Making Strides...for Breast Cancer

This Saturday, our family will join Quyen and Anson to walk and help raise awareness and fight against breast cancer.  Our walk is not as "big" or "popular" as other walks we've done or supported in the past (i.e. AVON walk for Breast Cancer, Relay for Life, Susan G. Komen 3-day Walk) but I think it's just as important.  I have read so much about people who "champion" a cause and you wonder, WHY?  Now I know.  Because they have been personally touched by it.  

We have all been exposed to different diseases on TV, newspapers, ads, etc...but nothing really sets your mind to do something about it until we are personally affected.  My life was affected in the fall of 2003.  I remember the exact moment pretty clearly...the phone call, the tears, the anger, the "why her?"  She was a young NEW mother, with a baby just a little over a year old...and she was one of our best friends!   When Yoriko got the news back that her biopsy was positive, it was shocking to say the least.   But then...we found our "Cause".

This past spring I was once again shocked to learn that a former boss of mine, Richard, was diagnosed with breast cancer as well.  This was definitely one of those "wake up" moments due to the fact if nothing else, it was a MALE being diagnosed.   We somehow always equate "breast" cancer with females, and maybe the Pink has something to do with that...although I had met lots of men survivors on my walks and such, when it touches someone you personally know, well, it definitely hits home much harder!  Richard is in his mid-40s, with a wonderful wife and two young children...and so another reason we support the fight.

I think with the numerous amount of women we have in our family, it is by miracles that none are affected with any of the "diseases" so common in females: heart disease, breast cancer, etc. I really do thank our lucky stars each and every year that goes by without news of this kind.  So, I guess every small step I take is nothing compared to what these amazing people fight with each and every day.  If all it takes is walking a few hundred miles and raising however much money we can along the way for 2 more families NOT to have to hear the "C" word in their lives...sign me up for few more hundred miles :)

Peppertree Pumpkin Patch

Lankha's "school" is having one of their annual fundraisers: the Pumpkin Patch on the corner of Union Ave/Camden Ave.  Look for the BIG signs: PEPPERTREE PUMPKIN PATCH!

Since Auntie Yoriko was out volunteering today, we decided to go and support the school :)  It was a bright and sunny day so we all had our hats and shades on, and the kids did manage to pick a couple of pumpkins out of the hundreds!  My stipulation was that they can each pick one that they can carry...Maddie of course, chooses one accordingly...Adam, well...he shuns the "patch" which Maddie chose from since they were all too small for his taste.  So, he turns to me: MOMMY! I WAAAANT THIS ONE! I NEEEEEED THIS ONE!  I HHAAAAVE TO HAVE IT, I LOOOOOOVE IT, MOMMY! IT'S PERFECT FOR ME!  but he doesn't ask me to carry it, instead goes and grabs a wagon, then asks Yoriko to lift it into the wagon for him...and only after he gets it next to the car does he ask me to put it in the car...then again when we are home. 

And he'll be sure to point out that Sissy has the smaller pumpkin in front of our house...I guess all the hard work wore him out...

Kaeli's adventures

For those of you not familiar with Kaeli and her parents, they are by far much more adventurous than we are...this kid has her own garden (complete with growing veggies!), plays with caterpillars, is pretty much potty trained to the point where she can actually GO to school...and only a month a half older than our BOO boy :)  oh, and did I mention how sassy she is?! but just as friendly as can be too!  Her latest adventure: So Cal at Lego Land and I guess one caterpillar from the yard wasn't enough...

Reagan...the woodstock baby

CHUBBY CHEEKS!

Sweet 16!

Happy Birthday, Christine!! 

Don't we all wish we were celebrating our "Sweet 16th" again?  (ok, maybe not :P)

Photo Shoot...the next TOP MODELS!

A sneak peek at our photo shoot at Sears yesterday afternoon...the kids did GREAT!  Adam was so good with the "Twins"...posed and everything :)  The Twins, well, enough said...

Eco Friendly AND Gorgeous!

I am describing what Diane does, but it could apply to herself as well ;)  Anyways, first, HAPPY Belated Birthday, Diane!! Second, the reason for my blog...for those (few???) who have not seen what Diane does in person, you are missing out!   CLAY FLOWERS. Yes, CLAY flowers. They are super lightweight but look like the real thing!!!

Years ago, for Christina's bridal shower, Ange gave her this beautiful plumeria shadow box with her wedding info in it.  I asked Ange about it as a gift for Brian&Miho and for Mike&Larissa (the year we went to Hawaii for 3 weeks and 3 wedding on 3 different islands :P) and it led me to Diane.  I finally got to meet Diane at the last of the 3 weddings, Mark&Cher's.  Who knew this "woman"...I had expected an older woman who you know, was like an "artsy crafty stay at home Auntie" not this young, chic and outgoing "CHICK" :)  But alas, it was Diane.  Mark and Michael hit it off and well, we've kept in touch, and last November, they ended up moving back to the Bay Area from Honolulu...AND it's only like 5 minutes from our house to her Dad's :)  Aidan now goes to the same pre-school as Maddie...and Maddie actually guages her school days by "when I'm not in Rm 2 now, so Aidan is in Rm 2" on Tues and Thurs.  Aidan also has Miss Michelle...who we LOVE remember? :)

Anyways, I digress!  Diane not only does gifts and wedding invitations, it turns out after getting to know her and her business more, she does the whole gamut of WEDDING stuff!  But her main focus are the gorgeous flowers!  She does AMAZING work, check out her website/blog (www.dkdesignshawaii.com / http://dkdesignshawaii.blogspot.com ) and you can see not only her flowers but what she can do with them!  BEAUTIFUL and by the rave reviews and loyal following she has...no wonder ;)  Oh, she was even featured LIVE on Martha Stewart's show, showing Martha herself how to make hydrangeas!

With the green invasion upon us, what a great way to have the "freshest" flowers for your wedding/event AND be able to save it and use it as decor later..without it being "dead" or spending another few hundred to "preserve" it and it still essentially being DEAD?!  Quyen had these rich hues of reds and oranges for our bouquets and they totally stood out beautifully against the "candle" white of her gown and even our deep red dresses!

I can post pictures of Diane's stuff but everything is beautiful...and she's been working on new flowers too!  I almost want to have another wedding just to have her flowers...so many to choose from though...creamy giant peonies...light blue/green hydrangeas...her sold out gardenias that have been plastered all over the national wedding mags...deep, vibrant ranunculus...ivory tuberoses...I guess you get the idea? :)  Oh, her GERBERS!!! She even made SHAMROCKS!

Check out her links!