OM !

Well this weekend was not as busy as last but..... Following Saturday morning soccer we all headed to Panaewa Zoo for Namaste's (white bengal tiger) annual birthday bash. It was also the opening of their new playground which is the nicest we've seen. Sorry no pictures of this event but know fun was had by all. Aila enjoyed her first zoo visit by napping the entire time. Elijah left with his friend Julian to swim in Hilo to return for a sleepover. We all headed to Hilo Sunday for what we thought would be Queen Liliuokalani's birthday celebration at her Gardens. Unfortunately, the event was wrongly advertised and although we didn't get to see the dumping of orchids from the sky the kids had fun running around.

Liliuokalani Gardens...check out website for more beautiful pictures.

Meditating is hard work!

First family photo

Julian and Elijah

This past week Joe and I stayed up 'til 1:00 a.m. canning pickles and they are YUMMY! Thanks to mom for sending the needed ingredients to make pickles close to what Grandma Jenks used to make!!

Michaelmas Festival

On the Autumnal Equinox, the day in which hours of darkness are in balance with hours of light, Michaelmas Day celebrates Archangel Michael's (My-kai-el) deed of banishing the dragon from the heavens and onto the earth.


Here on Earth this deed is now our own. We each must tame the dragon within our own being. We each must work to uncover and to live our purpose, banishing all from our being that keeps us from fulfilling this task.


As our school celebrated the spirit of Michaelmas through joy and song, our spirit of community strengthened our will and resolve, to be the change we wish to see in our lives, in our community and in our world.

Music class has been much different this year as it has diverged from classical to modern. You'll notice Elijah has his dad's beat to music...love it!

Anyone remember this dress? The last time you saw Lotus she was wearing this at Loren and Matt's wedding. We loaned this out to our little friend Opal. Is she not adorable?

Lotus has really been into rainbows and watercolor. Here are several paintings from this week. The first has a rainbow over a flower.

Busy Weekend!

The weekend (Sept. 17-18) began early Saturday with Elijah's soccer game to include snack duty. This was followed by Lotus' soccer game at which she scored her first goal from her center field kick. We raced home to fix a dish to take to a birthday party. This party was followed by another, luckily in the same local. No one seemed to mind since the kids were able to spend the entire afternoon in the water. Even Elijah had the chance to jump from a tree into the water after the life guards left their post.

As if the weekend wasn't feeling long enough, we had previously planned to take the kids to the county faire. We had not been there since Elijah was 3. Everyone is wondering how we have managed to avoid it. Fun was had by all! Lotus especially was so excited to go and ride her first rides.

This picture says it all....

Elijah with two school friends.

I keep trying to catch her sucking her toe. Maybe next time?

So when you need to get dinner going, why not bring the bath to the kitchen!

I like to use the boppy pillow to keep Aila from leaving the blanket. So far so good.

Some forgotten moments

Have been wanting to post these movies from this past summer. As you know, Aila had her first swim back in August and also had some moments of saying 'mama' which we haven't heard much of since.

We had been waiting to get the chance to visit our friend Nancy whom lives with her husband John in Kapoho. As you will see, they have a beautiful natural salt water pool full of fish. Aila so loved her time there as we all do when we get the chance to visit. And...Yes, that is one head full of grey hair!

Picnic at Pohoiki

Second week of school and why not a picnic after school on a Thursday? Our goal is to get out and experience the beauty around us much more often.

A found treasure....lady bug.