hawaii bride

This is actually the story of Saturday, November 5th, 2011-

I went to the "Mini-MTC" with  Bree

Bree...in Richard's glasses

We went for the first hour and a half- aka, the free breakfast- which we actually missed- and the first speaker (who she'd promised she'd go for).  Mind you, this is 6:30am, in dresses and on our way after spending all night playing card games on my bedroom floor.   Feel free to be impressed.

I was going to go to the Craft fair in Kahuku and get a gift for the Work White Elephant Christmas party....I know it is a ways away, but I was hoping to get some kind of tea-leaf skirt for the bridal shower later that day.  My housemate's bike had a low tire though.  It took too long to get to the card at the grocery store and I knew it would be cutting it too close.


I have an extremely amazing and beautiful friend getting married this December.  She is my FHE mom.  She is so sweet and wonderful and comes from circumstances so very different from what she is living now.  She is marrying a wonderful man who adores her.  She is loving and wise and spiritually gigantic and so very thoughtful.  She deserves every good thing in the world.  I am going to get to help with her wedding reception and I am so very grateful that I booked my flight for 11pm that night instead of taking the 2pm one because if I hadn't I would have missed being there for her and I feel that she needs people there who can get things done.
I have decorated for weddings before.  I can be that girl.

I went to her bridal shower.
I've only gone to one other shower here but I think I'll make it my tradition to make the bride a coconut bra.
I did.  It was a lot easier this time.

that's it! 

Cali- roommate- helped me make the wrapping paper

So I went to this shower, I live kitty corner from the bride, Melinda, and so I went with her and helped set up.  A very beautiful shower in the VERY beautiful house of one of the Mentor couples in our ward.

Just after the shower, waiting to go to town

After the reception Melinda was going to town for her dress fitting.  All who wanted a ride to town were welcome.   I figured I would go tour Iolani palace....since I haven't yet.  So I got a ride up.
BUT- Melinda's close friend Kirsten is the legal guardian for her kid sisters and they all came.  Just as I was planning to part ways and leave them on their way to the dress shop, Kimberly (Kirsten's 8 year old sister) grabbed my hand to cross the street.  All my plans for the day were forgotten and I spent the day with these lovely people entertaining children and adding my two cents when needed.

NOT the shoes she got.  These are 6'' heels and puts her
1'' taller than Aaron.  AREN'T THEY CUTE!?!?!?! 
this is where you say yes.

Not a good day to go to Nordstrom....okay, maybe it was because it was the twice yearly sale, but there were a LOT of people.  We ate at the Nordstrom Cafe, we watched Aaron (the fiance) try on suits, we picked out shoes...








We also went Owling...

Like "planking" but better. 
If you know my cousin Aaron
(not to be confused with this Aaron)
you may have encountered Owling before.

It was something to do.  It gave them an activity.

Kimberly

Kaitlyn

We even got Aaron to do it.

Walking to the cars.  Kirsten is in the white...

Don't they look like they could be a little family???

It wasn't what I had planned, but it was good for me to be there so that Melinda's close friends could be focused on her.


That AND I met Lauren.  I get mistaken for her all of the time and hadn't met her until that day.  Now I know it is a compliment.  I should take a picture with her because we really do look alike.