The Culprit!

We're now approaching 96 hours with no electricity. I am coming to terms with it. Even enjoying some parts of it (not the lack of running water, or the total inability to cook), like camping out around the wood stove at night, and making tea on top of it. Raph hasn't had school since Thursday and I really like having him around. We've spent way too much money eating out and entertaining ourselves with shopping trips, though we've also spent a good amount of time with electricity-blessed friends, which has been lovely. Though it is all gone now, I took some pictures of the ice on day one, so you can meet the culprit!

60+

We're now at 60+ hours of no power, but my spirits are a bit higher after spending the afternoon yesterday at our friends' Ryan and Jess's house. We got showers and watched a movie, made a tasty dinner. It made a big difference. They're upset because they still don't have internet, cable, and phone, and I keep pointing out that at least they have working toilets!
Makili had a terrific time playing with Rachel, though there was a bloody collision between the two, in which Makili cut open his lip and smeared blood ALL OVER his face and hands, making it look much more gory than it actually was. Then he had a pretty worthy fat lip thereafter, which sadly I failed to photograph.

Anyway, I thought I'd share some reasons why I haven't posted much lately, though mostly, I've just been lazy. But there was this sickness, with the swollen eyes glued shut after sleeping
There were lots of spoonfuls of honey to help a sore throat. Makili really didn't mind this medicine much at all, as contrasted by how much he detested getting eye drops put in and saline drops shot up his nose and sucked out by the blue nose sucker.
And then there is this quilt I've been trying to finish FOREVER!~ I finally got it all pieced and added the border only to find it was 8.5 inches longer on one side! 8.5 inches longer is A LOT. So I have to take the border off and sure it up. For the record, it isn't the sort of pattern that "lines up" so it is a little understandable for it to be off, but 8.5 inches! I wanted to finish this up to I could get to work on a few Christmas gifts, but I think I might have to finish those before I finish this quilt! (That is of course assuming my damn power ever gets turned on!)
Plus there have been exchange student parties, some poor exchange student behaviors, some limited Christmas shopping and making of other kinds, doctor appointments, etc. So yeah, mostly, I've just been lazy, but there have been some other things going on.

State of Emergency

Yeah, so we lived off the grid in Hawaii for a while. I loved it. Rising and falling with the sun, etc. The last 36 hours has been nothing like that. I have not enjoyed it. It has been cold (THANK GOD Larry installed a wood stove or we'd probably be in a red cross shelter.) There have been no showers or baths. I keep changing Makili's diapers thinking he pooped, only to realize that he's just stinky and needs a bath. There is no flushing of toilets. We went out to buy water yesterday and they were practically sold out. We took Makili to the mall yesterday to get out and it was COMPLETELY mobbed by people. Like probably 1/3 of the 300,000 people in the area without power went to the mall yesterday. Getting out of the damn mall was even more annoying. SO much traffic. Panera Bread, Dunkin Donuts, the food court at the mall - all incredibly LONG lines. This sucks. We were at Panera this morning when they opened to beat the crowds and use the internet and the toilets (oh glorious flushing toilets!)

Oh and by the way, we're expecting a baby at the beginning of June if you didn't already know...

Hanging with Kane and fancy cameras

We spent some time over the weekend with Kane, Abram and Ny. We also spent a few minutes using the camera I've been eyeing, the Canon D20. You see, we have a few dollars in our savings account for once in our lives and it is just driving Raph nuts. First he wanted to get a second computer, but I'm not convinced that it's necessary. So he said, "well if you could spend a bunch of money on anything you want, what would you get?" When I said "a new camera" he was astounded. So then he got all into looking at new cameras, but I don't see that we really "need" a new camera either, so... But it's fun to look. I just love this camera and the lens Cindy has on it, which is an awesome portrait lens. I love the short depth of field, and the black and white setting. I just love it. But we'll probably just save our money for a little while...we'll see. Raph has a list of places we could spend it.

Onion Snow - The Day After

Personally, I think that the day after Thanksgiving is the perfect day for the first snow fall. And this year's first snow fall was just as it should be - big fat flakes, warm weather, and quick-melting. This was Makili's first snow fall since he's been big enough to know snow is something interesting and he was interested. He loved it in fact, until it started sticking to his shoes, then he sort of had an issue with it. But he liked watching dad throw snow balls at me, and he loved pointing out when a big snow flake would hit the pavement on our walk. He would point each one out and try to say snow, which true to Makili-form, sounded like "Doe." It's the effort that counts, though, right?

Thanksgiving under-photographed AGAIN

A few shots from a lovely Thanksgiving. We had lunch with the residents at the Pyareo Home, the nursing home where Ann is the cook. Makili loved the fish pond and Kassia, who played with him for a long time, pointing out the fish, and letting him climb on stools.

Then the family came over. Makili learned he could pick up the littlest of Gina's many dogs, Cricket, who I have to admit was THE most cooperative and kindly dog in the history of the world. He spent a lot of time delivering the dog from one family member to another.

And of course we all ate too much delicious vegetarian food and laughed a lot, and argued a bit, as is the way of things on Thanksgiving...

Ways to entertain Makili: Part 4

Clearly entertaining Makili takes up much more of my time than it used to, since I don't seem to write much anymore and just post pictures of my damn cute kiddo. Maybe that will change soon.

How to entertain Makili: part 3

He'll go on as long as your willing.

Dance Party

We went over to Mark and Lauren's and had some dinner with them and Sarah and Craig. Good times. We ate, the kids sort of watched the wiggles, but mostly just fought over the kid chairs. Makili had a blast with Kayden and Brogan. And they had quite a dance party.

Oh My.

The light. The colors. Those cheeks. Those eyes. I almost can't handle it. Seriously.