First Time to Hawaii

Joan and I, after all these years, we finally made it to Hawaii.
It was Joan's cousin from Denmark that decided on a sunset beach wedding on Maui, So Joan and I decided to join them for their big event as no other family were going.


We first spent 2 days on Waikiki Beach. How beautiful was that.





A picture of Joan and I on our first night on the beach at Waikiki.





Every night there were free shows in the plazas and beach parks with Hawaiian music and hula dancing.

We were amazed at all the flowering plants. All the trees had flowers, too. We visited the Dole pineapple plantation and saw all the amazing plant life on the islands.

We then traveled to Maui for three days and the wedding. We stayed at an older more traditional island resort right on the beach with palm trees everywhere.

The sunset wedding was so beautiful. That is Helle, Nik and Matilda, Helle's daughter.





Back at Waikiki, we drove up the east coast for Island views that were breath taking.

And of course what would a tropical vacation be without the umbrella drinks along the beach. We found a favorite place to visit on our final days there.


Our final night in paradise.
Aloha to all.

We will return.

Make sure to click on our Picasa photo album web site on the right to see all our pictures from the trip.

Winter came and now its Spring

Joan traveled back to Denmark again this Winter to visit Family and Friends. The snow was thick and cold, too.

Only got one picture of Joan together with BedsteMor and BedsteFar.

She is in the middle with a big smile and a broom.

Oooops. Sorry that's a snowman.

Back in California Spring came one day in March at the beach, and Joan loves to take pictures of Collin playing. He is so big now and he knows when MorMor has her camera out.













The big event this Spring was the birth of our newest family member. Our new Grandson Evan David Barker, Born on March 26, 2010. Got to love that middle name. We have lots of March birthdays now.
The Proud parents Brian and Elisa.
MorMor is happy holding her new grandson on the day he was born.







Collin meets his baby brother for the first time. I think he was prepared for the new baby and now he is big brother in many ways.

Nearly the whole family got together at Brian and Elisa's right after baby Evan came home from the hospital.



Grandpa and Mormor sit together with our two grandsons. It is fun being Grandpa now.


Melanie and Will and the rest of us stand in front of Melanie and Will's new home.

It is not easy to buy a home these days, but they found their perfect home in Anaheim.
That's it for now from the Muran Family. Please visit our two photo album web sites by clicking on the links on the right and see all the pictures.

Disneyland with the whole Family

Brian surprised Elisa for her 30th birthday with a trip to Disneyland with the whole family. She was surprised for sure and we all had a chance to be with Collin and his first time to Disneyland.









Collin's favorite ride was the Tea Cups. He liked Dumbo, too, especially making him fly up and down.

Brian's parents, Tom and Debbie were there as well as his two sisters, and then our family with Mel and Will and Dan, too.









The Castle and the entire park was all decorated in Christmas lights. It was beautiful.

You can see all the pictures by clicking on the link to the right to our Picasa Photo Album Web site.

Things We did this Fall

Joan has a helper in the kitchen with the dishes. I think he has more fun with the water than washing the dishes. Bedstemor and Bedstefar were here in August.

Collin has fun talking to Bedstefar. I am this big you know.









Joan's Cousin Helle and her family were here for a visit. We went for a walk in the National Park near by. Can you see our home from here.

Rain is such a surprise to us in California and when it comes, we go out and enjoy it.
Jumping in puddles and getting wet. Can't get any better.

Collin learns the fine art of baking... at least what us men can do best.





At our favorite Pumpkin Patch. We have been going to this same pumpkin patch for more than 20 years. Started there when Dan was Collin' s age.







We had our first Halloween away from our home at Brian and Elisa's this year. Collin was a little chicken.
At 18 months, Collin quickly learned how to take his basket up to a door, knock on the door, and hold out the basket for candy.
And then run to the next door with Mormor and Grandpa.








Then Collin helped celebrate Elisa's birthday.

Yummy yummy cake.


You can see all our pictures this fall by clicking on the link on the right to our Picasa or Costco Photo Album web sites.

What we did this Summer

We really had nothing big planned for this Summer 2009, but we were sure busy enough.
As you saw in our previous blog, we had a great time in Mallorca off the coast of Spain in the lovely Mediterranean Sea. The water was warm and the beaches were full of tourists. But with Joan's brother John and Karen, we had the best tour of the Island. It was fun every day until late in the night.




We spent a week in our time share condo in San Clemente and the kids were able to join us on and off. It was fun having Collin there too. Our grand son sure made it special this year.











But best of all, we pulled out the old tent trailer for yet another summer of camping. First we went local to a near by camp on the beach where we had the entire family including Collin for the first time. Just one night only but it was so much fun to actually have everyone there, the entire family at one time doing our favorite thing, camping. Campfire and smores.

Then the next day we took the trailer all the way up to South Lake Tahoe and camped there for the 6 days together with Cindy & Andy, Melanie & Will and Dan. And then our other two girls, the twins Brandi and Lacey and their men and baby, too, came up for one night. That is 11 of us in one camp with the trailer and two tents. One big happy family we are. Well so much for our quiet Summer with no wedding to host.
Remember to visit our two photo album sites, Picasa or Costco, by clicking on the links to the right of this blog and you can see all the pictures for our Summer 2009.