From the monthly archives:

December 2010

A jury of your peers…

by Maile Girl on December 30, 2010

Just a quick post tonight because we are out celebrating Mommy’s birthday (happy birthday Mommy!). Today we headed over to the courthouse. Last year, I got to try on Grandpa’s judge robe – this year, Katie, Emily and I sat in on a jury!

Katie and I thought the accused was innocent...

Katie and I thought the accused was innocent...

Emily, on the other hand, wasn't so sure...

Emily, on the other hand, wasn't so sure...

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The Return of the Radio Flyer

by Papa K on December 29, 2010

Long time readers might remember that last year Grandma Gail and Grandpa Cal bought the girls a big red Radio Flyer wagon for Christmas. We’ve been having a lot of fun with the wagon this year – hence the 4 minute video below capturing a few of our adventures…

(Click here for the video.)

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The Golden Oreo

by Maile Girl on December 28, 2010

At the Christmas party everyone started calling Emily, Katie and I the "golden oreo cookie" and said I was the filling. I've never had an oreo cookie so I didn't really get it.

At the Christmas party everyone started calling Emily, Katie and I the "golden oreo cookie" and said I was the filling. I've never had an oreo cookie so I didn't really get it.


Emily, do you get it?

Emily, do you get it?


Katie, what about you? You're older, do you understand?

Katie, what about you? You're older, do you understand?


What's that mommy? Oh, now I get it...

What's that mommy? Oh, now I get it...


Funny, funny. Yes, I got daddy's coloring for sure and all this rain on Hawaii certainly isn't helping matters!

Funny, funny. Yes, I got daddy's coloring for sure and all this rain on Hawaii certainly isn't helping matters!

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The Christmas Train of Horror

by Papa K on December 27, 2010

Before we left Honolulu we took the girls to the Ala Moana mall to ride the Christmas train. Last year Maile was too small, but it is a Murashige family tradition that Katie and Emily really look forward to and were excited to share with their cousin. As the title of this post suggests, things started out pretty good, but quickly spiraled downhill…

Guess what Maile Girl? Today you get to ride the Christmas Train!

Guess what Maile Girl? Today you get to ride the Christmas Train!

Psst. That's the train I get to ride today!

Psst. That's the train I get to ride today!

Maile and the Christmas Train - still friends. For now...

Maile and the Christmas Train - still friends. For now...

This. Is. Going. To. Be. Awesome. (Dad note: In hindsight this was the peak of Maile's excitement re: the Christmas Train adventure.)

This. Is. Going. To. Be. Awesome. (Dad note: In hindsight this was the peak of Maile's excitement re: the Christmas Train adventure.)

Umm... hey guys, where do the mommies sit on this thing?

Umm... hey guys, where do the mommies sit on this thing?

Speaking of mommies, where is my mommy?

Speaking of mommies, where is my mommy?

Oh, there mommy is. Mommy, I'm not enjoying this anymore.

Oh, there mommy is. Mommy, I'm not enjoying this anymore.

No, really. It was a nice idea, but I'm all set. Please take me off.

No, really. It was a nice idea, but I'm all set. Please take me off.

Daddy to my rescue! My hero!

Daddy to my rescue! My hero!

Daddy, it was horrible. The train was moving and I couldn't find mommy and they were singing all these songs and just kept clapping and smiling and clapping and smiling...

Daddy, it was horrible. The train was moving and I couldn't find mommy and they were singing all these songs and just kept clapping and smiling and clapping and smiling...

Below is the video of Maile just before her early exit from the train. Yes, the train stopped mid ride and we extracted Maile. She wants us to report that she is safe and sound and is looking forward to trying again next year.

(Click here for the video.)

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Christmas Eve, 2010

by Maile Girl on December 27, 2010

I hope everybody had a fun Christmas. It’s hard to remember everything that happened the past couple of days – it was a crazy busy weekend. I’ll consult with Daddy though and post some updates over the next couple of days.

Let’s start with Christmas Eve – by far the best part of Christmas Eve was that my cousins, Katie and Emily, arrived from Japan. Even though we hadn’t seen each other in a whole year, we fell back into our old ways right away (and by “old ways” I basically mean that I try to copy whatever they do).

From left to right, Emily, me and Katie - I missed them so much!

From left to right, Emily, me and Katie - I missed them so much!

(And no, we didn’t just coincidentally arrive at the Christmas party all wearing the same thing – it was planned by Grandma Gail. She buys us the prettiest dresses!)

There was one not so cool part of the night. I was going to leave it out, but Daddy says I should tell you about it. This guy Santa showed up. He brought gifts, which was nice and all, but I wasn’t the biggest fan. Let me start from the beginning…

First it was Katie's turn, she went up and got her gift. She's done this a few times already so she acted pretty cool.

First it was Katie's turn, she went up and got her gift. She's done this a few times already so she acted pretty cool.

Then it was Emily's turn - she was very brave. She's all smiles in this picture, but she told me afterwards she was a little nervous...

Then it was Emily's turn - she was very brave. She's all smiles in this picture, but she told me afterwards she was a little nervous...

Then it was my turn. I was all set. Did. Not. Want. To. Meet. Santa.

Then it was my turn. I was all set. Did. Not. Want. To. Meet. Santa.

Dude, thanks for the present, but if you make a move for me, I'm screaming...

Dude, thanks for the present, but if you make a move for me, I'm screaming...

I wasn't kidding - GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!!

I wasn't kidding - GET ME OUTTA HERE!!!!!!!!!

I did get a fun toy out of the whole ordeal, but now I know why in most books Santa comes at night and leaves the toys under the Christmas tree… all set with meeting that guy in person!

(Dad note: it is an absolute trip to look back at the post from last year’s Christmas. I can’t get over how different Maile looks!)

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Merry Christmas!

by Maile Girl on December 24, 2010

This feels like a good spot to wait for Santa!

This feels like a good spot to wait for Santa!

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Maile’s First Shave Ice

by Papa K on December 23, 2010

We traveled to Honolulu yesterday to celebrate Christmas with Grandma Gail’s side of the family. One of the first things we did when we arrived was take Maile to get her very first shave ice. We went right to the source – Waiola Shave Ice – widely regarded as the best shave ice around (especially by Mommy and that’s the really the source that counts!)

(BTW – don’t you dare call a Shave Ice a Snow Cone. As wikipedia tells us, snow cones are made with “crushed, rather than shaved, ice.”)

So this is a shave ice? Okay, I'll try it...

So this is a shave ice? Okay, I'll try it...

... ooh, very cold on my tongue...

... ooh, very cold on my tongue...

Is that cherry I taste? Oh no wait, I think its strawberry...

Is that cherry I taste? Oh no wait, I think its strawberry...

The verdict: Maile likes it!

The verdict: Maile likes it!

And here’s a video of the very first tentative tastes:

(Click here for the video.)

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I love trees. Whenever I go walking with Mommy and Daddy I always point at the trees and say “thee” – so imagine how excited I was when I arrived at Grandma Gail and Grandpa Cal’s AND THEY HAVE A TREE INSIDE THEIR HOUSE!

Grandma explained to me that it was only temporary for Christmas. Still pretty cool in my book. In any event, in addition to having a tree in their house, Grandma informed me that we also get to decorate with lights and pretty ornaments. And I got to help!

First, Grandma Gail gave me some instructions...

First, Grandma Gail gave me some instructions...

... then Daddy gave me a few pointers ...

... then Daddy gave me a few pointers ...

... and then I was on my own!

... and then I was on my own!

So many ornaments, so little time...

So many ornaments, so little time...

Fun, what's next!?

Fun, what's next!?

Since I was in a decorating mood, I decided to decorate my clothes...

Since I was in a decorating mood, I decided to decorate my clothes...

... and Grandpa's too - he's a good sport!

... and Grandpa's too - he's a good sport!

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Maile’s First Golf Lesson

by Papa K on December 21, 2010

As some of you already know, Grandpa Cal is a HUGE golfer. So no big surprise that when he got home from work and the rainy skies cleared, he headed out back with Maile and proceeded to teach her the finer points of the game. Grandma Gail chipped in with some putting tips as well.

Dad note: I was inside while this was going on. The funny thing is that judging by this video (which was taken by Mommy), Maile and I now probably have the same handicap.

(Click here for the video.)

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Rain in Paradise

by Maile Girl on December 20, 2010

Hello everybody from Hawaii. Now, when Mommy and Daddy told me we were coming back to Hawaii visions of playing the sun and going to beach danced in my head. Unfortunately, it has pretty much been raining ever since we got here. I got a little tired of staying in the house so I decided to take matters into my own hands and headed out to check out what rain in Hawaii was all about. Turns out its a lot of fun!

Rain, rain go away, come again another day (like when I'm back home in San Francisco!)

Rain, rain go away, come again another day (like when I'm back home in San Francisco!)

Daddy, come over here and play in the gutter with me...

Daddy, come over here and play in the gutter with me...

See Daddy, you clap your hands in the water and it splashes, fun, right?

See Daddy, you clap your hands in the water and it splashes, fun, right?

I'm a flexible girl, I can have fun in any type of weather...

I'm a flexible girl, I can have fun in any type of weather...

Rain in Hawaii, not so bad really...

Rain in Hawaii, not so bad really...

Mommy has a towel for me, right? Cool, just checking...

Mommy has a towel for me, right? Cool, just checking...

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