Wagon rides

Mommy Laura got this cool wagon a long time ago for a loonie at a yard sale. I had fun taking myself for a ride and my farm animals.

Coffee

How many 16 month old babies know the sign for "coffee"? It's sad but true that ours does. Since our trip to Hawaii, Anya can now sign coffee. Anya has already become a coffee connoisseur as she gets her feathers ruffled if we walk past Starbucks and don't stop! But the best part is when we're at home and she is in need of some entertainment-- she signs "coffee" over and over again wanting Daddy Pat to MAKE some coffee!!! This involves grinding the coffee which is both scary and exciting at the same time. Now if only we knew the sign for Mocha Frappuccino.....

Bon Voyage Jeremy

Mommy Laura and I traveled to Ohio this past weekend to celebrate my cousin Jeremy's high school graduation. He's leaving next week for the Army. We are so proud of him for being a risk taker. We can't wait to hear all about his experiences.

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!!!!