At the beach

DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME!!

It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Jim had some Chinese balloons, they only cost $1.00 not a bargain if you burn down your community.  This is how it works: You start a little fire to a pack of flammable something attached to a piece of cardboard and watch as the fire inflates the tissue paper balloon, then you gently lift the balloon above your head and it floats away into the sky.  What a great idea to celebrate our last night together.  Or so we thought.  It was difficult to light,  then wouldn't inflate properly, then as it catches a breeze it takes off, but no, the breeze is finicky and it drops to the ground, still on fire, it's moving quickly as the men realize it may not clear the trees at the park, they can't catch it.  It's rising slowly and is now just a fire ball that at any moment could plummet into a million dollar beach front property. 

"I feel sick" 

"me too"

"I can't look did it pass the trees yet?"

"How long will the fire last?" 

Holy *!** We're going to be on the front page of the Garden Island Newspaper!"

Finally, it heads out over the ocean.  It's going to be ok.  A big sigh of relief from everyone.

Locals only

David plays the taiko drums.  

Uncle Jim is David's dad 

 Sean was able to join us for the Obon dance.

The Obon dances are held every weekend at different Buddhist temples on island to honor the spirits of our Japanese ancestors.  It's a great way to reconnect with all our friends.
Sean, Vicki and the kids joined the Obon dancing

  This is Hamilton, my stylist and friend.

Playdates

Kalia and Aunty Vicki used to have cooking playdates when we lived on the island.   I'd hang with the guys while they got busy in the kitchen.  When we told Kalia we were going to Hawaii she wanted to call Aunty and plan a playdate.   We miss our friends so much!

Hawaii

While Sean spent the day in the hospital with his Mom, Dad and sister Wendy.  The kids and I spent everyday with Aunty Vicki and David.  

 We tried on hats at the surf shop

 The boys (David and Gray) are 1 month apart in age.  Vicki and I met through our best friend and social director Annika just after the boys were born.  We spent 2 years together and then we moved.  Being together again was a gift ( I literally can't think of a mushier descriptive word. :))

 They were so young when we lived on Kauai,  but they remember being friends, and they reconnected as if 2 years had only been 2 minutes gone by.

 We joined Vicki and D at community lunch.  They volunteer every week at the soup kitchen.

 I took the kids hiking at Mahaulepu.   I forgot how insanely beautiful this island is.

Uncle Jim let us borrow the jeep for our stay.  Thank you, Thank you!

The Perkins Circus

I have so much to say and nothing to say about this experience.  Only that Papa Perkins had a stroke. 

It was 2 months of blood, sweat and tears in Hawaii. I discover that I am part of a strong family that loves one another.  Papa made it home from the hospital and is getting stronger everyday.  

For the past few years, it seems as though we've been participating in drive by visits with our family.  We spent 2 days with our cousins in Hawaii and it was not nearly enough time.

Florida Keys

 We spent the weekend at the beach in the Florida Keys.  We went hiking, swimming, snorkeling (the kids both saw their first barracuda under water) we saw a Margarittaville biker bar, dinner and shopping in Key West, Kayaking, and learning at the Dolphin Research Center.

Last Feb.  I had a dream like experience, driving a race car around Texas Motor Speedway.  When I discussed it with Kalia, she said her dream would be to ride a dolphin.   Sean and I decided for her 7th birthday we would go to Florida to ride dolphins.