He's on Sarah's team!

Sarah wishes this guy was in her stocking this year. At the very least she got to watch him pose like an underwear model!

Sisters, snowflakes, sun and sand!

Scott's sister Sarah came out for Christmas vacation. She flew in on December 23rd and we hit the ground running. We didn't even let her take a breath before letting her squidge her toes in the sand. Though you can't really see them very well, there are probably 20 kite surfers in this picture.

Yea! Sarah's here. We are about to have some fun . . .

Right after the beach and grabbing a bite to eat we headed into the Iao Valley. It was overcast but we could see the "needle" (that's the pointy thing behind our heads).

Then we were off to the Plantation to feed the ducks . . .

and the cheeky monkeys!

On Christmas Eve day we went to Lahaina to eat at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Co. YUMMMM! It was oh so delectable. On our way home we saw these wonderful swings beckoning us to come and play. What fun!

Camille's artistic eye . . . I really like this photo she took.

Before going home we stopped on the other side of the island to see if there were some big waves. It was blustery for sure but the wind has been really 'killing' the waves. It's just very choppy. After all it is Christmas Eve, rough weather should be expected!

Doesn't the 'belle noir' look happy?

I just realized this is slightly out of order. But since it is such a long process to reload pictures I'll just leave it. Anyways, being inspired by one of my new favorite blogs 'a fanciful twist', I decided to cut some snowflakes. I was thinking I was pretty hot stuff. After all I'm not a novice with being crafty. The first one was pretty nice, then trying to make a 6-pointed-star instead of 8-pointed, I ended up with the 4-pointed one. Then I figured it out and got my six pointer. The last one is a 3-dimensional one.

Of course, Camille jumped in and I'm pretty sure that she's the champion. Her's were so beautiful and lacey, curly and swirly . . . my snowflakes bow to her snowflakes (making bowing motion with arms raised)

But of course she didn't stop there. Oh no, she started cutting out paper dalls. The two dancers below she says she cut at the same time, just a sheet of paper folded in half. First cutting out the girl in the dress, then opening it up and cutting away the excess for the man. Beautiful!

Of course Sarah jumped in and made these amazing Hybiscus flowers. They look simple but don't be fooled. You just try to make a 5-POINTED STAR! You'll soon realize that she's a genius. I'm amazed! They turned out beautifully.

Ah, Christmas morning! All the anticipation leading up to this day. We search for the perfect gifts. Hoping they will think you were genius to find something so perfect for them. I usually fall way short!

Then it happens . . . the Christmas explosion! All the anticipation coming to a head and exploding all over the room. Don't you just love the 'Christmas mess'?

My apologies here. I had a picture of the wrapping paper tossed aside but accidentally deleted it. But alas . . . it's not that important.

Here's Sarah on Christmas day, sitting on the beach, not quite sure what to do with herself. She's in paradise.

Another picture accidentally deleted was the picture of the man Sarah claims is "on her team". I'll post his picture anyways. He was all posed and looking studly. That's a must see.

These were in Sarah's stocking this morning. Santa knows what a girl needs!

Here's a Christmas star for you. Happy Christmas! See you next year.

Tasty little side dish!

Here's a recipe you might want to try. It's a little spicy with black pepper. But hey, maybe you'd like it that way. First you boil your carrots (I used baby carrots) until they are soft. Then drain out the water and return to pan. I chopped up half an onion and added it to the carrots. Saute in 2 Tbsp. butter, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and a pinch of salt. Then when adding the black pepper, shake the shaker so hard that the top comes off and pours A TON of black pepper in the mix. Then carefully try to scoop out the major piles of pepper and try to save the rest. If this is a little on the peppery side as it was for me, dump the whole thing and start again avoiding the pepper shaker altogether! Enjoy!

Silly ramblings!

I've been reading alot more blogs lately. I've found a few more friends that have blogs. And I remembered one of my favorite authors, Shannon Hale, also blogs. So I've added links to their blogs. If you have some time I think you'll really enjoy their humor and wit (is that being redundant?)

Anyways, as I read other people's blogs, people who really have a knack for writing I find myself getting jealous of their talent and gift. I've often thought that being a writer would be pretty cool. I would envision myself in a beautiful study filled with books floor to ceiling, sitting at my desk typing away. And then making millions of dollars from one great novel. I never thought this during high school, mind you, when I could have pushed myself to get better grades. And in college I vividly remember taking the required English class from Mr. Lanquist (anyone that went to EAC while he taught is probably shuddering right now). He was an odd person to say the least. And a little creepy. But I digress . . . I vividly remember writing in his class. Most of the times I got C's. I was always told to add detail. For whatever reason when I write the details don't go from my mind to the paper. I see a complete vision or thought in my head. But in black and white - the words themselves without the thoughts that completed the picture fall flat. Therefore, I got C's in English and I am not a gifted writer. There is hope however, my author friend told me it's like anything else. You have to practice. So write alot and you'll get better over time. Unfortunately, I don't see much improvement. But I haven't practiced that much either.

Even my daughter has the writing bug. She's pretty good at it too. I must say that I'm very proud of her writings (though they still need work and if you'd just let me edit for you . . .) She won't let me read her latest book. The first book that I had been reading and got hooked on remains unfinished and abandoned. Oh the torture!! Will they ever find each other again? I probably won't ever know. Camille, why do you torture your mother like this?

Back to blogging. I'm starting to go crazy or something. In my head throughout the day I think that maybe I should blog about whatever it is I'm doing. Just this morning I was taking a shower and the thought process went something like this:

"I think that we should be able to count shaving our legs as part of our daily exercise. Just trying to balance my leg on the micro edge at the end of the tub and then bend over and shave while balancing most of my weight on the other leg is like doing some of the yoga balance poses. Not to mention the cramp that starts to form in the weight baring gluteous maximus! I wish we could count the calories that it burns - maybe I'm done with exercise today . . ."

Then I was distracted by how dirty my tub was and how badly I need to clean it. But then the draw of the computer with the promise of new blog posts pulls me away from my duties. And then I check all my neices blogs with anticipation, hoping for more pictures and posts of how my adorable 'great'-nephews have done something so funny and silly and charming that I laugh right out loud. . . . No new posts!! AAAUUUGGGHHH. That's ok, I'll check it 3 or 4 more times today hoping that maybe now their posts are up.

Maybe now . . .

Now . . .

now? . . .

The realization that maybe I don't post as often as they'd like me to gets me to post this!!! I apologize to all my faithful blog readers. I couldn't help myself. I didn't have any new and excited photos to post. Besides, aren't you tired of pictures of the beach anyways?

Once there was a Sandman, Sandman, Sandman . . .

But first there was Sigmond the Sea Monster! Well, something that looks a little like Sigmond. Or maybe inspired by Sigmond? (Sigmond the sea monster and Johnny and Scott are friends . . .)

This is Camille's "monster"

Then there was a prototype miniature sandman! Isn't he cute? And those would be 'sandball buttons' waiting for the big sandman to be completed. (not my sandball buttons)

Making a sandman isn't as easy as you might think. Trying to make a sand ball like a snow ball doesn't work. You can't just roll it around in the sand hoping it will get bigger! The sand won't stick together. And trying to build a ball of sand on another ball of sand didn't work either. I know, I tried . . . and then it fell apart. :(

But after several failed attempts and a few HOURS! I finally did it. Isn't he cute?

Once there was a sandman, sandman, sandman

once there was a sandman, tall, and strong.

In the sun he stood there, stood there, stood there,

in the sun he stood there, all day long!

Merry Christmas!!!!

Did you know . . .

that Hawaii is the most secluded population on the planet? It's true! We're thousands of miles away from all other populated places. It's baffling really, to think that we are sitting on tiny little volcano peaks smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Keep that in mind the next time you think of us . . . then hop on a plane and come visit us so we don't feel so cut off from the rest of the world! Thank goodness for the internet - I might go stir crazy without it. Aloha!

Red Flag Day!

The other day it was a red flag day at the beach. That means that it's dangerous to swim when the flag is out due to wicked under tow and huge waves. We just wanted to check out the surf when the swells are higher than normal. I guess these waves are about 10-15 ft high. The picture really doesn't do it any justice. It's very impressive to watch. I've tried to upload a video for your viewing pleasure. But it would load, kept having errors and it still doesn't do it any justice. Pic was taken high up on a cliff.

Just for Miss Kate!

We saw this sculpture on one of our drives and thought of you Miss Kate. Enjoy!

Don't judge a book by it's cover . . .

Or a statue by it's appearance for that matter. On one of our drives through the country side (or is it "volcano side"?) we happened upon this little park on the side of the road. It seemed pretty random where it was located. It was put there in honor of some chinese doctor escaping china as a political asylum. Anyways, inside the park are these statues. You might think to yourself they look impressive enough! Made of solid concrete or granite?

Camille put her hand on one and realized they weren't stone at all! THEY'RE MADE OF PLASTIC!!! Or plastic resin. Well, what do you expect when the label says 'made in China'!

Can you name this plant?

Anyone . . . ? It's somewhat recognizable, especially at Christmas. I'm sure most of you guessed correctly. This is the Poinsettia! This is what it looks like in it's natural habitat. They get quite big. In my opinion, they are much prettier when in small pots with sparkly stuff sprayed on them. But all the same, it's kinda cool to see it all big like that.