More Hawaii

Here are some more pictures of the family reunion in Hawaii. The first picture is a night time view of Kanehoe from the Pali Lookout.

The second picture is of Evan and Ian diving at Shark's Cove on North Shore. The water was flat and clear - during the dives in Hawaii, we saw moray eels, octopus, turtles and the state fish, the humuhumunukunukuapua'a.

We also went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and had a tour from Gumbo Chuluum from Mongolia, who used to serve as a missionary in our ward. He taught us how to use those poi balls and not hit ourselves too many times with them when we were spinning them.

This is a picture of sheer joy on Gavin's face as he feels and tastes jello for the first time at the Alii Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Buffets with little kids are the best!

Here is our family at the luau. James, Megster and Brielle had already left for the mainland but they had been here before recently.

Sand, Surf, and Matsumoto's

We went into Honolulu one day and since there was no line at Pearl Harbor (usually there is a huge line), we saw the movie and went to the Arizona Memorial.


We also went to the Waikiki Aquarium and saw some of the fish in tanks that we had seen when we were diving at Shark's Cove.





Ian and Alana went surfing at Alii Beach Park and got some surfing lessons from friends of Ian's that live in Hawaii.


No explanation needed here.



Here was the joint birthday celebration for Gavin and Brielle.

Hawaii - Turtle, Tots, and Tat

Here we are at Malaekahana Beach in Laie. It really is our favorite beach because it is never crowded and has good sand for the babies. Both Brielle and Gavin loved the warm water and even rode the boogey boards in with the help of their parents.




The surf wasn't too big this day, as Ian and Alana both caught a wave.


A turtle swimming offshore got a fish hook caught on its fin. Ian held the fishing pole while James dislodged the hook from the turtle. The honu was unharmed and James took the reptile out into waist deep water and it swam off.


We had a dinner on Sunday night at the townhouse and cousin Tat brought her friend, Kevin (left), and we had a young man, Gombo from Mongolia (he served his mission in our ward and is now going to BYUH) for dinner also. They are pictured here holding Gavin and Brielle.


Pictured here are Megan and Tat at Sunset Beach. We had haupia pie for dessert that night and watched the sunset from, where else, Sunset Beach.

More Belgium and Holland

I have never seen flowers like I have at the Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse. Daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, etc - all absolutely bankrupt the artist's palette. We loved being there as the gardens are only open for 2 months of the year.
This next picture is of Alana in the cheese factory. She was applying the wax to the newly made cheese. The cheese was soooooo good. We learned all about how the cows in Holland really are the happiest cows. . .forget California.
Pictured here is our "Dutch" family, Simon and Ankie, in front of their lovely cottages in Oostkapelle. They treated us so well and we are grateful for their endless hospitality. We can't wait to have Katinka and Marjolein, their daughters, stay with us this summer. And then we will have a room ready for Ankie and Simon in November - right, Simon?
Pictured here are Helen and Erin in downtown Brussels. We visited the European Parliament, where Alana had her internship this past semester.
Finally, here is Alana with one of her "little sisters" that she stayed with for 4 months. We are so thankful to Paul and Sarah Scherbel for sharing their lovely home and 4 darling daughters, Carrie, Sydney, Lauren, and Rachel, with Alana for her stay in Brussels. Then they opened their home to all of us when we visited Brussels. What a wonderful time we had with the fabulous people that we met and stayed with in Belgium and Holland. Thanks to the Wondergems and Scherbels for their friendship and love.

"A pe _ _ _ for 200"

For those of you who are familiar with the "Best of Will Ferrell", this picture, taken in a Paris hotel, needs no further explanation. And yes. . .we did enjoy a petit dejeuner!

I'm a big girl now!

(If you want to see the long cake eating video click here)

I went to get 1-year-old pictures taken at the studio, but the camera was scary. So when we got home Mom took some more pictures to show that yes, I do know how to smile.

My name is: Brielle (aka Ellie, Roots, Snorts)
I'm: 1 year old today!
Things I love:
-My Blanket
-When Daddy comes home
-Dogs
-Being Outside
-Baths
-Story Time
-Mom's purse
-Eating cell phones
Favorite book: Hooray for Fish by Lucy Cousins
Pet Peeve: Getting Diaper Changed
Catch Phrase: Haaaayy!

I loved opening my presents

This is what was in all those wrapped up boxes.

Dad baked my cake, Mom decorated is to look like "little fish" from my favorite book.

And it tasted sooooo good!

Good Friends, Flowers and Gaufres

We made it to Belgium to pick up Alana and Erin at the airport after we arrived in Paris. The girls had a fabulous time in Italy and Croatia, at an island, Krk, and the Plitvice National Park.
Here we all are at Katinka's home. They couldn't have been more hospitable to us. We are staying in one of their lovely 3 bedroom cottages at their resort. It is located about 1/4 mile from the beach. . .it is similar to Cape Cod in looks.
Here we are with Alana and Erin at one of the more photographed locations in Brugge. . .we had a nice day visiting here and then going down to Dunkirk in France.
Yesterday, we went to the most beautiful flower display in the world at the Keukenhof Gardens. It is only open for two months of the year. The colors were magnificent and there is no way that pictures can do justice to the 100's of acres of tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, etc.
Here we are at one of the many windmills in Holland.

You can't make me be happy!

If you want to know more about what I did today, Mom posted it here.

If I Was a Cow...

...I would live in Ireland. I saw lots of cows and sheep as I took a bus from Dublin to Waterford. I am convinced that if I was a cow I would love to live in Ireland. Although, I had fabulous weather while I was there and too much rain might have changed my mind. Ads say that happy cows come from California, but I am convinced that happy cows could come from Ireland as well.

(It was hard to get a good picture of cows from the bus.)

The countryside was beautiful. I can't wait to be able to spend more time in Ireland.

Winery "Wrun" in Paso Robles

On Sunday, Allison and two of her roommates ran in their first half marathon (13.1 miles). The setting was along the back roads in and around beautiful Paso Robles, through the wine producing area of the Central Coast.







They are still all smiles at mile 5!


Allison finished the race in 2 hours and 6 minutes. This picture is just after she crossed the finished line. All three girls are looking forward to their next half marathon later this year. You go, girls!!

Loving the Park

We have had a few warm days splattered in here and there between the rain and snow. We have taken advantage of those by going on walks or bike rides to the park. I put Ellie on the baby slide to start and she loved it so much I decided to try her over on the bigger slide. I love how she wiggles to get her self started.

A Day at the Gardens

Brielle and I went with some friends to Grand Rapids to visit the "largest temporary butterfly exhibit in the US" at the Meijer Gardens.


I have to admit, I was so busy watching the baby birds, I didn't actually take many pictures of the butterflies. But they were beautiful! Ellie loved watching them fly around her.


Hanging out in the 5 story conservatory


The giant Leonardo Davinci Horse


Ellie says "yes, I'm having fun...can't you tell?"

A Saturday in Liege

Last weekend I was able to take a day trip with some friends from church. We had a blast exploring Liege and Maastricht and seeing the beautiful countryside on the drive. The weather was gorgeous, which made the day twelve times better.

Here are a ton of stairs that we climbed up. I tried to count them, but kept getting thrown off by random numbers being called out.

The climb was not that bad as seen by the smiles on Roxanne and me at the top.

Here a picture of Liege from the top of the hill that the stairs went up.

Before Larry and Susan went back home I was able to meet them for dinner near the Brussels airport. It was great to be able to see them again and spend time just talking with them.

Ian didn't put this picture on earlier and I thought it was fun. We really had a great time together in Holland.

All in a Day's Work

I was in the Foreign Affairs Committee meeting yesterday when my boss came up to me and asked if I wanted to go to a rally for Tibet. It took me half a second to yank off my headphones and head out the door. The rally was held in front of some of the European Institutions right in Brussels. There were about 300 people there. It was very peaceful, but really interesting to be a part of. People were chanting, "Stop killing in Tibet" (also what my headband says), "We want freedom," and "China go away."

Here is a picture of my boss Paolo and me at the rally.

And here is a shot of the front of the rally. It sure was a neat experience to be there, especially after hearing the Speaker of the Parliament In Exile of Tibet last week.