The dog didn't eat my homework...

...but he did eat my reading assignment! School is going well and I'm adjusting to deadlines (again!), homework, and submitting assignments and taking quizzes online. I leave my textbooks and class materials laying about so they're in reach when I have a few minutes. I've got to be careful, though. Papers end up on the floor and are consumed by the dogs. Sometimes the dogs are more trouble than the boys!

Elton live!

A few Saturdays ago, Noel and I went to watch Elton John live and in concert. Right here on Oahu! Can't tell you how excited I was...and can't tell you how not excited Noel was. I've been a huge fan for years. Mostly his old stuff, some of his new. (My cat is named Elton. I swear a future dog will be named Levon...) Noel is still wondering after all these years with me what the fuss is all about. But he bravely came along, and I think he enjoyed it, but not as much as I did.
Elton was onstage (for three hours!) most of the evening with just his piano; about a third of the evening he was joined by percussionist and long-time friend and collaborator Ray Cooper. And that's it! I think he sounds great. Can still handle all of his material and play one amazing piano. He doesn't have his original range but pretty darn close to an untrained ear (and to think that his first albums came out nearly 40 years ago). Noel got hungry and headed out for snacks about an hour in and missed some of the songs that he knows best. I couldn't sing along to "Hold me closer Tony Danza" to cheer him up. The rest of the evening included some of Elton's early, great work, including songs from the Madman Across the Water album, which Elton said remains one of his best -- and personal favorite.
One surprise note to the evening? Kanye West in the house. Near the end of the show, Elton acknowledged his friends and extended family there with him that week, and Kanye was among the VIPs in the first row.

Jellyfish kid craft

Another fun art project came home in the backpack last week. A jellyfish! The kids poured pink hand sanitizer gel, glitter, and plastic beads into a plastic sandwich bag, then cut out and taped a construction paper jellyfish around the bag edges. Accordian folded "legs" were attached at the bottom to complete the, um, authentic look. Lean in and the smell of the floral scented hand sanitizer is pretty strong--transports you to a Bath & Body Works shop. Might not be so pleasant for some, but I don't mind so much.
It's a bit of a darkish day here, with vog continuing to cover Oahu and a little rain predicted. But you never know. Monday started out this way and we ended the day at the playground in sunshine.

My other favorite outtake

This picture makes me smile, so I'm going to revisit our holiday photo card shoot today. The cards are done, mailed, received...the boys, while not perfect pics, at least look cute, so I need to get over it and move on. But not before sharing this final outtake. It looks like I'm torturing him (and/or he's throwing a tantrum), but in fact, it's one of those situations where I think we were trying to get Cub to walk along normally (while Noel shoots) and then he suddenly decides he wants to be untethered. He lifts his feet out from under himself and nearly falls over in an effort to go free. I'm there holding on, while Noel is still shooting. And thus the picture, uncropped straight from the memory card. For friends with babies who will be at this stage in a year or two, just remember to have patience and laugh. For friends beyond this stage, look back fondly. Enjoy!

Adventures with Piggy the Pink

Cub received a moose and a pig (stuffed animals) for Xmas. He didn't care for them much, but Robbie took to them quickly. Robbie started playing with them and before you knew it, Piggy the Pink was coming with us on all travels, big and small. I could write this blog from Piggy's perspective and we would have endless fodder. Here's Piggy above, taken at the Dole Plantation shortly before we boarded the Pineapple Train. A Furlough Friday treat last week with Noel's sister, visiting from the East Coast.

Train Museum

We originally planned to head to Tahoe for a few days after Christmas, but instead opted for a day trip from the Bay Area to go to the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento. Our little train lover was in heaven! As we first entered the main exhibit hall, he said over and over, "This is so beautiful!" I thought so, too. A very nice facility with fantastic exhibits and tons of information to soak up. Historic train engines and cars are placed inside the building on the bottom floor, while the top floor exhibits focus on toys and models, along with a few more full-size cars to walk around. Robbie darted around the place with so much enthusiasm, at one point I turned to my Mom and said that maybe I should pin my cell phone number to his jacket in case he wanders off.
Here's Robbie outside the building, along the Sacramento waterfront. Interesting photography request noted in the museum map: No tripod photography! Whaaat? Although I wasn't carrying one, I also wasn't carrying a camera that shoots well in dim light, so my best photos of the day were from outside.

Accepted!

Yesterday morning found me sitting in the car in the parking lot of the local CC, reviewing practice tests for the Compass placement exam. Completed the math portion in December, now onto the English. Which I didn't study near as much and hoped I could just wing it. I pulled out some paperwork and noticed that a new student orientation was scheduled that morning. I checked the clock...and it was starting at that moment. So I took that for a sign that I should go and found the lecture hall. They were passing out these badge holders while we waited to check in. Whoa! It's been a while since I've received such useful swag. :) A session that was originally billed as a three hour event was thankfully over in 40 minutes and off I went to take my test at the testing lab. Registered this morning after a small snafu and I start next week. (Who would have guessed that when you have a problem with online records, you don't go to the Admissions & Records office. Silly me! You go to the counselling center!) And in the modern education era, only fitting that one class is on a Saturday and another is broadcast twice a week on a local cable channel.

Holiday Card Outtake 2009

We all but gave up on a family portrait this year. I can't speak for Noel, but I didn't feel like being photographed this time around. It's so hard! How does everyone else do it?? But we wanted to send something out (even if it will end up being a "Happy New Year" card!). So this morning we headed out to Ko'Olina with the boys and tried to get a shot we could use. Still working on it! We'll keep these cute shirts on, pack a camera or two, and head to a playground this afternoon. Cross your fingers for us that I can send these out soon. :)

Happy 2010!

Did any of you have a lunch on New Year's Day that looked anything like mine here? I don't believe in resolutions (they're a joke) but I do need to detox from a week of starting each day with cake, cookies, and candies. Back home now and made myself fresh hummus, julienned baby carrots, then sat down to enjoy a few minutes of the Rose Bowl. We started watching The Hangover with HD On-demand, but realized there were too many f-bombs with the kids playing with their new toys in the same room. Paused it and finished it later.