My Cousins in Sweden

This is my cousin Jim and his wife Gerti, they live in Sweden and totally built this house themselves. Though they aren't master masons they do have electricity...and heated floors!

So what's going on here??

This is what it looked like out our front door Saturday night. We had a blackout due to "severe" weather...we get them all the time and "severe" is a matter of opinion, since not much changes out here anything but sun shine could be considered severe. My aunt told me it made the big news (Obama's here) and was island wide. We turned on the flashlights the kids got for Christmas and played games all evening. It was very quiet and super fun.

Owen and Erica at piano practice

Grandma Karen's visit

Bellow's beach is very beautiful.

THIS is my husband-not just some hottie we found out surfing on the beach.

Grandma Karen and the kids at gorgeous Bellow's.

Speaking of Grandpa Fred...

View from their house.

This makes us glad we live in Hawaii. This is going to Erik's parent's house...way up on their mountain. Luckily they own their own backhoe and can clear their road...no state provided services where they live-that includes electricity, water, phone, cable...you know-just all the basic necessities...

THIS is the house that Erik's Dad built...himself! He's a very talented man. You know how talented...he can split an apple into two clean halves with his hands. One day I will get a video of him doing that on this blog. (Tanya next time he comes to visit take one of him doing that and post it on your blog!)

Grandpa Fred-look!

Three new sets of cards for Rush Hour with a new category called Grand Master!

For those of you wondering what this is about-Rush Hour is a very addicting and fairly, at times, frustrating game that really makes you think. Owen will be playing it and suddenly we'll hear a crash and know Rush Hour just hit the wall.

Well, what do you know!

He did it...go figure!

What did you do Christmas Day??

Erik attempting to solve Rubik's cube...

Owen built a robot...

Erik still working on rubik's cube...

Owen built a Lincoln log ranch.

Still working on Rubik's cube...Erica thought Daddy could use some in put...

Erica made a gingerbread house.

Working on Rubik's cube with an instruction booklet...he hasn't made it very far today...

Owen and Erica building a horse stable.

Still in the same spot going at the Rubik's cube with the assistance of the instruction booklet and some webkins Erica thought would help-you know-the added brain power of some fluff should do it...

to be continued...

Wednesday walk to the outlets

Tuesday's Hike

This is the hike up above the big pink hospital-Tripler. I wish the sky and ocean weren't all washed out in this picture. It really is a beautiful view.

Monday's hike

This is a very tough but beautiful hike the boys call "The Slids".

That's Grandpa and Owen up there...almost to the top.

Up in the clouds.

Fierce after hike air hockey competition.

Sunday...

...singing on stage at church.

Catching Up

Owen wanted everyone to see how rainy it is.

Erica and Summer.

Erica took a picture of Grandpa and Grandma.

Hanging out at the mall.

Last week at the zoo

Here's pictures from a sunny day. It has done nothing but rain like crazy the past few days.

Two hikes today!

Diamond Head

Makapu