Thanksgiving! It started like most have for us -- the Turkey Bowl. I love that this tradition includes boys and girls, Dads and Moms. Our annual location for the last decade is Kalawai Park in Kalaheo. We split up the olders from the youngers and the games began. The older group included those 12 yrs and up. The competition was fun and the best part was no injuries this year--aside from sore muscles and injuries to pride.
Zac and Caleb sporting smiles.
The youngers had a blast. It started with football and then these girls put a clinic on for soccer. Ava (visiting Kauai for Thanksgiving), Penelope, Kate, Ruby, Shay.
Owen loves being with his pals!
Jack Hadley demonstrates sportsmanship as O was ransacked to the ground.
All good.
With the morning festivities complete, let the cooking begin. This year was hosted by the Stebbins family. Edwards were assigned potatoes, rolls, and Jello salad.
Thanksgiving cooking always gets a little hectic.
This image just about has Zac doing back flips!
Our Thanksgiving crew included Clarks and Stebbins.
All smiles--a favorite holiday for our family.
It was fun having Thanksgiving in the Stebbins new home--which included participation from all three families. Their home is beautiful and Mahjinka was a masterful decorator.
Brady took on the potatoes and they were delectable. (What you don't see is the butter and cream cheese--but no one counts calories on Thanksgiving Day, right?)
A sampling of the colorful variety of flavors...
With bellies still full we made it back for pie (aka lots of pies). There is always room for dessert--that secret little dessert chamber in our bellies, of course. Mahjinka hit a home run with this triple berry delight and apple pie.
Thanksgiving weekend kept giving with a visit from the Vandenakkers. It has been over two years since they left the neighborhood and they visited their old home as an Air BnB.
The two O's are expert lizard catchers. They may need to start a business together.
Kate and Ava used their artistic expertise to help Karen and the PTA paint some Christmas decor for the school cafeteria.
Kate and Ava were besties for so long. It was so fun to reconnect and pick up where they left off.
This cracks me up...Zac decided he is faster without shoes. This means running in socks.
There were several friends running the race.
Shoeless Z keeping stride with olders.
Kate was so happy and so was Mom/Dad. She's got a running future if she wants it.
November 18 provided us with a once in lifetime opportunity. It was the longest partial lunar eclipse since February 1440. While Brady viewed from Princeville on the North Shore (because of work), Zac and Karen got serious and brought out Zac's scope for a better view. Who knew that you could use a phone camera to snap a picture through the telescope? Zac did and the pictures were captivating.
Vicky has always been a Zac supporter. She's great at keeping the group connected.
Kate and Ava used their artistic expertise to help Karen and the PTA paint some Christmas decor for the school cafeteria.
Karen, Zac, and Jennie V. paddled out for a session at Pikala's Beach.
Thanksgiving was also a time for running races--Run Club Kauai Middle School Race Series. Zac was stoked about racing and he was taking it seriously. The race below was at Island School and the course was just under 2 miles.
This cracks me up...Zac decided he is faster without shoes. This means running in socks.
Zac cruising at the home stretch crossing 2nd place at the line!
The Island School running gang.
The running series continued with another event around the Kauai Community College. Kate had attended multiple races and was itching to compete. After some asking around the race series organizers welcomed Kate to run in the final competition even though she was only a 5th grader.
There were several friends running the race.
Kate and the girl dream team.
Zac and Kate on the far right--ready to peel rubber at the start line.
We were so impressed with Kate's performance. We hadn't seen her compete at this level before. Here she is keeping up with the middle and high schoolers.
Kate shocked everyone when she took first place of all the girls!
Kate was so happy and so was Mom/Dad. She's got a running future if she wants it.
Owen is also really fast...including eating ice cream.
While Zac and Kate were running races, Owen was busy running bases. The Koloa Hurricanes T-Ball team was a force to be reckoned. Owen's first season was epic. Fun teammates, hitting and catching balls, delicious snacks that Owen often looked forward to more than playing:) Some of my favorite moments were:
1. Getting the cup inserted in the baseball pants(thumbs down)
2. Owen hitting the ball and watching how far it went instead of running.
3. Making new pals with members of his team.
"Let's Go Owen, Let's Go, Hit the Ball!!"
T-Ball sunset game with O on 3rd. My favorite is when the kids leave the baseline entirely to avoid getting tagged. This season I saw a kid run almost to the outfield to avoid the tag:)
Kate and Karen were valiant supporters. Kate is a gatherer and T-Ball was no exception. She often would get spectator kids together for a little sports game during the T-Ball match.
Since beginning Island School in 7th grade Zac has missed these three friends since elementary school. Fortunately David had a birthday in November. Jojo, Kaimana, and Zac join David to celebrate at Bubbas Burgers. Note the fries on burger in front of Zac--classic.
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