Bringwald Family Christmas (Cont.)

While looking for our tree we noticed that many of them had old fishing lures hanging from their limbs, left by many frustrated anglers. Seemed like a fine theme for the tree. I thought this would be a good excuse to purchase some new tackle. My wife, however, figured I already had enough gear laying around to decorate the tree. The selection I found in all of my hiding places was amazing, and yes I DO NEED and DO USE everyone of these. Or at least I WILL NEED and WILL USE everyone of these. A fisherman just can't be without that special lure, no matter what the cost. Sorry, but the pics do not do justice to how awesome the tree really looks, and that is coming from someone who knows his strange Christmas trees. There are also a couple pics of our trees from years past. Merry Christmas.

This was an aspen from our front yard that a deer had rubbed his horns on, removing all the bark from around the trunk. It would have died in the spring so in the house it came. I know, I know, it looks pretty cool and you want one next year. This was the start of it all.

Yes, that is a flocked sage bush. My favorite so far but I'll try to move it down the list in the years to come.

Bringwald Family Christmas

For many years now I have opted for a x-mas tree that was a little different than the norm. Cindy always questions my judgment but in the end she and everyone else seems to love them and they are a lot more memorable than buying one on the lot. I have had my eye on some trees in the narrows at Strawberry that were killed when the water came up many years ago. This year the weather was nice and we had not put the boat up yet, so why not go for a ride.

Heading into the narrows we encountered a little ice that we had to break through to access the the tree farm. A fine start to a great adventure.

I know it's hard to see in the picture but if you look really close you can see the beam of light shining down through clouds illuminating our find. Cindy had to keep the boat pulled in tight to the tree while I stood on the bow and cut it down.

I was lucky that both me and the tree did not go for a swim in the 38 degree water.

Now that is a fine looking specimen. The tree isn't to bad either.

Here we are cruising the lake with the Charlie Brown special tied to the transom. I kept expecting to see the hot red speed boat with Christie Brinkley at the helm but it was not to be.

Of course I couldn't make it to Strawberry without tossing a line in for just a minute. I believe we were the only boat on the lake pulling in a fish on the swim deck while standing next to a dead pine tree. Imagine that!

In case any of you are wanting to try this method of tree hunting for yourself, here is picture of how you bring one home. I doubt this pic was very necessary.

Maui 2009

After receiving an email from Suzanne and Nick wondering if we wanted to buy their Marriott time share for the year, a trip to Maui was planned for the end of October. Last year we spent a wonderful Thanksgiving week on Maui with the Mecham family and could not wait to go back. It's hard to find people that still like to play with us, my wife says it has something to do with the shorts I like to wear but that is a whole other story. Some folks are "kid hogs" and claimed they couldn't come and others said money was the problem. Finally we talked my parents and the Averett's into coming with us and these are a few pics from our trip. I am still learning to use the new camera Cindy got me for my birthday, (30 I believe), so please excuse the quality. Thanks Nick and Suzanne for allowing us to have such a wonderful vacation.

Early morning on day one and we were out and about enjoying the lava at the end of the road in Makena. Nick and Cindy are standing on a lava arch that had a crazy green sea turtle swimming in the rough water underneath.

Nothing special about this one, just a nice picture of a great kid pointing at the many crabs crawling on the lava.

The view from our lanai was blocked by pesky palm trees and the sky was full of funky colors. Too bad our porch at home doesn't have the same problems.

Everyday was full of activities, sun and sight seeing. By early evening we were tired and ready for bed. That was fine until four in the morning when I was wide a wake and looking for something to do while it was still dark outside. So I got the camera out and took a couple of shots from the deck. One with the help of the moon and the other with flood lights.

Nick and Jason had a great time riding their boogie boards together. Nick thought he would be bored being the only kid on the trip. What little did he know.

You would think that Jason had seen a Great White shark by the look on his face.

Mom and dad at the Nakalele blow hole.

What a romantic picture, a loving husband (me of course) with his adorable wife and the cutest rock in all of Maui. OK, OK, so it's just a couple of tourists not really wanting their picture taken in front of the stupid rock in the first place but since everyone else was, why not.
P.S. Jason and Nick were too lazy for a hike to the cute rock and blow hole so they stayed in the car and had a nap.

The Makena Grill, along the road by Big Beach, was one of our favorite places to eat. She had kabobs with beef or fresh fish and grilled bananas with caramelized cane sugar, honey and whipped cream. Very, very good.

Being the photographer and the blogger allows me to choose the pictures I take and use on the blog. Whether Cindy likes this one or not, I do and that is what matters. Here she is, showing off her new Versace shades while sunning on Big Beach.

Mom and dad joined us on the boat "Pride of Maui" for a snorkel and dive trip to Molokini crater and Turtle Town.

Nick and I are loaded up and waiting for Cindy to get her gear on. While at Molokini we dove to 105' were we saw a White Tip Reef Shark that was around 7' long. Moments later our dive guide James had caught a good sized octopus that he let us hold. It was fun letting it wrap its legs around our arms and crawl around on us. At Turtle Town we saw many Green Sea Turtles, some of them seemed as big as kitchen tables. They were huge.

Zhalore bought a bunch of post cards to fill out and send back home to those that could not make it with us. She spent a lot of time, working really hard as you can see, writing many good things to people, only to realize she had left off most of the addresses when she dumped them in the mailbox. Oh well, they sell more postcards.

The three of us on our way down the beach for some shopping and dinner.

Nick and Jason with their new tats. Nick got the best deal, by morning the ink had left its mark wherever he had laid on his arm throughout the night. It was like five for the price of one. Hopefully they will wear off in a couple of weeks.

Just another family picture while on the Road to Hana. A beautiful place with waves crashing all around us.

Everyone likes scrounging around the rocks for little treasures.

The crew, minus me, at one of the many falls along the way to Hana. We were just hours away from heading to the airport for our flights home. Not so happy at this point.

The last beautiful scene before it got dark. There is a neat black sand beach just below this point. Aloha and mahalo.