HEIDI

Kezia and I collided one day -- the back of her head and my right eye. Here's the mark (after the swelling had gone down)

I just got asked to be the secretary of Kezia and Ivy's hula halau, NaLeiNaniOWaialua. I am grateful we can be a part of this halau and the cultural experience it gives the girls and all of us.

I'm still balancing family and teaching stand up paddling. I love befriending the people I take out, and having a great workout at the same time.

It was time to send Kezia back to school. I was nervous about doing so -- how she'll fit back in, if this was the best decision, etc. She's been back for 2 days now, and so far so good. I can breathe a bit easier now.

I finally got started on making the plot of dirt in the backyard into a garden, and I'm so proud of myself. I had the idea on Friday and did it on Saturday. I usually don't get a project done that fast. This week, I'll get plants in there. We already have a potted plant "garden", with swiss chive, tomatoes, peas, green onion, chives, a pineapple, zucchini and beans, chocolate mint and salad greens. This will be exciting to expand a bit.

KEZIA

Kezia lost another tooth! The toothfairy came and left a note with a tooth purse for her next teeth, two of which are wiggling their way out.

Kezia was hesitant to go back to school, but now that she's back, she is happy to be back and seems to be adjusting just fine. (despite the homework. Neither of us are happy with the amount of homework given to 1st graders.)

I looked at her the other day and noticed how tall she has gotten! She is getting so big and grown up! What happened to my baby?!

Her most prized possession is her "puppy pack", a growing collection of stuffed dogs. I think she's up to seven now. They all have names and personalities and take turns "seeing the world" with her.

Her other prized possession is her money. She loves to earn, count, exchange, count, touch, trans-place, and spend her money. She reached her goal this month (with help from a bag full of change Kay found in the house) of earning enough money to open a savings account so she can now have money to spend. Poor girl, though, the very day she had money to spend, she brought all $17 to the store with Grandma, picked out what she wanted, but had put the money on the shelf and it was taken. Hard lesson to learn. But Nate has gotten her excited about starting an online store to earn more money.

Kezia is a serious bookworm. Definitely picked that gene up from me. She's been reading ahead on chapter books I got to read to the girls, recently "Ivy and Bean" and "James and the Giant Peach". She's so excited to give away future happenings in the story before we get there!

Kezia is currently taking swimming lessons, hula, ballet, tumbling and tap dance and recently finished a ceramics class. She says ceramics, swimming, tumbing and hula are her favorite.