Day After Christmas 2011

The day after Christmas we were finally able to come together as a family at my brother’s house.  This would be the last time we would all  gather with Tutu, my grandmother.  Four generations.....

All the kiddos running around with Uncle Craig

 

Christmas Day 2011

 












Normally, I stay up quite late on Christmas Eve wrapping presents for the kids.  This year was a bit challenging.  Our master bedroom is in what is normally the living room.  It is a thoroughfare, and has no closet space (no place to put shoes or hang clothes, let alone hide presents!)  So I had to put the presents for 6 kids in bins out in the garage.  Out in the garage is also where gift bags and tissue paper etc are stored.  Sounds easy enough.  

Except that we recently unloaded our storage rental, which held 80% of our things since we sold our house.   Everything from storage went into the garage.  It is pretty treacherous out there.  

By the time we got home from Christmas Eve evening service, I was exhausted (six months pregnant.)  I could not fathom making my way around and over things in the garage to get to what I needed.  It would’ve meant many trips in and out of the garage, and I was just too tired.  

Normally, I would’ve pushed myself over the edge to get this done, but we had dealt with some serious attitude issues in the little people, so I wasn’t really motivated.  I just went to bed.

In the morning, there were some confused children. We didn’t get up to greet them at the crack of dawn, but did hear them come down,  and understood later that they were a bit stunned to find nothing under the tree, and so, went back to bed.  

We made a wonderful Christmas breakfast, and Keith and I pretty much acted like, ‘What presents?’ all day. We attended Christmas Day service, and later Keith occupied the kids so that I could haul everything into the house and finish wrapping.  (When I say hauled ‘everything,’ don’t get the idea that our kids got a ton of presents.  They didn’t.  But I could only carry so much on each trip – navigating the obstacle course in the garage -  and had to rest after each attempt!  It took forever.)

We finally gathered together in the late afternoon and had a heart to heart chat about attitudes, being grateful for what we have, and most importantly – what God had done for us through his son Jesus Christ. That alone is enough to be grateful for – for a lifetime!

And then they opened presents : )

Kaleo made this cute bag for Kili

Kaleo made these great hats for her 3 brothers

Kainoa made her brother straw swords

One of Kawika's favorite gifts - a football!

Kainoa made Kili a cute sock doll

Kiddos made ornaments for the grandparents

Koa, better known as Sleeping Beauty, got a helpful gift from Nani

A beautiful music box from Auntie Judy

    














We were so happy that Tutu was able to join us for dinner.  It was such a blessing to gather together for a special meal – four generations!

We are grateful to the Lord for each day.  Grateful for each other.  Grateful mostly for God’s mercy and grace towards us, and that through His son we have been saved.

Kiddos

Kiddos with Nani

God shows his love for us in that 

while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. 

Since, therefore, we have now been 
justified by his blood, 
much more shall we be saved by him 

from the wrath of God. 

For if while we were enemies 

we were reconciled to God 

by the death of his Son,
much more, 
now that we are reconciled,
shall we be saved by his life.

                                                                   
Romans 5: 8- 10

Christmas Eve 2011

It is always special to gather with loved ones.  This Christmas Eve we had the most beautiful California weather, so we decided to do brunch outside.  

Mom set a spectacular table, and we had the most delicious food!  It was a lovely day, and especially wonderful to have my grandmother, Tutu, join us.  She got to have brunch outside amongst the kiddos and the chickens!  

Boys  building a fort

Tutu, Mom, Kaleo

Tutu, Kaleo, Kainoa

 Later that evening we enjoyed Christmas Eve service at our church.

Missing one

Advent Activities

Kaleo working on our Jesse Tree ornaments

We love to gather with friends for any occasion.  Here, before Christmas, we had a couple of great things going on.  

Painting pots for our Jesse Trees

We made our first attempt at making a family Jesse Tree.  I have had this project in my back pocket for years. Somehow, we never got to it.  The Jesse Tree is a wonderful way to celebrate Advent.  This year I came across a beautiful version at www.aholyexperience.com.  There are many versions online.  I was inspired to carve out time for our family to make one this year.  

Koa on the shofar, announcing the beginning of the play

Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem

I think this is when they got the bad news about 'no vacancy'

Somehow Mary ended up in the manger

After lunch we had an impromptu Christmas play with lots of improvisation, several donkeys and camels, and an authentic shofar.  Then we headed off to the park!