Funny Differences

between the first time and this time...

Last time we came to Hawaii it was our first time being on the islands. After living here for a while and returning after a break, we can now look back and laugh at a few things when we arrived!

I don't say 'all what' 5x when someone says 'all Pau'
We no longer call Alii - Alielie or Hale - Hail
The sodium lights are still weird, but not confused with the stop lights
Unfortunately I still did not learn to reapply sunscreen frequently when I have no base tan and again I am fried )-: Opps...


These differences are not funny - but nice!

We have friends and friends with toys (-: (but of course they are not friends because they have toys)
Our friends greet us with "Welcome Home" after we finish talking about how homey Kona feels.
We know where most things are and can follow directions without saying "I think they said a word that starts with a P."
The ocean is not as scary.
We know where we want to go to church on Sunday Morning.

Road Trip Stats

Total Miles - 3850
Number of Days on the Road - 20
Gas $ - $371.93
Food $ - $461
Lodging $ - $333.76 (including 1 yr national park pass)
National Parks - 7
Friends Visited - 8
Longest day - 543 miles, 10 hours in the car
Number of pictures taken - 1028 (average 51 a day)
Number of times I sang "The wheels on the bus" - too many to remember (-:

One Year

Sweet Autumn,

Today is your first birthday! One year ago we got to meet you, hold you, cuddle, comfort and love on you! One year ago you made us parents - a role that now feels quite comfortable, a title we proudly hold - Autumn's mom and dad! We are so proud of you!

This last month of your first year has been very very busy and fun! We spent the first 3 weeks of it on a road trip. You got to experience many firsts - first time camping, first time in a hotel, first time swimming in a lake, meeting the ocean, first camp fire and the list goes on and on! You had so much fun exploring campsites, friends homes, and parks. Your adventurous spirit wows us, your expressions make us laugh and your cuddles melt our hearts.
















Your language, understanding and ability to imitate us has completely exploded this month. You emphatically sign and say awdu when you have finished eating. You say ma ma ma when I leave the room. You blow at the fire after daddy does and load the dryer with clothes while I load the washer. You come when I ask you to, well mostly. You sign milk, call for Ella, have said Nana and Papa and say up and puppy. Your eyes and hands inspect everything and we can almost see the wheels turn in your cute little head!

Things you love -
Giving and getting kisses and goobers
Putting things in and out of other things
Hugging and kissing your babies
Dancing to music - today you started stopping with your head banging
Mama's milk
Running up to daddy and saying "Hi da"
Playing in water
Fruit - particularly mangos, strawberries, raspberries and grapes
Exploring
Running
Belly Kisses

Things you are not so fond of -
Being told no
Getting changed
Having to sit for bath time
Vegetables
Sleeping

Your Stats!















The first year has been more than we could have imagined! You went from a teeny tiny baby to a little girl who now walks, talks and knows what she wants. We fall more and more in love with you everyday and have a hard time imagining life before 9.8.09! You bring us so much joy and happiness! May each year be as sweet as this one!

We love you sweet Autumn Bear!

Mama and Daddy

Road Trip 2010

I need to journal about our trip before the memories get farther away than they already are! Luckily we took hundreds of photos, so hopefully that too will help spark smiles when we look back!

Amazing - that is the best word to describe all 3 weeks on the road!

Autumn was amazing! She hardly fussed, napped when it was convenient and enjoyed our every stop. She explored the camp sites, flirted with tourists at the national parks, played with friends, ran on the beach, climbed on rocks, giggled down slides and in swings, and hiked to alpine lakes and waterfalls.


The scenery was amazing! We blessed our eyes with 7 gems of the West - Zion, Death Valley, Yosemite, Redwood, Lassen Volcano, Mt. Rainer and Yellowstone (and technically Teton, but we didn't stop) Waterfalls, giant trees, granite cliffs, sandstone cliffs, glaciers, wildlife, geysers, paint pots... the list of God's amazing creations that we got to enjoy goes on and on!


Our friends are amazing! We got to spend great quality time with many friends! Top moments included inflatable rafting with Kaitlin, playing Settlers with the Haywards, Mexican Train with the Robinsons, play time with little O, Parade, Lentil Festival and fun with the Watsons, lunch and walking around the arboretum with Jessie and Bruce, Photo shoot with the Watsons, Dinner with Cory and meeting Kristin, Campfires with the Roberts', Dinner with Jeff, singing to Autumn in the car with Connie and so many more!

The weather was amazing! Not once did we have to dig out our rain jackets and I only used the umbrella for rain on our way out of Yellowstone at 5am! The sun shined brightly, Mt. Rainer was clear, Yosemite Valley was warm and Lake Tahoe and the Oregon coast were swim-able!

Best Moment of the Trip: About 1/2 through our trip when we realized we were having so much fun and were not going to regret our vacation. We had our fair share of doubts about being gone that long, having no routine and camping with a 11 month old 9 nights.

Hardest Moment of the Trip: Cold nights with Autumn in the tent. I will admit sleeping outside was the most difficult part of the trip - for all of us. I came to a full understanding of why people switch from tents to pop ups and RVs!


Best View Point: Mt Rainer is my favorite! Reflection Lake east of Paradise.

Best Rest Stops: The little parks in Joseph, UT, Bishop, CA and Baggs, WY

Best Hike: Comet Falls - Mt. Rainer National Park - just Autumn and I while Aaron napped. Just over 4 miles and over 1000 foot elevation gain! The whole hike was gorgeous and the waterfalls at the top were amazing!!! Autumn took a nap in the Ergo, took in the views and then giggled as we sang and skipped on the way down.
Best Walk: Fountain Paint Pot, Yellowstone - outstanding colors!

Autumn's Favorite Moment (I get to guess): Meeting the Ocean near Bandon, OR! She had a ball, first exploring the sand, touching sea weed, watching the sea gull and then running into the water over and over and over again. She didn't care that her lips were starting to turn blue or that her diaper began to sag with wetness! She would get a huge smile and turn to the water and run! (Ang - it was the same smile you give when paddling back out after a great ride!)

Favorite foods: Lentil Soup and Balaclava from the lady at the Lentil Festival, The Crazy Norwegians Fish and Chips in Port Orford, OR and eating Thai three times! (the Lamb, bison brats in Yellowstone, burgers, steak and other meals were amazing as well!)