i am...mai

Books, Music, and Alana's 1st Birthday

There should probably be laws against scheduling this much activity in one day.  Perhaps this is why I can never get anything done.  We're always on the go, go, go!

First stop was the Hawaii Book & Music Festival.  I've been trying to get to this event for a few years now, but for some reason something else has always fallen on the same weekend, so I miss it.  Love books.  Love music.  Surely this would be the event for me.  I'll admit that I wasn't incredibly impressed.  Maybe it was the mental build up I'd given the event after missing it all these years. 

Target did have an awesome Keiki Activities tent.  Arwen spent lots of time decorating a cute little canvas book bag while I watched the Pop-Up Book Kings, Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart. 

These guys presented a great demo and gave me all sorts of ideas for some pop-up cards to make.

I also found some great deals at the Bess Press tent, so the event really wasn't all bad.  Just don't get me started about the bounce houses.  ugh.

Click here to see a few more photos from the festival.

We had more music on the agenda as we head over to Aina Haina to attend Miss Amie's Eine Kleine Keiki Music Concert.  We enjoyed a sweet performance by some of Miss Amie's afterschool music students, and then the kids had fun singing all of their favorite songs with her.

After a long nap at home, we were off to Mililani to help celebrate Alana's 1st birthday - her actual birthday.  She'll have a big party with her big sister in June.

Isn't she a cutie?

And I'm so proud of myself for keeping my stamping momentum going with a handmade card for her:

More pics from her birthday gathering are here.

Christmas begins

Arwen's preschool held their Christmas program on Friday, and it was probably the first day that I actually began to enjoy this holiday season.  The sudden loss of my brother this summer and then my stepfather's passing earlier this month just hasn't left me with much desire to celebrate, but it's amazing what watching a group of toddlers and preschoolers singing Christmas songs in costume will do to rekindle the Christmas spirit.

Arwen's class performed The Legend of Poinsettia again.  Last year, Arwen was a tree in this program, and after all the time I spent sewing leaves onto that costume, I was secretly hoping she might be reassigned this role to save me the trouble of coming up with a new one.  This was last year's costume:

She makes a cute tree, doesn't she?  But no such luck on this tree making another appearance; Arwen was upgraded to Villager.  Still no speaking part, but the costume was simple enough, so I'm not complaining.

Bonus for this year was that Rob was working in town and so was able to catch the show.  Poor guy missed it last year and had to settle for my sad video skills and photos.  We were also able to share the program with Arwen's Grandma Sally (aka Upstairs Grandma), Grandpa Fred, Grandma Fran, and Auntie Kristin.  Arwen was very excited to have so many special guests in the audience to watch her sing.  (Pictures of Arwen and her classmates in the Christmas program are available on my flickr page.)

After the program, we had some time to enjoy cookies and milk on the lanai at school, giving Arwen an opportunity to say her goodbyes to classmates and teachers for the long winter break.  Arwen and I made up little Christmas goodie bags for her friends the night before, and I am so proud to say that not only did Arwen do most of the work stuffing the bags, but she hand stamped her own little cards for each one.

Our little villager was absolutely beat after all the excitement of the morning, so we went home for a family nap.  I don't get to nap very often and seriously enjoyed the much needed rest.

We woke up just in time to catch Larisa's call that she and Gabe had come into town for some Christmas fun and shopping.  No matter how tired, Arwen never passes up a chance to see her Gabie, so off to Ala Moana we went.

The kids had a great time with a ride on the Candy Cane Train, a quick stop to check in with Santa again - wanted to make sure he's still clear on their wish lists, pizza for dinner, a Christmas show (complete with snow!) at the center stage, and a bird's eye view of the mall's Christmas parade.

(More pictures of Arwen and Gabe having some Christmas fun are available on my flickr page.)

It ended up being a great day as well as an awesome way to start celebrating the holidays.