Living La Vida Aloha

Well, hello there!

We took a long break, then a long last look, then a long plane ride, and now we're here.

Living in Hawaii.

Pinch me; I still sometimes can't believe it's true.

Many of you have kindly inquired about what life's been like now that we're somewhat settled into our new routine and location, so I've assembled a mini primer for you with lots and lots of photos!

OUR NEW ISLAND LIFE IN REVIEW: DOMESTICITY EDITION

Every Friday we try to make a trip into "town" to visit John on his lunch hour.

Sometimes we pack a picnic, as we did when we watched the Royal Hawaiian Band perform on the grounds of the Iolani Palace.

Sometimes we visit prominent Hawaiian cultural sites, like the statue of King Kamehameha in front of the Aliiolani Hale, the home of the Hawaii State Supreme Court.

And sometimes we simply venture into Chinatown for amazing noodle dishes and fresh produce.

Bourgeois as it may seem, Saturdays are generally reserved for chores and household cleaning and repairs, (and more recently, soccer games, but more on this in a future post), but every Sunday we try to explore a new beach. I think there are enough on this island to keep us busy in this pursuit for years.

But on a day-to-day basis, it's really just business as usual around these parts.

Since it's been quite hot and humid, the kids seem to subsist on the standard summer diet staple across the nation: Popsicles. The only twist is that most of theirs are homemade, and should really be called POGsicles.

There is also much Play-Doh action in the backyard.

The biggest news, I suppose, is that little Finn -- my firstborn who it seems only just recently came home from the hospital bundled in a baby blue onesie -- started KINDERGARTEN.

Shea's also leaving babyhood behind at an alarming rate by doing extremely well in her potty-training adventures. I think (*fingers crossed*) that we're just days away from finally throwing away all the diapers and Pull-Ups. (Or at least tucking them away in the back end of the closet.)

Other regular activities include:

Costume dress-up...

Tandem skateboarding...

And bandying about in only bathing suits...


or even less.

Yeah, we pretty much love it here.