Welcome to Texas

Adam was introduced to one of the hazzards of living in Texas - fireants. He and his neighbor friend, Greer, both got bit badly. I counted over fifty bites! He's been very good about not scratching, and the bites are finally starting to go away.

Birthday

We celebrated Daddy's birthday with a key lime pie (store bought - next year we'll be better and bake something).
Adam had a great time helping Daddy blow out his candle (not in the picture). Adam thinks all birthdays are great, even if they are not his own. He and Lottie love cake and pie!

Outside

Adam and Lottie are spending all their time outside. Although none of them are in these pictures, there are many neighborhood kids around their ages, and everyone loves to play outside. Our house may not be as nice as we could get off-post, but the neighborhood more than makes up for it!

Play Area

Our new house is fairly similar in setup to our house in Japan, except that it's Texas-size: HUGE. Well, huge for the Army. So we set up like Japan, except that we were able to fit THREE bookcases on the wall of the play area, instead of the one in Japan. We even bought some buckets to corral all of Adam's trains and tracks. Enough space to actually be organized!
Adam is enjoying his new play space. There's even room for my treadmill, although I can't use it because the noise immediately wakes up both kids.
We've been putting the play area to good use. Adam and Lottie can take out all of their stuffed animals to bury Daddy.
Can you find him?

Aspirations

Lottie was stealing things from the bathroom while Adam was getting ready for his nap. She was busy taking her temperature with the thermometer, so I asked her if she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up. After she nodded yes (her answer to everything), I asked Adam what he wanted to be when he grew up.

"I want to be a bullet train rider. Also, when I get big, I can sleep in the bed with you."

Ah, big aspirations.

Helping People

Adam watched Caillou one day, and they were learning about people who help other people (police officers, firefighters, teachers, etc.). I quizzed him about what he learned later.

"Adam, can you tell me someone who helps other people?"

"Umm, Calum. Calum!"

Not what I had in mind, but at least he was thinking.

Adam's Modeling Career

Combi Mini finally came out with the fall catalog with Adam's "work." If you would like to see the entirety of Adam's Japanese modeling career, click HERE. It's amazing to see the final result when you were actually there for the photo shoot. Adam's section starts on page 44, and his buddy Calum's starts on page 69. Good work, boys!

Last Day

We enjoyed our time in Hawaii, but everyone was ready to go home by the last day. We were monitoring the hurricane that was supposed to hit Oahu on Monday night, but it started moving much slower, and we were spared. We did get a little visiting and playing done before our night flight.

We managed to get a picture of four generations.

Lottie enjoyed the kitchen porch.

We visited my old school in Wahiawa, Our Lady of Sorrows. The school is still there, but it's only used for religious education by the church now. Adam and Lottie had a good time poking around anyway.

We stopped by Aunty Alice's house to visit.

Then it was back to Grandma Tanaka's to finish packing and say goodbye. Adam and Lottie loved spending time with both Grandmas. We had a great time in Hawaii.

Hawaiian Railway

On Sundays, the Hawaiian Railway runs a train from Ewa to the beach on an old sugar line. Unfortunately, the regular locomotive was broken. They did manage to find another locomotive to take us all part of the way. Adam was very excited.

Lottie was just tired. She took a nap on the way.

Our scenic turnaround point - the Costco. So much better than the beach!

The train we rode.

Another train they have restored, but only for display.

More trains they are restoring.

This is part of the locomotive that used to be on display in Waialua (Grandma's hometown), since it's the Waialua Agricultural Company (W.A.Co.) They are in the process of fully restoring it, which is why it's in pieces.
Adam was especially lucky - he was invited up by the engineer to work the train whistle (the only person allowed up!).

Haleiwa Beach Park

Adam and Lottie were happy to visit Haleiwa Beach Park. Since it was a weekday, there were few people and we had a nice stretch of beach all to ourselves. Adam is happy and ready to splash.

Lottie was ready to wander with pail.

More wandering.

Adam used the other pail to bring water up to his sand sculpture. He and Grandma made a fabulous sculpture with many rock "eyes."

Lottie found a huge rock - the best part of the trip for her.

Private Dancer

Lottie had a good time with the post in the carport.

Dancing to the music in her head.

Trying to climb the pole.

Disgusted

I was trying to take some pictures of the kids with their leis, but they were NOT having it. They look so disgusted.

Japan in Hawaii!

We stopped by Ala Moana (fancy mall in Honolulu) and shopped at Shirokiya, a Japanese department store. It was fun to shop for all kinds of good Japanese food again, and they even had a Harajuku Crepes station, just like in Tokyo. Adam HAD to have a crepe. Lottie is displaying her "WANTS IT" face!

Goofy

Adam and Lottie enjoyed hanging out on Grandma Tanaka's porch - just like Mommy and Uncle Andy used to do. These pictures just crack me up.

Cute Lottie.

Lazy Day

How we spent our time in Hawaii: playing in the water (in buckets or getting sprayed with the hose).

We couldn't resist taking a picture with the cutout (Daddy's favorite). This is not, in fact, Hawaii's best shave ice (that would be Aoki's).

But they did have a tasty concoction called the Pineapple Bowl. A huge bowl of ice cream, pineapple shave ice, crushed pineapple, condensed milk, whipped cream, and cherries. It was delicious!

Obon Festival

We were lucky enough to visit while the Waialua Hongwanji held their annual obon dance. While Grandma Tanaka worked all week cleaning and preparing, we just showed up on Saturday ready to eat and dance. Adam and Lottie got to wear their jinbei (Japanese clothes).

Watching the dancers.

Adam really wanted to dance, so Grandma showed him how. Of course, Lottie then also wanted to dance, so Grandma had to take her too.

North Shore Touring

Once we got settled in at Great Grandma's house, we headed out to show Adam and Lottie some of the North Shore spots. First we stopped by the Dole Plantation to see the pineapple and, most importantly, to ride the new train that they put in.
Adam was not happy that the pineapple plant "poked" him.

Adam and Lottie loved the 20 minute train ride through the pineapple fields.

I decided that Lottie needed a pearl direct from the oyster for her first trip to Hawaii. Of course, Adam got to pick out the oyster (the biggest one). The oyster had two beautiful black pearls - he has the Chlapowski luck!

Then we headed to Haleiwa to get Lottie her first shave ice at Aoki's. The first bite was terrible.

But the second bite was delicious!

Yum, yum.

Our last stop was the Waialua Sugar Mill to check out the new shops. The kids enjoyed looking at the big gears outside the soap shop. Adam was ready to bathe in their antique bathtub that was in the store. The area has a lot more to do than when I was a kid.