Posted by Holly on February 8th, 2010
Over Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend, we took a quick trip to Maui. Daniel parents were still visiting and so we rented a two bedroom condo unit on the west coast. A couple days before we left, I told Annika that we were going to fly on an airplane. She was so excited about the prospect, she began to walk around saying, “Annie fly airplane. Way up high sky!” We loaded up a special backpack for her to carry on the airplane with toys for the trip. She was a joy to watch though the whole airplane flight experience, from arrival at the airport, going though security, waiting and watching the planes come and go, walking on the airplane, and sitting in Mommy’s lap. It was a short 30 minute flight, perfect for a wiggly, excited almost two year old. She talked about the blue lights on the runway, and the red & white lights on the wings. Then we rode a bus to go get the rental car… she loves buses too. All smiles yet again. So, yes we had a great time actually on Maui too. It was just so much fun enjoying her enjoyment of the travel. Seeing the world anew though fresh young eyes.
On Maui, we played in the pool & on the beach. We went to their amazing “Maui Ocean Center” aquarium, and took a whale watching boat trip. Annika loved it all. The whale trip was amazing for all of us though. This is the season that humpback whales travel to the Hawaiian Islands to give birth and mate. We saw quite a few swimming, showing their tails, and even the ultimate whale watching experience… breaching! That’s when they jump up out of the water and then splash back down. We saw one whale do this twice in a row and then roll back and forth belly in the air, flapping its fins around. Beautiful. After the whale breached, Annika said over and over, “Come back whale, come back whale.” We also we treated to the apprearence of spinner dolphins. Their name makes complete sense when you see them jump out of the water and spin in the air… it’s amazing.
Annika is really so interactive now. Recognizing things and amazed at the new discoveries… whether it’s whales breaching, a tunnel of water at the aquarium to walk though, or just chasing the birds in the park. She loves it all… and we love watching her!
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All ready to go…
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Getting to be such a big girl!
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Waiting to get on…
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Could she be any happier to be on the airplane?
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All grins to be riding on a bus!
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Climbing in the famously huge banyan tree in downtown Lahaina.
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Famous Lahaina Ice Cream… it’s as good as they say!
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Loves Mommy’s pineapple coconut ice cream!
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Happy family.
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She loves fish.
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Touching a starfish.
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In the tunnel of water.
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Happy to be on the boat.
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Spinner dolphins swimming along with the boat.
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Breaching humpback whale.
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Pectoral Fin of Humpback whale.
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Kisses for Daddy.
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“Wear Mommy sun-gasses!”
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Up the steps with Grandpa and Grandma, to the Iao Needle lookout.
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Iao Needle (Daniel visited as a child, and got to show Annika and I.)
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Relazing on the beach.
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“Waves get Annie.”
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Sand, sand everywhere… she was packing it inbetween her toes.
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Sunny couple.
Posted by Holly on February 4th, 2010

Today, I dug a pair of well loved jeans out of my closet. I slipped them on and it felt so comfortable. This may sound silly, but there’s something comforting about slipping into your favorite pair of jeans. I haven’t done that since… I don’t remember when. Definately since being here in Hawaii (August 3rd, 2009). We’ve had a ‘cold snap’ as they call it here. And yes, it was cool enough for me to pull out the jeans today. Granted I still had to roll them up a bit on the bottom as the sun beat down on me. But it still felt wonderful. How cold is a ‘cold snap’ in Hawaii, you ask? Well, last night on the news they predicted that it wasn’t going to hit 80 degrees anywhere on the island today. Yes, I know… all you midwesterners buried in snow, go ahead and laugh. I sure did when one of the reporters on the evening news was wearing gloves and a scarf. She was holding a digital thermometer that read 64 degrees, and told how they were going to travel around the island that evening to see how low it got. Gloves in 64 degree weather. I guess if you have lived here for your whole life, you get used to the ‘hot’ weather as normal. For me, who grew up on the mainland, living in seasonal places, I miss the cold. I miss curling up with a cup of hot cocoa. I miss it. You who are in it now are probably calling me crazy for saying that… but I’ve come to realize that “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence”. You wish you were here in the sun and warmth. I wish I was there in the cold and rain/snow. Sigh… how do we learn to be content where we are? I think I need to work on that…. ok, I know I need to work on that.
Posted by Holly on January 27th, 2010
… to Sharon who watched Annika today to give me a day off. Annika loved the Grandma-Day… And I escaped to a coffee shop and blog posted like crazy. Thanks for the break and thanks for helping me get caught up (at least to Christmas!)
Posted by Holly on January 27th, 2010
Posted by Holly on January 26th, 2010
It was wonderful to have everyone together for a Linquist Family Christmas Eve meal. Annika all dressed up in her Santa skirt.
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Our Christmas tree… (Yes, it’s fake… had to here in Hawaii!)
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Decorated for Christmas.
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Our Christmas girl.
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“Cheese!”
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All gathered at the table, (expect for me, taking the photo and Michael… not sure where he was?).
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Finally, I get another Christmas Cookie!
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And it is GOOD!
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At church, Christmas Eve.
Oh, that reminds me of a funny story about “Santa”. Early in December, Daniel, Annika and I were driving though Kaneohe. All of the sudden we heard her exclaim from the back seat, “Noah!”. I wasn’t sure what she was taking about since her Noah’s Ark set was at home, not in the car. But then we looked out the window and saw a white bearded “Santa” face. She saw it and thought it was Noah… the only white bearded guy she knows! We laughed and laughed.
And one more Santa story while we are on the subject. Just last week, I was out with Annika and she said, “Santa” seemingly out of the blue. But as I looked around I spotted what she had. A jolly old man with a full head of white hair on his head and a full, long white beard on his chin. Again I laughed. Then as he was walking away, past us again, she says, “Bye, bye Santa.” Kids say the funniest things!
Posted by Holly on January 26th, 2010
Posted by Holly on January 26th, 2010
Posted by Holly on January 26th, 2010
Posted by Holly on January 26th, 2010
Posted by Holly on January 26th, 2010