Another Picture from Oahu Trip

I scanned in the picture we took at the front of the Haunted Lagoon at the Polynesian Culture Center. It was soooo fun and sooo scary!

From Left to Right: Our friends Rob and LiPing, Kyler, Richard, Me, Kealani and her Mom.

Husking Coconuts

For my school project in my Hawaiian Ethnobotany Class I need to make haupia from scratch (kind of a coconut pudding custard). I had to make the starch from the pia root and then I had to get milk from coconuts. My friend Tina helped me with the coconuts. She must be really strong or I must be really weak. It was hilarious trying to husk the coconut myself. After watching me struggle and make a couple of dents in the coconut Tina asked to take over (she probably didn't want to be there all night!). We (well mainly Tina) did seven coconuts to come up with two cups of milk. First you husk them, then crack them open (I couldn't even do that), then you grate the meat. Then you take the husk fibers, roll the meat in them and ring it like a towel to get the milk. It took us about 2 1/2 hours from start to finish (including getting the coconuts).

Here is a video of Tina husking away.

Oahu Trip

We went to Oahu Halloween weekend for two reasons. #1 we went to the 1st birthday party of Jordan and Jayden. #2 We wanted to go through the Laie temple during the open house. We had lots of fun. Our friends Rob and LiPing met us over there. We also spent time with Seneca Alberdi (she is going to school at BYU -Hawaii). The other fun thing we got to do was experience the Haunted Lagoon! Oh my gosh, it was way scary. I screamed all the way through. There were actual people under the water (way gross water) and they would come up and grab you as you drifted through on your raft. Richard and Kyler swam with the sharks and we did a little sight seeing - including stopping for shave ice at Matsumoto's.

Youth Cultural Event II

My friend Suzy took some video of our Samoan dance. The dance was 10 minutes long and this is only 2:30 minutes. The energy was way high - I think it is one of those, "you had to be there to feel it" type of things. The best part of the dance (not shown) was when they all sat on the ground and did dance moves (way fast) and slapped the floor - which echoed throughout the building. It was way good.
Copy in the below to your browser to watch on you tube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DmQUhPdAxkk&feature=player_embedded

Youth Cultural Event

Kyler is 4th from the right, back row
Last weekend was our weekend long Stake Youth Cultural Event. Each ward was assigned a country - our ward was Samoa. Friday - make a display for your country and then food from your country for everyone to taste. I think our food was a hit - we had a huge line at our table. We made poni popo - homemade rolls with a coconut custard poured over top and sapa suey - long rice, corned beef and cabbage all mixed together. And then there was a dance afterward. Saturday everyone played a game from their country and then Saturday night each ward performed a 10 minute dance from their country. It was way good, and I would say our ward was the best but that would just make me sound prejudice. Sunday all the youth drove up to Pulehu (the first church building built in Hawaii - first baptism held near there as well) for a Sacrament/Fast and Testimony meeting - it is a very spiritual place. This is a picture of the young men before driving up to Pulehu.

Warren & Annabelle Magic Show

We went to the Warren and Annabelle Magic Show a couple of months ago with our friends Suzy and David. Suzy just sent me the pics so I thought I would post a couple. We went to dinner first and then to the show. It was so fun! It is a one man show - he does all slight of hand up close magic. He is so good and so funny. You laugh the entire time. And it is all clean jokes - that makes it even better.

Pictures Taken In Georgia

These are the family pictures Chelsea took in Georgia. This is a picture of Amelia with her other grandparents, Lance and Gayla.
Three generations - Me, Samantha, and Amelia.

As you can tell by this shot AJ wanted absolutely nothing to do with this.

All AJ wanted to do was get in and play in the water.

Oh cute....What a cute family picture.

Oh cute couple : ) You'd never know she just had a baby three months ago.

Grandma and baby Amelia.