Kayaking in the lagoon by Waikiki Beach

A very fun morning! We made muffins for breakfast and then headed out for the Lagoon at Waikiki Beach! We rented a kayak for an hour and had a great time riding all around the lagoon. Colin did a great job paddling as did Ryan with a little help from John. We stopped for leis for Mom and Dad when they arrive home tonight and got home for lunch. Both guys ate and are now napping. This afternoon is laundry, pick-up and posters for the arrival of the best Mom and Dad in the world! It's been great having them all to ourselves but, are both a little weary. You have little guys early in your life for a reason!! Waikiki checked off one more place on the to see list - more coming this week!

Sunday, September 6th

Colin on new fangle Big Wheel

East and North Shore of Oahu

Grandma and Grandpa and Colin and Ryan headed off for an adventure this morning! We took some food and swim suits and buckets and headed toward the North Shore up the east shore side and around the top. Around one of the turns we saw this beautiful site. Then we drove by the shrimp farms, and then to turtle beach where we saw lots of big turtles. Mollie was sitting on the shore for us and the others were in the surf. They love the seaweed that grows in this area so it's pretty much a given you'll see some. It was a treat. We did a little sand castle building while we were watching and then headed to Haleiwa. We stopped at a picnic area and had lunch and watched part of a soccer game and then went into town and stopped for shave ice! Wonderful stuff!! Headed home from there and arrived with two sleeping boys. It was a very fun day!

Colin's School - Star Keiki

Today was Star Keiki (Star Child) Day at Colin's School. All of the September Birthdays were celebrated at the beginning of the school. The whole school gathered around the big tree and sang the National Anthem and said the Pledge of Allegence. Then they called out all the birthday kids by class and they went up and got a certificate. Colin did great!

We also played fireman at the park and built a big pyrmid out of lego's.

Chinatown

Grandma and Grandpa headed out for our own adventure to Chinatown this morning. Dave graciously had Jill drop him off at work so we could have his car :-) We got there about 10:00 and wandered every street of Chinatown (not a huge area!) and saw GREAT fresh fruit and vegetable stands, fish markets full of small shops featuring today's catch, and pork and chicken vendors. All parts of all creatures were available from heads to inards to tails and feet. The fish were all textbook Martha Stewart on what you should look for when buying fresh fish...bright sparkly eyes, etc. A marvelous place!














One street had lots of tiny lei shops with ladies making fresh ones with the most fragrant flowers. Very inexpensive and a huge assortment of flowers. We had run into some people when we first came out of the parking area asking if we needed help...not too obvious we're tourists with huge camera and map in hand....anyway, they gave us a suggestion for lunch and we headed there and it was great. Actually had dim sum....marvelous. We could have spent the whole day there I think tasting the little morsels.

We headed home and had a great afternoon with the boys and super dinner. Jill and Dave headed out about 9:00 for Portland. As they were about to drive off both boys came flying out the door and of course ended in tears so it took awhile to settle them down but they slept sound as could be and have been cheery happy guys today....though we do get an "I miss Mommy and Daddy" now and again! All's well.

The Byodo-In Temple

The Byodo-In Temple was build in 1968 to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. It was built entirely without nails. The name translates "Temple of equality - not to discriminate" and is home to Amida, a golden Buddha. The 18' Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved since ancient times. There is also a Bell House with a 5' high, three ton brass bell called bon-sho (sacred bell). The bell is revered for its distinctive shape and the tone of the bell sounds a message of deep calm and peace, cleansing the mind of evil and temptation. The bell is customarily rung before one enteres the temple to spread the eternal teaching of Buddha. For more info see http://gohawaii.about.com/od/oahusights/ss/byodo_in_temple.htm. It's a beautiful place.

On the grounds are lots of koi ponds and gardens. The fish are huge. You can buy food for them at the small gift shop. It turns out the doves love the food also and will eat right out of your hand. Colin had 4 birds eating out of his hand at one time.

Came home and had a GREAT dinner and conversation and hit a wall about 8:30. More adventures tomorrow!

Hawaii September 2009

We arrived safely on Monday night and were greeted at the airport by two little guys in jammies with huge smiles and armed with leis for Grandma and Grandpa. Mom and Dad were along too and it was great to give them all hugs! All the luggage arrived safely and we headed home and hit the hay shortly!

Tues was busy with Colin at school and Soccer practice and Ryan bonding with Grandma and Grandpa, playing in the sprinklers across the street and reading and Jill getting ready for her first Usborne Books at Home party. She has become a consultant and this was her initial party. Jill and Mom did a Costco run and created the highlight of the day when we came home with a fireman costume for Colin which he tried on immediately and then Ryan woke up and he got into a firechief raincoat and they both have fireman boots and hat and what a parade we had! It was great! We're ready for any fire emergencies!

Grandpa, Dad and the boys went to Colin's soccer practice and then out to Moe's for dinner while the girls got prepared and hosted a really fun Book party! Jill did GREAT!!! Anybody need great kids books, let me know and I'll be happy to pass on her website to you!

This afternoon after naptime we took off to visit the Byodo-In Temple in Valley of the Temples.