Historic Ewa Beach Train

This weekend Hubby was working a bit on the proposal for his dissertation and needed some quiet at the house. So the boys and I headed for the historic Ewa Beach train. We took a 90 minute narrarated ride from the Ewa Plain to Kahe Point. This is a 300 horsepower Whitcomb diesel electric locomotive that was donated by the military. It was built in 1946.We sat right near the narrator on the outbound. Can you see his twirly mustache? We heard the history of the Oahu Railway and Land company, and how the trains were used on sugar plantations. The trains are former military flatbed cars that have been restored by the Hawaiian Railway Society.

First we rode through the Ewa Plain. This is a coral bed. The ocean used to run over these beds. Now they are building homes over the coral beds. We rode from Ewa through the Ko' Olina Resort, and out to Kahe Point. Everyone must stay seated the whole trip until we get to Kahe Point. Then the passengers are encouraged to get up and stretch, and switch sides. On the outbound, we sat on the makai (Hawaiian word for ocean) side of the train. On the inbound we sat on the mauka (Hawaiian word for mountain) side of the train. While we were standing, we saw several whales breach out at Kahe Point!!! It was so exciting....and Son1 totally got into it. He was screaming at the top of his lungs (with all of the other kids on the train) "A whale! A whale! I see the whale!" I am not sure if it was just one whale or multiple whales, but they completely breached themselves out of the water in a backward arch, from head to tail. The conductor shared that this is the most they have ever seen of the whales in 12 years! The whales travel in the channel between Oahu and Kauai to Maui for their migration pattern. We were so excited we called Daddy at home from the train. The conductor was excited, too. He called his wife back at the station. She was selling train tickets. Just as we pulled into Kahe Point, we saw Electric Beach where Hubby scuba dives. I had never been out there before. That was fun! We rode all the way back to the train station. The kids were all allowed up to the locomotive to pull the whistle. It was too loud for Son2 so I hung back from the train a bit, and he jumped up there all by himself and blew the whistle.
This was at the edge of the outdoor train museum. Inside the train barn, we peeked at this parlor car. It was built in 1900 for the Oahu Railway & Land Co. founder, Benjamin F. Dillingham. It is called No. 64. This was the finest parlor car that ran on the tracks, and was also an observation car. It originally cost about $4,400. It has a double-size rear platform, surrounded by ornate iron grillwork. Inside it is made of oak, mahogany and birdseye maple. The parlor car originally had a galley, lavatory, washstand and sideboard. It was used frequently by the OR&L for visiting dignitaries. Some the famous guests were Queen Lili`uokalani and other members of the Hawaiian royal family.

Here is an old original car that belonged to the Oahu Railway and Land Company.


This train was built in 1890. It has a tender and was the first steam locomotive used on the Ewa Sugar Plantation.

This coal burner was the first locomotive bought and used by Oahu Railway & Land Company. It was built in 1889. Son1 bought a little locomotive at the gift shop. He is holding it here in his hands.

This is a 150 horsepower diesel electric built by General Electric in 1942. It was used as a switcher by the military.

We walked along the rest of these old train cars.

Honolulu City Lights

Last Friday I took Son1 on a tour of the Honolulu Christmas lights via Fire Truck Hawaii. It is a 1936 refurbished fire truck that once served at the Quaker Oats factory in Illinois. It was acquired by a few fire fighters in Hawaii when they got the idea to purchase an old fire truck to give tours. It is now affectionately called "Engine 50", named after this being the 50th state. Son1 jabbered all the way from our house to South King Street about riding Engine 50.

Engine 50 has bench seating on each side, and accommodates 6 passengers on each side. Son1 and I sat across from one another on the back ends. Each passenger was given a hand bell to ring each time the driver rang his old fashioned bell and blared his siren. People on the streets stopped and waved to us. The fire fighter gave us a detailed tour of the city and the lights. I couldn't really hear anything, even though the fire fighter was miked. Son1 couldn't help but ring his bell constantly.The fire fighter gave each child a souvenir fire hat at the end of the ride. That's the one Son1 has in his hand. The other is from his Halloween costume. I really wanted the little dalmatian to come with us, but he needed his rest. He had a cold and an ear infection.

This is a really bad photo of Son1 and the fire fighter. I have an important story about him a little later in this post.On the other side of City Hall and the lawn displays was this little electric choo choo train run by those carnival ride folks. We could see him on South King Street from Engine 50. Once we got off our tour, Son1 wanted to ride this next. So I took him. This engine driver looked like a hippie Santa. Now things here are a little laid back as far as safety goes. Yes, we had seat belts on. However, this Santa engineer played tea cups (spun the engine around over and over) with the three connecting cars in tow. All the folks inside screamed. We followed the paved path for awhile and then took off on the grass for some off roading. That was some bumpy grass! All this to the sounds of island beats being piped through the speaker system.

After we got off Son1 and I made our way to the restroom at City Hall. Along the way we looked at the lawn displays. This was his favorite. LOOK MOMMY IT'S THE BABY JESUS!!After leaving the restroom, and rearranging some things in my purse, I got this uneasy feeling. I didn't remember seeing my keys in my purse. I pulled open the clasp. No keys. I patted my pants. No pockets in my pants. I plucked out my cell phone. "Hubby, start praying. I can't find my keys. They aren't in my purse and I don't have any pockets, so I have left them somewhere." It was after 9pm at night, I was nearly 30 miles from home, and my locked car had Son2's car seat in it. He was home in his crib. So how could Hubby get to us? I grabbed Son1 by the hand, explained the situation to him in a frenzy, and we left City Hall, back to the electric train. Stuff had spilled out of my purse on the train. Maybe I dropped my keys there. I asked the ticket lady. No luck. I went to the line and was peering around in the grass. I explained my situation to one lady. No...she insisted I needed a flashlight. Everyone in line started to look. Someone brought me a flashlight. That's just the way local people are. They help immediately. We looked on the train. No keys.

I had one more shot: Engine 50. So now, Son1 and I made the long walk back up South King to the traffic light, crossed the street and doubled back almost the entire long city block. We had to hurry. Fire Engine 50 might make a run or two more. Soon the fire truck was back at the pick up point. The fire fighter and I both looked. No keys. The firefighter saw I was disheartened. He promised to look back at the station under the lights. I thanked him. Then he asked me to wait. He jumped back on the truck, shoved his hands deep in the red leather, and he pulled out my keys quicker than I could blink. The line cheered. I cheered. Son1 bellowed out a thank you. I called Hubby. We were both relieved. Afterward Son1 informed me he wasn't tired. Good. From Fire Engine 50 I had seen the mock queen sitting at Iolani Palace with her king. Iolani Palace is the only official state residence for royalty in the United States. This was a celebration for Queen Kapio'lani's birthday. So now we could walk down there, since I had my keys.

The palace was decorated with red and green Chinese lanterns for her birthday. It was very late, and by now the mock queen was gone. When we got there, Son1 asked me where all the people went. Then he wanted to know if the queen was sleeping in her castle. Shhh.....he said.
This is the side gate we snuck into the palace grounds.

We made our way back up King Street toward our car. Son1 begged to go back to City Hall, which was there on the corner. I tried to capture what I noticed for the first time...but the picture doesn't show it too clearly. Santa's toes are dangling in the water fountain below, and his boots are off there to his left. "Mele" (means "merry" in Hawaiian) has a gold Hawaiian bracelet around her wrist, that says her name in Old English lettering. Name bracelets are usually given to children at birth in Hawaii. The mother wears it until the child is older and it is passed on. In front of Mele is Lau Lau. This is a traditional Hawaiian dish that is wrapped in ti leaves with taro leaves and chicken or pork.

The other thing that fascinated Son1 was that the Lanakila Train blew steam every few seconds. That is what the blurry stuff is on the right above.

It was a late, but memorable night.

Christmas Tea

Our church had its second annual Ladies Christmas Tea. Since our church doesn't have additional building space yet, the worship center was transformed for the tea. 80 ladies attended. The tea is an outreach opportunity to those that might not have a church home, and might be willing to visit during the Christmas season. Many little ladies (girls) attended as well as our more senior ladies. There were all of us inbetween, too. This is my second year as the tea coordinator. It was a time of food, fellowship, carols, testimony, and of course, door prizes. The food was so scrumptious. Our food coordinator planned an amazing menu that far superceded last year's catered event. ABC led worship, which was sweet and special. She is in the last few days that she will live on the island. Another friend gave her testimony which was well thought out presented gospel truth. So many women of all ages helped in the last hours to make the tea a success and honoring to God.
I was given a Christmas lei by one of the ladies in our church (not pictured). It smelled so beautiful, and was made from tuberoses which are fragrant waxy white flowers. They have an exotic sweet smell.

A Little From Christmas Day

We started by opening gifts.

We called and also got calls.

Both boys enjoy the giraffe. Son1 pets him like he is real. He pretends it is not pretend.

We still had the bounce house left over from the Birthday Party for Jesus. We played in it for awhile and then the neighbors joined us.

Thomas is a bed topper. But Son1 had other plans for him. He wanted Thomas on the floor and insisted on sleeping there. We thought the better of it and put the mattress on the floor inside. It doesn't take much coaxing for him to get in bed for nap or night time.

Fishing on Christmas Eve

Hubby and a group of guys from church went fishing on Christmas Eve. They arrived at the docks at 5:15am to hit the deep seas. After sunrise they had a view of Diamond Head in the distance.Hubby is fishing with Captain Sonny of Aikane Fishing. This is a 40 foot boat. It is the only deep sea fishing company on the island that allows you to keep what you catch. The boat was rocking and rolling on 4 to 5 foot seas. It was pretty rough. Almost the entire group of guys got sick overboard on multiple occasions. When they weren't fishing Captain Sonny suggested that they lay horizontal to feel better. Hubby was super queasy but was one of the only to not throw up. He decided not to touch any of the food he brought, so he was starving when he got home.

One of their catches was a twenty pound Mahimahi.

Captain Sonny raised the yellowfin tuna and mahimahi flags to symbolize what was caught.

Six yellowfin tuna and a mahimahi.

At the dock Captain Sonny filleted the fish for the guys. He also cut up some yellowfin and gave the guys some sashimi. Sashimi is the name for yellowfin tuna (also known as ahi) when it is served raw. Captain Sonny also gave the guys some ono (delicious in Hawaiian) secret recipes.

Hubby had a good time. He plans to go again, perhaps later in 2008 when the water temperature is more ideal and the fish are more plentiful.

So here I am with my appetizer for Christmas dinner...sashimi. I wasn't too sure about it, initally. But I have learned a lot about eating fresh fish here. It doesn't taste fishy. I don't know how to explain it...but it is like a whole different flavor. Hubby made the yellowfin for me three different ways: breaded, grilled, and raw.

Christmas Eve Service

This is the first year Son1 held a candle during the Christmas Eve service. He was taken with the hand bell choir, the Christmas nativity, and the carols.

Birthday Party for Jesus

We really wanted Son1 to understand the granduer of the Christmas season, that Jesus Christ was born, and that is why we celebrate. We planned a birthday party for Jesus. Our plan included a reinactment of the Christmas story, a nativity craft, and some play time. With the characters arriving at different times (understandable with the business of the Christmas season) we passed on the reinactment of the Christmas story. We had some pizza and made our nativity craft, though. Everyone got a chance to bounce in the bounce house, though. We would like to make the party an annual tradition.

Playing Chess

Some of the men were playing chess at the birthday party for Jesus. Son1 calls them the "Big Friends." After they left, Son1 pulled out the pieces again, and the chess clock. Daddy sat and explained how to play. Son1 is good for about the first three moves.

Brothers

Open wide, brother!

Ok, but make sure you don't miss my mouth! It has to make it all in my mouth!

These Farmers DO NOT Grow Ears of Corn!

It happened before my very eyes, as in literally less than 3 feet from me. Son1 had an unpopped kernel of popcorn in his hands, and in less than 2 seconds, he put the kernel to his ear, and cried, "Oh no, Mommy!" I gasped. As if frozen in place, I called for Hubby in the next room. "He just shoved a popcorn kernel down his ear!!" And Hubby, not one one to become easily alarmed, really questioned the situation. So he asked Son1 if he had a popcorn kernel shoved down his ear. Poor little guy. He didn't know what to answer, but his eyes gave him away. He wasn't sure if he was in big trouble. So he put his finger in his ear and gave it a good twist. No, no, no!

My gut tightened and a memory from about 27 years ago flashed in my mind. There I sat, in the emergency room on a bed, held down by a couple of nurses in my red Christmas pajamas, with 2 emergency room doctors dousing my ear canal with first cold water, and then warm water. My mom looked on with glassy eyes, not letting a tear fall. I knew Son1 was telling the truth. Once upon a time I snuck some pearl earrings of my mom's into my pierced ears. The stone was loose and fell down my ear canal. When Son1 put his finger in his ear he unintentionally shoved the kernel down farther down the canal. I could just feel it in my gut.

Hubby peered down that little canal, and sure enough, about half an inch from the opening peeped out the pointy tip of the kernel. Hubby cocked Son1's head toward one side and tried to give it a good shake. Nothing. He fetched some tweezers that are about 6 or 8 inches long and Son1's eyes got really wide. I pulled him up in my lap, held back his flailing arms, and pinned his legs. Hubby tried several times to steady the tweezers and go down the canal, but Son1 would not have it. We became frightened that if Son1 moved just so, we might rupture his ear drum. I suggested we go to the emergency room a few times. But Hubby thought he might dislodge the golden problem from Son1's ear on his own. Besides, the doctors would probably start with tweezers. If Son1 wasn't going to sit still for us, he was MOST DEFINITELY not going to sit still for strangers. Sigh. I just wanted this to be over.


The kernel was lodged past the (b) above. The tip of the kernel that we could see from the outer ear was past the (b) point.

We tried for several minutes to get him still enough to use the tweezers in his ear. We tried bribing him with a lollipop. I sang Frosty the Snowman to distract him. We hugged him. We loved him. We prayed for God to protect him. We threatened him with growing a cornstalk out of his ear, and popcorn popping out of his body. Nothing convinced him. Hubby suddenly thought to vacuum the kernel out of him. No, that would be too loud. Well, how about if he tried to suction it out of his ear? So he tried three times. He took three deep breaths, and made three attempts to vacuum up the kernel with the force of his deep breaths. Nothing. So we tried again to convince him that the only way was to use these tweezers to get the kernel up. Besides, we could see the kernel's little tip. We could get it out if he just allowed us. We pretended to pluck something out of Son2's ear. Then Daddy's ear, and then Mommy's ear. Come on, let's just try. It won't hurt.

"NO DADDY!" Son2 grabbed his Daddy's face and pulled it close to his nose. "YOU KISS MY EAR! YOU KISS MY EAR!" So, I thought quickly. "Ohhh. He wants you to suction it out of his ear, again!" Skeptically, Hubby agreed. So with all of his might he made a suction with his mouth and drew in deep breaths. Over and over. What do you know, that little kernel budged! Slowly that little tip became more visible. Then it started to poke out. It was working!!! So Hubby tried over and over and up it came. Son1 enjoyed the counter pressure as the kernel became dislodged. His crumpled little mouth started to straighten, and then finally turned up some corners. "Again Daddy! Again!" The plan was to get the kernel up to the mouth of the ear canal, and use tweezers to pull it out. The kernel appeared larger and larger in the canal as it crept up. Hubby reached for his tweezers. "NO DADDY!! YOU KISS MY EAR!" So Hubby gave me an optimistic look, pulled the skin around Son1's ear tightly to expose the kernel. He suctioned more and more with his deep breaths. Finally, even though we were all expecting it, we all stared in disbelief when out popped that kernel!

Hoorray! Daddy was thrilled and so was Son1. My stomach loosened from its tightened state. We had a little talk again about not putting things down any body orifices, and let him pick up the kernel with some tweezers. No more corn or popcorn of any kind for our family, any time soon!

Christmas Field Trip

Hubby came home on an earlier than expected flight from his trip back East this month. He traveled about 13 hours home, and got home late on a Thurs night, with a 5 hour time difference. This was great timing. I was going to skip Son1's field trip, but since Daddy could watch the baby, and nap when the baby napped, I was able to go. Well, that made sense to me. But not to my three year old.

"Mommy is going to go with you on the big bus today."

"Noooooo, Mommy! YOU stay home with Son2. DADDY is going on the big bus with me."


I was disappointed. But I let it go. He had been clamoring for Daddy to come home for 2 weeks. So off they went, a jet lagged Hubby and a thrilled Son1.


The first stop was City Hall. For the last 23 years the mayor and the city council has hosted the Honolulu City Lights tour at City Hall. The decorations are amazing.

This is the Lanakila train, which means victory, named for the royal train that once rode O'ahu rails. It is in honor of Queen Lili'uokalani, who enjoyed riding the train. A menehune (warrior) hangs out giving the shaka sign (hang loose).


See the snowmen? He is wearing a Hawaiian shirt and the little one is holding a surf board.


The landmark Christmas tree decorated with huge candies and pointsettias at the foot of it, along with Hawaiian gourds.



Inside of City Hall different businesses set up a Christmas display.

Then the kids headed toward the Fun Factory at Ala Moana shopping Center. Daddy treated Son1 to Islands and took Son1 to do some shopping for me. It was an exhausting day.

Our Pancake Paradise

Earlier this year when I was pregnant with Son2, I was talking story with our neighbors about this breakfast place I had never tried, called Sandy's Cafe. They went on and on about this place and the stuffed french toast, crater pancakes (as in a volcanic crater), the kalua pig plate, the fruit crepes, Hawaiian syrups, and the spinach and cheese omlette with whipped eggs and special cheese cream sauce, ALL HOMEMADE LOCAL STYLE. My body yelled, "Stop! Stop!". I went inside and told Hubby I knew where we were eating breakfast on Saturday. He agreed.

Sandy's is located in a gated retirement community by my house. We arrived at the front gate and punched in the code to the restaurant. Just as we parked, Hubby got a little skeptical. Ugh. Not now...please, my pregnant body couldn't handle him backing out now. He was uneasy about intruding in a senior citizen community. Oh, but I insisted!! We pulled open the door to the restaurant, and half the people inside were young families. Sandy's is a good little secret. They cannot advertise, per the homeowners association, and their prices are reasonable, for folks on a fixed income. Sandy's is all just word of mouth, and full every time we go for breakfast. The breakfast food is like no other on this island, not even Eggs and Things. Life is just slower at Sandy's. We get undivided server attention. It is family owned and run. They remember our family's favorites. They don't have the speediest service, but for some reason, no one seems to care. Maybe it is the Hawaiian music playing.

They all know Son1 and what he likes: fluffy pancakes, homemade strawberry syrup with whipped cream, and a side of fried rice. Every now and then they will also make him what they call "over hard" eggs.





I usually try and feed the little guy before we go, but earlier this month he proved to us that he is ready to eat at Sandy's, too!!

Back in the Beltway

Hubby barely squeaked out a win....maybe it was an early Christmas present...ha ha.

The third mama to ask us about an arranged marriage, and Son1 was barely weeks old. We would be honored. :)

Thanks for great dinner and conversation...next time if Wifey comes we WILL play HEARTS.

Thanks for lunch....it was yummy. Looks like summer, huh? The next day it looked like this:

Freezing! Great food, and even greater gaming.


Ranger Buddies

A picture of the fairy godmother that landed us in Hawaii. Aloha....


Look at that alphabet...JDP, CPA. CONGRATS. Thanks for driving down.

We Got a Wii

Best to get Wiis from Costco. They are sold with a bundle package. I got the inside scoop from the Costco manager. Wiis were shipped from Los Angeles to Honolulu on December 12. They take 7 to 10 days to arrive. If I really wanted one, I could be at the store each morning when it opened. They would come in on the night shipment, and generally they are totally sold out in less than 10 minutes. 24 were set to arrive on the next shipment. I was willing to schedule the baby's morning nap around the opening of the store this week, but Hubby told me not to go out of my way. That was on the December 18. Here is what happened NEXT.

Friday 12/21, 9am: Friend's wife from work gets a Wii at Best Buy, where 30 are available in Pearl City. She gets back in line. Oh, I'll just get one for Mr. Farmer. 3 left. Sorry. 1 per customer. Hubby misses out.

Friday 12/21. 1:30pm: Hubby stops at Best Buy. People looking for Wiis walk out empty handed. So does Hubby.

Friday 12/21. 2:00pm: Hubby leaves Costco. No Wiis have come in all week. This means that the shipment on 12/12 has not come in, either.

Saturday 12/22 8:43am. Today marks 10 days after Wiis have left Los Angeles to Honolulu for Hawaii shelves. Farmer family is getting ready for the morning. I tell Hubby that Costco opens in 17 minutes. He jumps in the shower. I tell him if he wants a Wii he better MOVE FASTER.

Saturday 12/22 8:46am. Hubby is showered and ready to go.

Saturday 12/22 8:48am. Son1 is showered. Locked and loaded to go in his car seat, ready for gymnastics. Hubby is sans wallet. Mission to find wallet is ON.

Saturday 12/22 8:51am. Hubby and Son1 pull out of the driveway on the way to Costco.

Saturday 12/22 9:01am. Hubby and Son1 are standing in line at Costco for a Wii. Parking lot is totally full. No signs of any Wiis. Hubby asks if any Wiis are available. Everyone says they don't know. Yet many in line ahead of him are Costco employees he recognizes (we are there that often) and not on the clock. Hmmm. Why were so many in line? Hubby takes his place in line, #12. Yes, #12 one minute after store opens.

Saturday 12/22 9:12am. Palette dropped, containing 24 Wiis. Products are prescanned and ready to charge to patrons' Costco American Express cards.

Saturday 12/22 9:16am. No more Wiis.

Saturday 12/22 10am. Son1 is at gymnastics. Wii is in trusted car, hiding under a blanket.

It Pays to Go to Work

Hubby's work had a family day yesterday. My kids were dressed in cute red Hawaiian shirts. I grinned when we pulled up and Hubby came out wearing a red Hawaiian shirt, too. I hadn't seen him leave for work, but I was glad he thought to wear red. What a picture! Plus I had some clothes on that just made me look so cute...ok, I am just being honest. Anyway, we pick Hubby up, and we park waaaayyyy far away because the lot for employees is full. So, we are getting Son2 into his stroller, and I tell Hubby I want to take my camera to take our picture. And he tells me there is no way I am going to get into the building with it, and that I needed to leave my cell, too. He wasn't very convincing. I told him I knew someone was going to get away with taking pictures. Couldn't I just put it in the bottom of my stroller? And he tells me that there is going to be a complete bag search and NO I am not going to get away with it.

So, we make the long 1/4 mile walk (long when you have kids with you) to the front door of the building. Sure enough, I am asked for a bag search and point blank, "Ma'am do you have any cell phones or cameras with you?"

"Oh, noooooo, " I assured him. "I was told that I would get in very big trouble and there was no way I was going to sneak anything past you." I told him this in my most convincing voice. He smiled at me, and pulled out the extra lithium ion battery to my camera that I forgot in my diaper bag, and stands with it poised between his thumb and forefinger. Look what he found!

"Ma'am, do you happen to have any memory sticks to your camera, CDs or SD cards?" Now what would make him think that, after I just had been so honest?

"No, no. I just forgot the camera battery. Really, I don't have anything like that with me." After a few minutes I was waved in to proceed.

I followed Hubby into the building. He showed us his office and a little around the building. He went to another office, and used the TV/video phone to call us back in his office, and Son1 got a big kick out of waving to Daddy on TV. They have this big wall for video that was showing a cartoon movie. WOW just like a movie theater. I can only imagine what he will tell his preschool teacher after Christmas.

Then, after we got some lunch and brought it back to Hubby's office, we heard something over the loud speaker. I strained to make out what they were saying. Raffle tickets, those are raffle ticket numbers!!!! And you know how I am about contests, in general. "Hubby, YOU DID BUY RAFFLE TICKETS DIDN'T YOU???" Well, you know he gave me a knowing look. We are two peas in a pod when it comes to competition and games. He pulls out the pink tickets, as they are reading the number for the second time, and what do you know the Farmers are winners!!! Imagine that...

Hubby claims his prize and hands me a long Christmas card. Long Christmas cards mean one thing. Money. I folded back the blue Christmas scene, and yup, right there is a $50 bill. They should have these family days more often.

Seeing Santa

We don't live too far from the infamous North Shore, where many surfers surf to live. Our Costco and Wal Mart are the closest ones to the North Shore.

Surfing isn't just for the sterotypical guys in their 20s. Some of the better surfers have been surfing for decades and are older. So, at Costco we see will see guys with bleached mullets, white matted hair, and blond locks. They most probably are surfers. And since these guys are so into growing the hair on their head, it is no surprise they have beards, and other facial hair.

Son1 has taken to shouting at the top of his voice...LOOK MOMMY I SEE SANTA at these men recently. This has been embarrassing. The other day I was in a hurry out of Costco, trying to avoid someone I hadn't seen in awhile. He was with his kids, and I knew that we would have to "talk story" as they say in Hawaii about their recent trip to the mainland. So I am pushing my cart as fast as it can go (they don't call them carts here, they are called wagons) and then Son1 belts out LOOK MOMMY THERE HE IS...THERE IS SANTA to precisely to the man I was trying to avoid. Luckily he didn't hear.

Christmas Cards

I just got back from Wal Mart. I stood there, overanalyzing the Christmas cards. I really wanted the nativity kind for $3.00 for 30 cards. They were a great deal. The particular set I wanted was pretty evangelical in the different inscriptions. They say much more than Jesus is the Reason for the Season. They talk about the dwelling of Christ, the fulfillment of Jesus Christ, fullness of His joy, Father of Lights, and setting our hearts at rest in His presence. And a thought crossed my mind that maybe I should go with the cute Mele Kalikimaka (Hawaiian Merry Christmas) ones for the folks that are getting cards that may not be Christians. A fleeting thought...nah...if they don't like it, so what? They are getting Starbucks cards inside anyway. Besides, Jesus didn't just come for the people who know Him....

Christmas Fumes

Last night Hubby said, "You must be running on Christmas fumes! How do you have so much energy when you are getting so much less sleep than me?" And I had no answer...just some giggles.

More Christmas Stuff Around Here

Recently I participated in a blog ornament exchange, where I got the Hawaiian angel. My exchange partner read much of my blog and learned of my Competitive Spirit, and also how I love tea. Surprise, she sent some tea ornaments, specifically for my Competitive Spirit. Believe it or not, Hubby is totally taken with these ornaments! I am too! I adore them!

Hubby has had a few different Christmas functions already. He had a lunch function with most everyone that works with him was last Friday. They had the gift exchange where you can steal a gift up to three times. Well, this is what he won.Hubby picked this jumbo box on the table...it was the largest one, much too large for the frog jester. Well, this frog just isn't the best gift in the world, so no one stole him from Hubby. Afterward the gift giver came and confessed himself to Hubby. He had gone to Ross and picked the ugliest thing he could find. Then he found the largest box he could find and put the frog jester inside. He figured that no one would want to steal something unattractive. He was right. But what he did not tell anyone was that he hid a $20 gift card to Starbucks under the back of the frog's shirt.

Now this is the first time I have put up this tree. I hung all the Christmas cards on it and threw Son1's reindeer antlers on top. I haven't even sent ours out yet! Hopefully TODAY. Put us on your refrigerator or on your lighted palm tree when we get to your house! If you don't think I have your snail mail address email me!

Walk Through Bethlehem

We took Son1 and Son2 on a Walk Through Bethlehem, hosted by a local church. When we first arrived we were greeted by Roman guards. We had to go and register our family name at the census, in Bethlehem. These guards were gentle. They offered Son1 their shield to hold.Once we registered our family name, we were seranaded by some town musicians, while we waited for our guide.

Since Bethlehem was under Ceasar's rule, we were stopped by guards and questioned to make sure we had registered our family name. We had to pass through this area of blind beggars, and homeless people, before we could get to the marketplace. I was glad Son1 wasn't frightened because it was very realistic. Hubby's favorite part was the guy that was stowed under the sewer grate and was throwing his hands up through the grate. Yuck. After we went through the beggar alley, we finally arrived at the marketplace. Zacheus made sure we had paid our taxes. The marketplace was well set up for the tour of Bethlehem. It looked like a real farmer's market (no relation to us, ha ha). Here Son1 is checking out the pommegranates and grapes. He sampled a lot of stuff at the marketplae. One vendor offered me some dates. "Ohhhh, I have never had dates." So the vendor looked at me curiously and said, "Oh, I am sure you have. Isn't that your husband?" Ha ha. That is some Bethlehem humor for you.

These women at the well are gossipping about Mary, the mother of Jesus. Son1 was really interested in this angel's wings by this point. And just for extra measure to make we were watching, she continually flapped them, just because she could. Yeah...that totally enthralled Son1.

We continued through and watched some rabbinical teaching in a boys' school and found the inn keeper counting money.

He encouraged us to go out to the stable and find Mary, Joseph and Jesus. But along the way we encountered shephers quaking at the sight.....and see this chorus of angels...singing Alleluia.

Soon after we found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus, and the magi, in the last scene. It was raining, and it was way past Son2's bed time, so we wandered a little past the food table and rather quickly went home. The cast did a great job, though. It was a thorough 11 scenes

Bathtub Independence

I am going to skip the story because it is too exhausting to think about. Just know I opened a Johnson and Johnson shampoo bottle yesterday and the rest of it was used in an adventure during bathtime when I wasn't watching, this evening. Just think: Many wet and soapy towels, sudsy hair that was rinsed several times, and a soaking bath rug. And super slippery floors. I started to get a little upset and frustrated when suddenly Son1 started tugging on my waist. He threw his arms around me and said, "NO MOMMY (grin, grin) you are HAPPY, you are HAPPY, Mommy." And I hugged my little munchkin back. I giggled and returned his grin. "You're right. Mommy IS happy." Yup, happy that I get to parent my inquisitive little one, and honor him for being three years old.