Havana Ballerina~Part 5

 Havana just completed another series of ballet classes. Havana still loves to dance. It doesn't matter if it's in class, at home, while watching her sister in her dance class, out in the back yard;  Havana loves to dance. This time around two friends of her's were in class with her with made it even better! 

This was taken in May 2014

Here she is around 3 years old. October 2012

Easters Past

There are some religious and indigenous beliefs that prohibit images being made of a person. I can't imagine my world without photographs. They capture a moment, a memory, a feeling. And in the world of little children, where they grow and change so rapidly, I am most thankful for the camera that captures the faces of those little ones I love so much.  I am thankful to be able to look back and see those changes and feel the love that was just as present then as it is now.

Here are some sweet and telling photos of the girls a few years ago during an Easter Egg Hunt with my WestCoCo Mom's group. This was the first year in many that we didn't host an egg hunt. As our little ones have grown up, many of us have gone in different directions, making the group something of the past. For that reason too, I am thankful to have those captured memories.

Run Amara Run

 When Amara ran her last 5K she didn't time quite well and it really bothered her perfectionist self. Amara had opted to run with her friend, who it turned out, preferred to walk most of the race. Amara didn't want to leave her friend behind so she stuck it out but was very disappointed that she didn't come anywhere near her time in her first two 5K races (she had done her first two races with times of 11 minute miles and that third was 56 minutes.).

That race however, ended up being a great learning experience for Amara. In the days following, I shared with Amara how her experience gave her the gift of understanding about friendship. We talked multiple times how when you have a friend you can either do two things. You can chose option 1, which is what she did. She gave up her goals (of beating her previous time) in order to support her friend who didn't run so fast. Amara didn't want to leave her friend behind. I explained to her that if she were to choose this option in future times in her life, than she would have to just accept the outcome without resentments or regrets. With this option, she would be supporting a friend unconditionally.  Or there was option #2, which was that a friend would support her and say, don't worry about me; go do your thing. How would she know which way to go? Each situation would be different and she would have to learn to listen to her heart.

Amara is a bright little girl who thinks deeply about things. She thought about our conversations for days and finally (after repeatedly, almost obsessively, telling the story of how she didn't run well and how unfair it was) let it go. But she was adamant that the next time she ran she would go without her friend. She had her mind set on trying to attain her goal of doing better timing than her previous races.  Just last weekend, Amara had that opportunity. Along with several classmates from her school's running club, Amara and her dad got up before the crack of dawn so she could head out for her second year at the Oakland Running Festival. 

Don and I were very proud of Amara's determination. She had prepared in the weeks prior and when the race began she was pumped. She did have a running partner (an adult and another kid who was a great runner himself) and when Amara crossed that finish line her time was an astonishing 9 minutes and 18 seconds. She had made her goal and man, was she thrilled. She wore her medal proudly for the entire day. But Amara walked away a winner in a far more important way; she had learned a valuable life lesson about friendship and that was better than any medal or great timing.

Amara had gone to the Girl Scout Princes Ball the night before the race and she wanted to run the race with her fake nails on. I loved that!

Nearing the finish line.

(Thanks to Don for taking my camera and taking the great shots at the race.)

Princess Ball 2016

Most of the Ellerhorst Girl Scouts

 Girl Scout Council 329 did it again! The Annual themed party (this year was the Princess Ball again) they threw was another huge hit. To say our Girl Scout Troop was excited in the days leading to the party is an understatement. Dresses, makeup, shoes, dancing, photo booths! It was like the gals were going to the prom! My own girls even talked me into getting fake nails which matched their sparkling dresses and head bands! It was a sweet, fun, non-stop dancing evening! The Ball proved that Girl Scouts can rock in the outdoors and indoors both!

Love

Photo by Don

Don took this wonderful close of Baby Girl! 

Ms. Spunky

Anyone who knows Ms. Amara Pearl would agree that she is spirited, strong willed, defiant, and a joy to be around (mostly!).  Her unbounded enthusiasm for life is contagious and her unending curiosity leaves me either learning so much more than I thought I could or exhausted! 

While we were on Maui, I captured some of her essence in this shots. 

The Web

Unknown species of  spider at the Maui Plantation.

While many fear spiders, I find them most fascinating. I am not fool enough to get close to species I am not familiar with but spiders are master creators who spin their necessary physical web which represents the symbolic web of all life. 

Spiders play a crucial role in our world and for that as well as their tireless, efforts at weaving magnificent webs, I have much respect.

Reaching for the Sky

Taken in the town of Wailuku, Maui

Whales

Since almost forever, the humpback whales have migrated to the warm waters of Maui to have their babies. Each winter, the waters are full of mama and newborn. My dear heart sister Lani (who was born and raised on Maui) told me years ago of whale watching from the shores. But I had no idea that we would see these most glorious creatures from the balcony of our condo, while on the beach and while on a boat. They truly were in abundance. Unfortunately, my camera lens is limited. I was only able to get few paritial shots. The wanna be professional photographer in me wished I were closer (or had a better lens) but I made peace with the blessing of being able to witness them at all. Next time, I will do a whale watching tour, but for now, I give thanks for seeing whales from our balcony.

Iao Valley

How does a family who loves the outdoors spend an afternoon on Maui (other than the beach)?

A hike through a deep lush, deep green valley, of course.

There was only one, or rather two problems; Amara and Havana. Both girls were bitten by the grump bug on the short drive to the trail head. Despite my mama interventions (snacks, music on the radio, threats!), the girls were reluctant to get on board with the idea of a hike.

Which annoyed the heck out of me; really....a hike; being out in nature; exploring; it would be fun.....none of that prevented them from complaining, threatening to not get out of the car, or from poking each other. But all that ended once we parked the car and saw chickens.

'Lord have mercy', was my thought when the kids scrambled out of the car to see them. 'Really?' yes really; the chickens in the parking lots, especially the baby ones were all it took to entice them to get of out the car. Which worked for me. Havana refused to put on good walking shoes but I didn't care. I handed them snacks and off we went!

Iao Valley plays an important role in Maui history. Iao Valley was a burial ground in the 15th century, the scene of a bloody battle in the late 1700's and has always been home to Kane, one of the Hawaiian gods. In more modern times, the valley has served Hollywood for filming movies. It's rich rain forest  and streams provide for breathtaking views and an energy of peace. Sadly, we couldn't hike far into the valley (trails were blocked off) but there was a paved path that lead us both up and down throughout the valley. Once the girls got going up the path, they were taken in by the exquisite landscape as were Don and I.

 

Havana eventually got bored however. When I tried to reason with, "Really? Bored Havana? Look around you," my attempts fell on deaf ears. She eventually pulled our her chapter book and started to read (I have to give her credit though; Baby Girl read her first chapter book on Maui; she was very focused on reading throughout the entire trip). But for the rest of us, it was a great outing. Nature is our families version of a candy store and were like little kids exploring the rocks, blessing ourselves with river water, making up stories as we explored this sacred valley. 

One day, it would be fun if we could get off the trail and really explore the rain forest valley but even for a short visit, we felt grateful, refreshed and restored.