Home Improvements

Ever since we moved in, we've been doing some improvements to our house.  Back in September we painted a majority of the house (that we hadn't already painted that is).  Mostly everything was white, but I did do a couple of places in this charcoal grey color.   It turned out bluish, which is pretty, but we had to switch out the red rug because it clashed.

In March we had a porch put in.  Before we had about a 10' x 12' slab of concrete and the ground next to it sloped down quite a bit (behind where the pole is in the picture below.) 

In April our shutters FINALLY arrived (four months after we ordered them).  I love shutters!

Before

When we moved in there were ill-fitting blinds.  I replaced them with these sheer curtains so that we could still have some privacy.

Waiting to be installed.

We also added a walk way in front, but we still need to finish the landscaping.

That's it for now.  We still have a lot of plans including the never-ending master bathroom project.  One step at a time, right?

Learning Twinkle

Jonathan is learning to play "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."  He started taking violin in November.  There have been so many little steps to get to this point.  It's fun to see his progress and to play little duets with him.

Aloha Oe: Part 2

Around the island the boy and the girl traveled...

Pali Lookout

The Dole Plantation had such tasty Pineapple Ice Cream!

Opening an oyster.  There was a black pearl inside.

Hanauma Bay

Diamond Head

Halona Blowhole--water sprays 30 feet into the air.  It's hard to capture on film.

LDS Temple.  At the visitor's center I saw Mark Eubank and shook his hand.  He and his wife were serving a mission there.  If you're from Utah you know who that is! 

until they ended up at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  What fun!

At the Luau

This Samoan guy started a fire with with sticks and then lit the coconut husk on fire.

Can your man climb a tree?

Posing for the camera...I think this pose was "April."  Boy those Samoans made me laugh.

Only real men do the cooking.   The record for husking a coconut (a common use in cooking)= 3 seconds (for man).  For woman--3 days.  LOL!

Landon got to join in on the action.

He also got to start a fire with sticks! 

Not an easy task!

The River Parade

"Hang Loose"

I LOVE leis!

That night the students of BYU-H put on a fantastic production, but no pictures were allowed.  Even though the students worked hard to entertain the crowd, the girl could not resist the Sandman and the time difference and found herself falling asleep.  She felt so impolite.