Log Houses

Remember that old toy that uses "logs" to build a log house?! I loved that pioneer toy, whatever it was called. I would just continue to build upwards and never really put a roof on it. And I got a chance to play with it recently, and yep...I kept building the base of the house but didn't bother putting a roof on it. I got to put some fake log furniture in it too. I'm older now so I see the purpose of furniture besides using it to climb on. Oh, nostalgia. Gosh...I'm getting old.

Tools

I need to clean out a number of drawers in the house. Actually, I need to do some better cleaning on certain parts of the house. Life just gets busy. Work and kids, well, it doesn't leave a lot of time for other things. However, having a clean house is a first world problem. And if that's the worst of things, well, it's nothing to complain about. Having said that, I have implemented a special 5 minute clean up each day. After all that needs to be done in a given day, I give 5 minutes to a very certain area and clean it. It really is the mad dash of cleaning. With only 5 minutes, I don't have much time to think which is good. Well, after doing a couple of days of 5 minute clean ups, I realize, I have many more 5 minute days ahead of me. But oooo...I have found more than 1 box cutter, an extra bag of stuff to recycle, clothes that can be given to charity....and the list goes on. So still lots ahead to do, but I feel like I'm making some headway.

Different Lives

I recently got back in touch with an old high school bud. I haven't seen him in years, but when we got together again, it was as if it was just yesterday. So cool. But his life is so different from mine and I am constantly awed by his life. He's extremely athletic having won some medals in some BC Games. I'm sure he could have gone on to the Olympics but he wasn't that interested. He loves the outdoors. He lives in the middle of no-where and loves it. The one thing we do have in common is our love for travelling. However, he is single and can go whenever he wants to. And so I had a good laugh when he said that he was going to go canoeing in the Amazon. You know, anybody else I'd have to question it. With this guy, I'm not because I know he's going to do it. Oh, the adventures this man has been through compared to my life. So different from mine. Yet, I couldn't imagine a different life for him. So cool.

New View

With the start of a new year, I thought I'd try a different look for the blog. This new version has many different ways of reading the blog. I tend to like the sidebar and the flipboard option. But see what works for you! The content is the same. But I just found that the constant scrolling was just not a lot of fun. I figured with the options given on the top left, you can find a way to read the blog that suits you. best. So if you have a preference or have comments about the changes, let me know. I mean, I know that all 9 of you...heck maybe only 7 of you now have so much to say to me about how I structure my blog. =)

Happy 2012!

Hard to believe another year is upon us!  Happy 2012!  

Most years, we spend it with friends out in the boonies.  But that's because they all have families too and finding a family friendly event that doesn't cost a ton of money and has the space to house THAT many kids is difficult.  But my friend has a great place and basically has a whole floor for kids to play in.  So it's perfect! But this year, we spent New Year's Eve with basically the same people but in a different location.  This year it was in Harrison Hot Springs!  Not the most glamourous place as I always see it as a seniors place.  But we were at my friend's parents place out there and it's a stunning house.  It's about a 5 minute walk to the beach, tons of room, and just perfect for get togethers.  I've been there before but it was especially nice to be celebrating there this year.  

Tons of food, great friends to just chill with and the kids all got along fine as they do every year.   At 12 midnight, all the kids took their noisemakers (we're talking pots and pans, bowls, bells and whatever else that could clang) outside to bring in the new year.  Lots of hugs and kisses for everybody.  

Such a simple night but filled with lots of fun, laughter and love.  

As we all stayed over, we all got to spend our New Year's Day with each other too.  We all chipped in to make breakfast and help with the kids.  I cooked and washed dishes because their stove is to die for and I love  washing dishes (not enough to come over and do yours though).  And as usual, the conversation was awesome because they are just awesome people.  
After breakfast, we all went down to the beach to let the kids run off some steam.   They diverted streams, played with sticks and rocks, played whatever crazy games they thought up...it was awesome.  And of course we had to watch the crazy people do their Polar Bear swim.  Yeah, done that before and no need to repeat it.  But we cheered these people on...just thankful that none of us had to do it.  

So a completely chill night and day with some great friends.  Couldn't have asked for a better evening.  

Happy New Year and best wishes to all of you in 2012!

Travelling Hula Girl

Hello!  I'm lovingly referred to as Hula Girl, but my real name is Nafisa!  I've been asked to be a guest blogger on here for my recent trip to Hawaii!  Oh, it was just lovely!   But let me tell you a little bit about myself.  


I was born in Hawaii.  In fact, my grass patch shows the word Hawaii. It's a sign of authenticity.  
I do not know my real age but I know that I've been taken care of by many loving families.  Each one very special.  I've watched children grow, I've been with the elderly and I've watched the world change.  The one thing that wasn't so pleasant was when my arm was broken.  My one family at that time was fixing the fireplace and basically with all the banging and movement, I fell!  But nothing a little Krazy Glue couldn't fix.  


And from that last family, I made my way into a new family by way of a prank.  If you've been reading this blog, you'll know that I was hidden, captured, locked up and sought after.  It was very funny!  And what a fun way to start my new adventures with my new family.  


And I must say, I have had a lovely time with my newest family.  They have taken great care of me.  The kids just love me and helped me get packed for the this Hawaiian trip.  The mother has treated me like her own child!  She never lets me out of her sight and ensures that I enjoy adventures as much as possible.  


Now that you have my background, in my next blog, I will give you highlights of my Hawaii trip.  The trip was so much fun!  In fact, it was so much fun, the mother has asked that I come back to write future blogs.  I already have my next adventure planned.  I will even share a family secret with you in those future entries!  But you'll just have to wait for it.  Until then, read up on Hawaii.  


Aloha to you all and mahalo to my newest ohana.  

Hawaiian Highlights

Aloha again!  Here's a quick synopsis of my trip to Waikiki with my newest family!  

My poor "mom."  She was so stressed trying to get to the airport on time.  I kept saying, "don't worry!  Planes fly Hawaiian time."  Little did I know that they do not...they actually fly on time!   But we got there in plenty of time.  It had been so long since I had flown, I wanted a picture with me at the departure gate desk. 

Here are some of the travellers on this trip with me!  

These two were especially cute.  I was safe and sound in their hands.  

I'n not sure why the youngest girl of the family looking so odd in this picture.   She must be having some stress issues too!  Just like her mom.  


We got on the flight just fine but it was a long flight.  We got there quite late so no pictures of me on the flight.  But what I can say is that the food was terrible and overpriced.  Bleh.  Couldn't wait for some real food in Hawaii.    


One of the neatest adventures I had was at the Lagoon!  Oh, so pretty and zen.  I had forgotten how gorgeous the men view could be.    Just look at the background!  The calm water and blue sky.  AWESOME.  

Not my bestest angle, but I was looking out towards the beach.   Again, the beautiful view of men blue water.  Really a site to behold.  

Hang ten baby!  No trip to Hawaii is complete with a little surfing time.  SWEET. Caught a couple of great waves!  But paddling was really difficult with my small arms.   But I managed and it was totally worth it.  

After some surfing time,  I wanted to join in on the family activities which included playing in the sand!   I'm the Queen of the mountain!

Though, I think the kids built a moat around me so I couldn't run away.  That was one deep moat.  

Oooo...perched up off the ground.  The only problem is that birds think I'm food!   They keep circling me!  Shoo and don't poop on me!

Time for some more sand play!  I just love the feel of it in my feet.  Not sure if I could count on the kidlets to build something that could save me from the elements though.  I mean really!  Look at how spaced out these columns are!   Tsk, tsk.  

I wanted to snorkel but just couldn't find the right sized equipment.  Guess the market for hula girl sized snorkel sets is very small.  The kids seemed to be having a ton of fun in the water checking out fish, but I guess I'll have to sit this adventure out.   

Oh, finally some time to just mellow in the warm sand.  Being buried allowed the heat to really penetrate my body and help me with my sore muscles from surfing and sand time.   Ahhhhh.  Being a hula girl isn't easy.   =) 

Next cool memory, the Dole Plantation!  Check out the cool trees in the back.  That one with the sign is a mango tree.  Those sure are good!  

.

At the Dole Plantation, they have a train tour.  Yep, good old train number 18.   I got to sit right up front.  Sweet view.  Though, the birds must have followed me from the beach.  They were circling me once again!

The whole family must have felt some Hawaiian magic that day because they all wanted pictures with me to commemorate the moment.  

Awww...this is one of my favourite pictures of the family!  They're all smiling!

Woman...bring me some food!  Ok, I thought about saying that but didn't.  My mom would have probably broken my other arm.  But she must have read my mind as she brought back some good grub.  HI steak.  Wow.  SO good.  I ate it 4 nights in a row!  You bet I ate it all.  It's just fundamentally and morally wrong not to finish steak.  

I  missed being with the trees.  Though next time, I will remember to bring a hammock.  Climbing the trees was was very tiring and my feet kept getting tangled in the roots!

Hanauma Bay was really neat.  The sand was different and felt good.  Couldn't head out to the water though...again, no hula girl sized snorkel equipment.  And there was lots of coral and it would have cut into my feet.  The fish were huge here too!  No point in them thinking that I was food.  Though, the birds kept watching me thinking I was some big drumstick.  They're not very bright.  When have they ever seen a drumstick with a hula dress on?   

As I didn't have any snorkel equipment that could fit me, off to the aquarium.  I wanted to see all the fish that my family saw when snorkelling!    Check out some of the pictures of my new found friends too.  

Due to the lighting in the aquarium, it was very difficult to take  appropriate pictures.  But you get the drift.  

The drive around the island was great.  And how perfect.  I really felt like I was in the right place in the right time.  I mean, I'm sitting on the dash of the car!  Isn't that my purpose in life?!  Oh, if you could have seen me hula.  Swish, swish, swish.  I was totally in my element.  

Awww...I love this picture...but there is something missing.  Yeah, my initials!  Everybody was all excited about this tree and the garlic shrimp from this vendor that they forgot about my needs.  Ummm...hello?  This is a trip for me back to the motherland?  Don't I get initials in some tree too?  

My favourite memory was being on the beach in the North Shore.  The beach was pristine, the water just perfect for surfing, and the sound of the ocean was pure awesomeness.  

Look at those waves coming in.  I got to look out and see the incredible view of men waves, mountains and blue sky again.  I really can't tire of this.  

And here's the money shot.  The bestest memory for me was to have my feet on home soil.  There is nothing like it.   I will forever be indebted to my new family for taking me back home to visit.