Grandpa's Favorites

If you are not a parent or Grandparent you might as well stop looking at this entry. If you are either, there is no explanation required. These are my favorite Mack pictures from last month with comments or captions of what I think Mack may be thinking.

"Grandpa, what are you thinking about?"
"Mommy, this little stranger grabbed my toe!"

"Sit down with me Gramps, and watch the superbowl."

"My fingers are more tasty than your Bubba Burger."

"I've got my jammies on but I'm not ready to sleep."

"Did Tutu say we were going to the mall tomorrow?"

"This cap from New Zealand is so heavy I can't hold up my head."

"Isn't it fun to get a bath and smell clean?"

"I just rolled over for the first time!"

"Mommy, where's mine?"

"Grandpa, you are right, I still fit in your suitcase."

"What time is church?"

"Golfers beware!"

"Hey Brah, you want to hit the pipeline?"

"Grandpa, I think you are spoofing me."

"Gramps, you want to say that again?"

"Gramps, save me from this woman... she's smothering me."

Hawaiian Memories

Hawaii is a photographer's dream. Not only is there beauty all around, but the wildlife is often close and easy to photograph. Like this Nene goose, the state bird.Even the spiders are colorful. This one is big enough to catch a little gecko in it's web.
The sunrise over the north shore in Kauai was spectacular. I wish you could hear the surf.
So were the sunsets over Waikiki.

The main attraction was this little guy...

What fun we had with him.

I guess you can call me a proud Grandpa.

One afternoon we were sitting on the lanai when this big bird, an Albatross, landed nearby and came toward us.

Soon another landed and they began doing some interesting movements. With heads in the air, they would bob them up and down in unison.

This was followed by loud beak clicking and even a mooing sound.

They wondered through the neighborhood with people taking pictures of them. They separated and one of them settled down near our cottage and I could hear him all night clicking his beak at different times when I was awake.

Speaking of beauty... here is the the Bali Hai coast on Kauai where South Pacific was filmed.

It was on Kauai that I did some whale watching as this is the height of their time in the Hawaiian Islands. They spend the summers in the waters off Alaska and winter in Hawaii. Smart creatures. (Imagine... how do they find their way through so much ocean?) Getting a picture without a boat is a hit and miss proposition for a photographer. Here a couple lift their tails before submerging.

By chance I got this one breaching (coming out of the water). Click on it to see it better.

The next few shots are the splash he made when he landed...probably a mile away or more.

At the overlook where I took these shots, the local DNR officer said: and don't forget, that these creatures are....

as big as the lighthouse near where we were standing. Isn't our God something?

Mack's Firsts

This visit saw some more "firsts" for Mack. I guess when you are four months most everything is a first. Here Mack is sneaking, with Grandpa and Daddy's permission, his first sneak at the Super Bowl.Mack had to get his feet into the Pacific on Lanikai Beach before he leaves for Arkansas. Another first.
I was married for several years before I had my first plane ride. Not Mack.

And these two little ones spotted each other at the airport and there was an instant attraction. First girlfriend?

Mack and His Hats

Mack, like many, is a man of many hats. Here he is modeling a special Merino hat his Daddy brought back from New Zealand. It is a possum and wool blend.A little more upscale, here Mack models a Classic Cheese Cutter hat. He likes it.
When he wants to hang out with other local boys, he wears his beach hat. Cool brah (Hawaiian slang for brother).

But usually we see him in this blue number which matches his eyes but frequently slips over his eyes so they can't be seen.