Apr 20 2009
We spent a great weekend w/ Gpa Tom & Gma Karen. Jill will make a post w/ more details and pics later this week. I just wanted to make a quick post showing Lucy’s first encounter with snow.
Her first rather astute observation regarding crystalline water ice? “Cold!”
Jan 19 2009
Here’s some video we took during our time in Oahu earlier this month. The beach shots are from the coast of Lanikai in Kailua. For more info, check out this post.
Jan 12 2009
We ended up taking lots of pics in Hawaii. This slideshow includes a few of ‘em. More pics (more pics? is that even possible?) are available here and from Auntie Laura here.
Jan 8 2009
The kid is learning new words every day. During our time in Hawaii, she started using words like “Uh-Oh!”, “Wow!”, “Shoes”, and “Hi!” on a regular basis. However, by far her new favorite word has got to be “two”. She’s pretty creative in her usage, frequently using “two” in place of “yes”. Example:
Mom: “Would you like a cookie, Lucy?”
Lucy: “Two!”
Anyway, Lucy’s favorite beach by far was in Kailua, most notably because it was very hilly in parts. She loved crawling up the hills, very much surprising her mom and dad with her climbing prowess.
Once she scrambled to the top of each vanquished hill, Lucy would motion for a parent to come visit her lofty perch. Inexplicably, mom would usually be very busy feigning interest in something else whenever the little hill-dictator demanded a visit. This was usually my cue to start climbing.
As soon as I’d huffed and puffed myself to the top of her hill, she’d let out a high-pitched shriek (the kind that frequently scares Wubert) and propel herself down the hill, fully confident in her ol’ dad’s back-pedaling and toddler-catching abilities.
What I found truly funny about all of this was how the kid paced herself during each of her climbs. In the way a squad of soldiers might yell “hup, two, three, four” to help keep themselves in time and on point, the kid would say “two!” for each and every foot or hand movement that helped her scale each of her hills.
Thus, as she crawled up each hill, in a very determined tone she would say, “two, two, two, two!” The cadence would help push her along until she’d reached her hilltop. Once at the top of each hill she’d give a final, triumphant, “TWO!”
Then, she’d beckon her dad to help with that pesky “getting down the hill” part and do it all over again. One of my fondest memories of our trip to the islands.
Jan 5 2009
I think the kid is getting used to the island life. We left the big island Saturday. On Sunday morning, before visiting the Byodo In, the kid put on her rashguard and sunscreen and hit her first Oahu beach, a short walk from our cottage in Lanikai.
Island-hopping, assorted beaches, a cottage with a yard and hammock; I wonder if the kid is going to be quite as thrilled with soaking her feet in the sink when we’re back at our mainland condo later in the week.
Jan 4 2009
Today we went to visit the place we got married, the Byodo In temple, with Miss Lucy. Wanted to show her where the folks got hitched. It was a lovely day, not at all rainy like our wedding!
We fed fish, chased a kitty cat, and bought postcards at the shop. When I was chatting with the lady behind the counter, she realized she remembered our wedding…she had been there…and it stuck in her memory all these years! She even asked to take a picture of us, and met Miss Lucy. It was quite a nice moment for us.
Here is the girly-girl chasing the wily kitty cat. She sure misses Wubie!
Jan 4 2009
Lucy, Auntie, Uncle, Gpa, Daddy and Mommy all went to an authentic luau at the Kona Village Resort on Friday night. It was a great way to spend our last night on the big island before we head over to Oahu.
There were songs and dances and great food. Lucy wasn’t scared of the dancers, even the rather intimidating Maori warriors, she was only a little scared between dances when it was dark. She loved the drum beats and even swayed along with the hulas, and clapped for every dance. There was also a keiki dance, put on by all the kids who attended the luau. Lucy was a bit young to join in, maybe next time!
Hard to get pics at night, but here are some of the better ones.
Jan 3 2009
On New Year’s Day, knowing that we wanted to view some volcano/lava action, Gpa Peter, Jill, Lucy, and I set out for a drive around the island. During our trip we made sure to stop off at Tex’s in Honoka’a for food and tried out the malasadas.
I was looking forward to checking out BJ Penn’s gym in Hilo. Alas, the place was closed, so we had to make do with peering through the windows. Lucy would have to show off her BJJ moves next time, I guess.
The actual drive was pretty cool. We saw all sorts of weather, from pristine blue skies to fog-shrouded mountain tops (the kinda stuff that would look at home on a Led Zeppelin album cover) to heavy, “why can’t these windshield wipers go faster?!” rain storms.
The kid showed no fear during our trip, even while spelunking through lava tubes.
Some of the lava formations were especially intriguing. Away from the ocean and people, their dead silent surroundings gave them an otherworld quality that was way cool. I felt like I was in an old Star Trek episode and that a Gorn could pop out at any moment!
Jan 2 2009
Spencer Beach, Hawaii, originally uploaded by mc9000.
We just got back from Spencer beach. We’ll be going to our first luau tonight, so the kid has a lot of fun in store for her tonight.
More Pics: Spencer Beach | Hawaii
Jan 2 2009
Here are a few miscellaneous pics taken on Wednesday. The shots are from Pololu Valley, the beach, etc.
