Little Sea Turtle

Hooray! Gauge passed his swimming lessons. Good thing as I would have no idea how to tell him he didn't and would have to take the same level next year ;)

Front Float

Trying to catch a wave like Auntie Shannon S

Auntie Pam came to his last day and we spent the rest of the day on the beach soaking up some vitamin D, drinking lake water and visiting. It was such a great success that I'm tempted to take the same 2 weeks off from work next year so we can do it again. Maybe the whole month of July... I'm loving this free time too much.

Water Baby

I've heard of very young babies being able to swim. Like being swaddled, they seem to find comfort in water, having spent the previous 9 months in a watery place. That's why we wanted to start Gauge early so he would develop a love and healthy appreciation for water. Lakes in particular, as we are not pool people.

I think Gauge is a water baby now. Today was day 8 of swimming lessons and the second day of lifejacket lessons. He wasn't quite sure what to think yesterday when I strapped him into his lifejacket, but he loved "jumping" into the deep water and that sensation of floating. Today was even better. He was eager to jump off the dock, splashed his arms and even kicked his legs when he was front floating. I couldn't help but have the biggest smile on my face the whole lesson. The greatest moment yet though was when he kept trying to blow bubbles in the water like the other kids. If I didn't hold him high enough above the water, he would put his entire face, mouth open, and come up sputtering but happy.

Just another day in paradise

My northern prairie paradise. It's another gorgeous fall day at home. Oh yeah... I'm home, been since Tuesday. Thanks to some unseasonably warm October weather, I haven't had a tough time adjusting since returning from Hawaii.

I had a wonderful visit with my friend and her husband. We did lots of driving, shopping, a little touristy stuff and some beach time. Not as much as I had wanted, on account of sunburning the bottom half of my legs. I was so diligent in applying and reapplying sunscreen to every part of my body, except that part of my legs, and therefore burned them. Thankfully not badly, so they quickly turned to a tan. But really. I should know better.

Highlights:
1 - 5 days of visiting. That was the best part of the trip.
2 - the scenery. I can definitely see why so many people go there for holidays and honeymoons. The water is incredible, the weather is perfect, and the beaches are great.
3 - Swap meet shopping. If you're going to Honolulu. Skip the expensive souvenirs at Waikiki, and head to the swap meet every Wed, Sat and Sun from 8-3 (unless there is a football game). Gifty stuff is like 50-75% cheaper there, and the people bargain, and are way more friendly.
4 - submarine tour. it was really neat. We went up to 110ft below the water, and saw all sorts of fish, turtles, barracudas and wreckage. Definitely worth it, though way more fun to go with someone else.
5 - The North Shore - home of Oahu surfers, pineapple fields (though not so much any more...) and Matsumoto Shave Ice. yum yum.
For the first time in a really, really long time. I got homesick. I'm glad to be home again.

Ocean View

Something I didn't think I had. I have a "garden view" room in Hawaii. Ok. I can live with that. Then, while killing a lot of my down time today, I realized that I do have an ocean view from here... If you look really hard through the windows, you'll see it. I think there is even a boat. I had to precariously balance on a rollie office chair to get this shot, so cherish it.

And now, a list of things I forgot.

- my iPod. How on earth will I ignore people on the flights home? Thankfully, the flights here, I was seated next to delightful people, who know the value of interesting, yet little conversation on a plane. Only had a half glass of white wine spilled on me by my neighbour. That was more funny than not. The little Swiss-Canadian lady got so excited to see her friend that her arms, and wine glass, went flying up, and all over me. I didn't have the heart to tell her that I was wet.

- sunscreen. It didn't cross my mind until my friends picked me up, and commented on how they had gone to the beach that day, and got burned that day. Errol even asked if I was going to come back with a tan. At this rate, I'll be glowing red by next week.

- enough books. I'm 1/3rd through my last book, and 7+ days away from leaving.

- my sarong. It's even a Hawaiian one.

Really. Where was my head?