2011 Holiday Wrap Up.

Oh, get off my case, I know.  It's nice to know that I have a life though, right?  A life that keeps me so busy I have absolutely no time to blog?

You're right.  I was watching the Criminal Minds marathon again.  And again.  And again.  I can't help it!  Morgan is so hot!

Anyhoo, here's what you've all been waiting for:  The Holiday of 2011!  Woot woot!

Have I even talked about Thanksgiving?!  Hold on, let me check...  Eek!  Not a real blog post since Texas?!  My word, let's get on this!

Halloween 2011:


The highlights from this Halloween were definitely being with my 2 nieces, Jaiden (2 years old) and Nixie (11 months old).  It was Nixie's first Halloween and it was so exciting to have Tiffer and her family back home.

(Tiffer made a spooky breakfast with a blood red hand-shaped ice cube punch.)

Jaiden dressed as a Bumble Bee.

Nixie dressed as a Ladybug.

And Tiffer dressed as a flower.

How cute is that?!

Let me go back pre-Halloween here real quick.  In our family we have a tradition of carving pumpkins together while watching The Nightmare Before Christmas.  Well, last year and perhaps the years before we carved pumpkins WAY too early and so by the time Halloween came around?  Let's just say we didn't make them look so raunchy on purpose, but hey, it's Halloween so they totally fit the part!  Jaiden picked my pattern and it ended up being the scariest of the bunch!  And yes, I do carve my pumpkins freehand, in case you were wondering!

Ok, fast forward to the night before Halloween:  We took the girls to the church for their Annual Trunk or Treat.  I love going to these with my parents because I get a better opportunity to see the little kids in their costumes.  Sooo cute!

(My pumpkin was so scary, no other pumpkins dared to sit next to it.)

On the night of, I went with Tiffer to take the girls around the parents' neighborhood Trick or Treating.  Jaiden became a professional by the second house.  Remember, this is her second Halloween.  She walked with me, holding my to every house.  then as she braved the front steps of each house, she told me, "You stay here.  I will right back."  So much entertainment!

Thanksgiving 2011:


This last Thanksgiving was pretty small.  It may have been one of the top 5 smallest Turkey Days I've ever been too.  It consisted of only the parents, Gina, Tiffer and the girls, and myself.  But you know what?  That didn't mean a thing in the amount of food we prepared and engorged on!  It was also my best turkey yet, according to the family!  I got to teach Gina how I prep it, so that was pretty exciting.  I like to teach people the way I do things.  Especially when it's successful!

(One of the mandatory appetizers: cream cheese with sweet chili sauce and crackers.)

(The traditional pies.)

(The reminders.)

(Pickle.)

(My beautiful turkey trditionally being carved by The Godfather.)

Christmas 2011:

(Every Christmas season it is mandatory we get Sees.  Here's Mrs. Sees herself helping out!)

(We went to Candy Cane Lane down in Balboa to check out the lights.  Oh and this was my silly Christmas app that was fun to play with.)

(Sweet Baby Kate all bundled up.)

(The winner of it all!  I'd be so bummed if I were their neighbor...)

(Jady is always more than happy to pose for the camera.)

(This was my favorite of the season.)

Ah, Christmas.  (Oh, hold on, I have to take my meatloaf out of the oven.)  Where was I?  Oh yes, Christmas.  This year was another sort of different Christmas.  We were talking about doing another form of charity work but it's hard to do that when Christmas falls on a Sunday.  And so we decided no presents (except for the nieces and nephew) and then we would do each others' stockings.  It turned out perfect and was so much fun!

(Too many stockings for the chimney.  That's a fabulous Christmas!)

(Christmas Eve with Jady.)

This was the first Christmas for Ashley and Adam as a married couple, Nixie and Kate's very first Christmas, and it was such a happy time being all together!  We were sure to Skype VJ and his family later Christmas night so that everyone could show us what they got.

It was the perfect Christmas and I am so thankful for such an amazing family!

(One of the toys that was in my stocking!  Pickle yelled at me not to shine it in my eye.)

New Years Eve 2011:

(Ready for the big night out!)

NYE was... well... different.  Haha!  I decided to go with Gina and a couple of our friends to a Singles' event at Dave & Busters.  We were supposed to go to something that was more our age oriented, but it got cancelled (lots of drama we won't discuss) and we were told to go to this activity.

Nothing says Happy New Years than being at the same event as your exboyfriends' baby siblings!  One of them I've known since she was two.  The other since he was about seven.

Sweet.

We stood in line for what seemed like hours.  When we finally got inside, it was so packed you couldn't breathe, let alone walk anywhere without touching someone.  We got to one of the dance floors and decided to make the best of it!  And so we danced.  Until the heels made it unbearable to stand anymore.

(Green, Deanna and I dancing our hearts out.)

("This party blows" pose. Haha!)

We made the rounds and found ourselves sitting in the mechanical bull room.  We grabbed some stools and sat in a corner.  That was when the night got fun!  Who needed to walk around when everyone else was?  Everyone we knew, including some we hadn't seen in a long time, were making their own rounds and finding us!  It was hilarious.  Have you ever seen the How I Met Your Mother with the "woo girls?"  That was us.  Every time someone we knew rounded the corner and saw us, we wooed!

(Scary fog on NYE?  Not a good mix at 2:00AM.)

All in all, it was a fantastic New Years!  I even got home safely in the fog before all the drunks headed home!  YAY!

(Another New Years Kiss against Fiyero's will.)

And so you have it.  The holidays of 2011 in a nutshell!  Now I'm almost caught up!  Woo hoo!  Until next time!

A Cosa Christmas.

(While shopping for stocking stuffers, we came across this gem)

(Gi and I, Christmas Tree decoration success!)

This year, Christmas was pretty small.  It's always a good time, no matter who is there, but we were definitely missing some of our loved ones.

Traci and Chris only made it for Christmas Eve, which was a very heart-wrenching time for Traci since she has never missed out on a Christmas.  VJ and his family stayed in Portland with his in laws.  Plus, with 3 kids it just gets more difficult to travel.  Tiffer and Seanie stayed in Maryland since Tiffer is ready to pop with her baby, Nixie.  They celebrated their own Christmas but were sure to Skype with the parents early in the morning so they can witness Jaiden running with excitement to greet her new gigantic Nemo stuffed animal.

(JK sporting her Christmas fun as well as her obvious request for front teeth)

And so Christmas Eve followed our tradition of reading The Christmas Story out of the old Bible and then going around the room taking turns opening one special gift.  Since Traci and Chris were going to miss out on the big day, we allowed them to open everything, including stockings.  This year was a little different in that we each contributed to the whole stocking event.  Well, there wasn't enough room for my contribution so I did what anyone else would do in this situation; I dropped my piles of stocking stuffers amongst the both of them.

(The Godfather reading The Christmas Story as per tradition)

(Ready with our one present to open Christmas Eve!)

(Ash was spooning that doll all night long.)

(No surprise here.)

(The BEST present of all from Traci and Chris.  This is my parents' song.)

The next morning was a little different than I'm used to.  I woke up first, of course.  After all, having a job where I wake up before sunrise kind of trains me to continue the tradition.  I settles for 9am to go in and wake up the parents.... And then they sent me back to bed...  So around 11, I think it finally was, we all started out Christmas Day.

I think the best part of the whole morning was watching my parents open my gifts to them: cans and cans of food storage, wrapped individually.  Hey, it just makes for more gifts to open!  They were both very excited to receive what they asked for from Santa!

(A few of the 20 cans I wrapped for the parents)

(Total happiness with the new presents!)

We had our typical Christmas dinner which included me making stuffed mushrooms and artichoke dips as appetizers, and honey baked ham, Ash's Cheesecake Factory mashed potatoes, salad, rolls, and the works!  My parents invited a family over to help feast and we ended the night playing a ridiculous game called Quelf.

(Nothing is better than Peanut Butter for Gi.)

(My new coif from my stylist, Ash)

Great fun was had by all!  I missed some of my siblings but that's what happens when we grow up.  It sucks, but I know they're having a great time with their own families.  I hope everyone else had a fabulous Christmas like I did!

Out With the Old, In With the New!

It seems to me that I should pole vault on to this giant bandwagon of bloggers* posting reviews of their experiences last year.  After all, it IS the new year right?  2009 is now just a memory of the past.  It's time to look to the future of 2010...

Then why the heck dwell on the past?

I have to be honest with all of you... 2009 may have been THEE worst year of my life.  Of course there were many wonderful events that happened!  I gained 2 new nieces, Jaiden Lily and Anne (Cozy) Cossette.  I visited Hawaii to see Family and Friends.  I got to experience the famous Manta Ray Dive off Big Island and watch 15 Mantas do acrobatics (and get hit in the head a couple times).  I went skydiving.  I was visited by amazing Friends from out of state.  I went to Disneyland... A LOT...  But all of these fun events are already posted on this blog.  These were the experiences that kept my head above water while experiencing a terrible, terrible year.

And so, to 2009?  I bid you an effing adieu.  Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Family and Friends, I could not have survived last year without Your love and support.  You are the silver lining to the clouds of 2009.  Without You I would have given up treading water and drowned.  It is because of You that I have these positive experiences to add to my happiness.  And I thank You.  Immensely.  Do me a favor right now and wrap Your arms around Yourself and give Yourself a GIANT hug from me!

It is time to move on.  Bring on 2010!!!

Oh, and another thing... I'm not quite sure how we're doing this... What are we calling it?  20-10? 0-10? '10?  I think I'm sticking with 20-10...

Anyhoo, I wish You a happy and prosperous 20-10!  I leave You with this fantastic song from an artist recommended by my favorite female artist, Ingrid Michaelson.

Xoxo to You all!!

Lyrics:

Another year you made a promise

another chance to turn it all around

and do not save this for tomorow

embrace the past and you can live for now

and I will give the world to you

Speak louder than the words before you

and give them meaning no one else has found

The role we play is so important

we are the voices of the undergroud

and I would give the world to you

Say everything you've always wanted,

be not afraid of who you really are,

cause in the end we have each other,

and thats at least one thing worth living for,

and I would give the world to you

A million suns that shine upon me

A million eyes you are the brightest blue

Lets tear the walls down that divide us

and build a statue strong enough for two,

I pass it back to you

and I will beat for you,

cause I would give the world

and I would give the world

and I would give the world to you

This is the new year

A new begining

You made a promise

You are the brightest

We are the voices

This is the new year

We are the voices

This is the new year

<3

* This post, in no way, is trying to offend anyone, nor make any blogger that has posted a blog with the topic of "Review of 2009" feel ashamed.  This post only reflects the feelings and opinions of the author.

Christmas with the Obamas...

Ok, I know it's New Years, but I needed to post about Christmas in Hawaii with no presents first. Yes, that's right.  I said no presents.  *GASP!*  I know, right??  Not even stockings!  It was my first Christmas without a stocking :(  *TEAR*

(Traci, Ashley and I after walking around aimlessly looking for the beach.  We never found it but stumbled on this giant Christmas tree!)

So, instead of buying presents for each other like we usually do, we decided to take that money and put together brown lunch sacks full of goodies for the homeless people in Ala Moana Park.  These packages included thins like McDonalds gift certificates ($5 per bag), shampoos and conditioners, toothpaste, mouthwash, razors, clementine oranges, candy and more.

But before the big day of Christmas, we volunteered at a women's shelter for Christmas Eve dinner.  It was fun putting on the plastic aprons, gloves and hair nets and seeing how silly we all looked in them!  It was such a great feeling though serving others in need.  My favorite was seeing this adorable little girl walking around beaming because she had a cupcake with HUGE amounts of frosting!  The people that work the facility are so humble and just amazing people.  If I still lived there, I would go and help out more... Although I'm sure there are plenty of places around here I can find!  That's on my list!

When we got back to the villa we stayed in, we assembly lined the presents for the homeless with smiles on our faces as we decorated each bag with stickers and markers.  It had been a long day!

The next morning we went on our adventure to Ala Moana Park!  We were all a little timid at first, approaching someone trying to sleep, or families gathered together, but after the first person, our hearts smiled and we continued on until all 50 bags were handed out to elderly men, single moms and families with young children.  My heart was very full as it began to rain and we walked back to our cars.  Up until then it hadn't felt like Christmas at all.  As soon as we handed out that first gift and saw the tears in their eyes, it felt like Christmas.

(My parents delivering Christmas joy at Ala Moana Park.)

It was a VERY humbling experience.

Aside from that, we had a good time being entertained by Jady Lady.  She's 10 months old now and has been nonstop smiles since she was born!  Our favorite thing to do with her is say "Yes, Ma'am" or "Yes, yes, yes" while nodding our heads up and down.  In return, she shakes her head "No."  It's very entertaining!

(Jady Lady giving me salutations by spitting.)

I also took the day after Christmas to go diving with Marisa and Gabe and to see old friends.  We woke up bright and early and dove a wreck dive, YO and a shallow reef called Nautilus.  Oh yeah, and Gabe decided to put me, the coldest girl in the world, in a shorty wetsuit!  Well, I learned my lesson because on the second dive I was so cold!  During my safety stop at the end of the dive, my hands were numb holding on to the line and Marisa was trying to rub my arms because I was shaking so bad.  That'll teach me to alway bring my own wetsuit...  But at the YO, we had a blast!  we didn't see any whales like I'd hoped for but I did see my first Brown Stingray!  That made the dive worth it :)

(Risa and I having fun at the YO)

(I thought this pix was pretty awesome of 2 eels "kissing.")

After diving, we went to Duke's for lunch to meet up with our friend Wayne.  He and Risa both work there.  It's always fun seeing old friends!  They are trying to get me to move back to the island, it's pretty funny.

(I was already tanner than Risa at this point, haha!)

Next we drove to my old work, Sea Life Park.  This was the very bittersweet part of my visit.  It's so good to see my old friends and visit, but it's also hard.  The last part of my employment there was very difficult for so many reasons.  It's hard to see them still dealing with it.  I gave out plenty of hugs and visited my old animals, whom I miss dearly.  I was very happy to see all of the younger turtles had been released or adopted out.  My sharks were all still alive and Ula was as fat as ever.  My stingrays, although their barbs had been cut, were still cruising around.

When I returned back to the villa I found out my brother in law, Seanie, had worked out with the Obamas on Kaneohe Bay Marine Base Semper Fitness.  He said Michelle Obama was a stud, all lifting weights and being buff, while Mr. President was on the elliptical machine.  Haha, I thought that was hilarious!

(Air Force One. We had to wait 20-30 minutes at the front gate of Hickam because they closed it while Obama drove off Hickam and to Kailua.)

Overall, it was a good visit and I'm glad I had the opportunity to not only get back in the water, but to help some of those in need.  It was a very different Christmas.  Very humbling indeed.

Gingerbread Galore!

(Chateau Gingerbread de Hollie)

Every year, well... just about... We get together and make gingerbread houses for Christmas!  And when I say we, I mostly am talking about my sister Gina and I.  We get our friends together at our house, or go to someone else's and everyone brings some sort of candy to chip in.  This year, we were lucky enough to have left over candy galore from my mom!  She had a bunch of the young women from church over to make houses a couple days before our event.  Only problem was, she said the graham crackers she bought broke really easily and that we should purchase some more.  Of course, we waited too long and didn't.


So we decided to make gingerbread ourselves!

(Jeni and I in the process of mixing the gingerbread dough!  Aka, proof!)

(Tupperware cookie cutters worked out well for Jeni, Gina and I)

Our friend Jeni came over and we got to baking!  Man, did it smell UH-mazing!  It made the whole house smell like Christmas!  We found some baby square tupperware and used those to cut out squares to help build the houses.  It wasn't till later that we realized the rounded corners did not help in the physics of the construction...  But, we all had a blast anyway!  I had no idea how creative our friends can get when there's a building dilemma like that!  Oh the creativity!!

(Jeni's "Christmas Wish," which was a bachelorette's party...)

(Suzette's lion... RAWR!)

(Josh's Aztec Temple of sorts)

(Rick's nativity with baby Cinnamon Jesus)

(Emily's Tropical Hut)