Trick or Treat!

For Halloween this year, we decided to have a party at our house.  This is the first year Wes has been home for Halloween (last year the boat left on Halloween day so he didn't get to trick or treat with us).  And, in good Meador family fashion, we had family-themed costumes.  Take a look...

Strawberry Shortcake and Blueberry Muffin

The Peculiar Purple Pieman from Porcupine Peak

And, what was Mommy?  She was Lemon Meringue.  (Picture soon to follow.)

"Aunt" Sandy joined us again this year with her bubbling cauldron.  She had the delighted treat of handing out our candy....

Pumpkin' Pickin'

Here on the island, we get one season.... summer.  It's wonderful, except for one time of the year (for me anyway).  I love Autumn.  The colors, the leaves, the crisp air, apple cider, pumpkin pie, Thanksgiving foods, the scents of fall.... the list is endless for me.  This time of year I really do miss home in Tennessee with the rolling hills and mountains full of colorful oranges, yellows and reds.  I ask my parents every year to send me pictures when the leaves change.

So, while we are still on this rock, we have one way to experience autumn.... the pumpkin patch.  We try to go every year so the girls can see the pumpkins, pick one out and then later "help" us carve it.  I just thought I would share a few pictures from the patch this year.  I was surprised to see they had sunflowers this time.

Gwyn with the sunflowers

I love, love, love this picture.  They held hands without me asking.

One of our pumpkins.

Brooke found her a pumpkin, too.

The girls sitting amid the Cinderella pumpkins.

Ode to Chewbacca

Rest in Peace, Chewbacca.  You lived a long and happy four-year life as our beloved gold fish.  Oh the many days of children tapping on the fish tank, swatting you with the net to get you in the bucket (to clean the tank), and watching you eat more food than a human could eat....

So long.  You will be forever missed.

Happy Birthday, Gwyn!

Four years ago, labor day took on a whole new meaning to me.  I was in labor.  I had started contractions around midnight on labor day.  And they just kept coming.  After 36 hours of active labor, little miss Gwyneth Jane appeared before our very eyes.  She was beautiful!

That was the day Wes and I became parents for the very first time.  It's been one very interested ride, so far.  Today, Gwyn is four years old (and going on 13).  She is funny, silly, shy around crowds, creative and most importantly - just Gwyn.  I am one proud mommy of this little girl.  Or shall I say, little lady?!

I asked Gwyn about 6 weeks ago what kind of birthday party she wanted.  On several occasions, she replied "Strawberry Shortcake".  So, Strawberry Shortcake it is.  I never thought it would have been so difficult to find SSC anything on this island.  What a nightmare!!!  Needless to say, we had a strawberry party with SSC highlights....

(Thank heavens for the Cricut I borrowed from a friend.)

Some centerpieces were strawberry plants, some were strawberries and others were full of strawberry bon bons.

The party favors.

 For the food, we had Strawberry Shortcake Friend inspired dishes....

Raspberry Torte's Warm Brie with Raspberries and Almonds

Plum Pudding's Pulled Pork with Plum BBQ Sauce

Pupcake's Pups in a Blanket

With those, we also had Blueberry Muffin's Summer Blueberry Salad and Orange Blossom's Orange Chicken.  I had Lemon Meringue's Lemon Rice, but it wasn't ready in time for lunch.  Oh well, you win some, you loose some.  It finally cooked just in time for cake....LOL.

Speaking of cake....

Strawberry Shortcake's House 

Sorry, this isn't a very good picture.

Here it is at the party.  The darn thing started to settle on me.  So it doesn't look as good.

Along with the pool and playground, we had a strawberry pinata.  This was HILARIOUS!!!  I loved seeing all the kids take turns whacking this pinata.  But, this strawberry wasn't giving up the ghost so easily.  It took another parent (thanks Tina) and me to knock it down and then rip it apart.

Birthday Girl and her cake

Gwyn and Gabriella

Many thanks go out to all who came to celebrate Gwyn's birthday.  I couldn't have asked for anything better.  Also, thanks for all her presents.  We had to open everything as soon as we walked in the door.

Our New Favorite Island Excursion

A few months ago, Wes went up to the Kaneohe Bay Marine base and applied for his boating license.  With this, we can rent a pontoon boat for four hours and ride around in the Kaneohe Bay.

My parents have just about done everything they possibly could on Oahu.  I feel better this visit because we all went to the Big Island.  (See earlier post.)  But, one thing we haven't done on Oahu is rent a pontoon boat.  Today was the day!!

This morning we hopped on board the #5 pontoon boat at the marina.  We piled all our stuff: life jackets, cooler, towels, etc. and headed out to the sand bar.  I was the lucky duck chosen to jump in the water and anchor the boat in the sand.  Let's just say the water is a little chilly, only about 80 degrees.

Oh Captain, my Captain

Anchored at the sand bar

Sporting the dreaded life jacket.  She hated it!

Splashing in the ocean

This is about as much as I will ever post of myself in a bathing suit.

Wes's First Mate learning the ways of the sea.

I have to say that this was one of the best activities we have done in a while.  I can't wait to take the family again.  If anyone ever wants to join us, come on over.  We love visitors!

Gwyn's 3yr, 11mo Birthday Present

I know, I know.  She's isn't four just yet.  But, the grandparents wanted to see Gwyn get her birthday present.  (I blame them, not Wes....LOL).

Shhh, it's a surprise....

Gwyn's new bike

Brooke's new bike...(yes, it's Lightening McQueen).

They see the bikes for the first time....

Getting their helmets on and ready to ride....

I am sure you notice here that Brooke is no longer riding her new bike.  She seems to prefer the Radio Flyer we already had.  We're not too sure she's ready for the training wheels.  Not yet anyway!

The three of us climb on our bikes for a little rounding.

Ahem, Can I Have Your Attention?

Now that I have your attention.... I have to take a moment to brag a little bit on my dearest, talented husband.  I know most of the time you read about our two little girls.  But this is something I just had to share.

Our church podium was in need of a little tender, loving care.  Here is what it looked like:

From the front, you can see that the fabric covering the podium was "weathering" a tad.  (It used to be bright white.)

Wes and I were asked to recover it.  I guess my fabric magic spells have reached many ears by now.  But who needs fabric when you can use wood!!  Wes picked up the podium from the church building on Sunday, the 8th.  Monday night, we stripped it down to it's bare bones.

Tuesday night, Wes took it to the mystical, magical wood workshop and started transforming it into something better.

And then Wednesday night.....

Finally, Thursday night....

Isn't it amazing?  If you ask Wes, he will tell you not to look too closely.  However, I disagree.  I think he has a talent for wood and for detail.  (To brag on him even more, he built me a jewelry box a few years ago for my birthday that is absolutely beautiful.)

At this stage, the podium was mine.  I don't understand why the men in my family do not like to paint.  I love it!!  And so, painting the inside of the back and polyurethane-ing the outside was my job.

There is a plexi-glass protector on the top surface to give the preacher a complete flat surface to work with and to protect the monitor.

I wish we had taken a picture of the podium before we ever moved it from the pulpit so there would be a side-by-side comparison.  Nevertheless, I think you can tell that it looks much better.  I am quite proud of Wes and his handy work.  He put several hours in working on it.