tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22104774083381986512024-02-19T07:09:35.824-10:00Keiki On BoardParenting in the PacificKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.comBlogger749125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-8194177625951234252014-03-04T14:28:00.003-10:002014-03-04T14:28:58.294-10:00New Blog Time!Yay new blog! Almost the same, but more geared toward immersion school education, since thats where my brain is at anyhow.
Heres the link:
Hawaiian Immersion School
Same fun updates about the kids and some more general info/interesting links, too. I'm going to try and post at least once a week (Tuesdays?) Hope you enjoy the new format - update those bookmarks! ;)Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-90484232308614654652014-01-12T19:31:00.002-10:002014-01-12T19:31:45.941-10:00The Never Ending Slipper IssueWhat happens when my children (mainly one child) constantly comes home with broken slippers?!
can you guess which rascal beat through shoes?
This kid tears through flip flops! When the question of sustainability originally came up, I thought I was being clever by finding natural rubber shoes which I bought directly from the distributor in Kona. $10 a pair (not too expensive), ethnically made Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-86216392945509645062013-12-23T17:45:00.002-10:002013-12-23T17:55:03.797-10:00Should I Continue Blogging?Its been challenging to keep up with blogging lately, especially since both of my main cameras are broken (and lets be real - its not as fun to post if there are no pictures). With my current thoughts being focused on how to simplify my life, I keep coming back to whether or not I want to continue writing this blog.
I have thought about starting a blog that is focused entirely on the boys Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-12094212023824145402013-12-16T09:18:00.001-10:002013-12-16T09:18:29.800-10:00Simple HolidaysThis year I have been trying to simplify my holidays. Which means I've been trying not to try so hard. It is so easy to get swept away in all the chaos and expectation. This is something I've been actively thinking about for at least 3 years, and this year is the first time I've felt the fruits of those labors. I finally feel like I am making progress and it feels so good. I can tell that IKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-31812346617035560352013-12-08T16:48:00.001-10:002013-12-08T16:48:21.268-10:00Christmas Pageant 2013 - Parker Ranch Tree Lighting
Alo Kehau performed at the Parker Ranch Tree Lighting ceremony, held at Richard Smart's house (PR historic homes). I'll liken this to a "Christmas pageant". Ikaika is a very sweet little guy and was clearly very embarrassed about singing in front of a roomful of strangers. He mentioned more than once that he was nervous about laughing in front of everyone. His enthusiasm as an Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-25758672953734966182013-12-06T09:11:00.001-10:002013-12-06T09:19:21.938-10:00Belated Thanksgiving Update
I should probably stop making lame excuses for the lack of regularity in my blog updates. I'm working to cut extraneous activities out of my life, but writing/keeping my family in touch with what's going on in our lives isn't one of them!
Our Thanksgiving was fantastic. We went over to Kekoa's godfather's house and had a potluck feast with some of our closest friends on the Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-65914864886476530982013-11-25T13:16:00.002-10:002013-11-25T13:16:43.529-10:00White Road Forest Hike
On Sunday we took a little time to enjoy nature and hike the Kohala Forest Preserve (or whatever its called). It was cool and dry - amazing conditions that made our walk so much more comfortable. I always feel a bit of mystery and reverence walking through the Waimea watershed area. I'm sad that the Waikoloa River no longer reaches the coast and freaked out by Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-91276076302758736282013-11-19T13:08:00.001-10:002013-11-19T13:08:28.401-10:00Black Friday Boycott
Every once in awhile I like to get on my high horse and be ultra critical of something outside of my immediate family.. Today that will be the institution of Black Friday.
Boo! I really can't stand the whole concept of Black Friday. Even when I was scouring sales ads (erroneously believing that this was a good way to be frugal), something about this tradition didn't sit Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-25208485015852021512013-11-16T14:40:00.001-10:002013-11-16T14:40:32.418-10:00Kajukenbo
I just finished ordering the smallest size gi (martial arts uniform) known to man for Koa. Mr A has been regularly training them on Thursday nights while I attend parent meetings at the school and we both feel that its time to make this activity official.
There are few things that make me so proud as to watch my husband intentionally pass on the knowledge that was given to him. Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-45737605283365715662013-11-08T00:04:00.000-10:002013-11-08T00:04:11.644-10:00Relativity vs Sounding like an Idiot I drank a Red Bull at 5pm, which in retrospect was a terrible decision. I've now been sitting up for the past 40 minutes and skimming through the first 6 months of this blog. Also a not-so-well thought out plan.
If I can't be perfect, then I wish to be a hermit, never having to interact with others. That way I won't need to fuss over relationships and I can just think and Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-71522631482858861052013-11-02T09:58:00.000-10:002013-11-02T09:58:09.711-10:00Careful EdittingThe next step for my novel is editing. I need to sit down and give it a really thorough look. I need to be judicious, objective and downright cruel, willing to cut even my most favorite scenes for the betterment of the piece as a whole. I must evaluate my work with a specific end goal in mind and remove whatever does not contribute to that goal, adding in new content as Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-48177348070552371412013-10-26T19:45:00.000-10:002013-10-26T19:45:08.567-10:00Run for the Dry Forest 2013 10K
ran up and down this "hill"
I should probably note that my friend who took second also had time to take all these scenic photographs!
I like the Run for the Dry Forest at Puʻu Waʻawaʻa (Kona side). The weather is always nice and the monies go to support preservation of native plants and animals. Plus the awards are tiles, handmade by the Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-19237528474214123402013-10-18T15:25:00.000-10:002013-10-18T15:26:22.123-10:005 Year Old Birthday Boy
Five years old now. In his first year of kindergarten. Favorite book is an encyclopedia about sharks. Favorite food is chicken katsu (which we will be having for dinner). Birthday cake request was carrot cake with cream frosting and blueberries on top. Told me the other day that he wants to be a writer when he grows up, "but only in Hawaiian".
How Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-28959256815810945932013-10-13T16:25:00.003-10:002013-10-13T16:25:34.057-10:00I Am Forbidden to Publish ThisMr A asked me to NOT publish any of the poetry he writes for me (which he does compose on occasion). Since I am going through some of my old papers today, I thought I would put a few of my most favorite lines here - you know, for posterity. Its not the whole poem, so I donʻt think this is really cheating.
"My heart rate doubles with the anticipation
of being in our present Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-48649746011058346362013-10-10T11:02:00.001-10:002013-10-10T11:02:28.449-10:00Grandma Olive's DressI know I'm depressed and overwhelmed lately because I've recently become obsessed with my wardrobe. Project 333 was a draw (quit a month early, but got rid of almost 1/3 of my stuff) and I've since been scouring Ebay and thrift stores to build the perfect collection of clothing...as if such a thing even exists.
When I start getting focused on material things, especially something as Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-62820292420261769862013-09-30T13:28:00.001-10:002013-09-30T13:28:21.580-10:00Happy Belated 3rd Birthday Celebration, Kekoa
It took awhile, but we finally made it to Hilo. Huge mahalo to everyone who contributed some moo-lah to Kekoa's birthday fund. We got a year-long family membership to 'Imiloa Astronomy Center aka THE MOST INTERESTING PLACE EVER!
We started with a show in the planetarium called Seven Wonders (about the 7 wonders of the old world, of which only one is still standing...Mr A Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-11241622144029869902013-09-28T11:52:00.001-10:002013-09-28T11:52:27.025-10:00Sick Days
Last week the boys both got sick but on separate days. Koa ran a fever one day, which we happily burned off while drinking coconut water and watching Pokemon. Ikaika came home from school and sat quietly with him watching TV (unheard of on a school night but I didn't have the courage to turn it off). Two days later, I got a call to pick up Kaika from school because he was Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-7623140137750732372013-09-26T11:46:00.003-10:002013-09-26T11:46:52.831-10:00Aloha Paikau 2013
spectating
I was planning to blog about something else today but when I uploaded the videos from my camera, I saw that not only did Mr A get Ikaika to the Aloha Week Festival Parade on Saturday (while I was at the Hawaii Women of Purpose conference in Kona), he also TOOK PICTURES! That man never stops surprising me. I love him.
Check out that sign! We are such a legit Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-75917934518652694332013-09-19T14:31:00.001-10:002013-09-19T14:31:00.331-10:00Opposites AttractOh man, I don't spend nearly enough time on here complaining about my husband.
As I was making my lunch and searching the cupboard for something to sprinkle on my halibut before subjecting it to the steamer, I came across this...
WHY?!
Why, Husband, must you shop at Costco for seasonings? Was it the "organic" label that immediately hooked you, rendering you helpless to resist the Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-23279696580999927012013-09-09T12:36:00.002-10:002013-09-09T12:37:08.158-10:00ʻAkolea - a Cloud Forest Watershed
Sunrise over Waimea town
ʻAkolea
Waikoloa River
On Saturday we hiked up Pu'u Ao'aowaka - the hill that is directly in front of our living room window (for those who have been here - its the hill next to the one with the trees in the shape of a "P"). Even though I look at this hill everyday, I realize now that it is a stranger to me. We met for the first Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-69793344802439176642013-09-05T12:49:00.000-10:002013-09-05T12:49:18.038-10:00Take the Time to Make the Time
Today I ran across a picture on my friend's Facebook page (thanks, Cort) that spoke the truth in big capital letters: STOP THE GLORIFICATION OF BUSY!
Oh man, how I struggle with that. I whip up a mile long to-do list everyday. I want other people to look at my life and think "how does she do it?" rather than "what does she do all day?" But is that making me happy or making my lifeKatiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-73379689616327118952013-08-27T14:31:00.003-10:002013-08-27T14:40:04.326-10:00Authentic Assessments and Immersion Schools
The Hawaii Tribune Herald came out with this article last week, which shares island-wide school rankings under the new Strive HI performance standards. According to the Deputy Superintendent, Hawaii State DOE is
"valuing more than just test scores, we are taking a comprehensive look at the successes and challenges of schools...this wealth of data will allow educators, school leaders, Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-47862163517190873542013-08-19T13:19:00.001-10:002013-08-19T13:30:32.253-10:00Project 333 and My Wardrobe Revelations
This new round of Project 333 isn't going quite as smoothly as before. I've learned 3 things thus far:
My camera phone takes pretty low quality photos for boasting such high megapixels. Clearly, I need a flash and something above a 5 if I am going to replace my trusty little handheld for good.
Post-pregnancy hormone imbalance did not claim the bulk of my hair (hooray!), which Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-10874328544222137752013-08-12T10:30:00.002-10:002013-08-12T10:30:49.444-10:00Keeping a Modern Household (aka Housekeeping for Dummies)I want to begin this post by pointing out that I, like most women, wrestle with the concept of being a homemaker. I assign more value to my work outside the home because I associate that work with a paycheck. But I find more creativity and fulfillment within the walls of our home. I think both can be done properly, but it's most important to have a good balance between the two (Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2210477408338198651.post-89849782782125237062013-08-05T15:27:00.001-10:002013-08-05T15:27:38.193-10:00Ikaika's First Day of Kindergarten
Today was Ikaika's first day of school. Yep, that's right. I haven't even fully recovered from the trauma of delivering the kid and I'm already sending him off to kindergarten. To be cliche - it goes by so fast.
It was very clear that Ikaika has been out of school for awhile. The language was slow-coming today, he seemed uncomfortable to the point of embarrassment Katiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12120817399204081842noreply@blogger.com2