HAUOLI MAKAHIKI HOU!

It's New Years Eve in Seattle and it's quiet. The weather man states that we are headed for another storm and to prepare. Geeze, We just got over a snow storm and now mother nature wants to give us wind. Hold on! There she blows.

I am thinking and reminising about the times as a child growing up in Hawaii that New Years Eve was a big thing. Everyone coming by to visit and dropping off a plate of food or treat. I remember mochi. Now that was heaven. I miss that love and the feeling that "someone actually liked us".

I lived here in Seattle for 10 years and sometimes I still feel displaced. However, we Mortensens still try to keep the traditions as growing up as child in Hawaii for my Keiki's. My girls.. My babies...My heart aches that I would like them to expierence New Years Eve firecrackers, loud noises, and screams of joy anticipating the "what will be for next year". But like every year in Seattle, we'll watch the Ball drop in New York to the Light Show over the Space Needle.

Happy New Year Seattle!

I am headed off to Uwajimaya store in Bellevue to pick up the last minute traditional foods that keep us grounded to Hawaii...We are keeping the Matsui Tradition that Teresa will be hosting. She is making the saimin, uzuke beans, and something else. Forgive me... All I know...For me after 10 years.. What is New Years...Families being together. Now that is New Years!

Family! Holidays....

Aloha!

This is my first blog, but I want to start a legacy that I think all my children need. I thought this would be another cool way to have friends and family keep up with what is going on in our family. We like to stay connected.
First, we just got over our snow storm in WA. Now that was fun.

As you can see we had lots. Now that is our front lawn. Taken from the porch to the left. Although we could not drive much around, Rob drove and he did all the honey to do lists.

We still managed.

We had a true White Christmas here and for us this is the worse we ever saw it since we have been here for the last 10 years. Now granted we saw snow and played in it near the Leavenworth, WA or Snoqualmie Pass, but to have it like that near our home! Wow!!! By the time Christmas ended, Mortensens was sick of the snow.

We had visitors come and they enjoyed it.

My sister Teresa Matsui, who came to spend the Holidays with us, but Jay her hubby had to be home.

(Teresa and me)

Her son James; came in from Jacksonville, FL. on leave fromt he U.S. Navy and he too enjoyed the snow.

Here he is sporting his gifts... Gift Cards.

The Christmas Holiday was great and was not possible if not for the family coming to Lynnwood, WA to be with their mom and grandma. Mom absolutely enjoyed it and she just loved to be with her family at this time.

I thought I blog because I found some family friends who did and although theirs are spectacular and cute, I thank them for being an example to me.

I found out a very good friend past and her family misses her very much. I want to say life is too short not to enjoy your loved ones, friends, and even embrace the lessons you have from your tribulations. They tributed her so eloquently and each sharing a personal story of how she touched their lives. They are in my thoughts and prayers this time because I know what it's like to loose someone who touched my life--My Dad Gerry Alidon.

He was my friend, father and my rock. I could depend on him for everything to anything. He is surely missed but being who I am what and what I believe I know that all of our family members that have past are on the other side waiting for us... saving a place for me and all of us.

Enjoy my first blog and may there be more to post