Back in the summer Maile told Grandma Gail that she wanted to be a bee for Halloween. Like she always does, Grandma Gail set to work and delivered another incredible costume for the girls!
Our littlest bee getting ready to go out...
Maile and Auntie Bee all decked out!
Bzzzzzzzz
On top of the great costumer, we were also lucky to have Auntie Elyssa in town. She decided to dress up to as the “Auntie Bee” – Maile was so excited when she found out that Auntie was dressing up too.
Auntie joined Maile at school for the PKS Halloween party and then we met up with some friends to hit up Avila Street for some serious trick or treating. (And I mean serious – there were hundreds of people out and every house was stocked with candy.) Auntie chased after Maile going house to house and Mommy and I had the pleasure of escorting Lauren. It was so much fun – she insisted on walking (just like her big sister) the entire time. She would go up to each house, wait for them to lower the bowl of candy to her height, pick out her piece and then say, “Tank you”, before moving on to the next house. I died of cuteness every time she said “tank you.”
Daddy with all his bees
Mommy and her two bees!
A wonderful Halloween – thank you Grandma Gail (as always) for the costumes and Auntie Elyssa for buzzing around with our girls!
Many of our good friends have had success watching Star Wars with their little ones. I’ve been dying to watch it with Maile, but given that Doc McStuffins still scares her sometimes, I had my doubts.
The past couple of weeks I’ve started telling her about Princess Leia (with a stress on PRINCESS) and a bit about the different characters. On Saturday, it was time to give it a real shot. I decided to start with Episode IV (the original Star Wars).
Maile and I settle in for her first Star Wars viewing - complete with popsicle bribe.
Things did not start well – Maile basically said she was all set with Star Wars about 5 minutes in when Darth Vadar uses the Force to choke one of the pilots.
… but then a funny thing happened. I let Maile go color and I continued watching. And I noticed slowly but surely, she itched her way back over to watch. And then she started asking questions about R2D2 and C3PO. And who was Obi-Wan? And where were they going in the car? I had her! We watched the first 45 minutes, ending as Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids arrive in Mos Eisley.
“Daddy, is Luke going to help Princess Leia?”
Another fan is born!
(Click here for the video.)
My favorite picture of Christine and I ... at least before the littles ones came along ๐
7 years ago I married Christine๏ปฟ.
Fast forward to this evening. We had plans to go out to see a show (the nerdy type that both of us enjoy) and have a nice dinner to celebrate.
Unfortunately, Maile Girl woke up with a fever this morning and it only got worse as the day went on. (It seems like it finally broke about 30 minutes ago, but not before cranking up to 104.2!)
So we audibled out of the plans. (Well, I sent Christine along to the show anyways with a girlfriend while I held down the fort with the girls – and watched the Pats game ๐ – and now Christine is cuddled up with Maile making sure she gets as good a night sleep as possible.)
Today was definitely one of those “life” days – certainly didn’t go the way you planned, but at the same time, makes you realize what is important and even though it wasn’t “fun” – it was perfect in all the right ways.
I’m pretty sure that Matt from 7 years ago had no idea what he was getting himself into … but I know he was hoping it was going to be something exactly like this.
I love you, Christine. Happy Anniversary ๐
Our family, 7 years in...
by Papa K on September 24, 2014
Tonight for Rosh Hashanah we had apples and honey with dinner. When Maile asked why, we told her it was a “tradition”. She asked us what a “tradition” was and we talked about how its something we do over and over again through the years to remember or celebrate something. Seemed appropriate that apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah would bring up this lesson.
Maile and Lauren enjoying apples and honey on Rosh Hashanah
And here we are way back in 2010 teaching Maile about apples and honey…
Teaching Maile how to dip the apples in the honey.
More here.
La Shana Tova to all our Jewish family and friends!
by Papa K on September 18, 2014
Kelly (our nanny) had an appointment on Wednesday, so I left work a little early and went exploring with Lauren. Caught some shadow pictures which reminded me of some walks from long ago with Maile Girl…
Daddy and Lauren (September 2014 - 20.5 months)
Maile and Daddy shadows (August 2012 - 3 years old)
Maile, Daddy and Mommy shadows (August 2010 - 1 year old)
by Papa K on September 15, 2014
On Sunday while Daddy was watching some football, Mommy and Maile did an art project where they made these beautiful flowers out of tissue paper.
Maile and her tissue flower creations...
Afterwards she created an elaborate wedding ceremony for Christine and I…
Maile's version of a wedding ceremony
And, of course, the flower girl!
by Papa K on September 3, 2014
Lauren’s new thing is to join me in the bathroom in the morning and watch me get ready. It’s pretty cute – she often sits on her little step stool and watches for a bit while I shave or shower. Last weekend I decided it was time for her very first shave…
Teaching Lauren the basics ... with a q-tip ๐
(Looking back – we did Maile’s first shave right around the same time – Maile was a couple months older.)
(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...
No doubt you’ve heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now. It’s been incredible to watch it spread – one of the most viral things I’ve ever seen hit Facebook.
Christine was tagged by one of her good friends yesterday, so this evening, we gathered the family to participate and help spread the word even further. (And yes, we also donated some money to the cause.)
Maile had so much fun, that she wanted to do her own special version after – and had a special call out for her Auntie Elyssa!
When we came back upstairs, check out the picture Maile drew…
Maile's interpretation of our Ice Bucket Challenge
Love. The whole thing was a great bonding experience as a family – we hope it does a lot of good for those in need!
(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)
There’s a new hotness in town and it’s name is Mancala. It’s a simple board game where you move colored stones around a board and try to capture as many as you can. Maile learned to play it this summer at Steve & Kate’s camp and she is absolutely addicted. She plays it non-stop – 5-10+ rounds a day right now – Mommy and Daddy both play (and she typically whomps us), but she is also plays by herself, solitaire-style.
She’s very, very fast at it – and I kind of feel like she sometimes cheats, but I’m not sure, because she moves too quickly. (And to be honest, since in order to cheat, you kind of need to use math, I guess that’s not so bad.)
Mancala is serious business.
(Click here for the video.)
