The Sound of Silence

The kids all went back to school today, which is always bittersweet around here.  We love summer, and never want it to end, but there is always the interesting prospect of a new year, new friends, new experiences and growth to look forward to in starting school again.

They were of course nervous and excited and had a very hard time falling asleep last night.

Brooke is starting middle school and has studied the school map with Madison (multiple times) who gave her tips on how to get around.  We've been to the locker, practiced the combo lots of times, toured campus, and got all ready for a new chapter in life.

Madison is ruling the school as an 8th grader.  She received her schedule with two PE classes, and no math!  That's a bit confusing, but working with the AP and the Counselor, got it all figured out.  Turns out that because she is in all honor classes and the Discover Magnet program along with Spanish, there wasn't room for Algebra, as it's taught the same time as Spanish.  Unfortunately, she had to drop Spanish for Math, even though we were secretly hoping that PE could somehow count as math credit.  ha!

Christian is a big 3rd grader and is super excited to have is best buds Harrison and Max in his class. 

Christian and Ashlyn will now have the same recess and lunch.  He told her he'd look out for her during those times to make sure she's OK and they could be together.  He's so sweet!

Ashlyn is in 1st grade.  She told me she was nervous about going to school all day as she has never done that.  But she was really concerned about me being "alone" all day without her.  She told me I would have to "find a friend to hang out with".  She mentioned something like that almost daily so she really was concerned about me.  Don't worry Ash, I think I can keep myself busy.

 They are all ready to have a fabulous year!!

Christian with Mrs. Triplett!  We are so happy to finally have her for a teacher.

See that look of nervousness?  It's genuine.  She froze.  She didn't want us to leave.  But I know that she'll be awesome when we leave. Especially when her BFF Cooper arrives.

Mrs. Warner and Ashlyn.  She's in a 1/2 split.  I hope it works well.

Off to the Middle School!  I asked Brooke if she wanted us to drop her off or walk her in, and she really wanted us to go in, so sorry Madison - you get to walk in with your parents!

It was fun to see their reaction when they opened their lockers which were decorated late last night by John.

We ended up walking Brooke to her first class and the teacher came out to introduce herself.  She was super nice - they really take care of the 6th graders well.

Now I'm home and it's so quiet.  I can hear the refrigerator humming.

I can also clean up a mess and it will actually last . . . 

... until 2:35.

Then and Now

What a difference five years makes!

Aloha ~ Hawaii ~ Day 14 ~ Saying Goodbye to Paradise

Our last day in paradise!  So sad!

We packed up, checked out and went to the driving range at the resort.

 It was fun for the kids to have a first experience with golf, and I think the most fun was driving the carts!

Then we did an activity the resort offers called Bamboo Pole Fishing

Ashlyn caught NINE tilapia!

Christian finally had success!

Wow, Madison.  That's really big.  Good job :-)

Then we hiked up the Sleeping Giant

We didn't go all the way to the top, but made it to this great vista.  Everyone was hot and tired, because it was very hot and humid in the sun.

Chickens, roosters everywhere! 

Cooling off with our last Shave Ice

After one last swim in the pool, and relaxing in the Ohana Lounge, we got on the plane at 10:00 p.m. for a red eye home.  

We made it to LAX, and most everyone slept a little on the plane.

But everyone crashed on the car ride home!!

John went straight to work, and the kids went to sleep, and slept until 2:00 p.m. They were very exhausted and worn out from a wonderful 2-week vacation.  

We had a great time and now it's back to reality :-(

Aloha ~ Hawaii ~ Days 12 & 13 ~ Kalapaki & Hanapepe & Waimea

Well hello Mr. Rooster.  You and your friends like to crow not only at dawn, but all throughout the day.

 On Monday we hung around "our area"...

The Nawiliwili Lighthouse by our hotel

We had to find and traverse a rough red-dirt road to get to the lighthouse. The resort is in the background.

Playing at Kalapaki Beach

Hello Mr. Sea Turtle.

He came to feed off the lava rock.

On Tuesday, our last full day (sniff, sniff) we went up to Hanapepe

 and stopped at ...

 which is a little beach made up of crushed glass.  This area used to be a dumping ground and 100 years of oceanic erosion has made old car parts unrecognizable and the sand interesting.  Is that a little rock, or a piece of china?

Hiking along the shelf of volcanic rock

Along the bluff there was a little, old cemetery, mainly consisting of the Chinese and Phillipino residents that occupied this area early last century.

 Then we ate lunch at Da Imu Hut that Tommie's cousin owns.  Her grandpa Fu (Agnes's dad) was there and just celebrated his 99th birthday.  I'm still full.

Salt Pond beach - the only place where Hawaiian sea salt is made.  These types of signs are pretty much at every beach.

Then we headed up to Waimea Canyon ~ Hawaii's Grand Canyon ~ and boy was it ever grand!

Pictures just don't do it justice.

3600' deep, one mile across, 10 miles long.

There was a lookout of Ni'ihau and Lehua Islands.  On a really clear day the view would have been spectacular, but there were a few clouds so we could only see them faintly.

Then to Pakala Beach, otherwise known as ...

 I could totally have one of these properties: several acres of beachfront, nice home in a quaint small town on a beach that's known for rides that last for infinity.

Our cheap little umbrella doesn't hold up well to the breezy gusts that come through.