Bachelor Pad...

09.28.05: So we're getting all set up in our new place but still don't have a couch. Today we got a dining table and chairs...knowing we needed space in the van to haul them, we took out two of the van seats...and then, voila!, we realized they make pretty cushy living room chairs. So we decided to keep them in the house for now, until we find a couch. And here are my boys making very good use of them. They are playing a crazy card game, where they flick cards into a box located on the floor right in front of the tv. (And the tv itself is sitting on an upside down box, since we don't have a table for it.) Oh yeah, this is The Ritz!

Where the Big Waves Are...

09.28.05: This is the opposite side of the beach from where the windsurfers are (in the next post). The surfers are on this side, in the waves way out there behind my boys. If they get good enough, they think they might try surfing here one day...

Windsurfers at Ho'okipa...

09.28.05: This is the North Shore, where the waves are big and the wind is strong. There were 20 or so windsurfers out there--it was amazing to see. You'd have to be very strong and have lots of guts (or just be crazy) to go out in the surf here. Wow!

Double Digits...

09.26.05: Now our boy is TEN! We celebrated with a hot-dog dinner (Joe's choice) and a movie (Roll Bounce) and cake back at home. Funny thing is, Joe says being 10 feels the same as being 9. Go figure! (PS: It was exactly one month ago that we celebrated Joe's birthday back in Bellevue with a BBQ Ohana Party, remember?! That seems like ages ago!)

Waiting for a Wave...

09.26.05: Here's how Joe spent his 10th birthday...surfing with his dad. How cool is that?! It looks like a cloudy day but the clouds kept their distance, the sun was shining and it hit 90 degrees here. Now if the waves would just come when the guys are out there, not after they go home!

Desk View...

09.26.05: Here's the unedited view from my desk; I know the photo emphasizes the telephone pole but what I SEE is the ocean, or rather, the surfers out there, including Jeff and Joe (wearing blue shirts). I think they're in this picture...they were out there somewhere when I took it! Anyway, that's the beach across the street from us (Cove Park).

Hale Kanani...

The condo we've rented is the top floor unit you can see here. The condos are called "Hale Kanani"--Hale (pronounced haw-lay) means house and Kanani means "the beautiful," so we'll be living at The Beautiful House. (Pretty neat, huh?!) It is brand-new, just beautiful. I will be too spoiled to move back home! For those of you familiar with Maui, it is in Kihei, just across the street from Cove Park, which is just north of Kamaole Park I. We move in on Saturday--in two days--we can't wait!!!

Surfer Dad...

We all took a surfing lesson and had a blast. What a lot of work it is--you paddle about 90% of the time and surf (er, attempt to surf) about 10% of the time. (If you're planning on giving it a try when you visit, start doing pushups now!) Here's Jeff, surfing on a beach that is SO great that only royalty could surf there once upon a time. (That's a cruise ship in the upper left corner, they ferry passengers into Lahaina to spend their money...I mean go sightseeing...)

Goofy Foot...

Here's Joe on a short board, just a day after our surf lesson. He's getting the hang of it (big surprise there)!

Cowabunga, Dude...

Here's Joe, getting some air off his boogie board at the beach by our resort/hotel. (I'll bet you thought boogie boards were for body surfing, right?!) He could do this all day and never get tired of it...

Lovely Leis...

We made beautiful Hawaiian leis at the resort's craft day activity...I am modeling an orchid lei, Joe and Jeff made woven bracelets using Hohana leaves and Jeff is wearing a Ti leaf lei that I made. We're not looking "haole" anymore...right, brah?

Better Than the Corner Office...

Monday, September 19, 2005: This is the exact location from which I am typing these posts and checking my email. We have to drive to Pohaku Park (one block from our hotel) where we can get a wireless connection (okay, it's because we are too cheap to pay the hotel for it when we can get it free down the street). The windows are open, the tradewinds are gently blowing in and the waves are lapping just outside the van door. I have to pinch myself, I can't believe this is real...

This Week's Resort...

Monday, September 19, 2005: This is the view from just outside our lanai--we are on the first floor of a 12-story building. Tiny little studio, but we can't complain...

Good Morning, Moon...

Monday, September 19, 2005: This is the view from our "lanai" this morning. Can you see the full moon? It is simply breathtakingly beautiful! That's Molokai to the right--a separate island.

Pool View...

Just a cool photo of the tile bottom of the pool...well, I think it's cool...and it's my blog...so there!

Garden View...

If you're looking at the ocean in the next photo, this is what is right behind you, and all over the hills on the leeward shore. It is very dry, brown, desert-looking. It was a big surprise to me, on our first visit to Maui--I thought it would be a jungle everywhere. But that's what you get when the weather conditions are "severly sunny" day after wonderful day!

Ocean View...

This is the view from West Maui, looking toward South Maui. Actually, you're looking at our new home for the next year, in South Kihei (near Wailea), toward the right side of that land mass. During whale season, this little stretch of sea is jammed with whales enjoying the tropics!

Red Puddles...

Friday, September 16, 2005: (Sorry, these pix are a little out of order!) This was taken up by Kanounou Point...the earth is SO red, even more red than Sedona, Arizona. It had rained, so there were these huge red puddles everywhere. Joe and I put our hands in and when we pulled them out, it looked like they were dripping with red paint. Weird science!

Kahana Villas...

September 17, 2005: We're leaving here today (to move across the street to another resort) so I thought it was about time I showed you all where we've been staying. Kahana is a resort area, but quiet with a lot of residential areas nearby (and only one strip mall--that has three souvenier shops in it)! We've had a great two-bedroom townhouse-type condo, very spacious for our 300 pounds of stuff. Next week we all be crammed in a one-room studio--but it is right ON the beach, with a spectacular ocean view (I think we'll survive). We've rented a 3-bedroom brand-new (never lived in) condo in South Kihei for the rest of our stay on the island. (More about that later!)

Kanounou Point...

Friday, September 16, 2005: It was a rainy afternoon, so we drove up to the northernmost tip of the island. It is very rugged up here and gets remote quickly--seems like a million miles from Kaanapali Beach with all of its resorts, but it's only a 20-minute drive!

Sunset...

Wednesday, September 15, 2005: Sunset at Honokawai Beach, just down the street on the way to the video store. What a life!

Toes in the Water...

Wednesday, September 14, 2005: I am determined to put my toes in the water every day that we're on Maui...and as with most things, as goes Mom, so goes the family. Here's Joe taking care of our minimum daily requirement at the beach across the street from our hotel.

The End of the Rainbow...

Wednesday, September 14, 2005: Our view during breakfast (in Kahana). The big storm surge was about to hit and the people who work at the resort were busy filling sandbags to help keep the high waves back. There were surfers out all along the South Shore later in the day, the waves were bigger--but not like the huge 20-footers you see in the movies!

At the Airport...

Sunday, September 11, 2005: Just in case you thought 300 pounds worth of stuff seems like a lot, here is what it looks like. (It ain't much, to set up a new home...) We spent all day and night on Saturday packing and unpacking and repacking...and putting a whole lotta stuff away that we wanted to bring but couldn't fit in. Oh well, now we can cross that off the worry list!

PS: Check back soon for pictures of Paradise!

Ohana...

Saturday, September 10, 2005: Had a wonderful "last supper" with Doug and Mary while the "brothers" played under Gramma's and Aunt Amy's watchful eyes. Doug's surgery on Monday appears to be successful--but please, everyone, keep him in your thoughts and prayers. (You guys are our "other" family and even though we're an ocean away we share your burden...remember that God is strong enough to carry you all through this tough time--lean on Him.) We send you our love and aloha...

Hey Murphys! Say Cheese...

Saturday, September 10, 2005: Well, we all can see who is the photogenic one in this family. Troy, Jordan and Suzanne treated us to a "last breakfast," complete with good humor and silly fun (at the kids' table!) with maple syrup. We'll miss you guys!

Aunt Amy! Aunt Amy!

Friday, September 9, 2005: Amy (Jeff's sister from Bend, OR) blew into town for a few week. She tried to explain ipods to her big brother, but he's going to need a refresher. Lots of laughs, attempted Saturn trading, doggie breath and an evening stroll around the neighborhood with Scout and Timber. All in all, a really terrific time!

Campbells...

Thursday, September 8, 2005: Karen, Max and Bill fed us a wonderful Hawaiian-themed dinner and filled us with pineapple drinks...what a great send-off! We'll miss you guys and can't wait until you visit us in Maui. Until then, aloha, our friends!

Mom and Me...

Wednesday, September 7, 2005: Aloha, mom! Paint lots and lots of pictures this year and come visit us in Maui. I will miss you (thank goodness for Verizon's family plan)...

Happy Feet...

Tuesday, September 6, 2005: Mom made Bellevue her first stop on a roadtrip to Enterprise, Boise and Spokane. We shopped for shoes for mom and I ended up buying two pair for myself. (What is it about new shoes? They just make you happy somehow!)

Bowling Party...

Sunday, September 4, 2005: We burned up the lanes with the Murphys and Hayes on Sunday night. Woo-hoo!

A Bunch of Graves...

Saturday, September 3, 2005: The big crowd at the Lake House says aloha and hang loose and all that jazz on our 22nd anniversary. (Great to see the Graves from down south, Richard, Susan, Megan and Ryan. Go Ducks!)

More Kayaking Fun...

Wednesday, August 31, 2005: Back to Hood Canal for another great afternoon of kayaking. It was one of those perfect end-of-summer days, just made for one more summertime activity. Cappie (aka mom) made us a terrific dinner and we enjoyed dessert with cousin Julie and her pal Joe. Aloha, friends! (We hear the kayaking is pretty spectacular in Hawaii, too!)

Hortons...

Tuesday, August 30, 2005: Spent the evening discussing the esteemed sport of wild boar hunting in Hawaii over a spectacular dinner of pasta with chicken and pesto. Another wonderful memory to take with us of good friends and good times. We hope to see you all in Hawaii for more family fun times (but not the running-through-the-jungle-with-a-knife-between-your-teeth variety)!