05/25/2016 Its been a busy week!
In today's thought I am sharing some pictures of what has been happening in my life -
Saturday: Michael was one of the athletes representing SOHI
at the 1st Annual State of Hawaii Law Enforcement Surfing
Classic in Waikiki, HI. Here he is helping push off the
catamaran, that the athletes got to sail on for about an hour.
Sunday: I went with my grandsons to the Honolulu Zoo.
So much fun!
Tuesday: My oldest grandson got an award at school for
meeting and exceeding the second grade reading level.
Yeah - he has worked really hard this year on his reading!
Proud of you Tenny!
What's been going on in your life this week? I'll ask this in a Facebook post for this website and you can leave a comment to share . . . Summer is almost here : )
05/15/2016 Determination!
This week was super busy for me, as I had several doctor appointments for myself and I was getting my son ready for his race on Saturday. It was the first time Michael and several of his team mates, from Special Olympics Hawaii - Leeward Jaguars, were going to participate as a team in the 41st Annual Wahiawa Pineapple Run on Oahu, Hawaii. This run was a way for the athletes to be involved in a community event, that was not part of a Special Olympics sponsored games. The athletes ranged in age from middle school to mid 50's, and were buddied up with each other, according to their running abilities. Our head coach was teamed with an athlete, helping him participate by pushing his racing chair, another coach ran with some of the younger athletes, and I was in charge of taking pictures during the race and communicating with the race staff the number of athletes still out on the race. Several parents and our coach's wife were very supportive, cheered the athletes as they ran past, and made sure they got food and drink after completing the race.
The athletes were so excited, and for several of them it was the first time they would be running a 10K. Michael already ran several half marathons and marathons on his own (13 and 26 miles), so he wasn't concerned about the distance. This was a chance to work on a better time for his 10K. There were problems that came up during the run, but we were able to work them out successfully. One of the problems was Michael forgot his inhaler, and had to stop to rest after several steep hills, as he had battled a cold and congestion all week and his asthma started to hit. I was on the phone with him, calming him down and helping him work through relaxing and resting so his breathing would settle down. He was disappointed that his time was 1:21:33 (10 minutes longer than previous races), but I was happy he worked through his breathing problem and was able to complete the course. This was a major growth step in working through an issue and staying calm!
The staff in charge of the run were very supportive of the Leeward Jaguars team. They really made the athletes feel welcome. They waited to close down the timers, cheered them on at the finish, and made sure they got their medals and pineapples (yes - each runner got a pineapple at the end of the race!) The other things we had happen will be discussed by the coaches in planning future participation in events (one is making sure the coaches have each other's cell phone numbers), but all in all - we are very proud of these athletes and this first time competing as a team in a community event. Being involved in community events should be the goal for every person and team, including the athletes in Special Olympics. They really want to participate in these events - with everyone else - but may need some extra planning or coaching supports. These athletes finished this run . . .They each showed determination!
Simply Real Life
06/07/2016: Activity Ideas with the kids!
For many of us, summer means time at home with your children or family visiting during the summer. Here are a few ideas I came up with:
* Take a picnic and games or sports gear to the park. You could include water toys and let the children run around on the grass and get each other wet too. Beach, mountain, hiking or lake trips are good too.
* Pick a day each week when the kids take a turn cooking - be sure there is adult supervision though. They could help to plan the menu, and participate in food preparation and cooking (depending on age, experience and safety in the kitchen). This activity is really a learning time, with them using their knowledge or learning about money, cutting skills, using kitchen "tools", cooking and cleaning up. It also develops "team work", communication, and reading and math skills.
* Every child should have some type of "chore" they are responsible for, to help with the upkeep around the house or yard. This builds responsibility, self confidence, and that feeling of being needed. Young children can help set the table, pick up toys, find their own clothes for you when you are folding clothes. Older children can help sweep, mop and vacuum, water plants, help water and feed animals, rinse dishes, put away dishes out of the dishwasher or strainer, and help wash the car or animals. Praise their efforts so they will want to help at other times, and don't expect them to do the job perfectly. They are learning how to do this, so have fun with them, and share with them you memories of when you learned how to do these jobs!
* Explore the local museums, zoos and landmarks around where you live, or travel to a nearby town.
* Learn how to ride the bus, trolley, train and take short day trips. One of my grandson's favorite memories of last year was riding on the bus to the zoo, instead of driving in the car.
These suggestions are just that - suggestions - and you may have some other ideas you want to do with your children. The important idea here is doing something together, to practice skills and learning new things, and making memories with your children!
Simply Real Life Blog . . .click on the words to be able to read . . .If nothing shows after a few seconds, please go to http://kdsimplyreallife.blogspot.com
06/02/2016 Grandma day!
I am writing this really fast, as I have a "simply real life" this week with doctor appointments and the Special Olympics Hawaii Summer Games this weekend. Summer is here, and that means time spent with my grandsons while their parents go to work or appointments. Yesterday,
I surprised them and took them to the beach at Waikiki.
We had a great day. Grandma made sure to put sunscreen on
them (I like Banana Boat with SPF of 50 for Hawaii), but
didn't get enough on herself. Those two were both born by
the ocean - Tenny in Honolulu, Hawaii and Barrett by
Huntington Beach, CA. They are "beach babies" growing
into "beach boys"!
05/20/2016 "Ohana"
In the Hawaiian language, "ohana" means family. Today I was blessed to be able to spend time with my ohana at my grandson's end of the school year program. The school band plays the United States National Anthem, the Hawaiian Anthem, and each grade performs a song and dance. This year the theme was "Dance Around The World". The students performed songs and dances from Japan, India, Mexico, USA (Mainland), Hawaii and Puerto Rico. My grandson's grade represented Hawaii. The boys and girls were dressed in white shirts and blacks bottoms. The boys wore a lei on their heads that was made from green construction paper headbands, with white tissue paper flowers. It looked real from the audience.
They did two songs and played an ipu in one of them. An ipu can be used to drink and eat from, and as a musical instrument - like a hand held drum. It is made from a gourd that has the top cut off, and the inside scooped out. Then the outside is sanded and oiled. A rope is placed on the top to hold it. All the second grade students at my grandson's school made one, and were very proud while playing them for their families today.
It was so awesome to see the students perform, and the parents and families clapping and dancing along with them. Making memories in our family . . . our ohana . . . those people we love and would be there for (not necessarily related by blood!). Oh yeah . . . today is simply real life!
06/09/2016: Cloudy with Rainbows!
Yesterday, I had to drive into Honolulu late in the afternoon. Rainbows are a frequent sight here on Oahu, but always bring me joy when I see one. Children and adults get so excited when they see a rainbow. Well, yesterday was a "first" and just amazing! I was on the freeway coming around a curve by the Aloha Stadium, when the one end of the rainbow was next to me on the left/mountain side, and was just awesome. The colors were so bright (the best way to describe them is "Skittles bright") I could hardly look at them - and I had dark sunglasses on! It was an amazing, goosebumps, "aaaahhhhhaaaa" moment!
As I continued on toward town, it seemed like I was going to go under the rainbow, but it kept moving. I remembered the stories of the leprechauns and finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I also thought about the scientific facts about how rainbow are made, moisture and refraction of light . . . and then the thought crossed my mind "Out of the cloudiness of life, there can be light and blessings!"
I hope when you are facing your own cloudiness in life, there will be a rainbow to help you find the way - a vision of joy, hope and light in the darkness. I will never forget being so close to that rainbow, and how bright it was coming out of the hugh dark gray clouds up against the mountains.
Thank you God for reminding me of your ability to make something dark and stormy into a blessing!