A House Full of Thanks!

This year, I wanted the house full of friends (old and new) for Thanksgiving.  I wanted the bar to be piled high with lots of yummy food.  I wanted desserts galore.  And you know what?  I got it!!

I am so grateful for all my friends who were able to come and celebrate Thanksgiving with us this year.  We had such a spread!!

A huge thanks to the Killackey's for roasting one of the most amazing turkeys I've had in a long time.

I would also like to thank all those who brought food as well:  Amy Manke, Lisa Mahan, Lillian Lee, Carol Killackey, April Bullard, Mandi Stieb, Kimberly Robertson, and others.  (I hope I didn't miss anyone.)

Please excuse the messy kitchen.  And for some reason, we didn't take a picture of all the desserts.  I have no idea how we missed it.

Aloha, Hilo!

So, as I said in my last post, my cousin is here visiting.  She likes to come every year (for the past three years) to Hawaii to visit us around Halloween and the beginning of November.  This year, we decided that she needed to experience another island and not just Oahu all the time.  We've been there and done that!

Just after the color run, we sped home all colored and sweaty to shower and finish packing.  We had a plane to catch in just a few hours.  To Hilo, here we come.

I won't write about EVERYTHING we did, because this post would be miles long.  But here are a few highlights....

Taking a quick walk around the neighborhood of the rental house....

Helicopter rides... 

Kilauea National Park.....

The volcano at night.

The one and only family photo during the entire trip.

The Lava Tree Park...

Aunt Sandy!!

The Pana'ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens...

Coconut Island...

Ahalanui State Park...

This is a tide pool that is heated by a lava tube.  When we got in the first time, the water was about 85-90 degrees.  It was like bath water!!

Color, Color Everywhere

For the first time in Hawaii, the Color Run was held November 3rd.  It's a 5k (true) fun run where volunteers throw powered color at you while you run.  You start out in a very clean, white t-shirt and end in nothing white but colored from head to toe.

My cousin, Sandy - who is also a runner, was coming for a visit in late October and just in time for the Color Run.  So, some friends, Wes, Sandy and I formed the team called "Hue Did It!".  We even made our own t-shirts!!

Here is the before picture:

Me, Wes and Sandy 

Courtesy of Gwyn for taking our picture.

 And, the after picture.....

Underneath all the color, there's Wes, me and Sandy.

A huge thanks to Ally for finding this run and putting together the team.  And many thanks to Lisa for joining us in the run!!

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.