Trains

 Six and a half years ago when Case and I finally met Marc in Florida and we finally had these wonderous paychecks that would allow us to do things like pay rent and bills and eat (!) I bought Case a Thomas train set.

 Since then we have seen that little blue engine chug around the tracks thousands of times.  Millions of times.  We now have a larger cast of trains and have actually worn out several engines.  No one anywhere, ever, has enjoyed these little trains so thoroughly.

 So it thrilled me to no end the other day when instructed to draw a picture of Thomas, Case actually did.  No help, no instruction, just encouragement while I made dinner and he sat at the bar and drew.  Thomas is the small blue engine on the top, Percy is the little green engine.  Also included are an alarm clock set at 3:00, "James" written in red because he is a red engine, a very decorated "Mavis," and a ghost from Pacman.

 The next one was even better, with more happy engines and the musical notes indicating both the theme song and the various steamie's whistles.  It is so positive, with a cheery "great job!" accompanying the trains names, sounded out slowly by me to be transcribed.  Mavis is my favorite here, with the detail of her square diesel face with yellow diagonal stripes. 

 And last, another portrait of Mavis, a little music, and an impassioned plea to stop with the homework and please let him go play Wii already.

State of the Uterus

 22 weeks along.

Future boxer, keeps her hands up well.

Long skinny feet, like her brother.

Yep, I said her :)

Wildlife

We have spent nearly every weekend for the past month visiting the tide pools.  Case love critters and there are lots to see there.  We even have a favorite pool, a lovely spot constantly refreshing but protected from all but the highest tides like the world's best aquarium.

 There are of course hermit crabs,

 long reaching tube worms,

 crazy bright sea slugs,

 little fish living their little soap opera lives,

bright corals,

and these weirdos.

Last Day

Two and a half weeks after school dismissed for summer Case started ESY and I finally have a minute to write about the end.  I was kind of hoping for a picture of him wearing his hard-worn school uniform, for a compare and contrast with the first day.  But a misunderstanding led to tears when our little kama'aina thought he couldn't wear his " 'loha shirt," so that plan was torpedoed quickly.  Besides, who wants to see a faded school t shirt Case has systematically pulled the strings from and eaten. 

 We had so many terrific people involved in Case's education this year.  I am so glad we met them and am doubly glad they will not only be with him next year, but will be his teachers this summer too.

 Mr Mike, Case's one-on-one and cultural ambassador.

 Ms Boyd, a saint awaiting beatification.

 We took Case out for ice cream afterwards, a year end reward instituted over 25 years ago by my mom.

Then that night, even the city celebrated the end of the year with us with fireworks.

Back to the Beach!

Case asked to go to the tide pools again this week.  Actually he asked to go find hermit crabs again this week, but we hadn't been to our favorite beach in about a month, so he was overruled. 
There were lots of really big things at the beach this weekend.

 Really big crabs,

 (and one really tiny one.)

 Big waves that were great for body surfing,

 big differences in activity levels between my two boys (also big muscles,)

 and very big castles.

We are still working out the details of giant bucket sand-castle making.  The first two towers came out well, but the second two collapsed when the bucket was removed.  We thought that tower 3 was too wet, so we made tower 4 pretty dry. . . but got similar results.  We will keep working at it, but even half-right was pretty impressive.

Hermit Crabs

 While Case does love the snails we can find at most beaches, he often requests that we find some hermit crabs.

 This requires a bit more adventure, and crawling around on the newest part of our island. 

 Soon our hunt is rewarded.

 The rough lava rock creating the tide pools make for great occupational therapy and a lovely Saturday.

Pictured:  at least two big hermit crabs, about a dozen snails, and a really great morning together.

Aloha

Pardon our dust!