A charming little town named Kailua

Intense
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Being an adventurous lot, we decided to go kayaking on a beach on Oahu's northeast shore. It was by a charming little town named Kailua. We quickly learned that a 2 person kayak requires 2 adults, and not an adult and an 8 year old named Alex. In his defense, the seas were rough, but I don't think we are going to have him try it once more until he is at least 16.

Even though we did the kayaking was somewhat a disaster, we fell in love with the beach. Absolutely stunning; soft sand and Caribbean blue seas. I would recommend renting a house on that beach to anyone.
RAP (3.28.2008)

I love Hawaii!

Those who are about to surf salute you
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Last Thursday at 11, Jenny and Michael took surfing lessons. Jenny loved it and so did Michael. They both had several good rides, but Michael did have a complication. After his first ride, he stepped on sea urchin. Ouch.

He carried on, and had several good rides afterwards, but it did hurt, and it looks nasty. However, Michael is Michael, and something like this will not ruin his trip. On Friday, he was out in the ocean with his mother, not too far from where he stepped on that nasty, and he volunteered, "I love Hawaii!"
RAP (3.27.2008)

Why are there girls on the cover of every one of these?

Beach Bums
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

We made it to Hawaii safe and sound, without incident, or serious delay. We relaxed at the hotel on the day of our arrival, but the next morning we spread our wings and explored Waikiki. We walked east along the beach, towards Diamondhead, enjoying the sand, surf and sights. On our journey back, we traveled along the main thoroughfare where all the expensive stores are. On this walk, Alex collected the guides for each individual island to share with his class; after collecting several he asked out loud, "Why are there girls on the cover of every one of these?" I just laughed, and told him that is because people like to look at pretty girls.
RAP (3.26.2008)

All Hail Great and Powerful Mom

All Hail Great and Powerful Mom
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

For some reason, or another, Alex decided he wanted a ukulele; I secretly think he did this just so I would learn to spell the word. The problem was he spent all his capital on a pedal boat rental on the day of our arrival. Being an enterprising young man, he resolved to earn the 12 dollars he needed to get not just a Ukulele, but the one with dolphins on it that he so fancied. He tried many strategies, such as back rubs for a dollar, but my favorite was when he fanned my dad and Jenny like an emperor and empress of old. It was not something he solicited, like a squeegee man he just did it hoping to be compensated. He only earned a smile for that, but soon he had enough, and he attained the magical ukulele. RAP (3.25.2008)

Wheels turning in his head

Attack
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Last week I attended Alex's parent teacher conference, and what was discussed is what you would expect; he is gifted in the classical sense, and he will never have academic problems. All he needs to do is contain his personality a bit more. During the discussion, his teacher, who adores him, talked about how he was special. Alex immediately responded by asserting that everyone is special.

This was not lip service, or an Eddie Haskell imitation. I know this because I was watching him, and as he said it he was staring off into space. Alex does not have eye contact problems, but when he is in thought his eyes lose their focus or he stairs at the ground; it is as if he is trying to turn them off, so they don't distract him. I divine this, because I do the same thing. The easiest time to observe this is when he is playing pretend; he will pace about staring at the earth as he collaborates in a fantasy with his brother, and if you look close enough, you can see the wheels turning in his head.
RAP (3.17.2008)

She's a tomboy!

Digging Our Way Out
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Michael fell asleep during Grease Saturday night, but he wanted to see the rest of the movie, so he and I watched the ending the other evening. We were watching the "Gift of the Magi" sequence, where they sing "You are the one that I want." When Olivia Newton John appeared on screen in her all black, with her permed hair, high heels and bright lipstick Michael took one look at her and excitedly screamed, with a sense of wonder overflowing, "She's a tomboy!"

I learned two things in that moment. The first made me laugh to myself: Michael does not understand what a tomboy is in the conventional sense. The other thing, the more important one, is I think I just got a handle on what type of personality Michael likes in girls. It shall be an interesting adolescence.
RAP (3.13.2008)

Slumber Party

Old Blue Eyes
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

When Bill and Wendy spent the night Saturday, I volunteered to have Jake in my room so they could sleep easier only having to take care of Ellie. We had him in our room Christmas Eve, and Jake and I get along very well. I thought that he would be in the pack and play I set up, but Bill suggested putting him in my bed; we never let Michael and Alex do this, except when they were sick when I wanted to keep on ear on their breathing. However, this is the way he sleeps at home and our bed is huge, so why not?

Much like his godmother, he wants to be right next to you when he sleeps. I wake up many times through out the night, and no matter where he was when I closed my eyes, each time they opened his face was about an inch from my face, almost nose to nose. Since I didn't have my contacts on, I can actually focus at that distance, which is kind of surreal and a bit startling. He was a good boy, not crying during the night, just occasionally asking for his blankie which would get lost under the comforter. In he morning, he just sat there, even though he could here the boys and his dad, just happy as could be, but he was with his favorite Uncle after all.
RAP (3.12.2008)

The Blizzard of '08

I never eat December Snow Flakes
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Starting Friday at about 10 AM, what they are calling the "Blizzard of '08" started. Of course, it never qualified as a blizzard because the winds were not able to remain over 35 mph for over 3 hours, but we cannot let that stop us from having a good moniker. After all, "Big Scary Storm March '08" just does not sound as impressive.

For the most part, if you know how to handle these types of events, they aren't much a problem. You just stay home and don't drive (ahem). The boys had a great time, because for the third time in about a month they had enough snow to play and sled in. The "blizzard" gave us our single greatest snowfall in history and was our most impressive winter weather system since the "Valentine's Weekend Storm of '03." Now that storm new how to market itself; it struck on a holiday and thus needed no fancy words in order to be remembered.
RAP (3.11.2008)

Shorts with 2 Inches of Snow on the Ground

Dad is Here
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

When I dropped Michael off at school after his appointment, I made a point to drop in on Alex. As fortune would have it, his lunch break was just starting. While he unpacked he proudly showed me that he was wearing shorts (in my defense as a father, he was wearing pants in the morning, but they were zip offs that convert to shorts) and a thin Under Armour shirt. He is his father's son.

I used to wear shorts all the time in January, and bristle against wearing clothes for the most part. In addition to our shared desire to wear fewer clothes, we both have a disdain for shoes. Our feet are shaped differently than the North American normal (his more than mine) and as a consequence we don't like to wear them. I even went to school once and left my shoes at home. He has not done that yet, but give him time!
RAP (3.7.2008)

Our not-so-little Man

More Fun Than Fractions
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

We have survived our first 20 hours of bachelorhood without major incident, loss of blood or very much bachelor-ing. The closest any of us has come to bachelor-ing is Michael described a young lady in his class as "a cute girl." The lady in question shall remain a secret between him and his father. He has tried to redact it since, but I do think it was a glimpse into his mind.

Further evidence that this was not just poorly chosen words, is that at his doctor's appointment this morning we learned that he is entering puberty (about the same age I did). Soon he will be our not-so-little man, because his growth is fantastic and they expect it to accelerate with the onset of puberty.
RAP (3.6.2008)

A Boys Life

A Boys Life
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

As you are aware, I purchase the boys a ton of books. On average I would guess a book a week, plus three comic books. Most of it is literary junk food, but the importance is that they are reading. For the most part, I let them choose what to read, but occasionally I push something. Perhaps it is longer than they have read before or I maybe it is has more merit. Recently, I have done just this with Michael. I am having him read the "Lord of the Flies." It is a great book, and while it is advanced, I thought that the idea of a group of boys being on island alone would interest him. It has. Since this is more of a literary challenge, I bought him the Sparks Notes, and I am having him read it after each chapter as a way to build good study habits.

I was cleaning up late Saturday night before I went to bed, and I noticed the end table with his book. I liked the juxtaposition of the academic pursuits with the whimsical Bart Simpson bookmark and Tamagotchi.
RAP (3.5.2008)

We Are Burning Daylight

We Are Burning Daylight
Originally uploaded by Jagrap

Recently Alex told me that Tuesday is his least favorite day of the week. I was surprised because Tuesday's are Pizza Day at school, and I think everyone knows that Pizza Day is the *best* day at school, at least it was in my childhood. Pizza Day is the only day Alex buys his lunch, the other four days he packs. He doesn't know it, but we do that so that there is solidarity between him and Michael whose dietary restrictions mean he has to pack.

So I ask questions trying to discover what is wrong with Tuesday. There are no classes that he doesn't like, no bullies, no nothing; school is great. Growing weary, he spits out that they and bad because of CCD, and that CCD is so bad it even undoes the greatness of Pizza day!

Ha! I can tell you that Alex has a great time at CCD. Michael on the other hand does not, and I think this may be Alex showing solidarity for Michael. RAP (3.3.2008)