ABCs and 123s

Sarahs' teacher Ms.Kimura stopped me the other day to talk about Sarah. She told me that if Sarah doesn't start focusing more she might stay back a year. Sarah and focusing are generally not used in the same sentence. Her teacher asked me to work with Sarah at home with her Math and to try to keep her focused. I told Ms. Kimura that I would try and do what I could. So right after school Sarah has been doing her homework, plays at the playground with her buddies, and then we go home to play school. I think she has just been overwhelmed with the numbers, but she really seems to enjoy writing them out on the dry erase board while looking at the magnet numbers, she even told me that it was fun! We counted to 30, I told Sarah that's how many years old I am and she says "Mom your old!",haha. I hope that the more comfortable she is with her academics the easier it will be for her to focus on them. I am a little disappointed that her teachers for the past two years have been brand new, but I can't change that, I can only be there for Sarah and hopefully next school year will be better with a hopefully more experienced teacher. Above all Sarah has an amazing determination, a drive and energy that will take her far.

Nana and Winter Break

We had a great break as soon as Nana got here! We did a lot of fun stuff; Byodo Temple, North Shore, Makapu Light House,Waikiki at night, and a couple of beaches. We all had a great time.
It was the first time we had taken Nana and the girls to Byodo Temple. We hadn't brought the girls before because we were worried that they would take away from the Zen like peace and atmosphere but we had nothing to worry about,they were close to perfect angels. Betty and Dan got some fish food for the girls to feed the Koi fish. The girls loved it and it was funny how the fish jumped all over each other to get the food.
We tried to go to Waiamaea Falls but it was new years day and so sadly it was closed. Instead we ate at some cute little resteraunt that had the best banana bread pudding bread in the world, I can't remember the name of it but it was right by the Spaghettini on the North Shore. I got the girls Pizza at the Spaghettini and got myself a Spaghetti, suprisingly enough the pizza was better.
The hike up to Makapu Light House was pretty good, I got a little extra exercize since I didn't have a stroller for Julia, the girl is heavy! The neatest thing about it was that we were lucky enough to see Whales on our way down! Even more amazing the girls were actualy worn out, haha.
Out of all the beaches I would have to say that the beach close to Waimanalo was the best because the girls got in with us. It's perfectly calm so Sarah swam out in the water and Julia let me hold her. The other beaches were way too rough so they mostly played in the sand, which they enjoy just as much as the water.
On one of Bettys' last nights here Dann, Betty, and I made it out to Waikiki and did some window shopping, watched street performers, had some tripple chocolate macadamia nut cookie that was heaven;courtesy of Betty.
It was a really great time and we look forward to the next one.