Decorating the tree, 2012...

the Grands decorate our tree at the MH.  

The just go at it.  There are very few breakable ornaments on this tree, so they just

have fun.

Lauren helped poppa put the tree together earlier in the day.

Emme really was into it

the boys talked about almost every ornament

Emme got to put the star on the top this year...this reminds of the tree in the "Grinch"

a shakka 

a concert to end the evening

the finished product...a little heavy on the lower end

Lights!

Lauren came over to help on Sunday afternoon.

One of the things she did was help poppa put the lights on the lanai.

She probably could have done it herself...she had the placement

all figured out and was sure to keep them from getting tangled .

she also learned about the importance of electrical tape!

Haliewa Christmas Parade 2012...

Last Friday Night was the Christmas Parade in Haleiwa.

We love this parade!  Here in Hawaii, most cities hold Christmas parades

and they're big deals!

It's so fun to sit and watch and cheer on people that you know, a real

"local" event.

award-winning Waialua High School Robotics Team even had 

one of their robots in the parade

The Royal Hawaiian Band came out to march in the parade

lots of picture taking going on

Santa rode on the last truck and was the best!

Mele Kalikimaka Haleiwa!

Today...

Red...

I love this red poinsettia tree!

I happened to be at the Apple store in Kahala Mall last 

weekend and I just had to sit and look at this tree.

I've seen this tree in previous Christmas seasons, and I'm

still awed by it.

In our ward, we decorate the chapel every week with flowers.  I usually

do a week in December, because I just love poinsettias.

A couple of weeks ago it was my turn so I went to a few places and picked the perfect

red plants...all had to be that "certain" Christmas red.  I love that they are being used

in other chapel displays.

This beautiful red poinsettia tree...

It sits there in front of the stage in the center of this not-very-big-mall.

Glorious is just the word that fits it.

***a little piece of info...hubby and I lived for 5 years on Poinsettia St. in Corona del Mar

that's why I can spell it without even thinking!

A9 Sweet Treats~

lots going on in A9 this week...

since it's the end of the semester/quarter there's some testing,

making of Holiday cards and gifts and we threw in a little

treat making!

I no longer have an electric skillet to make carmel corn and couldn't

find un-decorated sugar cookies for them to decorate, so...

we did chocolate-dipped pretzel sticks.

Actually going pretty well, it's just taking a little longer...doesn't everything ?

I was surprised how many of the kids told me that they'd never used sprinkles before.

These little elves are so hard at work and I just love them!

Christmas Concert @ PCC

Last Friday Hubby and I went to a Christmas concert at PCC.

We love going to PCC.  It's close (we don't have to go to town)

and the concerts are usually reasonably priced.  This is the second

concert that we've gone to our there that included a buffet dinner...pretty good deal.

This was the first year that PCC started something new "Christmas Canoe Rides".

We've talked to people that went on them and they loved it.  There are so many lights

put up "must have bought every string at Wal Mart"

Sort of wish we had time to do that.

Anyway, the whole place was really decorated.

Hubby watching the concert

Surfing Santa out front

I loved the lauhala hats that were decorating the huge tree

Amy Hanaiali'i put on a great concert!  Love her and her voice.

Love having Christmas come to the North Shore.