Crab Hunting

We started Fat Tuesday with a good helping of fresh Malasadas!  The Portuguese sugar-doughnut that is enjoyed here in Hawaii, especially on Mardi Gras, sell out FAST!  We got in line right when they opened and ended up with the last two bags!

I vowed that we needed to have more ice-cream while we were here.  The kids & Pop took that to mean "ice-cream of any variety/caliber".  Drumsticks for brekkies have become commonplace...

My intention was really to get more Lappert's...  coconut macadamia nut ice cream!  We took the boys for a walk up to Lappert's this afternoon while Grammie & Pop went to pick up some fresh Mahi Mahi

for dinner.  They met us at the ice-cream shop and we enjoyed some Kauai Pie, Coconut/Macadamia Nut/Caramel, and Kona Coffee waffle cones!

After saluting the sunset and having an amazing dinner of fresh fish, the boys went on an airplane ride...

Sneek attacked Daddy...

And basically got tickle-tortured!

Then we donned the headlamps and went on a crab hunt - a Klipper-Klan tradition (http://anthonlogy.blogspot.com/2012/03/crabby.html).

The crabs are smaller than the palm of your hand and the holes vary in size - anywhere from finger-sized to full arm-sized (like the one below).  Hole size is much less an indicator of crab size, much the same way the size of our homes are not indicative of our size...

You stick your hand down the hole so you can put your finger on the crab - honestly, it is to keep them from getting hurt.  And to keep from you getting pinched!  You dig under the hole so the crab, in theory, drops into the hole.  Sometimes, you catch something unexpected...

We caught three of the crabs in a cup.  I had visions of them skitting across the beach, and boys toes, when we realized them.  OK, I DREAMED they would scamper across the boys toes...  turned out they needed a little encouragement.

The best way to get the sand off?  A little foot-wash and a spa :)

Fishing for Coffee

Yesterday was a "stock up the pantry" day.  Mom & I ran errands.  The "boys" all played around the pool and paddled in the rain.  Of course, that was after Dougie awoke at 11:30 and Ian just after noon...

Today, Stefan was our sleeper, arising at a mere 10-ish (OK, Ian woke-up about four minutes before...).

The boys played around in the pool with Grammie and Pop while Eric and I took a good walk down the way.  We were on the hunt for some new swim trunks for Dougie.  The two pairs he has now have completely faded seats - one just shows HIS faded seat (a bit of DDD: Droopy Drawer Disorder).

One of the highlights is Pole Fishing.  They LOVE catching the fish!

If you notice the rain-drops on the pond, you will understand why these pics are from the vantage point of the bridge across the way...  Mom and I took refuge of an umbrella!

 I believe "Pure Joy" would describe that look.

Dougie had the same look on his face when I asked him to hold the fish - only it would have been described as "Pure Horror"...

Ian fished and caught an Ian-sized fish

Stefan caught a Stefan sized fish

Daddy caught a Daddy-sized fish?

The real fun happens when they feed their fish to the Night Heron.  Dougie screeches - Horror or Delight?!?  Stefan had a couple bounce off the lawn and back into the pond - much to the Heron's chagrin.  Ian...  well, see for yourself:

When we were done at the pond, Ian kept feeding fish - to the chickens.  He introduced himself to another little boy his age and offered up some goldfish.  They both fed the chickens - and themselves.  The fact that Ian had not washed his fishy hands were (ick) overlooked and, of course, not shared, with the other boys' parents...

I wonder if the fish tasted a little fishy?!?

Pigging Out at the Feral Pig

Pigging out at the Feral Pig is fast becoming a tradition... (see last year...)

Kauai-Cubano Sandwich

Japan is great for sushi and sake, but not so much for burgers and beer.

Having flown all night and arriving on Kauai at 3:30 PM - we were HUNGRY.  And thirsty.  Did I mention how good an IPA would taste?

The Feral Pig just so happens to be on the way from the airport to Poipu.  They make a mean burger - local beef, local veggies...  They also have Maui Brewing Company Big Swell IPA on tap...  Satiates both taste buds and thirst!  It hits the spot :-)

This fabulous Toy/Hobby/Train shop also happens to be right next to the Feral Pig.  And that, of course, makes the boys incredibly happy.  The burgers and beer makes US incredibly happy.

It is a Win-Win for everyone!

Sayonara, Japan - Aloha, Hawaii!

We hopped on the train Saturday night (THANK YOU Chris/Gina Cohn for breaking up your evening to schlep the Anthony's to Horinouchi Station!) at 9 PM.

Arrived Haneda International Airport by 10 for our 12:30 AM Sunday flight.  WAY better to be earlier rather than later!  Haneda is a really beautiful airport and is much closer to Yokosuka than Narita.

The base does not have bus service to Haneda :(  Super easy access by train!  Very good, since Haneda is considered to be smack in the heart of the Tokyo Metropolitan area and the long-term parking prices reflect that!

We ditched the Boogie board and snorkel sets, figuring it was worth buying new - the cost of a couple of masks and piece of styrofoam is much less than the cost of sanity navigating train transfers, three small boys and luggage...

Oh, and Eileen is picking us up.  That did not hurt in the decision making process either...  Thank you!!!

Deliriously tired, I was so ready for the midnight boarding so I could get some shut-eye.  The midnight boarding was delayed :(  We left by 1:30 and all was good.  Eric got a bulkhead seat with Stefan & Dougie behind him.  Ian and I got the VERY back of the plane - just a coffee pot away from the galley.  Our seats reclined and we had little/no traffic passing us, so Ian's legs jutting out into the passageway was of no consequence.  It was also of little consequence that his little stuffed airplane kept crash landing on the landing strip (aka: aisle...)

Relieved to get into a seat to take a snooze proved to be disappointing.  Ian slept through most of the flight.  Me?!?  Not.  So.  Much...  Something about sleeping sitting up.  Yawn...

Stepping out into the Hawaiian air took care of the sleepy's though!  Aloha!!!

Seika Yochien Art Exhibition 2013

This is the fourth year I have attended the Seika Yochien Art Exhibition.  The first year was with the Putaansuu's - William was in his last year at Seika.  I was so impressed then with the kids' work!  Seeing William's work was one of the main reasons I was keen on sending the boys (Dougie & Ian, anyway) here after we PCS'd.

This year was Dougie's third and Ian's first (click here to see 2012).  Seeing how far Dougie has come over the past three years really impresses me.  No more colored macaroni picture frames - this year he made a pottery tea cup with Yuki Daruma (Snowmen) and snow falling

He made a bust of himself - and it was a surprisingly good take on himself!

The Older classes took a class trip this summer, and sketched the camp they stayed in

They also went on a number of field trips this year and took their sketch pads with them.  The Nippon Maru (a masted sailing ship)

The Imperial Palace

They even did scrolls in their best calligraphy.  Each one got to pick what they wrote.  Dougie's friend, Lindsey, picked "りんぐ" (ringo) - apple.  Dougie picked "たこ" (tako) - octopus!

My favorite was Zach's...  "おいす" (oisu) - chair.  Loved that!

Ian's class made a Hebi Garden (snake garden - 2013 is the year of the Snake).

I asked where his was. He shrugged.  Then jabs his finger at a red (aka) one and said, "There it is, mummy!"  Sure enough!  Turned it over and there was his name!

He walked all the way around the Hinamatsuri table (dolls of the Emperor and Empress for Doll Festival/Girl's Day) and then announced, "That one is mine!"  And it was!  The Emperor looks as if he may have gotten fresh with the Empress - and she gave him a black eye...

The first year we were here, I thought Dougie's self-portrait was interesting (in a cute way...) - I could not understand why he used brown for the hair.  Almost a year later he told me, "That is a picture of YOU, Mummy!"

Well, that explained the lack of glasses and the brown hair!  Ian actually gave me blond hair and gave it an Edvard Munch, The Scream, sort of look...

He said it was my "Scary Face"...  huh...

My favorite is the handprint.  He really does have a hand on my heart ;)

The kids get tickets to ride the shinkansen - one of their favorite things to do!

 

Satoh-san uncoupled the passenger cars and took one little boy for a ride on the engine.

Stefan decided to help give it a push...

Ian kept Satoh-san company after re-coupling the train and making one last pass

Past the Choo-Choo bus...

The classes all make whatever the zodiacal calendar is for the year.  2013 is the Year of the Snake (Hebi).  They are all on display on the stage.  Red and White and symbolize energy and purity, respectively.  

As one dad put it, we all had front row seats to Whitesnake.  Finally!