Monthly Archives: June 2011

“Hey Ben, If you were a mammal…”

"...you could stay under water your whole life. Even eat your sandwich under there."

"...you could stay under water your whole life. Even eat your sandwich under there."

This is what Sam said in the pool yesterday as I was teaching Ben to “fill up!” with air before jumping in. Sam is very funny but sometimes I’m so distracted by Ben and his antics and lack of listening and daring-do tendencies that I miss Sam’s jokes until later. I laughed as I fell asleep the other night and made a mental note to come back to Sam the next day to tell him how funny he was. This picture above is of feverish boys (mostly Sam) outside for a little air. They’re resting on soccer balls. Ben jumped up and used his soccer ball to “crack open” a “nut” – like a brown tufted Capuchin monkey. Then he proceeded to “eat” the “nut”! It was so funny to see him come up with this move after watching some nature DVDs which show these little monkeys learning how to get into the yummy nuts. My boys are NUTS!

Cars 2 – first movie theater outing!

We're at the theater super early so we don't get mobbed! The boys are out of their minds. They were as excited last night as on Christmas Eve. It took them 45 min to fall asleep. Today they were so eager to get going we got there 40 min early and even ended up in the wrong theater because there were so many Cars 2 showings! We figured it out in time, got popcorn and got situated. Gramma was with us to capture these pictures of the cute little boys. So nice to have Daddy home again and celebrating a belated Father's Day!

We're at the theater super early so we don't get mobbed! The boys are out of their minds. They were as excited last night as on Christmas Eve. It took them 45 min to fall asleep. Today they were so eager to get going we got there 40 min early and even ended up in the wrong theater because there were so many Cars 2 showings! We figured it out in time, got popcorn and got situated. Gramma was with us to capture these pictures of the cute little boys. So nice to have Daddy home again and celebrating a belated Father's Day!

swimming with a honu

We played hookey from work and commitments on Monday and enjoyed a long, slow morning then a long swim and late lunch. The whole time we were swimming there was a honu lazily cruising the shore only about 20 yards away from us! Everyone else (except for one man who was swimming nearby) seemed completely oblivious to the honu's presence. It was neat to feel like we were the only ones enjoying this exclusive experience. I was wondering if it is the same "guy" I have seen several times before, including when Doug and Mary and the family were doing yoga on the beach over Christmas. "He" was swimming back and forth then, too. The boys are really enjoying summer...as am I. We're going to miss Gramma when she goes back to CA on Tues.

We played hookey from work and commitments on Monday and enjoyed a long, slow morning then a long swim and late lunch. The whole time we were swimming there was a honu lazily cruising the shore only about 20 yards away from us! Everyone else (except for one man who was swimming nearby) seemed completely oblivious to the honu's presence. It was neat to feel like we were the only ones enjoying this exclusive experience. I was wondering if it is the same "guy" I have seen several times before, including when Doug and Mary and the family were doing yoga on the beach over Christmas. "He" was swimming back and forth then, too. The boys are really enjoying summer...as am I. We're going to miss Gramma when she goes back to CA on Tues.

A great birthday present

Ben doing some watercolor with me on the beach while Sam swims. Like our little coconut water tray?

Ben doing some watercolor with me on the beach while Sam swims. Like our little coconut water tray?

I was a little bummed about my 40th today because I usually have some grand plans – a couple years ago I lined up 5 days of adventures with friends, different ones each day from paddling to horseback riding. But this year, on the BIG ONE, I was so busy with work and selling/buying a house all in the same week that I just did not have time to get my head above water to plan anything at all. Even a simple glass of wine with my longtime friend Angel became out of reach by 4pm. Turns out she didn’t get my voicemail and was at the agreed-upon restaurant anyway, so thankfully I had showered and was able to hitch a ride with mom and the boys to meet up with her after all! Angel gave me a huge, bright, feathery boa thing and a hat to wear. We had a great time catching and were then joined by April and her husband. I decided to walk home and try to catch up with the boys before bed, then that turned into a jog. It’s just transportation, really, and if you go fast enough you don’t sweat. The wind cools you right off. When I got to the intersection where I choose between running down Kihapai or Oneawa, the choice was clear. If I was going to run home with a bright boa flying behind me in the wind, it would definitely be Kihapai. I was so fantastical looking that even the dogs forgot to bark (the ones which normally scare the bjeebers out of the kids and I when we jog by in daylight hours). They literally just stared, quietly. Then when I was well past them they started yapping with their buddies across the street – like, “Dude! What was that?!” I didn’t know I’d be having an event to remember tonight but as it turned out seeing the boys’ faces when I blew threw their bedroom door just in time to tuck them in with that wild boa around me and sweat dripping off my face – well, that was a great present. And…Sam taught me a very special trick. I am glad to learn something new with each birthday. That is a wonderful tradition. Mom – thanks for my very special “jingly” present – I will always treasure it! And love to my hubby who also purchased the family a very special gift…Aloha to all and to all a good night.

Sam’s first tooth!

Sam's first loose tooth has been wriggling for a long time, and it finally got really loose yesterday. He was trying to pull it out on his own but couldn't get a good grip so I gave him some gauze then took care of a chore. I turned around to see him standing behind me a few minutes later just calmly holding his tooth between his fingers! Just like his dad to have a big deal to proclaim and keep it all low-key. So happy for Sam :) So tooth fairy arrived last night and left 80 cents. He wondered how a butterfly-sized fairy could carry all those coins, then he decided boys must have strong boy fairies who take care of them and so they can carry more.

Sam's first loose tooth has been wriggling for a long time, and it finally got really loose yesterday. He was trying to pull it out on his own but couldn't get a good grip so I gave him some gauze then took care of a chore. I turned around to see him standing behind me a few minutes later just calmly holding his tooth between his fingers! Just like his dad to have a big deal to proclaim and keep it all low-key. So happy for Sam 🙂 So tooth fairy arrived last night and left 80 cents. He wondered how a butterfly-sized fairy could carry all those coins, then he decided boys must have strong boy fairies who take care of them and so they can carry more.

Summer days

Here is a glimpse of what we’ve been up to with our summer days of leisure. I love having BOTH boys with me!

Having fun on a run down the beach with Sam on his bike. We got completely covered in sand by running through the surf! Then to Kalapawai to meet up with Gramma.

Having fun on a run down the beach with Sam on his bike. We got completely covered in sand by running through the surf! Then to Kalapawai to meet up with Gramma.

And then to the cottage Gramma has been house-sitting for three weeks in Lanikai. Gramma heard lots of loud frogs barking the other night - turns out they were making BABIES! Look at these long strands of bufo eggs! Sam was SOOOO daring scooping up 5 ft long slippery slimy strands. We have a bufo soup in a bag, watching them develop into tadpoles in our backyard now. We keep trying to send them back home with Gramma but she seems a little shy to take them back. Hmmm... Thought we could tease Daddy and make bufo egg ramen for him. Or I could wear them as a nice necklace.

And then to the cottage Gramma has been house-sitting for three weeks in Lanikai. Gramma heard lots of loud frogs barking the other night - turns out they were making BABIES! Look at these long strands of bufo eggs! Sam was SOOOO daring scooping up 5 ft long slippery slimy strands. We have a bufo soup in a bag, watching them develop into tadpoles in our backyard now. We keep trying to send them back home with Gramma but she seems a little shy to take them back. Hmmm... Thought we could tease Daddy and make bufo egg ramen for him. Or I could wear them as a nice necklace.

Ben, Sam and I biked/jogged around Lanikai Loop - Ben on his bike, peddling the whole way! Then to the beach to cool off and relax a bit. This is his best SMILE for Daddy!

Ben, Sam and I biked/jogged around Lanikai Loop – Ben on his bike, peddling the whole way! Then to the beach to cool off and relax a bit. This is his best SMILE for Daddy!

Summer fun

It was a bit rainy today for a playground outing with a friend who just had a baby, so we rescheduled that and decided to go a bit rogue. We biked down to the beach and jogged down it. Of course we didn't check tide or wind first, that would spoil the adventure. So it was a bit hard getting down the beach, but on the way back we nearly sailed! Sam did a great job, even with a cold. Completely covered the stroller, bike and his back with sand!

It was a bit rainy today for a playground outing with a friend who just had a baby, so we rescheduled that and decided to go a bit rogue. We biked down to the beach and jogged down it. Of course we didn't check tide or wind first, that would spoil the adventure. So it was a bit hard getting down the beach, but on the way back we nearly sailed! Sam did a great job, even with a cold. Completely covered the stroller, bike and his back with sand! At one point the water was halfway up his legs, spraying all over. He thought it was terrific - I asked "what are you doing, man? kayaking?" Sam thought that was funny, because the kayakers heading out were just watching in amazement (or amusement?).