Yup. That’s right. Kevin has been delayed. Things are going poorly. So poorly that he has pushed out his return date until who knows when. Ugh. I’m running pretty low on spirit right now. I’m just tired and there’s always more to do and no one to help me do it. The girls are doing ok. They are beginning to say that they miss their daddy more and more and I can only agree.

So I’m in the process or re-setting my mental picture. Kevin will not be home tomorrow as planned. This means I must find the strength and energy to last another week without him. Where, you ask, will said strength and energy come from? Well, Liza dropped off a pint of Haagen Das cookie dough ice cream which definately helped. A few more of those, and I’m sure the week will fly by, right?

Unless….. hmm… anyone out there interested in taking my kids for a week? Anyone? They’re really cute and they don’t eat too much.

Yeah, I didn’t think so. But you can’t blame a frazzled mom for trying, right?

So today was the big day.

The first day of preschool.

I have to admit, the morning was a bit rough. Kevin usually runs the show in the morning so it was pretty strange getting breakfast ready for the kids by myself. Leina was nervous and barely ate anything. She’d vacilate between excitement and anxiety at the drop of a hat. Add to it the fact that we had to be heading out the door by a little past 8am and the morning was a blur.

Luckily, once we got her to her class, she jumped in with both feet. I watched her for a while but then filed out with everyone else. Leina just smiled and gave me a little “shoo shoo” sign. She went on to have a great first day but Kulia and I spent the morning moping.

“Where Leina?” Kulia would ask me every few minutes. “When we get her?” was the second most asked question of the day. Even a pink frosted donut with sprinkles and a trip to the toy store couldn’t satisfy her. She wanted her sister back. Poor thing. We were both wandering around a bit lost without Leina to chatter to us. However, when I went to retrieve Leina at the end of the morning, she announced that she wanted to do it again. I just know she’s going to love this school thing. Now I just have to figure out a way to fill the hole she leaves behind!

I guess Kevin really liked island life because he’s continuing his island tour. As we speak, he is on a 13 hour flight to Taiwan and a few days later he heads to Japan to finish his island hoping. Only this time, instead of sitting on a beach watching his kids frolic in the surf, he’ll be suited up and working in a clean room. Poor guy.

Yes, that’s right. For the next two weeks, it’s just me and the girls. And boy are we going to be busy. Tomorrow is Leina’s first day at school and she is so excited. I’m not so sure how I feel about the whole thing. I know she’s ready but I’m still holding onto those apron strings pretty tightly. Sniff. I know she’ll have a blast but still……

So while Kevin is gone, I have a whole host of projects lined up to keep me busy. First and foremost is finishing up Leina’s halloween costume. Last year, I was up against the wire so this year I decided to start early. She has selected Tinkerbell as her costume dujour and I’m sewing away. I’m quite proud of it actually. I didn’t realize how much I’ve improved during the last year but comparing last year’s costumes to this year is astounding. It actually inspires me to keep on plugging away. I’ll do my best to get some photos posted once the last hem is stitched so stay tuned!

And we’re home.

Sigh.

It’s strangely cold and quiet here. Where’s the sound of the surf when you need it? I’ve powered through 27 loads of laundry and shopped for 12,000 hours to restock our fridge so things are pretty much back to normal. That 3 hr time change is still making me a bit groggy but all in all, I’m back.

I had a strange craving for baked goods today so after lunch I rumaged through the pantry and found a box of cake mix. Cake seemed to formal so I was about to go for cupcakes when I spied a recipe on the side of the box for cookies. Yes, that’s right, you can use a cake mix to make cookies! So I took my chocolate cake mix, added some chocolate chips and voila! Cookies! I’m pleased as punch with this discovery and they are quite delicious. Now, if I just knew how to post pictures on this web site, I’d show you how yummy and gooey they look. Yum.

Can’t blog anymore. They are still warm and calling my name. Maybe I’ll even make up a fresh pot of Kona coffee. Hmmmmm.

Yes, our bags are packed and I am gazing for one last time out at the beach. We are all sad to go. I need more time! We need a few more days playing in the surf, soaking up the sun, and digging in the sand. I was only able to hit one mall and we never made it to Waikiki at all.

This can only mean on thing. Next time, I’m coming for three weeks! Yes, that’s the answer! Surely three weeks would be ample time to do all this.

Of course, if I wanted to play it really safe, I could just move here….. Hmmmm. The kids would come no problem. Kevin? Well, I’m sure lots of people maintain long distance marriages, right? He could just send us money each week to fund our beach adventures. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind.

I can’t believe I have to leave. Sigh.

Oh my goodness. Where to begin? I suppose the best approach is to start at the very beginning. It’s a very good place to start.

At Hale Pohaku, you wake in the morning to the sound of the surf. The pounding of the waves hitting the beach is a constant background noise. Add in the gentle rustling of the palm leaves as the morning breeze blows in off the ocean. Add to that the spectacular view of the sun rising over the pacific ocean and your morning is set. Now, normally I’m not a morning person but these last few days I’ve noticed that I don’t seem to mind rising early here. Add to it a cup of fresh brewed Kona coffee and some delicious pastries from the local bakery and I’m in heaven.

So after the sun and breakfast, we usually lotion up and head for the beach. Not just any beach, however. Oh no, this beach is a mere 30 feet from our back door and totally secluded. The sand is fine and white. The ocean is a clear turquiose under a robin blue sky that streches as far as the eye can see. The kids are happy jumping in the surf, digging in the sand, and floating in their rings so I can just sit on the beach and drift away. I watch the waves roll in. I watch the clouds drift by. I enjoy the sun on my legs and my shoulders. And then, when it gets too warm, I wade into the ocean and float.

Ah. This is the life.

What is it about the ocean? I could watch it all day. The soothing noise of the waves and the mesmerizing roll of the surf just melts away all my anxiety. I just sit here, at peace under this Hawaiian sun, cooled by the ocean breeze and totally at ease.

I suppose the easiest way to describe this paradise it with the help of a visual aid so here I go.

Down the beach to the left

Up the beach to the right

Straight out from our spot