Around the house

While we have been trying to minimize purchases of toys, etc., I have a few fairly new pieces of furniture that we had to share. The first is my new table and chairs. I seem to like to eat food here better than in my highchair. And of course I love to paint and color here too.


This is called a kitchen helper and I've been having a blast playing at the kitchen sink with it. It's a lot safer than a chair.

(for those of you familiar with the "Learning Tower" this is similar but is a tad smaller, cheaper, folds up, easier to move around, doesn't stub toes, and made with recycled rubberwood so it's the better choice for those of us who are minimalists ;))

A hui hou! (goodbye in Hawaiian)

We'll be getting on the plane today back to Toronto. We had a great day on Friday riding the waves at Hapuna Beach. We also went on a Petroglyph Tour in the morning. (Petroglyphs are ancient carvings in volcanic rock)



I wonder if Uncle Pete can teach me how to play my new ukulele

More from Hawai'i

On Thursday, we drove the entire way around the Big Island. We went through deserts and rain forests all in one day! We visited Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and saw lava tubes, old craters, steam vents, and saw the Hawaiian National Bird- the Nene. Prior to this, we went to Akaka Falls State Park where we saw bamboo groves and a large waterfall. Afterwards (on our way to the volcano) we stopped at a farmer's stand and had fresh coconut and bananas.




On Wednesday, Mommy Laura and I spent the entire day swimming (well, almost). I've been having fun playing with 3 older brothers from Arizona (ages 10, 8, 6) in the pool. I also was practicing getting my clothes on too.

Aloha!

We are spending the week in Hawaii while Daddy Pat attends a conference.

On Sunday, we took a not-so-easy hike down into (and back up) the Wai'po valley. We saw a huge waterfall, slept on the way down, swam in the water with the surfers, and flirted with some free-range horses who were trying to be friendly with us so we'd feed them....







On Monday, Mommy Laura and I spent the day relaxing on the patio and writing a letter to Daddy Pat while he's at the conference. We also went swimming in the pool.

On Tuesday, Mommy Laura and I drove to the coffee farm land to learn how Kona Coffee is grown and produced. We also went to learn how Macadamia Nuts are harvested as well. and went swimming, twice. ALSO, HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA HOLLENBECK!!!!! YOU'RE 93 today!!!!

The stinker went down to Georgia

Emily and Steve got married this past weekend on Jekyll Island and St. Simon's Island. (you might remember Emily when she babysat me when I was just a month old)

We had a layover in Atlanta so my friends Carolyn (mommy's research assistant when she was at Emory)and her daughter Annsley came to visit me at the airport.

Emily and Steve are such a beautiful couple. And they had a beautiful wedding too.

Sitting in the bushes outside of the church

Sitting in Barbara Jean's Restaurant eating crab cakes (well, this is what I was doing before the crab cakes came out)

Can't have a trip to the islands without some fun at the beach.

We visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center where they take care of sick and injured sea turtles.