Hawaii

Be prepared for a lot of pictures! There is so much to share. We really loved our trip to Hawaii. We got to spend a lot of time with my cousin and her family, and also fit a lot of touristy things into our schedule. Also, Britton gave a great presentation on his research which was the real reason for our trip.
Elliot experienced many firsts on our trip. Elliot enjoyed his first airplane ride across the ocean. He charmed the people behind us, and chewed on everything in sight.
This was Elliot's first time on the beach. He didn't catch too many rays thanks to our handy sun shade. I put him in the sand for a bit hoping he would learn that sand is actually not fun to eat. After a few fistfuls into his mouth I decided to keep him out of the sand the rest of the trip.
This was the first time for Elliot to get together with his second cousins, Emalia and Rockne. They were really sweet with him, and loved it when he "chased" them around the house.
This was our first sunrise in Hawaii. We woke up really early because we were still on California time, and were able to watch the sun rise over the ocean from my cousin's back yard!
It was so nice to see my cousin Leilani again. It's been seven years! We were able to spend a lot of time together, and catch up, and I finally got to know Makoa and the kids. It really made the trip meaningful and I hope it's not another seven years until we see each other again. Actually, Will was just looking at these pictures of Elliot with cousins and asking if he could go to Hawaii too.

We hit up all the tourist traps near the north shore starting with the Dole pineapple plantation. The Dole whip is delicious! It totally exceeded my expectations. We learned some astounding pineapple facts like it takes about a year and a half to grow a pineapple! Appreciate your next pineapple. It took more time to grow than a newborn baby.
We also went to the Polynesian Cultural Center, complete with the villages, canoe show, luau, and night show. We found out most of the employees there are students at BYU Hawaii next to the PCC. We were throwing spears with these two shirtless, buff guys from Tonga, and found out one of them is by day a math major and by night a flaming sword dancer. That's a pretty wide range of skills.
We also visited the temple in Laie. It's beautiful and recently renovated!
There's lots of yummy food on the north shore too. We stopped by Giovanni's shrimp truck, got some chocolate haupia(coconut) pie from Ted's Bakery, and I even found a stand selling Okinawan potato pies. We completely missed out on the shaved ice. The shaved ice that got away! Next time...
I also wanted to go on a hike somewhere. We did the Hauula loop trail. We parked near the trail head by this sign that says, "high theft area." It was still pretty early so there was no one around except this chicken crossing the road.
We didn't see anyone else for the entire hike. It was just us, the extremely chirpy birds, and the wind coming off the ocean. The vegetation was very dense and different from the plants we're used to. We saw a papaya tree and a Noni fruit tree, but that was all we could recognize. Leilani watched Elliot for us so we didn't have to carry him around. It was so nice for us, and Elliot got a good nap out of it.
We also went to the Waimea Valley Park with Leilani and her kids. It's a really big area with a waterfall at the end of the walk. We didn't make it very far, and mostly spent our time at the craft table eating lunch with "Auntie."
We did get to see some interesting plants and trees. The most impressive was this tree called the "Cannonball Tree." Like its name suggests, it has huge cannonball-like things hanging from it.
All of that was done the weekend before Britton's conference started. On our way down to Waikiki we spent a morning snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. We got there about 7 AM, and just in time to beat the crowds! The water was very clear and we saw a lot of different colorful fish and coral.
Elliot was with us so we had to take turns going in the water while the other person hung out on the beach with Elliot. While Elliot and I were sitting together under a towel waiting out a burst of rain, this gigantic centipede started crawling towards us. It was about as long as my foot! I pointed it out to the lifeguards, and asked if it was poisonous. They smashed it into oblivion with a flip flop for me.
We finally got to our hotel on the beach. It was amazing! Thank you American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. They ran out of the type of room we booked so they had to upgrade us to an ocean-view room!
It was nice to have something interesting to look at out my window while Elliot was napping. I could watch the surfers, the boats and catamarans, swimmers at the hotel, and these sea turtles pictured below! They swam near the hotel every day.
After day one of watching the sea turtles from my window, I couldn't wait for Britton to get back so I could go swim and try to catch a glimpse of them. I was a little hesitant because no one else was swimming there even though tons of people could see the turtles. But I couldn't help myself so I dove into the ocean with my snorkeling goggles. The water wasn't as clear as Hanauma Bay so I couldn't really see anything with the goggles. I swam over to where I had seen them, and saw some big turtles as they came up for air a few times.
Britton took pictures of me from our balcony. After a few minutes I got kind of self-conscious because there was probably a lot of people watching me try to swim with the sea turtles so I gave up. On the swim back I kicked a rock, and came out of the ocean with a very bloody foot. Maybe that's one reason no one else was swimming with the sea turtles. But we saw them every day, and there was a few other times I saw other people attempting to swim and take pictures of them.
Elliot spent a little time laying out by the pool. Another reason people probably weren't out in the ocean was because of the hotel's many fabulous pools. Leilani and kids also came out to swim with us.
When Britton came home from the conference we would usually go out and try to find something not too overpriced to eat in Waikiki. A real challenge. We walked past a Ferrari store one day and let Elliot try out the Ferrari bike.

One day while Britton was at his conference I took the bus to see the only residence of royalty in the USA, 'Iolani Palace! I was very excited, especially for the air conditioning. Unfortunately, kids are only allowed in the basement... So Elliot and I checked out the basement. They had a lot of pictures, info, and the crown jewels! So it was still worth my effort to get over there.
Another day, I booked a tour bus for the Pearl Harbor Memorial. It's a floating memorial over the sunken USS Arizona. There's a park with museums to learn more about the day Pearl Harbor was attacked. They also have a movie for you to watch before you are taken over the memorial in a boat.
1,177 crew members lost their lives December 7, 1941. Over 900 from the USS Arizona alone. It sank in nine minutes and burned for two days. You can look out of the windows of the memorial and see down on the deck of the underwater ship. There is still oil leaking from the ship which floats up to the surface looking like black tears. I gained a lot of respect for that infamous day which also happens to be my birthday.

Hawaii was a great experience for us, and we were able to hang out with family, experience the local culture, and indulge in tourist heaven.
Mahalo for reading this whole thing! Share your favorite Hawaii memories if you like.

Skills

The kids are growing and changing so fast! Elliot is sitting up on his own with the occasional topple. Will's photography skills are slowly but surely improving. Elliot's head is cut off, but at least he's in the center.

Will is also getting so good at reading! This stamp book says, "You need to watch TV and do fishie, and no clipping nails." In truth, he can recognize his name and some letters, but that's about it.
Elliot started eating food! He's doing a great job, but mixing my milk into the food probably helps a lot. So far he has eaten and enjoyed rice cereal, banana, apple, peas, spinach, and avocado.
I'm looking forward to making him some papaya, passion fruit, or some other tropical mush in Hawaii. It's only five days away now!

First Harvest

Our garden has produced the first harvest of the season! Lots and lots of fava beans. They were extremely easy to grow, and a free winter cover crop provided by the EV garden coordinator. Will helped me pick them, and then shell them too.
This morning I was annoyed when Will took out the sugar snap peas claiming he wanted to eat them for breakfast. I know this trick, but I fall for it every time. I always think, "Maybe he'll really eat them this time." But inevitably the pods are picked apart so he can find the peas inside, and there's a big mess all over the table and floor.
I finally realized this tendency is actually really useful! He had lots of practice tearing apart pods and finding the fat beans inside. And we sang silly songs together while we worked like "What's that noise? It's chocolate booty. What's that noise, chocolate booty." To the tune of smoke on the water. I sang him Primary songs too, but of course the only one he remembers is the chocolate booty song. Where do these songs come from? Crazy Britton.

Turning Japanese

Am I really doing the peace sign with a grown woman who is significantly shorter than me? Why yes. In order to survive with my Japanese companions during my mission, I tried to assimilate into the Japanese culture as much as possible. I ate rice and fermented soybeans for breakfast. And I liked it. I covered my mouth when laughing and chewing food. I fastidiously sorted the trash. When I saw a white person I thought, "What are they doing here?" Totally oblivious to the fact that everyone was thinking the same thing about me.
I try to hide it, but I am still trying to be Japanese. I love anything that reminds me of my life there. Lately I've been cooking more Japanese food thanks to a friend's mom's blog. FOODjimoto She's third generation Japanese American so I feel like her recipes are a lot more accessible than recipes by Japanese natives. It's not just Japanese food, there's a lot of Mexican, Italian, and Chinese cuisine in there too. Plus some really beautiful photography. And...cute stories at the end of each post.
I also found a Japanese grocery store nearby, Nijiya Market. I can get my mochi and melon pan fix there, and find ingredients not available most other places. I bought some o-nigiri there, and Will and I had a picnic lunch with them. It's a rice ball with a filling like tuna, and wrapped in seaweed. Guess what Will said. He tried a piece of seaweed without any suggestion by me, and with a surprised look on his face told me he liked it! Yay! I'm getting him ready for a Japanese mission already.
I also made some udon the other night for dinner, and Will tried his best to eat with chopsticks. There were many tears of frustration, but he wouldn't give up.
Elliot was mostly interested in eating his feet. I think I'll make him a seaweed puree. Muwa ha ha ha.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day is long past, I know. But why only honor mothers once a year? That's my excuse for posting this one month late. I just want to extend the celebration...
Well, I had a fantastic start to my Mother's Day. Britton made me breakfast in bed, and it was brought to me by my favorite green-striped two year-old. I had crepes with a sampling of delicious toppings, a chewy, dino vitamin, hard-boiled egg, and an apple from Will just for good measure. Breakfast in bed takes time, especially when you have two boys to help you eat. We were a little late for church as were most people.
I also need to pay tribute to my own mom. I have benefited greatly from having such a thoughtful, kind, creative, and silly mom. She is scrupulous in remembering birthdays of each child and grandchild, as well as anniversaries, and holidays. She is without a doubt, one of the kindest people I know. She is constantly creating quilts, cards, decorations, and gifts for others. I'm understanding more and more the sacrifices she has made for her family, and the love she has for us.
I wish all these wonderful attributes have been passed down to me. I'm working on it alright... I have definitely inherited her love of chocolate. While I was looking for some pictures to share in this post I realized I have inherited some kind of silly dressing up trait from her too. I'm the short one in the front. Just getting into the dressing up groove.
I think I've shared this picture before. This kind of scene was fairly common for me during college. Most of that stuff is mine. Where did it all come from? More importantly...

Why do I still have it? To pass the fun on to the next generation apparently. Will was only somewhat interested in dressing up. The neighbor girls, however, were delighted and come over occasionally asking to dress up. I love it. I'll keep working on inheriting the other wonderful traits of my mother.

Happy 5 Months Elliot!

The Green Guy

Will has made it very clear lately that his favorite color is green. He likes frogs just because they're green. He wears green every day because his shoes are green, he has some green shirts, one pair of green pants, green pajamas, and a green hat.

He is still as obsessed as ever with Thomas the train. He forces us to make a train track for him as soon as he gets up in the morning. Trains come before breakfast. Trains accompany him everywhere we go whether he's in the car, stroller, bike trailer, or just walking. At last, he found a friend that is as obsessed with trains as he is. Turns out this friend has been living next door this whole time! They go outside every afternoon and play trains together on one of the picnic tables. It's very cute to hear them "talking Thomas" together. Things you only understand after watching HOURS of Thomas cartoons. Like, "Then Spencer buffers down the branch line and buffers up with the freight cars, but then there was trouble. Oh, no! Diesel 10 bashed the joby wood down the suspension bridge. Topham Hatt booms confusion and delay..." And it goes on like that forever.
We have to thank Thomas for motivating Will to finally ride a bike! He had absolutely no interest in riding a bike until one day by the dumpster... Yes, I couldn't believe my luck. I took out the trash and came back with a Thomas bike for Will! It was a bit broken, but Britton put his engineer skills to use and made this bike once again, really useful. I was amazed to watch Will's excitement at a Thomas bike, and then get on and try to ride it right away. He is now a very proud bike rider. He insisted on wearing his helmet on the playground. After arriving, he tells a girl, "I have a bike just like yours." She gets really offended and points out her bike is pink and his is blue. Will doesn't notice, but just keeps chattering on about how it's a Thomas bike and it goes really fast.
I would love Will to be able to attend preschool next year. I really want some thing close and affordable. I don't think either of those are really possible. I'll probably end up doing Joy school at my house or something. Whatever works. He already knows his ABC's and we're working on counting now. I love this guy. He is a ton of fun and charms everyone he meets. Unless he's talking about poop. Which happens a lot lately... I hoping it's just a phase he's going through, but it might be a long phase. His dad is still working on that phase.

The Newest

Elliot is growing so fast! He's already getting hosed by being the second child. He gets less attention than Will did at this age. We're hardly taking pictures of him. At no fault of his own! Look how cute he is. What more can he do? At least he has his own clothes thanks to his generous grandma and nana.
Elliot has been shorn. I tried trimming his hair when he was about a month old, but there were still some long stragglers. So long, in fact, that while Aunt Lori was holding him, she mistook it for her own hair. I cut it again a little while ago and he looks so much more mature. The long haired newborn look was so five months ago.
He's getting really strong. He can roll over, hold himself up with his hands, and even pivot around to look at different parts of the room. He just started working out daily in this exersaucer. He loves it! Each workout is followed by a mommy milkshake. He eats pretty well, but he's no Will...
His favorite people these days are Mommy, Will, followed by Dad. Mommy because of the milk factor. He thinks Will is just hilarious! Will can say and do just about anything and get a laugh out of Elliot. Daddy comes in at third place just because he's not around as much, and doesn't have the milk going for him. I know my place as the favorite is only short term. As soon as he figures out what's going on, he's going to appreciate what a crazy, silly, wonderful daddy he has.