Kaylene's 21st Hawaiian Family Luau

Our little baby girl is all grown up.  She had been asking for a Hawaiian themed party so we went all out.

Two dates were picked out, one for family and one for friends.  We decided to hold the family one first that way we could have a trial run before the friends party. I made up the invites and got Kaylene and Lily to help put them together, then it was up to Kaylene to get them delivered.

Using lots of Stampin' Up! brown packing paper, we set to work cutting our "grass skirts" to use as table decorations, window decorations, gazebo decorations.  So lucky to have Joanne helping out, she did most of the cutting and they turned out really great.

Also used the brown paper to make Tiki statues to decorate the cupboards and side windows. Justin pitched in and helped with outlining in marker pens.  Kaylene helped paint some of them.  To begin with I used coloured cardboard to make two smaller ones but it was a bit of work in construction, so I ended up just drawing the Tiki's onto the paper and got Justin to outline in bold black markers.

Then I got Lily to buy some coloured tissue paper so we could make paper flowers to add some colour. Lily, Kaylene, Jo, A. Cath pitched in and helped make that happen.

For the Happy Birthday banner, I used my trusty Silhouette machine to cut the flowers and letters. Then we folded coloured paper to make the origami flowers, these were easy to make. Borrowed the poles from cousin, Evan and wrapped them in brown paper as well.

In the week before the party, I made up a 21st album for people to sign. Also made up some photobooth signs using fans we got from the tennis.

The day before the family party, I rustled up more brown paper and stuck Kaylene's baby and other photos to make a photo wall collage.

Then on the night before, Janet prepped her roast pork and island vegetables. I prepped the chicken wings and balls, Lily made the potato salad and macaroni salad. I also skewered the ham and pineapple skewers.

On the day, I made the lomi lomi salad, heated up the wings, Bindy came early so she helped prep the Mango Salsa salad with Justin and Kaylene helping. Lily made her Caesar salad. Bindy helped make the fresh salad. We also cut up cucumbers and had tomatoes on the side.

Lily cleaned up and put up the Gazebo with Justin and Nathan and decorated it.

As soon as put out the food and said lunch was ready they descended like locusts and in the end most of the food had been eaten.

 I made a cheesecake to be used for her birthday cake - decorated with choco cigar shaped biscuits (lesson learnt - put this on last next time - they lost their crispy/crunchiness and sagged. Also decorated a pavlova on the day. Had fruit as well as the birthday cake.  Aunty Cath baked a japanese cheesecake as well as her chiffon cake.

Darren and Mark had to go to work, so missed out on helping and the fun.  Justin had to leave at 12 for ice skating, but when he came back, he tended the bar.

Of course the family ended up staying for dinner as well so we partied on with round two.

Most were interested in the Soccer final and the Womens tennis finals on tv.

Then Kaylene opened her presents.

Nathan's 30th Birthday

Tuesday 20th January

The family went out to dinner at Rhodes Phoenix to celebrate Nathan's 30th.

This was also the first occasion that Nathan introduced us to his new girlfriend, Eva, and her niece, Irene.

Went back home to have cake and tea.

Stampin' Up! Party Event

Saturday 17 January

Sue Hoy and I attended the Stampin' Up! Party Time event at the Lake and Pond Roooms, WatervieW in Bicentennial Park.

The Invitation read:

Your fellow demonstrators are having a party—and you’re invited! Who are the demonstrators throwing this bash? Your fellow NSW demonstrators.

Come and learn about new products, simplifying your workshops, finding new customers and more!  You’ll experience a range of inspirational projects and business ideas through engaging presentations and hands-on creating.

While these events are geared mainly toward demonstrators, guests may attend; in fact, Party Time would be a fabulous experience for a potential recruits!

Aaron Scott will host and Jane Clark will teach us techniques using Blendabilities. As well as -

• Product & Project display
• Project life presentation
• Business tips & presentations

Put on by some local demonstrators, including Di Banners (Project Life), Jane Clark (Blendabilities), Teneale Williams (Stamping projects), Linda? (Workshopping)

 The registration included 3 make and take projects as well as lunch, which included a salad, a sandwich and drink. I managed to take 2 sandwiches, was feeling very hungry.

This photo was taken by Aaron Scott the marketing manager for Stampin' Up! Australasia and posted to their Facebook site.  

Kaylene has her wisdom teeth removed

Friday 16 January

Kaylene goes to Westmead to get all 4 wisdom teeth out.

A week of soft foods and she was all better for her birthday.

APIA Tennis

Sunday 11, Tuesday 13 and Friday 16 January

On Sunday, with the help of Kaylene's pass, we managed to park in the staff parking area, so Evan, Joanne, Kaylene and Megan took in some of the preliminary matches before the playoffs began in earnest on Monday.

Kaylene was lucky enough to get a photo with Nick Kyrios - who??? she knew who when she went running after him to get her happy snap, even though he wasn't smiling.

Then on Tuesday, I took a day off work and joined, Evan, Lily and Kaylene for a day of tennis.  I was really interested in seeing the legends play, but they didn't start till around 5pm, so it was a case of killing time going from one show court to another.  Evan and I managed to just catch the end of Tomic's game in the Ken Rosewall Arena, but that was the only time, as we only had 2 tickets that allowed us in there.

We had a late lunch, early dinner in the food court, lots of chips.  Lily bought fish and chips and Evan bought calimari and chips and chips.

Then it was off to see the legends play.  Henri Le Conte vs Fabrice Santoro and Pat Cash vs Mansour Bahrami.  Such a hoot, this is what tennis should be like, none of this serious stuff.

On Friday, Kaylene had to get her wisdom teeth out, so she offered us her free tickets to see the womens Finals. So Evan and I got dropped off by Janet. Watched some of the Men's semi finals and ate our dinner - Nachos and Churrasco grill. Then a bit of a walk outside before finding some seats to watch the Women's finals. After the finals, we stuck around to watch some of the women's doubles final, before calling it quits, as I had to get up early the next morning for my SU party event. Lucky for us, Lily was on her way home from the hospital with Kaylene, so they dropped by to pick us up.

A Day at the Beach

Sunday 4 January

Taking a break from making party decorations, we took up Marion's invitation to go to the beach. We were suppose to go over to the Seeto's for a pool party, but Angel wasn't feeling well, so no swimming for us. Turned out better. I haven't been to a beach in ages and although it was slightly overcast, it was still warm enough for the rest to go swimming. May have got slightly burnt.

We ended up at Newport Beach, then went to On Shore Cafe Brasserie, Dee Why for a late lunch. Yummy fish and chips for me and Mare, a burger for Kaylene and Jo and a fusion pork nachos???