Double Duty Diary: Twice the Angst in Half the Time

On Top Of The World

2010-03-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

Terms Negotiable

2010-03-21T18:43:00.001-07:00

FOR LEASE: One precocious yet tempestuous four-year-old girl.

Has been known on occasion to crank call 911. And then deny it.

God, I Love This Kid

2010-03-13T21:04:00.001-08:00

Karin: "Finn, be careful playing out front. There are cars there."

Finn, without a hint of sarcasm or attitude:
"OK. Thanks for the tip, Mom."

All Hail The Queen

2010-02-24T21:27:00.000-08:00

Finn: "Oooooh, I can't wait to see that new Alice in Wonderland movie! There's going to be so many cool battles, and swords, and bad guys, and good guys and...."

Shea: "And PIGS!"

Hope You Have A Great One

2009-12-25T18:50:00.000-08:00

A Wolf In Girls' Clothing

2009-12-15T13:39:00.000-08:00

This morning, after her bath, Shea was sitting on the bathroom floor toweling off and babbling to herself. After a minute or two I overheard her shouting (in a mock alarmed tone), "Security! Security!"

So I popped my head in to investigate.

Karin: "What are you saying, Shea?"

Shea: "Security! Security!" she replied, with an impish grin.

Karin: "Do you need help with something?"

Shea: "No."

Karin: "Well, that's kinda like calling for help. Do I need to remind you of the story of the Boy Who Cried Wolf?"

Shea: "Huh?"

After telling her the story, which in my version ends spectacularly with the wolf chomping the boy whole after none of the villagers came to his lying-ass rescue, her face turned from concerned to cynical.

And then she shouted right past me, louder than before:

"Security! She's telling phony stories!"

.

Cutting To The (Not So) Quick

2009-12-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

Scene: Dinner table.

John still working. Karin and Finn both finished with their meals, while Shea flexes her champion stalling muscles by firing one question after another to nobody in particular.

Shea: "Why do we eat rice?"

Shea: "Why do we get wreaths?"

Shea: "Why do we sing?"

Shea: "Why do we have vineyards?"

Shea: "Why do we use forks?"

Shea: "Why do we...

Finn: "...TALK SO MUCH?!?"

Going, Going, GONE!

2009-11-21T16:36:00.000-08:00

Aspirations

2009-11-17T22:03:00.000-08:00

Shea, at age 4 1/2, wants to be when she grows up:

"An airplane flier (a pilot) and the guy who takes the tickets at the movie feeter."

Just so you know.

Preschool Crafts To Thrill You

2009-11-02T21:34:00.000-08:00

Our Resident Lexicographer

2009-10-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

Shea: "Mom, I'm very, very, very, very, very FRUSTRATED."

* beat *

Shea: "Mom, what does frustrated mean?"

Dethroned

2009-10-18T15:24:00.000-07:00

Let's face it: Shea's a lovely girl, but girlfriend can be kinda bossy. Especially with her patient, indulgent older brother.

But even Finn sometimes gets fed up. Like he did this morning.

Shea: "Fiiiinnnnnnn, come in here and fix the TV for me!"

Finn: (No response. Keeps working on his Sodoku puzzle.)

Shea: "Fiiiinnnnnnn, come help me!"

Shea: "Fiiiinnnnnnn, come over here right now!"

Shea: "Fiiiinnnnnnn, you need to do this for me!"

Finn: "It's not like you're my QUEEN or anything, so I'm not going to!"

Getting It

2009-10-05T19:21:00.000-07:00

Finn: "Scarecrow doesn't have a brain but he's the one with all the ideas. Weird, right?"

Bloom

2009-10-02T16:52:00.001-07:00

Yin And Yang

2009-09-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Once again, my children remind me of their polar opposition on most topics:

Shea: "Mommy, ______ got a time out in school again today."

Karin: "Oh no. Have you ever gotten a time out in school, Shea?"

Shea: "No."

Finn: "Me neither!"

Karin: "Good for you guys. It's not cool to get in trouble in school; it's a waste of everyone's time. So remind me again: Why do we go to school?"

(Blurting out their answers at the exact same time:)

Finn: "To learn."

Shea: "So we won't go to jail."

Showing His Brilliance

2009-09-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

Fun Run

2009-09-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Self Awareness

2009-09-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

Karin: "Shea, that was really nice of you to share your chocolate milk with Baby Kui."

Shea: "Yeah, I'm getting nicer."

First Day Of Her Last Preschool Year

2009-08-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

Second Grader

2009-07-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

His Narrative Doesn't So Much ARC As It Does Explode

2009-07-08T00:05:00.000-07:00

Seven.

2009-06-26T19:30:00.000-07:00

Limerick

2009-05-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

There once was a young boy named Finn

Who had a million-dollar grin

The girls they would chase

Him all over the place

And led his poor mother to gin.

Spanky Lives

2009-05-09T00:04:00.000-07:00

Apparently tired of taking turns, today Finn took a thick, black permanent marker from the art supply box and attempted to carve out some boy territory for himself by repeatedly inscribing "NO GIRLS" on the grove of strawberry guava trees in the backyard where he and his sister regularly play.

He was promptly scolded for being a repeat vandal (last week he got busted for writing on his closet door and who can forget this doozie?), and sent to his room for a little cool-down time.

And guess who ended up playing in the trees after all, just before we scrubbed off all the offending graffiti before it set into the bark?

Four Faces of Four

2009-04-30T00:01:00.000-07:00

Seems like I was just doing this, but holy smokes -- our baby turns four today!

Sometimes She Reminds Me Of Stevie Nicks

2009-03-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

With Apologies To Anyone East Of The Rockies

2009-01-15T10:13:00.000-08:00

After flipping on Good Morning America this morning I witnessed a frightful weather update for the eastern half of the mainland, with lots of swirling blue graphics, a few negative temperatures sections, and prominent use of the term Wind Chill.

We're expecting a big storm here today and tomorrow, with waves expected to reach an impressive 35 feet on the North Shore and winds of up to 60mph that will likely fell many trees tonight. So when the GMA broadcast cut to our local weather report for the islands, these conditions were highlighted.

But it was the extended forecast that caught my eye and made me laugh, predicting conditions for the weekend would be drier and with cooler-than-usual temps.

While today and tomorrow showed raindrops and clouds, the calendar panels for Satuday and Sunday displayed, in all capital letters, the word CHILLY.

The temperature high meterologists expect? The one that elicited the word "CHILLY?"

77 degrees.

Hey, You Guys!!!

2009-01-14T19:56:00.000-08:00

I've been a bit nostalgic lately about my kids' TV choices -- what with the near vapidity of many children's programs (not you, Yo Gabba Gabba) and the impending premiere of the new Electric Company next week -- so I've been recording some episodes of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood for them to watch.

After finishing his dinner tonight, Finn punched up an episode on the DVR and settled, with his sister, into his favorite nook of the couch. Upon hearing the signature theme song begin..."It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...," I said, "Oh, I just love Mister Rogers! You know, he was around when I was a little kid."

F: Really? Was he an old man when you were a little kid?

K: Yep.

F: Well, is he still an old man, or is he dead now?

K: He's dead now, unfortunately.

F: How did he die?

K: He just got old.

F: Oh, it's a good thing nobody shot him.

K: (Expression on face that says: !?!?!?!)

F: I mean, it's a bad thing he's dead, but a good thing nobody shot him.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

So, there's that to think about now.

There's A Novel In Him Yet

2009-01-13T17:20:00.000-08:00

I noticed this doodle on the back of Finney's homework today and it delighted me in its conciseness.

2008 In Photos

2008-12-31T23:59:00.000-08:00

2008: The Year in Photos

In January the kids got buckled into the car for school, backpacks and lunchboxes in hand -- Shea, for the first time.

In February the kids got spoiled all kinds of rotten.

In March the kids and I climbed up Diamond Head together.

This is the view from about halfway up.

In April, still getting used to the whole concept of preschool, Shea cried through most of her Easter parade. Afterwards, her brother comforted her.

By May, Shea had long-since figured out which of Finney's friends were the cute ones and flirted accordingly.

In June, we posed for a family portrait in our backyard because I needed to submit something for my 20-year high school reunion brochure. 20 years.

In July, while visiting California, the kids got to wear fun hats in a photobooth at Frankie Dino's 6th birthday party.

In August Finn kept a keen eye on the competition at his school's jog-a-thon.

In September the kids watched The Red Balloon on my computer, wearing next to nothing and loving it.

In October John showed Shea how he shaves every morning.

In November we all watched history being made by someone who can actually bodysurf Sandy's.

In December I actually talked Shea into wearing a dress AND a hat.
Which she wore for about 10 minutes.

Here's wishing you a fantastic 2009!

Shea Wrote Her Name For The First Time On Christmas Eve

2008-12-27T19:37:00.001-08:00

Finn Lost His First Tooth Today...Finally.

2008-12-21T22:34:00.000-08:00

It's hard to see, but in the photo below the top baby photo of Finney shows that the tooth he lost today was the very same tooth that broke through his 8-month-old gums first. Awwww.

She Calls It Her Cookie Bake Oven

2008-12-08T22:01:00.000-08:00

I Love When The System Works In My Favor

2008-12-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

We went to see Santa Friday night -- a night Finn won a Christmas tree in a grand-prize drawing and a night I remembered my camera but forgot my memory card.

Thus, no photos!

But we waited to see Santa anyway, and instead of posing for shots, the kids actually just chatted with the big guy.

Santa: "What would you like for Christmas this year?"

Finn: "Anything's ok."

Santa: "Oh, I see. I've got this big box full of rocks, then. Will that do?"

Finn & Shea: giggle, giggle

Santa: "Well, I'll see what we can find for you. In the meantime, I want you (speaking to Finn) to stop picking on your little sister so much. And I want you (speaking to Shea) to stop tattling on your brother so much. OK, kids? Merry Christmas!"

Finn, to me after thanking Santa and leaving his lap:

"You see, Mom -- he really DOES see everything!"

Today's Swimming Lessons

2008-11-29T19:57:00.000-08:00

Meeting Mufi

2008-11-21T21:24:00.001-08:00

While visiting the Honolulu Zoo last month, we had a chance to schmooze with Honolulu's mayor, Mufi Hannemann. He was there to announce the birth of three new baby tiger cubs.

Dude is super tall. And plenty dapper.

Seriously, I think I swooned a little.

Fall Is For Face Painting

2008-11-16T23:46:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day Water Play

2008-11-11T17:45:00.000-08:00

Some Of My Favorite Images From This Election

2008-11-05T18:26:00.000-08:00

So True

2008-10-28T14:58:00.001-07:00

The best part? This t-shirt retails for a whopping $37.

The Kids Love Saying Baby Makapu'u As Much As They Love Going There

2008-10-17T01:23:00.000-07:00

Not A Bad Monday At All

2008-10-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

Waiting For Papa's Car To Pull Into The Driveway

2008-10-12T23:21:00.001-07:00

Semantics

2008-09-24T21:50:00.000-07:00

Karin, to Shea: "I love you."

Shea, to Karin: "I love you."

Karin, to Shea: "I love you more."

Shea, to Karin: "I love you more."

Karin, to Shea: "I love you most!"

* beat *

Finn, from out of nowhere: "Well, I love you more than most."

The Moment They've Been Waiting For For Six Years

2008-09-21T23:51:00.000-07:00

Shot Within A Span Of 60 Seconds

2008-09-17T00:39:00.000-07:00

Oh Yeah, He'd Like You To Know He Surfs Now

2008-09-12T19:00:00.000-07:00

Waikiki, August 2008

In the orange rashguard: Finney

In the blue rashguard: his buddy David

In some of the backgrounds: Diamond Head

In my mind the whole time: He's so lucky to be growing up in Hawaii

Go West, Young Woman

2008-09-10T12:00:00.000-07:00

The people in the photo below are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet.

They're certainly some of the nicest ones I've ever known.

Thankfully, when Vern and Mary Jo met each other back in the 1950s, they agreed they'd make a pretty good pair so they got hitched -- while still in their teens -- and last month celebrated their keen instincts, incredible luck, and 50 years of marriage.

Here they are at their golden wedding anniversary party, surrounded by their friends and family, having just been serenaded by one of their granddaughters who played "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" for them on the fiddle at sunset overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Yeah, it was one of those moments.

I was 10 years old when I met their youngest daughter, Cari, after the family moved from the San Fernando Valley to San Clemente. We had no way to know it at the time, but the blossoming friendship between the nerdy girl and the new girl would become an enduring one.

Now, thanks to sharing years of special times together, even our children show a heartwarming closeness.

Mary Jo and Vern have always kindly included me at their many family functions over the years -- whether a relaxed barbecue at San Onofre, a Sunday family dinner, their annual Fourth of July party or a Rockwellian Thanksgiving feast -- and even hosted my bridal shower in their gorgeous home a month before I married John. I think of them as my second family, and they've always treated me as one of their own.

This sense of warm inclusion has trickled down even to Finnegan, who promptly reported when someone announced at the party it was time for all the grandchildren to be photographed together. So here are all of Mary Jo and Vern's nine grandchildren, plus one extra Irish one for luck.

We were honored to be included on the guest list for Vern and Mary Jo's momentous celebration and even postponed our return to Hawaii this summer just to make sure we were there to raise our glasses in their honor. We wouldn't have missed it for anything.

You can see a slide show of the fun time we all had together at Casa Romantica by clicking this link.

Paying Our Respects To The Institution

2008-09-08T18:46:00.000-07:00

If you read the last post, then the topic of this one will come as no surprise; after gorging ourselves at Philippe's, we drove up the hill to Dodger Stadium and took in a evening game from the top deck seats.

We were joined by Brian, Geri, cousin Reilly and Reilly's older cousin Danny...

...as well as Aunties Gretchen and Jody.

After weeks of preparation, Shea learned all the words to Take Me Out to the Ballgame, and made us all proud as she sang them during the seventh inning stretch.

And once again, we lasted a full eight innings.

Which was more than enough time to put the Giants in their place.

A French Dip, A Piece Of LA History, And A Slice Of Heaven, Please

2008-09-02T19:15:00.000-07:00

As I've written about here before, for our family no trip to see the Dodgers play would be complete without a trip beforehand to one of LA's classic establishments, Philippe's.

Here, then, is a photo tour of our gastronomical pilgrimage last month. I only wish this blog had the capacity to share samples with you.

Then we could swoon together.

This somewhat nondescript white building on the corner of N. Alameda and Ord holds 100 years of tradition and deliciousness. (Technically, Philippe's opened in 1908 but didn't get to this location until 1951.)

Hungry patrons queue informally between long, wooden tables. On busy days and nights, every one of those tables are full and every one of those lines is twice as long. If you look close you can see John and Shea holding hands in line behind the first pillar, with Finn a few steps behind them.

On the middle shelf against the back wall you'll notice nearly a full row of Philippe's famous mustard. As they say, it's "hot, but good." So true. On the counter in the foreground, an entire container of pickled eggs, brining in their magenta deliciousness.

Uniformed and gloved servers do it all for you: take your order, make your sandwiches, scoop your salads, fill your drinks, and deliver your money -- which you place on the palm tree tray -- to the cashier, behind, in pink. Cash only, baby.

Back row: Scoop of potato salad, scoop of coleslaw. Front row: Two pickled eggs, one kosher pickle. Tall glass of ice-cold lemonade. Not pictured: One turkey and Swiss double dipped french dip sandwich; one lamb and blue cheese single-dipped french dip sandwich; homemade beef stew with tons of chunky veggies; one slice of pecan pie.

Fruit salad, yummy yummy. How did she know I wanted the one with the big kiwi slice on top?

Iced teas and lemonades, frequently purchased, are already prepared for servers. Our beer, however, was freshly draughted.

Finn flashes his best smile in hopes of scoring one of those cinnamon-sprinkled tapiocas in the front row.

At our table and excitedly about to dig in. Look closely and you'll notice the patron at the table behind us has a Giants baseball cap unapologetically resting on his table. At a notorious Dodger establishment. But the food's so good nobody seems to mind.

Remind me to tell you the now-legendary-in-our-family "pecan pie" story from years ago the next time I see you.

They even have an old-fashioned candy counter where we always stock up on goodies for the ballgame. And yes, that's sawdust on the floor.

Top two rows: The real candy, circa 2008.
Bottom four rows: The original merchandising display stickers, worn and weathered, that used to indicate which Life Savers were stocked there, back in the day.

Did you know they used to make Clove Life Savers? Me neither.

The view towards the main entrance from inside. On the right, antique wooden phone booths. Out front, the restaurant's famous striped awnings.

No doubt she gained at least a few extra ounces dining on all the goodness Philippe's has to offer. The antique scale will tell for sure.

All Those Years Ago

2008-08-26T19:10:00.000-07:00

Granted, it was a while ago, but I gave fair warning that there may be old photographs making an appearance on this blog at some point. Ancient, grainy photographs, scanned from many yellowing photo albums unearthed from my parents' house, that would appear here to serve a single purpose:

TO SHOW THE RIDICULOUS HAIR WE ALL HAD IN THE '80s.

I attended my 20-year high school reunion this summer, you see, which afforded me the luxury of getting together with many of my old friends and the dubious opportunity of looking back at some of the memories I had kept from The Aqua Net Era -- or in my case, the Era of 1,000 Peroxide Bottles, Crimping Irons, and Spiral Perms.

Yes, spiral perms. Good God, I am so glad I'm no longer a teenager.

Here then, are some shots that show me back in the day with my best gal pals, interspersed with recent shots of all of us. So sit back, relax and get ready to laugh and point, then gasp with shock at how impressed you are at how elegantly we all grew up -- and out of the Dare to Have Hair decade.

At our senior picnic, 1988.
Back row: Julie, Carolynn, Karri, me and Margo.
Front row: Gretchen and Abril.

San Clemente High School graduation, 1988.
From left: Cari, me, Carolynn and Julie.

Luncheon preceding our 20-year-reunion, 2008.
From left: Carren, Marty, Carolynn, Gretchen, Julie, Karri, me, Cari and Abril.

Here's a closer look at some of the changes of time.

Me and Abril in 1988...

...and in 2008.

Craig and Marty in 1988...

...and Carren and Marty in 2008.

Cari, Carren and Gretchen in 1988...

...and Gretchen and Carren...

...and Cari in 2008.

Me, Julie and Karri during the commencement ceremony in 1988...

...and Julie and Karri in 2008.

Back row: Carren, Lynnell, Julie, Gretchen, Carolynn, and Chele.
Bottom row: me and Margo.
1988, clearly. (Did you see the wash on that denim dress?)

Carren, Chele, Lynnell and Gretchen...

...and Carolynn, me and Chele in 2008.

Cari and Gretchen in 1988...

...and Cari and Karri in 2008.

And finally, my absolute FAVORITE photo from the entire reunion event, wherein Julie captured Carolynn and Karri buying classic '80s beverages that they would eventually smuggle into the reunion party to share with the rest of us.

Does anything else say '80s girly buzz better than Bartles & Jaymes berry wine coolers?

These, ladies and gentlemen, are my friends.

San O: A Tale of Six Summers

2008-08-24T15:15:00.000-07:00

During the summer of 2002, when Finney was about a month old, John and I took him to Old Man's at San Onofre State Beach for his very first beach day. Here's a rough scan of his baby scrapbook, marking that momentous rite of passage as a Southern Californian.

A year later, that little baby somehow became a toddler, and it was at San Onofre where he practiced taking his first steps.

Then, when that little toddler turned two, we held his birthday party at San Onofre, under the Dogpatch palapa. Here's a scan of his baby book page commemorating that day.

The next year we welcomed a little sister for Finn, and promptly initiated sweet Shea into the San Onofre lifestyle.

And, just like her brother, that small babe turned into a toddler, stumbling across the sand, growing more confident with each wobbly step. Again, we visited San Onofre.

And yet again.

And then we moved to Hawaii, which has countless gorgeous beaches, but no San Onofre. So we were delighted to visit our old summer playground -- "San O" -- for an evening barbecue and campfire with Cari and her family during our mainland vacation.

What It Do, Logie Boo?

2008-08-18T19:30:00.000-07:00

Remember these adorable three-year-old preschoolers, winding their way through a pumpkin patch hay maze back in 2005?

Well they're six years old now and in the first grade, but would like you to know that they're still very much pals and friends and best boogie boarder buddies and all that good stuff. And can you just step a little to the left, please, so we can play with this video game?

One of our first matters of pressing business while in California was to log some serious play time with Finney's buddy Logan and his family. Here the kids are at the local park, eating Kultured Kitchen frozen yogurt, playing chase with the bigger kids, and being generally puppy-dog adorable.

Part of our grand vacation plan included scheduled kid-free Mommy time for Gina and me, so we made sure to get it inked in long before our plane's wheels even touched the ground at LAX. Here we are with Cari outside the restaurant where the three of us had a lovely dinner, and later at one of San Clemente's best old dive bars, The Red Fox Lounge (which, sadly, due to a slow, city-wide gentrification over the last decade or so, isn't red, foxy, or even all that loungey anymore. We had a good time anyway).

Before our vacation was over, we were even able to get the Dads involved for some quality barbecue, corn on the cob, homemade macaroni and cheese -- and surf talk. Jerry, you see, is a real-life master surfboard shaper by trade and -- how cool is this?!? -- made John a custom surfboard during our visit to match his height, weight and even paddling-distance tendencies. Now that we're home in Hawaii again and the new board has cured, John's like a kid on Christmas morning every weekend riding his very own new, shiny tricycle. In the water.

Once again, good times all around.

Back To Where I Once Belonged

2008-08-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

This is my family.

The other half of my family, the half that made me. This is also the family with only TWO kids -- one who used to live in Hawaii and now lives in California, and one who used to live in California and now lives in Hawaii. Funny, that.

Speaking of which, here's my brother Eddie, who drove down from Northern California in a single, mind-boggling, 14-hour shot to spend a week with us during our visit. He would sit here in the back family room of our parents' San Clemente home nightly, holding court over spectacular sunsets, making his evening plans with his many pals around town.

Never one to shirk my responsibilities as a pain in the ass older sister, here I am harassing him with my camera as he tries to wrangle his feral mane of blond hair into a manageable pony tail after using gobs of this product:

And finally, a shot of our faces fewer than 24 hours after Eddie had a nasty Pacific Ocean run-in with an errant body boarder whose errant swim fin scraped errantly across my brother's entire left eye. After which Ed grumbled a few errant expletives but restrained himself from taking the young but oblivious grommet on a one-way trip to Errantland.

But back to Grandma and Opa, who were our gracious hosts for the majority of our nearly one-month visit to California. We had a chance to spend lots of time together.

Better still, Grandma and Opa enthusiastically took on a significant amount of childcare detail during our stay, so John and I had plenty of chances to spend lots of time together. Away from the kids.

I had forgotten how nice a quiet meal can be. Thanks, guys!

As for the kids, though, here's just a photo sampling of the prince and princess during their reign in the Land of Perpetual Yes, where every whim and heart's desire was indulged. Week after week.

For Shea, this meant, among other treats, homemade pancakes for breakfast every morning.

For Finney, this meant someone being available to play repeated games of SkipBo with him at a moment's notice.

And for both kids, this meant being able to bake cookies, go for walks, have ice cream in the harbor, go to the circus, spend a weekend in Big Bear, go to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, or, well, you get the picture.

Or in this case, the pictures.

Reunited

2008-08-09T20:20:00.000-07:00

This is my family.

Well, it's really half of my family -- the half that made John. The family that has SIX kids, now spread across five states. We all got together in mid-July in Laguna Beach, California -- something that hadn't happened since this day in Laguna Beach nearly eight years ago:

That was taken on our wedding day -- one of the clearest September Saturdays in Southern California just about anyone had seen in their lives -- mere months after the eldest child in first photo was born.

But on the more recent day in Laguna, everyone left behind their rented tuxes and high heels in favor of rash guards and flip flops for a day that would eventually end up a few blocks away at Shaw's Cove, a beach where John and his siblings often went as kids.

Later that day, we all descended on Brian and Geri's house in Long Beach, which in my lifetime has proven to be One of Those Places Where You KNOW You'll Always Have a Kick-Ass Time, and where they've cleverly erected an homage to the Temple at Chavez Ravine in their backyard:

(Here's the original, which stands sentinel over Dodger Stadium from the hills behind the third base line.)

So, what do you suppose a bunch of Irish-German folks, gathered together for the first time in eight years, will do with themselves once reunited?

That's right: consume massive amounts of Mexican food and beverages.

Here's Eric, in the beginning stages of making a ridiculously good homemade guacamole using -- if memory serves (and I had a few of Brian's stellar margaritas, so the memory was in no position to serve, quite frankly) -- no fewer than 12 avocados.

And we ate every last bite before the evening was over. 'Cause when my people go big, they go Texas big.

(They even have the ashtray to prove it.)

One of the best parts of the reunion was watching the new generation, cousins who rarely get a chance to play together, get to know each other better. But because they're kids, the ice -- with a little help of a computer video game or a few plastic swords or the inflatable pool in the backyard -- is always quickly broken.

Here's hoping another eight years don't pass by before we do it all over again.

Home Again

2008-08-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

Sweet home Alabama, we're back in Hawaii!

We had a lovely, indulgent vacation filled with Mexican food, family, friends, the beach and baseball. And then some more Mexican food. Really, things don't get much better than that.

Since I have about eleventeen kajillion photos to share, I thought I'd break up the trip into bite-size events and updates. So stay tuned for those.

Not promising chronological order or any semblance of organization, but I'm sure you'll get the drift.

In the meantime, here's a shot of Finney's first day of first grade.

"Um, if anyone out there's three years old, can you please throw a massive tantrum at the idea of posing for a photo? Oh, you there, in the pink! Yes, you're three, you say? Perfect. Whenever you're ready..."

It's July. When Did That Happen?

2008-07-04T16:00:00.000-07:00

So many things kept us busy in June that I didn't find much time for blogging.

So thought I give you a quick recap, because -- guess what?!? -- I'm planning to be equally as derelict in my updates in July.

Finn finished kindergarten, declaring that he wants to be "an art teacher during the week, and a dolphin trainer on the weekends" when he grows up. I'll let him figure out on his own that his current plan doesn't leave much time for boogie boarding.

After school was dismissed and talk turned to first grade, Finney earnestly requested that his most favorite-ist kindergarten teacher in the whole wide world, seen below, be his teacher every year from now on.

Meanwhile, Shea finished her first semester of preschool, which she liked a little more each time she went. Which is to say she totally hated it at first and grew to kinda like it. Things reached an all-time high when she agreed to wear the silly hat.

With our newfound free time, we went to the Honolulu Zoo, a beautiful parcel of land that sits beneath Diamond Head and just across the street from Waikiki Beach.

And then, trying to squeeze the life out of our annual passes, back to Sea Life Park.

Finn started summer school, and so did Shea.

Another milestone: Shea (sort-of) sat through her first big-girl movie theater movie, Kung-Fu Panda, incurring only one brief lobby time-out for repeated and noisy squirming, and then fell asleep on my lap for the last 20 minutes of the film.

We had a great visit with some old friends from California.

Other bullet-pointed news items:

The fucking ants ate through the wiring in our television and killed it dead.
Finn turned six and for his birthday dinner requested ramen noodles and nigiri sushi. He actually ate pieces of tamago, sake, maguro, ebi and unagi -- and tried, but didn't care for, the tobiko. I didn't know what sushi was at 6 years old. He's on his way to becoming a real island boy.
We hosted our first slumber party -- with SIX six-year-old boys -- and survived.
The kids finished their first series of swimming classes -- and Finn, finally getting the hang of moving through water with his head semi-submerged, swam half the length of the pool on his own.
Getting a taste of the bitter medicine his friend Logan had to swallow last summer, Finney said goodbye to his best Hawaii buddy, who moved away to Texas.

And there it is, in a nutshell. We'll be vacationing soon, so have a great rest of July and we'll hopefully see you again in August!

SIX.

2008-06-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

Foreshadowing

2008-05-30T18:11:00.001-07:00

Judging by Shea's expression in this photo, we're totally hosed once she becomes a teenager.

Making Gyoza/Potstickers

2008-05-20T20:43:00.000-07:00

After Mom prepares the pork filling, gently spread water around the edge of the wrappers using your fingertips:

Scoop a teaspoon or so of filling into the center of the prepared wrapper:

Fold wrapper in half and pinch to seal:

Continue to pinch all across top seam and place on plate to be fried and steamed by Mom:

Dip in sauce and eat until your little tummy hurts:

Ice Cream Antisocial

2008-05-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

Instead of throwing a loud, messy party this year to celebrate Shea's third birthday, we decided to downshift into low gear and get her a nice gift and take her out for fancy ice cream. With cherries on top. Because she's only three and we can still get away with those type of path-of-least-resistance shenanigans.

Here she is on the morning of her birthday, admiring the big pink card that her brother made for her while checking out her kickin' new playhouse -- complete with functioning yet gratefully muted doorbell, interior sink, seating for two and a mail slot! -- her hair still disheveled from the kind of sleep only a two year old turning three can muster.

And here she is reminding us once again that for kids the box never fails to be the best part of any oversized gift item.

On the Saturday after her birthday the four of us drove to Kaneohe to visit Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour -- a place I can guarantee John and I were about a thousand times more excited to visit than the kids were, if only because as children he and I both secretly dreamed of taking up permanent residence in its ice cream storage freezers and never ever going home again to the land of pot roasts and Brussels sprouts, yet somehow a place neither of us had ever had chance to visit.

As with most things built up over a lifetime of anticipation, it was really a huge bust -- more a diner than a parlour; the food was tepid, overpriced, and way too salty; and the decor looked mired in the late 1980s instead of the early 1900s -- and we were both hugely disappointed. But the kids dug it, and managed to show off some nice smiles in between squabbling over whose crayons were whose.

Everything was nice and festive until the birthday girl realized, after a ship's bell near our table was rung loudly enough to silence the entire restaurant, that the pinstriped wait staff was about to serenade her. In person. While looking at her.

Below, you can witness the delicious misery unfold.

Um, is this really happening right now?

"It's your B-I-R-T-H-day, let's all celebrate..."

Um, where's Alan Funt*?

Seriously, though -- so not cool...

"We'll sing a second verse, and then a third, to prolong your agony..."

No, really, you need to go away now.

Just leave this nice pink ice cream here and we'll call it even.

Shea managed to keep herself together long enough for the singers to disperse so she could get to the business at hand of quickly devouring her entire clown sundae, and now even speaks fondly of that day when we took her for fancy ice cream.

Especially the part about the cherries on top.

*Not that she'd know who this is (was), or anything...

Peter Parker Eat Your Heart Out

2008-05-04T23:12:00.000-07:00

Everyone's A Critic

2008-05-01T12:00:00.000-07:00

This was Shea's adorably coy reaction to being serenaded with the "Happy Birthday To You" song by her grandparents over the Webcam yesterday.

Immediately after this she opened the gifts they had sent her, one by one, in front of the camera.

Then, perhaps distracted by the surfeit of new toys at her disposal or just preparing to fully embrace the bipolar nightmare that is being three years old, she received their second round of birthday singing a little less graciously when, instead of folding her hands gently over her mouth again, she cupped them over her ears and shouted:

"This is hurting my ears!"

Her Last Day Of Being Two

2008-04-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

American Graffiti

2008-04-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

So...

Anyone out there have any magical tips for getting ball point pen and colored markers out of wood?

Peekaboo

2008-04-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

A Long Way From Los Angeles

2008-04-13T22:00:00.000-07:00

Earlier this month, we welcomed my longtime friend (no, really -- we went to junior high, high school and even college together; she's totally my people), Carolynn, and her daughter, Alyssa.

In what has quickly become a hosting tradition here, the kids ushered our youngest guest to the backyard and directly into the sprinklers within moments of her stepping through the front door.

As Carolynn was raised on a pretty steady diet of trips to Maui throughout her teens and young adulthood but had only been to Oahu as a young child, she has a deep love for Hawaii but we were able to show her "our island" for pretty much her first time.

So we filled the girls' brief trip with some of the Oahu classics: visits to a placid Hanauma Bay and balmy Lanikai Beach, a drive through Waikiki, a local hike, and lots of time relaxing at home (mostly poring over old yearbooks and Radar magazines while snacking on apples and bagel chips). Good times.

Although we've been able to participate in most of each other's Big Life Events over the previous decade or so, the last time Carolynn and I had a chance to spend this much time together we were both working toward our undergraduate degrees at UCLA, sharing a criminally overpriced apartment overlooking the peaceful Los Angeles National Cemetery, negotiating the intricacies and landmines of our respective college relationships, and trying to resist making too many trips to Diddy Riese Cookies in Westwood Village.

(I'm going to see if I can dig up a halfway decent photo from that era for you. I warn you now: there may be BIG hair involved.)

So I was very excited to be able to share our new Hawaii life with her -- and to show her that, among other things, I finally know how to make my bed every morning. (OK, at least most mornings.)

What a treat to be able to spend so much concentrated time giggling and reconnecting with an old friend...

...while watching a new generation of friendships blossom.

A Tale Of Two Weeks

2008-03-29T21:05:00.000-07:00

We are finally approaching the sunset of a more than two-week spring break from school (cruel, I know), and for the better part of the last week the kids looked mostly like this:

Sick couch potatoes with hot, molten lava fevers. For all their whininess and generally poor humor I christened them the stars of "The Clingy & Cranky Show" -- the show I was forced to watch for a week straight with little to no funny commercials. Worse than "Big Brother" and "Rock of Love" combined.

The only upshot of the week, really, was that for the first time in years, Finn actually napped. Every day. Sometimes even at the same time as Shea, which produced an eerie, surreal daytime silence in the house, the likes of which I haven't heard (not heard?) since before we had children.

And speaking of befores...

Before we were stricken with the Plague of a Thousand VHS Tapes, we had a fun week exploring Honolulu, including our very first ascent of perhaps the state's most iconic peak: Diamond Head.

And yes, Shea -- a month shy of her third birthday -- made the trip with us too! It took about two hours up and back and she did most of the journey on her own two feet.

Halfway up the mountain I was able to get a friend to take this quick snapshot of the three of us -- a millisecond after which Finn and his buddy practically ran the entire rest of the way up the mountain without breaking a sweat, making every one of my 37 years flash before my eyes.

These tourists made the journey in their wedge heels. Wow.

The views from the crater's peak were magnificent.

This is Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, behind that. That pink splotch there in the middle? That's the famous Royal Hawaiian hotel and it's faaaaabulous. Especially its beachfront Mai Tai Bar.

And here are a couple local urchins happy to be standing at the top of what was once a real live volcano with hot, molten lava and everything.

Come to think of it, maybe that was what inspired their fevers....

And Then One Day We Just Turned Around And He Was All Grown Up

2008-03-21T02:25:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2008-03-17T16:09:00.000-07:00

For The First Time Ever, We Are Pet Owners

2008-03-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Freckles

2008-03-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

I Actually LIVE Here

2008-03-08T22:58:00.000-08:00

Putting The Grand In Grandparents

2008-02-29T13:00:00.000-08:00

My parents flew out for a visit earlier this month. Even though my Mom flew over with us to help out when we made The Big Move last July, this was the first visit where they were able to see what our new life in Hawaii looks like now that all the furniture is in place, the artwork and photos are hung on the wall, the kids are enrolled in school and sports, and I've finally put all my pictures into my scrapbooks.

No, wait -- that last one still hasn't happened. Wishful thinking.

But you get the idea. And I have to say I think they liked what they saw.

The kids were so happy to see their Grandma and Opa -- and not just because they arrived with two completely full suitcases of gifts, either. My parents, grateful to finally be able to flex their Grandparent muscles after seven months of separation, spent most of their time playing London Bridge, giving horsey rides, flying airplanes, and reading stories.

John and I kept busy during their visit, too, taking full advantage of the rare opportunity for FREE BABYSITTING. We went out on lots of dinner dates, rocked our socks off at The Police concert, and even went surfing together in front of Diamondhead in East Waikiki. (OK, truth be told, John surfed and I paddled around for two hours, a little more than slightly intimidated by the shallow rocky bottom underneath me and the six years since I was last on my surfboard.)

As one of his belated Christmas gifts, we rented Dad a BMW motorcycle for the day so he could check out the rest of the island. He made sure to give exhilarating albeit low-gear rides to interested five-year-old riders, and allowed not-at-all-interested, two-year-old onlookers the opportunity to just pose for a photo with the engine off.

We went to Chinatown, where Dad had his first taste of dim sum and got friendly with a flounder, whom he invited over for dinner that night.

We paid a visit to Sea Life Park, Oahu's charming little version of San Diego's Sea World.

And, of course, there was much soccer. (With the cutest referee, by the way.)

Bottom line:

It was a great visit.

The grandparents need to come more often and stay longer when they do.

The end.

They Totally Know The Difference Already

2008-02-26T21:06:00.000-08:00

Karin: "Finn, as soon as you're done we've got to start working on your reading homework."

Finn: "But I still need my dessert!"

John, who just finished making the kids homemade banana-blackberry smoothies after dinner: "You're drinking your dessert."

Finn: "But this is good [for me] dessert. I need a BAD dessert."

Girls Gone Aloha

2008-02-21T18:23:00.000-08:00

Cari and Daisy flew out for a lovely, girls-only visit at the beginning of February. The weather was dodgy -- the rain followed us almost wherever we went -- but during the sporadic moments of sunshine we managed to hit some of the top Oahu beach spots, including Hanauma Bay and Lanikai Beach.

Plus, there was much goofing around at home, including lots of Ring Around the Rosie and even a birthday party for both Daisy (7) and John (not 7 by a long shot).

On the morning of their last day here, after experiencing a whirlwind, four-day tour of our new life in Hawaii that among the more glamorous stops included a sobering sample of downtown Honolulu traffic, AYSO soccer games viewed from under the cover of umbrellas, and even trips to Costco, Cari said something that meant so much to me, a delightful non sequitur that sounded like the final judgment on an argument she had been having in her head for quite some time:

"Fine, then. I don't want you guys to come back to San Clemente if you're so happy here."

We miss them already.

She Picked Them All Out By Herself

2008-02-20T23:25:00.000-08:00

We've had company for most of the last month, so I have many photos and stories to share.

But first, an injection of cuteness to distract you as I get myself organized.

Everyone's Favorite 80-Year-Old Kindergartener

2008-02-07T22:15:00.000-08:00

Finney's school recently held a celebrity dress-up day, where the students were encouraged to come to school dressed as a celebrity. But when I asked Finney who he wanted to be, he looked confused.

"Do you know what a celebrity is?" I asked.

"Nope."

(We got him out of Southern California just in time, folks -- just in time.)

When I explained that it was someone recognizable, someone who excelled in their field, like music, cooking, acting or sports, he jumped right on the sports ticket.

"I want to be a sports celebrity!"

He couldn't think of a single celebrity sportsperson, however, since he's not that kind of kid. Yet. Not into basketball, not into football, not into soccer (other than his own games), and only marginally interested in baseball.

(Ask him to tell you about any of the peripheral characters in Star Wars or Spiderman, however, and you'll get an earful. And an invitation to duel with plastic lightsabers. Consider yourself warned.)

But where there's a will there's a way, and the boy got his wish.

The one sports figure he knew? The one he's known since birth?

Why, the Dodgers' own Vin Scully, of course!

Check out his awesome broadcaster blazer and his kickin' press pass, which he kept around his neck in case anyone here in Hawaii wasn't quite sure who in the heck he was.

(By the way, there were plenty of those folks.)

Epilogue: After this photoshoot, he was bum rushed by a zealous female fan who mistook him for Bob Barker and smothered him with kisses.

I guess it's true that even celebrities have it tough, sometimes.

Worth The Cost Of Preschool Tuition Alone

2008-02-05T12:26:00.000-08:00

Can I Get An AMEN?!?

2008-01-30T17:17:00.000-08:00

Where We've Been

2008-01-28T20:30:00.000-08:00

The last couple weeks have been a little bumpy here, trying to settle back into the school/homework/soccer practice/preschool routine after what felt like a month long vacation from all of it.

(I'm only partially kidding: Finn's school let out for 25 days in a row for the holiday break. "That's like a college vacation," a friend said, shocked. But without the ski trip to Lake Tahoe and sleeping in 'til noon parts.)

The most deliciously vacationy of it all, however, was the last week of the break, when we hosted Finn's best buddy from California, Logan, and his sweet mom, Gina.

You may remember Logan and Gina from past posts on this blog (which I cannot connect to through blogger at this time. Anyone else having this problem for the last, like, forever? Anyone?). Logan's had top billing on the Marquee of Finney's Heart for years and years, so naturally the boys were excited to see one another again after an excruciating six-month separation.

We tracked their flight on our computer as it made its way across the Pacific Ocean from LAX, an activity which made Finney nearly bubble over with anticipation in the hours leading up to their arrival.

Finney made this special poster to greet them, which hung above our breakfast table during their entire stay.

Thankfully, the weather was cooperative so we spent lots of time at the beach, went hiking, and had lots of downtime, sprinkler hopping and Otter Pops at the house. Oh, and there was much juvenile nakedness. Especially from Shea, 'cuz that's just how she rolls these days.

Here's the rest of the highlights, in photos.

As the pictures can underscore, we had a fantastic time and were so grateful our friends made the long journey to come see us in our new home. We wanted to rip up their return tickets to see if maybe they'd just decide to stay forever, but no go. This time.

We're getting a new batch of visitors this week (and still more the week after that), so I hope to have lots of new photos up soon.

Another First

2008-01-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

Shea started part-time preschool last week.

Despite the fact that she had been excitedly talking about going to big-girl school for months, that she had a brand-new backpack and lunchbox ready for the occasion, that she had her own cubbyhole with her name on it (with stickers, even!), and that I had stayed for nearly three hours of orientation on our previous visit to help her learn the ropes, she had a pretty little princess MELTDOWN when it was time for me to leave her on her own.

Here she is just moments before my departure, composed and eager for the day ahead. Or so it seemed.

The last thing I saw when I left Shea's classroom was her fitful body squirming on the ground in protest of my unfeeling abandonment, as her patient teacher tried to redirect her attention elsewhere.

Her screams, however, could be heard all the way into the corridor -- and even out in the parking lot.

All morning I kept my cellphone in my pocket, expecting the inevitable call to come collect her and rid them of her dramatic shenanigans. But the call, surprisingly, never came.

At the regularly scheduled pick-up time, I tentatively approached the classroom, half expecting to see Shea huddled in a corner, pouting or sticking her tongue out at her classmates. What I saw, however, was my nearly three-year-old daughter depositing her lunch trash in the rubbish bin by herself on her way to the bathroom to wash her own hands. She even had a smile on her face.

"Fifteen seconds," was the definitive pronouncement the teacher made when I entered the classroom. "Fifteen seconds after you left, I asked her if she wanted to go play with her friends outside and she said, 'O.K.'"

And so, with a sigh of relief and further appreciation of the refined art of distraction, begins another child's scholastic journey.

All's well that begins well, I say.

2007: A Year In Photographic Review

2007-12-29T20:11:00.000-08:00

January: The kids visited Disneyland for the first time.

February: We all felt the love between siblings.

March: John and I took a closer look at our potential new home state.

April: Shea turned two.

May: We took a last family portrait in CA before starting to pack our things.

June: Finn turned five and John left for Hawaii.

July: The kids and I said goodbye to California.

August: Finn started kindergarten....

September: ...and soccer, too.

October: At the pumpkin patch.

November: On Oahu's North Shore.

December: Our first Hawaii Christmas.

Here's hoping all your dreams come true in 2008.

What Christmas With The Extended Family Looked Like This Year

2007-12-27T00:37:00.000-08:00

I Wonder If This Will Ever Get Old

2007-12-25T14:40:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas!

2007-12-24T21:00:00.000-08:00

Outtakes From This Year's Christmas Card Photoshoot In The Mango Tree

2007-12-23T11:25:00.000-08:00

Even Santa's Super Chill In Hawaii

2007-12-20T23:46:00.000-08:00

Paddling Their Way Across The Carpet Sea Towards Christmas Island

2007-12-19T23:26:00.000-08:00

Where He's Going To Get A Snowman I'll Never Know

2007-12-14T23:15:00.000-08:00

Yes, outside it's warm, palm trees are swaying all around, and we're still in short sleeves, but inside the house, at least, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. We've got the tree up, the carols on the stereo, the cookies in the oven, and the kids have finally taken crayons to paper for their annual Letters to Santa Claus.

Finn actually went through about four or five drafts before he finally got around to telling the big guy what toys he'd like him to deliver. His inital focus was more on the touchy-feeling stuff, setting a good emotional foundation, perhaps, to remind Santa of Finn's pole position on the Good List. Here are two of those first drafts.

Shea's list, however, was quick and deliberate and as it sprang fully formed from her little strawberry mouth and I had to hurry along with my pen just to capture it verbatim.

Parenthetical Note

2007-12-09T22:00:00.001-08:00

I know the calendar says it's the Year of the Pig, but this past Saturday in Chinatown it was totally the Year of the Tranny.

No In-Flight Movie Shown On This Bird

2007-12-06T15:15:00.000-08:00

Recently, a friend shared with me a funny story about how she had to leave work to pick up her son early from his after-kindergarten play program because he had been suspended after deciding it would be fun to show his butt -- or more specifically, his "brown star" -- to his classmates.

Although she and her husband punished their son later that day so he could learn a lesson about inappropriate behavior, she said they laughed about the incident behind closed doors.

"My little exhibitionist!" she chirped.

I totally understood the unique conflict -- that's so funny! that's so wrong! -- these parents faced because something similar happened at our dinner table a couple weeks ago -- an incident that forced John and I to wear our "Responsible Parents" hats while inside we were belly laughing on the floor, doubled over in pre-teen hysterics.

Let me first give you a little background.

Since we've been living in Hawaii I've, gratefully, been able to focus less on freelance writing deadlines and more on traditional, domestic responsibilities. As part of this reassignment of duties, something I call Motherhood 2.0 in my head, I've made a point to try out lots of new recipes.

I've cooked with lemongrass for the first time, sampled Korean marinades, replaced my old in-a-pinch Macaroni & Cheese standby with Udon and vegetables, and perfected a broiled Opah (moonfish) dish that will knock your sandals off.

And while I understand that some things will just fall flat on fickle young palettes, our typical house rule is "Try everything, just one bite; you never know what you might like." (It's not all annoying and sing-songy like that, though. That's just the spirit of the rule, Iago.)

This new experimentation is how we learned that Shea, the kid who eats about five food items total in the course of a typical week, loves lotus root and kidney beans. Go figure.

One night, in an attempt to put some Thanksgiving flavors on the table despite the fact that it was a balmy 82 degrees outside, I put together a pot of Creamy Sweet Potato Soup.

I'm not sure if it was the burnt orange color or odd texture that put him off, but Finn ate the rest of his dinner and left his soup completely untouched. It was only after some coaxing that we were able to get him to adhere to the One Bite rule.

This particular one bite, however, was not to his liking. Not at all.

So he jumped up and away from the table, ran to the other side of it so he was facing his empty chair and place setting, and threw up his middle finger at his soup bowl.

That's right, folks, the bird flew right across our dinner table.

"Finnegan!" we shouted, half wanting to laugh, half in shock. "What did you just do? And where did you learn that?!?"

"___ taught me in the cafeteria," he said, sheepishly.

"You're not supposed to do that," we explained while trying not to look at each other for fear of cracking up during our serious Parenting Lecture. "It's very naughty. And rude."

His response?

"But that's what you're supposed to do when you don't like something!"

It Still Feels Like August

2007-11-30T14:02:00.000-08:00

My first holiday season in Hawaii has me in a bit of a tailspin.

Mostly it's because of the weather. The delicious, tropical weather that tells my brain it's still August, balmy and lovely, and why in the world are you worrying about shopping lists and shipping times?

But the calendar tells me a different story. It's November 30th and that means two things:

1. The Christmas countdown begins tomorrow and I'd better get my act together and take that adorable Christmas photo of the kids for the Christmas card already, and

2. NaBloPoMo is over.

Hope you enjoyed the daily posts and don't hold a grudge that I put up mostly photos throughout the month.

I can't imagine I'll return to that pace again for a while, but I promise not to abandon you entirely, either. We've still gots lots of fun stories to share here (stay tuned for a PG-13-rated one, courtesy of Finney Boy himself), and once I put down the sunscreen and pick up the Christmas decorations I'll be back to send some tropical warmth your way.

On The Drive Home

2007-11-29T17:07:00.000-08:00

Tastes Better Than Miami Vice

2007-11-28T19:32:00.000-08:00

We took our first family road trip last weekend, up to Oahu's North Shore -- world famous for its big surf and spectacular views. While making our way across the upper portion of the island, we visited Haleiwa, a little village famous mostly for two things: surf stuff and shave ice.

Matsumoto's Grocery Store, a little bunker of a roadside shop opened by Mamoru Matsumoto in 1951, apparently is THE place for shave ice. So on our northbound drive up the center of the island, we kept hyping the kids that they would soon get to try their first Shave Ice, a Famous Hawaiian Treat.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Can Finney get one, too, Mama?" Shea repeatedly asked me.

"Of course," I responded, not quite grasping what she meant. "Finney can get one, too."

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Once we arrived at the store, the kids' eyes grew huge as they saw the patrons in front of them receive what must have looked like a chilly rainbow heaven atop a paper cone.

And the syrup selection soon began.

"I want pink and green. And red. And orange. Oh, and yellow," said Shea.

She finally settled on the rainbow combination, the perfect solution for toddlers who aren't quite adept at distinguishing colors from flavors yet.

"And what do you want on your shave ice, Finn?" I asked.

But before he could answer, Shea excitedly interjected with:

"They have Finneyvice, too?!?!"

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Apparently, she thought we'd been saying all day they'd be getting "Shea Vice."

Mugging

2007-11-27T11:28:00.000-08:00

Putting Her Inner Rock Star Down For Nappies

2007-11-26T17:58:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about our new Hawaii home is that the kids now have their own bedrooms.

Here's a photo of Shea's bedroom -- personally, I think it's the best one in the joint, tucked into the quiet back corner of the lot -- which has two sets of windows with lovely views of tropical plants and trees, and sits under the aegis of a mature mango tree.

That's what it looks like when it's clean and tidy, all picked up and vacuumed. Which happens about once a season. Just for pictures.

What's that? Oh, you noticed something different about the room? That's right, Inspector Detail, Shea no longer sleeps in her baby crib.

She is a FREE AGENT.

Because she's a "Big Girl" now.

The crib has been passed on to another family with a new baby on the way, and Shea now is the proud owner of a Pretty Princess Big Girl Toddler Bed (which really just used to be Finn's old rack).

She's excited and delighted to have this new bed. So much so that she spent most of her first day in its possession just lounging naked in it, pretending to read books and calling for her fiddlers three.

Here's what she looks like, on a good day, when she's napping in it -- all cheeks and thighs and toddler sighs.

As my Mom is fond of saying, "I'd like to just freeze-dry her in this stage."

Perfection.

Then there are days that are less picture perfect, when I peek in to check on her nap status and I discover this spatial imbroglio ... but no Shea.

Can you find the sleeping toddler in this picture, or did your heart also stop, ever so briefly, as you entertained the thought that somehow, maybe, she had climbed up and out of those pretty windows after first doing her best impersonation of Robert Plant trashing his room at the Chateau Marmont?

Here's the same scene from a different angle.

Well, she may not be the most conventional of nappers, but at least she was engrossed in a good book before the Sandman finally took her down.

The Lounging Holiday

2007-11-25T21:45:00.000-08:00

Independent

2007-11-24T10:20:00.000-08:00

Guess who insists on showering by himself now?

"And you don't have to watch me, either, Mom!"

And he even comes out mostly clean.

A Glimpse Of Our First Hawaiian Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T19:26:00.001-08:00

To which Shea made sure to wear her best twirling dress and at which no poi was served.

Amen.