Halloween

Leilani decided that she wanted to be Belle for Halloween this year. And not just ANY Belle. She wanted to be FANCY Belle. She brought me a picture from a magazine showing me the way Belle wears her hair. She said, "This is the hair I need Mama." Here she is with a head full of curlers getting prepped for the big day.

By the end of the day, most of the curls had fallen, but here she is in all her glory.

This was my favorite touch. These are shoes Leilani inherited from her friend Brenna. We love these shoes and have been waiting for just the right occasion to wear them.

Halloween Treats from Aunt Callie

A few weeks before Halloween, Leilani got a giant package in the mail from her Aunt Callie (who has NO self control!). She already has learned that some of the greatest surprises arrive in a Nordstrom box.

She loved this little lady bug box, even before she realized that it opened up.

She was so excited about the ladybug necklage inside. She wants to wear it EVERYWHERE.

The package also contained this adorable outfit. She held it up to herself and kept saying, "Oh look at me!! Look how sweet I look."

Jack-o-lantern shirt that goes with special candy corn pants.

She has started a new thing where she squeals whenever she thinks something is particularly cute. This is the face she makes and then she says, "Oh how sweeeeeeeeeeet."

Here's the face again. This time is was glow in the dark bracelets that earned the squeal.

Here she is sitting surrounded by her loot. Thanks Aunt Callie!!

Homecoming Queen

The UHS Homecoming Dance theme was Oriental Escape so the crowning of the queen during halftime of the big game had an asian flair. Leilani and her little friend Maddy (whose mom teaches with me) were asked to take part in the festivities. Of course for Leilani if there's an opportunity for a whole bunch of people to see her in a costume-- she's in!

There were 8 girls on the Homecoming Court and then 2 mini princesses. Lani and Maddy were responsible for carrying the crowns down the red carpet.

Posing with the principal.

The "Mini Asian Princesses" in motion.

Making their way down the red carpet. There were hundreds of people there, but the girls were unfazed by the crowd. Leilani actually turned around and waved at the stands when she got to the end of the carpet. When I asked why she did it, she told me, "I waved because that's what the big princesses did."

There was a ninja battle with swords and stunts. The last ninja standing was the one representing the girl who had been voted queen. I was worried that Leilani would be terrified. I just pictured her taking one look at those scary ninjas, throwing that crown on the ground, and sprinting back down the red carpet. But instead, she thought the whole thing was quite amusing. Maddy on the other hand jumped right up into the lap of the reigning queen.

The only mishap was that Leilani was sitting on the queen's sash. Last year's queen had to give her a little shove and yank it out from under her.

They were so excited!!

Leilani couldn't wait to try out the queen's throne.

Posing with Queen Joanna after the show.

She got to hold the queen's bouquet and I swear right here she's saying to herself, "Someday I'm going to be queen."

Something tells me she's right.

Poppy's First Trip To Disneyland

October 11th was a HUGE day for the family. Not only was it Poppy's 71st birthday, but it was also his first visit to Disneyland. So we all spent an beautiful (and particularly crowded) day at the park. The kids had a ball and the birthday boy was very well behaved.
Here are Poppy and Samuel getting on the Buzz Lightyear ride. Samuel was so excited to show Poppy all of the ins and outs of Disneyland.
This would have been such a cute picture if Leilani could have stopped munching on that box of raisins even for a minute!
Notice the T-shirts. They all give the relationship to the guest of honor and then the bottom says Happy 71st Birthday Poppy. (For example, my shirt says, "It's my dad's first trip to Disneyland."). His says, "I'm Poppy." They were a huge hit and all day long people kept stopping him to say Happy Birthday Poppy. It was hilarious!!

Poppy surrounded by the Mariachi Divas who serenaded him not once, but twice that day!

Leilani and Mike and Samuel fooling around in California Adventure.
My favorite shot of the day. Me and my dad outside Small World. I waited my whole life for this picture!
I love this picture. She was leaning over a water fountain getting ready to stick her arm into it when I caught her in the act.

The Mickey Puddle

Leilani looked at the back patio and screamed, "Look at that Mickey puddle!" Sure enough, there was a puddle outside that looked just like Mickey Mouse.
Who knew that a puddle could be so hilarious?!
And yes, she really is wearing a Run DMC t-shirt. What can I tell you... she's a cool kid!
After she had danced around the puddle laughing hysterically for almost 15 minutes, she looked at me and said, "Let's get my trike and run him over."
Poor Mickey.