End of August and September

When we arrived home it was so nice to not have to run immediately the grocery store but to the garden instead. 

Lucy had one full day to get ready for her next adventure.  I dropped her off in ABQ and off she went.  She was  bit nervous, but is now a seasoned and brave traveller.  She landed in Paris and met lovely kind people who helped her get to where she needed to go, and caught a train to Strausbourg where good friend Matt met her.  She traveled through Germany, Austria, and to Prague with Matt and then Allison a friend she met in Thailand. She had a grand time and arrived in Belfast in early September. 

The view from her Queen's University dorm room (her dorm is sooo nice.  I don't know how she will go back to the disgusting mildewy dorms at GW).

Tucker made this last year.  And we took a picture and then he shattered it outside. 

Clara had her middle school orientation. 

First day of 12, 11, and 7th!!!!!

Some screen shots from the first day.  The senior class:

They had games out on the field.  Senior and 7th graders were paired up.  I loved this pic of Tuck. 

Rob made partner!!!!  Wahoo.  And has a lot of time off.  On one of his days off he took me hiking at Rio En Medio.  So pretty.  Rob did some BIG hikes this fall.  Like 20 milers.  This one was only a few miles.

Our apple tree went gangbusters.  So many apples. 

On labor day we hiked to William Lake above Taos but the weather was pretty crappy so we didn't get to linger. 

Clara gave volleyball a try.  

Lucy started at Queen's and really has thrived in Belfst.  Good friends and lots of travelling. 

These boys cracked me up on this not so chilly morning as they ate breakfast acting like it was winter.

Anders pictured prepping for the climate strike. 

I turned older.  

And for my birthday I got an iphone 11 which has a much better camera.  We took this darling portrait. 

The digital macro capabilities are excellent.  And so was my garden. 

Lots of hikes and weekend trail runs. 

Clara made these the day we left for Ireland.  She gave me a great big hug and I discovered as we drove away that I was coated with chocolate!

The Final Hawaii Post

We picked the boys up from Waipio overlook on Thursday evening and ate Italian in Waimea.  On Friday we went to Kawaihai Harbor where everyone (almost everyone) jumped off the pier.  That day was our anniversary and Rob and I ate at Merriman's to celebrate.  Saturday we went to the Waimea farmers market, Mauna Kea, and then packed up and headed to Kona.  We ate with everyone in Kona and then caught a very late red eye home.  Was a fun two weeks!

Hawaii Part 6

The next few days in Hawaii we split up.  Shandra, Lucy, Clara, Betsy, Gunnar and I stayed at the beach house and enjoyed lots of good poolside reading, sunsets, and all around laziness.  We ventured to the King Shops and the beach once.  We also had some mouse drama.  There were some live glue traps with mice stuck on them that were squealing which basically freaked us out.  In the end Betsy and Clara saved the day.  Gross.  Clara was meant to go on the Waimanu trip but was too sick.  That virus was brutal and she was bummed.  

The boys lived out Rob's longtime dream of backpacking to Waimanu.  Papa drove them down to Waipio and they were off for a 2 night 3 day adventure.  I won't attempt to narrate too much because I wasn't there.  But what was reported was the hike was long and hard but worth it, everyone did great with no complaining, the valley was amazing, and they met some hardcore peeps there.  2 women who swam over and hiked out in a day, a man that lives above the valley off the grid, etc.