Youth Group Photo Shoot

We had a fun Young Womens activity when Ana and I set up a mini-studio in the Primary Room and did a photo shoot with the girls. Then we printed out their photos so they could give them to their moms for Mother's Day. I didn't want to put photos of the other Young Women on the blog without their permission (besides the one above to show how Elsie sticks out like a lightning rod here in Hawaii), so here are the ones we took of my kids while testing the lighting conditions. 

She can do ugly too! So versatile. 

I have to trick him to get him to take a normal photo. Grrrr. 

Elsie will pose forever though. She's very good and being still. And loud. At the same time. 

And of course, Ana hates  the camera. 

Anyway, incredibly fun and easy activity if you want to try it with your group. We just set up white butcher paper on a moveable chalk board and I used the flash off of my Canon T1i, but used my trick diffuser (three sheets of white paper held in front of the flash to point the flash upwards.). It would have been better to have some light boxes as you can tell from the shadows on Ana's face, but I didn't have time to set up any (fake) boxes, so I think what we had worked fine, especially considering the flourescent lighting throughout the church. Make sure (as at anytime you have people standing in front of a wall, board, sheet, screen) that the subject stands at least 18 inches in front of the screen. You don't want to be able to see the shadows on the back wall. Also, if you want a more invisible look to your back screen, use a well ironed white sheet or do a better job taping up your butcher paper than I did!

The most important thing we tried to teach the girls is the "forehead forward and down" trick of photos. I was trying to get them more comfortable with having their photos taken and teach them to increase the likelihood that their photos will look like themselves. I just found a website and video that teaches you how to do it: Forehead Forward and Down Time for you to love your photo taken too!

Taylor Swift comes to visit

Someone is NOT camera shy, especially when she's dressed up as Taylor Swift for a school spirit dress-up day. I don't think I'm excited for her to start wearing makeup permanently... 

Swim Meet and Grammy and Grandfather Come to Town

Grammy and Grandfather came to visit a few weeks ago, ending our long and glorious stretch of visitors that has lasted almost non stop since October. We love visitors, so it is somewhat sad to think we have no more coming until after summer vacation. 

Ricky and Linda were only here for about five days, so we made sure to pack it in. We spent much time at the beach, of course, and then we dragged them to a swim meet out in Lahaina. I just read somewhere that Lahaina means, "Land of the merciless sun" or something like that, and I believe it, but it is still such a great place. There are places on earth that are alive, breathing and teaming with history and from the after shadows of some many souls living in such a small area. For me, the greatest and richest place like this is Jerusalem. London is another... well, actually, most of Europe fits the bill. Boston... New York... New Orleans almost audibly breathes, its so alive with history--it's even sticky with history. And luckily so close, there is Lahaina. It's charming and hot and dense with humanity all at the same time. And yet it's just a small little town. I love it. I would also especially love it if I wasn't constantly sweating, but no great historically rich city has great weather. Seriously. Humans don't like to make history when the weather is perfect. 

Anyway, the kids did well in their meet. They aren't the top of their age groups, but they both improved their times and had a fun day, so that's a success in my book. 

Po is a little flushed in the heat, can you tell? She's probably especially flushed from all the running she does at swim meets, trying to escape me and giving me aneurysms with all of her near fall-ins. Seriously. How much longer until she can swim too?! 

Coach is giving Cam some pointers. 

Cam ready for backstroke. 

Ana's favorite stroke is the fly.

Afterwards, we walked up and down Front Street where I think Ricky and Linda explored every single shop. The kids were in heaven. They know where all the best samples are, but they had never gone down Front Street with someone who actually bought anything! They all ended up with a multitude of treasures thanks to Grammy and Grandfather's generosity. 

And their whole stay was incredibly generous. We've never eaten out at so many great restaurants in such a short amount of time. Many great talks too. We were all nourished both mind and body. We were sad to see them leave, but I'm 100% positive that they will be back soon. I'm actually surprised they don't just move here for the winters. Come on... you know you want to!

And finally, here is Ana capping off our Lahaina adventure with a leap from the Black Rock beach cliffs.

We love you G&G. Come back soon!

Crazy Hair Day

 The kids had Crazy Hair Day at school. Even the two bookend kids who don't go to that school decided to participate. I found the idea above on Pinterest... post from non other than my sister-in-law Shawni's blog. Jonah and I always tease that we are going to make her a bumper sticker that says, "I'm famous on Pinterest".

Anyway, Elsie loved her hair do, and it stayed in all day... even through PE... thanks to my 1980s hairspray skills. Since she is only one of five or six ultra-blonds at her school, she especially stood out, and she loved it. She also loved that I told her to keep the method of the hairdo a secret... She loved having such a valuable secret all day.

Po's Crazy Hair Day-- no hairspray required.

Crazy Face Day!

Cam opted for the "Kind Of Crazy, but Still Cool" hair do.

And I don't think Ana released that this is how I wore my hair every day in 5th grade. Well, except with a scrunchie instead of a bow. Oh, and we had big poofy bangs back then too. 

We are already making big plans for next year.

The Big Dance

The Big Dance. And no, I don't mean the playoffs. 

Last year, Ana watched Elsie's performance in the Peter Pan ballet with a local dance studio, and she resolved to be in the performance the following year. She signed up to clean the studio in exchange for dance classes and signed up for one of the new jazz classes since she decided she wasn't ready for the time commitment needed for ballet. Finally, the weekend after I got back from California, they performance took place. (Fortunately, it wasn't in Lahaina like last year... that was quite the drive back and forth... it was at a private school only three minutes drive). 

Ana's class performed a number from the musical Cats, if you can't tell by her outfit. I have to say, I was fairly impressed with Ana-- she went from being a 100% non-dancer to being the star of her number (partly from her dancing skills, partly from the age-old trick I taught her of smiling big enough that no one notices if you mess up). 

Po only got to watch the dress rehearsal, but she loved it so much that she tucked her dress into her undies. Whoops. She really does love pretending to dance ballet and loves watching the ballerinas ("bayawyinaws" as she says). 

Since I was out of town for the photo day, Ana managed to get her makeup and hair done by a friend. She stayed in character for the whole photo shoot...

And while backstage...

And finally stopped being a cat when her friend Johnny brought her flowers.

What a star! We were so pleased with her hard worked and all she put into the performance. She loved it (and hopes someday to be running the show... she saw some real room for efficiency improvement...)

And then there's Elsie...

Elsie Elsie Elsie Elsie....

She's been dancing for a couple of years now... 

And she is as cute as can be. 

I think she really catches the drama of the dance...

And loves being on stage...

But maybe doesn't pay attention in class so well. 

But whenever there is free dance...

Or a solo part...

She really shines!

And Mom and Dad breathed a long, joyous sigh of relief when the performance was over. I really respect you parents who keep your kids in dance for years... it's incredibly expensive and time-consuming, but we can see why it is worth it. Girls are meant to dance! 

Ana the Boss

Ana is destined for a great future in telling people what to do. I don't know how I can tell... but I just can. It just comes so naturally for her. With her current videography and photography obsession, I think she might aspire to be a movie director some day. Here are some storyboards from her recent work... titled something that has to do with Breyer horses and trying to make it sound suspenseful..

Nine Years of Cambo and Luvy Comes to Town

Ana is getting a little shortchanged in the blog of late since her birthday is way back in August, so I just want to give a shout out and say that she is an incredible daughter and is getting to be a good surfer too! 

One of the things she does that helps me so much is she folds the laundry... and not only that... she folds it into the neatest piles you have ever seen. Hooray!

Another thing I really appreciate is how she takes care of Po with total patience, kindness and adoration. She always offers to help Po whenever she needs it and even lets Po sleep in her bed and helps her say her prayers at night. She is an angel. 

Cam got to be on the "Morning Broadcast" one morning because he had done an exceptional job on teaching kids in his class how to clarify words, so he was asked to present his method to the school. I peaked into Elsie's kindergarten class to watch him. He did a great job... but he didn't get Elsie's incredibly loud voice, so it was just a little bit hard to hear him, but he looked very knowledgeable. 

Right before Cam turned nine, my mom came to the island!! Then to top it off, our old friend Mark came to visit too! it was a little packed having them both here at the same time, but Jonah and I gave our room to my mom and the guest room to Mark, and we enjoyed our super comfortable hideabed in the living room. 

We dragged Mark and my mom to the school events... 

And enjoyed Luvy's help in reading to Po (she can't be satiated...)

But every time my mom comes to visit, I feel bad that we aren't more adventurous. It's just so relaxing having her here. She gets my house in tip top shape, instantly turns all the kids happy, and just gathers us all like a hen under her wings. So sorry Mom. I hope you had a fun time. We just love to hang out and gaze at your beauty and marvel at your efficiency. But man oh man do we love having her here. 

Cam's birthday was a little less exciting than in year's past, but I think he had a good time with a chocolate sheet cake with a Lego guy on top. He also got some nice presents. He chose to have a birthday party this year, but we haven't had a free weekend since he turned nine, so we have yet to have his party yet... but when we do, it'll be epic! (BTW, just so you know how bad I am, I make my kids plan their own parties. Cam just couldn't decide what he wanted to do in addition to every weekend being booked, so I've just waited until he took the initiative, which he finally has, and he's planning one for the week after next). 

I used to have a photo here of my mom eating a Dorito! She made me take it down and replace it with this one. But that's okay. She has a reputation to maintain. 

We were so sad when Luvy and Mark (or Chocolate Mark as my kids named him) had to leave. We did spend a monumental amount of time at the beach and we went on some great walks and Jonah and Mark did some crazy stuff... but, alas, no photos. 

But here is a photo of Elsie's homemade kite!

And here is a photo of Elsie with a monarch butterfly that she caught in the garden. 

(She released it later, don't worry.)