We have a mama goose!

Well, not so much that we have a goose, as she chose our backyard for a nesting place. Luckily she chose a spot right outside the window, so we can watch the nest, without being noticed too much or scaring mama away. So far, we have counted 6 eggs. We are not sure if we are seeing all of them, because we just catch glimpses as mama goose moves around or covers them with leaves so she can go off to eat and swim.

Here is mama on her nest:

And here is protective dad, always watchfully swimming around our pond, guarding the nest.

We will be sure to keep you posted on our little goose family as they hatch and grow!

Field trip: Nature Detectives

Today the boys were "nature detectives" at our local lighthouse/bird sanctuary. They have a wonderful ranger who works there and is excellent with kids. This was our second time spending the morning with her, and this time was just as fun! She started the morning out with a presentation aimed at getting the children's senses ready for being nature detectives. They smelled and felt different types of plants, looked at feathers under a magnifying glass, and listened to the sounds of the bird's calls before going out and exploring for themselves.

Looking at a stuffed Nene up close.

Then they were on the move and exploring, they found various types of plants, feathers, and birds.

My detectives at work.

They got to see a Nene (Hawaiian goose) up close. This bird is the official state bird of Hawaii and also, sadly, happens to be an endangered species.
We also recently visited another fire station (our third in less than a year!). When the opportunity came up for us to go on this tour, I asked the boys if they really wanted to go to another, since the tours are all roughly the same. Their answer was a resounding yes...why? Not because they wanted to see the fire engines or learn more from the fire fighters, but because they want to do this:

Boys will be boys, eh? :)

Field trip: Botanical Gardens

We recently went on a family field trip to a local botanical gardens. It was a lovely day, and a pleasant 2 mile hike through the garden.

This is a portion of the garden that you see as you ride in on the tram.
I think I could spend a whole day in that hammock...
A view of the river that runs through the park.

Another view of the river, with the bamboo bridge in the background.

Explorers on the loose!

Kukui, our official state tree.

Plants weren't all we saw...

The cannonball tree...no need to explain, right?

I have a thing about photographing the details of plants very close up, I think they make great pieces of abstract art.

A lovely family day, spent learning more about the nature surrounding us on this beautiful island.

Weekending

Discovered a new waterfall.

Made music at the park.

Could not resist getting outdoors even on a stormy day.

The boys had enormous fun in the sand, even though it was too cold to swim (at least for us, the tourists were out there doing their thing!)

Burying brother.

We ended up getting completely drenched in a HEAVY downpour (which is not too big of a deal when it is 77F out), and we stuck around long enough to let the boys enjoy splashing and jumping in the puddles!

We ended the weekend by watching a Cinderella production put on by the local community children's theatre, and were amazed at what a professional show they put on! We were there for three hours (intermission included) and the boys sat in absolute rapture watching the acting, listening to the singing and full orchestra play, the amazing sets, and the beautiful costumes. It was a lovely way to end a peaceful, quiet weekend.

Theatre reading and harvesting pearls

So, I am back...I think. I had a rough day yesterday, first we said goodbye to grandparents and then not five minutes later we received a phone call from close friends (their son and Rylan are good buddies) telling us that they are moving back to the mainland in the next month! Not. A. Good. Afternoon! But enough already with my woes...

While the grandparents were here we took advantage of having a bigger audience so that Rylan could do a theatre reading. The book was about a fox, so I made him a fox mask and he read the story, stopping to show everyone pictures at the end of each page. It was very cute, and he read beautifully. Grandparents suitably impressed! :)
While out doing the touristy thing with my parents, Rylan had the opportunity to harvest pearls from oysters. He picked out the oyster with long wooden tongs (like joined chopsticks) and then was able to help cut the oyster open and squeeze out the pearls - his oyster had two pearls in it. I was so interested in the whole process (having never seen it first hand myself), that I didn't think to take my camera out, something I was upset with myself for afterwards, but here he is holding his find.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend! Us, we are going to enjoy having Daddy home and all to ourselves for two days! The boys are already counting down to dinner time and his arrival home...