Chaminade soccer

Today was Keegan's last college soccer game so Diane outfitted us in matching Chaminade soccer tee shirts. We found some shade and had a remarkably comfortable 1:00 game, apart from the seemingly unbalanced play.

No beaches today, just sun and a dip in the pool, and a casual evening in the condo.

Waikiki sunrise

Diane, Grammy and I got up to go for a sunrise walk, we didn't sneak out quietly enough! Mason couldn't quite figure out why it took us so long to go to Starbucks when it was only a block away. Kenzie loved chasing the birds.

Surfing

I wasn't sure who, besides Borja, would be interested in a surf lesson, so I bought two on a Groupon and figured I had at least a 50% chance of going. As it turns out, we had to buy one more pass and I still sat in the sand. After a brief lesson all three kids were surfing. I was amazed at Mason in particular who overcame all his fears of the water (and sharks) in an instant. The waves were small but he still got tossed around and never complained.

After surfing we met up with our friend Trude who brought her stand-up paddleboard, and I finally got my chance to go on a board.

Beach combing

It's Keegan's last home soccer game so we all took it as a great excuse to rally a quick family trip to Oahu. Diane is a veteran here and took us to Hanauma Bay for some great snorkeling and then to Kailua Beach Park for white sand and fewer tourists.

Chirpie goes Hawaiian

Searching for sun

Cindy took the kids this morning to the airport. They are going to Hawaii! I will meet up with them after work...quick weekend getaway.

They're at the airport waiting to see if they made the standby list!

Boys and girls

Mason and Kenzie each got to have a friend spend the night.

Mason invited Wil, and at the soccer game Miles was invited too. They are great boys. They decided to play Wii, wrestle, and play Nerf guns. They played so hard that the car was all smelly and foggy when we took them for ice cream.

Kenzie and Gabi went to a Halloween party. We didn't have a costume for Kenzie because we were planning to be on an airplane for Halloween, so we made her into Flower Power with stuff we found around the house.

Now for the fun...getting them all to sleep!

Is that...

A little Chirpie bottom I see poking out from Kenzie's camp bag?

Camp Colman

The fifth grade classes take three days a year and go to Camp Colman, over on the peninsula. All the girls in Kenzie's class shared a cabin. The chaperone said they were great! Again, I love this group of girls that has found each other this year. They are well grounded and have a good internal compass. I am so glad, especially because she heads into junior high next year!

Leaving for camp....

Sneak pictures from parents at the camp...


Returning home!
The one disadvantage to camp: they come home with new camp songs.

sushi

Mason had a sleepover at a friend's house last night, so the four of us ventured to sushi! We all found something we liked!

Another fall day

I never thought I would be a "soccer mom." I didn't identify with the stereotype. Yet, here I find myself, actually excited to go to the kids games, all bundled up in the rain, walking on the mushy grass, sitting in the wind, and cheering from the sidelines. The games are fun, the other parents are great, and the kids love it. Even though we complain about spending every Saturday and Sunday in the elements watching kids kick a ball, it's amazing to watch the kids grow in their skills...but more than that, they are making friends and having a great time.

Kenzie has gone from being a reluctant player to actually enjoying it and being tough! She is starting to understand the game, be aggressive and play hard. A few years ago we thought she would never be a part of a "team sport" -- but now she looks forward to soccer every week.

Mason is still a maniac on the field. He consistently scores more than half the goals on any average game. He just loves it. He lights up. It's fun to watch him.

For the record, I never got a minivan.

Mason is #6 in the red. Not all of them go in, but his kick is getting harder.



I think he had four goals this game.

Soccer and pumpkins

We had three soccer games this weekend, all of which were in the rain! Borja scored a very beautiful goal, which made sitting in the rain for a couple of hours almost worth it. And, since we were soaking wet we decided to meet our new friends at the pumpkin patch.

New cutie

Our friend Tricia had a cradle blessing tonight for her new daughter Violett. Cindy, Kenzie, Devan and I went to the East Indian drum ceremony. Boys and drums...we thought better and left the boys at home.

At 8:30 Mason called Cindy's cell. He said, "Mom, we just realized we forgot to eat dinner."

I said, "well, eat."

He replied, "ok. Bye."