On Sunday, we headed to the San Francisco Zoo with Hannah, Sophie, Jake and their parents. It was our first trip to the zoo in SF. We were prepared for a meltdown after Maile’s experience in New York with her grandparents, but she was actually great. I think it helped that the San Francisco Zoo was really wide open.
We’ll definitely be heading back, since the kids are all old enough to walk now, it took us awhile to get around. We probably only covered 25% of the zoo – but we had a lot of fun doing it!
We're at the zoo! We're at the zoo!
Hannah, just so you know, I'm normally very scared of animals, but being next to you makes me feel brave...
Maile's view of the flamingos...
Maile checking out the wild animals. Jake checking out Maile. (Hat tip to Renee R for the caption.)
I think the giraffe was my favorite. What about you?
I’ve created a monster. Maile absolutely LOVES the Apple Store. We can’t walk by the place without Maile going bonkers yelling “Apple Store! Apple Store! Apple Store!” over and over again until we let her go in. Christine bribed her to eat her lunch today with the promise of a visit to the Apple Store. She notices it from the car when we drive by. It’s ridiculous. (Although there’s a part of me that thinks it is awesome 😉
When we let her go into the Apple Store, she runs through the store, dodging everyone, until she gets to the back of the store where the kids’ computers are located. Then she waits until I start a game for her (typically Dora the Explorer). She can’t even really play the game yet, but she likes playing with the mouse and I think she really likes that the computer is down at her level (at home it is way up high).
See for yourself…
The Apple Store is like that cigarette gum you used to be able to buy as a kid – addicting them young!
(Click here for the video.)
On our last day in Hawaii, we headed to the beach one last time. When we showed up, we found this huge turtle (a “honu” in Hawaiian) just chilling on the sand!
This is the big turtle on the beach...
... and this was as close as Maile was willing to get.
(Dad note: this is our last post about our Hawaii trip. It was an amazing week. In addition to spending lots of quality time with Grandma Gail and Grandpa Cal, we had two cool break throughs: (1) Chris and I escaped for some alone time and Maile did absolutely wonderful with her grandparents; (2) Maile really embraced the water – by the end of the trip she was even swimming around in the ocean, something she barely would put her feet in before. Maile definitely enjoyed the outdoor pools and beach much more than her swim class at the JCC – no doubt if we lived on Hawaii she’d be little fish!)
On Sunday, after breakfast, Mommy and I got all decked out in our pretty dressies and Gramma and Papa took us to “church”. Church was a little bit like my Music Together class – except fancier (on account of the dressies). Lots of different people, singing, a little bit of dancing. Plus there was a stage – and well, I like stages.
Mommy and me on our way in to church - don't we look pretty?
I asked Gramma and Papa why they were sitting so far back...
... the view was MUCH better way up front. (Dad note: yes, that is Maile just sitting in front of everyone.)
I made lots of new friends and we all put on a performance for everyone. I didn't know the words to the songs, so I just stood up front and looked cute.
Hallelujah! I see the light!
This is Papa's truck
We learned on this trip that Maile has trouble with the “tr” sound. Case in point…
(Dad note: This video was taken after a day of her saying “truck” like this. She didn’t start out shouting it that way, but we all couldn’t help ourselves from laughing whenever she said she wanted to go in Papa’s “truck” – and thus, she played to her audience and not only said the word incorrectly, but started shouting it as loud as she could. Good times.)
(Click here for the video.)
Regular readers might recall me (Daddy) almost wiping out Maile and her cousins during our Christmas trip with an over zealous Radio Flyer trip. Well, this time it was Mommy’s turn. A little fun with Maile’s “not a box” race car turned dangerous in the blink of an eye 😉
(Dad note: No Mailes were injured in the filming of this video.)
(Click here for the video.)
Well, I wasn’t really “alone” since Gramma Gail and Papa Cal were taking care of me, but this weekend Mommy and Daddy went to Maui without me. It’s the first time ever that I was away from both of them at the same time. At first, I was a little nervous, but then I realized I got to spend extra time with Gramma Gail and Papa Cal! And they sure didn’t disappoint, we did all sorts of fun things…
The morning Mommy and Daddy left, we went over to the local mall and guess who I am looking at here???
Elmo! (I couldn't believe it - he's my favorite, although this was as close as I was comfortable getting...)
After Elmo, Gramma Gail helped me with a cool art project - we made a hat...
It's a little big, but I think I'll grow into it...
We also practiced my chopstick skills with some noodles for lunch - I'm getting pretty good!
On Friday, we went to the park and had a play date with a little girl named Sam - she was cool in my book because a) she was a year older than me and b) her Gramma brought watermelon!
Back at home Papa Cal helped me setup a pink tent in the living room. Let me repeat that: I have a PINK TENT IN THE LIVING ROOM! So cool.
(Dad note: Clearly Maile had a blast and we couldn’t be more thankful to Grandma Gail and Grandpa Cal. We had a wonderfully relaxing trip to Maui and after a couple failed attempts, it was great to finally get away just the two of us. We missed Maile terribly, but knew she was in great hands and having lots of fun!)
(PS – Hat tip to Grandpa Cal for all the great pics and videos…)
Nothing like a popsicle on a hot Hawaiian day – although I did have trouble deciding between the red one and the orange one…
This red one is pretty yummy...
Hmm... but the orange is tasty too.
Mommy, can I just have both? Pleeeease!
You might be wondering why I am standing like this...
... because I'm copying my Mommy, of course!
Okay, go away now and let me enjoy the rest of my popsicle!
We’ve been keeping things action-packed here in Hawaii. Typically, we have a morning activity around the house followed by venturing out after Maile’s nap. (Dad note: Since Maile has been waking up at 4:30 AM, not really much to do outside the house in the morning!)
Grandma Gail remembered how much Maile enjoyed making cookies over Christmas, so we tried again today. And this time, Maile didn’t have to battle her cousins for the sprinkles!
Decorating cookie silliness with Mommy and Maile
After a nice long nap, we headed over to visit Great Grandma Kiyoko and took a swim in her pool. We had the whole pool to ourselves and Maile absolutely loved it (which was surprising, since she isn’t always the biggest fan of her swim classes at the JCC). Maile has definitely come along way in the pool since we first started swimming more than a year ago…
Swimming is fun, but horsing around with Daddy is even better!
Hopefully, with all this adventure, we’ll wear Maile out and she’ll sleep later than 4:30 AM tomorrow… fingers crossed!
Quiet time with Grandma Gail
(Click here for the video.)
Maile Girl strolling the board walk
(Dad note: I couldn’t resist – I love this picture…)
