My Very First Bike

For the record, this was George's idea. I was planning on waiting a little while before getting another toy. He has so many toys, and he just got a super-cool scooter a few months ago. However, it is really fun when Dad gets to be the good guy and deliver such a cool toy.

Andrew helped put the bike together and then he was off.

Some crazy person thinks its funny to leap over their child while he rides his bike.

Ta-Dah... Here he comes

Field Trip to the Zoo

Mommy chaperoned a group of wild two-year-olds on a field trip to the Honolulu Zoo, and we had a great time. By far, the best part was riding the big yellow school bus. A close second place was a three way tie between seeing two baby tigers, two giant elephants, and eating a picnic lunch in the park.

This is Andrew's teacher, Miss Dinah.
She has more energy than most two year olds.

Here are pictures of Andrew's buddies, Isaac and Bianca.

I Make Popsicle Look Good

Words of the day: "mustache" and "goatee"

Just Watchin' the Ships Roll In....

While the boat was away, the families celebrated Valentines Day at Hickam Beach. Strangely enough, our boat just happened to drive by while we were sunning ourselves on the beach.
I love this shot of the sailboat checking out the submarine.

Andrew swimming with his buddy, SydneyA glimpse of the rarely seen "Bunny Boy."
Bunny Boy hops around the house asking for "carrots to munch for snack."

Scooter Skills

Andrew loves his scooter so so much (thanks Uncle Ben & Aunt Jamie!!) and I finally got some video footage of his scooter skills. He loves to ride around the neighborhood with his buddies.

Watch me ride... whee!

Dinner Devolved

Daddy is out to sea for a while, and this is what happens at dinnertime... it ain't pretty.

Going Grocery Shopping

Little Elmo waits in line.
Little Elmo starts to whine.
Loaf of bread and cream of wheat...Little Elmo wants his treat!
It's no fun at Shop-O-Rama
Little Elmo MAD at Mama!
[Read Andrew's favorite book: Llama Llama Mad at Mama]

Time to leave.
The shopping's done.
No more waiting.
Time for fun.

Don't forget to pay for those vegetables.

Multi-Tasking

No freeloaders here. Everybody has to pitch in to keep this house in order---even those under three feet tall. However, just because there is work to be done doesn't mean you can't sing to make the work a little more fun. Andrew loves to sing his ABCs and he is learning his letters. His favorite letters are "M" and "W." He points them out on every cereal box, newspaper article, and in every book we read. Here is some video footage of Andrew multi-tasking.

*Note: At the end of the movie, Andrew is trying to do the shaka.

*Note #2: Don't you just LOVE that the answer to EVERY question is NO!
Ahhh, 2-year-olds are so fun.

Here are some fun new tricks Andrew has learned.
His neighborhood buddies taught him how to ride a skateboard.

Check out this new trick-- just another way to give me gray hair.

Work Hard & Play Hard

Here are some fun pictures from school.
Here is Andrew's class participating in a fire drill.
I thought they looked cute all sitting in a row.

Just wanted to point out Andrew's girlfriend--- Mia.

She is the teeny one on the far left with the spiral curls.
One day last week, I saw her run up to Andrew and tackle him.
She must weigh 25 pounds. Chunker Andrew is pushing 32 pounds.
He folded like a house of cards.
Andrew's two favorite loves: bike riding and scooter riding.
Sorry, Uncle Ben and Aunt Jamie...I couldn't get footage of scooter riding.
I'll try again soon.

It was too quiet, so I went to find Andrew.
This is what I found...
This is Andrew's big boy bed.
He napped in it once, but he's still in his crib.

Travel Ain't Easy, People

The top 5 things that could ruin your Hawaiian vacation:

1) Jet Lag-- a reasonable expectation, but add in factors 2-5

2) Monsoon Rainstorms-- 4" of rain/hour might ruin a few beach days

3) Island-wide power outage-- an unfortunate result of monsoons-- find your flashlight and try giving a two-year-old a bath in the dark

4) Fireworks that shake the house every night at 2am-- not just on New Years eve...EVERY night my house shakes because some fool shoots off fireworks

5) Explosive Diarrhea (don't worry---I'm not naming names)

Even with Mother Nature and Montezuma's Revenge working against us, my family managed to salvage a perfectly lovely vacation. We hit the beach, ate wonderful food, watched the sunsets, chased rainbows, hit the North Shore, ate at the shrimp shack, chowed on shave ice, talked to Buddha, and met several sea turtles at Turtle Beach.

Our house is so quiet now.
We miss you already Aunt Evie, Grandma, and Papa.
P.S. Uncle Jordan, when are you coming out here???