Pahoa

We had been carefully watching the lava reports for months and were rather worried that Madame Pele might close off the highway with the flow that is headed right for Pahoa town. While the advancing lava is only a block away, it was moving very slowly. The power lines had been bunkered to try to save them.

 There is a black sand beach right across the street from our rental.

 Patrick bravely swam in the ocean. It was far too cold for me but I am a cold water wimp.

Hawaii bound

 We slept overnight in Maui and watched a beautiful sunrise over Haleakala.

We arrived on the Big Island and took a long drive Northwards all around the Island, stopping at a stunning beach along the way.

 We had a great lunch along the Old Railway Road on the East side of the Island and saw avocados growing on the trees.

 Hawaii Botanical Garden was home to neon geckos and many exotic plants.

art and Adlai

 I was inspired by Mount Shark and painted.

Kaya and Adlai had Trickster come to their school for a week. I volunteered and watched how the actors used the kid's creativity to create short skits. It was a full production with lighting and sound and impressive props and performers.

Adlai's lego cake took a very long time to decorate because I couldn't find enough small pieces to make the letters.

 His party was a scavenger hunt around the neighbourhood.

 And a soccer game in the corridor.

It's scary to watch home improvements but Patrick did a great job dismantling the stub wall.

Ski day

 There was enough snow for a snowman.

 The kids had crazy hair day at school. Kaya had a minnie mouse bow and Adlai let us spike his hair.

 The views on the way to Mount Shark.

 Patrick took the kids downhill skiing while Bryan and I went cross-country skiing.

Animals we love

The cross country ski season has been fairly non-existent with the very low snowfall and warm weather but we managed to get out for a family ski.

 We took care of Feliz.

 The kids built a magnatile maze for the guinea girls.

Kaya and I had gone riding in the fall on Jill and PJ, another mother and daughter team.