HALLOWEEN 2007: Pick-A-Pumpkin

Last weekend, we went to the Aloun Farms Pumpkin Patch to pick out the annual Valdez Family jack-o-lantern. This was the first time we went to the patch, but the Valdez pumpkin already has a rich history. Scooby Doo, Yoda, Gollum, and Darth Vader have terrorized neighborhood kids over the years.

The farm was a madhouse (or, madfarm, I guess). People were parking yards away from the actual patch. Masked farm workers, aka, T-shirt ninjas, greeted us and took our $3 parking fee. I’m glad Oren had her sunglasses because it was like a dirt bowl in there. We trekked out into one of the patches and found a few candidates, but it was Mommy who picked the perfect one (she does have a habit of doing that… ). Oren came out of the patch a little dirty and dusty, but I think this was a great kickoff to Halloween 2007!

Oh, what’s the pumpkin gonna be this year? Along with Oren’s costume, it’ll be a surprise. Check back later this week!

Oren & Carter At The Zoo

The two kids finally got a chance to hang out together outside their respective homes at the Honolulu Zoo. The Valdez’s and Vierra’s flashed their Family Passes ($25 for unlimited admission year-round is a pretty good deal) and took the familiar stroll through the animal keep. Carter was as cool as the tradewinds that day, but Oren threw a few of her new tantrums (crossing her arms and standing stationary) when asked to move along. The two shared a cute moment together at the keiki zoo, giggling and babbling as they petted a sheep (I do the same thing! ).

Hopefully, we can get these two out together more often. We think they really enjoyed their zoo day!

Birthday Lees

It was a double celebration as cousin Cailynne and Uncle Danny celebrated their birthdays on Saturday. Oren was so happy to celebrate with them that night! She pranced around with a stuffed animal making little doggie noises and she played “patty-cake” over and over with the birthday girl. Check out the videos below!

Happy Birthday(s) again, Lee family!

Woof Woof!
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Oren’s a little doggie!

Patty Cake!
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Oren shows her cousin Cailynne how to play patty cake!

Splendor Of China

No, Oren did not win the ’2007 Miss Splendor Of China’ contest. That was the name of the expo we went to this past weekend put on by the Chinese Chamber Of Commerce of Hawaii. Oren enjoyed the Chinese folk dancers, the mask-changing magician, and especially the Chow Chows and the Sharpeis! You can check out the video of her encounter below…

After the expo, it was more playtime at home. Check out the photos of her doing her “big stretch” and doing her new favorite thing; coloring her coloring books!

Meeting Chow Chows!
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Oren gets excited when she meets a pair of Chow Chows, then wanders on over to a dangerous Sharpei!