Whale of a Tale

Pictures from our November 28th whale watch on Maui. Yes, we went back for Thanksgiving. Yes, we loved it. Yes, we spent almost 25% of 2009 there. No, we're not moving there.

Why not?

I like the computer. Some of the things I do with my computer are:

Digital scrapbook stuff

My banking stuff

Buy stuff

Sell stuff

Research stuff

Communicate with people about stuff.




You get the picture....

So here's something else we're doing with the internet....

ONLINE PIANO LESSONS!! (for $15/month!)

Ava completed the Let's Play Music program. I had a beast of a time finding her a teacher that wasn't an old hag. While venting to my mom, she told me about this program, Pianomarvel.com. A guy I knew while growing up wrote it. We downloaded the free trial and ran with it. It works really well for us with the springboard of Let's Play Music and Ava is having fun with it. I like it because she PRACTICES. We're going to keep researching for a good piano teacher for next year, but for now, we're loving this!

Where were you?

Eight years ago, I was padding down the hall for a cereal breakfast with my husband of 18 months when an image on the TV changed my life forever. One large building had come crashing to the ground, and another followed in less than an hour.

In a daze, I went to BYU's campus for a normal day of study and work, but ended up watching the coverage in the department's office and continually checking the internet for updates. The usual Tuesday devotional was cancelled, and replaced by a sort of support meeting. Upon exit, I was handed three lengths of red, white, and blue ribbons with a straight pin poked through it. I pinned it to my shirt as a symbol of mourning, shock, and hope. That ribbon sits in a scrapbook today so that I will never forget.

I hope you don't either.

This girl

wakes up
gets dressed
makes her bed
eats breakfast
brushes her teeth
does her hair
fills her (and her sister's) water bottle
puts on her shoes
grabs her tote bag

and

goes

to

KINDERGARTEN

I found out I was expecting her on January 25, 2004. After doing the math and realizing she was due in September, I was already fretting about the blurry line between putting her in school as an almost 5 year old or waiting the extra year.

Well, I did it and she rocks!

Capitol vs. Capital

I pose a question to you that you have not thought about in a long time. What is the difference between "Capital" and "Capitol"? They both refer to places of government importance. It is just sometimes hard to remember which one to use.

To answer this question, I traveled to the source of knowledge for all things US Government: Washington, DC.

I began my quest for knowledge at the obvious place: the hallowed US Capitol.

The rotunda with the statue Freedom perched atop

It helps to have a good tour guide as you waddle through the piles of BS that fill the hallways. I believe the stimulus package came from this building, so my previous statement is making more sense. I employed the services of an intern for the congressman from AZ, Matt Johnson (also my nephew, not a big deal because nepotism is common here)

Matt & Al


The rotunda from the inside

I learned a lot here, but still needed more information. Smithsonian's 14 museums ought to have at least one exhibit to clear up my confusion!

Didn't get the answer I was looking for, but look! The puffy shirt from Seinfeld in the Museum of American History!

Here I am at the White House.

I believe the person who has the nation's worst job lives here. I will come back when it is under new management....in 3 years.

Tori, me and my mom.

When one is in need of knowledge, consult great minds of the past...

Any help Mr Washington???

How 'bout you Jefferson?

When in doubt, consult the sacred cupcakes from Georgetown Cupcake.

My girls were in the care of Mark so I really got to enjoy reading EVERY placard in the National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the Hirshhorn, the Renwick Gallery, the FDR monument.

So here's what I learned.

cap·i·tol
Pronunciation: \ˈka-pə-təl, ˈkap-təl\
Function: noun
1 a : a building in which a state legislative body meets

b : a group of buildings in which the functions of state government are carried out.

c : the building in which the United States Congress meets at Washington

cap·i·tal
Function: noun
: a city serving as a seat of government b : a city preeminent in some special activity

So the US Capitol is located in the capital of the US.

By the way, my feet hurt.

Daddy Love

After 6 weeks of being petrified of the ocean and politely sitting on the sand with a pail and shovel, Layla found a way to have fun (and terrify mom) at the beach.

Love-Love

Once upon a time

There was a boy

Who moved from sunny California

To the beaches of Maui

His hair was blond

His skin was white

He was an outsider

He tried to play football

They were bigger

They called him "haole"

He cried in the huddle

When football was over

All the kids went to the tennis courts

The boy followed

A man named Wakida taught all the kids

For free

He fed them balls

He made them run

He created a family

He was local now

The boy liked tennis

He was good at tennis

He won a lot

Colleges said "Come and play"

He got to travel

He got a degree

He got a wife

They had some kids

Tennis took a backseat

One summer, they said, "Let's do it."

They went back to the island

He went back to the courts

And this time

He stood on the other side of the net

He fed the balls

And his daughter returned them

No one calls her haole

She is "his" son

They are happy

The end


Mark's advice--See the ball, hit the ball

The song remains the same

Merrill v 2.0

The new coach

Homage to the master. They named the courts for him in honor of his service to the Lahaina community.

Whadd'ya Say?

So here's the plan. Someday, we'll have a place here, and you are all invited to come spend time with us during the summer. We'll snorkel, hike, bury the kids in the sand and all things beach. At night, we'll sit on the lanai and stare at this:

I'll make fresh smoothies with Maui Gold pineapple and Aloha Maid guava juice. Just leave me a comment below and tell me what you will make for the occasion. (I'll start the grocery list...)

Aloha!

Kolohe

Less than a month 'til Layla goes into nursery! I learned a new word today at church that definitely describes our Layla--Kolohe (ka-low-hey). It means "mischievous." Layla seems to think that anything that comes in a tube is sunscreen, thus I have caught her rubbing toothpaste, Desitin, and lotion on her head. At least she wants to wear the sunscreen!

Driven

When "Betty" our 1994 Ford Explorer was set to retire, we packed her on a slowboat to Maui, to enjoy her retirement shuttling members of Merrill family around and hauling groceries from Costco home for Mark's mother. She was perfect for island life--no need for AC (doesn't work anymore), and max speed on island is 45 mph (she can't go faster than that anyway!).

I had a major case of deja vu last week. We were up north, hiking the Nakahele blowhole, and Mark had to hike down the highway to retrieve the car. He came screaming up the road in Betty, windows down, blond hair blowing in the breeze. It took me back to the beginning of our relationship. My heart would pound when I saw the red car come around the corner, retrieving me from a long day in the Benson Building on BYU's campus. I would climb in the passenger side, plant a kiss on him and head off for our time. We were (and still are) best friends. That car took us everywhere.

Pretty soon, it became "my" car too. He willingly turned her over to me, tolerated the Madonna CD in the player, never complained about the seat being moved all the way up, mirrors adjusted. He just wanted it kept clean and in good repair.

We live in a disposable world now. Throw it out and buy new, rather than caring for and coaxing more life out of clothes, furniture, even relationships. We throw around terms like "starter marriages," like it is cool thing. The way Mark treats Betty is indicative of his whole life. He meticulous cared for Betty, doing ALL in his power to keep it running. When it simply could not perform its needed function, he found an extended life for it. Even here, he wants it kept neat and clean, in good repair, and to be of service for those lucky enough to come here. He is sad when he hears it is being taken for granted and abused.

When Betty can no longer take to the road (she is a Ford after all), I will bet he will sink it in the ocean, in a strategic spot so that maybe it will become an artificial reef or a popular dive location.

The Leap

There is an old stone pier that juts out from the beach we regularly attend. We regularly hike over the large lava boulders along a rusted chain link fence to stand on the pier and look for turtles. Last week, I decided it would be fun to leap from the pier, which stands about 10 feet above the water's surface.

(The boulders you hike along. Ava lost a slipper down here, major drama)

This took some logistical planning because we have 3 kids who need supervision while their mother acts like a teenager. The whole fam hiked out to the pier and peered over the edge.

Mark decided to take a "safety" leap, ensuring there was nothing dangerous below the surface. After he surfaced, Ava decided that she wanted to leap too. Without a moment's hesitation, she jumped off the rock. In the millenium's biggest surprise, Mia then leapt off the rock. That move stunned us all. The jumpers swam to shore, than back across the rocks to relieve me of Layla so I could take my turn.

(Mark's jump)

(Ava's jump, stupid delay on the point and shoot camera, so I missed it. Mia's shot is even worse, so I didn't bother with the post)

I curled my toes over the edge, took a deep breath, and froze.

Nope, couldn't do it.

The fam started counting down.

I wasn't budging.

It was so far down!

With the image of my Mia in my mind, I stepped off the cliff and enjoyed an exhilirating descent into the water.

(Me jumping, nose plugged just like I'm eight years old)

The next day, we all took another leap, even Mia..

Se7en

Happy birthday dear Ava, happy birthday to you!

We started her special day with heart-shaped pancakes. She dressed for church then begged to open one present. She opened a dress from me which she quickly changed into. She wore new earrings and a necklace picked out by Mia. Our dear friend made her a special "Happy Birthday" clip which she had been packing around all summer.

At church, the Primary sang to her and gave her a crocheted lei.

She requested salmon and rice for lunch.

We had Ava's birthday party at the El Dorado cabana. I made her a "beach cake" and we opened presents and sang to her.

Tomorrow, Ava and I are going parasailing on a 1200' foot line. Wish us luck!

Fabulous Fourth

Things that became free on our Fourth of July:

Bananas from their stalk, growing behind the house


American flag from a plastic bag



Ribbons from the spool in the closet

Fireworks from a boat over the ocean

"I changed by not changing at all"

On Monday evening, Mark and I went to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center to attend a solo concert by Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam. I have loved his music since his haunting voice first blared from KILO 94 (rocks Colorado!) in the early 90's. Back then, I dug flannels out of my dad's closet as an ode to the grunge rock and wore one while removing the Poison poster from the door to my room.

He played his new music from Into the Wild, interspersed with old favorites. Some of the songs evoked memories from my past, acting almost as a soundtrack to my life for the last 20 years. His performance of "Betterman" caused me to stifle a giggle as I remembered being crammed into a friend's car screaming down Overton Road during the Pueblo and East High days.

The crowd sang along to "Last Kiss" a song that takes me back to BYU, trying to make sense of a Chemistry major and having the most incredible romance with Mark. (How fitting to be at his concert 10 years and 3 kids later!) I remember flipping through Mark's CDs on one of our first dates and exclaiming how much I LOVED Pearl Jam.

"You've Got to Hide Your Love Away" takes me to the condo in Provo, starting our family and wild adventures with Leslie.

I had a moment there. Thanks Eddie (and Mark).

I seem to recognize your face.

Haunting familiar, yet I can't seem to place it.

Cannot find the candle of thought to light your name.

Lifetimes are catching up with me.

All these changes taking place.

I wish I'd seen the place but no one's ever taken me.

Hearts and thoughts they fade. Fade away.

I swear I recognize your breath.

Memories, like fingerprints, are slowly raising.

Me you wouldn't recall for I'm not my former.

It's odd when your stuck upon the shelf.

I changed by not changing at all.

Small town predicts my fate.

Perhaps that's what no one wants to see.

I just want to scream hello.

Oh my go[sh] its been too long.

Never dreamed you'd return.

But now here you are and here I am.

Oh, hearts and thoughts they fade away.

[Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town]

from the Vs. album. Go YouTube it. You won't regret it.

One more thing... Eddie Vedder is quite outspoken when it comes to politics. He's good friends with Sean Penn, for crying out loud. Anyway, the playbill is filled with articles about the war, Darfur and other liberal ideals. Mark and I looked at each other with wide eyes, asking each other, "What are we doing here?" Most of the crowd were 30ish from Paia (think 60's San Fran crowd). Eddie and the crowd went crazy when Eddie said, "We're in the home state of the incredible President of the F****** United States." I whispered to Mark, "Don't tell anyone we voted for the other guy..." (Erica, I can hear you sigh all the way from New York.)

That was the only outburst of the concert, and all was forgiven by the next song.

Sand in all the right places

A Saturday on the beach is even better when it follows a

Monday,

Tuesday,

Wednesday,

Thursday,

and Friday

on the beach.

Sundays are not beach days.

They are days that help you remember that going to the beach is fun.