As Horton the Elephant

Here I am showing off my Horton the Elephant costume.

And going forwards and backwards.

Mommy asked me, "What does Horton say?"

Silly Mommy.

Elephants don't talk.

It's a Mushroom!

Today, Mom gave me a piece of bread to eat, and I started telling her something, but she really wasn't paying attention (probably just nodding in agreement without really hearing what I was saying). Finally, she figured out what I was saying, and she videotaped it so I could show all of you.

She was pretty impressed that I made my bread into the shape of a mushroom. She didn't even know that I knew what a mushroom looked like!

Although, Mom and Dad aren't REALLY surprised because lately I've been commenting on the shapes of clouds in the sky and telling them what they look like.

Don't you think my bread looks like a mushroom?

Rockin' out to the Beastie Boys at dinner time....Don't you???

Yeah For Fall Break!

Today was the last day of the quarter for Mom, and officially she is now on Fall Break. One week off from both schools! She even took a sick day today from the elementary school (not that she was really sick, but she had an in-service for the preschool job.) She even got to pick me up from my own preschool (which she has never done before!), and we hung out together this afternoon, so that was pretty fun.

Mom had an exciting day getting to know her preschool teaching colleagues better in a day filled with fellowship and fun. First, they met at Keehi Lagoon, had breakfast and found out the plan for the day. Then, they all hopped in a couple of outrigger canoes and paddled about 5 miles to Sand Island. Since Mommy didn't go to 5:30 am yoga this morning, this was a great workout (but she says her shoulders will be sore tomorrow!). Then, they got an awesome opportunity to go onto the Hokule'a, and they got a special guided tour from the captain of the boat (a gal younger than mom) and a couple of crew members. They are preparing for an around-the-world voyage in 2012. After many questions (like, "Where do you sleep?" and "How do you go to the bathroom?") and photos, they journeyed back in the canoes. It was pretty cool learning about how they navigate using the stars and seeing no screws or bolts holding the boat together. Just being able to step on the boat and learn about her was pretty awesome in itself. Then, they all stuffed their faces with food for lunch and left the day with goodies, including cookies and KS slippers.

After Mom picked me up from school, we headed to her elementary school to check on things. I played on the playground equipment a little bit, and then, we shared a Jamba Juice and played some more on the merry-go-round (since they have a new Fun Factory there). We ate dinner at Whole Foods, where I got my free banana (kids get a banana, an apple, or a fruit leather if you go inside the store) with Nana and Pop and got some new pajamas for me before heading home (Mom and Dad took my cue that I was tired when I started spewing out water and throwing food.)

The "Monster Mash"

Mommy and Daddy had a date night and left me at home with Nana and Pop.

They went to check out an art opening at Chinatown Boardroom, a small art gallery in Chinatown that features a lot of surfboard art. The new art show is called "Monster Mash". Daddy's friends are featured in it, including Dave, Ryan, and Cade. Daddy brought them hokey Hawaiian leis for the occasion. Check out their monster art work. They each made a monster, but the tops and bottoms were intentionally mixed up during installation. It was fun to see how they matched or didn't match. They gnoshed on Halloween-themed treats, like fingers (sausages) and eyeballs (lychee). Then, they had a nice dinner at Little Village, a popular Chinese restaurant down the street.

What A Fun Weekend!

It was a long, but productive week, with our old, termite-eaten master bedroom wall torn out and our new 4 panel sliding door put in. Mommy showed it to me when I woke up on Wednesday morning. I immediately told her, "Come on!" and dragged her by the finger to show me how we could walk outside to the new lanai extension. Now, they have a wonderful breeze that comes in the room, they can tear down the baby gates they've had up for 2 years, and they can stand on the lanai and enjoy the beautiful city view! We have another new sliding glass door in the living room, with two double hungs. Stewart, our handyman, is still going to double wall/drywall. Then, 6 more windows to go and then we'll have to reassess to see how much money is left to do other improvements! Here are pictures of our lanai extension, which started last year, along with the most recent windows additions.

It was also a crazy week with the announcement that all public school teachers will be furloughed. The furlough Fridays start on October 23rd. Mom was not in the least bit happy about this. So disappointing for the school district and the kids she says. 17 days will be taken away, making only 3 five day weeks the rest of this school year (the rest will be 4 day weeks when you factor in all the holidays and other built in vacation/professional development days) and the furloughs will continue next year as well. It amounts to a nearly 8% paycut but most of all, it's such a disservice to the kids here in Hawai'i.

Mommy's friends Marissa and Nate also arrived for a little visit this week, while enroute to the Big Island. I had my 2nd overnight stay at Nana's and Pop's on Wednesday night so that Mommy and Daddy could eat heavy pupus with them at Uncle Bo's restaurant and loan Dad's Miata (yeah, the one that's been sitting parked on the street for the past 2 years.). They celebrated Marissa's birthday and even went to get ice cream at the local favorite, Bubbie's, for dessert.

We hung out with them and friends Kai and Jason and baby Coby at brunch on Saturday. Then, we took Marissa and Nate to the airport so they start their weeklong stay on the Big Island. We took their hotel parking pass and pool wrist bracelets so we could enjoy the pools at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. When we first got there, I was sleeping. I laid my head down on Mom's shoulder and asked her where we were going. She said to see the penguins. I perked up real fast, and asked, "Penguins!? Where are the penguins?!" So, of course we had to see the penguins first.

Then we visited 2 different pools. Let's just say, we had an awesome time! For the first time, I was enthusiastic about swimming with my head in the water, blowing bubbles, and feet kicking. I kept saying, "I want to swim! I want to swim!" I would jump off the side into the pool. It was so much fun. Then we had even more fun when we discovered the awesome kids pool. There were big water slides (which I couldn't go on, but Mommy and Daddy sure did have their share of fun! They said the best one was the dark tunnel one.) and I had fun swimming underwater and jumping from level to level. I didn't want to leave! We were there for about 5 hours! It was a great impromptu "daycation". We went to Ala Moana to get dinner at the food court because we were so exhausted from our day of fun! Mom even ran into a friend and one of her student's family there. I guess locals like to have "staycations" at the Hilton Hawaiian Village too. We'll definitely think about doing it sometime in the near future. But, we enjoyed it for free today!

Oh, and did I tell you that there were penguins, and turtles, and ducks, and birds?! Mommy and Daddy also enjoyed their waffle cones of Lamont's ice cream, but I was not in the least bit interested. I enjoyed scooping tasting spoons of water into my mouth instead.

Mommy finished her last Sunday of yoga posture clinics today. Her thighs are burning and her body is sore (didn't help that she didn't go at all during the week) from demonstrating postures -- locust pose and bow pulling pose. During the 3 two hour sessions, she learned the minute details to help make her postures more correct, and yet more challenging. Perhaps the thigh muscles will be stronger (and then I'll keep making her carry me up our 95 stairs).

We went to dinner at Big City Diner with just Nana tonight (Pop stayed home because he wasn't feeling well...that's the first time in years he hasn't come to dinner with us! But Nana brought home a burger and fries for him.) I was very hyper and decided that throwing food or slyly dropping it under the table was a good idea. So Daddy let me run outside a lot. It was such a busy weekend that I seem to be coming down with a cold. I went to swimming lessons this morning, but I seem to have a runny nose. We'll see if our week is a bit calmer this week.

The home improvement continues with more window installation and double walling this week. Dad had to try and fix the Miata today (but ended up just taking it to the mechanic's garage) since it died on the way home yesterday. Nate and Marissa must have driven all over the whole island the past few days! It's a good thing it didn't die on them then! We also added a new armoire (it used to be cousin Geoff's...Thanks Auntie Stevie and Uncle Gary!) to my room and Mommy did a thorough cleaning and rearranging of my closet. So the crib is finally disassembled and all of my baby clothes are boxed up. I'm a big kid now!

Did I mention that I'm 27 months old today?!

Pictures and videos (I've been jammin' to the Beastie Boys at dinner lately) to come!

I'm 27 Months Old Today!

I'm talking a lot more these days....

...and noticing things and commenting on them.

The other night in the bath, I bent over and asked, "What's that?!" as I looked between my legs. I already now my "eenis" as I say "eenis...no eenis...eenis...no eenis..." while opening and closing my legs.

But I noticed something else there! Daddy told me it was my "scrotum". Didn't know there were so many parts down there.

Besides my body parts, I like to look at the clouds and name the shape or the animal I see.

This month, I've also been learning to "use my words" more. When I need help with a toy or a book, Mommy taught me to say, "I need help!". I use that a lot now.

Today I locked myself in my bedroom while I was playing. I freaked out a little until Daddy told me to wiggle the handle. "I did it!" (another one of my favorite sayings) and was able to get out safely.

Mommy and Daddy say I've been really hyper lately. Jumping, running, jumping on the bed, running, jumping on Mommy, running, screaming, yelling...I like having Mommy and Daddy copy me too. So I'll yell and say, "You try it." I'll stick out my tongue and say, "You try it." When I was a baby, they used to have me do all these tricks. Now, it's payback time. They're such suckers.

I'm almost done with my second session of swimming lessons. My favorite part of swimming (besides jumping in the pool for the toy) is playing on the playground with my friends. The other parents have commented on how coordinated I am, as I run circles around the play structure, swing from the bars, jump over tree stumps, and climb up the side bars on my own.

I still don't mind being in my wet or poopy diapers, so potty training has been a slow process. Besides, Mommy and Daddy are working on me pulling up my pants on my own (as I much prefer to continue playing with them hanging around my ankles).

Starches, veggies, and fruits are still my preferred food choices. But, I'm back onto poi too. And of course I drink about a gallon of whole milk in a week. Although, the preschool records what I eat each day, and Mom and Dad were surprised that I ate pork! They're hoping peer pressure works.

Mom and Dad always have the video camera ready because they say I do and say a lot of funny things these days.