star of the show, and even got to make the live bunny appear in the finale.

After we ate, the kids had a Treasure Hunt that I put together. Their search was for about 9 clues that lead them to the "Treasure". They had to find a sleeping princess, an uncle with no hair, wave a wand to find a girl who sings and a few more fun surprises. At the end, the found their Treasure, and got to beat the crap out of it to get the loot inside!!! Thanks to all of our friends and family who came to celebrate his special day!!!

So tired, so just a teaser...

It's now 10:34 p.m. on Sunday night. I've had a crazy busy last three days (hence my not posting anything). I've been cooking, cleaning, stuffing goody bags and pinata's, driving, creating clues for Treasure Hunts, entertaining, singing "Happy Birthday", reading birthday cards, cooking again, driving again, singing "Happy Birthday"again, being pleasantly surprised :), driving some more, opening toys and cleaning again. Oh, and did I mention eating, and eating, and eating, and eating??? More to come in the next few days... Stay tuned for all the details... same Bat Time, same Bat Channel!!!

Praises to the man

Charlie and I have been together for almost 10 years now. Wow, that's a long time!!! Through the years, we've dealt with alot when it's come to his ex-wife and oldest daughter, Kaila. We've been through:

• court (a few times) about money, or time with the kids etc...,


• He's gone through mediations with his ex-wife,


• has had to meet with the 3 different counselors that Kaila has been to since she was 7, (only for them to say that he's not the cause of her issues)


• has gone a year and a half where Kaila didn't come over because of her attitude, all the while he still attended every sporting event of hers, graduation, band concert etc... and she never even said hi to him,


• gave her a clean slate when her mom couldn't handle her anymore and allowed her to come back,


• allowed her to move in when she was fed up with her mom,


• gave her everything that she wanted (school events, paid for sports, dances, etc),


• actually allowed her to have a boyfriend, and was truly ok with it,


• got SUED by his own kid for material things that she left here when she chose to move back to her moms because he wouldn't allow her to date some 19 year old loser who was still in high school.

As you can see, he's been through alot. But even with the bull that we've had to deal with through the years, he's still able to be such an amazing father. He starts works from 4 in the morning and gets off at 12:30 in the afternoon. As tired as he is, he makes time to be there for Maia, Kalani and Kiale. In the fall, he coached Kiale's flag football team. He takes Kalani as often as he can to the batting cages or catches for her so that she can practice pitching. He goes to Maia's school functions when I have to keep my daycare kids. He chaperones field trips. He sacrifices his days off and works extra to pay for the things that the kids want. He helps out around the house with the chores. He cooks. He finds time to help our friends whenever they need anything. He even spent Father's Day helping my sisters family move.

He's the most low-maintenance guy out there. He never asks for anything. The only thing that he's really picky about is his food :) He pays attention to the things that I say, like when I was was telling my girl friends that I wanted a Coach Bag, he bought me one for Mother's Day... He buys my favorite candy bar when he sees it at the store... He makes sure that I have enough Coke in the fridge...

Needless to say, words just can't explain how much I appreciate him. I love being at home, we get to spend so much time together. It's brought us even closer. Yes, the wedding is coming soon, and I CAN'T WAIT!!!

A fun weekend

What happens when you put together 6 crazy chicas, blue raspberry martini's and/or heinekins and the Step Up 2 movie??? On Saturday, we found out. We spent the evening with Shalana's fam, Lili, Minna, Iva and Junior. Had dinner and good stories, then decided to watch Step Up 2. Me, Nana and Lili had already seen it, a few times, and the other 3 girls were loving it!!! About a case of Heine's and a 5th of Vodka later, we turned on the music and let it all loose... Thank goodness no one was around to watch, it was hillarious! Amber did get some video's of the night, but needless to say, those won't be available to the public anytime soon :) Nana's booty had a mind of it's own... Iva was bustin' out some serious old school moves... Lianne was a MACHINE... Minna had some breakdance moves that I've never seen... I found myself seeing the moves in my head, but my body was very hesitant to execute them. Must be the age. After Nana took me out with her badonkadonk, I managed to pull off a decent worm...

The ironic thing is that Lianne and Minna were here because Bob and Koa went camping at the Gorge, so we just thought that we'd hang. Bob called when we were watching the movie and we made noise like there was a big thing going on (yah, we were all so into the movie at that point). It was hillarious when we called them back about 2 hours later when we were in full effect, and low and behold, they were SLEEPING!!! Poor babies... Missed all the fun :)

Spent today outside with Shalan's fam and the kids on the waterslide followed by a delicious PIZZA dinner. Delicious because I didn't have to cook!!!

Thoughts on a summer night...

I was sitting outside watching the kids play today. The sun was out... The boys had no shirts on, digging in a pile of rocks "looking for gold...". Made me think of life when I was young growing up on the Big Island.

It's funny how kids now days are SO different than us at that age. Even when I was 11, 12, and 13, the most important thing was "playing outside". I don't really remember the age when I bridged over from kid to teenager. Everything seems blended together. I think that it's because back then, our parents really didn't have anything to worry about. I remember being in the "younger group" of kids, but we still went with the "big kids". We spent all day away from home on foot. Walking to the mom-n-pop store in Laupahoehoe to buy soda's and junk food to take on our adventure of the day. It's amazing what $2 could buy back then... Then off we went, again on foot, to the pool... or the pond... or the river... Or through some pasture to find any body of water to play in.

Back then, the rule was to be back on the street before the sun went down, then to keep a keen eye out for my mom or dad standing on the stone wall outside our house with the evening flag-down to come home. All with just enough time to take a shower, eat dinner, and maybe watch one of the 5 channels that we had before passing out from the days' excursion.

The next day... same thing.. Summer's were simple, fun and innocent. No Wild Waves, no "bad people" to watch out for, no big vacations... I guess Hawai'i was a vacation in itself. For a "big trip", we spent a whole hour driving so that we could go to Hapuna where there weren't any rocks. Or to Kona to go shopping on Ali'i Drive and eat at Sizzler...

I wonder if life at home is the same that it was when I was younger... Whatever the case, I wouldn't trade where or when I grew up for ANYTHING!!!

Happy Birthday my baby!!!

~My angelic 2 year old~

~So handsome and only 3~

~Caked on his 5th Birthday by his buddie Lenki~

~Opening presents with Aunty Kim on his 6th B-day~

Today Kiale turned the big 7... It's funny to see how each year different things are important. This year, it was his party. We had to explain to him that everyone wasn't coming over today to celebrate and that his party would be on the 26th. Since he's older, I think that he now realizes that TODAY is his actual birthdate, not the day that we have the big celebration. So tonight, Maia baked him a cake. We had dinner, and he got to open his family present. It's funny because I remember being that age and having the same "celebration" with just my parents and sisters, and, if I recall correctly, I too was "disappointed" and was looking more forward to the big shin-dig to come. Now days, at least around here, birthdays tend to last for about 3 weeks! People keep calling, presents keep arriving in the mail. Then the final culmination, the Birthday Party. We were actually going to have it at the Stewart Heights pool during the week, but he opted to wait and do it on a weekend because he wanted ALL his Uncles and Aunties to be able to make it :) He loves his ohana...

Survived the weekend!!!

I realized this morning that I haven't posted a blog for a few days!!! Been so engulfed in the family, so here's a little recap. Tomorrow's post will be more heartfelt, I promise...

The weekend was a scorcher... Especially being outside all day yesterday! Kalani's tournament went well. They played 4 games between 8:30 a.m. and 4:45 in the afternoon. They lost 2, so were out of the running for the championships today. By the middle of the last game, I was done!!! Charlie and I cooked for the team, so it was nice to actually have a good meal as opposed to fast food. Kalani had her Poly Support System there (Thanks to Apua, Stormi, Junior, Iva, Shalana and Lima for coming out!!!) to cheer her on. And Maia, her personal cheerleader, was in full effect. She loves being there the support Kalani. Kiale got scoldings for heckeling the umpires a couple of times (he gets it from his daddy!). All in all, it was a great day.

Today, we decided to spend some time together, just us and the kids, before the girls take off on their camps and vacations. Took them to see Hancock. Very funny, worth the $60 that it took for all of us to watch a movie! It's like getting robbed everytime we go, I swear...

Holy crap, it's hot...

For us "Transplanted Washingtonians", we can NEVER be happy with the weather here. In the Fall we spend everyday complaining about the rain... In the Winter, we bundle up in as many articles of clothing as possible... In the Spring, we bitch about Summer taking FOREVER to get here... and in the Summer, we complain about how HOT it is!!!

Today is one of those days. It's even too hot out for the kids to play outside! I was looking at the 5-day forecast above on King5.com and thought that i'd share it with those of you who don't know what kind of a scorching hot weekend we're gonna have. Kalani has a fastpitch tournament on Saturday AND Sunday, so we're going to be outside ALL DAY...

I am glad, however, that we got an air conditioner. Too bad its in the box... in the garage... waiting for Charlie to build the stand for it to sit in the window. This could take a while...

Getting ready...

Spent the last few hours thinking about what we have to look forward to in the upcoming months. I realized that there's quite a bit of preparation that needs to take place for these events, both big and small:

• Kiale's Birthday! He'll be 7 on the 14th, next Monday. We're having his party at Stewart Heights pool. He's wanted it there all year! Finding a date that fit's all the kids is IMPOSSIBLE! Still haven't figured out what we're getting him for his birthday. Leaning towards an electric scooter. Just another way for him to acquire bruises...
• Maia's Birthday! She'll be 12 on the 30th. Her party won't come until after her trip back to Hawai'i. She's the easiest to shop for because she usually wants just clothes. This year, she's getting a Zune. She's super excited.
• Kalani's tournament this weekend. It's USSSA States. I hope that they do good. She's excited. The whole ohana will be there, so SERA better be ready for the roudiness!
• Kalani's camp in Montana. Not much to prepare for there. The crappy thing is that she'll be missing her brothers' birthday. He'll understand.
• Maia's camp. She's super excited!!! I think that what thrills her the most is being away from all the little kids :)
• ROUGHRIDERS!!! Kiale starts football on August 1st. We can't wait! Neither can Iwa... or Junior... or Asu...
• Maia's Birthday party. She'll be gone for almost a month, so we'll be celebrating when she comes back from Hawai'i. She just wants a big bash at the house with all the family and friends. Those are the most fun anyway...
• The photoshoot that I won from TANYA!!! I'm SO excited about this. Trying to think of where we should do it. This will probably happen in September before we head home.
• FINALLY, our trip home to the BIG ISLAND! Got the material for my dress yesterday from my cousin Desiree in Hawai'i. It's really pretty. I am soooo excited to be back at my Mom and Dad's Hale, just relaxing with nothing to worry about. Once the wedding is over on Saturday, it's a whole week of nothing to do but CRUZE!!!

Did I use the word "excited" enough in this posting or what???? Ha, ha!!!

I won!!!

My friend Tanya Jose has a photography business called NymarImagery. She held a contest on Myspace giving away a Family Photoshoot, so I entered and won :) To enter, you had to write a little blurb about why your ohana deserved to win a Family Photoshoot. I'm soooo excited because Tanya is an amazing photographer. I've been following her work for a while now, and she is so talented. We were planning on doing a family shoot with her this summer, so the prize will definitely be put to good use! Here's what she posted on here blog, and the pic above is the one that she used. Didn't even know that she had it! Please check out her NymarImagery Blog or her Business Website.

Thanks Tanya!!!

On Wednesday, I decided to start a contest on Myspace. People had to send
in reasons why they deserved a family photo shoot! I chose 3 winners. 1st place won a 1 hour photo shoot with me. 2nd place won an 11x14 Custom Framed Print of their choosing that are currently for sale (seee my post below). 3rd place won a $25 gift card from Target, because I LOVE Target. Tonight was the end of my contest & my 1st place winner was JOEANN!

I met Joeann when she brought her daughter to dance hula. What's funny is that our connection goes beyond that. I've known her hubby, Charlie, for years. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEARS! Years, like...since 5th grade!! Joeann has been a constant supporter of me & my business & has gotten in to blogging also!

Happy Birthday Missy!!!

Last night, the ohana got together again to celebrate Missy's Birthday... Although we were all SUPER tired from the 4th, we all showed up (a little late) to gather and spend time with friends and family again. I think that the phrase "Just can't get enough of each other" truly does apply to us. Missy got ALOT of alcohol for her b-day, just in time for the Gorge Camping Trip! The sistahs got to hang out again and act a little crazy and talk stories, especially with those that we haven't seen for a while like Chelsea and Ka'ili :)

An awesome 4th of July

Last night, we had our annual 4th of July bash at our hale. It was a great night with the 5 F's: Friends, Family, Food, Fun and FIREWORKS... and lot's of all 5!!! We had about 70 of our Ohana here to help celebrate the holiday. Everyone came through with the ONO food, and as usual, Apua brough enough Fireworks for the entire city of Tacoma. The kids had an absolute BLAST, and I managed to avoid a nervous breakdown despite my fear of fireworks. The night ended up with only one firework mishap, a HUGE cake tipping over and taking aim at anything in sight. Bob, Cristy, Apua, Junior, Scott and Charlie pulled in the last "party shirft" which ended at 5:30 a.m. All in all, it was a safe, fun night.

Woke up this morning to the tune of Apua pushing the broom outside and Charlie coming home from work (yes, he actually went to work at 4 a.m.). Had a great breakfast with Stormi and Apua... Just a few pics until I get the rest!!!

My yard... It's a frickin' beast...

ARGH!!! We have an acre and a half of land. Alot of it is so unmanageable, but we try and keep up. We can literally spend DAYS in the yard, like today... and tomorrow... and probably on Friday before everyone comes over. At the same time, it's really nice having the room for everyone to gather. The kids can play on the water slide or ride bikes/scooters, the older kids can shoot hoops and us grown ups can shoot the shit :)