Halloween 2015

This is Spencer's last year for trick-or-treating.  He dressed as the mad hatter in the costume we made together.  He went trick-or-treating with neighborhood kids and then to a small party.  Michael has been too old for trick-or-treating for a couple years.  He was not going to wear a costume at all this year, but decided on Wednesday to dress up as a giraffe for the Halloween party he was attending.   I made his costume on Halloween day.  It obviously was not particularly elaborate, but on the plus side, it was quick and easy.

Spencer and Michael 

Giraffe with a Black Tongue

The Mad Hatter

Spencer's jack-o-lantern

Michael's spooky jack-o-lantern

Eggstra Eggstra Read All About It

Recently, over lunch, Michael "eggsclaimed" that it would be very easy to make egg puns.  I am not sure what brought that to mind, or what occasion might call for egg puns.  Nevertheless, we had a silly time thinking of egg puns.  Michael suggested, "eggsactly" and "eggsceptional."  Spencer chimed in with, "what the shell."  I'm not an "eggspert," but I told the boys "Omelette you in on a little secret."   We proceeded to come up with a delicious sounding alcoholic drink, rum and yolk (in case we ever have an egg-themed party) and "I've got to get the shell out of here,"  as well as "eggstatic," "eggstasy" and "eggsistential." I could go on, but it's time for me to make my "eggscape."

What to Wear, What to Wear...

Halloween is approaching.

Spencer has a history of making last minute changes (including wholesale changes) to his Halloween costumes.  One year, around the age of 4, Spencer decided to dress up as a fire chief.  We picked out a fire chief costume together.  On the night of Halloween, he decided something was missing.  What was missing, as anyone might have guessed, was a bird's beak.  After rummaging around his room, Spencer emerged wearing the hard fireman hat, the pants and jacket with the reflective tape, the fire-chief's badge and a rubber toucan beak.  Perfect.

Last year Spencer decided, following my suggestion, to dress up as a beatnik.  He did not know what a beatnik was, but after we looked at some images on the web, he was on board.  We proceeded to purchase round John Lennon glasses, bongos, a beret and black clothes.  Adding the black goatee on the night of Halloween, it would have been awesome.   However, he did not make it to Halloween before he changed his mind.   Idea number two, Spencer was going to dress up as an artist.  We made a palette for him, arranged a painter's smock for him to wear and we already had the beret.  Not bad.  But apparently, not good either.  Spencer determined that an artist was not the right costume for him.  Then, on the night of Halloween, less than 90 minutes from the time he and his friends had set to meet to go out trick-or-treating, Spencer began to pull various items from a box in the basement that contains old Halloween costumes.  He pulled out a scary mask and a black cape and that was idea number three - Scary Guy.   He as all set.  Phew!  Done.  But no, not done.  With  only five minutes to go, Spencer decided to be a witch.  He ditched the scary mask, added a witch's hat, kept the cape and started applying green grease makeup to his face.

I'm not sure what made the witch costume better than any of the preceding costumes.  I think it was due to the fact that he ran out of time to change his mind yet again.  This year, he cannot change his mind.  Spencer and I are making his costume this year and we have put in a number of hours already.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Apple Orchard 2015

Michael trying to find a decent apple

Spencer surprised and Michael happy under the apple tree

Now everyone's happy

Sun-dappled Spencer

Me, Spencer and Michael enjoying the sun and trying to pick apples

First Day of School 2015

Spencer's first day of seventh grade.  Michael started his high school career this year.  Unfortunately, his first day was not documented with a photograph due to the fact that his school day starts entirely too early for pictures.

Sunny Day

 Our attempt to capture the lovely autumn day in a couple pictures below.  Unfortunately, as is obvious from the pictures, none of us could avoid squinting in the bright sun.

Hawaii Big Day Trip (Part Two)

After an early dinner in Hilo, we began the drive to Volcanos National Park.  We had been advised to view the volcanic crater in the evening so that the glow would be more pronounced.  Unfortunately, as the elevation increased on the drive to the national park, the rain moved in.  Arriving at the park, we were met with a steady, misty drizzle that persisted as we visited various sites within the park.  We visited the Thurston Lava Tube, the Steam Vents and the Kilauea Overlook.  As darkness set in, we arrived at the overlook to view the glowing crater.  Due to the mist and rain, we were unable to get the dramatic view that we had hoped for.   Following the buildup and the long day, it was a bit disappointing.  In the end though, I am glad we made the trip to the park.

Glowing crater through the mist

Michael and me in the Thurston Lava Tube

Hawaii - Big Day Trip (Part One)

We took a day trip to the east side of the island.  We started early in the morning and drove across the center of the island to reach the east side of the island near the city of Hilo.  We visited Akaka Falls National Park which was a short distance north of Hilo.   The pictures below do not do it justice.  The hike through the park was incredibly lush and tropical.  Akaka Falls were quite picturesque.  Unfortunately we were not able to get very close to the water though.  It was hot and humid and we would have enjoyed cooling off in the water.  Leaving Akaka Falls, we headed south into the city of Hilo.   In Hilo, we visited Rainbow Falls.  The falls were quite pretty and we were able to venture much closer than we we could at Akaka Falls.  Again, no swimming was allowed, but we did spy a couple in the water breaking the rules.  Near the falls, was a banyan tree forest that was quite impressive. 

Michael, Spencer and Jon at Akaka Falls Park

Akaka Falls

In Akaka Falls Park

Akaka Falls

Michael, Jon and Spencer at Rainbow Falls.

Jon, Michael and Spencer at Rainbow Falls near the banyan trees.

Banyan tree

Spencer, Jon and Michael at Rainbow Falls

Michael at Rainbow Falls

Snorkeling in Hawaii

All of us agreed that the best part of the trip was the snorkeling.  We were able to snorkel in three separate locations.  The first location was off a cove near our hotel. The water there was clearest on the first day.  We saw different varieties of coral and many colorful fish including butterfly fish, wrasse, triggerfish, needle fish, puffer fish, tang, parrot fish, and others.  Jon, Michael and Spencer were more adventurous than I, so were able to swim in deeper water, which was clearer.  There they saw eels and other fish.  On the last day of snorkeling at our hotel, I saw a huge dark fish.  It scared me a bit.  Michael is pretty sure it was just a shadow.  I'm sticking with giant fish.

The second location was Keauhou Bay.  It was a bit south of Kona.  This was a public beach with easy access.  There were a lot of people there and it was quite crowded near the shore, particularly because the sea turtles frequented the coral close to the shore.  As we moved away from the shore, the tropical fish were numerous and we saw turtles there as well.

The third location was Two-Step Beach.  This was further south of  Kona than Keauhou Bay.  The entry point was off of the volcanic rock by way of two "steps" conveniently situated to allow access to the waves.  Although it appeared difficult, we found that getting into and out of the water was not hard at all.  This location offered the clearest water, the best coral and was altogether our favorite snorkeling experience of the trip.

On the hill above Two-Step Beach

Two-Step Beach

A sea turtle on the beach at our hotel

Exploring Hawaii

We took a number of day trips around the big island of Hawaii.  We were surprised by the size of the island.  Apparently all of the other islands could fit within the big island.

Michael at the start of a path down to a black sand beach

Spencer, Jon and Michael at a roadside stop

Michael, Jon and Spencer at the base of a lava tube

Evenings in Hawaii

The sunsets in Hawaii were lovely.  Spencer wanted to capture every moment digitally.  Unfortunately (or maybe not), we never made it to the other side of the island to catch a sunrise.

View from our table at dinner one night.

View from the lounge

Mornings in Hawaii

We had plenty of time for enjoying the lovely weather, beautiful scenery and relaxation during our vacation.  Most mornings started early for Jon, Spencer and me (Michael still managed to sleep in most mornings).  Jon and I would do a little work outside on the veranda while Spencer enjoyed some hot tea and quiet time.

Jon without his computer

Our morning location

Hawaii - Day One

We finally managed a family trip to Hawaii.  Jon surprised us with the news just one week before we were scheduled to depart.  I was over the moon - a trip to Hawaii had been at the top of my list of family vacation destinations for many years.  A couple days after learning of the trip, our good friend Bhaskar mentioned casually to me that we should expect a couple days of rain and suggested we bring a raincoat.  I mentioned all of this to Jon that night.  We soon discovered a couple facts.  One - Hawaii's big island has 8 of the 13 climate zones (wow!).   Two -  a hurricane was off the east coast of the big island.  We checked the weather forecast.  Rain and overcast conditions were forecasted for each day of our vacation.  I tried (not very successfully) to stay positive.  This task was made considerably more difficult by Spencer's suggestion that we cancel the trip.  Michael stayed positive though, exclaiming that the trip would be great regardless of the weather.  Jon did additional research and found that the weather forecast for where we were staying on the island was considerably brighter than first appeared.  Our hotel was on the west side of the island in a desert region that received very little rain throughout the year.  Thankfully, we had great weather the entire trip, despite the advance of yet another hurricane off the east coast of the big island that prompted dangerous surf warnings for our last days on the island.

The flight out to Kona passed without incident.  We had a long layover in Los Angeles, but Jon and Michael were upgraded to first class for the flight from Los Angeles to Kona.  Michael seemed to enjoy his seat in first class.

Michael enjoying first class

Spencer relaxing at the hotel.

Michael and Spencer in the pool. 

2014 Fall Soccer Recap

Michael squinting into the sun at one of Spencer's games.

Spencer taking a goal kick.

Michael and teammate Erik about to start a run.

Spencer watching the action.

What's that old saying?

Driving through our neighborhood on the way home, Spencer announced quite out of the blue, "I don't judge people by their houses, I judge them by the cars they drive."     I reminded him of the old adage that you cannot judge a book by the car it drives (or something like that). When questioned, he assured me that he did not mean it at all and that he does not judge people either by their cars or by their houses.