welcome to R's favorite season

fall is squash season.  here we had cauliflower salad with spaghetti squash.  today i'm trying (picture forthcoming if it's good) butternut squash lasagna

brought e to see my work.

 fun oddity house on alki amidst the high rises condos

 e's taking after school pottery

 happy bday to R!  more pics coming later.  (we're celebrating all week)

back to school

 

I thought I was all caught up, but realize now that other new photos were just filed in a new month of September.  So, a few more updates.  we went to a popsicle social at the new school and met E's teacher who seems lovely. 

The rental is close to a great park.

E got a few gifts from our HI trip.

We visited friends on Bainbridge and made a yummy cheesy vegetable puff pastry dish. i put the same fillings on pizza the next day and felt like that was a little healthier.

cousin D invited us up for a potluck with her ward on Labor Day. 

We threw rocks in the Pilchuck River and got ice cream at Pilchuck Drive In.

He was excited on his first day as a first grader.

parents could walk the kids in for the first few minutes of the first day. 

 

Then we went to the cafeteria to hear the new principal introduce the year.

 this is A, one of the great WS YMCA kids counselors.  I'm still very glad that E enjoys going to the gym so i can exercise.

the Z family were great to drive down and meet us for dinner and walk around our new neighborhood. 

UT: cousin fun

my sisters are the best.  i think he soaked up love from aunts and uncles and lots and lots of good old fashioned playing with all his cousins.  We are blessed with good family and I'm grateful that he had this week with them.

we got in the water everyday and i think he did also.  yay for summer!

wow. there is a real lion in the background here.

is this a magic carpet going to take him for a ride?  I'll have to ask him about it.

HI to UT

 Even good things must end, like Hawaiian vacations.  here is one of the volcanos peaking above the clouds.
These are the lovely folks who cared for E while we were gone.  Thank you to them!!!

HI: South Point, POH, Two Step

South Point: We drove to the southernmost point of the island (6:00 on the island clock), which is the southernmost point of the United States.  It's very windy and the cliff jumping platforms are about 30 feet above blue clear ocean water.  R, as I've said before, is an early adopter, and jumps right in to new experiences that intimidate me.  he followed suit in this - twice.

One website claims it's a 40 foot jump and says: Swimming in the waters below the cliffs is always a thrill because, let's face it, you're treading in deep uncertain waters at the bottom of a tall cliff in an area barely sheltered from powerful winds, surf and currents that threaten to either smash you against the rocks or carry you to Antarctica.

We didn't hike down to the green sand beach.  saving that for next time. There is a lot more to see and savor, enough for another trip for sure!

After the thrills at the cliffs, we drove north to Two Step (8:00 on the island clock), another gorgeous snorkeling spot. you get in and it's instantly deep.  No beach, just lava rock. 

It is called Two Step because the snorkelers enter the water off a naturally formed lava step into 10 ft. of water. The next step drops off into 25 ft of water.

 

Beyond my flippers, you can see the school of yellow fish that i just had to launch myself into.  and R waiting for me.  nice and warm ambient temperature.  lots of other folks out in the water, calm and protected. a beautiful day and place for snorkeling.

 We took a break from snorkeling and walked to the ancient refuge Pu'uhonua O Honaunau, the destination for people seeking asylum from severe penalties imposed if you broke a law.  The had to get past the king's residence, by swimming the bay where we snorkeled, and once there, the priests were obligated to offer absolution, no matter how great or small the infraction (eating with your husband).  It ceased functioning in the early 19th century when that traditional religious law system was abolished.
The wood carved statues guarding the temple are known as ki'i.

 

On our last night, we stayed in a fun "Japanese Room" at the Manago Hotel (8:30 on the island clock), which had beautiful gardens. great prices.