ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS....

Last night was one of those nights when Daddy fell asleep before us, and we spent time in the dark making hand shapes ( towards the little light from the window), then it turned into a tickle fest....her giggle was sooo cute , I'd tickle her more, she got louder...too loud so now I had a job of trying to "calm her down". I felt like we could of stayed up till 3 am horse playing .... she keeps me YOUNG!

oh, by the way.....guess who is STILL sleeping and can't get up for school??!!! :)

WET N' WILD !!!!

Well obviously this is not me. but the size of the wave is the same one I caught today. When the wave is TALLER than you, you see it out of the corner of your eye and it's EXHILARATING!!!! Nobody thought I was going to catch it...but I showed them! The drop is the best part, but can be the worst if you don't get up fast enough. My next wave wasn't so great. I lost my board going over a wave that was beginning to crash, so I was "shark bait". Not really , but its funny how fine I feel ON THE BOARD. take it away, I got scared.. I swam to my friends board, and she was (with complete fun and love ) yelling at me because she was missing all the good waves...I was begging her, come on , I"m scared. finally someone I know paddled out my lost board back to me...she kept saying " I had all the best waves, but D was hanging on my board and wouldn't let me go". It was the joke of the beach. after another wave, rode it all the way in and Tiki was swimming Yelling "YEAH MOMMY, GOOD JOB!!!" She made it all that more fun and exciting!!! SHE WAS MY BIGGEST FAN....DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THAT FOLKS!!!

Let's just say....IT WAS GORGEOUS TODAY !!!!

The popular "sharks cove" on the North Shore. They don't call it sharks cove because of sharks....maybe they call it that sooo it doesn't get too crowded.... it was sooo awesome!
saw a baby starfish. I haven't seen one of these forever.
Tami showing off her gear, ready for action!! and Tianna ( Teri's daughter) sunbathing beauty that she is!! we had sooo much fun and if you make it to Hawaii....visit KONO'S on the North Shore...EXCELLENT SANDWICHES AND WRAPS!!!

GET THE MESSAGE ??????!!!!!!

Everyone who surfs complains, complains, COMPLAINS about the SAME THING!!! Too CROWDED, TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING, beginners always getting in your way ( hmmm, that could be me?!)

So a surfer thought up this logo to sort of put out a message.....There are stickers and shirts everywhere now that says this....pretty funny.

A BIG FAN......

OH BOY!!!! The countdown begins. I'm on my way to drop my girl off to preschool, when we drive by the movie theatre. She begin to scream like a teenager watching Sanjahya!!! (I'd say the Beetle's but there is probably too many young people who don't "get it")

I almost ran into a SUV, it scared me so much. I look in my rear view mirror and she's stretching her neck to look behind her as though she is "looking for someone".

Me: "Tiki, what's going on?"

Tiki: "Mom!! Shrek is coming, remember??!!!" she starts clapping.

My favorite part about being a Mom.

Me: "3 more days...." (actually opens in 2, but we'll see it Sat.)

Tiki: "were gonna have a Shrek Party, yeah MOM??!!"

Me: "Yep!!" the screaming continues. finally she stops as if she just finished the marathon...gasping for air, over exaggerating the whole scenario... and says "Mom?"

"Yes?"

" I LOOOOVE SHREK !" sooo cute. I start razzing her "Tiki's loves Shrek, Tiki loooves Shrek.....Tiki's gonna marry Shrek....."

At first giggling until I said she was going to "MARRY" him. The serious face came on.

Tiki: " NO!!!! I'm not going to Marry Shrek.....I'M GONNA MARRY DADDY!!"

Called Alika , to tell him....I just made his morning.

Magical Mother's Day...

This Mother's Day was beautiful!! To start things off I ALWAYS think of my Mother and my Dad's birthday was also May 13th!! I felt very close to them yesterday although they are not here. Alika woke up at 5am and went to the flower shop and got 2 lei's ( I was still sleeping). I had mentioned that I wanted to go out on my surfboard and throw in a lei for Mothers Day and a lei for my Dad for his birthday. During the day, I paddled out and said a quick message to both of them and tossed the leis. Then Tiki & Alika paddled up on another board and we all caught the same wave holding hands all the way in. It was REALLY NICE.

Today was also a surf contest that had live music, other activities going on. I was eating lunch when the band said they too were going on break. I guess they had the radio on and the 1st song that came on was "Teardrops fall" by Freddie Fender. THAT WAS MY PARENTS FAVORITE SONG!!!!! They bought that 45 record and played it OVER & OVER!!! us kids would yell from the room "OH, NOT AGAIN!!!"

WHEN DO YOU EVER HEAR FREDDIE FENDER on the radio??!!! I got choked up and wanted to CRY..... I really felt that my parents somehow were letting me know...we got the leis thank you!!! I had to stop eating...too many people around for me to start crying , but it felt good hearing "Their song".

Simple Pleasures.....

There is sooo much feeling in just holding hands. My husband had a shorter day than normal. It was nice to spend just "us" time together. We picked up Tiki together from school. Usually it's one or the other. Went to the mall , and he just wanted to HOLD HANDS the whole time!!! It such a small gesture, but it feels so nice. Even when you hold a 3 year old hands...when they reach for your hand, at the same time your reaching for their's...a small way to say "I Love You".

Mother's day dance...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dp2atkZRwII

A Early Mother's Day Breakfast at her school....

Today we had a wonderful breakfast with the kids....the teacher who is ABSOLUTELY a GEM started off reading "I Love You Forever". Alika bought this book for me as a present when I became a Mom. I read it as he looked on , and the tears were flowing...He had to finish it. I always read this to her and she's very familiar with it. when the teacher said that she was going to read it, I INSTANTLY BEGAN TO TEAR UP!!! and right then Tiki (in the pink , right in front of the teacher shot me a side glance as though to say this is "our book" ). with a big grin I might add. When they sang the song "I Love You Forever, I like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be!" she looked back at me and sang each word to ME!!! That pretty much DID IT...I CRIED! Next, they got up and sang a cute song. I was too misty-eyed to video it so I did it when I got home. I will post that when it's ready.

ALOHA TO DON HO.....TINY BUBBLES TO YOU!!!!

With about 20+ canoes , and thousands of people lined all around Waikiki beach, we bid our farewell to the man who was such a BIG part of Hawaii. I personally never met him ( have seen him at other funerals) but he was a well liked man. Some people were blowing bubbles during the service...the media was covering the whole thing...and to me the most touching part was when they released his ashes, a F14 air fighter flew over the ocean and tipped his wing (turned sideways) and flew straight UP!!!! Don had spent time in the Air Force. It was extremely low and the sound, was INCREDIBLE!!! I pretty much cried at that point. what an honor.
All the family members dressed in White holding his ashes and deciding which canoe they will be in.

This is my friend Kevyn's boat "Manu Kai". Don Ho had 10 kids....19 grand kids....etc. Kevyn was to take the rest of the family. At the bottom of the mast there are two large speakers that was playing Don Ho's music. That too got me choked up and I didn't even know him.

Aloha Don...

Don Ho Memorial Continue.....

Tiki with "Uncle Jerry". after we saw the funeral, all she kept talking about is how much she loved "Auntie (Gale) and Uncle (Jerry).
Jerry & Gale with Alika with Diamond Head in back round.
One of the first Hotels in Waikiki...an original....the Royal Hawaiian. A.k.a "the pink hotel". Having a BIG LUAU for Uncle Don Ho.
Waiting for Dad to take out canoe with the Ho relatives....turns out, he couldn't even go....they have sooo many relatives he stayed behind.

Something you didn't know....

I knew Tobey Maguire when he was around 10 or so. I dated his Uncle for 2 years...he was my first "longtime boyfriend". Back then Tobey lived a VERY different life, and it's great to see that he has risen, yet at the same time every time I see him in movies, and his success...it's hard to believe. How many people do we know that WON THE LOTTERY???? and to top it off, he is extremely FAMOUS!!! it's sooo weird sometimes...I just remember a little kid who was always alone, & snuck around...

One of the last times I remember seeing him, he must of just got a commercial or something "BIG" back then and he was sort of bragging about it , and he said " Yeah, I'll let you in one of my movies Dina, come & sit on this casting couch!" (with a perverted smirk) I was like "EWWW TOBEY, YOUR GROSS!".

He's still a 10 yr old Tobey to me.

They're in GOOD HANDS......

I must say people from Kentucky are THEE nicest people!!! This is Gerry & Gale ...My Aunt & Uncle's Dear friends who are in the 50th to spend some R & R!!! I look a bit haggard...had a shopping spree at Walmart/Sam's Club, then to the beach for 4 hours, and now a picture. Tiki was a bit shy ( for once). Alika wants to take them to a AUTHENTIC Hawaiian restaurant, which they gladly will partake in. Dianne & Estil....I think you should come see us someday soon!!!!

MAY DAY IS LEI DAY !!!!

The first Lei Day was May 1st, 1928. Everyone was encouraged to wear a lei. Festivities were held downtown with Hula dancers, music, lei making demonstrations & exhibits. Today it holds strong, and most of the Elementary schools put on a "May Day is Lei Day" show, crowning Lei Day Kings, Queens & princess's. It's such a huge festivity! I love how the lei signifies something. On a regular day if someone comes in your office wearing a lei ( that was given to them by a loved one) you automatically know....IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY?!!! or retirement, Mother's day....we don't send bouquets of flowers...we find the PERFECT LEI!!!!