Unexpected milestones

One of many pretty blooms at Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden.

Today was a momentous day of "firsts" that I am very proud to report to all of you.

It all began yesterday afternoon when Benji, Tag and I were laying in bed together. We happened to be talking about Benjamin's binky. Most of you know that he has been a staunch supporter of frequent pacifier use since the age of 3 weeks. Over the past year we've really cut down on his addiction, limiting binky use to sleeping times and moments of extreme distress (over-tired, bored-in-car, losing side of sibling rivalry, bad boo-boo, etc.). You can imagine that extreme distress can happen quite often if you let it.

Anyway, yesterday I casually introduced the idea that some day Benji could leave out his pacifiers at night and they would be picked up by a fairy who would deliver them to a new baby, and she would leave some special present behind in exchange for the binky bounty (this method of bribery and deception was lovingly stolen from other parents we know).  I never thought he'd bite on this, but he asked many follow-up questions to learn more. As Tag and I elaborated on the scenario we added some colorful details. It was not just any fairy... it would be Tinkerbell. And, yes, he could request a fire truck and a squirt gun as part of the loot. He was so excited that he immediately grabbed his Benjamin rainbow license plate from Hawaii and put it by the window so Tink could find our house. We're pretty sure Benj has a thing for Tinkerbell, by the way.

We waited until night time to see if he'd really go for this scheme. By 8:00 pm we were convinced that Benji meant business, and I quickly left the house for some special errands. Let me just say this... Long's was like a fairy jackpot and this morning was like a mini Christmas. Benji woke up before 6:00 and asked right away if Tinkerbell came. All of his binkies had vanished, but in their place he scored a water-shooting porpoise and seal, some lego sets with pieces that make what we're calling a fire truck, a Japanese snack called yan yan, and a Wall-E coloring book-- all packaged in a glittery Tinkerbell bag that was the coup de grace from the drug store.  The binky-free transition today has been a breeze. What have we learned? Deception is not always a bad thing, especially when parenting an addicted toddler with a fairy crush.

With all of this going on I know you are shocked to hear that today included another unexpected milestone. We went on a day trip to visit the 400+ acre Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, thinking that we'd take the walking tour to look at some tropical plants and visit their lake. The real goal was to scope the place for turtle habitat, because some of Tag's contacts suggested this location as a trapping site. It turns out that the walking tour was not a good fit for little children, but we learned of a substitute activity that would be an even better fit for our needs.  The Botanical Garden lets you do catch-and-release fishing at the lake, and supplies kids with bamboo rods and some bait (otherwise known as cheerios).  And, well... you guessed it... Benji caught his first fish (actually, his first three fish)! Tag also got permission to place traps around the edges of the lake, so the whole family scored some wins.

Benji's first fishing outing. There were about 25 fish bopping around within view, which helped minimize the waiting game.

Success!

The beast that fell for a cheerio on a hook.

We managed the bag of bait. I had to keep Alice from helping herself to stale cheerios. 

     

Soul searching

Note: This news is about a half a day old, because Google's Blogger system was down for repairs last night. I wrote the post and then had no way to share it, which made me sad for all five of my regular readers who use this blog as a lifeline to the aloha spirit. In all seriousness, I'm very excited because my blog statistics inform me that I've actually had almost 1,000 pageviews. That makes me feel loved, and very interesting. So without further delay... onto my latest post:

Our whole house shuts down between 1:00 and 3:00 pm for napping and quiet time. There is really no way to avoid the restfulness because there is usually a sleeping person in every room (two bedrooms, plus a living room attached to the kitchen). I will really miss this post-lunch routine when we’re all back in the real world. On days when both kids fall asleep and stay that way, it is a great time to read, write and/or follow major league baseball games (if you’re so inclined).  It would also be a great time to do some soul searching, but let’s be honest… introspection takes way more energy than reading and I can’t say I’ve worked up to it yet. This post finds a whole other kinda soul… but more on that later.

After the family siesta we decided to head out to the walking path along the marsh that borders Kailua to scope out some turtle trapping sites. Tag has been spending his time here so far working on some writing, making a presentation at Hawaii Pacific University, catching up with grad students back in Chico, and meeting with local experts on Oahu. It was time to get outside and start envisioning where to initiate the field work. We imagined all kinds of turtle hiding spots while walking along, and determined that Tag will need to borrow Gregg’s kayak to set and revisit the traps each day. Gregg owns our house and has lots of good outdoor gear, too. We like this.

The adventure did not end with the marsh, because our next stop was the Thursday night Kailua Farmers’ Market. Bingo. There was so much culinary awesomeness in one location my Mazzei Food Radar (MFR) went into hyper-drive.  I quickly noted our coordinates, mentally calculated the remaining number of Thursdays in our trip, and gave myself a sense of bliss and serenity by knowing that I will have a chance to try all of the offerings over time as long as we come to the market each week. Due to the reliability of the MFR (tested and refined over generations), I promise you that we will. 

My first stop was the farm stand that had a line snaking through the stall to get to the two registers. No kidding. I love a produce destination that draws a crowd, and not one to be dissuaded by the hubbub I grabbed a basket and joined the queue. Twenty-five dollars later I had scored cucumbers, red peppers, tomatoes, corn, papayas, Thai basil, Chinese parsley (cilantro), spinach, romaine, kale and zucchini.  This is a total bargain in Hawaii, and that was just the beginning.

Our next priority was dinner. We whetted our appetites with sushi sliders—ahi tuna served on top of eggplant and kale tempura. For the main course Tag opted for the surprisingly authentic burrito stand (of course). After walking by all of the vendors a couple of times, I just had to go for the Soul food. Crazy choice in Hawaii, I know, but the panko-crusted fried chicken had my name on it. Add the cornbread, black-eyed peas and cilantro-laced coleslaw and I was sold. Full-on yumminess. I made Tag promise he will eat there next week, because I need someone else to share in the taste bud joy. Meanwhile, I’ll be hitting the Raw Food bar for some funky, soul-less vegan creation that is the yin to the yang of the dinner I ate this week.    

Playing is so exhausting. 

This is where Alice wanted to finish her nap. Now that you've seen the couch, you've also seen about 40% of our living room. Cozy living in Kailua!

Scoping out the marsh for trapping sights. We want us some ugly turtles! 

Another rock caught mid-flight.
This means one of two things: I am an adept photographer, OR my kids throw a lot of rocks. Hmm. 

Daddy's girl hitching a ride.

Sushi sliders at the farmers' market. Alice asks with irritation, "Why the wait?"

Tropical flowers. Love the colors!

I am dainty while eating loaded nachos. See? 

One final note: There is no reason for me to ever know if 1,000 pageviews is really pathetic, because I know nothing about blog stats and it is better that way. 
  

Hits and Misses

HIT: Our trip to the Honolulu Zoo yesterday. There were not any crowds and the weather was perfect for visiting-- overcast without any rain, so we never got hot while walking around.  We bought a family membership so we can go back regularly. It's only 20 minutes away and in addition to the animals, the playground there is lovely. We had the pleasure of witnessing the gibbons making their calls while doing some crazy acrobatics. The sounds were out of this world-- rich, deep tones and beats that echoed like music across the park. All four of us were mesmerized, while the rest of the visitors migrated in our direction to see what could possibly be making those wild noises.

MISS: Backing into the palm tree in our driveway and breaking Missy Kia's tail light. Flush. That was the sound of $100 dollars going down the toilet known as the "random and inexplicably expensive auto parts" supplier on the internet.

HIT: Joining the local YMCA to get fit and sing like the Village People on a regular basis. We signed up so the kids could resume swimming lessons and I can take advantage of workouts with free day care. Benji and Alice are totally jazzed about their play room and the prospect of playmates, and I'm excited to try some new exercise options. I showed up for my first yoga class a couple of days ago, and after laying out my mat discovered it was "power yoga"... for 90 minutes. Yikes. Needless to say, I am sore in the oddest places right now. I followed that up with my first Zumba class this morning. I was shaking it on Mama's Day, let me tell you.

MISS: Keiki Hula. Our other adventure at the family gym was not so positive. We tried to bring the kids to "Keiki Hula," which we pictured to be a toddler-filled room full of cute music, hip and arm motions, and parental amusement. Not so. When the teacher arrived she brusquely ordered Benjamin "off the floor! off the floor!" because he was not five years old and not a girl. We knew he was younger than the rest and not wearing the same hula practice skirt, but naively thought this would not be an issue. Tag took to calling the teacher "Aunty on a Mission," because we soon observed that she is a one woman hula commando striving to save the vanishing island arts with a handful of young girls in the Kailua YMCA.

HIT: Mother's Day dinner at Zippy's, a small chain of Hawaiian diners. This place has always intrigued us because it was listed on the "Z" page of Benjamin's Hawaiian alphabet book that we bought on his first trip to Kauai at 9 months. Tag ate their signature loco moco dish with chili, in addition to the standard rice, burger patty and fried eggs. We took a picture, but I'll spare you because frankly it was not a photogenic meal. Alice and Benji were thrilled with the packs of crayons and draw-on placemat, chocolate milk with straws, noodles for dinner, and the jello/pudding desserts that came with the meal. What is not to like about that nutritious and delicious experience?  

Can we join you? Our parents are driving us crazy with their rules. 

Turtle: Hi, my name is Rusty.
Benjamin: I'm Benji, and this is baby Alice.
Turtle: I like being quiet, calm and peaceful.
Benjamin: We don't.

Imitating the monkeys.

Good place to play! I love the benches in the shade of the tropical trees.

Showing some love in our yard.

Another day, another palm frond. And... our cottage in the background. 

Living the life at Zippy's.

PS-- Childrens' wardrobe kindly provided by Alex Marshall Studios.

The haps from Hulaland

The crater where Maui came from. 

A shop in Paia, Maui. We bought two shirts.  

So much has happened since my last post it is hard to know where to start. Thus, I'll begin at the top of Maui and work my way down, then hop across the ocean to a new island, take a quick stop through another ER, and then land us safely in our new home on Oahu. Buckle up.

For starters, our last string of days on Maui were pure fun. We spent time at the beach, swapped babysitting with the Kahns so Tag and I could have a night out, celebrated Davis' fourth birthday, and spent a whole day exploring the volcano that birthed east Maui. The national park reaches above 10,000 feet in elevation, and offers sweeping views of all sides of the island. To say it is spectacular is a major understatement.

Benjamin and Davis became "citizen scientists" by visiting some ranger stations and doing specific activities, scoring very important looking badges to wear on their shirts. Always imaginative, Benji let this achievement go to his head just a little bit. He walked around the lookout station covering the button, telling me and Tag that he didn't want to scare the other visitors... "they might think I am going to call in the police and firemen." Because somehow he now has a direct line.

Does this pic look cloudy to you? It should! We were driving through the cloud layer and stopped so the kids could reach out and touch the sky for a while. 

Junior scientists learning about the climate. 

For my botanist fans (read: Nicole): a rare silversword at the top of the volcano

Must test wind speed to get badge. Check. 

Ready for hiking the peak of Haleakala. 

My recollection of Alice's endless commentary while hiking this whole trail "by self."  It went like this: Big rock, Daddy. Don't trip, Daddy. Climbing by self. (deep breath) Big rock, Daddy. Ooooh (looking at view). Don't trip, Daddy. 

Shaka!

Two blogging mamas, hanging out in heaven.

Family photo.

No wonder it was hard to breath.

Don't mess with the Badge. 

It was tough to leave Maui for many reasons. We had such a lovely time hanging out with Karin, Peter, Davis and Carter. The island is a delight and we didn't even get a chance to see the west side of it, so there are plenty of reasons to find our way back in the future. Plus, it was nearly impossible to once again make all of our belongings fit within three suitcases and five carry-ons, and to actually move around with that load plus our two car seats and a stroller. Yikes. I wore pants, two tee shirts and my fleece to the airport to save space, and that's just not right.

Our airport trip was also made more challenging by sweet baby Alice, who managed to twist her arm an hour before we drove to the terminal. She was crying a lot, and unwilling to move her arm from a single position. This was caused by one of her "going limp while holding a parent's hand" incidents. These incidents usually occur when Alice does not agree with said parent, and decides to demonstrate her feelings by flopping her whole body on the floor. Quite effective, unless you blow out your own arm. We decided to give her tylenol and soldier on through the 30-minute flight.

Upon our arrival at our new place on Oahu, we split parenting duties. I took Benji for pizza at the place around the corner from our house, and Tag took Alice to the local ER because she continued to fuss and point at her elbow. It turns out Alice had dislocated her radius (a problem called nursemaid's elbow). The doctor fixed it with a big tug and a twist, and Alice immediately returned to her happy self. Meanwhile, Benj and I added Bob's Pizzeria to our "things that are yummy" list.

Today was all about settling in. We live in a small, skinny house that makes us feel like we're on a train (each room is adjacent to the next, and connected by unique passageways). One whole side of the house is sliding glass doors, opening to our private yard. We share the larger property with the owners, who have two little girls and many pets including a rabbit in the yard. They are already turning out to be great neighbors (the people, and their bunny, too).

After going to the post office, the Salvation Army thrift store, Walmart, and Costco, we were wiped out. It was a long day of buying useful things. We missed the kids' naps and were all overtired at the start of the day, so we were just holding it together by the end. After dinner we finally decided to walk across the street to the Kailua beach park to see where we live. Forget about bulk laundry detergent and think about your local amenities for a few minutes. It was the perfect antidote. We watched more than a dozen kite surfers doing their dance between water and sky. They were catching 20 - 30 feet of air and making it look easy. We came home feeling refreshed, and then the kids fell fast asleep after their bedtime stories.

When Alice arrived and saw the kites she pointed and said "moon," and then saw more and more "moons" and was so mesmerized she became silent for  the next ten minutes. 

Watching in amazement.

We're going to like it here. I can tell already.

Looping the East Side

Updates you may or may not care about: (1) Missy Kia has safely landed on Oahu and one of Tag's former students is totally psyched to be rockin' the minivan for the next few days; (2) as far as I can tell my beloved staph infection has been put to death and my finger is recovering nicely; (3) we have our own house on Maui for the final five days here and we've already harvested guavas and bananas from the yard; (4) Alice has often been a bossy grumpypants for the last week but she has two new molars to show for our collective misery; (5) and, yes, that means there are still two more to come (joy!). 

I think our trip to Hana is best depicted with the pictures we took along the way. The kids were great in the car, and Tag was an adept driver (we have a Subaru here, so it was an easy transition).  We kept them well "snacked" and there were plenty of interesting stops to keep us oohing and aaahhhing during our full-day journey. There is definitely a feeling of beauty overload by the end of the day. Another gorgeous waterfall... okay, I'll just snap a shot out the window during the drive-by. 

Departure time: 8:30 am

This was the first waterfall we stopped for on the road to Hana. It was hidden and involved a short trail walk. No one slipped into the gorge, so it was a fun way to start the day!

Snack stop at Aunt Sandy's banana bread stand. Warm loaf right from the oven, and a bag of dried tropical fruit plus nuts. YUM. 

Me looking like an Arabian sheik at the Ke'anae Peninsula. I've been avoiding the sun because my antibiotic causes problems when mixed with anything fun (i.e. sunshine and alcohol).  

These lava rocks and coral pieces are begging to be thrown  in the waves. That's how they got so smooth, right?

Look fast at the next pic and you'll feel like you were there. 

Now THAT is some fantastic point-and-shoot photography.

I caught Benji's rock mid-flight. It looks like a UFO coming to take us home. 

Watching the waves. Alice's dress was catching some air. 

Bathroom break at the Wailua Valley State Wayside (anywhere else this would be an "overlook"). Benji just loves to go in the wild. I just love that he lifts his shirt-- very attentive. 

Taro fields from the lookout. 

Collecting coconuts at the Kahanu National Tropical Botanical Garden. This was before we paid attention to the warning signs about them  falling on your head.

Taking a trot at the garden. 

This is the largest existing Heiau, or native Hawaiian temple, on the whole chain of islands.

Alice would call this "annudah nack." You would call this an ice cream sandwich. I would call this a bad parenting move. It got so messy that both kids willingly threw the final melted remnants out their windows for the geckos. 

Drive-by waterfall shot near Hana. 

Rounding the south side of the island. The landscape is remarkably different-- dry and rocky-- but beautiful in its own way. 

Back at home: 5:00 pm