Take Me Away {For the Holidays} Tuesday: Hawaii

Christmastime through out my childhood was always set to music.  I spent so much time at my grandparents' house, and during the holidays, whenever we did something  especially Christmas-y like decorate the tree, wrap gifts, or bake cookies  we would play one of the many holiday records on the record player.  My favorite by far was Bing Crosby's Merry Christmas album, and one of my favorite songs was, "Mele Kalikimaka." 

"Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say, on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day, it's the island  greeting that they send to you, from the land where palm trees sway! Here we know our Christmas will be green and bright, the sun will shine by day and all the stars at night. Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way of saying Merry Christmas to you! "    I just love that song so much!  Also I have always wanted to go to Hawaii, I mean, who hasn't?   My grandparents visited Hawaii a handful of times in the 80s and they always went in December, and really I think that would be the best time of year to visit!   Would somebody please take me away to Hawaii for the holidays?  

Something Special: Halloween Trick or Treat

Here are a few pictures of how I spent my Halloween day and evening.  I love making Halloween all about my kids, getting to go to their school to help with their classroom parties and costume parade is such a special thing to me. I also love our group of neighborhood friends that we go trick or treating with each year.  The kids always have such a blast with all of their friends and I am sure  they are making memories that will last their lifetime.

My mermaid and pirate before heading to school for their parties

Arrgh Matey it's Captain Will

Walking in her school's costume parade

This kid had the BEST minion costume ever.. maybe the best costume all together

 

Will's buddy, Nicholas, as Ditka

 

My pirate and I at his classroom party

passing out candy at work

 

Pre-trick or treat dinner.. bloody mummies and brains

 

Our trick or treating crew!

 

Something Special

My grandma used to have a grand collection of these Halloween cut-outs that she had collected through the 60s 70s and 80s very similar to these.  When I was little I loved helping her tape them up to her huge picture window every October. I remember I was always a little scared of the witch though.

School's out for the summer!!

Wow!  It's Memorial Day weekend!!!  Summer-time is here again! 

My kids are out of school and its crazy how much they have changed  in the short 9 months of the school year, check out these pictures of them from the first day of school to the last.

My daughter has gone from little girl to full blown Tween

 

 

My son has grown out of his chubby cheeked baby face

 

 

 

I am looking forward to many things this summer--  vacation to California, lazy days by the pool, seeing out-door theater productions, and so much more.   Summer always seems to be prime memory making time!  What are some plans you are looking forward to this season?

I'm Rootin For You, Valentine! DIY

Today is the Valentine's day party in my daughter's 4th grade class.  She always wants to bring something a little different from the usual boxed valentines you can buy at Wal-Mart, Target, or where-ever.  This year we did this:

We found the basic idea of soda pop  valentines on Pinterest.  Shaylee came up with the greeting, "I'm rootin' for you to have a great Valentine's Day" herself.   She wanted a phrase that didn't sound like she might "like, like a person..."  so wishing her friends to have a great day was a good call!

I just made a little design using clip art  in a Word Document and then printed them out on card stock.  Unfortunately, my printer was out of colored ink, and I didn't have any colored paper on hand... If I were to do these again, the tags would for sure be more colorful.

Then, just cut out the hearts, punch a hole for the ribbon, and tie to the cans... easy peasey and I am sure the kids will love it... the best part the root beer was on sale for $3 a 12 pack, so these valentines only cost a couple dollars more than the little boxed ones.