Labor Day Weekend Update: September 2-5, 2011

Like most of us, I have to Google certain holidays to find out exactly what their historical significance is, Labor Day being one of them. The historical significance of Labor Day in my world is 1) summer is over and 2) my sister's birthday is here (Happy Birthday, Lori!).  In fact, "The form for the celebration of Labor Day was outlined in the first proposal of the holiday: A street parade to exhibit to the public "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations," followed by a festival for the workers and their families [wikipedia]." While there are no parades this weekend, there are plenty of festivals and events of which to take advantage with your family.

Last weekend, the Hawaii Island Festival commenced with its formal ceremonies, and continues this weekend at the Waikoloa Beach Resort with several events.  Friday, the Ms. Aloha Nui Pageant is, "giving big, bold, beautiful Big Island women the chance to shine, and share their "supersized" style and aloha in the spotlight. Contestants are evaluated on their presentation in casual and formal wear, poise, grace and talent." Doors open 5:30 p.m.; pageant begins at 6:30 p.m. $7 admission. For contest information, call Leiola Mitchell, 896-3798.  Saturday, the fun continues with the Annual Poke Contest in the Hilton Waikoloa Village Kona Ballroom.  Both home cooks and top professional chefs compete against their peers for the championship recipe of this popular Hawaiian dish that is made from the freshest fish or shellfish plus seasonings, and after the judges announce the winners, the audience gets to taste too. Doors open at 11:00 a.m.; program begins at noon. $7 admission. Please call Linda Pokipala, 937-4896 for contest information.  Stick around Saturday evening for the Uncle Kindy Sproat Falsetto & Storytelling Contest, to be held at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott's Naupaka Ballroom from 6-10pm. Celebrating its 20th year, this unique folk music competition features talented male singers of all ages who can not only sing in the unique falsetto style, but can also captivate the audience with the stories behind the songs. Doors open 6:00 p.m.; contest begins 7:00 p.m. $7 admission. For contest information, call Pua Garmon, 345-8575. For more info on this and other events, call 886-8822, email joinus@waikoloaland.com or visit www.hawaiiislandfestival.org.

Also at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa this weekend will be the Na Mea Hana Lima Craft Fair.  Come and shop local artisans and crafters from across the island! 
Handmade Jewelry, Original Prints, Hand Dyed Silks, Hawaiian Wood Carvings, Handmade Soaps, Hawaiian Dolls, Lamps and much more!

The Four Seasons Resort Hualalai is sponsoring several events this weekend for a great cause - the 2011 Run for Hope benefits cancer research in Hawaii.  Friday, The 15th Annual Taste of Hawaii will be held in the Hoku Amphitheatre at the resort from 6-9pm and will include food, drink, entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets are $85 for adults and $40 for children 5-12. Saturday, Enjoy a round of golf on the beautiful Jack Nicklaus Signature Hualālai Golf Course with the 2011 Run for Hope Golf Scramble, a two-man scramble format tournament. Shotgun start at 1:00pm, $200 per person. Awards ceremony follows the tournament. If golf isn't your thing, go for the Tennis tournament from 2:00-5:00pm. $50 per person, this is a mixed doubles with inter-changing partners tournament. Awards ceremony follows the tournament. The main event on Sunday, The Run For Hope is a non-competitive 10K Run - 5K Run/Walk event. Proceeds from this event benefit cancer research in Hawai‘i. Post Run/Walk gathering includes light breakfast and drawing for door prizes. Prize winners need not be present to win. A $25 minimum donation includes a free tee shirt. Register here.

KAMA has only recently happened upon this regular free event. Happening this weekend, and on a monthly basis is First Friday at The Shops at Mauna Lani. Catch live performances from Big Island talent at their outdoor stage on the first Friday of every month. Participating merchants offer shopping incentives and kama'aina specials at each "First Friday" event. This Friday, popular Big Island jazz cat, Bill Noble and his band will be performing from 5:30-7:30pm. Call 808 885 9501 for the latest info.

While you're there, experience The Great 4-D Movie Ride, Hawaii's first and only 4-D theater. Dubbed "The Great 4-D Movie Ride," the 24-seat theater shows 3-D features and simulated "rides" on a 19-foot widescreen projected from twin, high-definition digital projectors. The on-screen action is synchronized with full-range motion seats, a 2500W 5.1 DTS surround sound system and in-theater "4-D" effects, such as blown air and water spray, for a complete multi-sensory experience. Special discounts for Kama'aina.  Kama'aina Evening Pass: See ALL movies from 5pm to closing for only $10  OR Kama'aina Special Daily and Weekly Rates: Daily $10 / Weekly $40 - see all the features as many times as you like!

Saturday thru Monday, Kailua Bay will be teeming with outrigger canoes when Kai 'Opua hosts their 40th Annual Queen Lili'uokalani Outrigger Canoe Races: the world's largest long distance canoe race, attended by paddlers from all over the world. Two days of racing, with the first day being the single-hull canoe races, followed by double hull and one-person canoe races on Sunday. Crews from Hawaii, the US mainland, and around the world come to enter this world class event. The fun includes a cultural crafts fair on the Pier, and more. Click here for the race schedule.

Home Depot continues their monthly Kids' Workshop this Saturday from 9-12.  This month's project: making locker message boards.  Children can build an ESPN College Game Day-themed dry erase board for Team Tailgating Day. Always a fun time, workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills, tool safety along and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment, AND all kids get to keep their craft and receive a FREE Kids Workshop Apron, commemorative pin and certificate of achievement! Yay for Home Depot!

Swing down to Keauhou Shopping Center, visit the Keauhou Farmers' market and watch Bolo performing live from 9-10am on Saturday morning.  From his Facebook page: "His music is infused with messages, opinions and heartfelt feelings about being both Hawaiian and Latin, as well as about consciousness in living. He is also a graphic designer, a painter, and a poet, and is working with Recycle Hawai’i in a program called Artists in Action, where artists visit schools on the Big Island to play music and talk to keiki (children) about recycling, sustainability, and other environmental issues. " Alone, what a great reason to see him - Check him out!

If you're up for a drive this weekend, the 38th Annual Parker Ranch Round-Up Club Rodeo is happening in Waimea. This exciting two-day event is held annually as a fundraiser to provide scholarships for school-age children of Parker Ranch employees.  Family-style fun includes team roping, bull riding, barrel racing and more. Parker Ranch Rodeo Arena in Waimea at noon to sunset both days.  Call (808) 885-5669 or visit www.parkerranch.com  


Also happening in Waimea this Sunday on Hawaii Prepatory Academy's Campus is the 3rd Annual Bieni Kohler Johnson 3.1 Fun Run/Walk. A fun, family event, take advantage of the long weekend and join in remembering Bieni, raising money for the scholarship established in her name, and possibly be the winner of a two-night stay at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel! With a start time of 9am, same day registration begins at 7am; start time 9am. For more information, call 989-9100, email HPArace@gmail.com or register online here.  

Sunday from 12-5:00pm, you have the chance to kick back and relax at the 19th Annual Hawaii Slack Key Guitar Festival  at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa. From the Festival website: "Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki-ho'alu) is a truly one of the greatest acoustic guitar traditions in the world. Ki-ho'alu , which literally means "loosen the key," is the Hawaiian language name for the solo finger picked style unique to Hawai'i. In this tradition, the strings (or keys)" are "slacked" to produce major chord, or a chord with a major 7th note, or sometimes one with a 6th note in it. Each tuning produces a lingering sound behind the melody and has characteristic resonance and fingering.

Many Hawaiian songs and slack key guitar pieces reflect themes like stories of the past and present and people's lives. But it is the tropical surroundings of Hawai'i, with its oceans, volcanoes and mountains, waterfalls, forest, plants and animals, that provide the deepest source of inspiration for Hawaiian music."

Food and drink will be available for purchase; no outside food or beverages will be allowed. Make certain to wear a hat and bring an umbrella for shade. Free admission.

On Labor Day, the kids are sure to have fun at the Up Country Faire in Kealakekua, hosted by Queen Emma Community Center (indoors and out), Christ Church. Games & prizes, pony rides, ono grinds, keiki ID, face painting, animals to pet, magic, tupperware, gold fish game, children's puppets and coloring, animal balloons, rummage sale, Sugar Shack, palm reading, massage - just good fun! Cost: Script to play and or purchase goods. For information call 323-3429 or email bjkoala@pendragonhawaii.com. 

Experience a Fall Fashion Show at the Coronation Pavilion in Queens' Market Place from 4:30-6:00pm on Monday evening. Free to the public. It will feature fall fashions from the many Queens' MarketPlace merchants, and the talents of Maximum Capacity Hawaii. Be one of the first 250 to register (18 years and older) and receive a free Queens' MarketPlace tote bag filled with merchant specials. Get ready for fall in dazzling style at Queens' MarketPlace! For more information, call 866-8822, email joinus@waikoloaland.com or visit www.queensmarketplace.net.


There will be a special showing of "Movie Under the Stars" after the show.


As always, whatever you decide to do  this weekend, if only a family bbq or day at the beach, have fun, enjoy each other's company, and love each other.


Aloha~
Your KAMA mama 

Weekend Update: August 25-27, 2011

We all know that family and a support system are very important, and this past week has reminded my family of that in a most direct way. As we are slowly recovering from a nearly unrecoverable event, I am personally thankful to be surrounded by family and friends that are extremely supportive and positive minded people.  As unfortunate as the circumstances were, the family used the opportunity to communicate and work thru problems that otherwise would've gone unattended. Please make an extra effort this weekend to come together as a family. Let the little things go and focus on what's important. Spend time, not money. Love each other. Mahalo!

As August winds down, events continue to explode and provide plenty of opportunity to explore culturally.  Continuing thru the weekend is the Original Play Festival XVIII. For the eighteenth consecutive year, Aloha Performing Arts Company is presenting to Kona its unique season-starting event, the Original Play Festival, or "OPF," as it is referred to by those involved. This year the festival offers staged readings of new plays in the evenings, Wednesday through Saturday, August 24 through 27 at 7:30 p.m., and a free public potluck celebration honoring all the participants on Sunday, August 28 at 2:30 p.m. All activities are presented at the historic Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu.  Tickets are $5, or $1 with the previous night's stub. Click here for a schedule.

As athletics are an integral part of the Kona lifestyle, even if you're not involved directly, you will be affected by many, many events throughout the year, mostly in a traffic related way.  This weekend is the Lavaman Triathlon, a full weekend event. It kicks off Friday at 5:30p.m. with the Lavaman 1st Annual 5K Sunset Run/Walk, a fundraiser for PATH. There'll be great dining deals and hula afterwards at the Keauhou Shopping Center. 

Saturday is the LavaKids Aquathon & Keiki Dash. A great opportunity and a fun way for the kids to get out and experience living a healthy lifestyle. The kids are up anyway already, aren't they? The Youth Aquathon ($20 -ages 7-14) starts at 9:15, the Keiki Dash at 10:15 ($10 for 6 & under). After the event, enjoy the pool & slides at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa from 11:30 - 1:30 p.m.

The main event starts at 7:00 on Sunday, the awards ceremony form 12-2pm. Go support a triathlete!

This weekend also marks the beginning of the 2011 Hawaii Island Festival, with events sprinkled over the next 30 days. The Investiture of the Royal Court kicks off the Festival Saturday at 10:00a.m. at Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (Place of Refuge). I hope I'm not the only one who had to look up the term "investiture".

If you would like to support Hawaii Island Festival - 30 Days of Aloha, you may do so by purchasing a ribbon ($5.00 each). The ribbons are keepsake items and are available by contacting any of the committee chairs.

A follow-up event on Sunday has the Royal Court attending service at Puako’s historic Hokuloa Church. Service starts at 9:00 a.m.

The Donkey Mill Art Center is hosting another spectacular event this weekend, Saturday from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m.  For "Cool Fusion", the 5th annual fundraising event, DMAC ceramic artists have produced an astounding 1000 hand-made ceramic bowls. Each visitor chooses one of these beautiful bowls, which they will keep, to enjoy a light lunch of Japanese cold somen noodles. Entry Fee is $20, $10 for children under 12.

Sunday, North Hawaii Hospice will be hosting the first annual Floating Lantern Ceremony in partnership with The Fairmont Orchid. The program will honor and remember loved ones who have passed on. If you didn't happen to see or watch Honolulu's Floating Lantern Ceremony on television earlier this summer, it's definitely a site to see and an event to remember.

Admission is free of charge. Lanterns will be available for purchase for a suggested donation of $10.00.  Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase. Complimentary Self Parking will be provided at the Fairmont Orchid Resort.

And of course, Kona's regularly scheduled events:

Lowe's Build 'n' Grow Workshop on Saturday from 10:00-12:00 a.m. Kids get to build a locker to stash their goodies. Kit includes stickers, chalkboard and chalk. If you haven't been to one of the workshops, your child will get an apron and goggles to take home, as well as a badge upon completion.  Anyone out there want to sew my son's on his apron? 


Queens' Marketplace Movie Under the Stars: 500 Days of Summer.
Stroll around the mall and return with your beach chair or blanket (& dinner!) for Friday's FREE movie.


Aloha nui loa!  Live strong, love fiercely! 

Weekend Update: August 19-21, 2011

Getting back into the routine of school has it advantages and disadvantages for me.  There's the rigors of the morning routine, getting the kids out on a timely basis, the struggles of nightly homework (along with the daily plea to play video games), and trying my best to get both children to sleep on time.  But of course I am comforted the children are getting structure, the benefit of other caring (hopefully) adults, and the hope they are gaining some sort of knowledge and life experience. I love when they come home with new information and facts,  think it's neat that they're building friendships and the beginnings of their own little circle.  And anew, I love and appreciate the weekends.

This weekend in Kona, there are plenty of options if you feel like heading out. Starting tonight, the Donkey Mill Art Center is holding the 1st Annual Emerging Artists Scholarship Fund Raising Event. Based on a Coney Island carnival-esque theme, this event will include live music by Andrea Lindborg's Pele's Passion & Bump City, bar-b-que, refreshments, photo booth and games. Costumes addressing characters from the historical Coney Island amusement park like Lady Zombie, mermaids, contortionists and other side show characters are optional. Tickets are $15.00 and available at the door. Read more here.

Rio will be playing tonight at the Queens' Marketplace Movie Under the Stars. This movie was a hit with our children. And not only because they're big fans of Angry Birds...

Tomorrow, Waikoloa residents don't have to travel far for this special event. The 2nd Annual Wiliwili Festival will be held from 11-6 pm at the Waikoloa Golf Course on Melia Street. Explore and enjoy Hawaiian music, hula, food, artisans, crafts, and informational vendor booths, as well as a Keiki Zone and a putting contest hosted by the Waikoloa Village Association. This year, the theme is "Living Green", and there will be educational workshops and informational booths on how it "pays to be green" by way of gardening techniques, reuse, recycling and buying local products. Ways to green your home will be featured. Admission is free. The Festival is hosted by Waikoloa Village Outdoor Circle and Waikoloa Village Association. Check out pics from the 2010 festival.

If you stay closer to Kona, check out "Battle Musubi" from 12-4pm for some entertainment.  A musubi making contest, there's professional chef and amateur divisions.  There'll be a musubi eating contest for children and adults; prizes, music, games, giveaways. This event is a benefit for AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) soccer of West Hawaii. Time: 12pm - 4pm at Auto Body Hawaii. Free to the public.

In celebration of the 5th Anniversary of Kona (Hawaii) and Hatukaichi's (Hiroshima, Japan) sister relationship, The Kona-Hiroshima Peace Festival will be held in Keauhou as the culmination of a series of exchange events occurring in the summer of 2011. This cultural exchange will bring together artists, performers, vendors, schools, civic organizations and businesses in both Hawaii and Japan to create a truly multi-cultural and multi-generational event that celebrates the best in all of us. Live entertainment all day, including Special Guest, Herb Ohta, Jr. with Jon Yamasato. Games, contests, prizes, art auction, displays, crafts and a special selection of Japanese foods, including okonomiyaki, unadon, takikomi rice and ohagi manju. All proceeds will benefit HKK Exchange Event and Aloha for Japan. Time: Noon to 7pm at Keauhou Shopping Center Courtyard.

Peaman's monthly event is this Sunday at the Kailua Pier at 8 a.m. It's the Brown Bear Bash and Sunny Sprint. The bash will be a 1⁄3-mile swim and 3.1-mile run/walk and the sprint will cover 200 yards in the water to go with a 1-mile run/walk. The event theme will be bright and sunny clothes or things with bears on them. Find out more about this event, and why there's a theme here.

Aloha ladies, live strong and love fiercely. Or vice versa.

Weekend Update: August 12-14, 2011

Since school began earlier this month, I've been having this unusual nagging expectation that community events will somehow slow down due to the fall school year and the weather cooling off.  This must be a deep seated (side bar) habit having grown up in Wisconsin, because 1) the August event calendar has shown no signs of slowing and 2) hey, we live in Kona, and it only gets hotter this time of year.

All you moms can literally kick off the weekend this Friday with a Free Womens Self Defense Seminar by Krav Maga. Law Enforcement Instructors from Colorado Krav Maga and Tactical Krav Maga will be presenting several seminars on Krav Maga in August.  In Kona, Friday August 12th is a FREE Womens Self Defense Seminar sponsored by Mana Martial Arts.  Learn to defend yourself against a violent attack, and more importantly learn to NOT LOOK LIKE A VICTIM!  1 in 4 Women will be assaulted in their lifetime.  Help us change that national statistic.  There is limited space in this free event, register today at www.tacticalkm.com. Event will be 6-8 p.m. at 74-5615 Luhia St, Kailua Kona, 96740

Also on Friday are the usual ongoing events:
Movie Under the Stars at the Queen's Marketplace (6-9 p.m.) is showing Marley & Me (next week: Rio).

"Everyday Salsa Lessons" at Village Inn Pizzeria & Nite Club (across from Big Island Grill).  Enjoy pizza specials while learning to dance salsa - who could ask for more? $5/nite every Friday. Basic steps start at 6 p.m., easy combos at 7 p.m. and social dance practice at 8 p.m.

Commencing Saturday, Establishment Day Hawaiian Festival is an all weekend festival where the public is invited to experience Royal Court ceremonies, traditional warrior exhibitions, cultural demonstrations, traditional crafts, music, games, double-hulled canoe rides, traditional food tasting and many more activities. Go early to see the Royal Court, Ho`okupu Ceremony & Sham Battle. It's only happening from 6:30am-10:00am Saturday only. 


NĀ KE'ENA HANA (Cultural Workshops and Activities 11:00am-3:00pm Sat. & Sun.): Hula Kāhiko (Ancient Hula), Lei Haku Ame Lei Wili (Ancient Lei Making), Hana Kapa Kuiki (Quilting), Ulana, Lauhala (Lauhala Weaving), 'Ohe Hanu Ihu (Nose Flute), Kūkūweke La'ī  (Rain Cape), Hana 'Upena Kiloi (Net Making), Ku'i 'Ai (Poi Pounding), Holo Wa'a   (Canoe Rides), Hana Hū (Spinning Tops)l, 'Ohe Kāpala Ki'i (Bamboo Stamp, Designs), Pahu  (Drums), Ulana Lau Niu (Frond Plaiting), Kahili (Fly Brush), Nī'au Pūlumi (Hawaiian Broom), Ipu (Gourd, making), Hana Pala'ie (Loop and Ball Making), Makau  (Fishhook), Kumu La'au (Woodwork), Ku'i, Wauke (Tapa Pounding), Awa (Traditional Drink)

Don't feel like driving? Establishment Day Hawaiian Festival is not the only event occurring this weekend. From 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. the Donkey Mill Art Center is holding it's 3rd annual Ua Makaukau Loa Award Ceremony honoring the influence and inspiration from legendary artists in our community. This year's honoree: Marie McDonald. Ms. McDonald has spent 50 years producing the exquisite lei of Hawaii. She is one of Hawaii's best known authorities on the subject and author of the definitive Ka Lei-The Leis of Hawaii and Na Lei Makamae, co-authored with Paul Weissich. In the process of researching these books she has brought to light the particular beauty of pre-contact lei. 

Through her love of lei art, Marie McDonald has also become an advocate for the preservation of the Hawaiian lands that provide the rare materials for leis and other Hawaiian arts, such as kapa-making.
Her research on native kapa-making has brought McDonald to develop ancient plant dyes for her own pieces, which were recently on exhibit at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

Admission to this event is $15.00.

For your Saturday evening, Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission is hosting their annual Obon Festival, beginning at 7 pm. Location: Kona Koyasan Daishiji Mission, 76-5945 A Mamalahoa Hwy.

Holualoa. In the Buddhist tradition, during the summer months Japanese residents welcome back the spirits of departed loved ones at these lively and festive dance events.

Sunday morning, get your sustainability on with this Aquaponics Introduction at the One Island Sustainable Living Center, Painted Church Rd., Honaunau. From small backyard to large commercial scale, growing food and fish is a smart food security project. See different scale systems and help build a small backyard scale operation. Tour to commercial scale farm also included. Hosted by One Island Sustainable Living Center, Painted Church Rd., Honaunau. Email hawaii@one-island.org to RSVP and get directions. $10 donation suggested. For more information, call 212-3547.

Babycakes Cakepops by Holly Wisniewski

So, I really, really wanted to go to the Establishment Day Festival, and I suppose I can still consider it (or there's always next year), but this month a fellow KAMA mama encouraged me to get a booth along side her at this month's Kokua Kailua Village Stroll, which is this Sunday. Holly Wisniewski will be promoting her business, Babycakes Cakepops and will have these scrumptious treats for sale. These delectable bites are a great alternative to cake at birthdays (as the kids tend to actually leave the cake and
only eat the frosting) and also for other events - baby showers, business meetings, etc. Leave the fork behind - let these cake pops blow your mind! Contact Holly at 808 989 0842.

While I get to be tempted by these all afternoon, I'll be promoting my own business, jama designs - graphic design & handcrafted cards.  From invitations & holiday cards to business needs such as marketing or business cards, jama designs works with you to execute your vision. On a more handcrafted note, cards are also available for sale or for customization. 


Stop by and say hello!


Aloha nui loa! 

Truck nuts.

There have been some interesting free speech topics in the news as of late. Michael Smerconish touches upon several in his recent editorial, "Speaking of Free Speech," and of which I would like to highlight his last question:

"-Should testicles be banned from trucks?

Lug nuts may be legal, but "truck nuts" could earn you a $445 ticket and a protracted free-speech debate. A 65-year-old South Carolina woman is learning this the hard way.

Virginia Tice adorned her pickup truck with a red plastic ornament shaped like bull testicles. A man of the law asked her to remove the decoration hanging from the back of her vehicle. She didn't. He wrote her a ticket and eventually filed a suit claiming the knickknack was obscene.

Answer: She's probably got the right to display her ornament, like a bad bumper sticker. But consider this: If the story revolved around a golden vagina on the back of a Prius, would there be any debate?"

I hate these foul things. Frankly, even talking about these gives me the willies.  Sure, they may be novel, and may have even summoned a chuckle from me initially, but after having had the unfortunate experience of driving behind these vehicles on more than one occasion, you really can't not look at them.  They made me a bit uncomfortable as the freely swung back and forth. Why should someone else's humor be forced upon me? I slowly began to feel violated and imprisoned as I had nowhere else to look but forward, into the crotch of the truck ahead of me. Must I?  Really?

How do I explain these things to my 3 year old daughter (who, thankfully, cannot see over the dashboard just yet)?  I'm not sure I'm ready for her to know about truck sacs. And Smerconish is correct in his question-answer, as I don't want either myself or my children to experience having to stare into a car va-jayjay equally so.

Changes ahead...

As you may have observed, or perhaps, as I'm drawing attention to, I missed the weekend update this past week. A sense of guilt about this hovers about me, as I truly am passionate about getting the information out there in the fastest and easiest way out there for all you moms.  However, there's the hope that the calendar is truly useful to all or at least some of you, as I do make an honest effort to keep it updated.

That being stated, I have to say it's been a busy week. Hawaii public schools started their 2011-12 school year and with that, my son joined the ranks of 1st grade. He genuinely enjoys school, but has already come to realize that it's no kindergarten picnic.  No toys in the classroom, more homework, and a teacher who actually expects them to pay attention...hard times.

As I re-settle into school mode, including having to bust out those home lunches, getting all of us dressed and ready to go, and the daily homework routine, I'm also preparing to send my little girl off to pre-school.  She seems ready, as she strives to emulate her brother in almost every way. On our first day (just an hour playing and exploring the classroom), she literally ran to the classroom (I might also note here that when I finished the parent meeting and met her at the playground, she was completely ready to go and bolted toward the exit without a second look back). She can't know what's ahead, having to attend school daily, whether she wants to or not, and I'm waiting to see how she'll do with curiosity.

I'm excited about all the upcoming changes, for her and for me. I'm excited to be getting some time. Time to rest. Time to exercise. Time to explore other ventures. But I'm also aware that beneath the excitement, which perhaps is only thin veneer, I'll be a little sad.  Maybe more than a little.  I'm wondering how I'll do, without my little buddy, my shadow, my darling, sweet, sassy and silly baby girl.

This is what being a mom is all about. Being excited for the future of your children, while lamenting the inevitable losses of their growth with both a smile and a tear.

Have a great week!
Live strong, love fiercely.