Farm Fair

We went to the farm fair this year and Jillian really loved the animals. :) The sheep were so friendly!
The baby piggy's barely moved. :)

The chickens were fun too!

Jillian in the bounce house....she was not a big fan. Maybe next time....

2009 DVD Trailer

Jeremy made this smaller so I could post it here. :)

The Revolution Cometh

Jillian started preschool last month. This is her first experience with school and we are so pleased that she is loving it!

Jillian doing a project with Miss Karen before morning circle time.

In case you missed it, and I'm sorry if you did!, you can view Jillian on the trailer for our 2009 DVD. Here is the link to Jeremy's YouTube home page.

http://www.youtube.com/user/BlackLabStudios

Half Birthday

Today is Jillian's half birthday. She helped me make 1/2 a cake....and from the moment we took it out of the oven she was so excited to have a piece! I'm sure she inherited her love of cakes from her father! :) We started a new fun family tradition tonight that we are looking forward to doing again next year.

More Fun with the Browns

Jeremy took Peg and Dave to see the Volcano Park, Puna Lu'u (black sand beach) and South Point. Jillian and I had been sick all week, so we opted out of the 15-hour day and decided to stay home and rest instead.

Peg and Dave walking on the lava.

One afternoon we went to feed the manta rays. They are so neat and Jillian LOVED them!!!!

Peg and Dave stayed at the Marriott their first and last nights in town. On their last day, we went up to play with them. We snorkeled in the ocean, swam in all of the pools and ate lunch at the cute cafe. Thankfully, we remembered Jillian's floaty...she feels comfortable swimming anywhere with it.

Atlantis Submarine

During Uncle Dave and Auntie Peg's visit we decided to try the Atlantis Submarine. It was a pretty fun excursion!

We rode a shuttle boat out to the sub....I was holding on so tight to Jillian!!!! :)

The Withrow's on the submarine.

This is what the sub looks like....

We didn't get to see anything big-big, but we did get to see 2 ship wrecks. They were a gathering place for all the little fish.

Mickey's Neighbors

Jeremy's Aunt Peg and Uncle Dave came to visit us from Orlando, FL....and to celebrate their 25th (I think) Wedding Anniversary. We had so much fun playing tourists with them! On their first day, we toured Kona Joe's, a local Kona Coffee Farm.

Then we visited Place of Refuge. Peg and Jillian are scary Ki'i! :) (warrior guards)

Jillian is checking out a turtle in the bay at Place of Refuge.

Jillian loves the roof rack too!

The other day Jillian and I were heading out to run errands. We got to the car and I realized that I forgot something we needed on the kitchen counter. So, I told Jillian to hop in and get in her car seat. I grabbed what I needed, was gone maybe 30 seconds, and I returned to see this. She said, "Mama look, this is COOL!" It cracked me up so much I had to get the camera! :)

Jack's Diving Locker

This weekend a local dive shop, Jack's Diving Locker, celebrated their 27th Anniversary with free scuba lessons. They have a pool at their shop where they do the initial scuba lesson. It was pretty basic...how to use all the gear and feeling comfortable breathing under water. This is exactly what we needed, since neither Jeremy and I have dove before.

There is a cute window looking into the deep end of the pool where you can watch the divers. We took turns taking Jillian to the window to see us dive.

It was fun AND surprisingly unnerving. I was constantly either holding my breath or breathing too fast. Using the tank to breathe was weirder than I expected. Our instructor said that its way easier in open water because you become focused on the fish and coral....and forget to be so paranoid about breathing.

This is definitely an activity we want to try before we leave Hawaii!

Life Without A Truck

Sometimes life is just easier when you have a truck....a vehicle that can haul and carry all the great things I find on sale! Just kidding....mostly. :) We added a roof rack to Betsey and I just LOVE it!

Waipi'o Valley

Last weekend we took a little road trip to see the Waipi'o Lookout. To actually get down into the valley you need four wheel drive. Our all wheel drive car isn't allowed on the road....apparently it won't make the 900-foot descent (in less than a mile). I guess a 25% grade is pretty steep. :) The view is amazing....very lovely! :)

Scrapbook Retreat

One last post from our Alaskan adventure....


Scrapbooking is one of my very favorite things to do....as Joy would say, it feeds my soul. It is what I do for fun and it is what I do when when I need a break....you know, that break that every mom needs every now and then. I look at our pictures and each one reminds me of a happy memory...some fun thing we did together and just had to capture on film. (Or chip as we say now....) I am reminded how crazy I am about my family and friends....and how truly grateful I am that they are a part of my life.

One thing I miss the most about Alaska is scrapbooking with my girlfriends....they are my scrapping sisters and I miss them terribly!

When I found out we were coming to Alaska, I asked Joy if we could do a retreat. She coordinated with her mother-in-law, and Gwen very generously donated her Girdwood home for the weekend Jeremy went fishing. Thanks Gwen!!!! We scrapped from Saturday evening to Monday afternoon. Now that is some serious scrapping! Ahhh, I miss those days! :)

Giving me a big hug in the photo, left to right is Sharon, Gwen, Krystal and Joy.

Tina is one of my favorite scrapping girls also...she was able to come on Saturday evening...but went home early on Sunday because she wasn't feeling well. Krystal wasn't able to come until Sunday evening because her Umma passed and she went to her funeral that weekend. With everything going on, I thought that was so loving of Krystal to even come. I am very thankful for you girls!

Scrapping Joy!

Sharon and Tina are scrapping.

Ron and Brenda went fishing the same weekend with Jeremy. On their way back home, which is about an 8-10 hour drive north, they stopped in Girdwood to have breakfast with us. I was very glad to see them! They breed standard poodles..well, they've had 1 litter so far. The parents are the two black poodles, Diesel is in front and Paris is standing behind him. Brenda is holding the baby they decided to keep, an apricot female named Lucy.

Thunderbird Falls

After we left ERNC, we headed over to Thunderbird Falls to continue the joy of hiking. :)

We made it! Our group posing in front of the falls....wait, aren't we missing a few?

Jillian in the flowers. I LOVE this picture...I think Uncle Tim snapped this shot. :)

Mr. Luke

Josh carrying Jillian and walking with Ashley.

Eagle River Nature Center

Before we left Alaska, we had to go on a few hikes. The first was to Eagle River Nature Center. We brought Ashley, Josh's girlfriend, with us also. Left to Right above is Ashley, Josh, Luke, Tim holding Jillian and Joy.

Here we are on the pathway....Jillian barely wanted to stop for this brief photo break.

Joy and I wearing our matching scrapbook sweatshirts, courtesy of our scrapping sister Sharon. We are enjoying the majestic mountains.

Jillian LOVES bears! Remember, they used to say "hi!". :)

The mosquitos in Alaska are terrible! They are the size of small birds and swarm all around you, wherever you go....but especially in the woods! Joy is protecting her baby!

The cute couple.

Jillian wanted in on the cuddle action. She really likes Ashley too! :)

Joy and Jillian looking out at the river.

Magnificent Alaska....one of the most beautiful places in the world.