Hawaii

We left Anchorage with thoughts of surf and sun.  By the time we arrived in Honolulu, got a car, and checked in to the hotel, it was 10pm and Birdman was fast asleep in the car.  Kate and I ran to the ocean for a quick dip.  James woke up at 6am and ran all the way through the hotel and out to the beach.  

We hit Dukes for the kalua pork nachos and dreamy atmosphere.  Brian's parents joined us later in the afternoon and we checked into our Waikiki condo.

 Despite the lack of surf in Waikiki, we had fun spotting honu (sea turtles) in the water, swimming, paddling,

swinging from banyan trees,

watching fireworks, visiting our old watering holes, and stuffing our faces with foods we can't get in Homer, namely sushi.

Genki Sushi with touch screen ordering and speedy conveyor belt delivery was by far our favorite new dining establishment.

James's hotdog nigiri was hysterical.

We visited our old neighborhood and found that it was the only place to catch a wave this time of year.  Now I remember why we lived there!

Brian and I rented a couple of boards and surfed until our arms were too tired to paddle (not as long as you might think).  Kate caught some belly rides, but didn't want to stand...still can't figure out why?  James, not interested.

Kate belly riding

Bird doing some form of body surfing

We met up with quite a few old friends, including Warren from Long Beach, CA, now flying helicopters in Hawaii. The kids loved the air station tour and the Hideaway Club is always good times.

We saw quite a few rainbows, but this was by far the best as we drove home from Ewa Beach.

We hit the north shore for the Kua 'Aina fish sandwich, Dole whip, and Matsumoto's Shave Ice with azuki beans inside.  Everyone agreed no azuki beans next time. The waves were too big and blown up for us to surf, but we did find a protected cove where Kate could snorkel for the first time.

I'm not going to lie to you, it was a bit cold this day and I found myself putting on a long sleeve t-shirt a few times.  I was afraid we would all roast coming from Alaska, but in 10 days I was never too hot or tired of the sun.

Kate's mind was completely blown when we made it to Hanauma Bay for Oahu's best snorkeling a few days later.  She is the perfect age for cruising the coral reef with mask and snorkel.  James practiced using the snorkel in the pool before we left, so he enjoyed just standing and sticking his face in the water.

We drove up the east side and saw whales breach, took the kids to what we used to call Secret Beach,
and stopped for roadside coconut drinks and lilikoi.

On a quest for surf, we met up with our friend Jake from our Ewa Beach surf days.  We went to Pokai Bay on the west side and it was great to be away from the crowds and let our families hang out.

The kids having lunch with beach buddy Rell

I think our best day was spent at Bellow Beach.  It's the prettiest beach on the island.  In the morning, Kate, Brian, Pat, and I kayaked to the Mokulua Islands.  I've done it once, but never explored past the small beach.  We paddled past large sea turtles on the way and then walked around the rocky island to a small, but deep swimming hole.  We didn't take cameras on the kayak, so you'll have to just trust that it was super cool.

BK with Mokulua Islands behind

After kayaking, we joined Chick and James playing on the beach for the rest of the day.  We rented a stand-up paddle board and body board for more good times.

By this point in the week, James was master of doing "torpedoes" in the water.  He shed the life jacket and just played in the waves, often going under for what seemed like a really long time to me, but he absolutely loved it.

Mimi and Pop Pop even got to sit and read a little at Bellows Beach.  Well deserved, as we had them working pretty hard all week.

On our last night we stayed with our friends, Oahu's best hosts, Matt and Aja.  Getting to their amazing house was an adventure in itself.  It's about a 30 minute drive up a winding, mountainous road with hair pin turns to the middle of the island.  We arrived to a fabulous spread of food, great company, and a beautiful sunset.

We had spent all week taking the kids to all our favorite spots, so it was very cool to get off the perimeter of the island and see something new.

Coffee and morning view from Matt & Aja's lawn.

Kate figured out how to crack the macadamia nuts for roasting later

The next day we hiked the Pu'u Ohi'a Trail.  The kids loved the bamboo forest, and Kate was banging bamboo and making music the whole way.

View from the top of Mt Tantalus

We hit the beach for one last dip, had another fabulous dinner with our friends, and then headed to the airport.  The kids had trouble staying awake to catch the 10 pm red-eye flight to Anchorage. 

Farewell Hawaii, until we meet again...

Halloween to Christmas 2013

 

These photos of the kids are some of my favorites from this fall in the Homer Harbor.

Halloween this year was great fun because the weather was unseasonably warm (for us anyway), and our neighborhood is the hot spot in town.  James had his heart set on dressing up as Batman and he asked Brian to be Robin.  Brian quickly replied yes and the Dynamic Duo did not disappoint.

James was sick last year, so this is really the first Halloween he remembers.  He was full of exclamations all night: "Look at all this tricking and treating going on!"

Kate was going to be a werewolf, but at the last minutes decided to be a regular wolf, so I stitched up a red cape right quick and grabbed a basket of cookies, so we could be a team as well.

In addition to running cross country after school, Kate participated in a program called Girls on the Run.  It's geared toward promoting healthy choices and running for fun in girls grades 3-5.  The culminating event is a 5k run with an adult buddy.

Brian ran as Kate's buddy

Kate and her friends before the race

James is truly Kate's biggest supporter

. 

James, the official race starter, being held up to ring the cow bell

James running to greet Kate & Brian as they approach the finish line

Brian & Kate being interviewed by the local paper

When all the running ended, Kate immediately started in with the after school basketball program.  "I think I found my super sport," was her quote after one day of playing.  You have to admire the confidence.  God love her, she'll try anything.  

Kate has also been asking for a year now to take horse back riding lessons.  There is nothing organized here, so you kind of have to find someone on your own.  Lucky for us we finally did.

Kate beaming on her way to ring for the first time

 We just hang out on the bluff or explore the beach during Kate's lessons.  The scenery is outlandish.  This is a late fall sunset after horse back riding.

Kate riding bare back to stay warm

James has not been quite as busy.  We continued to bribe him to finish out the hockey season with the promise of Gatorade after each session.  He took a couple weeks of swim lessons this fall and added another afternoon of preschool, but we also spend a lot of time hanging out around the house.

 
James loves to make a puzzle museum.  That means completing every puzzle we own until the table and kitchen floor are covered.

December brought our first good snow, so I dragged Kate out with me for a ski at Sunset Loop.

There was more whining than I had anticipated.   In general, I prefer hanging out with Kate without her friends, but cross country skiing is a clear exception.  When she has ski buddies, she just keeps going without thinking about the work.

Brian about to throw down a margarita

In other winter news, Brian started to develop ice glasses for us modeled after the cocktails we had at the ice museum in Chena Hot Springs last summer.

In early November, we went to Anchorage for the weekend and outfitted the entire family with downhill skis. I also found a used pair of skate skis (not easy to do), so now we're all waiting for snow.  We finally got some good snow in early December, so we spent two weekends putting our new gear to good use.  There is actually a little ski hill on the Air Force base where we usually stay.  We went there first because they were also offering sled dog rides that day.

Kate was fired up for her ride, but I could tell she was trying to figure out when they would let her drive it

 Kate is very interested in mushing and completed her first real report on the Iditarod in school this year.  Although James went for a ride too, he said the dogs smelled and he preferred tubing instead.

James riding up the tubing hill in Anchorage

We also skied at another small hill in Anchorage before hitting Alyeska Ski Resort on our way home.  The kids didn't seem to forget much from last year and were zooming down the hill right away.  Kate looks for every opportunity to "off road" and try to jump stuff.  I'm pretty sure she can turn, but she prefers speed over technique.  Bird is a little more conservative and such a positive force on the hill.  Usually Brian skis right behind him, but it seemed he could really use someone to follow.  I skied slowly practicing my S turns down the mountain so he had a path to follow.  The whole way down he kept yelling, "You're doing a great job mama.  Good job with your turns mama."  Kate was at the chairlift in 30 seconds and waiting impatiently for the rest of us to make it down.
Not many photos as it was kind of cold and I don't like taking my mittens off, but here is one of Kate as a lone skier on the hill as the sun was starting to set around 4 pm.

Kate at Alyeska

After two weekends of downhill, Brian and I went for a ski in Homer while the kids were in school.  He was gone so much last year that he hasn't seen all the trails in town yet.  There was quite a bit of grass and sticks poking through the snow, but still decent skiing.

Jessie dog and I at the McNeil Lookout

Christmas crept up quickly as we were preoccupied with skiing.  It took us two trips out, but Brian found another great tree this year.  It was enormous, but we probably won't have another house with this much height, so we figured why not.

 It was also wet, super heavy, and even bigger than we thought.

Once we jammed it in the door and got it in the stand (no small feat), it was perfect.

Kids decorating the tree

James making another toast and tossing back more eggnog

The kids had a variety of holiday concerts and performances including singing with Pete the Cat,

 being the cutest shepherd ever present at the reenactment of Jesus's birth, and

ice skating.

When Christmas Eve rolled around, I felt negligent that our kids hadn't seen Santa.  I shouldn't feel too bad though because they were both too lazy to write him a letter.  Then, we saw a flyer that he'd be at the ice arena in a few hours so decided to squeeze it in our busy day.

James skating with his chair and trying to catch up to Santa

Santa skated for a while, then sat while James told him he wanted a new zebra stuffed animal.  I honestly can't even remember what Kate asked for (a Hexbug I think).  Thankfully, they didn't ask for much at all (probably because they have a ton already).  It was the first Christmas we've ever spent without traveling or hosting company.  I thought it would be a little slow and  lonely for me, but in fact it was quite lovely.

James opening presents

Not too long after Christmas, I drove all the boxes and Christmas trash to the dump, we packed our bags, and headed for Hawaii!

The eagles are now inside the transfer station.  Can you find all 4 in this photo?