Bird pirate

What an interesting night in Waikiki... Street performers are in every city! Hawaiian cities are no exception! We crossed paths with a bird pirate.

Jadon, Emily & Kyle holding the bird. They were hesitant at first, but then obliged. And the bird didn't even move

Stephanie, Brennan, Eric & Jadon with the birds. Brennan wasn't so happy about this.

Jeff, me, Emily & Kyle with the birds before the bird Kyle & Emily were holding fell. *Note the bird was okay after his short fall.

He really looked like a pirate! If I remember correctly, he even was missing a few teeth like a pirate too.

Diamond head

Our first outing in Hawaii was to the other end of the island to hike Diamond Head. My friend BJ, who grew up on Oahu, said it is a tough hike for the kids because it gets quite steep and has many stairs, but has an amazing view from the top. Even with 3 four year olds and an 1.5 year old, we were determined to do it! And we did! Stephanie had the hardest job, carrying Brennan on her back the whole way!

Jeff holding Brennan's hand for the initial, flat walk with Kyle looking on

The triplets - Kyle, Jadon & Emily

The four of us about mid-way up. Beautiful ocean view from there.

Emily & Kyle resting

Jadon posing mid-way up

Beautiful ocean

Inside the crater

At the top, but not the very top. About 10 steps below the top.

Jadon, Stephanie & Brennan. Stephanie had Brennan on her back for the hike up! Amazing!

Kyle at the TOP!

Emily at the TOP!

Jeff & Kyle at the top, overlooking Waikiki

Emily & Jadon on one of the stairwells down. Loads of stairs!

A dark tunnel - Kyle didn't like the dark so much, but thank goodness for the iPhone brightest flashlight app!

More stairs

Yet more stairs

Stephanie, Brennan & Jadon coming down the stairs

Emily & Jadon walking the winding path

 

Kyle post wipe-out. He was running with Emily & Jadon down the winding path and wiped out hard and really scraped up his left knee. He was quite a trooper though and didn't fuss too much, just wanted to be carried so his leg wouldn't hurt.

Another dark tunnel

A well deserved treat of shaved ice upon making it back down!

Cuties on the beach

Our hotel had a great little beach right behind it. I think it was part of lagoon 1 or 3. While the water wasn't as warm as we'd all like, once we got used to it, the swimming was good. Emily was very proud of being able to swim in the ocean with Daddy. She has become quite a little fish. They went swimming out in the lagoon and Emily saw a turtle. And we all saw some little tiny fish swimming near the shore.

Kyle, Jadon & Emily chillin' in the (warm) sand

Luau

Our first night in Oahu, we went to a luau at the hotel. Emily was excited to wear her new rainbow dress and Kyle is monkey wearing shorts that he's wearing outfit.

Everyone at the luau

Kyle intently watching the luau and fire dancers

Kyle & Mommy. Emily and Daddy left early because Emily was too tired to stay and watch any longer - those were Emily's words, not ours!

Kyle shielding his ears from the fireworks, but still loving the show

Fire dancers

Fireworks

Kyle standing next to the Pro Bowl trophy.

Off to Hawaii!

And we're off to Hawaii! Nothing like the comfortable seats of an airplane to sleep in... better when you're four years old, but still not that comfortable. One instance where it is about the end result and not the journey there.

Stitch!

The kids and I went to Disneyland today for our "something fun". Actually, we went to California Adventure as we had not been there for several years. And we were very lucky to see Handy Manny and Stitch!! Stitch is my favorite and he was great to pose for a picture with us. Maybe we'll see him in his home state of Hawaii too!

Monkey bars

Look who can do the monkey bars!! Emily has been able to hang on the monkey bars for a long time now and even reach for the other bars and would do them with help, but was hesitant to do them by herself.  But a little girl who was 6 showed her how it was done and that was just enough of a boost of confidence that Emily needed.  So she tried it and was successful!  It was great to see how proud she was of her accomplishment. She wanted to keep on doing the monkey bars even though her little arms were so tired. 

So here is a video of her doing them again with some tired arms. Great job Emily!

Sledding with Daddy & Gloria

In another sledding trip while out at Papa's house, Jeff, Kyle, Emily and I went sledding with Gloria. This was the first time in her life that she has been sledding! It's hard to believe that someone who has experienced many a snowy winter hasn't gotten out to enjoy some sledding until now! Needless to say, Gloria was thrilled and had a blast sledding. And we were more than pleased to have witnessed her first sledding experience! She was the 4th person who we've taken sledding for their first time - (1) Jeff and I took Diana H from Australia who was visiting us in Chicago during high school had never even seen snow went sledding for her first time with us, (2 & 3) Kyle & Emily, and (4) Gloria.

Kyle does the jump with Gloria sledding next to him. I'm not sure Kyle intended to go over the jump, but he did and LOVED it! He asked to do it again!

Kyle, Emily & Gloria sledding

Sledding with Ben, David & Kari

Kyle & Emily also had the pleasure of some fun skiing with their cousins out near Papa's house. Everyone had a blast.  Kyle and Benjamin loved sledding together and racing down the hill. Emily and David were more of similar speed and enjoyed sledding, but didn't need to be barreling down the hill at supersonic speeds.  

David sledding

Emily sledding

Kyle sledding

Benjamin & Kyle tandem sledding

Kyle & Ben and Kathleen & David sledding

Emily & Jeff racing Kyle

Kari & Emily sledding

Sledding with Grandma

In making sure we do our "something fun" each day, Kyle and Emily got to experience another new winter activity - sledding!  We got quite a bit of snow in Chicago so had to break out the snow suits and sleds on the side of Grandma's house.  On both sides of the house, there are 2 great hills that I grew up sledding down.  Kyle and Emily added sledding to the favorite winter "something funs" along with skiing and ice skating. Not bad for 2 California kids who are used to warmer weather and one of whom was terrified of the snow when he was younger.

Kyle sledding

Emily sledding

Emily & Grandma sledding

Emily & Grandma sledding again

Kyle can read

Kyle has been working hard learning how to read.  For some time he's been very interested in what everything around him says.  We've been working on letters and phonics and sounding out words and it seems to have clicked recently.  Both he and Emily have been doing a lot of reading with Grandma and it is all coming together for him.  Emily is working hard at reading as well and is very close to it clicking for her as well.  It sure is something else seeing your child read the words on a page for the first time. 

An excerpt of Kyle reading to Aunt Karen

Christmas festivities

Christmas 2010 was a great Christmas.  Kyle and Emily were really into it and loved the festivities and decorations that go along with the holiday. This year, Uncle Tommy set up the train with assistance from Kyle and Emily. And Santa visited on Christmas Eve!

Cousins

Emily and Evan

Grandma reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas" with all of her grandchildren - Ryan, Kyle, Evan, Emily & Isaac

Grandma reading Twas the Night Before Christmas", Part 1

Grandma reading "Twas the Night Before Christmas", Part 2

Looking for Santa flying away after hearing his bells

Santa was here!!

Santa's note

Christmas Day Dinner