Fox Den

Two wild and crazy guys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gotta love this picture from our birthday party last June.

Making Mochi - A Japaneese Buddhist Tradition

Man the year is flying by fast.  I can't believe we're at the end of January.

Here's some pictures for you to enjoy.
New Years in Hilo - Mochi - It's a Buddhist tradition that brings you luck and safety in the coming year.  Traditionally you cook rice and then smash it in a stone bowl with wooden mallets.  You then take the smooth paste and make it into little cakes.  You then put those cakes in your house and cars for good luck and to keep it safe for the coming year.  Check out the pictures from Gail's Church in Hilo.  Pounding the Mochi and then forming it by hand.  The last picture shows you about 1% of what was made.  It's really good!

Shaping:

State Swim Meet

Kira and Kyla swam in the Hawaii State swim meet in December on Maui.  It was a lot of fun and we turned it into a mini vacation.   Kyla swam in 9 individual events and on 2 relay teams while Kira swam in 2 individual events and 2 relays.  Kira "aged up" the week before the meet.  Meaning she turned 13 and had to swim in the 13/14 age group.  She had to work hard to qualify for the two events she swam in.  We also got a new camera so I was able to take some really great pictures of them actually swimming.  Check out Kira doing the breast stroke:

Klya's two relay teams were first place in both events.  They even came close to a state record in one of them - sorry I can't remember which events.....  Here's some pictures of Kyla and her team: