Land of Plenty Rainbows

Aloha all,

As my header says... Hawaii is the 'Land of Plenty Rainbows.' I say plenty meaning many in pidgin (local Hawaiian). I took this picture one recent morning. I was taking Journee to school and saw this pretty rainbow so we pulled over and got this picture. Just wanted to share this with you.

Aloha and have a terrific weekend,
Priya

Family birthday party

Aloha all,

Well, last night was Journee's family birthday party. We had my sister, brother-in-law and niece over for dinner and cake. Journee had a great time and couldn't wait to wear her new jacket Aunty Teresa got her to school this morning.

Aunty also brought over an ice cream cake from Cold Stone (Journee's favorite -- only because she doesn't remember Braums) and it was delicious. Journee chose a chocolate devil's food cake with chocolate ice cream with chocolate shavings in it. It was great but so rich -- truly from the devil.

Journee was so happy with her parties and gifts. This was truly a blessed birthday for all of us.

Take care and look for more blogs soon.

Priya

Aloha all,

Well, the party is over, the confetti has been swept up and birthday exhaustion is almost a thing of the past.

The party was a success. Everyone pitched in to help us out. Dean’s friend Kalani showed up early to help set up the tents and do last minute shopping. My friend Danielle’s dad and brother brought over tables and chairs and Danielle picked up the helium balloons. Everyone blew up balloons and we grouped them with paper clips (great trick) and tied them to the corners of the tents for decoration and hung crape paper from the tents as well.

Journee’s colors were disco pink, baby pink, plum and lavender. It was a great combination for a Hannah Montana party.

The bouncy house guys delivered and set up the waterslide, which was a hit. So much so that the kids didn’t want to play games but did at my request.

We played the donut eating contest (donuts hung from the tent by curling ribbon and the kids had to eat the donuts with their hands behind their backs. The little girls played the ‘pin the hair on Hannah Montana’ game.

We ate hot dogs, hamburgers, chips and chili and rice. And, of course had cake (both chocolate and yellow) and ice cream (chocolate and vanilla).

I put miniature water guns in the goodie bags and the parents had a great time playing with those as well as some water balloons I had. And, after the little kids left the parents had a blast on the waterslide. I was a little scared about climbing up the ladder and going down the slide (even though it is bouncy – I am still clumsy) but I decided that it had to be done or I would regret it later on. Let me just say that I have decided I want a waterslide for my birthday party (I’ll throw it myself). Heehee…

Once we turned off the water at 5 p.m. (started at 11 a.m.) the party was over and everyone started leaving (which was okay because I was tuckered out and so was Journee).

I would suggest to all to rent a bouncy house waterslide at least once in their lifetime. This was the best birthday party I have ever thrown or been to (according to my friends and Journee’s).

Not only did everyone enjoy it, Journee gave me hugs all day, telling me thank you and how happy she was. She said it was the best day of her life and honestly it was probably the best day of mine too (except the day my Lord blessed me with her).

Priya

Midnight Snacks

Aloha all,

Well, my sweet Journee has decided that she needs to keep a midnight snack by her bed. When I asked her if she knew what a midnight snack is she said 'no'. So, I explained that it's what we eat when we wake up in the middle of the night and are hungry. She boldly stated that she needed one and fixed herself a container of cocoa puffs and teddy grams to keep by her bed.

So, tonight before I read her a story she decided to eat some of her snacks just in case she didn't wake up at midnight she said.

Journee is so funny and sweet. She makes my days and nights.

My cup runneth over......

All my love,
Priya

Not the Cereal

Aloha friends,

Just wanted to share something sweet and funny with you this morning. You know how most parents have some type of nickname for their children. Well, I have called Journee 'Journee Bean' all of her life but I also call her Sugar Pie. And, as if that isn't enough I even add on Honey Bunches of Oats. So, I call her my Sugar Pie Honey Bunches of Oats. You may laugh, but I like it. Well, I sometimes ask Journee if she's my Sugar Pie and of course she says yes.

So, here's the funny part. Last night after Journee got out of the bathtub she walked by the kitchen where I was and said "Honey Bunches of Oats is out of the bathtub now." I had to keep my chuckles in but I thought it was so funny and sweet.

It's amazing how our words affect our children. Especially our terms of endearment.

More funny stories to come.

Party Time

Aloha friends,

Well, it's almost Journee's 7th birthday and the invitations are being sent out. We already had one RSVP.

As many of you know, Journee's birthday is actually on the 19th but we is having a party at home with a bouncy waterslide party on the 15th. We have a couple of party games planned. Journee wants to play 'pin the tail on the donkey' and 'donut on a string eating contest'. If you have any game ideas, please pass them on.

I have attached photos to this blog: one of the invitations I made on my computer and one of the waterslide I pulled from the company's Web site where we are renting it from.

I can't believe Journee will be 7 years old. Man how time flies.

We will miss you this birthday but I am so happy that we have such wonderful friends who care about Journee so much and and proud to watch her grow.