OHANA TIME

What a perfect day to celebrate Alex's 8th birthday, surrounded 

by the love of  family and friends old and new. It was Ohana time,

Ohana means family in Hawaiian.

We had a Filipino dinner at Paul and Lisa's house last night. Lisa, her mother Fi Fi,her Auntie's Lita, Deb and Lou and her friend Lorena made all the traditional dishes, it was a feast believe me. We celebrated all there was to celebrate, the wedding and Alex's birthday; everyone laughing and having a good time.

The birthday girl

A lot of LeClairs

A little Don Ho treatment for the birthday girl

Alex and Denise

the birthday girl with Auntie Lisa & Uncle Paul

Birthday spanks? 

SHARKS COVE

Sharks Cove; where there really aren't any sharks.From above the cove is actually shaped like a shark so that is how it gets it's name. It does however have some pretty cool turtles!

Sydney & Aylssa

Matthew

I know how to cook turtle do you know how to cook turtle?

Denise & Alex

Sharks Cove

Alyssa, Gerard & Syd

WHAT'S YOUR NAME?

Today was a no beach day, we did a bit of shopping and just hanging out around the house. So I thought it might be fun to fill you in on all our Hawaiian names. Sydney did all the research for this post; here's what she came up with.
Alexandra: Alekaneka
Alyssa: Alika
Amanda: Amanka
Bill: Pila
Bob: Lopake
Chris: Kilika
Denise: Keniki
Gerard Sr: Kelalaka
Gerard Jr: Keokie
Hank: Kaneke
Jen: Leni
Lisa: Lika
Mary: Malia
Matthew: Makaio
Nan: Nana
Paul: Paulo
FiFi: Pipi

HAVE SOME FUN FOLKS CHECK OUT WHAT YOUR NAME IS IN HAWAIIAN at:
                                    http://www.alohafriends.com/name.html

THERE'S FISH IN THERE

Pipeline beach

look no fish!!

When I was 19 I took a trip to Hawaii. Today I visited the very first beach I swam in all those years ago; it was virtually in the back yard of the house that Paul rented at the time. That house is old and run down but the beach is the same, as beautiful as I remember it 32 years ago.We went today, The Le Clair's Gerard and gang , Matthew and me.  I remember Paul walking me down to the beach the day I arrived and diving into the strong surf, surfacing and being surprised at how different it was from Long Beach. Then the second wave came at me and a large school of fish dove out of the wave and the fish were slapping all over my body. Paul told me tonight, I ran from the water and told him " I'm not swimming here there's fish in there"!

relaxing after a swim

TAKE A HIKE !

Kahana Valley

Paul organized a large family hike in Kahana Valley; pretty much everyone went. There were a few dirty stay outs, me, Bill, Alyssa, Lisa and Mom. But from what I understand there were twenty three people including our family and some friends braving the mosquitoes and the ferns that scratch your legs. Matthew says it was like Jungle book without all the animals. Denise found out she's  afraid of heights, something she learned as she was clawing the side of a cliff.... sounds fun HUH!  Look at the pictures see what you think. Everyone felt like they climbed a mountain, which they did (kinda) the point being that they did it together. They had a blast.... a few scratches, a few mosquito bites, good times, good memories for everyone who went.

Alex in a WW ll bunker

dip anyone?

Chris & Nan

Amanda & Sydney
Super Hikers

The gang on the trail

The Gerard's

FOR NAN

The first night Nan and I met we sat over this computer and she copied all of the pictures I had of Chris from my picture files on to her ZIP drive. Tonight I was pondering over what would be my next post when I saw I had a new follower on this blog; it was Nan!!

I immediately  knew what I'd write about today and what the pictures would be ( I did find a few photo’s that I hadn’t posted on this blog yet), they'd be of her favorite person her new husband Chris...this post is for my new niece this is FOR NAN.

Cousins

Chris Nan & Christian

Chris & Kenneth

Chris & Alyssa

Chris & Alex

Chris & Grandam enjoying an adult beverage

Chris & David

Chris& Syd

TO BAY OR NOT TO BAY THAT IS THE QUESTION !

DEFIANTLY THE BAY  WAIMEA BAY. 

That was our destination beach  for today.

It was just a small group of us today, Gerard,

Denise and the kids, me and Matthew. The water was

beautiful cool and clear, the skies were partly cloudy

which was good for all of us who are working on our tans.

The kids and Denise had a blast on their floats.

Wiamea Bay

Matthew & Sydney

Gerard, Sydney & Alex

The LeClair's

Jen, Matthew & Sydney

Meatball wars at Italian night...

So as you all may know we had Italian night here at the house . Gerard and I split some of the cooking, he made the sauce I did the meatballs. First I should say nobody got sick, 
that's the truth !! However we do make our meatballs differently. The same ingredients just a different technique; apparently I'm ass backwards according to my little brother.  He would like me to do a poll of the readers to see who does their meatballs which way, mine or his. 
I mix my eggs, cheese, parsley, garlic, bread then add the meat.
Gerard puts the meat in the bowl then adds the eggs, cheese, parsley, bread, garlic after.
He thinks my way is strange, it makes sense to me!
Let me repeat NOBODY WAS POISONED BY MY MEATBALLS
Seriously people, we had  a great time.
ALOHA, Jen

DO YOU TUBE?

School has started and I know what my nieces and godson would rather be at the beach. Sitting in school daydreaming about the summer gone way to quickly, you remember how that is don't you? I was looking thru the pictures that I have left from our trip today and I couldn't help but notice a theme to their favorite activity,  going to the beach... three happy kids floating around in their colorful tubes with Gerard and Denise. I have some pretty cute pictures of them; enjoy!

ENJOY THE VIEW

The Island of Oahu is a beautiful place, we did take a few pictures of the scenery while we were on the beaches enjoying ourselves and while driving around the island.

Digital cameras are great little things aren't they? We’d like to share them with you, hope you enjoy them…