"Mele Kalikimaka" -- Happy Holidays from Justin, Kristie, and Kai

"A Little Assistance" -- Kristie helping the boy learn how to walk

"Aloha Santa" -- Justin introduces Kai to Chris Kringle and the Mrs.

"Big ornaments" -- Kristie and Kai in front of the Honolulu City/County Building.

"Family Swim" -- with Kai's floatie, we can all take a dip together. He has a hard time not sipping the ocean water.

"Discovering Pumpkins" -- This weekend we celebrated an early Halloween by crashing a party at Turtle Bay. Kai was a redneck, Kristie was a...ya know, I still have no freakin' idea what she was, and I was a NY Yankee under construction. Trick 'r Treating is next...

"The other performer in the family" -- Kristie joined her local hula halau and danced a few numbers at a recent community event. She's famous -- even the instructor singled her out in the introduction, saying, "You'll notice in this halau that there are many different ages, many nationalities, and we even have a blonde." Just keep the blonde jokes to a minimum :)

"Special Day" -- We spent our Fourth Anniversary gnawing on crab legs and shrimp cocktail at the PCC Ambassador Dinner.

"Lunch at the Hukilau" -- So fun to have Dan (Kristie's bro) and his wife Chris visit while they were in paradise. Tried to take them places w/ all the best "grindz," including Hukilau Cafe and Giovanni's Shrimp Shack.

"Mmmm..." -- Livin' large on the sheepskin rug.

"The Boys of Maui" -- Jason Yeats and I golfed the Dunes at Maui Lani recently while he and his wife Ali (Kristie's roommate at Ricks) were "in town." In the short timespan of our living here, the Yeats' have visited us twice -- "You guys still have jobs, right?"

The first emporer of China had more than 800 clay Terra Cotta Warriors built to protect him in the afterlife. They were discovered by a farmer in the mid-70s. Many "tombs" are currenty under excavation to recover this hidden treasure of history. Is the farmer who discovered this a millionare? Hardly; he gets a living stipend of 1,000 RMB/month (less than $150).

Me with my BYU-Hawaii gang in front of the Forbidden City/Tiananmen Square.

One of the most amazing things I saw on my recent trip to China was the Great Wall. This section of the wall shows "Terra Cotta" Warriors standing guard, waiting for the enemy.

"Bunch o' Shrimps" -- Kim and Hattie came into town for a few days and Kristie took them to Macky's for the best coconut shrimp around.

Here we are in front of the Laie Temple, where one of Kristie's friends was married over the summer.

Kristie at the Turtle Bay Golf Course on her 29th birthday!

We spent a wonderful laid-back Labor Day in Maui. Below is a shot we took on the infamous "Road to Hana"...what a gorgeous ride. We popped the top on the car so we could all enjoy the view...'cuz that's how we be rollin'.

"Donut Deathgrip" -- This scene truly brought a tear to Justin's pastry-lovin' eye. Kai wasn't about to let go of his first hot glazed Krispy Kreme donut. He mostly just mashed it into pieces.

Welcome the newest member of our family...ol' bessy. "I can get 40 miles to the gallon with this hog."

"Vrrrroooom...take me for a ride, paps."

The salt rush was starting to get to both of these two.

Watching the waves inch closer and closer
brings a smile to both these kids

"Surf's Up" - We're not trying to drown him; we like him

At the end of a rough day at the beach, this little guy just likes to be wrapped up like a salty burrito and cuddled.

Catchin' some rays

Roll Tide...

Kai says "aloha" back!

"Tourists at the PCC" - An old picture, but worth putting it up.

"Like Father, Like Son" - Daddy and Kai spent some time on Sunday afternoon listening to a musical book together. ("Thanks, Mamoos") My two boys. I love this picture and the way they both look. I think I'd like to put this one in a frame.

"SUNDAY SLEEPER" - Before church today we snuck a pic of the sleeping boy and his beautiful mother. (He's wearing your shoes, Eli, and he loves them.)

Kristie has been donning some new eyewear -- what a trendy chick. From the bumblebee sunglasses to her sophisticated prescriptions, Hawaii has opened up a whole new chapter in her style guide.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, Daddy! I love you this much!

Feeding time -- so far Kai has been introduced to rice cereal, oatmeal, green beans, squwarsh, carrots, peaches and, beginning Monday, sweet p'tatoes. BUT, his favorite tasty treat is to suck the juice out of a pineapple...true Hawaiian baby. Once we fill him up, he falls asleep rubbing his tummy :)

Sunday walks and talks...

Kristie...er, Kermit's daily interaction with Kai. The little boy is also doing very well with "tummy time."

We think his eyes smile, too. Makes him look part Asian, huh.

"Chillin' with the Dog." That's right, boys and girls, yours truly caught up with the Bounty Hunter and discussed how to make this world a safer place. Busty Beth was nowhere to be seen, though Leland wasn't too far behind.

After another bout of K vs. J in our annual "Smith mini-golf challenge," we see who came out the victor....proving once again who is the best putter in our family.

We just got back from Tampa -- and you can't hit Tampa w/o making a stop at Busch Gardens. The park definitely lived up to the hype -- killer coasters, rides, and gators. Kristie was a good sport after getting doused on her river excursion!