Swimming!

For the past week, TuTu has taken Dean up to "Susie and Bam's House" (as Dean calls it) to go swimming while the Chapmans are on the mainland. (Bam is the cat). Susie lives across the main "highway" (away from the ocean) from my Mom's neighborhood in South Kihei in an area called Maui Meadows. In Hawaii, we refer to this direction (away from the ocean / inland) as Mauka...and towards the ocean is Makai. Dean is so funny! When I pick him up from my Mom's house now and we turn onto the Piilani to head home, he says "No Mommy! Go Mauka to Susie's house". He's such a little smarty! Anyway, here are some pics of him having a blast swimming in Susie's pool a few times. He's really starting to like the water (he's never disliked it, but I think he's just finally getting the hang of things, but he still prefers the ocean).







In other exciting news, Auntie Jayci got here Tuesday night for an extended stay - and by extended we mean REALLY extended (she only bought a one-way ticket and is looking for a job!!). We're all pretty excited for her and happy she's here! She'll be staying with my parents for now. Dean LOVES Jayci (Ok, ok - he loves most women - he is definitely a ladies' man....but I really do think he remembers Jayci and he seems pretty darn happy she's here!!) and was really excited that she went to the beach with him and TuTu today! For those of you that don't know Jayci, her parents are probably some of my parents' dearest friends and I can't remember the Corwins' not being around. Jayci and her brother Andy practically grew up with my brother and I - lots of fun lake trips, ski trips, pool parties, birthdays and holidays shared with their family. I'd be willing to bet that Jayci's Mom, Judi, is the thing my Mom misses THE MOST about Oklahoma!! Anyway, if you need a refresher, Jayci was here to experience the last Haleakala backpacking trip with Joel and I, and both her and Judi were there for our first trip into the crater. I'm sure you'll be hearing lots more about Jayci's Single-Girl Adventures in Paradise in future blog posts!! (I'm living that exciting life vicariously through her!!!).