Cute girls in costumes....

Since we have lived here in Hawaii the girls have really been involved with their Polynesian dancing. There is just something about the dancing and chanting that makes me tear up and get a tight throat. When my girls dance I just become mesmerized. I am amazed at their ability to memorize and recite the chants. I am amazed at their beauty. I am amazed at their ability to move their arms, feet, hips and mouth at the same time--I don't know where that comes from because I can barely walk and talk at the same time. But since we are leaving in a few short weeks we wanted to get their pictures in the natural element of the island. We spent the day driving around looking for good picture taking spots. These pictures are just a sampling of our efforts. The ones below of Pineapple Princess show her in our favorite costume. This is the one she wears when she dances Tahitian. Kawehi and Pineapple have honored their dad with their dancing. Kalani's heart has been touched to have his beautiful daughters embrace his heritage. We are so blessed to be a part of this heritage. A heritage of beautiful traditions. A heritage where love, kindness and respect are weaved in lessons of everyday teachings and living. Aloha means hello, goodbye and love. What a wonderful word. A wonderful remembrance of how to be through out the day. Live Aloha.

A.L.O.H.A.=LOVE. LOVE=FAMILY. FAMILY=HAPPINESS.

"The Gift of an Ordinary Day"....

I recently saw the title of this post as the name of a new book that is out. I saw it in a real short review and it didn't give much detail about what the book is about. But I cannot get the title out of my head. It got me a thinkin'!!! How often do I thank my Heavenly Father for an "ordinary day"? NEVER. How many times do I think of my days that are ordinary as a gift? NEVER. How often am I frustrated about the everyday 'ordinary' stuff I have to do? ALWAYS!!! My eyes have been opened. I am going to make it a goal of mine to everyday be grateful for my ordinary life, my ordinary days.

Today is the perfect example. After school me and the kiddos worked on homework. TCIG made mac n'cheese for him and big sister, Pineapple Princess. Monkey boy warmed up Ravioli for him and the two little ones. (Yea, I am letting my secret out--we don't always have the most nutrious meals) We played a mean game of SKIPBO (love that game) and RUMMIKUB (love that game even more). Daddy is at school. So it was me and the 5 kiddos--just hangin' out. We were listening to music--I happen to be one of those 'cool' moms who actually like/love some of the same music my kids like so they are always sharing new songs with me. Then our favorite song came on.....In the Air Tonight by Phil Collins. We all love this totally awesome song. We know all the words by heart. If you haven't heard it or listened to it recently I dare you to go find it somewhere and listen to it. That song has the GREATEST drum solo. It doesn't even come up until almost the last part of the song but it is sooooo COOL. We all do 'air drum' and just let lose!! Even my JAG who is only 6 knows the song and does the air drum with us. As I sat there enjoying my ordinary day I couldn't help but think what an EXTRA-ordinary day it has been.

WHAT THE HEEBIE JEEBIES IS THAT?.....

Look at this UGLY thing.....This is a centepede!!! Isn't it gross???? Kalani found this thing...slithering out of the shower drain....We measured it and it was 6 inches long. This is the kind of things we see over here. We have seen cockroaches that measure almost that big as well!! Not everything is beautiful over here. Heehee.