Thanksgiving and Beyond

Thanksgiving came and went in a hurry!  We got kicked out by our dear landlord for the week of Thanksgiving break, so the two weeks before were a frenzy of deep cleaning and preparation for their arrival.  I was really bugged, but I forgot all about how mad I was when we checked into an air conditioned condo just down the road.

The condo was beautiful, new, large and a fun change for the week.  It was steps away from a new pool, and close to Brennecke's.  We took advantage of the location.

Heidi and Nic had us over for dinner with the Chadderdons, Woods, and Chad Peterson.  It was a yummy meal and having friends like that makes me feel so lucky.  The day of Thanksgiving was surreal--my long-standing tradition of a distance run in the am, Brady playing football with some guys while I took the kids to the beach, Thanksgiving dinner itself, and then hanging out at the pool the rest of the night and eating many, many pies.  This was the most relaxing T-Day we've ever had--obviously in part to the fact that we did not host, but also because Zachary is so self-sufficient now and off with his friends.

Saturday morning, we headed up to Hanalei with the Clarks, Chadderdons and Atkins.  The surf was fun, but the boogie boarding was better.  You can't see very well from these pictures but the waves were huge.  Zac played in the water for hours and the weather was perfect (after dumping rain the day before).

Zac is stoked that our tomato plant is producing.  He won't eat them willingly, but he practually squeels with excitement when he sees any red on that plant.

My favorite time of year has arrived.  This year is nuts--getting told that we had to move in Feb rather than June as previously discussed with our landlord made it stressful for a while.  We found a place and we're set to move right after vacation.  However, we've frantically had to furnish it (including a washer/dryer) and that is not so easy when you live on a tiny island!  We're getting closer and our house is now boxed up, so I will forget the craziness very soon.

We've still been able to do all the traditions.

Decorating the tree (We have most of our Christmas stuff out which is hilarious because almost all our belongings are now boxed up):

  Gingerbread house (and some sugar cookies):

 This is "Kate":

Lights on Rice Parade (this is a smoke-blower):

Even a stop by Kauai Coffee for their petting zoo and bounce houses:

Finn and Zachary kept watching the goat's bum after it pooped.  They wanted to catch the action live.

Zachary got to "surf" with the three Peterson boys we watched last weekend:

I love this picture of Katers:

Pass-the-binkey:

We've caught beautiful sunsets and lamented leaving Poipu.  Everything feels like "the last time," as though we will not be living only 15 minutes away from this place...

We've also watched Kate grow up by months the last few weeks.  She is saying so many words, coloring pictures, and (finally) running.  She is a tiny bit braver and definitely easier to communicate with. 

Every night, we sing "Jingle Bells," "Christmas Bells, and "Samuel" all while ringing our bells.  Kate knows all the actions and Zachary all the words.  Every morning, Zac pops up next to me to ask, "Can I turn on the Christmas tree?"  (We made him ask ever since day 1 when he woke up at 4am to turn on the lights.)  He and Kate race around to find our elf, Ralphie, run around the tree, and talk about Santa ("DANTA!!!" according to Kate).  They both loved making Christmas crafts and we have an assortment of them all over our tree.  They've seen most of the lights of the south shore, they've sat on Santa's lap, participated in a live nativity, and helped wrap presents.  They can't wait for Christmas, and neither can we.

I Love Poipu

When we moved to Poipu, I said many times that we wasted two years of our Kauai life living in Lihue.  Poipu seemed so far and away superior to anywhere I've ever lived.  I do not feel any differently after three and a half years of living here.

We are moving to another city, and it will be great.  We will have close babysitters, live in a beautiful house, be much closer to the church (which we frequent quite a bit more than once a week), and test drive a neighborhood where we've tried to buy.  Our kids will have friends nearby to play with, and I will not always be hot (Poipu is hot).  I will have a functioning Master Bathroom and closets (!), and hopefully my wood floor will no longer "sweat" and turn into a slip-and-slide every time it rains.  Our landlord will not kick us out every 6-9 months.

But my heart aches thinking of leaving the south shore.

I love hearing the ocean from my windows every day and every night.

I love starting every one of my runs on the coast.

I love whale season, and watching them breach steps away from my house.

I love Shipwreck Beach and cliff.  I love watching the sun catch the cliff near sunset and light it up brilliantly.

I love that Brady's work is 1.5 miles away and he joins us for lunch 4 days a week.

I love walking to the pool, the park, Baby Beach, and Brennecke's Beach from my house, with Zachary dragging his boogie board and Kate jumping along from sidewalk square to sidewalk square.

I love the greenbelt.  My kids run, somersault down hills, play soccer and baseball, ride bikes and scooters, and use up the seemingly limitless space behind our house.

I love the quiet.  With the exception of a few rowdy vacationers here and there, the noise of Poipu comes from the water.

I love our Sunday walks on the cliff.  I love watching the ocean crash against the rocks.  I love watching for turtles (and seeing the occasional pod of dolphins and even a manta ray!).

I love our neighbors.  We only have a couple that aren't vacationers, and they are so friendly to our kids.

I love our short walks to the Hyatt to swing and check out the "fishies."

I love the sunsets.  I know that every place on the island has spectacular sunsets, but we have a great vantage point here.

I love the palm tree positioned right behind our house.

I love the blue paint, the plumeria trees, and hibiscus bushes that surround our house.

I will miss Poipu.  What a happy place it has been for our little family.

When you go to Europe and other travel destinations, guidebooks tell you to approach your trip as though you will be back.  See what you really want to see, but don't be desperate and think it is the only time in your life you'll be there, or any interruption to plans or disappointing experiences will make you crazy.  That's how I have to see our move from Poipu.  I think we might be back.  That makes me less sad.

Perfect Saturday

 The Saturday after Halloween, we spent the morning cleaning up the landscaping.  Our landlord was coming back for the week of Thanksgiving, and we needed the flower beds to look more presentable.  Zac was actually really helpful, and Kate enjoyed getting muddy.

 Kate wandered around the yard half the morning with Brady's slippers on.  "Soos, soos."

 We rewarded the kids with a trip up the mini-golf course on the north shore.  It's been open at least a year, but we hadn't tried it yet.  The kids thought it was fun, although Kate was ready to quit after the 4th hole.

 This might be right before we took him to the bathroom.

 Zac fared at least as well as I did.  (Last time I went mini-golfing, we lived in Utah and I sprained my ankle...)

 We had another first after mini-golf: a stop at famous Banana Joes.  Forget Jo-Jos, this place is tons better and worth the stop.  They make banana smoothies without any added sugar that taste like heaven.  We can't believe it has taken us nearly 6 years to try them.

You can't go clear to the north shore and not surf Hanalei.  We spent a few hours at the beach.  I love watching my kids eat their snacks together.

 Zac as a shark:

 ...and watching my kids play together in the sand.  I also get a kick out of watching them harass each other, but this time they played together for at least an hour.

We were so overwhelmed with how lovely the day was with our little family.  Zachary is to the age where he wants nothing more to be with friends, but he was a delightful kiddo with just us and his baby sister.

This place and my kids/husband take my breath away.  It's not perfect everyday or every Saturday, but the days that we put the effort in and it pays off are so sweet.