How I Spent My Day

I spent today canning. I've never canned before and thought of it like gardening and quilting: magical. Like from a Farside cartoon: then a miracle occurs and you have jars of food.

A while ago our ward got a bunch of papayas (they filled a truck bed) and we could just take as many as we wanted. I had two grocery store bags full and while they're yummy, it seemed like a bit much to just eat so I made chutney and canned it.

I was a bit wary but fortunately, Jason's mom is a crazy canning lady and talked me through how to do it. When she explained it, it seemed doable and simple. I was still a bit apprehensive but everything worked out just fine and now I have eight jars of papaya chutney. I'm amazed it worked and it's so exciting each time I hear the little thunk when the lid pops down. Now I just have to figure out how best to eat it.

Lessons Learned

The other day I was thinking about all of the things I learned during the year that I lived with my sister and her family. Here are the ones I've come up with so far:

-how to sacrifice my will for the will of the Lord

-the importance of living in a place as if you will be there forever (even if you won't)

-how to relax and let kids be kids

-making soups from scratch

-just how wonderful it is to have a vegetable garden (especially herbs)

-that my older siblings see me as a contemporary, not a little sister

-the importance of letting people know what I'm thinking and planning

-a love of visiting the temple every month

-that I'm a spring

-it's worth talking to people to get things cleared up (even if that conversation is uncomfortable) rather than avoid them

-a lot of great picture books

-the importance of generosity even if you don't think you have any to spare

-the joy of home decorating

-a little bit of what I want my home to look like some day

-how do-able regular family home evening is

-what kids are capable of an what they are not capable of

-the importance of toys and that they are worth spending money on

-that I am not ready to be the parent of a teenager (good thing I have a little bit of time before that happens)

-the need that men have to be able to support their family and women have to be able to run a home

-that Kristen and I look a lot alike (even we could see it)

-that we didn't have to live in a city for Jason to enjoy his job and I'm ok with that too

As you can see, it was a very productive year. I'm sure I learned more than this, I just don't know it yet. In a lot of ways living there was a tough year, but in other ways it was great. I wouldn't trade that experience for anything.

Akaka Falls

At the top of the path.

A little bit ago, we drove north up the coast to see what was up there. Along a scenic drive, we found a little walking path that went down so we took it. It was a nice, short little hike that we could all take.


It led down to the water where a river emptied into the ocean. Naturally, there was plenty of lava rock for the waves to crash into.

It was funny, when we got back to the top, there was a couple thinking about going down and Jason offered to take their picture over looking the area (where the picture of Anna and me is). We thought they could stand where we did so they could get the cool separate rock in the background but they didn't want the wall behind them and chose a different place. We thought it was an odd choice because there was nothing special about the rest of it, just cliffs and jungle. Then we realized, it's special if you don't live here. We're getting used to it and look for things that make one place different and set it apart.

Anna and I in front of some bamboo.

After that we got back in the car and kept going. We went to a place more inland a bit called Akaka Falls. From the parking lot is a path that goes in a loop through the jungle and passes two big waterfalls. The path was great and Anna was able to walk it all, even the many stairs up and down.
Even from a distance the waterfall was amazing. The moss really stood out against the black rock, which you can see a little bit at the bottom. Jason and I along the rail. Anna was too interested in playing with the little pavilion on the other side of the path to join us. While we were hiking along, there were a group of people off the path and it looked like they were meditating. As long as you can tune out the people walking by, it does seem like a great place to meditate.

Halloween fun part 2

Jason working on his pumpkin.

Friday we got to carve pumpkins. I was worried we wouldn't be able to this year because a friend of mine said she got the last 5 of the stores she went to. Fortunately, there were plenty at the store where we went.


I wasn't sure how Anna would like it since we didn't carve pumpkins last year. She loved it. No problems pulling out the goop, she knew exactly what she wanted on hers and was even willing to help me carve a little bit.



When we were done and waiting for Jason, Anna liked to put back the parts we cut out. Then she put a towel on its head and said it was cold.

This one is based on a little toy jack-o-lantern toy she has. The uneven grin (caused by the funky knife) cracked me up every time I saw it. So happy looking.


Jason's was Jack from The Nightmare Before Christmas. So we had a happy one and a scary one. Anna loved looking at them and I had to tell her several times to not put things in them.

Halloween fun Part 1

This year we had a fun-filled Halloween Extravaganza. Yessir, one day alone was not enough for us to enjoy all the Halloween goodness, so we did stuff everyday starting with Wednesday.

Anna dressed up as a pink bumble bee. I had forgotten that she was a bee last year but she wanted it several times so I went with it. I sewed ribbons onto a black leotard, got wings and made the antenna out of pipe cleaners. Simple and cute. The only problem was that the ribbon didn't stretch so getting it on and off was a bit tricky.

This is the best picture of me (sorry). I was a garden to go with Anna's bee. As you can see, her wings and antenna didn't last long.

Our ward Halloween party was on Wednesday night. We all dressed up and they had games and candy. They opted against trunk-or-treating this year (I don't know why) but there was still plenty of candy.

Anna got these crazy glasses at one of the games. She loved them, even sleeping with them a few nights.

Anna enjoyed the games and had fun seeing the other costumes. Except for these ones. She did not recognize her friends' parents and thought they were pretty scary.

The next day, we got to put on our costumes again and wore them to keiki steps. It was a special one with all the kids from the other two locations in a big gym.

Alphabet Song

I don't really know where the "sharp needles for little girls" part comes from but I think she's doing pretty good.

We May Never Need to Come in Again

The other day, while we were at church, Jason's mom saw a man putting a bunch of toys out on the curb. She pulled over and found out he was giving them away. So she went home and got Jason's dad and their trailer and picked them up.

Anna watched from the window while Jason cleaned them. He said when he pulled each one into her view, he face just lit up. Once we could go outside and actually play with them, she just giggled for the first while. Sometimes she still giggles when she first sees them.

The little kitchen, refrigerator and high chair are going to go into Anna's bedroom once we get it ready (that's a post on its own).

Needless to say, we spend a lot more time outside. Jason or I sit in a chair off to the side and Anna just plays. At first she used rocks to decorate and use in the little kitchen. Then Grandma too pity on her and got her a few plastic dishes to live outside.