Water Skeens in Washington

Two days early, Dad and I made our way to the Reservoir of Potholes
We would soon be joined by Uncle Scott and Stef with 2 kids in tow.

In the daylight and sundown we did ski
on the water that was as glassy as can be.
In the evening stars shined so clear and bright.
We ate foil dinners cooked over fire, a delight.
In the morning skiing was a dream come true.
The lake was clear for us, even past noon!
Soon more Skeens joined us for more fun.
Cousins and siblings never wanted the day to be done.

Cousins cuddled side-by-side,
Happy they were on shore and boat rides.

Harmon loved his cousins so much.
He's a strong boy with a soft touch.
We loved having Scott, Stef, Saida and Harmon join us this year.
They are such a joy to play with and brought more Potholes cheer.
Madi is a fish and a sand castle building babe.
She even got dirty! Her interest never did fade!
We paddle in the lake and played in the sand.
Sometimes we were tired but naps were shortened in the plans.
Kaili rode the tube with a few joyful screams.
One day she will win inner tube battles in her dreams.
Dad loves to ski. I think he invented the sport.
This year he left summer with FIVE runs to report!!!
Kevin skied and Kristen too!
Their kids were so proud, yahoo!Kaili and Madi sure loved to play
And they ate so well, night and day.
Mom loved being the Skeen Grama, true.
Slalom skiing is her specialty under skies blue.
Winds came on occasion, so kites were flown.
Kaili has kite-skills, so she flew Wally all alone.

Shayne did some flying of a different kind.
He flew from Kevin's arm, no binkey left behind.
Summary

To finish off an INCREDIBLE SUMMER, Mom and Dad Skeen had their grand-babies (and all their kids) home! It was SO much fun to play together, laugh and relax together.

For about 19 (nearly) consecutive years we have had a standing tradition with our dear friends, the McDonald family, going to Potholes Reservoir in eastern Washington for a campings and waterskiing lake trip.

This year, Dad and I headed up a couple of days ahead to meet Uncle Scott, Stef, and their kids, Saida and Harmon. We thoroughly enjoyed hours and hours of glassy water in the cove all to ourselves!!! We had had really good conditions at Potholes before, but this was truly the best I have ever seen it all day long! We skied and skied, and skied some more. Dad was amazing on the slalom with his new knee--- by the end of the week he had skied 5 TIMES!!!

I couldn't help but hoot for joy each time I had to cut on such beautiful water. Awww. I think I love it too much, but hey, I am a SKEEN.

We had tons of fun playing in the lake and fishing with Harmon and Saida. They are quite the little fish themselves! They are both growing up so fast. Scott rode the bike with me on a run one morning, and we were pleasantly surprised by an early arrival of the second Skeen crew with all the other babies in tow! The fun only increased. We had a lot of fun and are so glad Scott and Stef made the trip up with their family! It was a huge treat.

Thursday Morning, we were joined by the McDonald crew- 3 cars full! What added to the fun of our long lived tradition now was all of the Skeen and McD spouses and grandkids. It was a different and fun new adventure this year. In past, we've had 1 or 2 little kids, but we love that they keeeeeep multiplying! 11 kids 4 and under, most of which needed naps, and all love to play. They did really well together, learned to share as well as how to cry in-sinc with one another. The unspoken rule was, if you were not in the water or cooking a meal, you had at least one child in hand or on close watch. Miraculously, they all got fed, slept (at least a little bit), stayed well sunscreened, and smiled a lot. It was awesome. We LOVE our cousins, nieces and nephews!!!

It must be said, we were so pleased to depart from the beach with no major incidents.

Hawaii, Big Island

To conclude my time in the islands, I visited the Gleed family (Rachel Skeen, Andrew's wife's, parents). It was so fun to get to know them. I had been vacationing for a unusual amount of time, but my goal each day was to meet Michelle's request and "Play as much as possible."

So, my first day there I went to Pololu Valley where I saw a black sand beach and met a really nice little family that joined me in search of the dead whale (Clayton had seen it out there recently). We didn't find the whale, but we did spot two random bulls wandering in the valley, so we returned to the beach and I made my way home.

Below: Jumping on the black sand beach at Pololu (check out that air- haha)

On the way home, I played for a little bit a Hapuna Beach. It was a really clean and pretty beach. Great recommendation from Michelle.

One evening I got to spend some time in the Kona Temple where I was able to do service in behalf of several of my maternal ancestors. It was a sweet experience. I am grateful for the ordinances in the temple that make it possible for my family to be united eternally.

Saturday morning, Darl took me kayaking to the Captain Cook monument, which so happens to be on shore of the best snorkeling of the island. It was BEAUTIFUL to see the huge colorful coral formations! We also saw countless fish, including the fascinating Yellow Needle Fish and a couple Eels! The water was a gorgeous deep blue and conditions couldn't have been better.

We got there just in time to enjoy the waters before the loads of tourist groups came out. This is one of the biggest tourist attractions for snorkeling. I was spoiled, once again.

Darl, Clayton and I went down to the Volcano on Sunday. We searched for Lava Baby in a lava tube only to find a dead end. It was worth the excursion, though, because we got to experience true "blackout" with out lights out.

After the lava tubes, we made our way to the south shore in search of lava. The flow was not in our direction but much further east. It was really cool to see where the lava had covered the road in years past, though! I've never seen such amazing lava formations! On our way out of the park we stopped at viewpoint where we could see a large pot of active glowing lava. It was an intense red/orange glow. Hotter than witch's brew, I think.

Other days, I got to do 3 open water swims at Kona point where the Ironman Championships starts each year. Darl and Clayton each went with me on the Paddle Board, and the first morning we went, Darl and I saw spinner dolphins!!! I got to swim with 3 and there were many more in the distance. It was MAGICAL

Surfing at Pine Trees Beach was really nice as well. Susan showed me the place and even came and enjoyed the sun one day. The locals were generous and didn't bite my head off too bad for trying to catch some of their waves with them. I improved a lot and hope to go again some day soon! It was inspiring to watch the little kids ride the waves like pros.

Auntie Michelle and Uncle Darl were SO SO good to me, and Susan and Clayton were SO generous in sharing their parents with me during their last few days as they prepared to move for the start of Law School. MAHALO NUI LOA to the Gleeds!!!!!

*Photos are works of Darl. Aren't they amazing!*

Hawaii, Oahu

Name that movie set!

Jurassic Park! I loves these mountains.

This summer I concluded my cross-country adventure in the ocean...19 days in Hawaii. The first 8 days were spent with two dear friends who I knew from college, Tali and Caleb. On our second day when Tali arrived, we went surfing at Waikiki and later discovered a statue in front of the Hilton hotel near the beach, which inspired the Luau poses (we weren't the artists- haha).

Our most adventurous hike was up Haiku Stairs (aka Stairway to Heaven). We left the house around 3:30am and started hiking around 4am. With some detouring in the dark, using a single headlamp, we managed to find the trailhead and be the first to head up the mountain that morning. We were in fog most of the way up after, which made "clinging" to the rods on either side of us even more crucial for piece of mind.

After the fog lifted slightly, it was even more apparent that this clinging was necessary, as there were cliffs on both the left and right that one would not want to mess with.

At the summit (after 3 false-summits) we reach the old Satellites (low frequency transmitters) that were build built in 1943 and rebuilt in 1950 for Navel then Coast Guard purposes. The better piece of the summit was the beautiful view down into Kaneohe and more. We were lucky that the clouds did clear more as we made our way down the 3,992 stairs.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is rated the #1 Paid Tourist attraction in Hawaii, and we got to see the new night show, "Ha," meaning "Breath of Life." During the day we also went to the various Polynesian villages within the PCC and enjoyed the mid-day showboat performance.

We didn't get pictures of all of our favorite spots, such as Pupukea Beach (great for snorkeling), but we did take this one after out muddy adventure hiking to Maunawili Falls (in Kaneohe- I highly recommend jumping into these falls!). To help clean off the mud and enjoy swimming and snorkeling, we went to Kailua beach, which was beautiful white sand and not too crouded for summer.

Chinaman's Hat was a great swimming destination as well. Tali and Caleb made it there and hiked to the top, but I watched from the beach b/c my snorkel was malfunctioning and became unsafe. We caught a beautiful moonlit sky there on our way home one night.

While on Oahu, we stayed with my sweet cousin, Auntie Tomato (Winnie), who is a dear cousin of my Grandma Maraea (Nancy). They spent much time together as youth as Auntie's father helped raise her youngest sister, my Grandma. Auntie Tomato and I went and spent and afternoon with Auntie Irene, Uncle Rudy and Auntie Jerry. I love my Aunties and really enjoyed talking with them about their earlier years and memories of childhood. Uncle Rudy was so sweet and treated us all to a yummy dinner.

I felt like I was enjoying a piece of my Grandma who I miss here on earth as I spent time with Auntie Tomato. It was so fun to get to know her husband, Uncle Morris, too. They are so kind and were so hospitable. Their granddaughter, Amanda, and I enjoyed time together as well. She has her grandma Tomato's adventure bones in her. Below: Visiting Uncle Jay in Haleiwa (top left), Uncle Morris (bottom left), with Amanda at Pali Lookout and with a Paddle Board at Waikiki (2 remaining).

Amanda and I had a good time together. After hearing about the fun Tali, Caleb and I had at Maunawili Falls, Amanda and her two best friends had me take them on the adventure. We met a guy with a video camera and he took this shot of Amanda jumping from a wall about 30 feet above the pool. We had jumped the other side the week before, but this was the wall of the day. She is awesome!

Amanda Jumping into Maunawili Falls from jodybrusca on Vimeo.

Transcontinental Adventure

In early July, I sent 3 boxes west and soon hit the road myself. With Malibu packed comfortably full and about 2,500 miles of road ahead, I was ready for some transcontinental adventure...

• Thursday: Alexandria, VA to Newark, NJ (4 hours) - Picked up Mom from the airport, then drove to Cortland, NY (4 hours)

Leaving around 1:30 pm, I was about an hour behind my desired departure time. I had my third and final box to mail in the front seat, and I decided to go to the Arlington/Pentagon City post office. That way I had one last goodbye to my favorite neighborhoods. I admittedly cried as I drove along the Potomac with DC across the river and my favorite running trail along side George Washington Parkway. I am grateful for the memories and inspirations that came in that neighborhood and along that trail. Running, cycling, and walking, with friend and solo, in the sun, rain and snow, long distances and short. No regrets, only gratitude.

Day-end Total: 8.0 hrs

Goodbye Manhattan (from a distance)

• Friday: Cortland, NY to Palmyra, NY (2 hours) - Hill Cumorah, Palmyra Temple, Sacred Grove and Smith Farm, and the evening pageant.

• Then to W. Henrietta, NY (45 min)

Day-end Total: 2.75 hrs

Smith Family Farmhouse

Sacred Grove (rainy day)

• Saturday: W. Henrietta, NY to Niagara Falls (2 hours) - Maid of the Mist

then to Kirtland, OH (3 hrs) - N.K. Whitney Store and Kirtland Temple

Kirtland to Toledo, OH (2:30 hrs)

Day-end Total: 7.5 hrs

This was the schoolhouse for children in Kirtland!

We arrived at the church visitor's center just in time to join a group for a tour of the store!

(Was the) Kirtland Temple

• Sunday: Toledo, OH to DesMoines, IA (9:30 hrs) - dinner with Shelley and Nick Thompson
• Then Des Moines, IA to Omaha, NE (2 hrs)

Day-end Total: 11.5 hrs

Beautiful Fields in Iowa

Iowa State Capitol (vote #2 most beautiful in the nation!)

• Monday: Omaha, NE to Rock Springs, WY (11:30 hrs) - IA/NE bridge run, Winter Quarters Temple, Visitor Center and Cemetery

Day-end Total: 11.5 hrs

Joseph Hyrum Skeen (2 yrs old) was buried in this cemetery

Winter Quarters, NE Temple

• Tuesday: Rock Springs, WY to Pleasant Grove, UT (3.5 hrs)

Day-end Total: 3.5 hrs

Welcome to the west!

Welcome to Utah

TOTAL Driving Hours: 44.75 hours = great Mom time