I Am Hawaiian At Heart: December 2007

Monday, December 31, 2007

Hau'oli Makahiki Hou

Saturday, December 29, 2007

We were given a reprieve

By Christmas Eve we were all feeling better. We had a wonderful Christmas!!! I hope everyone else did as well.

Santa was very generous; as always! Our "Miracle on 34th Street" plans did not quite go as we had hoped but they happened nonetheless. Since closing did not happen until yesterday (28th) Plan B came into effect. Santa left a treasure map for DGS and since Grandma got a GPS we were sure to find the way. ;-) The whole family hopped into the van, programmed the GPS (Dorothy) and headed out to find the treasure. Once we reached the final destination Josh was ecstatic. There was a big bow on the front door, a cane (presumably the Big Guys which seems to have made DGS (10) Believe again!) and a letter in the mailbox telling DGS why he was lead there. I wanted to upload the film clip but it's 23MB. Sorry! Here is the letter DGS received:

I heard your mom was trying to buy a house for your family and was having some difficulty. I'm sorry that I can't “give” you a house, I wish that I could. But I have managed to pull a few strings so that your mom can get a loan to buy you this house. It'll take a few more days to get all the paperwork together but I wanted you to know today that this is where you, (your little brother) and your mom will be starting the New Year and your New Life.

I ask you one favor in return. You're a big boy now and I know that you can understand grown up things. Families have to work together to make good things happen. When they don't things don't go so well. Always remember that your mom works hard to give you & your brother a good life. She will be the one paying for the house and all the utilities so that means that sometimes money will be tight and she won't be able to get you all the things you want to have but she will always do her best to make sure you have the things you need.

So, go out and meet your new friends in the neighborhood. Enjoy & make the most of your new life.

Merry Christmas,

S. C.

They are still going to be with us for a bit longer. This way L can go ahead and paint and get things all set up as she wants it. I'm so very happy for all of them and just incredibly proud of my daughter. She has really worked hard and has done it all on her own in a matter of a few months.

Now, about that reprieve... it lasted only a few days. By Dec 27th it started back again. Miss K, N (again) and DH are now all sick with this bug. Or it's a new one! Sigh

Monday, December 24, 2007

Holiday Sickies...Bah Humbug!!!

Ok, we have a little over 24 hours for all the sickies to be gone from here. DGS (3) woke up in the wee hours on Thursday sick as a dog. So bad that he ended up in the ER Friday night but luckily got to come home. Apparently there's a bug going around and the ER was full of it!

DH, the girls & myself were to go to grandmas for an early Christmas celebration there and we delayed going to make sure we were ok to go. Once we felt *safe* we headed down only to be awoken a few hours later by Miss S with the bug. Called home and DGS (10) was voicing stomach complaints as well. Then I started and DH doesn't feel far behind. Cut our trip short and came home to be sick in the comforts of our own home and DD#1 is showing signs now too. Miss K is the only one not seeming to be affected yet. Fingers crossed.

Hopefully this will all be gone over the next few hours and everyone can enjoy Christmas or else forget about stockings being hung with care just make sure all buckets & pails are strategically placed.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

I've been tagged

I've been tagged for the very first time! Andie over at Memoirs of a Chaotic Mommy sent me this Christmas meme. Thanks Andie!

“When people say ‘Christmas’ you immediately think…”
Family, Sharing, Giving & Love

“Favourite Christmas memory…”
There was one year that I was so broke and didn't think it was going to be a good Christmas at all. Ken (we weren't married then) made it a very special one. Ken and the boys went out to cut down a tree. They came back with more of a bush.... a very large bush! A Juniper I believe it was. It was bigger than the house. It was hilarious. Lani is allergic to all sorts of trees/bushes and she was sick as a dog from it. Aside from that I don't have much memories of it except that it was the first Christmas in many years that we all enjoyed as a family.

“Favourite Christmas song/carol…”
"What Child Is This?" but for some reason this year I can't get the Hippo song out of my head!

“Favourite Christmas movie…”
It's A Wonderful Life

“Favourite Christmas character…”
I like them all!

“Favourite Christmas ornament/object…”
A Santa that my grandfather made out of a sheet of thick cotton back when my oldest brother was a baby. It's over 60 years old now! My brother couldn't say Santa and couldn't pronounce L's so he called him "C'aus". The name has stuck and he is the very first thing to go up each Christmas and the very last thing to come down. It is a treasured memory.

“Plans for this Christmas…”
Be at home with my family however this year gets a bit of a twist. My oldest daughter just bought a house and should be closing before Christmas. We have not told her boys (10 & 3). I am making a "treasure map" for the older boy and he & his mom will go on the hunt. When they arrive at the new house there will be a big red bow and inside sitting beside the fireplace will be item he wished for but by then will feel as though he is not getting - a guitar.

“Is Christmas your favourite holiday?”
Yes. I love the Christmas holidays!

Monday, December 10, 2007

Please Slow Down Christmas!

Here it is only 2 more weeks until Christmas and I don't even have my tree up yet. How sad is that?!?! With so many extra people in my house (that's my excuse & I'm sticking to it!!!) the living room has been overstuffed and we had to make room for the darn thing. Hubby is *planning* on bringing it home today and I might even get it decorated by the weekend. YIKES!

I was reading a friends blog and realized I had not even thought about getting the girlies to visit *The Big Guy* either. I'm also 3 weeks behind in baking all my holiday goodies too. I usually start at Thanksgiving (end around Super Bowl Sunday) and I haven't even started yet and everyone has been returning their tins from previous years in hopes of refills this year. I can't disappoint them. Of course the girlies want to make cookies for all their teachers & friends too. I tried coaxing them into something a little less time consuming but they insisted it must be cookies & goodies.

I guess this means I have to start on the Christmas cards too. Especially since they never made it out the door last year either! {Blush} So if somebody can please slow down Christmas, give me some energy/time or feel like lending a hand I'd be ever so grateful!

I Am Hawaiian At Heart