Ward Halloween Party

My friends and I threw a Halloween Party!
It was a great turn out and A WHOLE LOT of Fun!

Here are some pictures my friends took.

1. Miss A the Puppy
2. Miss M
3. Mommy and Miss A
4. Keenan in the Kitchen
5. getting ready to trick and treat
6. Mr. Love and his Mom and Dad
7. my friend Jenn and the Firefighter
8. Talking with Rachel and Lindsay - they are the other big party planners
9.The Lunds and Bishop Downs

1. Angela and Stephan (they are our new neighbors! AND they took care of Miss A and M at the party!)
2. My friend Carrie and her boys
3. Getting ready for the parade
4. Keenan's root beer
5. Bishop Downs and Collin
6. Lindsay setting up
7. Jack
8. Miss A
9. Sister Nelson - or Elphaba!

1. Angela and Miss A
2. Story time with Linda Hoffman Kimball she wrote a WONDERFUL Halloween book, one of our favorites!!
3. The kids listening to her read Come with me on Halloween
4-6. Parade time
7. Jack and Miss A
8. Holden

9. Linda

1. The REAL Rachel Ray (the party planner)
2. a view of the party
3. K the MC
4. Carrie and Jacob
5. Mr. Love
6. BUZZ!
7. Evelyn
8. The Pixton's
9. - Guess I couldn't get enough of RR, there she is again!

I heart Facebook

Seriously. It's my new favorite thing to do-on the computer.

I always was a bit jealous (but in a good way) of my husband and all the friends he kept in touch with, and no matter where we went in the USA, he was always running into someone he knew - really. Even in MY home town. I think it is bit to do with his Aloha spirit - one of the things I love about him, not his popularity, but his Aloha-ness.

So, thanks facebook, for hooking me up with all my lost BFF's and new ones.

And on a completely different note but it will bring me back to facebook, my daughter wanted to know if she had new chores this morning, more than just her regular ones ( make your bed, brush your teeth, go to the bathroom, get dressed, feed her fish, etc) I asked, "what do you mean, new chores?" "you know, like scrub dishes or clean that toilet?" she is asking this in totally seriousness! (and I think my jaw hit the floor) Well ok then, I say to myself. Yes, go ahead SCRUB that toilet! Clean those dishes to your little hearts content... I can not do those things, I am too busy on facebook....

I wasn't joking they really did want to help clean the house...

Birthday Girl

Today was a pretty low key day. Especially after Miss Birthday Girl and I hung out until the wee hours of the morning (I can not WAIT until she is back on schedule!)

The birthday girl did get to start her day off with a chocolate chip cookie and a fun phone call from Mr. Love's mom who sang her Happy Birthday.
She loves the birthday song - we have been singing it all day.


Miss M had preschool and then had her friend Jack come over. After Miss M and Jack's 2nd lunch we went on a nature, or as Jack called it a "Major walk"
The kids enjoyed collecting leaves, sticks, acorns, twigs, dried flowers ok dead flowers and even caught a couple of lady bugs. Miss Birthday Girl found one on my shoe and tried to eat it. YUM!
It was such a beautiful fall day.
(have I mentioned October is my favorite month?)

Shots of Miss Birthday girl on her Nature/Major Walk

While Miss Birthday Girl took a nap Big sister and I headed off to the store
for cake and balloons.

When we got home, daddy helped us decorate with streamers and ribbons. Miss Birthday Girl loved all the surprises waiting for her. She even got a birthday package from Grams (in Hawaii)
and a card from Granny (in Green Bay) - thanks for making her day extra special!


And just in case you wanted to know how to eat a cake...
Let Miss Mess, I mean Birthday Girl show you how!

Happy Birthday Miss A!
We love you and all the fun things you do.

Also a Happy Birthday to our friend Kelly - who Miss A gets to share a birthday with!
Hope you had a wonderful birthday too!!

Happy Birthday Miss A

Can it be one year already since I got to hold you in my arms for the very first time!?

Miss A

not so sure about the cupcake
she wouldn't eat it either

the cats meow!

Daddy and Miss A

walking with my Dad

a year ago and now

I pick THIS pumpkin

ok these TWO pumpkins!

Chocolate? What chocolate?

We love you and are so happy to have you
as part of our family. Happy Birthday sweet girl.

*Here is the slide show I made of Miss A shortly after her birth...



Miracles from Rebekeh on Vimeo.

And we're back

Utah was beautiful! The fall colors on the trees in mountains were breath taking especially when those mountains were covered in snow....(sad that I left my camera behind for that trip.)

We had a great time but it's good to be back. I ate Cafe Rio as much as I could. I tried the salad every which way and I think my favorite is with no meat at all. Oh, just thinking about it makes me want one now... Can I possibly wait until February?

Here are a few pictures I did take.

at the pumpkin patch

(this picture was taken on a treasure hunt- it was for my nephews birthday)

WARNING ABOUT NEXT PICTURE!!!!

One of the very first things I did when I got to Utah was pass a HUGE kidney stone. And I took a picture of it to remind myself of how awful I felt for three weeks (plus) trying to pass the dumb thing!

I am sorry if this grosses you out - but really I did need to blog about it.

Better and more fun pictures to come!!! Promise - let me get through Miss A's big day tomorrow.

Somewhere Over the Mountains

We are having a GREAT time in Utah. Enjoying Cafe Rio - I had Arctic Circle for the FIRST time. Stopped in a Roberts found some REALLY cute fall decorations. Even found my way back to my moms house from the hospital after her surgery - with out getting lost (and this was my first time driving in Utah.)

Wish I had remembered to bring my camera cord so I could post pictures of our trip so far - guess we will just have to wait till we get home - there are some cute ones (if i say so myself) with Cousins and a pumpkin patch. Miss M and Miss A's first time to Chuck E Cheese. Miss A caught with a box of chocolates and even pictures of the HUGE kidney stone I passed. (picture a corn nut - not too far off from that - just a bit smaller).

Tomorrow I will FINALLY meet Ethan my Bff's brand new baby. We will also get to spend some time with Keenan's brother his wife and son!! Plus celebrate some birthdays - Brayden, Aiden and Miss A. (I need more time here in Utah - the week is going by too fast...)

I also found more videos of Keenan at the Tiki Terrace. He is singing the popular Iz song Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
(it takes a while for the video camera to finally find Keenan - but at least it still sounds good) K always sings this song for Miss M.

Also Keenan flew in tonight to join us for the weekend. Thanks Miyuki for picking him up at the airport!

Off to get me some of this...

Here

Sarah - I will eat some in honor of you! Sorry you can't be with me!!

Bouncy Balls!

My Friend had this on her blog - I had to share it too!
INCREDIBLE!
*Miss M loved the frog jumping out of the water spout

Happy Birthday!

Krazy Khania - I hope you have a fun filled day!
Happy Birthday my Beautiful Wonderful Friend!

New Love

It's like a little bite of Heaven. YUMMMMMMMMMMMMM!

usually I have to wait for Keenan to fly to Florida to get some...
but I found these at Marshalls (thanks Sarah) I like them a little better
than just the plain coconut Patty.



You can also get them HERE

They even have them for Halloween.

You Tube

This morning Keenan got a call from his nephew. "Hey Uncle you are on You tube!"
and there he was - 4 video's of Keenan playing at the Tiki Terrace (the same night his picture was taken for The Des Plaines Times news paper)

Here are his video's ENJOY!


Island Style

Ka Uluwehi O Ke Kai

Three Song Medley


Pua Tuberose

A fun thing I do & a great deal

+

Bekehhttp://www.bebo.com/Rebekeh

= FUN!

My friend and I have been making Cd's-of-the-month for a little over a year. It started as just something we talked about in passing - but then I started making fun Cd's for her and she for me (and sometimes for our cute kids) now we have a CD-of-the-month-exchange plus a pretty good collection of music. Now here is where Great deal comes in.
Last month I think I made the best music mix CD EVER (OK - I think that almost every time I make one) But I owe it to Bebo. Ever heard of Bebo? I had all but forgotten my long lost friend. Blogging, Tivo, Hula and Facebook have completely taken over my life and well - Bebo who?
Lucky for me I happened to be quickly checking over my junk mail when something caught my eye. Your Free Monthly Mix on Bebo‏/congratulations/ get free songs on iTunes! (or something like that) but my point - FREE SONGS!?! So I checked it out. Even though I had no clue who or what Bebo was. BUT I am glad I checked it out. And even more amazing, I remembered my user name AND password. I Redeemed my coupon and now we are back to the fun thing I do and the GREAT September music mix I made...and guess what - I just got 10 new songs (for the month of Oct) from iTunes THANKS to my long lost friend BEBO!

Little Surfer Girl

We went to the Big Ka Hoo Na tonight, yes it is our home away from home! But my little sister flew in today and I had to take her there for some ONO food!

Miss M and Miss A even have their own specials. Miss A LOVES the french fries and fried rice - really it's the SPAM in the fried rice she LOVES (it's the Hawaiian in her).

Miss M orders the little Bob (named after her) it's a mini loco moco. SHE LOVES it.
The owners had this little surf board for a decoration Miss M got to "ride" on it. It's the perfect size for her.

As we were leaving my sister said "Now I know why you love that place so much, they are like family." I couldn't have said it better.

It's the Great Pumpkin & My Halloween Wish List

Tonight we went grocery shopping and found some nice big pumpkins! for a great price! The girls each got one and we picked one out for our new neighbors...yes that's right NEW WONDERFUL neighbors!!! HUGE sigh of relief. (and they don't mind me decorating for holidays - last neighbor complained about all of my decorations)

I took some pictures of Miss a playing with the pumpkins. I wish I would have had my camera out earlier when she was trying to pick them up.

We also set up our Halloween decorations today. And as I was looking around I thought - I need more. I want a cute black metal haunted house and some cute glass pumpkins. I also saw on a blog a cute Halloween banner. I would love one of those for above my fire place. Here's my wish list and it's all at TARGET!! (well except for the banner)

(My friend Amy had a cuter one on her front door - but it is a sign I have always wanted)

(this cute banner(s) I found at this Blog - I LOVE it!)

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

Preschool Pictures

Thursday when I dropped Miss M off at her preschool class. We noticed that all the boys had striped shirts on. When I came back to pick her up I made sure I had my camera to take pictures of the cute kids. They were more interested in shouting Tick-or-Treat and CHEEEESE to smile nice for the camera. But they are all so cute - it doesn't matter. It captures all the fun they really are.

Tag I'm It

Thanks Lindsay - I do love a good tag

8 TV shows I love to watch:
1. The Cleaner
2. Gossip Girl
3. Wizard of Waverly Place
4. Grays Anatomy
5. 90210
6.Medium
7. The Mentalist
8. Ghost Whisperer

8 favorite places I love to eat:
1. Krolls (green bay, wi
2. Ron of Japan (northbrook, IL)
3. Cafe Rio (Utah)
5. All Aboard Dinner (Downers Grove, IL)
6. Flat Top ( Evanston, IL)
7. Big Ka Hoo Na/Tiki Terrace (Evanston, IL -DesPlaines, IL)
8. Zippys (Hawaii)

8 things that happened yesterday
1. Woke up to Miss M crawling into bed with me
2. We got ready for the day
3. Made some breakfast for the girls
4. took Miss M to preschool
5. brought Miss A home for a nap
6. Babysat
7. went Halloween/Fall shopping
8. Had a Scentsy Party!!

8 things I look forward to:
1. Miss A's Birthday
2. Halloween/Thanksgiving
3. Christmas
4. Going on a date sometime without the girls
5. Picking up my sister from the airport
6. going to Utah next week
7. getting my craft room useable
8. Owning a bed and breakfast someday in Hawaii with Keenan


8 things I love about Fall:
1. The leaves changing
2. Halloween
3.fall decorations
4. Miss A's birthday
5. October (it's my favorite month)
6. the cool air
7. Apple Cider
8. Cooking my fall meals

8 things on my wish list:
1. pedicures/monthly
2. getting a house
3. traveling to Paris
4. a huge craftroom
5. a bowling alley in my home
6. and a swimming pool
7. and since it's a WISH list - a home theater would be nice too
8. To go see Wicked AGAIN

8 people I tag
1. Lynsey
2. Ronnie
3. My sisters (who never update their blogs EVER!)
4. Kelly or Kelly
5. Jessica
6. Cynthia
7. Kealoha
8. Karissa

Birthday Ideas Galore

As I am strolling through blogs, pictures, party tips - I am thinking how happy I am that Miss A is an October baby and how I can plan a Halloween themed party - especially when I see little goodies like this...(thank you Food Network!)

(not that I could serve them to kids Miss A's age because they have nuts in them but the mommies need to eat something too!)

OR THIS

LOOK how cute THESE are!

and how about these for decorations and/or Party Favors!?!

xoxo Party Planner

Mommy and Me

I Kinda think we look a like...

























1. What is something mom always says to you?
I Love you

2. What makes mom happy?
relaxing

3. What makes mom sad?

when I don't pick up my toys

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

tickling my armpits and talking in a silly voice

5. What was your mom like as a child?
like as tall as me - you know little

6. What is her favorite thing to do?
sleep (oh I wish I could do more of this!)

7. What does your mom do when you're not around?
dates in the movie theaters with my daddy
(wouldn't that be nice if I was on a date with my hubby every time
she thought I was away!!!)

8. What is your mom really good at?

helping me with projects (except when it comes to #9's answer)

9. What is your mom not very good at?
building a toy car
(I think she is referring to the transformer cars, I am not
very good at switching them back and forth)

10. What does your mom do for her job?
call people, type on the computer, do anything you want to do

11. What is your mom's favorite food?
salad and cereal
(hmmm, I wouldn't say that either of these are my top food choices...)

12. What makes you proud of your mom?
that she can do big things

13. What do you and your mom do together?
color and watch tv - we love to watch Wizards of Waverly Place

14. How are you and your mom the same?
today we are wearing white shirts

15. How are you and your mom different?
Mommy has freckles (she called them preckles) and I don't

16. How do you know your mom loves you?

because she tells me

17. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Flat top (oh it IS my favorite place to eat!!!)

(I ran across this little survey on a blog I like to frequent and thought it was a fun idea
to do with Miss M)