CHRISTMAS 2010 - A GRAND FAMILY TIME

The Fontamillas Family begins to arrive on December 22, with Doug and Mary as the first arrivals.  On December 23, all but two more arrive, a cause for celebrating at Dave and Alli's for ziti dinner!

(to be  continued)

SANTA, SAM AND BEN

When Santa arrives in Hawaii, he changes into something more comfortable!  He's seen here with Ben, 2 1/2 and Sam, almost 6

LANIKAILUA CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR

Suzie and I left from her cottage home to the tune of raindrops, to enjoy the annual Christmas Home Tour which I look forward to each year.  It never disappoints!  For a few hours, I dream of living in a gorgeous Hawaii beachfront home!  I soak up memories (and photos) of the elegant decorations, some elaborate and some delightfully simple.  We end the tour with a nice lunch at Buzz's - a very well-known island restaurant across from our Kailua beach.

We're wearing easily kicked-off "slippahs" (flip-flops) since standard protocol in Hawaii is to leave shoes outside.  I'm so used to it after all these years, it's automatic.

About that plaid (Doug wondered where I got that tablecloth made into a mu'u mu'u!):

It's called Palaka.  Shirts made of palaka were worn by the 19th Century plantation workers and is a well-recognized fabric here.  Suzie had her mu'u mu'u made some years ago, and I had mine made about a year ago.  I love it!  We received many compliments!

Many beautiful place settings were displayed.

Simple pomegranate decoration

Distinguishing inside from outside in Hawaii is difficult.  Some people don't even use inside space for an eating area because we can ALWAYS eat outside.  An electric awning is all you need if it rains.  You know, of course, that people here don't own heaters right?

Looking out from a kitchen

MELE KALIKIMAKA AND HAU'OLI MAKAHIKI HOU

Brian Tucker's Surprise of a Lifetime Palo Alto

Not every 65th makes the remarkable splash this one did!  Brian is http://www.geohaz.org.  Go there.  You'll want to make a donation.  I'm so proud to be a cousin, and be so close in contact and spirit.

A slightly more composed picture below --

His beautiful sis, my cousin, and good friend --

His wife who engineered the whole affair in secret for about a year, including a memory book prepared ahead of time by contributions from Brian's guests --

How incredible to be around the people who have known Brian for so long and to experience their admiration for him.