Spring Break 2022 = Cousins + Cory

Owenʻs basketball games were crammed into five quick weeks of double-headers.  Every Saturday, he work up thrilled to play, except for the Saturday after he lost his jersey and had to wear my supporter tee until it was recovered.  Those were some bitter tears but he pulled it together.  Owen made points every week and felt like an integral part of the huge Koloa team.  He ran up and down the court mostly as a support to the other kids, jumping up and down for baskets and playing arms-straight-up defense.

Dessert night at Clarks.

Wacky Wednesday at school: Owen wanted a mohawk and Kateʻs concoction speaks for itself.

Love how elegant she looks when I drop her to ballet.  My very favorite, though, is how she plays me in rowdy games of basketball dressed like this afterwards.

When you put peanut butter on your lips and kiss you dog.

One of my students made me a Math Queen.

Last games.  My #13 almost always kept his mask on: "Itʻs comfortable."

Baller.

In the air on a shot:

In the air on defense:

Seasonʻs over party at Poipu Beach:

Every night for scriptures, Zac finds a way to entertain himself with Roxy.

Owen and I made a lephrachan trap for school.  He put glue in the cup at the end to trap "Clover" and absolutely expected to catch him.

Another Monday, more new dogs.

Licking the sand out of Owenʻs ears.

FIRST SOCCER GAME EVER for this kid!  He was lucky to have the first game he could play coincide with Spring Break so that he could play the full game (he has a big team and they do not all get much playing time from what I understand).  He played aggressively and we loved the encouragement from other parents and Coach Meagan.

Post-game Panda.  Zac has the face of a kid who WISHES there was a sub on his team so he could have a breather sometime during the often 2-hour game.

I will tell you how none of us wanted to spend the afternoon after soccer: doing three hours of yard work!  We worked and worked until the yard was trimmed down and we were grumpy about missing beach time (that might have been just me that was grumpy).  

Later that night, we went to Zacʻs basketball game where he scored the first 6 points of the game.  The kids played at the Clarks while we cheered him on.

Zac is gaining inches.

...and doesnʻt always know his own strength.  Ha!

Ringing in Spring Break with a Stebbedlarks evening at Mahaulepu. Perfect lighting, perfect temps, and no crowds.  

Nic put Roxy out in the middle of very shallow water on this little hill and waited to see if she would come down.  Finally, with encouragement, she ran through the water.  That was all it took and she ran and played in the shallow water the rest of the night.  First time we have seen her love water!

Treats at our house.

Rox was excited about getting a bath and Spring Break with Zac.

Tuckered out.  Ritchie cousins arrived that night but too late to hang out.

Celebrating the start of Spring Break!

The next morning, we met up with the Ritchies and spent hours boogie boarding.  Iʻm especially proud of Owen, who has suddenly decided boogie boarding here is the greatest.  A couple weeks ago, I made him a deal that he would get a new board if he boogie boards 25 times.  To date, heʻs been 7 times already.

Catching a ride with Logan and McKay.

So sweet and attentive toward Owen!

We couldn't convince him to slather on more sunscreen and it showed, but not until later!

Koloa Landing Pool!  We almost never go here unless people are in town, so itʻs extra special.  I think people assume we have access because Brady built it, but we do not.

Poolside pork.

McKay took Owen down the waterslide probably 30 times.

We went to dinner that night at the only place on the island we could get a big group in: Pacos Tacos.  Afterward, we came over for apple pie and ice cream because now that I teach math, I celebrate Pi Day.  Zachary slept over with cousins in the condo and got up in time to play card games and then head out on a temple trip to Oahu.

I teased Denise that she was consumed by Zacʻs hair.  Itʻs a constant battle.

Zac missed out on night 2 with the Ritchies but not on time with Uncle Cory!  Cory switched jobs and has a month off to detox.  So happy to have him with us!!!  He was the dream uncle, playing countless games with the kids, chatting it up and asking them questions, and decking them out in BYU Blue.

Wednesday: Hanalei!  I had several friends lined up to join us this day, too, but it ended up being a bigger crowd from Heber than Kalaheo/Koloa!  Seriously, Ang and Paul know everyone.

Cory watched Owen while I went surfing with Nic.  It was my first surf in weeks.  Whew.

Jumping off the pier.  As Ang said, "Look at me!  Iʻm having fun!"  

Pier buddies Heidi and Shay:

Cousins jumping train aftermath.

Cajoling Garrett into the water.

We showered at Bradyʻs new condo and dropped off Cory to stay the next 24 hours with Brady in Princeville.  We arranged to stop by the best shave ice on the island with the Ritchies: Wailua Shave Ice.  Nothing like shave ice for dinner!

The leprechauns visited on Thursday morning, but none were caught in Kateʻs trap!  

Zac got up super early to go on a boat tour with Ritchies which means I was awake until 3am worrying we would sleep through alarms.  But, we woke up on time and the kids and I spent the morning at Brenneckes.

Love the unabashed joy of these pictures.

Owen said one reason he was excited for Spring Break was to have time for "my art."

Afternoon at Koloa Landing--"Is my sunscreen blended in?"

McKay was a superhero cousin again.

Owen...this is not your finest moment, little man.

Brady and I spent the entire evening packing for the backpacking trip. By 11:30pm, we finally had it all ready with alarms set for early.  It was another impossible night sleeping and we were excited to just get up and GO!  

See backpacking post...

Brady and Cory twinning during our virtual stake conference.  Ritchies came over and spent the rest of the day and evening with us.  We had some vulnerable conversations that filled me with more affection for them and the kids played non-stop Bocce Ball and Settlers.

The Cousins Log.

We all had school the next morning.  Owen cried all the way to school and I thought I would have to pry him off me like the first days of Kindergarten.  He was persuaded to walk through the doors with dignity.  On the way home, he sobbed again, asking, "When is it Spring Break again?"

Zac and Cory took advantage of his last day of break while I worked, eating Cheddar Burgers with bacon and Lapperts ice cream.

So, so lucky to have family here during our break!  Thanks to everyone who visited and filled our home with love.