Sad to say that tomorrow we head home from our summer vacation on Kauai. We had a wonderful visit with Grandma and Papa. Lots of beach time, swimming, kite flying, shave ice, running around in the backyard, baking cookies, art projects, more shave ice! It was a wonderful 11 days for Maile and Mommy (and 5 for Daddy). We can’t wait to come back again soon!
Thank you Grandma Gail and Papa Cal for a wonderful visit!
Family picture just a few weeks shy of Maile's 3rd birthday
Papa Cal bought Maile and I squirt guns. (Dad note: if you thought super soakers were a major upgrade in the 90’s – these puppies are fully automatic, you just press the button is it goes!)
I couldn’t have been prouder with the way that Maile took to the water gun fight. She showed no fear and even better, mastered the art of the double cross as we both turned our attention to innocent bystander, Mommy!
(Click here for the video.)
Imagine my excitement when Christine said we were going to the Bon Festival. Only Bon I know is named Jon – but alas, Bon Jovi was not visiting Kauai. The Bon Festival is a buddhist tradition that honors the spirits of our ancestors. On Kauai, it consisted of some carnival-type games for the kids, some local plate food, taiko drumming and a big open circle that everyone danced around.
Maile dressed up all fancy in one of mommy's old kimonos. She felt like a princess and, boy, did she look the part!
Dad note: Not the first time Maile’s worn a kimono, but sure is fun to watch her grow into it!
Taking in the scene at the Bon Festival as the Taiko drummers prepare for their part of the show...
Mommy teaching Maile some of the dance moves...
Mommy was a rock star with the dancing – all the moves came right back to her. Maile Girl wasn’t quite ready this year – but she took it all in and is going to be ready to rock the Bon Festival next year!
(Click here for the video.)
School is on a two week break before the summer session kicks in, so Mommy and Maile skipped town last week for Hawaii (and I joined this past Saturday). Whether it’s in the pool in the backyard or at the beach, Maile has been maximizing her time in the water!
Maile has been hitting the pool in the backyard at least 3 times a day
Poipu Beach has a great protected area that's shallow for the the kids to play in
Maile hates the ocean. It's really a shame.
Not all fun and games though, Maile put some time in being the water runner for the sand castle building work
Did I mention that Maile really has a horrible time at the beach?
Grandma and Papa bought Maile a boogie board - Daddy can't wait to hit the waves with her.
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for all the fun in the sun so far!
Some random scenes from Father’s Day 2012…
Maile Girl & Daddy, Father's Day 2012
Our annual Father's Day bike ride - for the past couple of years we've rented a bike on Father's Day. It's a nice tradition. Maile thinks that if she pushes my back we'll go faster. I do my best to keep the illusion going!
How did Maile's hands get blue? Let's just say, Daddy was relaxing on Sunday morning and not paying as good attention to Maile as he should have been...
Dad note: Christine and Maile have been in Hawaii all week. I’m joining them on Saturday. I’ve been missing my little girl. Christine actually mentioned tonight that this is the longest we’ve ever been away from each other. That fact surprised me, but I think it is true. We’ll make up for it next week! Word on the street is that Grandma and Papa Hawaii bought Maile a boogie board – I can’t wait to hit the waves with her!
Just in case she becomes really good at piano one day, I figured this would be good to post 😉
Although, this isn’t the first time we’ve caught her tickling the keys…
(Click here for the video.)
After our visit to Fairyland, we swung by the Sketchbook Project Popup Library where Mommy’s sketchbook was being displayed. They do a really nice job with the exhibit – you create a “library card” and then you check out your sketchbook and any others you want (by theme, location, random, etc.). They also had an area where you could draw so Maile created some of her own art while we were inspired by the sketchbooks we viewed.
The artist at work
Maile learned all about the mail at school this year - so she set to work straight away putting together some letters to mail
Maile & Mommy checking out Mommy's sketchbook - Maile was very happy to see she was prominently featured!
One of Mommy's Maile portraits
A drawing from one of the other sketchbooks we viewed - very cool concept to flip through the books of different people
After Fairyland and all the artistic energy that was expended at the popup library, Maile Girl was exhausted!
As I’m sure you already know this weekend was Father’s Day. So I asked my Daddy, “Daddy, what do you want to do for Father’s Day?” And do you know what he said? He said, “Maile, I’d really like to go to Fairyland!” Me too, Daddy, me too. No wonder we get along so well!
PS – Fairyland. Was. Awesome.
Hi, I'm Princess Maile
And I'm Mad Hatter Daddy!
Guess what I went on all by myself? Yep, the ferris wheel. Daddy was too big - he was totally bummed. I had so much fun - I could see the whole world when I was at the tippy top!
Dad note: Christine and I were blown away that Maile went on the ferris wheel all by herself. We were so proud of her. Our little girl is growing up!
Daddy, this merry go round is a little lame. Is there one that goes a bit faster?
What do yo mean I'm not tall enough? Hold on, let me stand on my tippy toes...
My Daddy rocks! He smooth talked me on to the big girl merry go round!
Happy Father's Day, Daddy - I hope you had fun at Fairyland!
Dad note: I did, Maile.
On Friday, Maile Girl completed her first year at Presidio Knolls School! The school threw a wonderful party for the entire school and each class also did their own mini ceremony. We had a blast watching Maile and all her classmates walk up and get their graduation certificate. One of the teachers said something about each student. It was very touching.
Presidio Knolls is a Reggio-Emilia school – which among other things means they are big on documenting the children’s experiences. That’s music to my ears – as I received a DVD with 400+ photos of Maile throughout the year! Of course, this weekend, I made a video collage of the photos (thanks to Jack Johnson for the musical accompaniment!)
Christine and I can’t believe it’s been a year. We had a lot of fun flipping through these pictures and thinking about how much our little girl has grown over the past year. She was excited most every day about going to school and made a ton of new friends (as did we). Her teachers compiled a book that contains a bunch of her artwork and it was incredible to flip through and see how she’s progressed. She learned some gymnastics and soccer, picked up a decent amount of Mandarin (enough that Daddy is in a lot of trouble), mastered the sandbox and water table, and can now sing many, many new songs. Along the way she also learned about mailing letters, taking care of plants, cleaning teeth and the Chinese New Year. We couldn’t have been happier with her first school experience at Presidio Knolls!
(Click here for the video.)
Mommy was testing out her new flash and caught some great shots of Maile and I rough housing a bit before bed time…
It started innocently enough...
Wheeeeeeee!
More wheeeeeeeee!!!
