(Never) Too many Luaus

Do you know what I discovered this summer?  If you happen upon a few old circus party decorations in your cupboard and decide to host the Newman family reunion with a Luau theme....people will bring MORE luau decorations with them when they come.   With MORE decorations, you might as well host ANOTHER luau for the Cantrell family reunion.    And then THEY might bring some stuff and maybe leave a bunch of lei's instead of taking them home as favors so....it would only make sense to use those things AGAIN a few weeks later for the big homeschooling party you are throwing for the children.

Right now, I am totally sick of luau decorations.

 I fully intended to donate every last one of them right after the party- but then I think, if I already have all the decorations...maybe I should save them for next years' parade float.  And then- well, who knows what the next big party theme could come from a few years down the road when I open the box with pink flamingos...  

Hoarding has its' benefits.  

Luau #1:  Newman Reunion (minus Kelly who left too early for the picture! Sorry Kelly!)

Lots of decorations magically appeared after this one.  Ineke ate corn on the cob for the first time by herself.  Homemade pina coladas and grilled pineapple!

Awwww....look at that cute, productive little garden!  Before it turned into a weedy swamp monster a month later.

Luau #2: Cantrell family 'reunion' with the added perk of an adopted Grandma Barb!  

Luau #2 boasted of the Most Ginormous Bubbles We've Ever Seen (thanks Uncle Jonathan and Aunt Mary!) and finished off with a BANG!

Luau #3: A Back to Homeschooling Luau

The invitation guestlist was 64+ people but a few could make it.  At peak, there were about 53 people, I think but I never got a picture of them.  :-(  Too bad- it's a handsome lot.  I made over 22 pounds of sloppy joe ahead of time (thank goodness we recently butchered a cow!) and bought 80 hotdog buns.  Of course, kids were so busy playing and hanging out- we ate from the leftovers for about a week.  I still have some in the freezer, in fact.

There were bonafide games at this luau- and a tidal wave photo booth.  (I had the fabric stored from handmedowns.  Yes, another perk of hoarding.)  And oodles of silliness. 

It was great.

It always helps when you have extremely talented friends who get right in the spirit of things.  (Thank you Owen Girls!)

Sorry Malachi and Martha- my camera is broke!  I blame it on that!

Cadence looks all lovely and Ineke is shoving her face.  That sounds about right.

 

The party remnants: 

a few decorations more than the first porch picture!

And we end with the little surfer girl on the Sweet Tiki Tea....

Aloha!