May 24

We really hit the shave ice shops hard when we're on Kaua'i, so last Christmas, Adam asked for a shave ice machine. And his parents gave him one (along with many bottles of flavoring, cups, and straws). It's comically large, so it sat in its box in the garage at our old house and we weren't sure when we'd get the chance to use it. Now, of course, we have a built-in BBQ area, and with temperatures expected to soar up to 100 this week, he set it up and we had our first taste of its icy goodness.

School officially ends this coming Friday, so it was a slightly premature hello to summer, complete with pool time for the boys and more gardening for me. (And a comical video report for Abby for her English class. Her teacher has no idea what's in store for him.)

This isn't Hawai'i, of course, but it was so sweet to have access to a taste of the island that's been such a big part of our collective experience there. So for that, I'm grateful.