Las Vegas 2024

We went to Las Vegas, Nevada and to add to my collection of cute Christmas ornaments, I bought two Santa Ornaments.  I know I always want tiki and island decor, but I could not resist.  Santa takes vacations, too.  They do call Las Vegas "the 9th Island" because so many Hawaiians have moved to Las Vegas.  

We got these at the ABC Store on Fremont Street, which is a store located every few buildings on the Waikiki strip in Oahu.  If you're looking for Li Hing Mui candies and powders, the ABC Store on Fremont Street has it all.  They have expensive chocolate mac nuts and Hawaiian coffee, that you can get cheaper in the Islands.  

Anyway, Vegas Santa will be decorating my tree this year.  I don't care if my sister puts her tree up, I'm putting mine up too, even if it's a little tree, because I want to look at my ornaments.

Christmas 2023

“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!” ― Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

2023 is a bittersweet Christmas and is probably my mother's last Christmas with us.  That's our reality.  Every day could be her last, in this End-Stage Alzheimer's.  There's just no way to know as she gets more forgetful (not just in memory, but in how to physically function).  She also has become weaker by the day.  We are also both sick as well.

To me, it was very important that her family be there for Christmas, even though I have flu-like symptoms.  It isn't about me.  Time is all my mom has left.  I wish people would put their differences aside and think about my mom, instead of whatever it is they are mad about.  Shamefully, not everyone came over.  It was expected, but still hoped for something different.  It is what it is.  We still had fun.

We bought lots of food, and spent hours cooking.  But, we made the best of our Christmas.  This Christmas included my mom, my sister Jeri, her boyfriend Geoffrey, my children's father Mike, my two sons Kalib and Christopher, my husband Trevor, and myself.  Small and intimate.  

Our endeared neighbors Shawn and Katie also came over for a short time.  They had their family to visit.  They gave us an extremely soft and beautiful, fuzzy, faux fur blanket.  We gave them wine.  

My mom has been lying down a lot.  She doesn't have much of an appetite these days.  She can barely have a conversation.  I made her sit up for Christmas.  She was happy to have us around her.  She was showered with gifts.  I only wanted to share a handful of the many photos we took.  I'm glad I took photos and video (which I won't share).  

Geoffrey got his Cowboy's football for future autographs from me and Trevor.

Mike got a special hoodie made with recycled bottles from me and Trevor.

Three Generations photo with my sons and their grandmother and me.  We've never taken a Christmas picture with her before.

Trevor giving my sister the bird finger for this idea of wrapping each sock individually and tying them together tightly with ribbon.

My mom and her Christmas socks.  She's always cold.  It's a symptom of her Alzheimer's progression.

A Moai glass vase my sister got me for my plants.

Money from me and Trevor, so Jeri could get her nails done after her cast comes off.

Surprisingly, my daughter sent us a gift.  A projector. 

A cookbook on Edibles for Trevor the cannabis enthusiast.

Christopher's pajamas from me and Trevor.

Almond cookies from Santa (of course it was me).  Santa Claus used to give all my children cookies every year.  I haven't forgotten.

A teeshirt for Christopher from Trevor and me.

Family Photo 2022

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder

This is Trevor and my first family Christmas photo with my adult children.  Unfortunately, my daughter has been absent.  I chose the colors blue and beige for the theme color this year.  It's not my regular color, and I definitely prefer red, but I figure nobody wants Christmas colors in frames all year long.  Blue is less "Christmassy" and can be viewed all year.  Our initial spot to be photographed was by reservation only (I did not know this), and then our second location was extremely sunny, so rather than keep trying for a better place, we decided we would get something to eat first.  

After brunch, we found a different location in a building with Spanish architecture, and thought that it was amazing enough to try for a good photo.  

So, this is the best photo of the bunch and will be used in Christmas cards this year.

My sons have gotten so grown up, and I am so happy to have been able to document the holidays over the years.  

Mistletoe

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ― Hamilton Wright Mabie

One of the traditions Trevor brought to our household that I never really decorated with, is the mistletoe.  His good friend, Valerie, whom they refer to each other as siblings, has a daughter named Raelynn.  She's better known as Squishy.  

Trevor kissed Squishy under the mistletoe.  It would be the last hug and kiss in a very long time as we will be moving to California.    

Squishy, was one of Trevor's first "little buddies" when we moved to Oregon.  What a bright and wonderful little girl she is.

Christmas Photos 2021

Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say
On a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day
That's the island greeting that we send to you
From the land where palm trees sway
Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright
The sun to shine by day, and all the stars at night
Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way
to say merry Christmas to you
―R. Alex Anderson

 

Usually, every November, I start preparing for Christmas cards.  I want my cards to get to my loved ones before Christmas.  These Christmas pictures came out beautifully.  It showcases my love for Tiki art and Trevor's love for the Green Bay Packers.  This was taken in our apartment in front of our tree.  Of course, his mug actually had coffee in it.  

Oregonian Photos

“Christmas is the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart. ” ― Washington Irving

So, California Christmases are chilly.  Hawaiian Christmases are warm.  Oregonian Christmases are wet, icy, snowy, and COLD.  

This day is my birthday.  I turned 43.  I decided for my birthday I wanted to take Christmas pictures.  These came out gorgeous.  It captures the weather as well as the colors of Gladstone, Oregon, just before Fall turns over to Winter.

Family Picture 2014

 

This is our year's end Christmas photo.  We took these in Corona Del Mar, California.  In the picture where my daughter has a serious face, but the rest of us have laughed; I started laughing because Kalib said loudly and between clenched teeth, "You can go away now," as this girl was watching us getting our picture taken.  Other than that, this was fun.

Family Photo 2012

I decided our photo location would be at Corona Del Mar.  Sienna's friend took this picture for us.  After looking through a multitude of photos, I chose this one for our Christmas cards.

I wish my daughter would smile more.  She never seems to be happy, anymore.  Most of the time, she was off frolicking with her friend.  

We ended up stopping at some park dedicated to the Military and it was set up for Veteran's Day.  There were many American Flags lining the walkway.  It was a little bittersweet.  I was just glad I was with my family.  

It's rare we all get together anymore.  My daughter being a teenager is too cool for us.  My sons are so different in age, one liking being home on the internet all day and the other loves running around outdoors.  Their dad works a lot.  So do I.  We all hardly see each other, anymore.

Christmas Pictures 2011

Sienna and Me

Kalib and Me

Me and Chris

All of us, this would be the winner for the christmas cards I'm mailing out.

Our Christmas pictures for 2011 came out great.  It took numerous tries because the kids kept making faces or weren't looking at the camera, but we finally got great photos.  

Family Photos 2007

 

Our 2007 family Christmas card photos.  These were taken in Huntington Beach, California.

Family Photo 2005

Here's our family photo for 2005 Christmas cards.  Christopher doesn't know anything about smiling for strangers.  This is his second "Christmas" photo ever and last year's he screamed and cried in.  This is much better.

A Baby is Born

This is Christopher's first family photo with us. He was born September 6, 2004.

He started off okay, and then he began screaming.  This was our Christmas picture (no red and green, because I wanted it to be displayed all year round and not be out of season).  I took this picture early, because I didn't want Christopher to get too big before we had our first family portrait. 

Kalib is prematurely missing a tooth from playing with his sister.  Look how smug she looks.  This picture, overall, tells you how chaotic it is to have children!

It is a lovely picture.

Family Portrait 2002

Here's our 2002 Christmas card photo.  Sienna had cut her own bangs and I had to fix them so they don't stick up, because her hair is curly.

My children look so adorable.  

Family Portrait 1998

I had it planned out.  We would dress our baby up in red and go take a quick family picture at Huntington Center.  I am almost 3 months pregnant with my first born son, Kalib.  I have very bad morning sickness and really want to go home after this.  My mom and aunt Minja came with us.  So, this has been a treat.  

My aunt just moved in.  Random, out of the blue, popped up at the house with her luggage.  I didn't even realize she knew where we lived.  But, she's been at our place for about 2 months.

It is my 21st birthday and I decided I want to take a family picture to pass out in my Christmas cards.  It's just the three of us this year, but next Christmas will be the 4 of us.