EAT DESSERT FIRST

Monday, October 11, 2010

Crack the Mac

Why are macadamia nuts so expensive? It's probably because it takes so long to get them out of their shells. We have two or three macadamia nut trees in our yard, but although there are thousands of nuts, it takes forever just to crack a small bowl's worth. Jairin has become our expert. First he gathers the nuts after they fall from the tree. Then the nuts have to sit for about a month before they are cracked. Since macadamia nuts have the hardest shells of all nuts, (it takes 300 pounds per square inch of pressure to crack the shell which means that even driving a car over a nut will not crack the shell), Jairin takes his hammer to the nuts. Since each individual nut has to be carefully cracked with a hammer (just the right amount of pressure so as not to smash the nut to oblivion), it takes hours just to crack a small basket worth of nuts. After they are cracked, they can finally be slow roasted in the oven.

Road to Hana

We took GBTB, Grandma Nette, Jackson and Eimi on the road to Hana. Along the way are huge and gorgeous Rainbow Eucalyptus trees.

Jackson, Joelle, Aria, Eimi

Miri

Aria

Joelle

We also stopped to swim in the lava tube pools. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! These are the brave souls.
Jackson, Jairin, Rob, Aria

Adam, Rob, Aria, Miri

Rob, Joelle

Haleakala sunrise

Standing atop Haleakala in the wee hours of the morning feels like standing on top of the world.

Even though most people are still in bed, there is such excitement in the air. Jackson cannot contain his enthusiam at getting up before the sun.

What? Adam too?

Eimi joins in the fun.

And don't forget Jairin.

Tweet, tweet. Have you ever seen a Jacksonbird?

We had to remind Eimi not to chase the nene birds.

It rained all the way to the top of Haleakala which had us worried, but this sunrise turned out to be one of the most spectacular we've seen.

Jackson and GBTB even found the section corner at the very very top. Pampa would be proud.

Final Photo with GBTB and Grandma Nette

We went to Iao Park right before taking GBTB and Grandma Nette to the airport. It was very beautiful with two waterfalls coming down, which doesn't always happen. We took a final picture of each grandchild with GBTB and Grandma Nette before they head off to Japan on their mission.

Julia

Emily

Rachel

Tony

Teran

Riki

Adam

Kamri

Jairin

Miri

Caroline (at home)

Aria

Joelle

Lana

Kai

Kai (at home)

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Family Reunion

In March we had a Bob Priddis Family Reunion in Maui. We did not have a very good turn out. Only two of the children showed up -- Mardi and Riki and their spouses Rob and Eric :-). On the other hand, more than half of the grandchildren came!! We had a great time exploring Maui, but the favorite activity was swimming in the condo pool and jacuzzi. We had a hard time getting GBTB (Grandpa Bob the Builder) into the pool -- he always wanted to be the baby-holder. But we got him into the pool a couple of times by saying that he could go in voluntarily or involuntarily :-).