Another week goes by

What have I done this week? Among the more interesting things, I killed a cockroach. It was probably about three inches long including its antenna and was hanging out in a closet. Bugs are just part of life in Hawaii--Anna's house is new and the bugs don't get in very much, so this was my first sight of a cockroach since I've been staying here.

Yesterday the kids took the day off of school and we went to a water park. I don't think I've been to a water park since I was 12 or 13. It was fun going with the kids and trying to keep up with them as they hurried from one slide to another.

On Wednesday we drove down to the beach at the back of the base to try to get pictures of the moon coming up over Honolulu. It was higher in the sky than we would have liked, but some of them still came out nicely.

My first week back

I guess I'm due for another blog post.  It's been a fairly low-key week.  It's nice to come back and have things be familiar.  I know where to find most of the things I need in the grocery store (it can be so time-consuming to learn a new store).  The kids know me better this time.  I now have the privilege of being addressed by name by Nora, the littlest one ("Ashee!  Ashee!" when she wants to get my attention).  I know several of the families at church, so I don't feel like a complete stranger there.  It's just good to be able to come back and sort of pick up where I left off.

We went to the zoo with another family on Wednesday.  Here's a handful of pics from that.

Not every zoo has banyan trees with vines to swing on.  

On Saturday Miss Sydney had a ballet recital which we all got to go and watch.  Good job, Sydney!

So there's my week in a nutshell. 

Hawaii Again

It's true, I'm back in Hawaii spending another month with Anna and the kids.  I flew back over on Monday, and got in just in time to go to bed.  Actually I think that's the best way to do it.  After a six-hour flight, I don't really have much energy anyway, so it's better to just start fresh in the morning.  So I'm back to my other normal, every-day life, the one that I learned over the last four weeks I spent here.  Stay tuned for more updates from the island.

Irises and Sunshine

Our front border is filled with irises this year.  Probably too full--I think the other plants are getting deprived of sunlight and space!--but on a sunny afternoon they made great subjects for some macro photography.  Here's a few shots.

I made this one extra-saturated in Photoshop.  I like the way it looks.

Beacon Rock

On Saturday evening we took a quick trip into the Gorge and hiked Beacon Rock.  It's a short trail, but a steady climb all the way up to the top.  The views from Beacon Rock up and down the Columbia are just beautiful.

Beacon Rock is a pretty old trail. I find the little, old-looking details like this stone wall  and the railing interesting.

The zig-zagging trail as seen from above.

The Northwest is so beautiful! Just having been in Hawaii, it's interesting to compare the two.  I think they're both gorgeous.  Though the Northwest may never seem like the vacation destination that Hawaii is, I think anyone who lives here should consider themselves blessed.  A 45-minute drive up the Gorge is all it takes to be completely surrounded by an amazing display of God's creation.

Home

I must be home... it's been raining a lot.  Not the warm, light showers I experienced often in Hawaii, but that heavier, cool, soggy Northwest rain.  (I did see downpours in Hawaii, but my experience there was that it's more often light showers.  Lots of rainbows too.  The sunshine normally isn't far behind the showers.)  It's definitely colder here.  For all that, it is nice to be home, especially to be with my family.  I love to travel and see different places, but it's also good just to come home.  Especially when home is a place I like as much as the Northwest!