Tyler's 2009 Hokulani Christmas Program

Tyler performed with his 1st grade class at Hokulani Elementary's 2009 Christmas Program. He was so excited that morning, singing and acting out his songs.

But when he hit the stage (first row, 5th from left in blue/white aloha shirt), he seemed more mellow than usual. Stage fright, maybe?



For the second song, the Alvin & the Chipmunks Christmas Song, he got a little more into it with the motions, especially the "hula hoop" part.



He still did really well and his mom is very proud of him!

Happy holidays!

The Tyler Cooking Show - Project Train Cake

For Tyler's 6th birthday, his mom had a BRILLIANT idea to make him a cake. Not just any ol' cake, but one shaped as trains. She found the train mold at Williams Sonoma and thought, 'This should be easy!' Ty's mom sure is ambitious... maybe a little too much sometimes!



There were a lot of ingredients involved... from the cake mix...



To the candy decorations...


Let's start with the cake mix. Ty explains how to make it!

While the trains cooled...


It was time to set the "scene." Ty's mom got one of those oven drip trays as the base. She mixed green food coloring with frosting to make the "grass" and spread a thin coat on the tray.


Then, she used black licorice to make the "tracks."


She found little Japanese chocolate mushrooms and used them as "trees." Since they couldn't stand up on their own, she dyed mini marshmallows green and used them as "bushes" to keep the "trees" in place.



Now that the scene was set, it was time to decorate the trains. Ty started by using mini marshmallows as the "steam" coming from the engine.


We used gummy lifesavers for the wheels and strawberry sour belts as the bumpers and outlines of the train. Jelly beans, Smarties and lemon candies were used to resemble everything else, from headlights to cargo.


Here's the final product!

And in the end, it was a big hit at his birthday party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TYLER!

Ty can SWIM!!!

For the first time, Tyler can swim!

He was playing in the pool with Lindsy and Logan this afternoon.

Somehow Grandma Judy convinced him to put his head in the water.

He picked it up quickly and didn't want to stop!

It's taken almost six years for Tyler to reach this point. He started out taking swimming lessons at 6 months old, just to get him familiar with the water. Then he tried swimming lessons at Ala Moana Beach last year, but he'd rather play in the sand. And everytime we asked him if he wanted to swim, he said he didn't want to learn.



Now we have a little swimmer!
We are so proud of you, Ty!

End of Summer Macarena

Tyler spent the summer at Moiliili Community Center's summer fun. The program celebrated the end of summer with a family fun night on Friday, July 24th.

Tyler's group went first and performed the Macarena dance! (Tyler is in back row wearing a dark green shirt and blue shorts)



He sure knows how to boogie! Now it's time to rest before school starts on August 3rd!

Tyler is a May Day "Guitar Hero"

Check out Tyler's kindergarten class performance at Hokulani's May Day program (May 1, 2009), set to the song "La Bamba," especially the guitar solo part!

(Tyler is on far left)

The Tyler Cooking Show - Pumpkin Pie

It's another edition of The Tyler Cooking Show! And on today's episode, we are making pumpkin pie!


First, the dry ingredients!


Oops! It appears we missed the salt! Oh well!



Now time for the eggs! Tyler gets a lesson in whisking!


Tyler tries to use a can opener but it's quite stingy.


And now the filling goes into the crust and into the oven!



Now for the final product!

It was quite delicious and apparently, salt-free!
Good job Ty and Grandma!

Lizzie's Adventures in San Fran

Tyler's mom went to San Francisco for a few days and since Tyler couldn't make it on this trip, she took Lizzie, Ty's rubber lizard, instead.
We were inspired by this AT&T commercial...

So here is Lizzie's trip to San Francisco!


Lizzie stayed with Aunty Melissa who now lives in San Fran...


Resting on her bed with her teddy bear



Lizzie had fun exploring the culture of San Francisco!


Lizzie enjoyed a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf breakfast


Lizzie joined Aunty Melissa and Ty's mom at the Britney Spears concert in San Jose


Lizzie ran into a long-lost cousin at a DSW store! Oh my!


Lizzie took a bite out of a yummy meatloaf sandwich at 'WichCraft restaurant.


Lizzie checked out the heart sculptures throughout the city


Lizzie stopped in Union Square to rest between shopping


Lizzie was lucky enough to see Wicked!

Of course, Lizzie had to visit the Golden Gate Bridge!
What a beautiful, clear day!


Another stop was at Fisherman's Wharf, where Lizzie enjoyed hot clam chowder in a bread bowl


And Lizzie checked out the sea lions at Pier 39!


Lizzie got around the city by muni or bus. It was super easy to get from place to place.


Along the way, Lizzie saw the original "Craigslist" location.


And Lizzie took photos with Ty's mom's friends, Natalie and Patti, who live in the Bay Area.


Tyler's mom brought home for him a sour dough bread shaped as a turtle!


Which Ty ate up as he munched up the turtle's limbs!

Spring Break Part 2 with Mom

Tyler spent the second half of Spring Break hanging with mom, who put him to work washing her car.
Of course, Tyler made sure to take extra precautions!


Better to be safe than sorry, I say!


Ty and mom had a picnic lunch at the pool.


They went to Pearlridge and rode the monorail.


They also went to Kuhio beach...


where the light rain didn't stop Ty from playing in the sand.

Ty and mom went to the Honolulu Zoo.


They visited the reptile house and the keiki zoo...

Where Ty met new friends, billy goats.


Can you see Ty's hand sticking out?


Ty and mom enjoyed a refreshing rainbow shave ice!


And Ty played with Kailoa at the beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

It was a good Spring Break 2009!