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.)

Bread ended up rising like a volcano, and I had olive oil trickling out of the crater at the top. It was soooo good! Can you see the salt? Fun to be able to keep making good bread with my starter from 4 yrs ago 🙂

We had a good day today – went for an early bike/run around the fish ponds, with lots of discussions about fish, whether they go to school or not, how many grades of fish go to school in the ponds (Sam says 10 grades, from age 5 to 15), getting to see “hurry hurry!” at the fire station, then on to Ben’s 2 yr old appt. He is in great health, 35″ tall and 35 lbs (I think – he really freaked out at the ht/wt measurement). He is 75th percentile for ht and wt, 90th for head (big like his dad). He’s got Daddy’s cold now but he’s a real trooper and will still be up for partying tomorrow and through the weekend. We go camping on Mon and Tues, and hopefully cousin Mike and his wife Mary will be here tomorrow if their space-a plans come together!

Team Krug developing trust on a lovely Sunday morning after church.

I went to a PT today to get some insight on a foot numbness problem I’ve had for about 18 months. I have been guessing it has something to do with muscle tightness from running pushing the double stroller. I got new running shoes two sizes bigger than usual, undid the laces as much as possible, shortened my mileage after the marathon and only push Ben now (Sam rides). It has slowly gotten a fraction better but I was very curious to see what the PT thought for short term and long term prognosis, and what the cause was. (I’d been to a podiatrist who thought that it was tarsal tunnel syndrome and also thougth my gait was all off. I had my suspicions, though and wanted a second opinion.) So today after a consult, some focused stretching and some massage my feet were literally almost 50% better! We freed up some space in the muscles for blood to flow again and the nerves started to come alive. It’s unbelievable being able to feel the ground under your feet. I don’t know how I’ve managed like this for so long. I have no idea how I’ve done yoga, but I have noticed my balance is a bit off. Hopefully that gets back to normal with some renewed sensation :0 Long ago I knew PTs were the bomb – I worked as an aide while at Univ of VA and one of my best adult friends was a very gifted PT. She really worked miracles for people and I recalled that often the PT was the one to finally put all the pieces together in the jigsaw puzzle of a person’s unusual symptoms. Why I didn’t get a PT consult long ago I don’t know – I just figured this was a podiatrist’s domain. I had already gotten an MRI and an x-ray and they were negative. Anyway, I share all of this because it is hopefully the beginning of the end of a story which has bothered me for a long time. And it means I can keep running, doing intervals and more speed work vs distance for now as long as I am diligent about stretching. No multi-tasking on that, doing a yoga move for one leg while ostensibly stretching the other ;0 I am thankful to have my body back! And I think I will call my old friend at UVA just to make sure she knows how important she is to many people 🙂 

Lounging the Saturday away after we bid aloha to Gramma.

Ben is mystified by the comings and goings around here – Daddy in NH, then MA, Gramma heading to California two weeks after Richard headed back… So he keeps asking “Where’s Gramma?” Like probably 20 times this afternoon. He is down to once a day for “Where’s Daddy?” – speaking of whom, poor Daddy caught a nasty stomach bug and had to delay his homecoming by a day. I offered to extend his rental car reservation. What a fiasco that turned into – 47 minutes and 4 calls later someone was willing to do it. It was like they’d never experienced a wife offering to do that for her husband. I feel bad for him – he wanted to do only two things in Boston while he was in the area – came super close to one (see the Constitution) and missed the other (Sam Adams).  At least he got to see two of three brothers and his sister’s family. Mahalo McGees for housing him and his Northeast pestilence! 🙂 Dan, Tim and Steve – if you’re reading this – the boys and I were talking about each of you and how much fun you are (shout-outs to “sitting swimmer”, Ben’s fave uncle, and our firstborn’s mountain-biking Godfather!). Tito Pig and Tita Bear – we sure miss you guys but we are so thankful for all the visits we’ve had in this past year.