Seattle and back to Hawaii

August has proven to be a busy month for us. I was able to go back to Seattle for a few days to attend a wedding of 2 very dear friends. We have had quite a few birthday parties to attend and the girls have had a lot of fun getting airbrush tattoos and balloon animals at the parties. Maddie and Katie are talking a lot more now and Maddie has a very large vocabulary. Her newest phrases are:

1. "Oh no, I have a big problem"

2. "Come here, Lucy and Leia"

3. "Mommy, I'm locked out!" - we recently put child proof door knobs on all of the doors

Katie has been saying:

1. "No, Maddie, go away!"
2. "Come on, Lucy!"

3. "Ma-ma's turn" she says this when she wants Maddie to do something

Maddie has learned to climb over the baby gates so we have ordered all news ones and they are coming in this week. The girls are so active and are all over the place - and they copy everything we say so we really need to watch out.

Miya was here with her family (Miya's mommy, Mari, and I have been friends since kindergarten when we were in Taipei) for the last 2 months and they went home today. We are so sad and are really going to miss them. The girls got to see Miya one last time today and Maddie said she wanted to give Miya a big hug! And that she did.

In Seattle at the fabulous wedding of Will (on the left) and Chris (on the right)

Spending time catching up with one of my dearest friends, Heidi. She is having her second boy in October.

We spent an entire day wine tasting. Here is Darcy and me at the first winery - JM Cellars.

This is the 2nd to last winery - Will, Chris and me

At Elevation Winery - the last stop - this is me with the winemaker, Steve. This was our favorite spot!

We got to have an adults only dinner with Tim and Mari before they went back to Hong Kong

BBQ at the Dose's condo - here are the girls on the slide

Climbing in the playground - Thomas is trying to get up there too!

Aunty Mari had such yummy snacks and dinner for the girls

More playtime

Maddie loved her fish sticks - I think she loved the ketchup more

cake for dessert!

First fireworks show - 8pm over Magic Island - so pretty!

Ice cream at Ryder's birthday party

Katie had poi all over her dress and in her bib so daddy made her a new bib out of a napkin

Wee play time

Parachute at Wee Play - 6 out of the 8 kids here are our friends

Singing and bells with Miya

Maddie led the cheerio train out the door

Thanks to Aunty Cel and Uncle Tony for returning our stuff in this awesome box! The box was fun!

july and august - major update!

Oh my, we have fallen behind in the blog. July and August have been very busy months for us - lots of people in town visiting, lots of parties to attend, lots of night meetings for Maile at work, and Toby went back to school after having the summer off. Here we go with the photos...

We celebrated our 15 year high school reunion this week

Beach time for the girls - we couldn't tear them away from the sand and the water

playing with sand

Ryce, Kailee, Katie, Maddie and Brendan

Maddie loves her sand toys

Playdate at our house - Evan and Thomas are 2 weeks apart

All the big kids went swimming and Thomas wanted to come, here he is all smushed up against the window

We blew this pool up for Brendan but Katie and Maddie took it over

Pool time with Drew, Maddie, Katie, Brendan, Kayley and Miya

Playdate!
top row: Drew, Kayley, Miya

middle row: Maddie, Katie

bottom row: Thomas, Evan, Brendan

Maddie's first shave ice

Last swimming class of the summer

Sweet sisters

Maddie didn't want to say goodbye to Paige at the zoo

Zoo party!

Can you see Katie trying to get herself into the photo?

Making lion and zebra masks

Maddie and Chase

Maddie wanted to pull the wagon instead of ride in it

Erin & Jamie made a friend at the children's museum - kinda creepy fake man

Maddie & Katie picking pineapples - their favorite exhibit

Aloha Airlines with Maddie the flight attendant and Miya and Katie as her passengers

Huge bubble machine

The Japanese room - only Miya would dress up in a kimono.

Miya and Maddie cooking in the Chinese room

Katie, Maddie and Miya cooking in the fire station's kitchen

The vet clinic - Katie's favorite place

Katie playing checkers

Future news anchor

Maddie loves cars and trains

Jamie, Katie, Erin

Maddie and Katie picking up Miya on TheBus

Katie brushing her teeth

Funny mirrors

at Azure for my birthday

Swim class

Water fun

Katie (thanks to Miya for her swimsuit!)