Many a Grand Adventure and the Intro of a New Chapter: The Mini-Mini

Dear Element, 

You took us on many a grand adventure. 

 You let us muddy you up with dirty bike tires,

and cover you in sand and salt. 

You took us to see old friends, 

 And new family. 

You took us West. 

 

You took us East again. 

We went South

And we went North. 

You brought us to our new home. 

You were a reflection of ourselves and our lust for adventure and experience. 

But the time has come for change old friend.   

We will cherish the moments we spent with you. 

And retain our quest for adventure, as we hope you will.

 Our Memories will always be fond ones.

As we begin a new adventure in our lives we sought something that could accommodate our desires, our little one's needs, and a few extra friends. And we found the Mazda 5, a sport wagon? an suv? a car? a mini-van? It's not quite any of these things.

I think it is best described as a Mini- Minivan. AKA the Mini-Mini. 

We hope you can join us sometime on a grand new adventure. 

Week 21

(inspired by Pacing the Panic Room's Maternity Series)

Week 20: Halfway there!

(inspired by Pacing the Panic Room's Maternity Series)

Update on Previous Posting

Faithful Readership, (ie, family a a handful of friends) 

If you do not keep updated on his blog. Now you must check out the sweet video that our friend Kevin Mahan made of our trip. 

And while you are at it, check out his wife, Rachel's project blog. 

San Francisco with the Mahans

check out all our photo fun here. 

Exploring the Coastline with Kev and Rach

Yesterday we traveled south on highway one. 

One of our stops was Big Sur, Julia Pfeifer Burns State Park

It NEVER gets old. One of the most perfect places on earth. 

Mahan Trio

Don't be jealous that this is what you are missing. 

Road to Hana

Here is the Road to Hana its so popular because it is filled with waterfalls and rainforest. 

Although it may look like a short trip, the road is so windy that it takes 3 hours just to get to Hana. 

We decided to take the back road to get back to our hotel (between Lahaina and Ka'anapali)

Even though the back road was mostly a narrow dirt road, hanging off the cliffs with signs that warn of no emergency services provided we actually preferred it to the much more popular north side. But on the North side we did see this...

and more waterfalls then we can remember. One of which empties out into O'heo Gulch or the 'Seven Sacred Pools' You can totally swim in any of the ponds that the waterfalls empty in to. Of course all is at your own risk. 

If you find yourself on the Road to Hana, skip the Twin Falls(first stop on the journey) its about a half hour hike to see a waterfall that isn't even as good as some of the other ones that can be seen off the highway. 

We meet an interesting character who makes beautiful shell leis. Although she had a strange obsession with Elvis and his family, all her leis had a story. The one we bought for ourselves is made out of large shells which have to be reborn by being sanded down and polished and they represent Christ. The white represents the waters of Maui and the Green, the rain forests of Maui. She may have been slightly off, but we love our keepsake. 

On the backside of the road we really had some fun. 

And we preferred the off road terrain. I guess we felt more like a local? Or maybe that we were discovering uncharted territory?

There is lava rock EVERYWHERE. 

Open Road

We probably should have taken footage when it was a little more exciting. You know when the cliff was hanging over us, on a one car road, when we couldnt see if someone else was coming at us. But I guess documentation wasnt really un the front of our mind at that moment.

Week 14

We enjoyed our 14th Week in Maui!

More to come on all the fun we had enjoying our "Babymoon" (coined by Ashley Rojas)

(inspired by Pacing the Panic Room's Maternity Series)

Adventures in Transportation

So this weekend I went down to So Cal to visit my family for an important milestone in my sister's life. It was a wonderful visit. And I got to see one of my best friends and spend some time with her love and future of her life. 

It was a great visit and getting there was entertaining. 

First in San Jose I was confronted with an unreasonable security line for domestic flights, I am talking like 150 people all standing single file waiting to be looked over by "checked" by apparently the only two qualified individuals available to work.

And while I was waiting for all eternity I noticed this sign...

 THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN SECURITY??? Really, come now flight policy people, did I really have a choice? Thank you for stripping me down to nothing and making me stand like a convict so that you can check to see if I have embedded anything dangerous in between my toes or in my armpits. THANK YOU. 

When I arrived to LAX I did feel vindicated that someone out there was getting there come-upance. 

 FYI, if you hold up traffic at LAX, real LAPD come and write you a ticket, travelers beware...and be hasty. 

Lastly the day I flew back my mom and I stopped for a brew and noticed these hardworking individuals, mom with their laptop and daughters with theirs.

 I think when I was there age I was picking my nose and trying to race rolly pollies, just a thought. 

I love My Sister

Today we get to see each other. It can be kind of rare sometimes. 

But it is always fun. ALWAYS.

Things We Have Been Doing Since Nov 16th.

As with everyone else in America, the Holidays are busy. And we were busy.

First we had a Christmas Dinner at work with our students and coworkers


I flew from beautiful Santa Cruz to beautiful Long Beach for my sisters birthday on the 14th of Dec

and I hung out with her at night and with her dog Daisy during the day for four days. It was actually an awesome break, of doing nothing but watching TV.

My Parents adopted Kitty Kitty and then tried to give her away...

Christmas came and we got so many amazing gifts. It was wonderful, I think I might have to do a whole post on the awesomeness of our friends and family and how good they are at giving gifts.

Then we came home in time for our Third Honeymooniversary where we drove Big Sur.

We saw BREACHING HUMPBACK WHALES on their migration route south! Crazy!

Also Elephant Seals hanging out on their favorite beach to take care of their newborns.

Then there was the colony of regular seals

The over zealous and over plump squirrel in Morro bay

And some random birds.



Oh and we stayed at THE most beautiful campground in America

And our tent was on a cliff overlooking the ocean, this was our ACTUAL view!

And a waterfall

If you follow the waterfall up to the tree line, that is where we camped! Seriously why have you not come to visit us yet! haha

 oh and side note: my grandma taught me to knit, I am so proud because it has taken me years to learn and I think *knock on wood* that I finally have it down. This baby blanket goes to the first friend that gets pregnant! So GO! Make me babies to love on!