Kindergarten = the dating game?

Gotta take a break from the vacation to get back to blog therapy.

This morning as I bent down to kiss #1 goodbye she purposely moved her face so I couldn't reach her nose and lips.It kind of shocked me. I watched her walk down the street and imagined her leaving for college and not kindergarten. I hope it's the coffee breath she is avoiding and not mommy kisses. They grow up way too fast.

At the breakfast table as I was wrestling #3's mouth open for rice cereal the older ones were fighting because #2 said he wanted to marry mommy and not a girlfriend. #1 insisted that 'it is against the law to marry family' and that #2 would have to find a girl outside the family. This, of course, brought #2 to tears and he said wanted to be just like daddy and marry mommy. I tried to explain to #3 that it's okay for #2 to think that right now, it is hard for him to think about growing up. She insisted that he start looking right now for a girlfriend to marry. I asked her what the hurry was and she said, "My teacher said you and daddy fell in love in kindergarten."

I believe it was Junior High but really what's the difference?

Please stop growing up so fast, I am missing you already...

Sure seemed like what paradise would be like

The Tropical Paradise of Kauai, Hawaii basks amidst the sparkling blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, Rainbow Catamaran on Kalapaki Beach, Kauai, Hawaii about 20 minutes by air from Honolulu. Formed some six million years ago, the island encompasses roughly 550 square miles and is the oldest and Surfer Going In at Hanalei, Kauai, Hawaii northernmost of the main Hawaiian Islands.
To visit Kauai is to quickly lose yourself in the quiet majesty of the island's lush tropical setting and extraordinary natural heritage. Come, discover the legendary aloha spirit that abounds in this friendly garden island paradise.(from the official tourism site)
I agree with everything except the 6 million years ago part:) HE does amazing work, doesn't he? We rented a car to drive the 100 miles from coast to coastand took a helicopter tour of the island where there are no roads.These are the Wailua falls,80-foot waterfalls that were used in the opening of the television series Fantasy Island. Below is the Na Pali Coast accessible only by helicopter, hiking, or raft. This is where we came home to every night and took time to check on the kids
we haven't gotten the cell bill yet...

Pearl Harbor

USS Arizona Memorial. The day we visited there were two of the 50 still living survivors in the center answering questions. It was a sight to see those men. We watched a short video of the events that happened on Dec. 7, 1941, many of us in the tour group were overcome with emotion.

You can still see some of the USS Arizona sticking out of the bay. 1177 men died on that ship and nine hundred were never found. Oil still leaks from some parts of the ship into the water above.

Here we are aboard the USS Missouri. She was the battleship where the cease fire was signed with Japan. The deck is made of teak wood for better traction and in case a barrel of gunpowder was dropped there was less chance of an explosion.

Honolulu as seen from Punch Bowl, a cemetery for the men who died at Pearl Harbor and other veterans. Read more about Pearl Harbor here.

Honolulu and Waikiki Beach

daytime view from the plane

early evening shot from our hotel balcony we shared with seagulls
and again at sunset...
They say that Honolulu is the Chicago of the Pacific. With its crowded narrow streets we couldn't argue that. The tour buses sometimes have an upper deck and the endless shops provide a shopping haven. We, unfortunately, saw a host of homeless living under palm trees in the park on the drive from the airport. Paradise has its downsides; the cost of living is outrageous and I think some 'cousins' who used their last paycheck to fly from the mainland weren't prepared for the increase and couldn't support themselves. There was a man we overheard complaining he couldn't find a job that required his expertise in computers so he was living on the beach. With a low of 70 something and a high of 80 something practically year long if you have to be homeless this is the place, I guess.

GO Twins!

Keeping warm at the Twins game in Oakland, CA.

What happens when dh gets ahold of the camera...

This is in Oakland, CA. It is 30 some degrees out and about to rain. We are headed to the game when my dh decides to snap this photo. Very funny...not.

my 'kamali`i'