(Dad note: Sorry, sorry, sorry for the slowness on the posts lately – been very busy at work and I suppose life in general!)
Grandma Gail and Papa Cal came out this past weekend for a visit and to watch the girls while school was closed the past couple of days. We had a wonderful visit (despite the Red Sox losing and ruining Papa cal and I’s enjoyment of playoff baseball!) It was a great weekend in the city – sun was shining, the Blue Angels were flying overhead for Fleet Week and the girls really enjoyed spending some quality time with their grandparents. We even managed to get a picture of the girls and their grandparents!
Maile (7) and Lauren (3.5) with Grandma Gail and Papa Cal
Thank you for visiting – look forward to seeing you again soon … this time on your turf in Hawaii!
by Papa K on February 14, 2016
Been awfully quiet around here, right? Apologies! For the past 10 days Christine and I have been off having adventures in Washington, DC and Mexico. We made it an “all the way” vacation and that meant even taking a break from the blogging – the longest break I’ve taken since Maile was born 6.5 years ago.
One of our adventures had us repelling down into a cenote (a sinkhole)!
And while Christine and I were having some awesome adventures (and lots and lots of down time!), Maile and Lauren were in very good hands with Grandma Gail and Papa Cal. By all accounts, our time away was a success. The girls had a wonderful time and Grandma and Papa really got to spend some quality time seeing what their day-to-day lives are all about.
This selfie was taken on the very last day before we came home - everyone is all smiles!
Thank you, Grandma and Papa for letting us escape – we are forever grateful!
by Papa K on December 23, 2015
On Saturday evening, we drove over to Waimea to participate in their annual Christmas parade. Papa marches as part of an organization he is on the board of and last year he asked Maile to march with him too. The original plan was that Lauren would watch from the side with Mommy and Daddy, look cute and collect candy as everyone walked by.
She, of course, had other ideas and headed off to march along with Papa, Grandma and Maile. That left Christine and I to do our best collecting candy, but alas we were not nearly cute enough 🙂
The parade was an awesome way to start out holiday on Kauai – total small town feel, a beautiful night that held off the rain, and all the holiday lights and sounds you could ask for…
Maile Girl showing off her parade outfit...
Papa, Lauren and Mommy pre-parade photo op...
Grandma Gail and Maile
Maile Girl hard at work passing out candy as she walks the parade route...
Mommy and Lauren post parade holiday selfie!
Daddy and Maile - all smiles after a fun time at the parade 🙂
Last weekend we had a quick, but fun visit from Grandma and Papa Hawaii. They arrived on Friday afternoon and left on Sunday, but we certainly packed in some fun in between.
Right from the airport they headed to school and spoke to Maile’s class about visiting all 50 states. The first grade is doing a unit on maps and the world and Grandma and Papa had fun sharing their adventures and answering lots and lots of questions.
On Saturday morning, Grandma and Papa had a treat watching both Maile and Lauren’s dance classes. Mommy and Daddy slipped out in the afternoon to take advantage of the visit and have a mini afternoon date. And in the evening, we took Maile to her swim class and Grandma and Papa were blown away by how far she progressed with her swimming.
First thing Sunday morning, Papa, Maile and I went to volunteer at the Food Bank while Grandma, Mommy and Lauren had some quality time. Sooner than we knew it the visit was over, but we had lots of fun!
Maile and Papa getting ready to dig in sorting oranges at the Food Bank...
Papa, Grandma, Maile (age 6), Lauren (age 2.5)
Thank you Grandma Gail and Papa Cal for taking care of my girls all last week. By all accounts they had an amazing time. Special thanks for letting us get Lauren going on the potty training in your home instead of ours 🙂
Enjoying a popsicle break with Grandma Gail...
Maile Girl and Papa Cal - she keeps getting bigger and bigger!
Saying good bye at the airport - we'll be back soon!
Christine and I headed to North Carolina this weekend for our 10th reunion at Fuqua. Grandma and Papa Hawaii came in to town to spend the weekend with the girls. By all accounts they had lots of fun and we really appreciate the chance to get away just Christine and I.
Papa Cal, Maile, Grandma Gail and Lauren (April 2015)
The girls are already counting the days until their June trip to Hawaii!
One last post about our trip to Hawaii before we return to San Francisco.
Lots of fun with Grandma and Papa Hawaii, Uncle Steve and, especially, Katie and Emily. It continues to amaze that despite the language gap, it really doesn’t seem to matter – the girls communicate with shrieks and giggles. They run all over, inside and out, splashing, swimming, laughing, creating fun projects with Grandma, coloring, playing games, dancing, singing – it’s a really nice way to end the year and start the new one.
Grandma Gail and Papa Cal with their girls, Emily (6.5), Maile (5.5), Lauren (2), Katie (8.5) - all in their homemade shirts 🙂
Thank you Grandma and Papa for a wonderful visit!
Today was Lauren’s second birthday! Will cover the festivities here in San Francisco a bit later this week, but before we left Hawaii on Friday, we celebrated Lauren’s birthday with Grandma and Papa Hawaii and Katie, Emily and Uncle Steve.
Yes, Lauren, that present is for you!
Mommy made the cupcakes and the rest of us took care of eating them ... after Lauren, Grandma and the girls blew out the candles.
As the video shows, Lauren hasn’t quite mastered blowing the candles out yet … maybe next year!
Per tradition we took a picture of Lauren in her kimono in front of the kadomatsu.
Previous kadomatsu pictures are here and of Maile here.
(Click here for the video.)
by Papa K on September 1, 2014
For the family reunion we picked up this awesome bubble wand that makes huge bubbles. The girls love it, so on Saturday we headed out with Grandma and Papa to have some bubble fun.
Woah. That's a big bubble!
I think I can reach it...
... no, no, I can reach it!
Papa is IN the bubble!
All smiles playing with the bubbles 🙂
We also used it to play around with Instagram’s new Hyperlapse video app – makes some pretty cool videos (although I really should take the extra step and set it to some music – next time!)
(Click here for the video.)
Wow. Time flies.
Today was Maile’s first day of Kindergarten. She’ll be staying at Presidio Knolls School so the stomping grounds are familiar, but this is still a big milestone for our little, but rapidly growing up, girl.
And she is very, very excited to get started.
But before heading off to school, we took some family pictures…
Here she is, Maile Girl at 5 ready to start Kindergarten!
Maile and Lauren - Lauren will need to wait one more year before joining her big sister at PKS
Family Picture - Maile (5) and Lauren (20 months)
Daddy and his girls (and their backpacks)
These three.
Grandma and Papa Hawaii are in town and got to see Maile off to her first day too...
One last shot just inside the gate at Presidio Knolls - after this she was off and running with her friends...
