Christian's birthday and party

On Saturday, Christian's first birthday, we celebrated with a fun little party! Also, just to fill all the mainlanders in, it is Hawaiian tradition to celebrate the first birthday with a big ol' party! So, we were just trying to fit right in! ;) (Yeah right, this would happened no matter where we were living!)

I think all the little guys (and big guys ;)) had a blast! I know this Mama sure did! Thank you to Mimi and Papa for allowing us to use the beautiful space at their condo - which included a nice big grassy area for running around under the palm trees, a pool, and a neat little cooking nook with a grill! 

I so wish my mom could have been there to celebrate with us. I know she wishes she was there too. But, we did have her on the phone (at 10pm her time!!!) while we sang Happy Birthday to Christian. 

But this birthday got started the same way every Wednesday and Saturday do... outside watching the garbage truck come down the road! Yep, this is the highlight of Christian's Wednesday and Saturday mornings. And usually the driver throws us a shaka. 

Our landlord's youngest daughter, Sophia, and their Japanese exchange student, Natsumi, rode over to Mimi and Papa's with us to help out however we put them to work. They were so great, and a huge help entertaining Christian while we got things set-up.

Thank you to grill masters, Rob, Papa, and I'm pretty sure I saw Cousin Alan over there too, for some ridiculously delicious chicken.

Cupcakes courtesy of Cake Couture, and mini-cupcakes courtesy of Mimi! Cookies from the Honolulu Cookie Company. I was on a sugar high for at least two days.

Dad and the birthday boy sporting their Ti Leaf leis, a gift from our first and best friends here on the island - Joel, Jayme, Isabel, and Joey. They also brought me a lei of flowers. I was blown away at it's fragrance! We kept it as long as we could and the smell just filled our living room. Heavenly. Much aloha to the G family!

It is Hawaiian tradition to bring leis to any sort of celebration to show love and aloha! Here's some more info on Ti Leaf leis, and leis in general.

"Uh, Mama... I'm not too sure about this..."

And that's about as much as he ate. So much for the smash cake photos! Haha! Definitely less of a mess to clean up afterward!

The Dads of WeePlay. Maybe we should make a calendar? 

I wish I had gotten pictures of EVERYONE there. I probably should have hired a professional photographer to take pictures. Ok, the thought did cross my mind... but I thought that might be a little overkill. 

Christian loves Sophia!

Mimi & Cousin Alan

Cousin Leah rocking her party hat! 

Grill master Papa!

Oh, hi. I'm stuffing my face!

Cousin Leah showing Christian his brand new guitar!

"Here, let me help you out birthday buddy," says Ryutaro. Ryutaro and Christian share a birthday! We celebrated Ryutaro's birthday the next day at another fabulous party.

Gosh, what a wonderful day. I feel so truly blessed that in the short time we've been here on the island we have met so many wonderful people to be a part of our lives and Christian's life. I still can't get over that Christian is a year old. We are incredibly blessed. 

Thank you to everyone who has been such a big part of Christian's life - even if you live 6,000 miles away! But I do think it's time to move all of our friends and family in various states across the mainland to Hawaii. Sound like a plan? Everyone up for living in Hawaii? 

And happy birthday to our little man. You are such a light in our lives, filling my days with tons of smiles and laughter. You are loved by so many people, especially your Mama and Dada... and Baxter. 

how we spent America Day

You know how we spent Canada Day... and now, this is how we spent Independence Day, or as my Canadian friend Amy calls it, "America Day."

We packed up and went to the beach, of course! Hawaiians celebrate everything at the beach. Usually with a bouncy house, but that's another post.

Yesterday we decided to head to Lanikai Beach in Kailua because it's pretty much the perfect beach, with it's baby powder sand, and clear blue water. Except for the "no waves" part, which is perfect if you have kids, but not so much if you want to surf. Or if you have kids that want to surf, and I do have a feeling we'll have one of those. Christian LOVES to ride around with Rob on the stand up paddle board (SUP). He sits on his hands and knees and lets the wind blow in his face, looking at the water passing quickly by him. But what made yesterday perfect was being surrounded by friends and family. I love the friends we've made since being in Hawaii, and I'm pretty sure Amy and I are NOT going to let Rachelle move back to Denver next year.

We had a cooler full of drinks (which is now in our living room... redneck, much?), grilled pork tenderloin in a marinade that Rob conjured up, potatoes, orzo salad, taro chips (Thanks Jayme & company!), brownies Rachelle baked that were too delicious for me to stop eating, pineapple covered in Li Hing Mui powder courtesy of Amy and Theo (also delicious) and of course, WATERMELON. What's a summer party on the beach without watermelon?! (And beer.)

It was a great day spent with family and friends celebrating America!

We didn't make it to see fireworks last night, and I am 110% ok with that...Christian was so tired and asleep before his normal bedtime, and Mama and Dada weren't too far behind either. I was asleep, in bed, by 9pm.

We are so thankful for the men and women that serve our country, that have given their life for our country and the freedoms we are able to enjoy, like celebrating on the beach. I am so proud to be an American.

Happy Independence Day!!

"Nobody can be uncheered with a balloon." -Winnie the Pooh

this is love

Ever wanted to know what love looks like? This.

Many thanks to my friend Leah's boyfriend, Jon, for capturing this. 

Merry Christmas!!

Or as they say here on the islands, Mele Kalikimaka!

We'll be having a Christmas brunch with Mimi and Papa. I think I heard something about a french toast casserole. Can we say YUM?! Rob had to fly off to Korea, but will be back on Monday. I think we'll celebrate Christmas "officially" on Tuesday. Oh, the life of an airline family. It's forecasted to be in the eighties with rain showers. A perfect day for cozying up with hot cocoa (you heard me right) and Christmas movies. 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." -Luke 2:10-11 

Good news. Great joy. For everyone. 

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a very blessed new year!

truth

"the cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea." 

~isak dinesen

{thank you Mama Surfs for showing me these words of truth...amen.}