Category Archives: Kids

Hawaii Nature Center

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So one thing that I am really happy that I am able to do is go on filed trips with my kids classes… This was my first time that I got to go with Mckenna’s class on a field trip. Those 5th graders are so much fun!

We were spending the day hiking up at the Hawaii Nature Center up on one of the hills above us… Unfortunately our bus driver ended up taking a wrong turn and instead we climbed up the other side of the hill toward tantalus. It was quite the scenic trip, it was beautiful but we were for real in the wilds of Hawaii. We FINALLY had a big enough area to turn around and back down we came, made the correct turn and headed up the right side of the mountain!

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The guides at the nature center were amazing, especially Kai and Kristen who were in charge of our group. We learned a lesson about how the islands were formed (I even learned a few things!) and how some additional geological activity has since altered the shape of Oahu.

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From there we were off to our hike. I was initially pretty nervous about the format because the kids were going off into groups of three and learning about a specific plant or tree on our hike and then they would tell the entire group about it. It worked out that every kid got to be a teacher which was great for them, helped with public speaking and knew all there was to know about a plant we saw on our hike.

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I am going to overload this post with pictures, sorry… I tried to at least condense them into collages! It was a REALLY beautiful trail! If you are looking for a nice hike Ualaka’a Trail is one to consider!babies

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After our hike we did an experiment about soil and the difference with forested land and cleared land. (spoiler alert, forests have high permeability). Of course I was loving all of this as its right up my alley and the kids were learning and having fun.

Finally time for lunch, a little late due to our detour! We ended up having a pretty spectacular view of downtown Honolulu and Diamond Head (which I now know was created from a secondary eruption and not from the initial volcano that created the islands!)

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This is a beautiful spot to hike and we saw a few different trailheads that started around here. We will be back to do some more hiking from here for sure!

Nu’uanu to Manoa Falls Ridgeline hike

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Okay, let me start this by saying that this is NOT the hike we intended to do! We were looking for the ruins trail, we accidentally started at the Judd Trail and said, eh, why not. (ed. note: When telling our husband about the day his comment was “This is how people die” lol.) Judd Trail is beautiful! There is a stream crossing at the beginning but we were all able to hop across keeping our feet dry.
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It’s amazing how quickly the trail changed, from bamboo, to forest, to jungle. The scenery was unbelievable.hike2

We met up with Nu’uanu trail and hiked that up to the ridgeline. That right there is a great hike. There is a nice little grassy spot where you can eat lunch (and try not to get blown off, it was crazy windy up there!) Also try to get a group picture at the bench!

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This was our big ol’ group of kids, and they all did awesome. Picture is crooked because Katie’s camera was hanging from a tree!
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At this point is where we REALLY should have turned back, but the though was that the trail would loop around (Again: “This is how people die”) So we kept going.

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Nice easy stretch going downhill, we connected up with a Paoa Flats trail that wound through a lovely bamboo forest… then we passed a guy who said we weren’t far from Manoa Falls. That didn’t sound right to our group as Manoa Falls is on the other end of Waikiki. hike5 hike6

Onward we forge with the trail getting more and more muddy and a bit of a pain, some Cuh-RAZY switchbacks downhill, GPS tells us that yes indeed we are headed to Manoa Falls. Sounds great, one more hike to cross off our list!
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Manoa Falls is STUNNING! Super high waterfall that people do swim in despite the WARNING/DANGER signs (30 Ton rockslide 10 years ago was enough to keep me outside of the roped area)

We continued our walk downhill toward the Monoa Falls trailhead, giving a call to a friend for a ride back to our cars. hike9

I highly recommend these trails separately but not together unless you want to do some serious hiking and you have a friend you can call to hook you back up with your car! With kids ranging from 3-11 this hike took us about 5 hours. One for the memory books for sure!

I also have this bad boy on order for future hikes:
Oahu Hikes: The Best Hikes and Walks on the Island (Lone Pine Guide)

We started out off of Nu’anu Pali Rd which is off Old Pali highway. You should see the trail head about a mile or two up the road on the right.

Valentine’s Day!

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First off, can I state that sitting with your kindergartner while he writes out 25 cards is not the best time ever. I was very, very tempted to drink at multiple times. But we got all of them done. (Also please note the “I dazzled at school today” wristband! Stellar student!
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Here is the breakfast set up, some fun goodies and balloons. I got the plates in the Target dollar section and I love them! I love divided plates!!
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And breakfast was pink heart pancakes, pink milk and the weirdest color watermelon I’ve ever seen. But hey, it fit the decor.
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Mckenna was all dudded up in her $5 Target tee, (Omar declined a Valentine tee… boys.) Cute heart shaped hairstyle is super easy to do and looks great. And of course her Valentine to me… So adorable!

mckennaI was spoiled by my mom (pretty flowers! I’ll take a picture when they open!) and my husband (VS gift card and a new Coach purse! Whoohoo!) It’s great to have one more holiday done and over with, that much closer to homecoming!

 

Mustaches and Bacon

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I don’t get it. I really don’t. And thankfully she has a mimi who indulges in her every desire.

Cue the best birthday presents EVER…

(realize I didn’t get a picture of the knee high mustache-sporting bacon socks. Will update!)

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It’s a Zebra Birthday!

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Well I have finally recovered from Mckenna’s epic sleepover this weekend. Really though we had a great bunch of girls over, thank goodness my daughter makes great friends!

Decorated down to the very last minute but had fun with all of the zebra and purple. I could have spend another $200 at Party City on decorations but we were good with this… I also had a bunch of balloons out front tied to my shepard’s hook that someone stole! Mckenna was so mad because there was a zebra mylar one in there. Who does that?!

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DSC_0147The girls even brought some beautiful coordinating gifts! I was kinda irritated because a lot of the Party City stuff was zebra and pink instead of the requested zebra and PURPLE. But we made it work.

DSC_0146Dinner was a taco bar. Easy peasy. And lots of leftovers for taco salad for me.

DSC_0166Mckenna and her friends doing the ‘Charlie’s Angels’ pose. Are they not the cutest girls you have ever seen?!?!

DSC_0185The cake turned out great, the frosting was weird. I added candy food coloring instead of regular food coloring and it got super runny. Still tasted good but I was not a happy camper and had no time to fix it.

The zebra inside was awesome and I’ll post a tutorial on how to do it because it’s super easy and the next time I do it, it will be even better.

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Also? Games were played. I did the old “Put a bunch of random objects on a tray then cover them up and try to write down how many you remember” game, chubby bunny which NO one had heard of. Sorry Mckenna but this picture makes me giggle every time I see it!

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Then we stole a game from a recent baby shower we had been too… Looks simple, is actually REALLY hard! Try to scoop cotton balls and balance as many on your head as you can. (Ahem, I did in fact WIN this game at said baby shower…)

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Mckenna had a GREAT party, the girls all had fun. What more could you ask for?!

 

 

 

 

Best Birthday Ever! (so she says)

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The best birthday (ever!) started off with an owl delivering her Hogwart’s Acceptance letter… All those familiar with the Harry Potter series know that you get your letter on your eleventh birthday. I had so much fun making this, let me know if you are interested in a template! 
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Also another bonus, having your birthday fall on National Pancake Day… Letter M pancakes on the menu! (While sporting your brand new birthday outfit! New tradition, one present in the morning containing a new outfit for school that day!)

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And a special delivery at school of cake pops for her class (purple ones of course!) and a bouquet of balloons (more purple! Are you seeing a theme?)

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The afternoon was spent at soccer practice (more cake pops!) and then Papa John’s for dinner… Those are the birthday meal requests I love! She got to open some really fun gifts from us and family members. The highlight was the PS Vita, it was such an awesome gift it even made her hug her brother! DSC_0062Glad you had a wonderful birthday sweetie! You deserve it!