Papahana Kuaola

A couple of weeks ago we went on my favorite field trip of the whole school year! Of course since I am so bad at blogging I am just now writing to tell you all about!

We went to a place called Papahana Kuaola, this field trip goes along with our study of Hawaiian history in first grade. They teach the kids about the formation of the islands, different types of native plants to Hawaii and some of the tools early Hawaiians used in daily life. The kids then get to go explore the beautiful land, go fishing in the stream and then learn about how they grow Taro. The best part of the field trip is when we get to get into the Taro patches (which are set down into the ground in the mud) and take the weeds out of the patch.

This is one of my favorite field trips because there is so much hands on stuff for the kids to do! They are getting to see and touch and use the things that we are teaching them about in class. It is also fun because we get completely muddy and who doesn't love to play in the mud!!

This year was a little different because Kim (my teaching partner) wasn't there because she was sick :( So I got to be the head person for both first grade classes. Which went perfect, only had to send one kid home sick! :)

I love that our school has so much support from parents! I think some of the parents had more fun then the kids did.

Can't wait to go again next year!

P.S.
Mom you may not want to read my next post about me going on a sort of crazy, slightly dangerous/ life threatening hike! I will write it when I have the pictures... Don't worry I am alive ;)

Living Aloha

I am finally making another post! I have been basically just been doing school and working for several weeks now so I don't feel like I have had anything exciting to tell you all about. But this week we are on fall break and Sarah is here for a visit! So we have been doing all sorts of crazy fun things! It is always fun when people come to visit. I feel very blessed with all the visitors that I have had since moving to Hawaii.

So Sarah got here on Friday and we having been living it up ever since she got here. It has been a whirlwind of activities.

Here are some of the things we have been doing: 

• Eating shave ice almost every single day (blue raspberry is Sarah's fav!)

• Swimming in Kim's pool! Thanks Kim :) 
• Going to the beach

• Hiking

• Got a hotel room in Waikiki! So much fun! Best night of sleep we have had.
• Going out to eat in Waikiki
• Renting mopeds and riding around the island in style

• Crashing hotel pools

Tomorrow we thought about going on a sunrise hike but we are probably not going to get out of bed by then, this is vacation after all! But we are going to go to Hanauma Bay and go snorkeling and we may go on a catamaran ride as well. Friday we are going to spend the day up at the North Shore and probably eat more shave ice. 

I miss you all back home and wish you could be here to enjoy Hawaii with me!

There and Back

See Grandma I told you I would keep you updated on what I am doing :) First day back in Hawaii and I am already writing you a blog post! I feel pretty good about that ;)

For those of you who don't know I just got back from a trip back to the mainland for the weekend to see my  Grandma. It was a wonderful weekend just spending precious time with my amazing grandmother. I am very thankful that I was able to go back, even though it was a short visit.

I am continually praying for you Grandma, that God would give you strength and peace for each day.

You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord, is everlasting strength. Isaiah 26:3-4

The flight back to Hawaii was much better than the flight to Seattle. I got to sit by one of the exits so I had all the leg room I needed. Watched a movie, slept a little, read, all in all it was a much better flight.

My day "off" today has been quite the busy one. I woke up and got right to work... cleaned my closet, the fridge, freezer, bathroom, hall closet, and car. Went to the bank, Target, Best Buy and Costco! All in one day! Also since I was missing your Grandma, I decided to make my favorite dessert that reminds me of you, banana pudding! I must say it was quite delicious! Wish I could send you some.

I of course also managed to fit in a long walk on the beach. Wish you could have been here with me. But I said some prayers for you on my walk :) 

Back to work tomorrow. Hopefully my kiddos weren't too naughty while I was gone :) I will let you know how it goes. 

Love You

For You Grandma...

Well, Grandma you are one of the few people I know who actually read this blog and is always wanting me to post more often and tell about what I have been doing in Hawaii. I thought that since you are spending lots of time in the hospital with not a lot to do I would give you something to read! It is also a little way I can feel connected with you while being so many miles away, which by the way is very hard. I wish I could be right in the hospital room with you this whole time! But since right now I can't here is a little something to entertain you for a bit as you sit in the hospital! I am sure someone will read it to you ;)

Year two in Hawaii has started off to a very busy start! As soon as I got back I started doing summer fun! I was kind of worried about it because I didn't really know what I was getting myself into or how things would work. However I should have know that since I am in Hawaii of course it was super laid back! I had a blast hanging out with the kids and doing all sorts of fun things. It also helped that the two guys that I worked with were super chill and helpful so it made things much easier for me!

The first week of summer fun was sports and fitness themed. On one of the field trips we went to a gymnastics gym which was a blast because they had huge trampolines and foam pits and all sorts of things for the kids to do! On this field trip I decided that being a gymnast is not my calling! :) We also got to do a tour of the Aloha Stadium and go play football on the field and see of the behind the scenes things! 

Bowling was another field trip... I kind of sucked at that even with the bumpers up! Then to finish up week one we went ice skating! Yes ice skating in Hawaii, kind of weird I know. It was a lot of fun though and I only fell once :)

Week two of summer fun was a little bit crazier because the theme was creators and inventors so whenever you create things it gets a little messy! Did I mention how great the guys were that I worked with for putting up with all the stuff I made them do! :)

One of the days we had "Mad Scientist" come to the school and do this whole show for the kids which was pretty cool. He was blowing up things so of course the kids loved it!! 

We also went to an aquarium and flight museum which were both fun. But my favorite part of this week was that on Thursday night I got to go pick up Jessica from the airport!! It was so much fun having her come to visit. We finished of the second and final week of summer fun with what else but a BEACH DAY! We took all the kids to the beach and played in the sand and waves for a couple hours. Summer fun was a blast and I am glad that I did it.

After the business of summer fun for two weeks that real fun started! Jessica was here for a whole week and we did all kinds of crazy things :) What else would you expect when your best friend comes to visit in Hawaii!

Some of the highlights:

Watching sunset, fireworks and going out in Waikiki

 Spending the day at the North Shore! It was a perfect day for it because the water was super flat so it was perfect for swimming and the sun was HOT!! (we got a little too much sun this day)

Of course we had to get pineapple ice cream at the Dole plantation! One of my favorite things. 

We hiked down to these tide pool and this is where I almost got whisked away by a huge wave! I didn't get taken into the ocean but I did get drenched! :) 

 Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay 

 This might of been my favorite thing we did! We went on a catamaran ride off of Waikiki. It was so much fun. I thought it would be fun to sit up front well we proceeded to get completely drenched as soon as we moved to the front :) I was hoping to see a dolphin, but no such luck :( 

 Even though this was suuupppeerr early and seemed like a very bad idea at the time we did a hike to watch the sunrise. It was beautiful and we decided it was a good idea after we had woken up a little bit more. 

 Went boogie boarding at Waimanalo Beach

 Hiked up to Maunawili Falls

 Jess jumped in. I didn't feel like it... the water was really cold :) 

 The birthday fairy, a.k.a my roommate Laurie, came and exploded birthdayness into my room so I woke up to balloons everywhere and confetti all over me and my room! It was a wonderful way to wake up :) 

 We went out for an awesome dinner on my birthday! Such yummy food. 

As you can see I had a blast while Jessica was here. It was such a blessing to be able to show her my life here in Hawaii. She flew out on my birthday and then I had to get back to the reality of work!

When Jess left we started teacher training. So that is what I am in the middle of right now. My days are filled with meetings and classroom set up and lesson planning and curriculum. This is a little bit stressful of a time of year but I am excited to have a new set of students and to get back into the classroom. I am looking forward to my second year of teaching because I have a much better idea of how I want my classroom to run and how to make that happen. I have sixteen student this year and am excited to get to know all of them and start the school year off!

Well, I hope that was a little bit of entertainment for you grandma! At least for a little bit. I will try to be better about writing more often so you know what I am up to. I hope you know that I am thinking and praying for you all the time here. I wish I was close enough to come give you a hug and just sit with you. There are several people praying for you in Hawaii. You are an amazing women of God and wonderful example to all of us! I am so thankful to have you in my life. Can't wait until the next time I get to see you. 

LOVE YOU GRANDMA