Crafts and Floods

It's been awhile, but here goes :)
I hand sewed this purse design last year. This year I actually got out my iron and sewing machine. The main fabric was left over from the skirt I made when my folks visited over the summer. I love it, it's a soft green denim.

It has two small pockets inside

and one large outside pocket.

It pretty much has been raining non-stop since Valentine's day. Pouring rain. Our bananas are in the middle of their own lake.

We don't let the rain stop our projects. I found this design for a couch and two tables that converts to a queen size futon bed. Total cost for the lumber (at Hawaii prices) was $167.50...not bad for a queen size bed! I'm also making a wool futon. I have the denim futon cover, but I'm waiting on the wool batting...they shipped it parcel post which can take 5-6 weeks to get here :(

More pics from our epic flood...still looks like this now, and the rain is still coming down.

 Our ducks actually get to be **real** ducks and swim in a puddle-like lake.

 The duck in the center is new to the flock...a gift from a neighbor. She's a different kind of duck and she makes a lot of noise...very talkative. Her name is Mrs. Dash. The neighbor was afraid she would come back to his place, but she really loves it here.

O'ahu Trip

We took a vacation to O'ahu. The last plane Stella was on was in 2011 when we moved here and she cried the whole flight.

 She was much happier this flight!

 We stayed at a condo in Waikiki area that I stayed at with my family when I was around Reeve's age.
The lobby...

 Waikiki beach...Reeve in the water.

 Reeve and Stella in the water...

 Surf movies are always a family favorite and we just saw Chasing Mavericks. Stella had fun paddle, paddle, paddling to catch the mild waves.

 The kids and I had fun walking around Waikiki...Diamond Head is in the background.

 We took a trip to the North Shore...Ehukai Beach Park, aka Banzai Pipeline. Stella is running away from the huge surf. The boys are getting a closer look.

 It was a windy day.

 Kyle is getting washed on shore, Stella stayed on the beach, and Reeve is getting ready to join Kyle.

 Kyle and Reeve getting tossed about in the waves.

 We saw at least two rainbows each day in Honolulu. It was very windy there and always a nice passing rain shower. This is the view from our condo. They were painting, and that's what those wires are about.

 A Wyland Mural...on our way to the airport.

Beach Day

Tom had a code class in Kailua-Kona, so we decided to make a day of it.

We went over Friday after school and got a room at the Kona Reef.

 The kids loved the pool.

After check-out the kids and I hoped the brick wall to the beach to wait for Tom.

 Then we headed to Magic Sands Beach...at Reeve and Kyle's request. Stella playing in the sand.

 Cute guy sitting on the rocks at the beach :)

 The boys are in this picture (below) somewhere...Kyle is wearing a blue rash guard shirt and Reeve is wearing a tri-color (black, red, and white) rash guard shirt.

Kyle had fun boogie boarding and body surfing.

 Reeve is heading out. It looks calm in these pics, but some of the waves were huge!

 Kyle...getting out of the way.

 Reeve catching a way into shore.

 Me and Stella :) I had so much fun just watching her and then Tom watched her while I went swimming in the warm, crystal clear ocean.