Showing posts with label Hawaii. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hawaii. Show all posts

Saturday, December 25, 2010

it's Christmas Time in the City

Merry Christmas!!
I have been MIA - 2010 has come and almost gone - it's been a busy year of many travels actually - all good of course, but busy. I've just posted a Photo Album I just completed quickly for my Dad's upcoming birthday - so take a peek at that below here for an overview of our 9 days in Hawaii last month. My camera was stolen at the end of our trip, so it was a rocky-emotional time coming back home without it... Jason has since replaced it, for which I am so grateful!

Anyway - here's an updated photo of my children for you... I was not on the ball this year with Christmas - really didn't do any baking, didn't organize a bake exchange, Christmas seemed to arrive while we were away in Hawaii thinking it is the middle of summer with what we were experiencing there - so much going on, I didn't get cards out this year or anything. So from our HOME to YOURS - Merry Christmas and thank you for your greetings that we've received so generously from so many of you!

I'll upload a few photos from this month to share with you:
Jason surprised the kids with a turtle ornament each like this, that he sneaked as souvineers from Maui - totally representation of our trip and super cute I think!I attended a "sharing class" with Sam and Gabi last week; the class was a parent-participation class to show what they are doing and enjoy it with themI assisted Elijah's class on a fieldtrip to a local grocery store where each child was given $10, which their grade had worked for by collecting the schools recycling, to buy groceries for the Food Bank - it was so awesome! The 3 boys in our group had fun choosing appropriate foods and seeing how it worked to dwindle the $10 down - then we went to the Food Bank to deliver the groceries; talk about a great experience!Last week Sam had a little concert in his preschool for Jason and I to attend during his last class before vacation...Sam sang his heart out and knew every single word; it was adorable!Then that night Elijah had his Primary Concert - this he had to wear red since he's in grade 2; he had a part in playing the Triangle for one of the songs they performedI also joined Elijah's class for a Craft Morning - in a group of 4 children and myself, we went to 6 stations doing a different craft at each one - again, so thrilled to be a part of that!Last Friday we drove into a nearby city and found 3 amazing light displays that we have never been to before - this one pictured below, included a free horse/carriage ride around the park, and free pony rides which were the highlight (we get asked sometimes if Sam and Gabi are twins - this picture kinda makes you believe they could be:)Sam wrote his name for the first time this week! Not in order, and one letter backwards, but hey, all on his own! Makes me so proud! Oh and this is his turtle; he's been drawing lots of turtles lately inspired by Hawaiian memories!My Girlfriend Pamela came to visit us a few days after arriving home on 'furlough' from Missions work... the kids just adore herAnd finally - I was feeling so guilty for not having a good Christmas photo to send out this year, so I snapped a few at least at the School before the concert - EJ wasn't into it very well probably because people were entering the building as we were there snapping photos, and I think he was thinking this was HIS night to shine so I should be taking his photo in his school; Gabi was soooo "on" and loving this photo shootElijah insisted on having a photo by himself - so here's my big boyMerry Christmas All - it's been a fun season full of memories and lots of visits!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Ocean Odyssey ~ Pacific Whale Foundation


We are being spoiled this whole trip - thanks Dad and Mom!!! Yesterday (Wed, Nov 17) we were treated to a day on the water aboard a Pacific Whaler boat... we went across to Molokini and then to Lanai. Both specatacular!! We first came across about 20 Bottle-nosed Dolphins that greeted us at our boat and swam around us for a bit for us to take them all in - it was as if they were trained to do that!! We snorkelled in Molokini Crater - the kids got to put on life jackets; Sam used goggles and a snorkel and Elijah used a boogy-board with a window to see down into the clear deep water. Gabi swam along (not literally) with us. Even Grandma got out into the water also on a window-boogy board!! Yea! It was fantastic -- until little Miss Hyper Gabi took a spill on the deck and whacked her head into the iron side which immediately drew blood from the good sized gash! Thankfully since we weren't due back for over 3 hours, a "sister boat" was right near us where she took her fall and so they quickly arranged for her and Jason to board onto that boat and head back into Town to visit a Clinic. Jason and Gabi had to get onto this little kayak and get pulled into the other boat (shown)...They then had a 1.5 hour sail back to land (Lahaina) where the boating company had already arranged a Doc Appointment for Gabi and paid for a Taxi for Jason to get her to the clinic AND gave me more money to pay for the taxi from the clinic to our hotel! (hmmm, this is the States, we're thinking they are doing all they can to help us from thinking law-suit, which of course we wouldn't even think...). Gabi was brave as ever. She cried getting onto the Kayak because she didn't want to leave Sam!!! LOL. But other than that she was a trooper - even through the 10 needles they used to freeze her forehead and then the 5 stitches she received. Man. She is my first child to get stitches - unfortunately under these circumstances. We had to pay out of pocket for the medical treatment received - $325usd - but we'll be able to claim (hopefully) something when we return from our Travel Insurance. She was still hyper when the boys and I returned from our day trip... not sure what was in her yesterday!!
So - as all of this was happening with Gabi - about 200 Spinner Dolphins were circling and playing around the boat!!! I managed to get some shots of them and enjoy the awe of these wild creatures...Here are a few shots (since I have time now and since it's actually uploading fast than 1/5-10min!!! :)Samuel my Snorkeler with Momma's gear onon the boat the crew was amazing a Marine Life talk and this Keikei (kids' in Hawaiian) talk about the dolphins and whales... and more:Matt, Sam and Gabi 'surfing' the wind:Jason and I snorkelling at Molokini:isn't this a cool pic?! Meine Bruder, Matt:an afternoon Siesta for Mom and Dad:GREAT day besides the hiccup of poor Gabi and poor Jason missing out on half of the excursion... Aloha!

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wednesday ~ added that one photo

Wish I had time to sit and blog all day - LOL - oh, then I wouldn't have pictures to share with you later on now would I?! Ok - so forget blogging and I'll keep enjoying paradise!!!
We are keeping pretty busy... yesterday we took a full day trip "on the road to Hana" - with stops every 10minutes if we wanted... that 50mile stretch of road with 600 switchbacks and 54 one-lane-bridges took from 8:30-5:00!!! (b/c of the stops as well as the info I just mentioned)... then another 2 hours back home!! Crazy.
But we saw amazing sites on the other side of Maui - like this Black Sand Beach - A~Mazing!

Monday, November 15, 2010

blogging or lack thereof

internet connection is tooooooo slow here... so I just can't find time to upload posts. Sorry. I would love to be sharing our trip with you as we go day to day...
for now I will change the header photo daily to give you a tiny glimpse.

we are having a blast in paradise! Snorkelling - seeing fish and turtles and sting rays so far!! Lots of swimming in the ocean and pool... it's awesome!

visit daily for a picture update... take care!!

Friday, November 12, 2010

flying

**this post is now complete and in order! Thanks Alexa for pointing out how to "right-click", now why couldn't I have figured it out?!

Hello Friends! I know there are some of you who are waiting for some updates here - this is the first I've gotten on wi-fi, and the connection is really slow... so it may have to be half-hearted posts to start.

Yesterday we flew to Maui on Hawaiian Airlines...where they get you in the Island mood as soon as you walk onto the aircraft with the wafting sounds of Hawaii playing on the speakers - ambiance! Here are Matt and Carla checking out our planeand Grandma and Sam above that photo... on the flightWhat would we do without all these electronics?!
and arriving in Maui!!!