Hawi and Hilo

Rainbow Falls in Hilo....so beautiful! We flew over to see the volcano park during our vacation to Honolulu in 12/05. On that day, by the time we got to the falls, 9 month old Jillian was asleep in my arms so we stayed in the van...and missed this beauty. Neither of us was sleeping during this visit.

This is why Jillian thinks her legs are broken and needs to be carried everywhere! Papa Dan carried her everywhere! The other night she got out of her shower and said "Mama, carry me to the bed so I can get dressed." Thanks Papa Dan! :)

Jillian got a scrape on her knee and she is showing all of us what a drama queen she can be...she is limping. Is this a girl thing? :)

Nana and Papa Dan at the Hawi Lookout.

I am sitting at the Hawi Lookout with this stud I grabbed for a photo op. I think I want to take him home with me!

Gymnastics

Jillian started gymnastics in September. We took Nana and Papa Dan to a class during their visit. She loves gymnastics and looks forward to every class. She is jumping on the big trampoline in this picture.

Coach Nanette is helping Jillian do a backbend.

Back Rolls (Jillian HATES them!) on the beam. Now she says to her coach "no back rolls please!"

Bar work. Jillian is working on holding her weight up herself.

Going through the course with mom and dad.

Ironman, Volcano Park, Black Sand Beach

The Ironman finish line.

Jeremy, Jen and Jillian in front of Kilauea Caldera. That's steam from the volcano in the background!

Nana and Papa Dan in front of Thurston Lava Tube.

Papa Dan and Jillian walking along Puna Lu'u...the black sand beach.

There are always turtles resting there...and we just love them! :)

Eagle Rays, Place of Refuge, Kukio

Jillian is feeding the Eagle Rays....I was mistaken in an earlier post when I called them manta rays....they are actually eagle rays. And Jillian adores them! :) They are like little vacuums that suck the food right off your hand....all you can feel is their smooth, slippery skin...and they are extremely friendly. If you are a guest of the Four Seasons you can snorkel with them.....how cool is that!!!!! It makes me want to stay there a night just to be able to snorkel with these cool animals!

Jillian and Nana enjoying Kukio...our #1 fav beach.

Papa Dan and Jillian swimming at Kukio.


Mama, Jillian and Nana playing a fun game at Place of Refuge.

Jillian is playing all by herself.

Keiki Triathlon

Last week Jeremy's mom and her husband came to visit us! We had a lovely time playing tourist with them! They arrived just in time to see the Ironman Triathlon World Championship. The week before, Jillian's school had been preparing for their very own triathlon...one day an athlete who had artificial legs came to speak and show the children his special legs that God had given him. On Friday, her school coordinated an event of major proportions.....all 70 kids from preschool and kindergarten participated in 3 events....biking, running and swimming (kind of). Nana and Papa Dan came along and it was a wonderful morning!

Here is a picture from the outside of Jillian's school.


Mrs. Desiree is pinning Jillian's race number to the back of her swim suit. Go #9!!!!


Jillian and Nana doing a project together...I think this one practices pouring beads from one glass jar to another. Before morning circle time, the children have free time where they can choose a project to work on or read books.


Morning circle time. Number 9 is mine. :)


The kids lined up to head out to the race start. I love this picture because Jillian's classroom is half inside and half outside, and this shot shows much of the outside area. All arts and crafts are completed outside. All of the classrooms in her school only have 3 walls and utilize a separate covered outdoor space for part of their learning. It is so cool. However, since this is Hawaii, you can only imagine the bugs. Hmmm, actually I've only seen ants....which in my opinion are the least horrible. And before you feel jealous and wish you could go to school here too, I should mention that since the cubbies are also outside, by the time I pick her up from school her lunch box is full of a zillion ants eating her leftover lunch out of zippy bags that weren't completely closed. And they start crawling up my arm before I can get to the car. Yuck.

The kids started the race with a bike ride.....Jillian is riding the red and yellow trike on the far left....only four girls in this group. The kids were split into groups of 4-5 all girl or all boy racers.

Go Speed Racer!

Miss Anna, our preschool director, is helping Jillian around a turn. We LOVE her and Jillian can't leave school without giving her a hug.

Since there were 4 of us attending the race, we volunteered to help. Nana ran with Jillian every step of the race and Jeremy followed taking video and pictures. Papa Dan and I were assigned corners for the run/walk portion. Our job was to clap and direct the kids where to go next. I loved cheering the kids on...but I missed running with Jillian and taking pictures. Jeremy did an awesome job though and snapped this shot of Jillian running to my corner....she is almost done!

The two pools were at the very end. Some kids dove right in and others ran through....Jillian ran through. :)

Finish Line! They used toilet paper for each child to run through. Jillian's time was 4 minutes even.....go girl! Which I think was about average.... :)

After the race the kids snacked on cold water, peanut butter crackers, and frozen yogurt pops.

Circle time after the race. The kids are waiting to get their medals.

Mrs. Desiree and Miss Karen are handing out the medals. Every racer received the same medal, personalized with their name and race time.

Backyard Fun With Athena

Jillian LOVES Athena! Athena is getting over being very sick, we have been so thrilled to see her feeling better and acting playful again.

Although, since she is feeling better...she is back to digging. This is what Jeremy likes least about Athena. Jillian told me at breakfast yesterday that if Athena doesn't stop digging she will have to go live with "her other family". I asked, who is Athena's other family? Jillian said "The Burson's"!!!!!!!!

Backyard walks.

Out For a Walk

Gardening

Jillian is helping me water plants....in a princess dress and rain boots. Obviously, the only proper attire for yard work. :)