WELCOME PARTY FOR MARIE

After waiting not so patiently for seven months, Marie arrived from the Philippines. Shea is now a happy man. Marie (in pink) with (l-r) Michael, Gabriella, Evelyn, Shea, Maile, Dale & Makena.

Marie, Gabriella, her auntie Evelyn, Angie & Desiree.

Visiting with Granny.

Shea, Marie and Keoki (best man).

Amy, Jeanne and Paul.

CHRISTMAS 2008

Can we open the gifts yet?

What an expression.

Hula Hoops.

Opens box like a princess.

Dale and girls play bingo while Ryan and Shea plays the Nintendo Wii.

All right we won!

Is Shea thinking about Marie or his new t-shirt?

Cool tank top.

The joy of Christmas were in the eyes of our little girls. The excitement in their eyes when they opened their presents! Oh, their daddy also got just as many gifts as they did :o)

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

Yummy display at the hotel.

Maile and friend before the Christmas program.

Our beautiful Reindeer.

Getting ready to perform.

Makena with her friend Makana.

Maile blowing a kiss.

Makena and our Christmas tree.

Maile and Makena are now on Christmas/New Year's break from preschool. Half year at school ended with a Christmas program at the Grand Wailea Resort. Maile, who is five years old, was asked by the teachers if she would play Mary in the Nativity Scene. I tried to get pictures of Maile during the play, but with every other parent competing for front row seats, it was impossible. :o) What an awesome experience for Maile. She was standing tall throughout the whole program. Makena played one of Santa's reindeers. Her class sang (and I believe she was the loudest) "Eight Little Reindeers Jumping on the Sleigh, One Fell Down and Bumped His Head..."The girls also have a two-week break from Awanas. It's a children's group that gather Wednesday nights at the church. They learn Bible verses and play games. Both girls earned their vests and badges by memorizing Bible verses each week. Maile and Makena love Awanas.

CHRISTMAS TREE

Adult Christmas Tree. Wow! check out the sunset in the back.

Maile putting ornaments on kids' tree while Makena inspects the star.

Maile's usual pose lately!

Makena very carefully places an ornament on the tree with her purse on her shoulders :o) How cute is that!

Very happy girls working together.

Every year at Christmas we decorate two trees. It's become sort of our custom to have a kids Christmas tree and an adult tree. Both turned out beautiful.

PLAYING THE PIANO

It's been four months with once-a-week lessons for Maile. Her favorite piano piece is "Good King Wenceslas."

PAINTING PROJECT

Click on picture and check Makena's lips :o) These two girls love to paint.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Our thanks to everyone who helped prepare the food on this very special occasion! We had such a great time just being together. Julie we miss your presence and you have to promise to be with us next year :o)

AUNTIE JULIE IS HERE

Busy playing with Leap Frog

Eating at Tommy Bahamas :)

Sitting patiently waiting to eat at Aunty Julie's favorite restaurant "Sam Sato's"

Two beautiful girls!

HAVING FUN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAILE

Our little girl is five years old. She anticipated this day for a very long time. This morning we woke up to a pretty girl staring at us right in the face with a very big smile! "Am I five years old today?!?! I'm really tired of being four." Tonight we took Maile to her favorite place for dinner at Mateo's Pizzeria. She couldn't wait to go home and blow the candles on her birthday cake and open presents. The biggest hit of all was the Princess tent from Grammy Kathy. It was very cute listening to the girls giggling and trying to sleep overnight in the tent. It didn't happen though because mommy and daddy were getting tired.