From the monthly archives:

August 2014

2 years ago tomorrow (August 29th) we told Maile that she was going to be a big sister.

Hard to believe we’ve gone from this…

Love, love baby sister!

Love, love baby sister!

To this…

2 years later - best friends.

2 years later - best friends.

(Click here for the video.)

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Wow. Time flies.

Today was Maile’s first day of Kindergarten. She’ll be staying at Presidio Knolls School so the stomping grounds are familiar, but this is still a big milestone for our little, but rapidly growing up, girl.

And she is very, very excited to get started.

But before heading off to school, we took some family pictures…

Here she is, Maile Girl at 5 ready to start Kindergarten!

Here she is, Maile Girl at 5 ready to start Kindergarten!

Maile and Lauren - Lauren will need to wait one more year before joining her big sister at PKS

Maile and Lauren - Lauren will need to wait one more year before joining her big sister at PKS

Family Picture - Maile (5) and Lauren (20 months)

Family Picture - Maile (5) and Lauren (20 months)

Daddy and his girls (and their backpacks)

Daddy and his girls (and their backpacks)

These three.

These three.

Grandma and Papa Hawaii are in town and got to see Maile off to her first day too...

Grandma and Papa Hawaii are in town and got to see Maile off to her first day too...

One last shot just inside the gate at Presidio Knolls - after this she was off and running with her friends...

One last shot just inside the gate at Presidio Knolls - after this she was off and running with her friends...

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Maile wasn’t the only one to have a good time at the reunion, Lauren loved running around and playing with everyone too. While she couldn’t quite keep up with her sister and the big kids, she did her best trying. And when we had a big water balloon fight on Saturday, she didn’t shy away, she put on her game face and joined right in…

Let's go Mommy, load me up - I'm ready to rock!

Let's go Mommy, load me up - I'm ready to rock!

Oh, this is pretty slippery - I'm going to hold on tight so it doesn't break like that orange one on the ground...

Oh, this is pretty slippery - I'm going to hold on tight so it doesn't break like that orange one on the ground...

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With all the cousins in the age range of 1.5 to 10 years old – they had lots of fun running all over the camp ground together. (NOTE: I realize that Lauren is missing from a lot of these photos – we’ll get to her 🙂 But since she’s a bit younger she didn’t have the run of the place quite like Maile Girl.)

Maile became fast friends with all her cousins. If she wasn’t being piggy-backed around by Aidan, she was off exploring with Natalie, chattering with Katie or playing tag with all the older kids.

One of my favorite pictures from the weekend - one of those you look back on in 20-30 years. From left to right: Cooper, Olivia, Max, Rachel, Katie, Maile, Caleb, Aidan

One of my favorite pictures from the weekend - one of those you look back on in 20-30 years. From left to right: Cooper, Olivia, Max, Rachel, Katie, Maile, Caleb, Aidan

Maile playing the pusher with Natalie and Harlow

Maile playing the pusher with Natalie and Harlow

Definitely a special bond between Aidan and Maile

Definitely a special bond between Aidan and Maile

Candle making with the cousins

Candle making with the cousins

Hay ride time!

Hay ride time!

Just the girls this time headed out on the water - Maile, Natalie and Harlow

Just the girls this time headed out on the water - Maile, Natalie and Harlow

Climbing trees with Natalie

Climbing trees with Natalie

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We got home a little while ago from an amazing weekend in Michigan with Grandma Jill’s side of the family – over 50 members attended our family reunion. We’ll share much more over the course of the week, but wanted to post a quick one before bed.

Almost as soon as we arrived, Maile donned a life vest and headed out on the canoe with her cousins, Aidan, Caleb and Harlow. (What’s kind of funny is when I looked back at the first reunion Maile attended, the first pictures I posted were also of her in a kayak…)

Caleb, Maile, Harlow and Aidan braving the lake... and old enough to go out solo!

Caleb, Maile, Harlow and Aidan braving the lake... and old enough to go out solo!

The rugged adventurers at the start of an amazing weekend!

The rugged adventurers at the start of an amazing weekend!

Hey! What about me!? Wait up!

Hey! What about me!? Wait up!

It truly was a fantastic weekend as you’ll see from the future pictures I share – the best part was definitely seeing all the cousins running around and playing with each other. It was awesome!

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(Having trouble with the blog from the hotel wifi, so posting this from my phone – hopefully it formats okay.)

This weekend we are headed to Michigan for a family reunion (Grandma Jill’s side of the family), but before we head there, we stopped in Chicago to visit GG Bea and GG Irv.

Maile (5) and Lauren (1.5) with their great grandparents!

Maile (5) and Lauren (1.5) with their great grandparents!

Both girls were fantastic. Maile had a lot of fun teaching GG Bea Mancala and Lauren was definitely the apple of GG Irv’s eye – he kept watch on her as she scooted and ran all over the place.

GG Bea was a quick study and soon was giving Maile a run for her money on Mancala

GG Bea was a quick study and soon was giving Maile a run for her money on Mancala

Meanwhile Lauren and GG Irv tried a Lauren version of Uno - which mainly involved GG Irv holding as many cards as Lauren could place on his leg

Meanwhile Lauren and GG Irv tried a Lauren version of Uno - which mainly involved GG Irv holding as many cards as Lauren could place on his leg

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Lauren’s First Cable Car Ride

by Papa K on August 19, 2014

On Sunday we took Lauren on her very first cable car ride and earned her San Franciscan stripes in the process…

Waiting for the cable car to arrive - very exciting!

Waiting for the cable car to arrive - very exciting!

Don't worry Lauren, I'll be right here the whole time!

Don't worry Lauren, I'll be right here the whole time!

Lauren was a little nervous as things got going...

Lauren was a little nervous as things got going...

... but then she warmed up just fine!

... but then she warmed up just fine!

Mommy, Maile and Lauren on the cable car

Mommy, Maile and Lauren on the cable car

The girls hanging off the side (with a little assist from Mommy)

The girls hanging off the side (with a little assist from Mommy)

Our San Francisco Girl!

Our San Francisco Girl!

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The Ice Bucket Challenge

by Papa K on August 18, 2014

No doubt you’ve heard of the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by now. It’s been incredible to watch it spread – one of the most viral things I’ve ever seen hit Facebook.

Christine was tagged by one of her good friends yesterday, so this evening, we gathered the family to participate and help spread the word even further. (And yes, we also donated some money to the cause.)

Maile had so much fun, that she wanted to do her own special version after – and had a special call out for her Auntie Elyssa!

When we came back upstairs, check out the picture Maile drew…

Maile's interpretation of our Ice Bucket Challenge

Maile's interpretation of our Ice Bucket Challenge

Love. The whole thing was a great bonding experience as a family – we hope it does a lot of good for those in need!

(Click here for the first video.)
(Click here for the second video.)

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Hard to believe, but the summer is rapidly coming to a close. Maile spent her last week of camp back at Presidio Knolls. Maile had a lot of fun back at her old stomping grounds and it definitely helped get her excited for Kindergarten as well.

Maile and her fan dance crew...

Maile and her fan dance crew...

For the summer camp, each afternoon the kids participated in an activity for the whole week. Maile did Kung Fu Fan Dancing. On Friday afternoon, they put on a show for the parents. Christine went and got a great video of Maile doing her thing. Fair warning, it’s a bit longer than normal – but the end is worth it when Maile does her solo intro 🙂

(Click here for the video.)

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August 17th, 2009 - 2 years ago

August 17th, 2009 - 5 years ago

August 17th, 2010 - 1 year ago

August 17th, 2010 - 4 year ago

August 17th, 2011 - 3 years ago

August 17th, 2011 - 3 years ago

August 13th, 2012 - 2 years ago

August 13th, 2012 - 2 years ago

August 19th, 2013 - 1 year ago

August 19th, 2013 - 1 year ago

August 14th, 2014 - Today!

August 14th, 2014 - Today!

Wow.

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