Life of Larisa or LOL

Five. Not much if you think in terms of minutes, or days, or dollars. But, in years, well, it's a big deal for this mom. Five! That means kindergarten, halfway to ten, and great responsibilities---like figuring out how to tie those shoelaces! Or put together a tent in the case of our new five year old. This year, we celebrated one son becoming a teenager by camping out with centipedes (see other blogpost: Camping at Waimanalo Bay) and the other son exiting preschool age...with, yep, camping! Apparently milestones in our house are rewarded with sleeping in a tent, smelling of campfire, and roasting marshmallows. Or "campfire brownies" in Zach's case this past weekend. Last month when we celebrated my older son Gabe at Waimanalo campgrounds, Zach decided there was no other way to celebrate than to camp out too. We secured a spot at our usual camp grounds---Friends of Malaekahana. http://www.malaekahana.net Here's what you need to celebrate your next milestone in st...

Being Mom to two boys is anything but relaxing. It's messy, it's loud, it's chaotic, it's frustrating, it's burgers and fries. It's not walking quietly through a Buddhist Temple and sipping Boba...until it is.  Because today, even though it's their school break, we did what MOM wanted to do. First stop, Byodo-In Temple in Kane'ohe/Kahalu'u. We have been here several times through the years, but it's one of those places that you just come back to every now and then. Why? For me, if I really stop and take note, it's always during a time when I am seeking some Zen. Some peace from cluttered thoughts, a break from sibling rivalry, a hush from all the noise that living in a metropolitan area and being a stay at home mom can bring. Today was the first time we had to make two trips to the Temple. Our first trip we didn't make it out of the car---there was no parking. No parking? No problem. This was when I had the brilliant idea to go to the n...

This week, our "exploring Oahu" family outing took us to beautiful Kane'ohe (in Hawaiian: Bamboo Man). Kane'ohe, in my mind, is known for being lush (code for abundant in mosquitos), the O'ahu home of the Marines, the Ko'olau Mountains, and hikes such as "Stairway to Heaven". This was NOT that hike. Friendship Garden was a hidden gem to be discovered...with only a slight rise in elevation...and only a few stairs.  Friendship Garden was a quick drive down Kane'ohe Bay Drive (past Castle High School) and up a residential side street ( after  we drove down H2, H1, and H3 from Mililani).  Nestled at the back of a small Windward community is a sweet little family hike that provides opportunities for views of the bay, exploring, shade, and a lesson on botanicals.  The Friendship Garden hike is not particularly hard or long, but it is uphill with switchbacks. The trade off is there are hardly any moments (until the end) that you are battling direct sunl...

Do you know your city, the town that you live in? I'm determined to discover and rediscover the place my family calls home. Sometimes that looks like trying different restaurants (and returning time and again to those we love). Sometimes knowing our island means seeing it through other people's eyes, exploring tourist destinations with friends and family who come to town. And sometimes it looks like hiking.  Saturday, we explored Diamond Head Crater. We took our two boys inside a volcanic crater...and hiked it. Call us crazy. Most folks can readily recognize Diamond Head. It is an image that pops into the heads of people who have ever given Hawaii a second thought. Since it is such a well recognized landmark, I thought it important for me and my family to explore what it has to offer---sunshine, sweeping views, stairs, sweat, and...shave ice! Here are a few pointers on what NOT to do if you decide to hike the crater: Do NOT... think you can sleep in, get your day started late, ...