Kauai 2008

We had a terrific trip to Kauai. A few clouds didn't keep us from having fun, as you can see Sydney and Terrie had a ball chasing the waves around! This was our first beach day, and we were excited that Sydney was having so much fun at it. This is the beach in Halelai after visiting the Farmer's Market, one of our favorites.
The first few days, Isaac wouldn't have anything to do with the water, but finally on this warmer day, he got into the act too ... first by splashing in the waves, then by launching himself repeatedly into this pit that I'd dug. This is on a beach just outside the Princeville Hotel, I think it's colloquially called "Hideaways" but has a Hawaiian name too that I can't remember right now.
We went to the Coconut Marketplace, which has mostly uninteresting touristy shops but also on Wednesdays at 5pm has a Hula demonstration. We bought a lei to support their trip to Oahu for the statewide competition, and all tried it on.
On our exit day we spent some time at Lydgate Park, which has this totally amazing playground. Pictures don't do it justice, this shows maybe 1/5th of the whole thing, if that. Sy and Is had a great time running around and trying everything out, but it was so insanely hot that we had to call an early halt before we all got heatstroke.That's 4 pics out of 165 that I took, so it only scratches the surface of our trip.

Spring Snow!

Here it is the end of March and we're getting snow! A fair bit too, there have been at least three snowfalls, and I'm looking out now on maybe 2 inches! I don't know what it'll do to our harvest this year, but the plum blossoms in the snow are beautiful.

We've had quite a bit of snow this year but it wasn't very cold, so recently I'd been thinking that I didn't quite get my "winter fix" this year and that it'd be nice to have one more snow. Of course, it's too late in the season for snow ....

So – What Will Happen Next Year ...

Easter always been very important to Sydney – maybe more so than Christmas. We have spent hours each year after Easter 'hunting for Easter eggs'. She talks about it almost all year long.

Alas, this year Sydney caught Mommy hiding Easter eggs at Nai-Nai's house. After nap Sydney was quite depressed and asked "Mommy, why didn't the Easter bunny come?" I quickly explained that the Easter bunny was very busy this year and so had dropped off the eggs and asked me to hide them.

After we got home we realized that only Grandma Barb's eggs were hidden, and not the Easter Bunny's. So Daddy quickly (and apparently more secretively) hid these eggs. Later that same day Sydney discovered that the Easter Bunny had come to our house after all. She spent the next 2 hours gleefully hunting for eggs all around the house.

That night at dinner she said, "Mom, next year I'll make you a bunny out fit with ears and ..." She did not finish her statement. She apparently is not sure she wants to acknowledge what she saw.

[Editor's note: Mommy felt very *very* bad about "getting caught" --- observing loss of innocence is bad enough without feeling responsible. I hope it was somewhat restorative to see Sydney's joy during egg hunt part 2.]

They Learn by Example

We've been using this parenting method that emphasizes giving choices: instead of "turn off the TV" it's "do you want to turn off the TV now or in two minutes?" (Sanity note: both options should be acceptable to the parent!)

On the drive to school recently, Sydney was pretending that the cars behind us were "Googly Monsters". I don't know what a Googly Monster is, but apparently they're something that you hide from. She declared that the blanket on the next seat over formed a cave, and a ledge or something also offered protection.

She exorted her toys and animals in a loud, urgent voice:

Everybody! It's your choice, go into the cave or go up here!

A Fifth Birthday

Sydney got three birthday "parties" this year: first with just her household, then with all her school friends at Papa's Pizza (next year, I'm taking a giant bag of earplugs for the adults), and finally this one with her extended family. Here she attacks her candle while Daddy holds the cake and Bug looks on.

Sydney was quite gracious about letting Isaac have some time with some of her new acquirements. This soft dog was a favorite. Terrie points out that the dog was actually Isaac's Valentine gift. (Thanks!)

I recently returned from a trip to the Philippines. The quick summary:

Outbound:

Portland to Tokyo: 11 hours on airplane
Tokyo to Manila: 5 hours on airplane
Manila: overnight at Shalom guest house
Manila to Bagui: 6 hours on bus
Baguio: overnight at St Elizabeth guest house
Baguio to Sagada: 7 hours on bus

The payoff:

Sagada, Besao, Bontoc: 3 nights

Return:

Besao to Baguio: 8 hours on bus
Baguio: overnight at St Elizabeth guest house
Baguio to Manila: 6 hours on bus
Manila: overnight at Shalom guest house
Manila to Tokyo: 4 hours on airplane
Tokyo to Portland: 9 hours on airplane
Portland to Hillsboro: 2 hours on light rail

Terrie and the kids decided to skip this one :-)

I'm hoping to write up something more interesting from this trip, but I
wanted to put something down to mark the occasion.

Hope everyone's doing well!

Elk Mountain Weather Report

Here's the weather report from Elk Mountain.