HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA JULIE!!!

A little belated. I hope the boys took good care of you on your Caribbean adventure and that you had a great birthday!

Little Birdie

I don't have much exciting news so I thought I'd put up some photos of the birds here. I like learning the names of all the local plants and animals.

Common Myna Bird, this is Mike's favorite.

Brazilian Red Cap Cardinals, you always see them in pairs. This is my favorite.

Java Sparrow, you usually see these in small groups in the grass.

African Common Waxbill, you see these in big flocks in the grass.


Anyhow... those are the most common birds here. The pigeons don't count, they're the bird equivalents of homeless people.

Randomly, this is my favorite mural at Manoa:

COCOA KRISPIES 2 FOR $5!

I'm sure it goes without saying what I'll be eating for the next few months... but aside from my chocolate cereal addiction, I made a baklava experiment. It was edible for the most part. On the right are some oranges in a bowl I made.



This is a special thanks to Mom for my care package: (:

Ceramics

Some of my ceramics pieces are finally out of the kiln!

Diamond Head

Hi Everybody!



This was a great long weekend. We intended to hike up to Diamond Head at 5 this morning (bright and early, right dad? :) BUT... instead, we moseyed on over around 5 this evening. The park closes at 6, so we made an adventure of walking back to Waikiki.



The view was still fabulous.



The greatest part of all!!!! We found a POMEGRANATE BUSH!!! I've always wanted to see one, and now that I have I think I'm going to put one on the lanai tomorrow. We also saw starfruit, lime, and mango plants.



Diamond Head another day. I love and miss you all!
-Samantha

We're Back!

We made it back to the island! Mike and I have successfully survived our first week of school. My classes have all been fabulous so far, and I am happy with my schedule. I got a new bike, which is bittersweet. It's an older Bianchi Volpe, which is a pretty good frame. I think I'm going to go to clinics at my favorite local bike store to learn to tune it up myself. Best of all, I've only taken the bus once or twice.

It feels good to be back, but I'm still re-acclimating to the environment. I tried my hand at surfing today, and the break definitely didn't help! I also sunburned my arm reading by the window the window this morning!

I miss everyone back home, and I'm looking forward to seeing some of you this spring!!!



Love,
Sammi

Mele Kalikimaka!

...That's Merry Christmas to y'all (: