Monday, December 23, 2013

Christmas is coming!

At least one is looking forward to santa coming!  


Friday, December 6, 2013

More Hawaii

We finally got around to downloading the rest of the pictures from the camera.  Here are some highlights from the second half of our trip.  We stayed at the Grand Wailea, which was quite grand to say the least.  Scott, grandma and grandpa came and we hung out on the beach, played in the hotel's 9 swimming pools/water slides, went on a snorkeling trip on Scott's birthday, and attended a luau where Abe and I learned to hula on the stage.  With the cold weather this week, it sure would be nice to be back in Maui.
 Abe and Neil liked to "ride the waves", which basically looked like this.
 We went to the kula botanical gardens, which reminded us a lot of kabota gardens.

 What's a corn tree any way?--Casper B.P.
 Picnic at the botanical gardens.
 When we arrived at the Grand Wailea we all got greeted with leis.
 Like father, like son.
 Like father, like daughter.
 cute kids.
 Abe actually jumped into the water from the boat.  I think he had a good time.
 Mei Li stayed on the boat for the trip.
 Abe got really into going down the water slides.  Look out Great Wolf Lodge!
 Poor Mei Li didn't have a neck when she wore her life jacket.
Walking through the lazy river.
 Weee!  What you don't see is that at the bottom I somehow got sucked under while trying to keep Mei Li afloat.  Oops.
Luau fun!

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Hawai'i!!!

We left for Hawai'i on Thursday night as the horrible windstorm was hitting Seattle.  The flight was fairly uneventful except for the terrible turbulence, the fact that Abe tried (and failed) to poop twice in the bathroom, and that Emily and Mei Li sat in front of Abe because a lady wouldn't switch seats with them.  But we made it to our condo all in one piece.
 Our first day we went to the Maui Ocean Center.  They have an amazing aquarium.  Abe and Mei Li both liked looking at the fishes.
 The first tank when you walk in is gigantic and really cool.  As you can tell it's a little dark inside and Emily left Mei Li by the tank for a second.  Mei Li followed Emily and then a man almost tripped on Mei Li.  Sorry Little Li :-(
 Abe was super excited and running throughout the aquarium.  He really liked it when he saw the sharks.  And towards the end there is this giant tunnel that you walk through and you can see rays and sharks and tons of fish swim all around you.  It's pretty sweet.
 Abe enjoyed his time looking at everything.
 Mei Li tried her hand at feeding herself with a spoon  Not too bad little girl!
 We have a little pool at our condo.  Abe is really into playing in the pool, which is a bit of a surprise to us.  Those swimming lessons are paying off.  Nice work swim teacher Levi!  And Mei Li really enjoyed her little floaty contraption as well.
 On our second day we went to the Plantation.  We took a guided tour of a working farm with tons of different crops (coffee, papaya, coconuts, macadamia nuts, etc.) on a tram.  Since we were on the first tour of the day, there were literally only 3 other people on our tour (a dad and two kids) so the guide made a few extra special stops for us.  Abe and Mei Li got to feed some giant long horned cows (the horn almost nipped Mei Li in the head - sorry Little Li x2 ) and saw how a coconut is schucked.  Fresh coconut is real tasty!
 Before diner we walked across the street to check out the beaches at Abe's request.  I think we'll spend some time there tomorrow morning because it always seems to be real sunny and hot in the morning and overcast and windy in the afternoon (which is when we went to the beach today).
We have been making the most of our condo for dinner by using their grills.  The first night we made some Mahi Mahi.  Tonight we grilled up some New York stakes.  Abe takes after us with his zest for eating off the bone.  I must admit they were some damn fine good steaks.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

My halloween flock

We've got chicken on the brain at our house.  For the last week or two we've consistently gotten 3 eggs every 2 days!  All it took was changing to a new type of feed with more calcium.

Here are my halloween chickens--courtesy of Martha (Stewart) and Grammy.  

Abe doing his interpretive chicken dance.
 Check them combs out.
 My little chickie.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Happy Birthday Mei Li!

Today our little Mei Li turned 1!  What a happy sweet little girl.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

A year ago today

A year ago today we went to the pumpkin patch with Frannie, Sarah and Katie on Mei Li's due date, because, well what else was there to do?  Today we went back.  Things look a little different...

I look ridiculous, like there's a pumpkin under my sweatshirt.
Now there's a cute little pumpkin on my lap!
Abe and Frannie trying to lift the pumpkin.
 We went through the red zombie corn maze.  This year we (meaning katie and neil) followed the map.  Last year we put our faith in Abe and Frannie.  Everyone thought this year was more successful, but hey, we made it out didn't we?
 Hi baby girl!


Saturday, October 12, 2013

Sorry Mei Li You've Been 11 for Awhile

We never posted Mei Li's 11 month picture.  At least she hasn't turned a year yet...  At eleven months Mei Li is moving all over the place.  She's pulling herself up onto everything, climbing up stairs,
and getting into trouble.  She loves to babble and is quite loud in screaming when she wants something.  Her tricks are clapping, making a noise by hitting her hand over her mouth, copying, signing milk, eating, and being cute. Some meals she out eats Abe.  She is always such a happy little girl.

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

The Big Preschooler

Abe
4yrs
Favorite color: blue, pink, purple
Favorite food: broccoli, carrots, mac n cheese
When he grows up he wants to be a semi truck driver
Likes to build and fix things, dance, play games, and have sleep overs with mom and dad



Thursday, August 29, 2013

Happy Birthday Mei Li

Here are some pictures of the kids with Banjo.  Banjo is getting ready to lick Mei Li's head.  Mei Li is more smiley than ever.  She just started 'talking'.  She likes to wave, move around (if only she could crawl)  (Thank god she doesn't crawl yet!)

 Why does Abe always make such goofy faces for the camera?
 Look who's 4!

Swimming!

This summer Abe has taken swimming lessons all by himself at Southwest Pool.  He has two other classmates (and he is a head taller than both).  They stand on this little platform in the pool and take turns with the teach floating on their backs and fronts, doing bobs, etc.  Abe doesn't like to put his head underwater.  And when all the other kids jump into the pool, Abe holds the teachers hands and sits down on the side to slide in.  Mr. Safety.


Saturday, August 24, 2013

Abe's Semi Truck Birthday Party

Today Abe had his 4th birthday celebration with his friends from preschool, Maryan's and church.  The sun came out just in time for the festivities, which included painting the cardboard semi, running through the truck wash, playing pin the 18 wheels on the truck, and just plain running.  Everyone had a good time.  Happy birthday little buddy!





9 Month Mei Li

As I post this I realize that Mei Li is actually 10 months, but I I figured we'd better get some in from her 9 month Banjo photos.  At 9 months, Mei Li had 4 teeth.  She loved eating everything on her own--especially taking bites off of big things--like the poppy see bagel below.  She was moving around--pivoting and somehow making it in different spots on the floor.  She rocks back and forth on all fours.  I keep saying that any day now she'll start crawling.