Kalikimaka Day at the Beach

We had originally planned to have Christmas day breakfast at the beach, but with all the partying we did the night before, we decided to leisurely make our way to the beach - our original breakfast idea quickly turned into lunch, but no worries the beach was still there.  And weather-wise, Christmas day was a sunny one, unlike the days preceding and the days soon to follow.  (We've been getting drenched with heavy rains these past few days).

We were met at Ko'Olina Lagoons with the Dominguez and the Boncatos.  Surprisingly the ocean was still warm and most of the kids took advantage of that - yes, you might have guessed, Keaolani decided to not indulge in swimming but rather sand building.  I was able to take a walk along 4 of the lagoons and was surprise to see how many people actually do come to the beach for Christmas.  

And for lunch... you guessed it - LEFTOVERS!  Yummy!

Christmas at the beach

My mini me :)

I think it's safe to say that we DO have a new family Christmas tradition - Christmas day at the beach! Oh and we were generously given tickets to the movies and decided to end the day at the movies; the guys (with Buggy) watched Tron, and the girls (with Joshy) watched Tangled (what a cute movie!).  Maybe we can add going to the movies as part of our Christmas day tradition.  

Christmas Eve Celebration

Preparing for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day this year has been filled with much excitement and anticipation; being that it would be our first Christmas here on the islands, it gave us an opportunity to come up with new traditions for our family and with friends.  I collaborated with a dear sister and we came up with a Christmas party filled with music, songs, and a multitude of food.

The Christmas Eve party found itself at the Dominguez household.  We all arrived dressed up with potluck in hand.  There was an abundance of food, we could barely fit half of the different kines onto one plate.  To name a few that night, we had lau lau, pancit, meats, sinigang, garlic shrimp, fish, potatoes, sushi, rice and salmon, not to mention an array of desserts to long to list.

Some of the foods that night

Oh, and the Dominguez family got a special Christmas present this year; Amel and his stepmom were able to come to the islands and spend Christmas with us.  Susan (Amel's stepmom) made traditional filipino foods like sinigang and pancit; it really felt like we were back with all our moms on the mainland.

After dinner, Al, Mike, and Amel led us in a time of worship through songs.  Then Mike and Amel treated us to a time of storytelling with a funny twist; Mike narrated the story of Jesus' birth as we watched the story unfold on the TV with images built with Lego.  That was neat to watch and funny at times.  Next we had special presentations from the keikes:

Chloe and Mara

Lydia, Ryan, and Maren

Keaolani

They did a great job and probably my favorite part that evening.  After their special numbers, we moved onto the presents!  Each family provided stocking stuffers for each child - what a great idea and an inexpensive way to give to all 11 kids.  They received everything from recorders (toy flutes), to play doh, to candies.  The play dohs and recorders were the hit!

Next was the parent's turn; we decided to do a white elephant gift exchange this year:

Amel got a leg and foot massager

Chona got a fondu set

Vange got a rare commodity here in Hawaii - an Hawaiian t-shirt

Mike got a Costco "Cooking Smart" cookbook (Yay me!)

I got a really nice journal

Al got a serving dish - can you tell who's the most happiest?

Looks like Chona got away with two gifts this year

Ron received a "Chicken Recipe" cookbook - (Yay Vicky!)

And Vicky got some ornaments and a book

Even Uncle and Auntie walked away with a board game and a t-shirt

After all the fun and games were done, we went back to conquer the food.  Needless to say, the food won.  I must say, it was the best Christmas we had in Hawaii! (That's for you Vange - you DID NOT disappoint ;) )

Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)

Christmas is not about presents or even being with family - the TRUE meaning of Christmas is God making a way to redeem a people by sending His own Son into the world to be the perfect sacrifice on our behalf so that we are reconciled with God.

And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us; for after He had said before,  “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them,” then He adds, “Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

Hebrews 10: 11-18

"Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2:10, 11