Post-Alaska: Scott and Maycee Visit, My "New Mom Life" Starts

After such an awesome trip, it is hard to come back to reality.  We didn't have to come all the way back to reality, though, because Scott and Maycee came to visit a few days later.  They caught a few sunsets, got really sunburnt, camped with us at Polihale, boogie boarded, snorkeled, played with our kiddos, and relaxed before heading back to school.

Polihale camping and boogie boarding:

 Their trip corresponded with the Saturday of Brady's company party.  They joined us for tubing, Scotties BBQ, and Paddle Boarding all afternoon.

 They both did well paddle boarding.  I wish they had tried this on the ocean because it is so much more fun, but on the river is good, too!

 I had my first ever go at wake boarding.  Now, I just wish someone would buy a boat out here!  I loved it, although I don't think I fared so well!!

 Another sunset at The Point (behind our house):

Thanks for getting a little family shot for us, too!

My favorite shot of Zac and Kate from the last little bit:

Throwing rocks and watching big waves crash.  I think it is cute that Kate has to mimic me and do exactly what I am doing.  Here she is, hands in her lap and sitting next to me on a rock.

While on vacation, my "new mom life" started.  Zac is now in school 5 days a week and has soccer 3 days a week.  I finally get it why moms with kids in school say they are busy.  It is busier, even though I am without my sweet boy for several hours a day.  All the back and forth (the school is 20 min away), organization and schedule change add to a much more hectic afternoon.  (And why-oh-why is it so hard to get to soccer practice on time???) 

We still get our pool time, though.  Here is Z after sun-screening himself:

Cannon ball!

Zac and his favorite gal pal, Olivia.  (Side note: we just found out they are moving to the mainland in a month.  Zac is going to be so sad to lose yet another one of his best buddies!)

Here is Zachary at his first soccer game.  Much to our chagrin, his team is named the "Dragonflies."  The last ref kept calling us the "Green Dragons," and Brady and I are on a personal mission to make the team name a little tougher and keep the Green Dragons around!

No surprise here:  Zac is a tough little player and very involved in every play on the field.  His first game, he scored 2 goals.  Last Saturday, he took the ball the entire way down the field and scored twice.  Not bad, kiddo!  He is also one of the youngest players.  He is playing in the U6 league.  I coach his team one practice a week (which is nuts because Kate is on my hip the entire time...)

He still has plenty to work on, but soccer is FUN!  We plan to keep this sport around in our family. 

Kate has to join in on the soccer craze around here, so we got her a tiny, size 1 soccer ball.  She dribbles this thing around everywhere.

It is more accurate to say she carries it around everywhere.

Like her little whale spout?  I know, there are only about 5 hairs coming out of that ponytail holder!

She and I are little pals all day long now, although the transition from 2 naps to 1 hasn't been easy!  She still charms the whole neighborhood on our morning walks with her cheesy grin, squeaky "hi", and wave.  She misses her brother at school and it is so cute to see them play together in the afternoon.

Peer Pressure and Hanakapai Falls

At the end of July, we decided to join our friends hiking to Hanakapai Falls.  It is 4 miles in, but we knew we'd only make it 2 miles to the beach and turn around.  Hanakapai has a lot of rock hopping, mud, and distance to cover with a 4 year old--even if he is a super tough 4-year-old.

 We went with the Chaddertons and Rustin and Monika, some friends from church.  Zachary had to lead most of the first 2 miles, and every time he caught a whiff of "someone on his tail," he booked it ahead.

This is a very typical Zachary face, and one I will sincerely miss when he grows out of it.

 We commented at this point that it was the first time we've been to the north shore in months where we had such clear views and blue skies.

 Rustin and Monika are on the right.  We hope they will come visit Kauai again.  They were only here a few months, but we adored them.  Curtis is on the left and we hope the Chaddertons will also stay forever.

 Drake, Paislee and Courtney:

 Kate does not love being confined in the backpack, so she was living it up at Hanakapai Beach.

 ...but the binkey does make the backpack a little more tolerable.

 Well, when Zachary saw his friends going further on the trail, there was no question that he had to go all the way, too.  We were pretty nervous about this decision because it is a solid hike for adults, much less a little kid.  We felt like Zac had proven himself a few months before with his 6.5-miler, so we thought it was as good as a time as any to test an 8-miler.

 We were really steady heading into the falls, and he was a super trooper!  We swam in the freezing water (well, a few of us did) and hiked back through rain and a whole lot of mud.  At the 6 mile mark, our little muddy man was fading fast.  We stopped for a break, let everyone get ahead and got him snacks and water. 

 In the end, it was Kate who had the hardest time with the hike.  In her defense, it did take us 8 hours to hike 8 miles.  Whew.  That is a long time to be confined!  Poor little gal.  Looking back, we probably made a poor decision to go in so far, but that is peer pressure for you!!!

 And it hasn't hurt our pride any that our kiddo can hike 8 MILES!!!

 

Yes, he is holding up 7 fingers.