Updates. . .

We've had a busy summer. Between traveling and enduring a 3 week tear-out and renovation of our kitchen tile floor I was a bit overwhelmed. Here are some of the highlights:

Make-up application by Katherine:
I'm sure she thought it was a good idea in the beginning to sit in the sink and spray herself with the nozzle. Kat was mad when I demanded to take a picture of her before lifting her out.

A new hairdo for school:

How many cousins will fit in the Barbie Jeep?

4th of July at the Komm cabin:

Watching movies with cousins on G&G Komm's bed at the cabin:

Visiting Hogle Zoo with Uncle Jason:

We visited Greenbluff to pick strawberries and then I made many batches of freezer jam:

Visiting Temple Square with G&G Stevenson who are workers at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building:

At the Seattle Aquarium in August. Kat and I took a road trip with Grandma and Leslie and her kids to shop and play in Seattle:

There were many playdates this summer with Haylie. They wanted to play with make-up one day and I had them sit in my bathtub to avoid a big mess:

On the swingset Daddy assembled for Kat's 4th birthday:

With swim instructor Miss Janet. Kat passed her first swimming class and will advance:

Sitll Here. . . Not Missing

Thank you to my concerned friend, Tifani, for reminding me that I have been MIA for a while. It's time to rejoin my cyber friends. More details coming soon. Stay posted. . .

Tall Tales

For those of you who know my daughter personally understand she has an active, creative imagination and the following is the tall tale (lie) of the day:
While IM-ing with a friend (and ignoring the naughty behavior in the next room), Katherine approached me and said she had been "inked." I didn't understand what she was saying and then I saw her arms and legs that were drawn on with purple marker. Obviously I assumed that she was just telling me she had been naughty so I asked her why she drew on herself. She responded that she didn't and that she had been "inked by an octopus." Further discussion revealed that a "very tall" octopus had been in our house (it walked here on it's giant legs from the ocean) and it chased her and then inked her all over. Once it was done, the giant octopus left our house, boarded a plane (must have been tired from walking all this way and it's recent assault on Katherine) and flew back to Hawaii. She has stuck to this story all day and will not admit that she drew on herself.

Missing Maui - One Week Later

Under the Banyan Tree in Lahaina.

Every year we walk under the tree that takes up almost a whole block. It's huge and beautiful. The branches fall to the ground and then sprout back up again--amazing.

Another tradition when in Maui is to have dinner at Mama's Fish House. It is one of my very favorite restaurants and it never disappoints. The setting is gorgeous and open so diners can hear, smell and breath the ocean. I had a luau plate with fish cooked in coconut milk, kalua pork and various exotic fruits and vegetables. Katherine had the keiki dinner and we were so surprised she ate almost every bit of her ahi steak. She loved it! The best part was the Mama's chocolate caramel pie. It was heaven.

My little keiki, Katherine. She is still dancing, playing the Ukulele and talking about Hawaii. I just love that place and can't wait to begin planning the next trip there. I'm planning to sign Kat up for hula lessons this year--she'll love it, I'm sure!

Teaching Manners to a 4 Year Old

This evening, Greg had a funny teaching moment with Katherine. She was sitting at the bar eating cheese when she, well, "cut the cheese." She said, "Dad, I did a stinker." Greg responded that she should say "excuse me." Katherine promptly said, "excuse me," thought about it and then exclaimed: "My bum did a burp!"

Pieces from Paradise

Greeted with leis at the entrance of the Marriott resort.

Pool-ready with fabulous French braids.

Katherine experienced digging a pearl from a shell she plucked from a bucket with the big wooden tongs. Then she tapped it three times and we all yelled "Aloha". We had the pearl set in a little necklace for her.

This is Gaylord, a Marriott worker we met last year. He made quite an impression on the Brian family because he guessed they were from Colorado. I was further impressed tonight when I reintroduced myself and he said, "Yeah, I remember you. You're from Washington and your friends are from Colorado. And you're LDS, right?" Besides being amazed he remembered us all from last September, I was impressed he knew our religion and asked how he knew that. He said, "You LDS people have a special knack with the Lord." Great guy.
Playing hide-and-seek with Katherine. She still thinks if she can't see us then we can't see her.

Kuulei Is Watching Over Us

This is the picture hanging over the dining table in our Maui condo. When I saw it for the first time I was taken aback because the woman looks like our friend, Kuulei Johnson. So, now we call her Kuulei and she is watching over us on our trip.

Let me add that I totally scored with our condo. I traded our Kauai condo this year for weeks in Orlando and Maui. I expected to be in the same building as last September, but was sooo surprised that our trade-in reservation is in the new Marriott Lanai Villas. It is FABULOUS!!! Last year Greg and I walked through these new condos and couldn't believe how beautiful they were--and now we're in one! We love it!