Sundays

Thanks to the friendliness of "strangers" and Sean's boldness in proclaiming his faith, we found a temporary church family while in Kauai. Why "strangers"? Because fellow believers are never really strangers are they? We spent Sunday mornings at a little church about one block away from our condo called Kapa'a Missionary Church. 

After church on the first Sunday, we went to brunch at 22 Degrees North (the longitude of Kauai...or so they claim...I didn't actually verify this claim), a restaurant on the Kilohana Plantation. The brunch was delicious and the scenery beautiful, despite a little clouds and rain. The tables were situated around a courtyard, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy the flora, fauna and "wildlife." In addition to the roosters, hens and chicks strutting around the courtyard, little birds (some kind of pigeon maybe?) hopped around on the floor by our table. I couldn't decide if I felt like Snow White or Melanie Daniels (from The Birds). Sean won the who-can-eat-the-most-at-brunch-contest, but who can blame him when he had so many options? This is his open-face omelet topped with some fancy kind of veal.



Flora



The second Sunday was our last day on the island and, even though our flight didn't leave until 9:45 that evening, we needed to be out of our condo by noon. So after church this Sunday our brunch wasn't nearly as fancy. We pulled out all of the food in the condo and went to work creating our own masterpieces. This was our group effort. Please don't show our kids this evidence that their parents do, in fact, play with their food!



After lunch, we headed out of our condo for the last time, stashed our bags at the reception desk and headed poolside. This is our condo.



We played a few hands of Dominion under the shade of a thatched umbrella.



Then it was time to hit the pool.



And take advantage of the water slide.



Once changed and ready to say our final goodbye to the Waipoui Beach Resort, we headed down to the ocean for a group shot on the beach.



Aww...

 

Goodbye sun...and surf...and sand...and...
 

Five Question Friday

Time for Five Question Friday again with Mama M.




1. Can you drive a stick shift?

If I had to. But I'm sure I'd kill it a bazillion times between where I was and where I needed to be.


2. What are two foods you just can't eat?

Raw oysters. I've tried, but I just can't do it, much to the chagrin of my husband who will try (nearly) anything. And licorice. Not the red kind (that kind is good), but I don't think that really counts as licorice. I'm talking about the black kind. Gross.

3. Do you buy Girl Scout Cookies? What is your favorite kind?

I used to buy Girl Scout cookies. The Samoas are my absolute favorite. But since I can eat an entire box in one sitting (and probably would given that the sweet tooth I developed when I was pregnant with my daughter has never gone away) and that's not a very healthy practice, I try to just leave them with the girls.

4. How do you pamper yourself?

I think, by definition, pampering is an act done for you by another person, not something you can do for yourself. So...I don't. Pamper myself, I mean.

5. What is your nickname and how did you get it?

When I was little, my dad used to call me Boo Boo, but no one (including my dad) has called me that in years. Mostly my friends just call me Bec...short for Beckie...short for Rebecca.

The North Shore

Not that north shore. If you're in the upper midwest you know this is about as opposite as you can get from our north shore right now. This, my friends, is the north shore of Kauai.

And this is the first beach we visited on our trip up the east and north shores.

We saw it from the road, pulled over and found a trail to climb down.

Literally.

Climbed.

Down.

Through this...

and this...

to rolling,

crashing waves,

beautiful blue surf,

climbable trees,

and the perfect beginning to a fantastic vacation.

Next stop: the Hanalei Farmer's Market to get our fresh produce for the first part of the week, including rambutans, a new experience for all of us.

Another beach stop, but, hmm...I don't remember which one. Maybe Ke'e at the end of the road?

Lots of rocks. Lots of waves.

Lots of sun. Lots of smiles.

After a beautiful, albeit rocky and muddy, hike, we arrived at one of Kauai's precious gems. A bath for a queen? Not in the winter. This spot, called Queen's Bath, is usually a calm pool with lots of tropical sea life, fit for swimming.

Not this day.

 

Not a chance.

 

After "bath time" we stopped at the lighthouse lookout in Kilauea

 

for beautiful colors and waves

and our first glimpse of the humpback whales! They were waaaay out there and we were waaaay up at the lookout so this picture doesn't do justice to the "amazingness" of this breaching whale, but it was awesome.

Our final stop of the day was Kealia beach just north of our condo for some fun playing in the waves.

Five Question Friday

Back to Five Question Friday. Woohoo! Hop over to Mama M's blog if you want to participate too.

 

1. If you had $1,000 to donate to a charity, which would you choose?

Alpha Crisis Pregnancy Center in Savage. We've recently felt God tugging at our hearts for new and unsupported moms. Alpha has some great things going.

2. Snow days: Do you welcome them happily or are they a pain in your butt?

We haven't had to deal with school closings on snow days yet and there are never snow days for work so on the days it snows (which have been many this winter) I dread it. Traffic is slow and all I want to do is get home (or to work - though I don't long quite as much for that).

3. What talent did you wish you had and why?

I wish I could sing like famous people. Well...talented famous people. Some people are famous for their "music" but they're not actually talented.

4. Are you a news, politics or celebrity gossip junkie?

D - none of the above. I definitely have an inclination to get wrapped up in politics and celebrity gossip, but I've learned in the last few months that it's just not worth it. Following politics is stressful (seriously raises my blood pressure). Celebrity gossip is worthless (but I have to admit I kind of enjoy when there's a long line at the grocery check-out - it gives me a chance to read the covers). And I've learned that I have much better things to do with my time. 

5. What is your favorite "cocktail"? (Are you a beer person, a kiddie cocktail junkie, or perhaps your more the "Cosmo" kind?! Anything flies...doesn't hafta be alcoholic!)

Coffee. I could drink it day and night and never get sick of it. But I don't drink it all day and night. Don't worry.

 

A Little More Summertime Fun

Can you tell I'm starting to catch up? These were taken at the end of June (yes, June - I'm that far behind) when Elise was...

• about 18 months old
• just starting to get enough hair to hold lots of baubles and bows
• in love with her sassy pink sunglasses

Something to Warm You Up

And cool them down (on hot summer days gone by). Oh how the imagination soars when children (and perhaps some adults) are given a kiddie pool, a swingset and a hose. Most of the time the kids aren't allowed to turn on the hose while they're playing firemen, but this day was so hot we decided to let them go for it. They weren't putting out fires for long before they discovered that a little water on the plastic slide would make them go really fast. They just needed something to land in.

As you're bundled up this winter, enjoy this little reminder of what's to come in just a few short months.

Baby Fever

We had the privilege of meeting baby Eleanora on Saturday and the baby fever ensued. Not for me (okay...maybe a little for me), but for Elise. We know she loves her "babies" at home - pushing them around all day in their bosher (stroller for anyone that isn't fluent in Elise) and making sure they always have their blankies. But we had no idea what her reaction would be when she had the chance to meet a real baby. One, I might add, that is not much bigger than the dolls she sleeps with. She instantly fell in love! Her first request? "See dat baby?" To which her uncle Joel (my arms were full of "dat baby" at the time) obliged her request and picked her up to so she could see his new bundle of joy. Her second request? "Hode dat baby?" Next came, "Rock dat baby?" She would have hugged, kissed, rocked, loved and "mommy-ed" that baby all day I think.

Lorie & Joel, we are so happy for you and excited for you to venture down the road of parenthood. Thank you so much for letting us visit you and meet your new baby girl. We can't wait to see her again.