My Birthday (by Ben)

First of all, I want to say that I am replacing my mom in this post. I guess she was getting busy. I turned 11 on my birthday, which was 2 July. In Summer School, I had a "party" in my class. Did I have a great time there? Really, I did, as much as always. It was a long story short. Here are some pictures in the evening party with my family. In these pictures, I have my puzzle cubes, even the new ones that I got as my birthday presents. Those are my QJ Megaminx, the V cube 3 (you know what a V cube is, don't you?) and the Eastsheen 4x4 (to replace my old and broken 4x4). There were several other things that I got for my birthday that I forgot. My cake had only one candle, though Blake, my little brother, insisted that I should have ELEVEN candles on it. That would be a big number.

Then we came to the Singing Flag, just across the busy street (Concord Boulevard) from my house. I brought three of my eight puzzle cubes (the 3x3, the 4x4, and the Gear Cube). We enjoyed the "show" and scrambled and solved my cubes.

This is my thinking face when I am solving the 4x4 cube that I got. This shows that I am focusing on it. I am not sure why I look tired in this picture, but that is not true.

This was a time where I made sure to keep it special. Overall, it was a great birthday!

Blake is THREE

Our little Blake turned three on May 6. He knew exactly what was going on and was soooo excited! Can you tell?

The night before his birthday we had the Hiatts and Grandma Joan over for dinner. One of Blake's gifts was stomp rockets. The cousins all took them right outside and got to work blasting them into the sky (and the trees, and the roof, of course).

The next morning, on Blake's very birthday, as we drove Ben to school I was trying to decide where to take Blake on a spontaneous outing. I inventoried the situation - clothes on, shoes on, breakfast eaten, dog in backyard - and decided we were free to do whatever as soon as we dropped off Ben. So we kept driving, stopped at TJ's in Lafayette to buy lettuce, and went to the Tilden Park Little Farm. I was reminded that this is my very favorite free kid outing in the Bay Area (that I've been to, anyway). Blake fed and admired the animals.

Blake got a kick out of seeing the farmer take two goats for a walk on a leash. He loved the "horn sheep" and insisted on giving it the last of our lettuce.

We saw an egg in the duck/geese/chicken/turkey (fowl?) area and asked the farmer what kind of egg it was. He was super friendly, gave us the egg and then even took us into the chicken coop to check for eggs there. He even gave us a carton to carry them home.

This egg was even still warm when he gave it to us. Kinda ewww if you think about it :)

The next morning we had a taste test - chicken eggs or duck eggs? The duck eggs won the most votes. Happy Birthday, Dearest Blake. I'm so glad and so sad that you are growing up!

Hawaii with My Love

Day One: Oahu
We left our home and family first thing in the morning and flew directly from Oakland to Honolulu. We drove to Laie, ate at the Hukilau Cafe, then checked in at our little studio on Bathtub Beach. The rest of the day we spent across the street at the Polynesian Cultural Center. After shows (thinking of Eliza), activities, a luau (with our "cousins"), a movie and a big performance, we were exhausted!

Day Two: Oahu
We woke up to thunder and lightning! We wondered if the photo on the wall would be our only blue sky of the day. But within an hour we were out the back door, exploring the beach and sea life. The storm just made the sky all that more beautiful.

We took a drive around the north shore of Oahu. Among the sights: the Laie Temple, BYU-Hawaii, flowers, and sea turtles. We snorkeled at Turtle Bay (thinking of Ethan) because it was the only safe spot that day. The water felt amazing!

The sea was rough so we didn't get to swim or boogie board at Waimea Beach, but it was beautiful nonetheless. We stopped in Haleiwa for shaved ice then continued to Wahiawa to visit the Dole Plantation. It was definitely a tourist trap, but we just embraced it. Fresh pineapple is worth it! We walked through the garden maze (thinking of Ben) and rode the train (thinking of Blake).

We finished day two with an endowment session in the BEAUTIFUL Laie Temple.

Day Three: Oahu
We woke up with the sun, packed up and said goodbye to our little blue house, and hit the road for Honolulu.

On our way to Pearl Harbor, we decided to stop in Waikiki to do a quick "look, look, see, see." We admired the beach, couldn't believe the number of retail shops and hotels, and wished we could find something to eat. Between taking too long in Waikiki and driving the wrong direction, it was a little stressful getting to Pearl Harbor for our ticket time. "It will be okay" became our new mantra. And it was okay. Pearl Harbor was sacred ground. It was truly surreal to be there in person.

We also toured the USS Missouri and stood on the very deck where the Japanese signed the Instrument of Surrender at the end of WWII. Jeff even walked down the same steps as General MacArthur. The ship was huge and the living quarters cramped. As we left Pearl Harbor we felt humbled and grateful ... and a little stressed about getting to our flight on time. Another beautiful day.

Day Four: Kauai
We woke up in Kauai, hardly believing that we still had 5 days of adventuring left. We took some time to make phone calls and plans, then headed out on a tandem cruiser bike. We rode on the coastline trail to Donkey Beach, parked our bike and bushwacked to Secluded Cove. The water beckoned and I couldn't resist a swim - in clothes!

After some deliberation (not much, really), we agreed that the helicopter tour of Kauai would be worth the splurge ... and it was! With dramamine in our blood we experienced the thrill of the ride and the stunning beauty of the entire island. Our pilot pointed out falls and history and untouchable terrain. It was an extraordinarily clear afternoon after weeks of rain - truly breathtaking. To end the day, we drove south to Poipu, picked up burritos from Da Crack, and rested with the chickens at Spouting Horn until sunset.

Day Five: Kauai
We anticipated this hike for months and it still exceeded our expectations. It was a transformative experience, indeed. The first two miles to Hanakapi'ai Beach were much easier than we anticipated and the beach was more beautiful than any we'd seen yet. We pushed onward for two long miles up the valley to reach Hanakapi'ai Falls - a place for which there truly are no words. I could have stayed there forever. Really.

The two miles back down to the beach went quickly, but the two miles from there to our car were CRAZY hot. At the few stream crossings, Jeff dunked his head to cool off. When we arrived at Ke'e Beach, the lifeguards were announcing that the beach was closed due to rough water. What?!? At least there were showers because we were seriously hot, sweaty messes.

Day Six: Kauai
Our Sunday began with sacrament meeting at Kapaa's LDS church building RIGHT across the street from our condo. We went home for several hours of uninterrupted quiet and rest (bliss!) and then took a drive to the North. We hiked for 1/2 mile along the highway to a little cove with an unnamed Falls. All those cars driving by had no idea of this hidden beauty!

We drove through Kilauea to the lighthouse and wildlife refuge. We absorbed the tranquility of the ocean and of the soaring birds and heard the strange moaning sounds of the ua'u kani birds in their burrows. We drove through Princeville and stopped on the highway at the scenic overlook of the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge. It was such a peaceful, restful day. Just like Sunday should be.

Day Seven: Kauai
We worried a bit on our drive up Waimea Canyon - it was completely fogged in. With hope, we pressed onward to Koke'e State Park and started our hike on the Pihea to Alaka'i Swamp Trail. The vegetation was astounding - a continuous series of Garden of Eden experiences. The long four mile trail ended at the Kilohana lookout with clear, sweeping views of Hanalei Bay and the Wainiha Valley.

As we arrived back at the trailhead at Pu'u o Kila Lookout, the colors and contours of the Kalalau Valley were hard to leave behind. But the day was ending, our feet aching and our stomachs a-rumbling. We drove back down the canyon and were so happy to find the fog had lifted and Waimea Canyon was wide open for our visual feasting. Hunger pressed us onward to Keoki's in Poipu (delicious!) and stinkiness pushed us farther to our Pono Kai hot tub. It was a glorious day.

Day Eight: Kauai
Time to go home, but not before one last adventure! We booked an early kayak and hike trip with a tour company on the Wailua River. Our guide was a little odd and our tour group was like a circus, but we just tried to enjoy the scenery! The terrain was every bit as beautiful as anywhere else we'd been. It was yet another restorative experience: we sunk our feet in the muddy trail, swam under a waterfall, got drenched in our first rain of Kauai, and then paddled hard to catch our flight home to California. A nearly perfect 38th birthday, I'd say! Farewell, Hawaii! We may or may not meet again, but will remember you always.