Did I ever tell you about...

...a little event we like to call "the pineapple miracle." At the end of the Pineapple Express train ride at the Dole Plantation, they wait for you with a take-out container full of diced pineapple on toothpicks. Each rider gets a piece as you get off the train. As you can probably imagine, our little group of train riders is the last to leave the train. One day as we were once again bringing up the rear, the attendant wanted to get rid of the rest of the pineapple she had on her - maybe 5 pieces for our group of 3. Cub wasn't interested, and I thought for sure Robbie would pass, but to my surprise, he grabbed a toothpick and plopped a piece in his mouth. And he liked it! And asked for more!! Hence the miracle. Now he will eat pineapple semi-regularly, as will Cub (yippee!) when I dice it up and put it out on the table for them. Anyone know where we can find a Broccoli Train?

In the center area between attractions at the Dole Plantation, they plant and harvest countless pineapple varieties from around the world. Pictured here is our favorite, the "pink pineapple" (our name, not the name on the garden marker). I forget where this one is from, but the blooms are beautiful. Robbie noticed my interest in it when I was taking pictures last fall, and looked for it again when we went back recently. None were in bloom, which bummed us a bit, but we'll keep looking during future trips.