Christmas in Hawaii 2012

So our first Christmas in Hawaii began with what was called a "snow day", not any snow day like I remember.  It was an event put on by a local group that was bringing in snow for little ones to play in.  I thought it might be a little crazy, so I decided to head out a little early...good thing I did, otherwise I would have gone home because the line was too long. We probably waited about an hour to play in the snow, good thing Jayden had his friend Sophia in line to entertain him.

Jayden also got his picture taken with Santa. Poor kid did not enjoy it.  I wish you could see his face, he is screaming!

Some parents seemed to have gone crazy and bought hats & mittens for their kids. I probably would have done the same if we hadn't been around snow before. Also, the stores are full of winter stuff before Christmas (I think I need to send some notes to these executive because their merchandising skills need some help)

St Nick came to visit Jayden.  We waited until Daddy was home from work to open it.  JJ got a book, some reindeer ears, an ornament and some charms for his crocks.  Grandma Teska also sent some goodies...including the Little People airport.

We also had some more fun with our neighbors. We went to see the Kapolei holiday parade and tree lighting.  The night ended with a firework show, it was pretty awesome!

A decorated golf cart...

Mickey & Minnie

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Storm troopers

Santa

JJ waving to Santa

Some videos of the floats and the fireworks!

Also, holiday lights were all over our neighborhood in Hawaii.  One night we took Sophia & Jayden on a wagon ride to look at lights.  It was so much fun to walk outside and see the lights.  One house had their lights programmed to music...once again, it was pretty awesome. Our other neighbors also has a huge Elmo & Cookie Monster in their light display...Jayden's favorite.  We had to go outside before bed and say goodnite to them every night.  I have told him they are now sleeping until next Christmas.

At the house above they had a santa in the window...crazy how real it looked.

Jayden didn't get to build a snowman in Wisconsin so I did the best I could to make sure he had one in Hawaii.

Let's see what else did we do!  We went on the holiday train at one of the malls.  We actually went on it twice.  Jayden loved it!  I loved watching how much he loved it.  We then took a walk around the mall together....I had a coffee and he had what he calls "fancy milk" (the personal sized milk from Starbucks).

We also made Christmas cookies...Jayden ate them, Sophia was a little bit better at decorating them!

Jayden loves his Thomas the Train Engines...so he kept asking for new ones.  I told him we had to write a letter to Santa.  Below is a picture of JJ reading the letter.

We spent one night at the Kroc Center in Hawaii for a Holiday event. It was awesome!  They had presents for the kids, ornament making, gingerbread house making, singing, massages for parents (awesome) plus much more.  It was a great event.

We also got to watch Sophia one night ( her mommy & daddy were rocking out the Journey concert) I love having people that you trust with your children...so important, we are very lucky!!
Sophia & Jayden played all night and had dinner together. Then the night ended with a movie and a bed on the floor.  It was so much fun.

What else...we had some fun at the Discovery Center with Jayden's friend Kai and then went to the zoo with Daddy before we left for Wisconsin. We also got to watch our friend Laela for a morning.  I think our stairs are her favorite spot!

  View from the zoo...Diamond Head.

 Santa at the zoo...Jayden was not a fan.

Laela on the stairs...she looks like she is about to/or just did something naughty but she was an angel.

Just a couple of days before Christmas Sophia and JJ exchanged presents....they are just too cute!!

I think they are going to be good buds.

I will leave you with our house at Christmas...we need a little more next year! 

Christmas Part 2 coming soon...Lots of pictures!!

Thanksgiving

One thing about living on an island this far away from family is that it is hard to get home for holidays.  My mom told me before we left that we will meet people on this adventure that will become like family and we can celebrate special times with them...she was right...thanks mom!

For Thanksgiving we were invited to spend the day with a family we have met on the island. They are far away from family too.

Jayden has so much fun playing with Laela and loves to jump on the couch at their house.  Sorry Guys!

Trying to get a picture of the family...Jayden did not want to look at the camera

When we got home....Jayden was worn out!  Thanks Laela!

Thank you Brianne, Scott & Laela  for letting us spend Thanksgiving with you!  It meant a lot to us!

Matching with Thomas...

Jayden suprises me every day!  We downloaded a Thomas the Train app on our ipad yesterday.  He loves Thomas and loves the ipad, so it was a perfect combination. 


There is a memory game that I though might take a while for him to understand...he just loved saying the names of the trains as the cards flipped over.

When they are all matched the computer says " You are very useful" .  Jayden was just playing without us and we heard the celebration....he did it all by himself.  Joe & I had to watch for ourselves.

check it out.

 

Love this kid! 

Mommy Time

In November I was very lucky to spend some time with some ladies...just the ladies.

We were able to have a fun night out to dinner. I have meet some wonderful ladies...all with little ones but also in need of a night out.

I am such a great wife that I actually saved some of my lobster macaroni and cheese for my husband. 
So good!!

Thanks ladies for a very fun night!

The next day I had a tea lunch with some more ladies.  As we walked in I felt like I was in Door County more than in Hawaii.  It was decorated for the holidays. I loved it.

Thanks ladies for another great time! Apparently I just have a picture of the food and not the wonderful women. 

I have been very blessed with such amazing friends here which has helped Hawaii feel more like home.

Pumpkins on the island..better late than never

 

 So my computer had a little trouble after it was kicked off the bed by an adorable 2 year...so I have a lot of catching up.....we are working with a brand new hard drive...thanks to my husband for backing up our files!

Here we go one of many posts to come!!

The weekend before my mom and step dad arrived on the Oahu we went to our first pumpkin patch here.  Yes...there are farms and pumpkin patches, who knew?!?

Like everything else, Jayden loved it!  We went early so it wouldn't be too hot...crazy!

First we went on the hayride.  We saw lots of different things being grown...pumpkins, bananas, corn, onions...etc. Then Jayden rode a horse and played in the petting zoo

 

 

Below is a video on the horse.

 

 

Below is a video of Jayden in the petting zoo....Jayden loves the goats

 

Well..as I wrote this we decided to head to the zoo!  More blogging later.

 

Enjoy the day and hug those little ones tight. 

 

 



Videos of Jayden

I had some videos on my phone of Jayden I have been meaning to post but finally got around to it.

This one is actually from yesterday...he knows his ABCs so well...he recognizes them, knows there sounds so I thought it was time to learn the ABC song...we are working on it...sorry my voice is so loud but he likes to sing together.

Jayden also loves Thomas the Train...actually he is obsessed with Thomas...and enjoys to sing the song at the end of the show. Enjoy.

And finally the last one is with Grandpa Pete....to get Jayden to leave places without being sad, he says bye-bye _____ .  That makes him smile and me as well.

Enjoy your day!