USSD Karate Tournament

Makayla attends her first karate tournament! We thought it was a little early for her but her Sensei really recommended it just for the experience. We're glad we did it but boy was it crowded. A little overwhelming but she did great! She went in to do her 8 point block for her forms and sparring. She knows both so we'll see what happens! Let's just hope she has a great time!

She met her buddies Alyssa and Josie there. My little shorty girl compared to the others.

We finally made it the room where the sparring competition starts. It's packed! Makayla watching so intensely.

All geared up! Love the pink gloves and where's her pretty little face under all that??

Go get her Mak! She did great and I think it was fixed since she didn't win! Just a Mom's opinion! haha! All in good fun!

We are so proud of her! They all got a certificate and medal too! She was stoked! We didn't think she'd spar and she did! Too bad she didn't do her forms. I think it was nap time and a lot of fear. Maybe next time. At least she did one event and had a great time!

Marlee's 3rd Birthday

It's Marlee's Strawberry Shortcake birthday party today! She turns 3! Makayla is so excited to go since she's having the same themed party as Makayla. I guess this age is just into Strawberry Shortcake again. I remember her when I was a little girl. Marlee is a friend that Makayla met just by playing at our local park. Thanks to Grandma for always getting the girls outdoors to play and to meet new friends. The party was at their house and boy was it fun!

The cake was so cute! Happy Birthday Marlee!

It's cookie decorating time! What a great idea for the kids.

Makayla is eating her finished goods. Happy girl!

This is her good friend Jordan that also knows Marlee the same way we do. Had to post this silly picture of her.

They had a great bounce house with a giant slide! As you'll see in this video Makayla had loads of fun! Thanks for inviting us Marlee and big hugs to Grandma Arakaki for taking me since Mommy and Daddy had other plans today.

Library Tree Trimming & Magic Show

This is an annual event at the library that Makayla has been going to each year. She just loves all the library activities and events. Thanks to Grandma Jennie for introducing her to all of it and keeping that calendar for us. Makayla invited one of her best buds to join her, Jordan and her Grandma. The kids get to make all kinds of craft ornaments for the library Christmas tree. They also get to see Santa if they want and a fun magic show too! The girls had a great time with each other and their Grandma's!

Mom, thanks for taking her for us today.

It's Hollywood!

Mylee loves wearing her shades! My cool girl!

Our Holiday Photos at the Beach

We had our very first holiday family photos down by the beach today by one of my old high school friends. So nice to have an opportunity to get back in touch with him. He was great with my girls and we had so much fun doing this shoot! Good times for sure and very memorable too!

Just having some fun with our girls! They loved it! Boy was it windy though!

Our little Myleeboo! We're using these as her 18-month shots. She's getting so big so quick! If time could just slow down just a little please so we can cherish this age a little longer!

M&M's just chillin' in the sand. Mylee is not to sure about this but we got shots quickly!

Love the snuggles from Big Sis! And love this black and white shot too.

Makayla showing us her seashell.

Just the four of us! Love my wonderful family so much! Thanks for doing such a great job for us Brian! You rock and so great to catch up with you too!

Princess & The Frog

Today is a special day for our little Princesses! A few of us Mommy's decided to take our little girls to see a special showing of The Princess and the Frog out in LA at the Disney Studios lot. Thanks to my friend David for telling me about this special event. This is such a big deal for us...how often does Disney introduce a new Princess? Not very often at all so this is super special!

We are on the lot and waiting for her bestest girlfriends to join the party but she has some time for her Mommy right now.

Us and a special Mickey appearance! One of her best buds, Rachee joined us here right before the movie was going to start.

The movie was sooooo good and the girls did great together! Oh, I forgot to mention this is Makayla's first experience in a big movie theatre. What a great treat for her first to be at the Disney Studios! One spoiled girl, but she's such a good girl!

Mia, Makayla and Rachee with Princess Snow White. This was such a wonderful surprise for the girls to actually meet all the Princesses after the movie! They were so thrilled!

Princess Pocahontas. She's so pretty!

Love the Mulan pose girls!

The Mommy's get to be in the picture with our star tonight the new Princess Tiana! She was adorable with her New Orleans Southern accent! Loved her!

Princess Jamine, one of Makayla's favorites!

And of course, Cinderella.

Sitting on the shell with Ariel, really Makayla's favorite Princess right now!

And finally Belle, the girls made their rounds and got to every Princess that was there!

Time to head off the Disney lot for some dinner! It's been a long day but so much fun and we're hungry!

For the original Bob's Big Boy! Yummy! Totally hit the spot! What a fun treat too! Fun times Mommy's and kiddos! Luv you guys! Our girls are such BFF's like us already!

Oh Christmas Tree Trimmed

Tree trimming here we come! We so love decorating our tree together. Such a wonderful family bonding moment!

Our girls in their matching reindeer Pj's. So cute!

Here goes Makayla. Looks like we're going to have lots of ornaments down low. This is her 2nd year of really understanding how to help decorate our tree. Mylee still to small but tries to help. Amazing that I think we only broke 1 or 2 ornaments. The girls did great!

M&M's with their Daddy! Ry got Makayla up higher to get some ornaments higher up and distributed kind of evenly. She loves being on his shoulders and on top of the world!

Me and my cutie pies! We are so ready for Christmas now!

M&M's and their Daddy again in front of the finished product! Beautifully decorated! Good job Ohana Arakaki!

Our Christmas Lights

Our Christmas lights! Red and white just like a candy cane! Cute snowmen along the walkway and snowflakes falling from our tree! We just love that Christmas cheer is in the air! Our favorite time of year!

Oh Christmas Tree

Our little family traditions continue.....It's time to pick out our annual Christmas tree at the lot around the corner from our house with Grandma and Grandpa. Makayla looks forward to doing this with her Grandparents. We take a nice walk over there and Grandpa drives it back to our house. What great tree service Gramps!

This is the awesome tree that the girls picked out this year! They wanted a flocked tree for the first time. These girls have so good and expensive taste!

Makayla and Grandpa getting ready to pay for the damages. He's a sucker for his girls! They got exactly what they wanted even though it hard on the pocket book! They are too lucky!

Our tree at the lot! So perfect!

Not sure where she got the peace sign pose but it's so cute! We were laughing at her! The tree is just perfect in our house this year! It's about a 5.5 ft. tree but looks much taller once it's in our stand. Great Christmas tree day! Thank you so much Grandma & Grandpa!

Thanksgiving Feast

It's time Thanksgiving time! We love this time of year. Wonderful family gatherings, food and thankfulness! We are so blessed with all that we have!

A glimpse of us getting the turkeys ready the night before. Special seasoning......hopefully it turns out yummy!

Got a cute picture of the girls with my parents. Aww, the family! These photo opportunities are hard to get with my little wiggle worms!

We're missing my brother this year! He's usually the one that takes care of the fried turkey so this year it's all Ryan! Looking good so far! Watch out so you don't singe those arm hairs.

Our little family with our girls! Love these sweetie pies!

Mmmm, the turkey is golden brown and just perfect! Good job babe! Looks like you put on some long sleeves to hold on to those arm hairs! haha!

We are so proud of our turkey! So crispy and tasty seasoning and perfectly injected! Next year though, need to tie the legs down so it looks nicer. We learn how to do a little better each year.

Our wonderful family! Missing Binh & Janai this year since they are up north with her family this time. They'll be back next year for sure! And this year our addition, Maya & Luu! Our new found cousin from Sweden. Welcome! Happy Gobble, Gobble Day everyone! So thankful for our wonderful family!

Fluffy

Meet Fluffy everyone! This is my daughters little friend from school that gets passed around to all the kids to take home to care for him. It is such a neat little thing for the kids because they really do take such great care of Fluffy! He's a lucky bear to get so much love from all these wonderful kids! Makayla was so excited that it was her turn to take Fluffy home today.

Just a little snack with Fluffy, my sippy and some popcorn and a movie. Nice night for some snuggles with my buddy!

My little sister Mylee made friends with Fluffy too! We shared some Popsicles and played together!

Showing Fluffy around in my room so he gets comfortable spending the night with me.

It's night night time! Snuggles!

Fluffy even got to venture to the library for a show at Tabby Theatre too with my friend Jordan. We all had so much fun together since Jordan knows Fluffy too.

The next day I took Fluffy to my Karate lesson with Sensei Mike! Fluffy learned a lot of new karate moves for his self defense now!

I'm keeping a close eye on Fluffy and he's always right by my side.

I even held him tight in the car seat too while we too him places with us. Fluffy, I hope you had fun with my family! We sure had fun with you!