Apple Festival Portland, OR

We had the great opportunity to attend the Apple Festival in Portland this past October. Our friends Robert and Jen More invited us to this amazing community event. It was extra special because Robert's entire family also attended the event as the business has been in their family for (just a guess) 50 years. Robert's stepfather still does all the ordering for the over 50 different apples they present for tasting. The smile on Bob's face as he shared this event with us was priceless.

The brisk weather, the home made apple cider, the apples tasting, the pumpkin painting, the balloon twisting gentleman, face painting the time with friends and family all together created a truly excellent afternoon.

Kalihiwai River kayak/Little Sprouts Dance Party

We had an amazing weekend in Princeville. Some friends of ours came to the South shore for the weekend and offered us their awesome pad overlooking the golf course with a view of the ocean.
We had a wonderful time on our little getaway. Kalia was very excited about their trampoline and also rode Ky's bicycle in the garage. Ishmael and Grady took advantage of the beautiful golf course grass after dark. They ran up and down the fairway and through sand traps, shhhhh... don't tell.
On Saturday, we explored the Kalihiwai River with our kayak. We invited our favorite friend and babysitter, Caitlin to join us for the day. She and her family moved to the North shore six months ago and we miss them so much. The river was fantastic, small, calm and surrounded by beautiful foliage. Grady was a little squirrely due to a smallish life jacket, and we unfortunately didn't make it to the waterfall due to a fallen tree across the river. We did however return to the inlet where the ocean meets the river and did a little boggy boarding. The kids both took turns with Sean riding the waves. I gave it a shot on my own, my first time on a boggy board in the 3+ years we've been here. I found the >1 foot waves to be too much for me. I let out a scream that would have made an 11 year old school girl proud. So we played on the beach until nap time. A very beautiful day.

Later that night.... we stopped in Kapa'a to catch a monthly toddler's "dance party". We rarely make it over to this side of the island, so the timing worked out perfect, save for the exhausted kids. We arrived at a small plantation style house that had been renovated into a kids playhouse. They had a disco ball on the ceiling and spotlights around the room. The music was disco, perfect for the parents in attendance and really who doesn't shake it to the Dancing Queen by ABBA? The kids rallied quickly and we danced the night away, well, until 8pm when the kids started to look delirious. Kalia was very friendly and playful with the other kids, but our little man Grady was really cutting a rug! He loves to dance and spin, and roll on the floor without coaxing/persuasion. The dance party was fantastic, definitely something we will make a monthly pilgrimage to do.

Weekends

Secret Falls

Summer time

This summer is almost over and here are a few photos of our super fun times.

Drama, Drama, Drama!

Our little girls loves all things drama. Singing, dancing, standup comedy ( and believe me when I say, she's funny!) drawing, painting, telling stories and acting out.

I can only hope as a parent I foster her individuality and through the years I enjoy the unique position of watching her explore, experiment, create, and live her life.