Halloween 2012: Batman 'n Robin plus a Blond Snow White

 This year, Zachary willingly put on his Halloween costume.  In years past, it took bribing and the threat of no candy to get him into the costume that he picked out.  This year, he wore it a dozen times before Halloween--trying it on for Facetime with Grandma and Grandpa, posing for his friends, and happy to take pictures.

 "Do you want one of my face?"

 I was in charge of the Ward Halloween Party this year.  I have so much help every year, but no matter how we swing it, it's still a ton of work.  I hardly have any pictures, but the chili cook-off, spooky desserts, costume parade, games, haunted rooms, and trunk-or-treat were all successful.  It helped that we had just over 200 people this year rather than 300+. 

 Zachary in the costume parade:

 His buddy, Garrett:

 A couple of our primary kids:

 Right as we finished up the trunk-or-treat, we got word of another tsunami warning.  Brady headed home with the kids while I finished cleaning up the building, and then we watched the TV for an hour before deciding we had to evacuate (or it could be the police on intercoms demanding that everyone on our street leave).  The Summerhays took us in for the second time in a row and we had a comfy night sleep at their house.  The tsunami was tiny and inconsequential, which is exactly what we hoped for.

We carved our pumpkin too early again this year.  It rotted out days before Halloween, even though we kept it in a cooler of ice!

 Zac really wanted our pumpkin carved just like the one in his Bernstein Bears book.  We were happy with his choice because it took 15 minutes. 

 He is brave enough to wear his costume, but still had nothing to do with the pumpkin innards.

 The next series of pictures sends tingles down my spine (although I am aware that there are far too many pictures of us posing by our simple pumpkin).  It is a perfect Sunday night on the green belt, with my kids laughing, the sun setting, ideal temperature, waves in the background, calm and love and just HAPPY.

 Zac jumped over the pumpkin at least 100 times.

 Kate snuggled with me on the grass.

 Zachary thought Brady was so cool with his pumpkin head.

 As if the trunk or treat were not enough (I don't really understand why we have a trunk-or-treat and trick-or-treating, but I am leaving that alone...), we went around our neighborhood a few days later.  Here's our front yard:

 We lost Kate's fake apple at the church.  She ate most of her real apple before we even got out the door.

 I think Brady is the best sport.  Zac was so happy to have Robin tagging along with him.

 Our neighborhood is full of retirees and vacation homes.  The retirees gave full candy bars, which is generous, but meant more candy we sent to the "garbage disposal" at Brady's work.  Someday I won't be able to get away with it but the kids had no idea once again this year.  (Because, let's be honest:  Zac was never going to eat that full candy bar--I would be the one eating it!)  We also spent the evening at Kapili St., which is the happening street of Koloa.  It was packed full of adults and kids dressed up and around to party.  Zachary and Kate loved it.

We read the "The Skeleton in the Closet" book by Alice Schertie one last time that night.  Zachary can quote every page and asked for it every day in October.  He is suddenly a little more nervous about darkness and when he's out of clean clothes, asks if maybe the skeleton came and took them.

I really do love Halloween.

Cory and Kristen, Part 2

Cory and Kristen headed out for a getaway on the north shore on Monday and Tuesday.  I was a chicken and wouldn't take their kids to the water, but could not believe how easily satisfied they were with playing on the front porch swing, jumping on the tramp, and playing in a mini-pool.  Rachel entertained Kate all day long, Walker was a perfect little sleeper, and the kids all got along.  They may remember this as the boring part of their trip...

Wednesday, Brady took a 1/2 day and we went on a little hike to Ha'ula Beach (commonly referred to as "Horseshoe Beach").  We carefully paved a way along a route that--I have now confirmed--does not involve any sort of trespassing.  We had the beach to ourselves all afternoon, and it was perfectly sunny and hot.

We showed the kids the dragon that lives in this blowhole.  They were a little too old to be impressed.

   They played teeter-totter on this make-shift playground:

Ellie hammed it up:

Love their beach family shot:

Cory gave me extra long legs

We raced, and Kristen beat me as always--even with her bum knee.

We believe Cory and Kristen when they say Rach is fast!

I love these pictures of Kate and Brady so much!

  The kids remembered Brady's sandman from a few Christmases ago, so he tried to re-create it. 

 It's not Christmas, though, so instead they made a Halloween Sand Pumpkin:

My favorite picture of the entire visit:

I love seeing cousins playing together at my house.

I also love that neglected toys become incredibly popular when there is demand.

Kate is riding snot-gun (Sorry, Walker, for giving you that cold!):

Kate found an effective way to get clean after dinner.

Thursday afternoon, we went boogie boarding at Waiohai.  Usually there are a few more waves at this beach, but Cory was gracious enough to push all the kids into the waves over and over again.  Zac was delighted to get a chance to "teach them" how.  (Look hard and you can see Kate bobbing around in her little green floatie.)

Oh, we love Walker-man.

At about the halfway point of this trip, Rachel and Zachary buddied up.  She was a gem to him--asked him questions, involved him, let him teach her, etc.  He loves her!!

 Friday morning, Kristen booked us up to go see the Hindu Monastery.  I did not hear much from the tour, but it was interesting and the grounds were beautiful.  I'd love to go back sometime when I am not accompanied by my children. All I heard during this presentation was a fight over plastic geckos (Kate and Zac--not C/K's kids).  I've actually seen this man out and about at Costco since then.

I had a hard time looking at this view and not feeling a twitch of jealousy.  The government gifted them 300 acres...I can't manage to get a .24 acre lot...  Yes, this sentiment is uncalled for and I do certainly appreciate the cultural diversity here, as well as the peaceful life the monks are living just a short drive away.  They are clearly sincere in their beliefs. 

This is the temple they are working to complete.  It will be a few more years until completion, at which time the monastery will likely be closed to the public.

Rubbing the ball for good luck:

On the way out, we witnessed some of their rituals and chants.  I want to go back and watch more. 

Friday night was our big hoorah: Polihale!  You all know my deep-rooted love for Polihale, but just as Kristen was nervous she would not like it much, I was concerned they would not appreciate it either.  It was not too many years ago that we dragged our friends out to camp here, and their initial response was, "So, Karen, what is it that you like so much about this beach?"  Well, Cory and Kristen now claim to like it, so hopefully that is true and we did not waste their time.

The weather was perfect, and the night's conditions idyllic.  We set up camp in record time (seriously, it was easier to camp with Cory and Kristen's family than it ever is without them!), played with the kids in the water and sand, and watched the boys boogie board the shore-breakers.  I felt some guilt as Kristen and I boogie boarded swam through the sunset while the boys watched the kids and got dinner going, but oh, it was so free and gorgeous.

We ate the best tinfoil dinners I've ever had and roasted marshmallows.  Zac asked, "Dad, can I just have ketchup and marshmellos for dinner tonight?"  The kids went to sleep easily.  We watched the moon disappear and the stars blaze, strolled along the beach, and soaked up everything I love about this place.

The boys also played with their cameras.

It is a good thing we loved the night, because about an hour after we went to bed, Kate started throwing up.  (Side note:  I can't believe we have made it 4.75 years of parenting without the stomach flu!!!)  She kept at it for a couple hours, and we realized the best way to handle it would be at home.  She threw up the entire way home, and the rest of the night.  Brady and I were stressed out of our minds over Cory and Kristen's family catching it, but it sounds like they all escaped (I did not...).

Overall, the stomach flu was not nearly as disastrous and awful as I thought it would be.  4.75 years of dread built it to a level of catastrophe, and really, it was not fun but also not the hardest thing to handle.

We didn't want Cory and Kristen to be responsible for Zachary that night, so we dragged him home with us.  The entire way back, he would wake up, cry a little that he was not camping with his cousins, and then go back to sleep.  We assured him that he would get to go back in the morning.  He came in several times to wake us up and ask if it was time to go see his cousins yet.  This is one of my favorite memories of the trip.  I love how much he loves his cousins, and how sweet and attentive they were to him.

We kicked around that night at the house, cleaned the cars and gear, and settled in to watch another close defeat for the Cougars.

Sunday, we said goodbye.  We are so happy for the memories--filling every minute with activity, playing with cousins, eating a lot of food, putting my kids to bed and coming back to a perfectly clean kitchen, runs, night conversations, picture-taking, and realizing how lucky it is to not just love, but like your family!