Authentically Lifing

This year has been a big one. I guess they all are. Each year is always filled with a lot of adventure, fun, change and growth. Some highlights of this year:
*We bought a home on Maui. It is a 1950's Hawaiian Plantation style home. It has magical gardens and is filled with charm. You'll see some pictures posted below.
*Exploration of Hawaii and the discovery of new and wonderous places
* Snorkeling
*Rock climbing on Maui - Thanks to Jeff
*Outrigger canoe paddling
*Wildlife viewing- Whales, sea turtles, Pueo(Hawaiian owl), Nene Geese, many birds, mongoose
*Harvesting our own bananas, loquats and avocados
*Sunshine
*Sunsets
*Beach, ocean, waves, sand
*Hula
*Seeing the flowering Jacaranda trees
*Receiving, making and wearing Lei
*Finding Jackson Chameleons
*Making new friends and continuing to stay connected to old friends
*Family
*Travel
*The gift of life

The following pictures pick up where I last left off posting. We had a wonderful summer in CO reconnecting with friends. I thought about starting off this post with the beginning of this school year, but the purpose of this is to document my boy's lives. I want them to look back on all this and remember.

Wilderness hike with friends from Austin - EP, Roni and Tzuri.

If you ever find yourself in Carbondale, be sure to visit True Nature and walk their awesome foot path. Be prepared for an amazing foot massage.

Floating down the Colorado River with Liisa and family.

Summer dinner with the Strandys and Gardners.

Maroon Bells Hike with the Gardners.

Penny Hot Spring soak with all the mamas and kiddos.

Fresh raw milk from Sustainable Settings, Carbondale, CO.

Currents and raspberries. Someone is in bramble bliss.

Even Colorado gets double rainbows.

This year my mom, Unchi (Lakota for Grandmother) brought Kai to the Native American Sundance. It was by far Kai's favorite thing he did this summer.

Mountain Fair Goodness with friends

Back on Maui. Chillin' with a sweet axis deer that has been raised by some friends.

First day back at school!

It was hard and sad to do, but we cut Kai's hair because it was too much of a distraction for him. He may try to grow it out again and perhaps by then, he'll be ready for it.

Our secret Garden. It has been fun clearing, creating and discovering pathways in our yard. We have also unearthed many fun treasures.

Heart Rock

Nakalele Blowhole

Night Blooming Cereus. We were lucky to catch it before it closed.

Dragon Rock

Tumeric

Cotton from the school's campus garden

Isaac had an Under the Sea Birthday theme for his 6th birthday. We took him for a submarine ride on the Atlantis. A truly cool adventure.


A bed of seastars

Isaac floating and snorkeling in Olivine Pools

Michaelmas Celebration

My 42 Birthday Shenanigans

My first Hula performance

Jeff exploring Maui

Oodles and ooldles of sea turtles

Unchi makes it to Maui

Isaac's 6th Birthday party

Pepper and hummus octopus

Turkey crabs

Seaweed

Sea Turtle watermelon

Gift Bags

Kai's first Maui cub scout parade

In October I flew back to NC to see my sister Annie get hitched. Fun sister time. It was fun to get back to my roots and be surrounded by all those I grew up with.

Kai and his 3rd grade class built a sukkah- a temporary construction with a roof covering of branches that the Jewish lived in following their exodus from Egypt to shield them from the dangers of the desert- as part of their Old Testament studies.

For the school's Halloween Night of Delight, I was an angel guide. My mom went as a peacock.

I've taken up Hawaiin Outrigger Canoeing. When you come visit, I will bring you out with me.

This is our second year going to the Myths Of Avalon. An enchanted Walk Halloween weekend. It is so magical.

My two spacemen.

Trick or Treat. Isaac went as a black Ninja and Kai as a Hazmat guy.

Unchi and Kai singing to the setting sun.


Ulalena


At the summit of Haleakala to watch the rising of the Super moon!

Cub Scout Rain Gutter Regatta

Over Thanksgiving break, Kai and I joined two other families and hiked in to one of the cabins in the crater. This was Kai's first overnight hike and he carried his own pack. 7.7 miles. I was proud of him.

A white rainbow or Fogbow

The switchbacks down to the cabin.

Inside a lava tube

Nene Geese

Holua Cabin in Haleakala Crater.

While Kai and I were on our adventure, Isaac and Papa went on a camping/climbing adventure.

Eli came to visit Kai - a classmate from Carbondale.

Date night out to see Lukas Wilson

Isaac is very proud of the handsome shirt Unchi got him. He wore it to walk his advent spiral.

Maui puts on a very impressive Nutcracker.

A fairy ring. The boys did not dare step into the center in fear they would be transported to fairy land.

Kai walking his advent spiral.

Kai made his own Menorah in 3rd grade this year as part of his Old Testament studies.

The boys learning to meditate with Papa

The beautiful water feature at school

The Shepherd's Play - done each year by the faculty for the students. I am the shepherd with a red cap and grey beard in the back row. No one could guess who I was, hehe!