Fall Break

Year round school. Sounds frightening doesn't it? Ask at the end of the year again, but so far, we like it. The kids have a 2 wk fall break, a week for Thanksgiving, a month at Christmas, 2 wk spring break, 6 weeks for summer and lots of 3 or 4 day weekends scattered throughout the year. The weather is always beautiful here so a break any time is reason for an outing. If we were on the mainland, I think I would like it even more. When you live far from loved ones, vacations are not true vacations but whirl-wind trips to stay with one family or the other. You are rushed from one scheduled visit to another trying to see as many people as time will allow. Year round school gives you more options. The traditional summer vacation can be added to a week camping in the mountains during the fall, or you have extra time over Christmas to enjoy some skiing without being pressed for time due to the holiday rush. The idea is that you have time to visit family and have a pleasure trip too. (Not that visiting family isn't a pleasure!!!) Tara just had her fall break 2 weeks ago. (Right after Dad left for his latest trip to Italy, Germany, yes- Germany in Oct., Prague, etc, etc.) The kids had 12 days off. Some of those were spent hanging out close to home but we did lots of day trips too. We finally went to Hawaiian Waters. We had been so busy doing island stuff that we had no desire to visit a water park. Big mistake! The kids had sooo much fun. We went with friends who have kids the same ages, so Christa & Tara, Joshua & Big Guy, and Nikki and I and our babies, all had a blast. I was in the pools sliding down slides and splashing and having such a good time I forgot to break out the camera. Who knew?

My dear neighbor Melissa talked us in to hiking up to the Mokapuu Lighthouse. She swore it was just a 1/2 mile. Uuuumph. Mile and a half, straight up, with 8 kids and 4 adults. Unfortunately for me, Tyler wanted to join Trey in the baby jogger. That's a lot of weight to push straight up hill. After lots of huffing and puffing and sweat covering us from head to toe, we reached the summit. We all made it without experiencing true physical injuries. The views we found were incredible. We could see the windward coastline one way and up to Diamond Head in the opposite direction. The island of Molokai was outlined in the distance too. We enjoyed the views our efforts had provided us and then we had to go back down.........

Another awesome adventure we had was thanks to Tina and Ron. They came to visit back in September and borrowed my copy of Oahu Revealed. Kevin and I spotted a turtle when we were snorkeling in K-Bay but we have been looking and looking ever since. Tina found a page in the book that talked about Lanikea beach or Turtle beach as the locals have labeled it. The beach is on the North Shore and Tina, Ron and the kids saw turtles in the water and turtles in the sand and we did too. Turtles, turtles- everywhere. I think they live there. The beach is covered with algae covered rocks and the algae attracts the turtles like an ice cream truck does kids. So far this year round school stuff has been a blast- and add this to your list of things to do!!