February

Yes, this is July, but I'm so behind on blogging that I'm doing a post about things we did in February haha.
So, one of my favorite places to go as a child was the Punahou Carnival!  Call me crazy but I've gone every single year since I was about 3yrs old (with the exception of when I was away at college and when I gave birth about a week before the carnival in 2008). I don't know what it is about carnival... maybe the yummy food, the games, rides, art exhibits, the exciting energy, or maybe I just love it because I've been going my entire life.  I just really love it. Punahou School should be thanking me for all the money I've donated at carnival.

 on the car ride there

 view from my mom's apartment across the street

 in line to get scripts (the game tent is way less crowded when trying to buy scripts)

 love the fried noodles!

 rides of course!

 She loved the "dinosaur ride"

 we went back at night!

she decided she could sit by one of the game booth operators before playing the game

and of course she had to pick out a necklace... such a girly girl

chocolate dipped ice cream face

                                             Until next year...

The Month of January

     Happy New Year! I know... it's already February, but I'm trying to catch up on my blogging.  

This month, Ava started a ballet and tap dance class!  She loves it so much and is even able to stay in class all by her self!  She also started going to nursery with out mommy or daddy (2 weeks so far and we hope it continues)!  

     Also, we celebrated Ava's 3rd Birthday on January 27!  I just can't believe how fast she is growing! Everyone always says that, but I seriously don't know how the time disappears.  

Getting ready for her second ballet/tap class on her 3rd Birthday!

   

Her Birthday Dinner at California Pizza Kitchen right after ballet class.  She convinced her Grandma and Papa to take her to eat pizza for her birthday... and of course she got her wish! 

Birthday Crown silliness

3 candles and 1 for good luck!

The fam at Ava's CPK dinner.

      Ava told us that she wanted to have a birthday party at the beach and invite her friends.  Since we didn't do the traditional 1st Birthday Luau (which is usually really, really huge in Hawaii) and we only did a small family get together for her 2nd Birthday, we decided to give her the party she wanted.  We had lots, and I mean lots of food.  There were hamburgers and hot dogs, sushi, chow fun, spaghetti, butter mochi, desserts, and the list goes on!  The kids played and swam at the beach.  Ava had a blast!

Pink and Purple are her absolute favorite colors

Happy Birthday Ava!

Christmas Time!

Christmas Tree Decorating! Ava really got into it this year.

 She loved putting the ornaments on.

The finished project.

 At our annual Secret Santa party, Ava got a new purple piggy friend who she insisted needed to be in the picture.

 At the Annual Christmas Eve party, Ava joined in the music making to welcome Santa, but when it was her turn to sit on Santa's lap, she refused.  She loves Christmas, but despises Santa and won't go near him.  Daniel has had many phone conversations with Santa telling him that he is not welcome in our home and that he should drop off the presents outside.  

 Daddy sitting on Santa for Ava so she could get her Christmas Eve present.

 Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Train

Ava was so excited to ride the Christmas Train at Ala Moana Shopping Center with her cousins.

 Ava and CC got all buckled in on the train. Ava then asked if the adults were going to join them for the ride...

 After discovering her Mommy wasn't riding the train, and multiple explanations that Mommy would walk right along side the train so there was no need for worry, Ava insisted on getting off. She then proceeded to give her Mommy the stink eye for the next few minutes. 

 Ava was so upset she even had to complain to her cousin Zach (who refused to ride the train too)...

 The Brave CC... the only cousin who rode the train. 

 Having a snack after the train fiasco. 

 

Birthday Weekend

On November 19, I turned the big 27! Daniel and Ava took me to eat at a place called Shabu Shabu House. My brothers-in-law and future sister-in-law joined us in this ethnic adventure. This was my first experience eating this type of food... apparently it's Japanese, and considering I'm Japanese and have never eaten this before, shocks me!  So what is Shabu Shabu you ask?  Well, they have a little pot of boiling water on your table heated by a small burner.  You are given an assortment of raw vegetables and meat, and you drop these into the water to cook it.  It doesn't sound very tasty since it's cooked in just boiling water, but after you cook it, you dip it into different sauces.  The sauces they had made it soooo yummy!  I loved it!

Daniel even made me a cake with the help of Ava.  It looks pretty interesting, but I promise it was delicious!

That weekend, we went to the beach for a b-day beach day with the Hastings Family.    

We were blessed with some nice weather.

Ava jumped off cliffs into the water... actually, got dropped into Daddy's arms in the water.

 Ava just adores little Tristan!

The splashing game  

After Tristan was done splashing Ava, she tried to get him back, 

but her splashing technique wasn't as great as Tristan's.  

He got her good this time.

Thanks to everyone who made my 27th birthday so much fun!