Sometimes Adventure is Spelled "T-O-R-T-U-R-E"

You know how sometimes we write up these remarkable adventure posts, and bombard this blog with images of incredible times we are having as a family?

I just want to be clear: it is not always rugged happiness when we do things together.  There are times it is downright miserable.

A few Saturdays ago, we went to watch Zachary's soccer game.  Soccer is awesome--it helps him learn to play with other kids on a team, make new friends, and get in plenty of physical activity.  I've mentioned that coaching has not been my forte, but only because I'm hauling an emotional 18-month-old around on my hip the entire, sweaty time.  Even though it's awesome, our Saturdays revolve around the game, and we have less time to go out and do all-day adventures.  That is okay and part of kids growing up!

This particular Saturday, Zachary was the flower-picker.  No, he was not actually picking flowers, but our typically aggressive little man suddenly became the kid who shrieked when another kid defended him, dribbled only long enough to scream, "LUKE, GET THE BALL!" (our all-star player), and generally loitered about 10 feet away from the pack.  He faked getting tripped over and over again, just so he could make an impressive crash landing/flip.  He made obnoxious noises and generally seemed to have no idea what was going on. 

Follow that up with a hike.  Zachary is a hiker--a seriously tough little boy who can go further than many adults.  This time, though, it was miserable getting him to go a mile.  Kate cried most of the way to the top, and so did he.  Brady and I laughed sarcastically about the ridiculous situation.  We made it to the top of Sleeping Giant, when he finally changed his tune and happily ran down the rest of the trail, trying to "beat Daddy."  Sadly, Mommy has no sense of direction, and I took us clear to the other side of the mountain's trail head.  A nice man told me where we were and let me use his cell phone, and about an hour later, Brady got my message and came to pick us up.

My point of this rambling?  Yeah, we are in paradise with lovely little experiences, but sometimes, the extra effort shoots you in the foot!

We did get some cute shots of the day, we did have lots of laughs later, and if you asked Zac how he liked this hike, he would tell you it was "GOOD!"

"Look at the camera and say cheese!" 

The kids loved paying in the red dirt.

That day I also made my first Coconut Cream pie for the ward luau.  So, we had a sweet end to the nutty day.

Someone needs to go wake that guy up from Green Day... September has ended.

 I completely ripped off a friend's Facebook post with this title.  That song is all I can think of at the end of September.

September this year was sunny, soccer, and sweat.  Like the rest of the nation, we are experiencing very little rainfall on our island, so it is hot most days. I've decided there are 5 levels of sweat on Kauai:  1)  4-5 mile run sweat, 2) 10 mile run sweat, 3) Cleaning house sweat, 4) Running around with kids sweat, and 5) Just sitting there sweat. 

For Labor Day, we gathered with work friends at Kalipaki.  This is Mary, my surf buddy, and our 9' long boards.  We have been surfing together once a week since Kate was born (minus a long stint with my back injury and a few weeks here and there that the cards didn't play in our favor).  We are finally improving and taking better waves, which is exciting.  Lower whatever expectation you have of my surfing abilities, but I will say that it is my favorite water activity and going out in the water is one of my favorite times of the week.  I will also say that I want to buy a shorter board, but I don't think Brady wants to hear that right now.

 The picnic involved some beach v-ball, but our timing was off and Brady had the kids while this was going on.  Sorry, Love.

 Saying our final good-byes to Shaun, Brady's former boss.  He moved back to the mainland with his family.

 Heidi and Tate:

 Brady out in the water, playing with all the kids:

 Some of my favorite beach shots of Kate:

 Kate and her first ice cream cone:

 Kate sleeps just like her mommy.  This picture makes me ache inside, because she is filling up the crib and that doesn't seem possible.

 Soccer is in full swing.  Zachary has regressed a bit with his aggression on the field, but that's probably just part of learning the game.  Kate still tags along to practices with me, and this is the face we often see (especially when she's just been nailed by a ball, which happens almost every time I'm coaching):

 Love this shot:

 Poor baby:

 We decided to take 18-month photos, but it didn't work out very well.  Kate doesn't like to sit still anymore.

 I do love the bubble shots.  I also love that Kate is Zachary's little shadow.

 I've taught this girl the real function of flowers:

 This is my favorite shot.  She looks pretty grown up, huh?

 These crocs are about a size too big for her, but she loves them so much more than her 5 other pairs of shoes and pretty much refuses to wear anything else.

 Zachary is getting so tall, and I keep stepping back surprised to realize the strides he is making.  His speaking is so improved and he is so much easier to understand.  His grammar has improved drastically, too, since he started school.  He talks non-stop (which is a definite change), and uses a lot of logic in his conversations.  I love listening to him talk to his friends.  He is a whiz at puzzles and mazes, and he can write his letters and numbers pretty well, too.

 Soccer game. 

The best part about this field is the downward slope. You can kick (even tap) the ball from mid-field and it will roll right into the goal.

 Zac loves to set up small toys and make battle scenes.  I remember my brothers doing this all day long.

 We just had our primary program last Sunday and it went well.  You know how there is always a kid in primary that knows all the songs and sings them loud (and off-key)?  Well, that was my child this year.  I was so proud of him.  He was one of only 3 Sunbeams who wanted to get up and do his part at the microphone. I was sitting next to the mike helping kids get up and down, and also assisting with parts if they needed it.   Zachary got up, and then said to me (in the microphone, of course), "No, no, no, Mom, I don't need help.  I can do this myself."  I don't know why he thought I was going to help him, but it was funny anyway.

On the program day, my friend gave me the prettiest lei I've ever seen.

 If soccer doesn't work out for our kids, there is always color guard.

 We made a new home for a tomato plant for family night and one week later, it is still alive.  We are excited to see if anything comes of it.  Maybe one day I will have a (tiny) garden.