Reflections Contest 2014

I made my kids enter the PTA Reflections contest last year solely for the purpose of getting free passes to Kangaroo Zoo, I'll admit it.  This year they entered again, but not just for free coupons this time.  Matty took this picture of Dan and I back in October during our family picture session, and I knew it was pretty special.

With the theme for Reflections this year being "The world would be a better place if . . ." it seemed this photo would fit that well.  The judges thought so, too.  He made it past the school level and got SECOND PLACE at council level!  Unfortunately, only first place moves on to the next level after that.  I told him not to feel bad because there was no chance of him beating a photo taken of starving kids in Africa from a child who's parents had taken him on a trip.  That's pretty much a trump card.

We had fun at the awards night, and Matty was THRILLED to have another trophy.  When he went on stage to receive it, the MC asked who the couple in the photo were.  When he said, "My parents," there was a cute little sigh/laugh from the audience.  The MC was thrilled to hear who it was and loved that we were so involved.

His name is spelled wrong on both his school level trophy as well as the council level.  He said, "I think I'm getting used to people spelling it wrong."  Smart, Buddy, since it's gonna happen your whooooole life!

He can't wait til next year and says he's going to try even harder.  :)

Alice and her Grandpa leaving the awards.

She's taken to him more since being with him while we were in Hawaii.

Thanksgiving Point Christmas Activities

Reindeer

Cookies

Ice Sculpture

Lights

(Sad to have it over)

Visiting the Big Guy

We went to see Santa early this year, the day after Thanksgiving in fact.  I was recovering from some nasty kidney stones but was functional.  It was such nice weather for winter that we figured it would be smart to go see him before it got super cold (which it never really did!)

Some were excited and ready!

Some a little unsure and apprehensive.

Perfection.

No worries.  She didn't stay traumatized for long.  It was nothing some pretty lights and candy apples couldn't quickly fix.  

(Sugar and shiney things are a girls' best friend.)

  

Tom the Turkey 2014

I've lost track of how many years Tom has been to visit now.  6 or 7 I think?

I'm too lazy to look it up.  

He was well-adorned with appreciative thoughts once again.  

This year the list included Heavenly Father, babysitters, friends, spices, everybody, medicine, laughter, family, wife, blankets, knowledge, trials, TV, music, shoes, Jesus, Earth, milk, sleep, Hawaii, computer, airplanes, electricity, food, animals, air, heat, Grandma, Grandpa, Mom, Dad, Ardice, and 2 others I can no longer decipher without the Urim and Thummim.    

Thanks, Tom, for being a turkey we can count (our blessings) on!  

Who What When Why and How?

WHO is the best at alligator tears?  

WHAT happens when little ones want to play with the new camera from Hawaii.

WHEN you don't want to go get another blanket.

WHY kids are ACTUALLY excited for Mom and Dad to come home from a trip.

HOW it looks when big brother helps you with a video game.

Gift For a Stranger

Last Kauai post!!  

On our last morning we were out taking pictures of the sunrise in front of the Hyatt.  While there, I saw this cute family with the dad taking pictures of his wife and kids.

I couldn't help myself.  It was too adorable watching them and I had a new camera to play with, so I started taking a few shots with my zoom lens without them noticing. 

I took more pictures of the sunrise, then we we went and sat on the bench when I saw even more shots I wanted of them.  

(This last one is my favorite!  Is this little girl holding her dress up not pure, dainty sweetness?!)

I knew these were cute photos, and what in the world was I going to do with them?  Last time we were in Maui I did a similar thing and approached the mom to ask if she wanted the few shots I had taken e-mailed to her.  Only then did we find out she hardly spoke a word of English (she was Russian) and the pictures never made it to her.  I didn't want to feel like an idiot again or seem like a crazy stalker so I just sat there.  Soon Dan was ready to head back to the condo, and I knew I would not be happy if I passed up the chance to at least offer these pictures to the family.

So we walked over to them.  I said something like, "I hope you don't think I'm crazy, but I'm a family photographer back home and couldn't help noticing how sweet you were taking pictures of your family, so I took some of all of you.  I'd be happy to e-mail them to you if you'd like."  They gladly accepted and we chatted for a few minutes.  It turns out it was this woman's 40th birthday. They were from California, and these 2 little ones belonged to the two of them while she also had 2 teenagers from a previous marriage on vacation with them.  I got her e-mail address promising to send them to her as soon as I could.

When I got home, my new camera wouldn't talk to my current version of Photoshop.  (Huge freakin' pain in the rear.)  I still don't have it solved fully, but I can at least edit JPEG's.  (I prefer NEF files.)  So it took me about a week to get these to her.  I heard nothing back for a while and thought maybe she didn't get them or maybe she didn't really care about them.  Then on Thanksgiving (as I was dealing with a fun bout of kidney stones) I got this reply from her:

"Koreena --

Thank you SO much!!!  These are all beautiful shots and I REALLY appreciate that you took the time to capture the images on your morning stroll and then forward them on to a complete stranger!  You had no idea that it was my birthday and truly, I had just told my husband that morning that the only gift I really wanted (other than having a fantastic vacation) was a photo of me walking in the surf with the kids. Usually I am the one behind the camera and though he did a great job with some of the close ups, you captured exactly what I was hoping for to remember that day and our trip!

I hope you and your family have had a great thanksgiving -- today I am extra thankful for the kindness of strangers!  :)"

Her e-mail made my Thanksgiving day so much better!  I was so glad I took the chance of looking foolish and was able to help give her something she really wanted without even knowing it.  What a blessing to be part of making her birthday even more special!  

Random Kauai

I lied.  I'm splitting my random pictures and the story I wanted to share into two posts.  Sorry.

These were a few of the pictures taken from Dan's phone.

Canyon Trail.  

See that dirt, winding, steep path on the left?  Our awesome trail.

Left: Me and my new boyfriend met at a shopping center in Old Kaloa Town.

Center: Miracle grow, anyone???

Right: After the Tahitian dancers.

Crashing the awesome Grand Hyatt pool.

Beaching it up North and getting our shaved ice on.

 Last day meals: Dan eats at his pick of "Da Crack" 

while I choose Beach House Restaurant.

"Leaving on a jet plane.

Don't know when I'll be back again."

North Shore and Heading Out

I found these pictures from earlier in the trip on a different camera.  We went to watch the sunset in front of a restaurant in Poipu where everyone else goes, too.  This was the day we killed our nice camera after surfing, so these were taken with the one we brought for snorkeling.  

We finally made it up to the North Shore.  We went to the end of the road on the west side of the North Shore which stops at the beginning of the trail for the Napali Coast.  The trail if you take it to the end is 11 miles each way.  No, thank you.  I wanted to see more that day than just that hike, so we did a mile in, a mile back out then played at Ke'e Beach there.  We still saw some amazing views.

The trail was dry at first but quickly got muddy and slippery.  Dan and I were actually having a heated "disagreement" during our hike so not the perfect memories, but I loved this guy we passed on the way.  He was a bit older (50's?) and waiting for his wife to catch up.  She was rather heavy set and taking extra time.  He was happily letting other people pass by him.  We needed to pass the opposite direction he was going, so he moved to the side, smiled, and said something like, "Please, go on! We're still happy because we're not in a race."  I thought about it for quite a while after he said it and told him how much I loved that mentality!  Works so well in life in general.  No race.  No comparison.  Just enjoy the view and be happy!

We went next to picturesque Hanalei Bay, a lighthouse (though it was closed) and another beach.  

King Kong's profile

For our last day we slept in a bit and missed the beginning of the sunrise.  Still breathtaking.

We finally got to go snorkeling.  We went to a highly recommended beach . . . but it was raining and the water was a bit choppy so it wasn't the best experience.  We would love to go back on a calmer day.

Yes, I know how to swim.  I use the pool noodle like an idiot because I have issues with claustrophobia when snorkeling and it helps me feel less helpless.  Me and the 60+ year old ladies were rockin' our noodles I tell ya!

We visited Shipwreck Beach in front of the Grand Hyatt one more time.  The waves there are huge and very dangerous.  

Dan still chose to swim.

 We hiked up a short trail (like 10 minutes) to the top of a rock people jump off of.  Gorgeous views.

We ended our last day back at Poipu Beach, our first beach we visited.  There's a little island you can wade out to and we were trying to get our picture with it in the background.  Someone offered to take our picture for us and his wife offered to photobomb.  Friends everywhere.  :)

We went back to the condo and packed for our 11 PM flight.  No fun.  We hardly slept a wink, had a quick layover in L.A., and were back in Utah by 10 AM the next morning.  No sleep and suddenly parents to 4 kids again.  FUN TIMES!

Alice was not as excited to see us as I had expected.  She wouldn't even smile or talk to us.  It took a few hours for her to warm back up.  She was sick with a cold though, so I think I'll just blame it on that rather than thinking I gave her abandonment issues.  

One more Kauai post of random pictures from Dan's phone and an awesome story, and then I'll move on, I promise!!