Skiing

While I went to class at UH my neighbor & friend, Ene, watched E & S for me. During those hours and countless more spent together, she taught them how to jump rope, how to ride bikes, how to dive, etc. She inspired me to attempt running (okay, really it's more like slow-mo jogging) and generally increased my well-being by getting us out of the house more. Sometimes we'd make our beach outtings together if Martin needed the car. We'd load the white van up with car seats and kids, stroller, beach bags, boogie boards and other beach paraphenalia, maybe even the surf board sandwiched between the middle bucket seats and running the length of the car. Once we arrived at our sandy destination, we'd set up base somewhere with a mat and gear and watch the kids dig in the sand or play in the water.

By some amazing stroke of luck, two weeks before we left the islands for Utah, we found out that Ene's family would also relocate to Salt Lake City. It's been an adjustment not have her next door but a total joy to be able to get together occasionally. It still is so incredible to me to be somewhere with her, doing what we would always do (e.g., take the kids to the playground) but in a non-Hawaiian context. Take this weekend for an example:

I left Martin to work on thesis stuff and took E, S, & D down to Salt Lake on Friday to hang out with Ene & co. Saturday we left her baby and not-feeling-so-good child with Colin and loaded up the white van II (now upgraded to leather interior and 4WD) with the appropriate car seats, children, stroller, bags and ski gear (with Ene's running down the length of the car between the bucket seats) and struck out for the slopes. Mom & Christa came along behind us, taking advantage of Ene's great coaching abilities. For the first while, I tended the double-jogger which was loaded down with a bundled D, street shoes, bags and ski poles across the top. It was really fun to watch Ene take S between her legs and show him how to manage his skis to slow down, turn, stop, etc. She took S, E and my mom in turns with instructions to Christa (and eventually me) in asides. She was totally in her element: back and forth across the bunny hill coaching E and then helping my mom up, explaining how to get off the tow rope etc, sharing something she loves. D had had enough cold and wind by the time I actually put my skis on that I heard her bawling up and down the mountain. I was going to stop for the day but Ene took her and the tired-out chillens to the restaurant for hot chocolate while Mom, Christa and I enjoyed a little more time trying those skis before everything shut down. Eventually we were all piled back in the van, heading down the canyon marveling at the snow-covered peaks and rock formations, trying to ignore the general din of D's thoroughly exhausted wails. Just like normal--almost.