Here it comes

It started the other day when Ryenne asked,

"Mom, why does our elf, Berry, have a tag sticking out of his butt?" and then,
"Mom, why do some Santa's have elastic around their ears to hold up the beard and it's too white?"

It's here. Our last Christmas where Ryenne believes in Santa.

I've had a kid with me non-stop so I took them to the sitter's house tonight so I could finish my shopping in peace. I went to Paper Garden so I could find the "perfect" card with Santa on it so that I can write Ryenne a note from Santa for this Christmas. She hasn't asked for anything for herself. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. She asked for children in the Philippines to have the toys instead. So my plan is to write out a beautiful letter from Santa letting her know that the world is a better place because she's in it. (side note, she IS getting gifts too just in case you're wondering) So I was on a quest for the perfect card and I found it! And then I almost cried. Seriously. I had to give myself a pep talk in the middle of the store.... "don't do it Mariah... hold yourself together..."

It's a little sad because Ryenne's delight and joy over Christmas and the magic is everything. The boys just don't understand. They have actually been horribly behaved. I even bought some coal for Kai boy. So sometime after Christmas I'll let Ryenne in on the truth - Santa is real, but he lives inside all of us. His magic lives on in parents and boys and girls to spread the magic of Christmas to all who believe.

Grandie Visit and Iao Valley

Grandie, Ryenne, and the first ornament of Christmas!!

The tree's first ornament!

A visit to the Pono Store on First Friday!

We put the tree up!

This morning we had a Grandie Christmas with all of us. We had such a nice breakfast together followed by presents!

After everyone left, Ryenne lost her 7th tooth!

 It was VERY hot today.  About 87 outside and inside it hit 101 degrees! It was too hot to do anything in the house so me and the kids headed for Iao Valley!

Hanging out on a rock in the swimming hole

Kai is like Mowgli

Such a sweet moment between Ry and Kai. They are so close - it's too cute!

Silly little monkeys!!!

The Good and The Terrible

First the good...

A few more shots from Kona that Peter took. I love these. They perfectly show the personality of three crazy Littles!

And then on Thanksgiving Pickle and Abra were on the mainland and both Koa and Peter had to work 3pm-11pm shifts so we got together for a brunch at the Maui Tropical Plantation. It was so nice to sit down together to ono food and have fun and not have to do dishes!

Uncle Koa, Auntie Kau'i, and our 'Ohana at the Maui Tropical Plantation

Me and my girl!!

That night me and the kids headed off to Napili for the Dagupion Thanksgiving (without Peter and Patrick) and that was tons of fun. Boy were we stuffed!

The next day I got a phone call from Dagmar. Daggie is a really special person. We met her because her daughter, Giuly, had been babysitting our kids. Giuly loved to take the kids to the beach when she watched them. But she became busy with another babysitting job and also wanted to open her own Brazilian Food booth at the Farmers Market. So she introduced us to her mom and Daggie started babysitting for us. Daggie started crying on the phone and sobbed that Giuly had gotten into a car accident on Thanksgiving Day. Her airbag didn't deploy and she passed away. My heart fell into my stomach. I had just spoken to Giuly the day before Turkey Day. We planned to get together for a photo shoot (finally) on Saturday and play at the beach. I had just talked to her. How could she be gone?

I felt helpless - how do I help my friend cope? What can I possibly do? Why did this happen to such a lovely person with so much to offer the world? Giuly had just gotten all the permits approved to open her own food truck. It was her dream! She secured a house rental in Haiku right along Hana Hwy to catch all the tourists. She had huge dreams!! Why? Why? WHY? She was only 25! Why? I've been really struggling with it the past few days. I've been checking on Daggie and will be helping with the memorial on the 7th.

I can't believe I didn't take any pictures of the kids with Giuly. Why didn't I capture that? I wish I had a tangible piece of her that I could keep. But I'll remember her smile as I visited her food booth for the first time. I'll remember her baking Brazilian cheese bread with the kids. And I will always remember her amazing positive attitude and be thankful that she introduced me to her mom.

So on Saturday the 30th, I decided to take the kids to Nui's to get some flowers and pick up the week's veggies.

I really struggled to be happy, but we ended up getting Thai food and smoothies and the kids had so much fun. Ryenne picked out a beautiful bouquet for Giuly.

Kai spinning around waiting for his smoothie

Cruz being a puppy dog

After we finished at Nui's, we headed down to Camp One to place the flowers on the sand and talk about Giuly. The boys were clueless of course, but me and Ryenne hugged each other and cried. She drew hearts in the sand too.

This is our dear friend, Giuly (Giuliana).

Giuly, we are so happy that you were in our lives, though the time was too short. We watched you follow your dreams and were so incredibly proud of you!!

Rest with Angles, Giuly!!!

Upon getting home and being completely emotional that day, I heard knews of another death. Actor Paul Walker passed on Saturday in a very tragic car accident as well.

Of course he is a celebrity and I didn't know him in person, but I have been entertained for YEARS by his work. From Pleasantville to all the Fast & Furious Movies (I loooooove cars) - we have been entertained. But more than that, Paul Walker was a celebrity who used it for good. He traveled to Chile, Haiti, and the Philippines for charitable events and got his hands dirty helping others. Sadly, he was in a car accident leaving a charity event for typhoon Haiyan relief. What an amazing person - I feel this one. A profound sadness at the loss of this person I didn't personally know. You can read about his foundation Reach Out Worldwide. 

So with all the sadness that I'm feeling right now - the grief and the loss - I'll end saying that I am really looking forward to Deceember's love and light and healing. And to end this post, I'll leave you with some quotes from Paul Walker that I love - the last one being from an interview from his movie, Hours ...

Paul Walker - what a beautiful person inside and outside! 

 "You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae." -- Paul Walker

"My philosophy is: If you can't have fun, there's no sense in doing it." -- Paul Walker

"If one day the speed kills me, do not cry because I was smiling" -- Paul Walker

"You get up and you keep going. You're going to find purpose again. You're going to find a sense of self again. You're going to figure out what's up and what's going on and what's its really all about.” -- Paul Walker

You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/p/paul_walker.html#dXyHTZCUiRuI9fKj.99