After road-tripping around the Ewa plain again today taking care of car-repair errands, we sneaked out to the beach tonight for a quick swim. Sam is practicing hand-stands here 🙂

Dave’s clutch has blown on the GTI so we took it to the dealer for diagnostics. Their estimate was $2500, so we quickly called around and found a place to do it for $1216. Wow! It is an authorized VW and Audi repair shop called Wrench Werks in Waikiki. So this morning was pretty busy going back over to the dealer across the island, then caravaning down to Waikiki to take the car to the cheaper shop. We had fun, though, thinking of it as a family road trip all over Ewa plain. At the dealer Dave and I were tempted by how sweet the new GTI looks…even tartan seats (if they had the Skene tartan on there I’d be buying it on the spot!). The guy who showed us a couple cars (just to kill time while waiting for Dave) was pointing out the entertainment package assuming any mom in her right mind would want one for sure. Tonight as we drove home from the beach the boys were so funny – made me realize how much you miss if you occupy them with stuff other than interactions between each other, their environment (i.e. looking out the window and observing stuff) and the parents. As I told the guy at the dealership, “I am the entertainment package!” He enjoyed that one 🙂 Truthfully we all take turns entertaining each other – Sam with his uke and hilarious faces of late, Ben imitating the faces, and then the typical skirmishes over territory in the backseat. There’s no shortage of fun 🙂

Ben holding a new trash toy 🙂

Trying out a face he enjoys!

Funny daddy! Sam is leaning over for a good look!

Didn't take much arm-twisting to get Dave to follow the boys down a random pig trail this morning to see Sam do some rappelling 🙂

Upon crossing a little drainage ditch and into the trail, Dave goes “Huh, this really isn’t much of a trail, is it. How far to the rappelling tree?” We had a great time, the thorns which penetrated our slippahs (as we were really not dressed for pig-trailing it – was a last-minute diversion) didn’t strike any feet, and the ants didn’t sting anyone (I didn’t warn Dave about the ants – kinda forgot about them). On the way back down the trail, we came across some interesting trash, but it was Dave’s comments which really made me laugh. We found a couple used preg tests – Dave goes “I wonder how that worked out for her.” (I checked – both negative) Then upon finding an empty Trojan packet he says “I guess they decided to try again.”

Sam guiding an ROV into an underwater cave at the Bishop Museum.

Every now and then, when the kids are poking at each other, sniping, getting underfoot and generally being annoying to each other and me, I say “you’re in my asteroid belt – someone’s gonna get hit by an asteroid!” because that’s how I feel and it makes the boys laugh. I guess it may not make much sense, but it makes the point well enough. We all laugh and recognize just how annoying we’re being to each other and my space is cleared out – to an arm’s length at least – so that I can move around again somewhat more freely 🙂 I’ve also tried “My electrons are not interested in bonding with yours right now!” when I need some space since Sam is interesed in atoms (Dad is a nuke). After clearing my space enough to get a skirt on (wow!) we all trekked off to Bishop Museum to see what was shakin’ over there. Sam finally got a chance to really use the remotely operated vehicle (ROV) pictured above – it’s a small camera that you guide with a joystick and watch the video feed on a screen in front of you. Since Sam likes BBC documentaries about ocean life, this was a really cool thing to use. Usually it’s swarmed with kids but this time we managed to carve out some time with it undisturbed. I really enjoyed having a minute to use it as well. Ben enjoyed seeing the volcano again, and I brushed up on some history about Captain Cook’s last days on Kauai. Good day… During prayers at bedtime I’ve been asking the boys what they’re thankful for. I will start mentioning what they say when it’s interesting or different from “Gwamma and Wichud” (Ben) – tonight it was Daddy (also a frequent mention on “the list”) for his great romping time. Mommy never makes the list. Dave says that’s because mommy is ubiquitous – they can’t even conceive of being thankful for mommy because that would open the door to the possibility of a world without mommy. Hmmm…thanks for that insight 🙂

"Look at my face." Sam says in a funny voice then makes one of several funny faces. Notice the legs in the background? I just saw them and it made this shot even funnier for me.

We’ve had a couple funny days’ worth of Sam saying “Look at mah faaaace!” You never know what it will look like. Yesterday we set out on a random ridge hike since our usual buddies were not available for a hike (swim lessons) and we don’t like to drag our friends out on weird adventures. We ended up exploring several pig trails which initially looked promising but I tell you those pigs just do not tend to go high. They stay low and forage so their trails didn’t take us anywhere very interesting as far as a usual hike destination is concerned. They did, however, take us to an escarpment that Sam very much enjoyed climbing with the help of several vines. He said “I’m rappelling down just like Uncle Tom on El Capitan!” as he swung down. He went up and down a couple times with Ben watching from below. You just never know where a pig trail will take you, but the boys are always able to come up with fun. The other funny thing for me was finding a perfectly pristine trash bag toward the end of the hike – perfect for stowing the trash we’d picked up along the way. How funny to find a trash bag among the trash! And in great condition?! I do “tiny ghostie” for the boys (blow up trash bag with air and chase boys around house) so they were amused to find tiny ghostie out for a hike as well. THEN as if that weren’t enough we got back in the truck and drove off but within a block found two boys out riding bikes and I decided to ask about other trails in the area. Sure enough, these two knew of one just behind one of their homes and they offered to take us! Thinking we were just going to the trailhead we piled out without our gear (water, snacks, etc.) and followed them. When we reached the steep, lava-rock trailhead they said “You wanna go?!” with such true-hiker enthusiasm that we had to say “yes!” and followed them up. The two guys, 10 and 11, were super nice and really helped out a few times with Ben when the going got tricky. One of the guys goes to Sam’s school and it turns out I know the mom of the other guy. We were able to reach “King’s Chair” and see the gorgeous views of Kailua, then headed back down with their excellent guidance. The shot above was taken after a jog in Lanikai. We cooled off with a swim before playground time. We are blessed!

We did the Maunawili Ditch trail today and had a great time, Sam on bike and Ben and I hoofing it through dry stream beds, horse droppings, and lots of leaves. The weather was great and the trail was dry. Time for funny faces now 🙂

Sam also had me make a documentary about trail biking. He had me film him introducing what we were doing, then he introduced himself, Ben and me and even gave our ages (said I was 27! yeah!) then took took off on the trail. It’s sure fun to watch him progress on his bike. I could barely keep up with him this time over about 4 miles on the trail. It’s happy hour time here (i.e. 3-5 when boys are up to no good!). Aloha 🙂

Funny guys! Love you two!

We snorkeled at Shark's Cove, then jumped Waimea Rock, then Cholo's for lunch! What could be better? Doing all that with your cousin and his awesome wife!

Fantastic time getting to do some snorkeling in good conditions, then perfect timing for a rock jump (high tide, relatively calm water), followed by a celebratory margarita at one of our favorite haunts. Thanks for a fun day, guys! (More pictures by clicking the photo above.)