The Giesekes

Monday, June 15, 2015

Play Area Updated

Our new home has a nice little area downstairs for kids play. I bought the play table but the space looked out of place in the dinning room area and needed something to set it off as a play area. I came up with these chalkboards with art storage baskets for each child (for when Graham bring home his first art). Great deal at Micheals. I also found these adorable hanging baskets to complete the kids kitchen and drawing space. So fun to decorate and embellish my finds.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Unpredictable

The only thing I know for sure about my daughter is that she marches to her own invisible drum. She delights in doing whatever pops into her head. I usually expect random flighty behavior, but then she surprises me by focusing on something and doing it the conventional way. Never can tell.

This is how she wears goggles and will not accept any help.

But she also colors in the lines.

But then again she spells her name "c", "p", "e", "alligator"!

Friday, January 30, 2015

Real Tea Party!

Made some decaf blackberry vanilla tea for the kids to try. They were so sweet and said it was so good. Thought the cups were "so beautiful!" They loved using the real cups and adding milk.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Kauai - Then and Now

Well, this happened a long time ago, but finally got around to posting some photos of our trip to Kauai for my friend Lianne's wedding in September. We went for 5 days without the kids!

We bought these googles since we forgot the nice ones we bought in Cali. These were terrible, but they were only about a dollar.

Lots of time to read. I reread a favorite book of mine, "The Patron Saint of Liars." Felt very luxurious

The Beach House Restaurant for our postponed 7th anniversary dinner. We were in Kauai with Dan's family for a friends wedding 8 years ago before we got engaged. This post contains flashbacks!

Waiting for the Beach House 2006

Not a bad view anywhere you look

Breakfasting on the patio at the Grand Hyatt (we were not staying there)

Adventure 1: ziplining

I was pretty nervous. Getting ready

First run, here we go.

Dan was not nervous

Funny thing, our guide was from Santa Rosa too

Did it! Turned out to not be too scary after all

Hiking to different runs

Dan coming in hot

Looking down

Crossing the canyon

Afterward there was an option to swim in the beautiful river. Dan and I were the only adventurers that were brave enough. Felt great because we were super hot.

Adventure #2 Kayaking the Wailua River to a hike of Secret Waterfall. We did this exact tour 8 years ago together. Great to relive the trip.

After kayaking a few miles we stop for the hike. 2014

2006

Back to present day. Glad Dan is no longer wearing those flame swimming trunks!

2014

2006 with family

The reason we came! I got some great time with my former roommate Lianne. We shared a room for 3 years and a house with a total of 5 girls. Lots of memories here!

Waimea Canyon. Always breathtaking.

2014

2006

Adventure #3 - Spontaneous trail riding! We stumbled into this tour the morning of the wedding. Driving around near the beach we saw some stables. We got out and talked to the rancher who convinced us to hop on a horse for the tour just leaving. It was a highlight!

In bathing suits and borrowed boots and socks we are ready to go!

And off we went to the wedding we had come for in the first place. Congratulations Lianne and Dave!

2006 flashback from Steve and Leah's wedding across the island at. We looked like we were going to the Homecoming Dance.

Perfect ceremony! So special to see Lianne marry a great man.

Lawn games. It was fun seeing other Cal Poly friends and people from way back in the day (Lianne and I were both Mechanical Engineering majors together). No one knew the rules to these lawn games, so we made them up and they kept changing depending on how good your argument was that you should get more turns.