Hometown Luau

More Summertime posts... this comes to you from a warmer (albeit windier) day in August, when Dave and I attended a luau party we purchased at Drew's school auction.  While I was complaining about the money we spent initially - OMG, this party was over the top!

Here we are at the beginning.  It was kind of funny - Dave walked in the backyard, saw someone wearing his Hawaiian shirt, turned right around and drove home to change.  While he's wearing red here - he came in wearing Navy initially. 


After some delicious Hawaiian BBQ, they had hula dancers around their amazing pool. 


It was like being at a Hawaiian Luau.  The dancers told the story of Hula, Hawaii and various Pacific Islands and their dancing culture.




And then there was a fire dancer!  I told you it was over the top!



We were having a great time!  But it was getting colder and windier by the minute.


And the Fire Dancer moved into the crowd!


At one point she caught her hair on fire.  Oops!  It was really a great party.  We also purchased another auction for a Rager, and I'm pretty sure I posted that on Facebook months ago, I don't think I shared here.

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Adults Only Halloween

Since this week is Thanksgiving I probably should finally get around to blogging about Halloween...

The Saturday before our friends Brian and Stephanie held their annual Halloween party - but this year it was adults only.  Oh boy did that definitely kick things up a notch! 

The only appropriate photo I've seen of Dave and I was taken by our neighbor who was watching Drew for us that night.

Dave was a cartoon-like mobster and I was Sporty Tinker Bell.  My costume is serving a dual purpose - Halloween and I was testing things out for the Tinker Bell half marathon in January.

After dropping Drew off we made our appearance to the party - it was an absolute blast!  It started out with a guest appearance by the Village People performing YMCA.

And we had some politicians stop by...

Costume contests....

It was great hanging out with friends...

But of course Dave knows how to find trouble.  He was busted by the police.

Thankfully Sporty Tink was a good girl and the other officer on the scene (Stephanie) had no reason to make any arrests.

Around 10pm the party really got started as a group of us started dancing to some old school music.  I think this was the most fun part of the night.

Of course it wasn't long after we started dancing that some friends came in to tell me I needed to take Dave home.  He'd had enough and was outside getting sick.  That'll happen when you don't eat anything since lunch and you start drinking like a fish.

I took Dave home, got Drew into bed then went back to the party, but when I arrived around midnight everyone had cleared out.  I guess they were afraid of turning into pumpkins.

The consensus is that this party is a hit without the kiddos.

Around the World Party

Last weekend we finally had a formal get together with our neighbors in a progressive Around the World Party.  Dave and I came up with the idea with one of our other neighbors a few months ago and just roped the others into doing it with us.  Turns out it was a big hit - we're already planning our next themed party.

Well despite this being an around the world party - we only managed to get pictures starting at our house which was the 3rd stop in the "tour" (I didn't want to carry the camera around).

We started across the way with Drew's friend's mom's place... with Bloody Mary's and a Egg casserole.  She had a great spread and we sat out front for people watching and so the kids could ride things through the front yard.

Then we went next door to our other neighbor's for a Mediterranean spread and the best drink ever - Sgroppino, an Italian cocktail.  It was so good I'm making it this weekend with my family.  But we enjoyed appetizers in her backyard before heading to our house for Dave's famous tacos and  Kick Ass Margaritas (that's what they were called at the restaurant he worked at in Santa Monica).

That's when things started to get a bit rowdy....

Yes, feeling "happy" Julie and I start singing on our ladle mic

Our neighbor Lisa is holding the newest addition to the neighborhood... (the baby's family was stop #4)

Lisa joins Julie and I for our great serenade for the "audience"

After embarrassing ourselves plenty, we headed back across the way for stop #4, Vietnamese food with Vietnamese beer (which is really good I might add).  The kids were having a great time running through their house (they have 5 kids... 2 full-time, 3 on weekends).

After eating so much all day, we started to get restless and needed a walk. Someone suggested heading over to the pool....

 Our neigbhor Joe with Christopher (his next door neighbor and Drew's buddy).  I have no clue who the kid is in the background, but he is friends with Joe's family

Drew and Christopher... enjoying their cupcakes.

The temptation to just put their feet in got too great... everyone was soaked!

So if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!  All the boys went in fully clothed.

We've thrown out a few more themed party ideas... I think a 70's party is next on the radar.

Recipe for a Bride

I've waited and waited for my sister to post to her own blog about her wedding shower, but alas the blushing bride-to-be has been a wee bit busy.  Because I can't wait anymore, I'll share with you the photos I have... before the batteries died.  So perhaps someday she'll update with the follow-up pictures.

The shower was a recipe theme - and was held at Mom and Dad's church in Antioch.

Love Beyond Measure - Measuring Spoon Favors.
Below: Recipe for Marriage

Below: Recipe Cards sent with invitations to broaden Lisa's cooking horizons

The Guests: Starring the Bride-to-Be

Soon-to-be In-laws

Mom, Lisa & I

Lisa and Grandma

The bridal party (minus 1) - Me, Lisa and Rana

One of the games: Apron Memory

And that's about when my camera died.  It was a great time and I think Lisa had some wonderful memories - and gifts!

Birthday Party for Jesus

At preschool yesterday the kids had a Birthday party for Jesus. Cake, hats, balloons - the works!  And part of the party was a book exchange - each child was to bring a wrapped book $5 in value or less.  On the tag, their name was supposed to be in the from section, so they wouldn't get the book they brought.

What did Drew get - the book we brought!

It appears other parents were trying to find a book under $5 at Target as well!  I think it's hilarious.  We could've avoided wrapping the preset haha.  Can't wait to read this book tonight!

Christmas PJ Party

Saturday night we had a good old fashioned family night.  It kicked off by all three of us getting in our new Christmas PJs.

Then we started a Christmas Movie Marathon!  Frosty, The Grinch, Charlie Brown Christmas - the works!  I'd laid down a sleeping bag so we could all lay on it to watch the movies and Dave made the popcorn.  Oh and in between movies there was even a little bit of "I'm gonna bust you up" - which is Drew speak for he wants to wrestle.  Yes - there was a three way wrestling match.  The 3-year old won.  He had more energy.

All in all - a wonderful quality family night!  I hope we can make this an annual tradition.

Minnie Party

On Saturday we went to Auntie Lisa's place for a birthday party for our niece Kady who turned two. Cutie that she is, was dressed up like Minnie Mouse and all.

Drew on the other hand was perfectly happy playing with all of his cousin's birthday toys.  Here he's playing with the kitchen but he was enjoying the LeapFrog toy we gave her too.

Drew and Adrina entertaining themselves by doing tricks off the couch.

 GrampC, Dave, Drew, Adrina and one of the son of Lisa's friend were also enjoying all of Kady's toys!

The Birthday Girl getting ready to "blow" her candles out.  I swear that cake was nearly as big as she was.

And then there's Drew "eating" his cupcake.  In his defense he did have a few bites after licking off all the frosting.

It was fun to see how Kady enjoyed her party.  If you want to see more pictures of the birthday girl you have to check out her site.   She'll really know it's her birthday next year... and then watch out!

Turning 3 - The Party

It was a big weekend in our household... not only did a certain little guy turn 3, but he also had a party in his honor!

If you couldn't tell  - it was a Hot Wheels Themed Party.  It was either that or "spinners" and well a windmill themed party wouldn't be so easy to coordinate - so, yes I took the easy way out.

For a second year we attempted  to have it at the Park (last year it rained and we went with plan B at the house).  This year we had a minor panic attack when we realized Memorial Park was so renamed in honor of the 9/11 victims (one who was from our town).  Um, our party was planned on the 9th anniversary of the attacks.... YIKES.

Thankfully the memorials were moved a few cities up, so we lucked out with our park day.  Drew had a great time!!  And it seemed most everyone else did too - despite it being a little warm.

Singing Happy Birthday....

Blowing out his candles...

The Guests...

(The softball crew and their kids - well some of them)

The Family - L-R: Grammy, GG, Uncle Doug, Aunt Connie

GrampC, Uncle Matt & Cousin Kady (she was in love with the sand box)

As well as the party favors and cake!

Of course the big hit was the presents!  Everyone wants to help open them.

L-R: Grammy, Mason, Adrina, Drew, Troy

L-R: Grammy Mason, Troy, Elijah, Drew

One of the big hits this year - the states puzzle
L-R: Me, Grammy, Mason, Adrina, Drew, Troy

The other big hit... the Math Mat.  Drew LOVES anything where he learns through fun.
L-R: Troy, Drew, Mason

Despite the heat, it was an awesome day and Drew couldn't stop talking about it - he literally had dreams about it that night... we can tell because of his sleep talking.