Keeping Grandpa CR healthy

I think I've mentioned that one of Dean's favorite sets of toys is his Mainstreet Village Collection. One of the new sets he got for Christmas was a little Farmer's Market stand complete with a little farmer who bears a striking resemblance to an older version of Grandpa CR. (OK, maybe it's just the hairstyle and the fact that they both grow vegetables, but for us that's enough....but Mainstreet Village Grandpa CR is older because his hair is quite a bit more gray than the real Grandpa CR). Anyway, Dean doesn't really play too much with the Mainstreet people EXCEPT for Grandpa CR. He knows exactly which person is Grandpa CR and everytime he gets out his village, he likes to make sure Grandpa CR eats his veggies. It's so funny. Dean goes straight for the little crate of vegetables and pretends to eat some of them. Then he makes Joel and I pretend to eat our veggies. Then he says "Grandpa CR" and makes Mainstreet Village Grandpa CR eat his vegetables. Just doing his part to keep Grandpa healthy....

Catching Up

I'm a little behind on my February blog posts, I know. Quick post tonight to catch up on some pics.

Several weeks ago Dean and I enjoyed a fun morning at the Wailea Marriott with our good friends the Shapiros. Dean got to hang out with his BFF Charlie and his hero Sam (seriously - Sam has rockstar status with Dean. Dean talks about Sam CONSTANTLY). Somehow I only got pics of Dean and Sam and missed Charlie completely...






Last weekend Dean helped me bake Chocolate Chip cookies. Joel wasn't home so we went with the easy instant mix variety that you just add butter and an egg, bake and you're done!! Dean thought it was pretty cool though!! He got to break the egg and stir the dough. His favorite part was licking the spoon!!!Trying to get Dean to smile for the camera is just about impossible these days!!!


I hope everyone had a nice Valentine's Day! We celebrated tonight because Joel was coaching wrestling ALL DAY yesterday. The Baldwin Bears took 2nd place in the Maui Interscholastic League Championship Tournament, behind Lahainaluna. Joel had 13 of his wrestlers - 10 boys and 3 girls - qualify for the State Tournament, which is next weekend in Honolulu. He'll fly to Oahu with the team and other coaches Thursday night and come home Sunday. Dean and I stopped by last night during the finals, but didn't stay long - Dean didn't understand why he couldn't run out on the mat and roll around - I'm pretty sure the refs might have frowned upon that, so we said hi to Dad, whished the team luck and were on our way.

Sarah (Sarah the Great who Dean loves) came and babysat this evening so Joel and I could go out for a nice Valentine's dinner at Maalaea Grill. We hadn't been there in a few years and it was very yummy!! It's right on the water in Maalaea harbor and we saw a few whales playing in the harbor during sunset while we waited for our food. We'll definitely be going back there.

Haleakala Trip

Well, I survived another Crater Hike. It was questionable there for awhile. I've decided I like the IDEA of this trip better than I actually like the trip. Last time we did it I said I'd never do it again. I'm not sure what possessed me to do it again. Anyway, Joel and I set out Friday morning with my good friend Jayci (Corwin for you Okies) and her "Maui Magic" guy friend Jason and Jason's sister Lindsay (who it turns out works with Joel). I also seemed to have forgotten that it was SPRING the last time we did this and it's now WINTER, which means it was a little bit colder at 10,000 ft elevation!!! So here are the pics. I never know where to put the picture captions, above or below the pics....so the captions are below the pics....There are a lot of them.
Sorry.

Joel and Jayci at the summit, getting ready.
Joel and Jen at the trailhead.
Joel, Jen, Jayci & Jason at the trailhead (is that enough "J"s for ya?)
Looking into the crater from the summit (10,000 ft elevation)
Joel and Jen, self-portrait
Heading down Sliding Sands Trail (you'll notice from most of the pics that I'm usually bringing up the rear!)
Joel crossing the lava field on the floor of the crater, just after our lunch break. mmmm....Subway sandwiches.
Heading up the "March of Death" (as I've affectionately termed this portion of the hike). Joel decided that my attitude about this part of the hike was clouding my judgement about it and causing me to unfairly dislike this part of the day. He told me if I called this portion of the hike something like "Gallagher's Happy Fun Walk" that I'd magically enjoy it much more (I then told him exactly where I thought both he and Gallagher belonged).
From the top of "Gallagher's March of Death" looking down towards where I still have to go on Day 1. That little person inside the white circle is Joel...way ahead of me as usual!
Just a pretty picture.
FINALLY! Holua Cabin is in sight (inside the circle...across that GIGANTIC lava field...only about 1 mile to go!!)
Resting at the cabin (and sooooo happy to take off our hiking boots and and put on some slippers!!!)
A couple of Endangered Hawaiian Nene (The Hawaii State Bird) hanging out around the cabin
Joel and Jayci huddling for warmth under a "Space Blanket" while Joel enjoys his hot meal of spaghetti (which he cooked for us)
Jen & Jason taking care of some much-needed personal hygiene. We're actually INSIDE a cloud at this point (that's why it looks so foggy)
Sunrise from Holua Cabin, day 2.
Joel making his morning coffee. Mmmmm, folgers Crystals.
Joel and Jen - well rested and ready to head out
Final Good-byes to Holua Cabin (I won't be back for a loooong time)!
Crossing a lava field, Eastern rim of the crater, Day 2
Jayci & Jason, ready to head up Switchbacks, a.k.a. "the ass-kicker"
About halfway up Switchbacks - that's Joel & Jason inside the circle.
Looking back down on the lava field & meadow we crossed from the cabin (inside the circle) to get to the base of Switchbacks
From the top of Switchbacks looking over the Eastern rim of the crater, above the clouds, down towards Hana - you can see the shoreline & ocean from here - and we're at about 8,000 ft elevation at this point!!! It was a beautiful clear day!
Last view of where we've been
I'm tired and I want to go home!!!

Video

I posted a video of Dean enjoying a little Valentine's project I created for him for one of my Design Team projects. The video is on my design blog HERE. Scroll down to the bottom of the post and hit the "play" button to see Dean looking at his book. He really enjoyed the book - calling it his "'Tine Book". He's so cute!!