Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

Apple bananas...they eat the purple fruit on the end too.
Super hot and sticky humid...we forgot the bug spray and were eaten alive. I forgot Hawaii is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
It's a ????
Whatever it is, it grows on a tree!


This tree smells delicious!







Orange fish really enjoy peanut butter crackers!

A Hawaiian duck? with huge feathery feet


Another tree growing ???


Because hiking with a tail is more fun...you know you want one too!

Kailua Beach Park

Marine Corps base beaches

These beaches are our favorite. There are no crowds and we usually have the whole beach to ourselves. Once again....I so don't deserve such a wonderful break. I know...blessed.



Do you see the crab with the orange eyes? Click on the picture to make it bigger. He is coming out of his hole.

Colorful treasures from the sea. The boys and I could spend our days doing nothing but collecting shells.












Charley says the ocean is God's swimming pool and he lets everyone use it. Ronan says "Yeah but sometimes he is playing all crazy and makes the waves too big"

School Days

Our school days start early, sometimes at 7:30. The boys are so alert and focused in the morning, so we dive right in. I love homeschooling so much more than I thought I would. I love seeing their little minds at work, and their faces lighting up when they finally "get" it. It is amazing how much work they get done when there are no distractions and one on one attention. We are completely done with our day before lunch. Ronan is doing spelling, writing, grammer, math, reading, history and bits of science and geography. Charley is doing reading, writing and math. I have not figured out what to do with their music yet. They were doing so well, I hate to stop lessons for 5 months. The story above is Charley's. He did it all by himself.
This is Ronan's story



The view has them very inspired and maybe too distracted.

Hawaiian Adventure

This is our new home...the 15th floor, 3 from the top. We have never lived in a high rise before and quite enjoy it. You would think we would be cramped in 750 sq ft, but it works, especially since we only moved in some clothes.

This is the front yard area, that the boys love to play in, only they have to stay out of the plants.





We have a pool, hot tub, tennis courts and 4 cats to chase. We are so spoiled. Thank you Daddy!

Got mud?

While at the coast visiting mom and dad, we look out the window to this. Really!? Why? Because playing in the mud, letting it soak all the way down to your skin in the 45 degrees until your teeth are chattering is FUN. After getting completely muddy, Charley asked "Is it okay if we get muddy?" Ronan tells his cousin "Is okay, getting muddy is what boys do. Don't worry, your Mom won't kill you."...of course she wouldn't, she wasn't even there. Its all fun and games until its time to get cleaned up. I made them strip naked and get sprayed off with the garden hose before their bath.