Moments that make you laugh out loud!

Some kids get a fever when they teethe, others get really cranky. According to my dad I used to get a horrible ear ache and make his life a living hell. The baby bear, however, simply loses all trace of table manners and becomes the messiest eater this side of the Rockies. His 5th tooth came in a few days ago, and he is now working on the 6th, so I decided to record the memory for future embarrassment. In doing so, I discovered this classy little montage: priceless! (he learned it from his dad--I swear!)

Maui

Birthday Reflections

This Wednesday I will enter the last year of my twenties. In celebration Jason and I planned an overnight in Big Sur sans Logan. Instead we got an onslaught of rain and decided it prudent to hold off on hiking in favor of a night at a romantic restaurant and movie. I had wanted to see Juno for a long time and Jason only agreed because it was my birthday. He ended up loving it as much as I did. It was in no way the chick-flick he feared, nor was it the disappointment of Knocked-Up (our last movie outing--yeah it has really been that long!). It was warm and funny with killer writing and a fun soundtrack. I can not say enough about this movie and I am sorely disappointed that it was overlooked for an Oscar last night. Is it sad that we have entered a time in our lives where going to the movies is a luxury? Regardless, it was a great night and the perfect way to spend my birthday weekend :)


A Comparison:



Laura, 26 relaxing in Tahiti

Laura, nearing on 29, getting hit in the head with a book by Logan

Please don't let this be an indication of my future!

29, be kind!

Winter Ramblings

"Winter" as I have come to know it in the last few years is vastly different then what I was raised with.

In Hawaii winter meant rain…rain...and more rain. Not really all that chilly, but decidedly wet. In fact, in the spring of 2006 we had 40 days and 40 nights of rain. Irritating enough on its own; but made scary by the sewage overflows and resulting flesh-eating bacteria outbreaks. The great thing about Hawaii though was a rainy day in Kailua, did not necessarily mean a rainy day elsewhere. A short drive to the North Shore or an afternoon spent by the Hale Koa pool and I could put all my rainy day blahs behind me.

In Northern California winter reminds me of spring in NY. Most of the time it is foggy and overcast with periods of high rain; a little dreary, but when the sun comes out, all is forgiven.

I do not miss the snow, ice, sleet and hail I was raised with. I do not miss shoveling snow or mummifying my body in layers of sweaters, coats, hats. gloves and scarves. Not that I ever really did that to begin with, preferring instead the "fashion over function" mode of winter dressing.

The long and short of this rambling post is to say that I really have nothing to complain about regarding Pacific winters and if I do start complaining, I give permission to all my East Coasters to throw me a shovel and make me clean off your roof!



This past December Logan got to experience his first (and only!) taste of snow. He had a blast sledding with Papa T!




Logan and Jason

Logan and I

Snow Bear!

Denis and Justina's Visit

Today is my brother Denis's 31st birthday and in honor of that auspicious occasion I decided to share pictures from Denis and Justina's visit to Hawaii.

Jason and I love having visitors in general, but Denis and Justina were particularly great to have as guests, because well--they are Denis and Justina and thereby my favorite brother and sister-in-law/friends in the world! We had a blast that week; we went to the beach every day, took a boat trip out to the Kaneohe Bay sand bar, and went on an awesome 4-wheel drive jeep trek at Kualoa Ranch. Denis and Justina tried their hand at snorkeling, visited with some honus, and Jason and I even converted the two NYers into Lanikai Juice and musubi devotees!

Getting leied at the Paradise Cove Luau

Denis bravely sacrifices himself to the tiki gods in exchange for a pina colada

Justina--wife, teacher, mother, spear-thrower

Shaka Love. We look calm here, but we had just spent the last 40 minutes getting jostled and thrown about on a jeep ride up the mountain.

Justina and I measuring our feet next to ---Denis's--er---Godzilla's footprint. Kualoa Ranch is a popular filming spot for many movies (and the TV show Lost) so of course we had to take Denis and Justina on the tour!

Perhaps Denis's favorite part of the trip, however, was the friendship he formed with Morrie and Esther the sea turtles.



Happy Birthday Ren-Den! We love and miss you!

Big Island, Hawaii

To me the Big Island represents life evolving. Watching the lava flow, it is amazing to realize that you are witnessing the birth of new land. Of all the islands we visited, Big Island alone had the ability to make a person feel very inconsequential. From the vastness of the Waipio Valley to the desolation of the lava fields it became obvious that humans did not rule here and that this was nature's home. It was as humbling as it was beautiful.

Jason and I were lucky enough to stay in a cabin right in Volcano National Park, and we spent a lot of time hiking and exploring the lava fields. It is funny though how disorienting miles and miles of lava and burnt ground can be. On one particular hike, Jason and I made the mistake of venturing further then we had in the past and the result was an extra hour of hiking in an attempt to find our way back. It was a little scary when we realized just how easy it could be to get lost in a field of nothingness. Additionally, we had to take care where we were walking and not cross onto unstable ground.


Lava's edge

New Lava hitting the sea



Rainbow rising over the lava field

Taking a break and attempting to find my bearings.

Sea Arch

Black Sand Cove

Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Park (Place of Refuge). According to Ancient Hawaiian custom, any law (or kapu) broken was punishable by death. The only hope of salvation was to escape and reach the nearest pu'uhonu, or place of refuge, where all sins would be forgiven by the mana (power) of the chiefs.

Black Sand Beach made by cooled lava.

Rainbow Falls.

Akaka Falls

Waipio Valley

Big Island is a place for exploring. In our 5 days there, we put over 800 miles on our rental and used the 4-wheel drive to capacity. It was a great trip and we tried to experience it all, from kayaking to Captain Cook's monument and snorkeling to touring Kona Coffee plantations. We saw green sand, black sand and white sand and traveled down to the southern-most point in the United States. I am hard pressed to pick my favorite sight on the Big Island and have only one regret: missing the snowy peaks of Mauna Kea. Next trip perhaps? :)

Byodo-In Temple, Oahu

The Byodo-In Temple was built in the 1960's to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant workers in Hawaii who came to work in the sugar plantation fields. It is a replica of the Byodoin Temple located in Uji, Japan on the southern outskirts of Kyoto.

Ringing the peace bell is said to bring happiness, peace, and longevity.

Resting in the garden pavilion outside the temple.

Lotus Buddha located in the temple building (called the Hoodo or Hall of the Chinese Phoenix)

In front of the temple is the Koi Pond holding hundreds of bright orange Koi fish.

When we lived in Kailua, I loved bringing vistors to the Temple. Located just around the corner in Kaneohe, it really is like traveling to another land.