Ingenious

Yes, we want the boys to know they can count on us. Yes, we want scaffolding opportunities. Yes, we (meaning really me) want to continuously work on their ZPD (geek term alert - see Vygotsky). But when I caught Adonis taking initiative in "solving" his own problem on his own, I couldn't help but smile and observe how it'd develop :)

Problem: toy is higher than he can reach

Solution: make self taller

Conclusion: although the logic is right, an extra few inches would be helpful 

Notice the orange "dot" on top if the door? That's the goal. 

Preschool excitement

As the teachers pulled the sandbox cover this morning, we found a toad chilling in it!

While the teachers and parents laughed nervously, Adonis and Apollo chased it away and saved the day!

Superheroes in the making :)

"I want to be Brazil"

Apollo diz pro pai: 

- Papai, hoje eu quero ser o Brasil. 

O pai empresta a blusa canarinho e meio segundo depois Adonis diz:

- Papai, eu também quero ser o Brasil!

Procura-se outra blusa canarinho, mas nada. Depois de muito papo convence-se que a verde também rola. 

Alguns minutos depois, os dois somem. Os encontro lá em cima, na "cozinha" conversando:

- o Brasil vai comer peixe pra ficar forte! - diz um. 

- é o Brasil vai jogar bola! - responde o outro. 

- não pode! Cade a perna do Brasil?! - ao notar que a blusa é maior do que ele :)

Back to normal

While unpacking our extra-clothes-hurricane-emergency bag, I came across my husband's outfit choice. 

Very appropriate. 

More of preschool

Here's a little note to self so next anniversary I can remind myself that no, sugar hangover is not worth it blah :P

On another note, here are my handsome boys (who could use a haircut) at preschool this morning :)

Like father like son

I walk into the office looking for Jonas and this is what I see :) 

Eight years ago

...we shared our love (and our love for food) with our closest family and friends. It is time to celebrate and eat our wedding Godiva cheesecake again! 

yes it is flour-less! but not sugarless. #worthyofasugarhangover #oneminuteofpleasurethreedaysofpain 

Me and Julio down by the school yard

Iselle came and left, leaving us with a sigh of relief for all we got were gushes of wind and rain. The boys seemed disappointed since the actual storm did not live up to the expectations of trees banging the house and other loud noises as we led them to believe. 

Now it's Julio's turn and it's looking like it'll miss us (?) altogether. And all I can think is Paul Simon's live chorus "me and Julio down by the school yard"!

Anyway, to celebrate surviving the ex-hurricane and being couped up inside for 40h - and because that was the only dry option thanks to the continuous rain - we headed to barnes and noble this morning. 

Driving their taxis

Puppet t-Rex and puppet dragon - their favorite pretend play characters

I missed getting a picture of their book purchases but it included a Bubble Guppies Busy Book, a Disney Princesses Busy Book, and a dinosaur flap book. You can guess who chose what. I'll just say mine was the dinosaur book... Lol

As we wait for the hurricanes to pass

In the meantime...

These little crossed legs are too much :)

It's the end of the world

Or at least that's what it feels like!

Iselle and Julio are heading this way. No these aren't distant cousins coming to stay. ha ha. We are about to experience our first hurricanes in Hawaii - or ever!

Our emergency preparedness specialist - my very own husband - has spent the last day making preparations for the potential challenges we may face in the following days. Beware, there's no such a thing as a quick trip to Sam's club or Costco at the end of the world on an island. There's also not very many supplies left (read water and toilet paper). 

Waiting in the 30-40min long checkout line

Water shelves

Preschool free play

Their first activity at preschool is free play outside. This morning, this is what they chose to do - collaborative painting :)

Angry birds wii style

These two discovered the Angry Birds video game that comes with Roku. It's pretty cool because the Roku controller works as a wii controller. They had fun shooting the birds - who cares about the pig? The fun is in shooting them off to space!

(Video to be uploaded)

Playgrounds

Living in Hawaii means amazing weather and outdoor activities. It also means not so amazing parks and playgrounds. It seems that all the playgrounds come from the same manufacturer and have the same structure, and - sadly - are not well kept. Swings are a rare treat. 

When our playground of choice Old Stadium Park was yellow taped (rust broke it's bridge), we decided to finally explore other playgrounds in the area. 

This is a newer, clean park in a nice neighborhood, between Ala Moana and Ward.

How to help your child eat raspberries in 10 steps

Step 1: place a handful of raspberries in a bowl

Step 2: give it to your child

Step 3: wait for the "what's this?" question or the "this is not strawberry" remark

Step 4: fold all but your index fingers

Step 5: pick one of the raspberries and put it on top of your index finger as if it were a hat or "hair" (I chose the latter)

Step 6: sing a made up silly song about how you (the hairy index finger) like your hair and does not want to go bold

Step 7: tease the child by placing such index finger by her mouth

Step 8: let the child laugh as hard as she can

Step 9: let the child eat the finger's "hair/hat"

Step 10: in a silly voice complain how you're now bold and miss your hair/hat and are going to find new hair/hat

*repeat

Happy birthday, d-saur

Every day, for the last week, Apollo has told me how much he wants a birthday party. And a birthday cake. And birthday presents. And every day I have told him he "only" has to wait four months. 

Feeling bad for him and remembering fondly of my own dolls' birthday "parties", I told him we could celebrate his dinosaur's birthday! He was so excited! And so was Adonis who gladly tagged along :)

They went over the "list" of things usually used to celebrate a birthday (cake, balloons, cupcake, presents) and I explained we didn't have everything but that we could still have a "party". Here's how it turned out:

Shaving cream cupcake, anyone?

Valentine's Day leftover sprinkles (btw notice the purple nails? The only way I can get my own purple nails... Lol)

And toothpicks for candles!

We have a garden

Since the last two jackfruits were either stolen or overripe, I decided to take matters into my own hands. Well, into the boys' brooms and my arms specifically. 

12 hours later the itchiness has finally subsided :)

Can't wait to try some green jackfruit recipes!

I have mono

So, after 7 days of neglecting most of my motherhood and graduate student responsibilities by being in bed, it was nice to get some sun, sand and surf. My chin is sore though :)

Preschool - week #3

Here they are beginning week #3 of preschool and we - and I do mean ALL of us - are sooo happy!

The twice-a-week routine has worked well for us as they transition to first-time outside-of-home care. They love their teachers and know them by their names. They are now independent potty goers. They are new taste bud explorers. And we are better parents :)

Feliz Dia dos Avós

We celebrated it by spending the morning at the Kahala Hotel - a local, favorite spot of ours where we can watch dolphins and stingrays, enjoy the beach, and fill our tummies without having to shower.

Water play day

In celebration of Uncle Wayne's birthday, UHMCC Director, today was water play day. 

I made - for the first time! - bibingka (a Filipino dessert) for the potluck and it was all gone within 20min! Huge success thanks to my dearest local half Filipino half Japanese friend Marissa's recipe. 

We had fun at the main campus, and Adonis made a new friend - Jack. I quickly realized Jack was part of the pack when I found myself applying sunscreen on him along with the boys.

Reasons I love Hawaii (cont)

Going to wal-mart and finding a dedicated aisle to rice cookers. 

But "who needs a rice cooker?", you might ask. Well, anyone who loves the convenience of a crockpot and wishes they could also use it to steam veggies, simmer meat, and bake cakes!

Say hello to our newest family addition :)

De volta a Abaetetuba

Atrás, o prédio onde vou dar aula. Eu sentada almoçando embaixo da sombra de uma mangueira, com galinha e pintinhos piando perto de mim. 

Nostalgia :)

Summer as a PhD student

is not really like most people's idea of summer. Yes there are no classes but boy do I keep busy between research and publishing. Here's my reading list as I work on a project on language teaching and social change. 

I have an office

Or I partially have one - to which I'm very grateful for I have the most awesome office mates (including Professor Tiger, pictured below). 

My temporary desk (above)

Moanalua Valley

I enjoy hiking and sadly I haven't done as many since Ka left. Yesterday late in the afternoon we took the kids to Moanalua Valley Park - it has a playground and restroom at the head of the trail. 

The boys loved the "jungle/mountain" walk and our encounters with the wild. 

Breakfast of choice

Here's what happened on this very Saturday morning when I told the boys they could choose anything they wanted for breakfast :)

First day of preschool

They loved it so much they didn't want to come home at the end of the day!