NW Kid Chaser

I'm woefully behind in blogging about Spring Break 2014.
It really was great fun. We traveled to Odell Lake and learned why so many Oregonians love the area for recreation.

We traveled to Odell Lake Lodge & Resort with our neighbors and enjoyed canoeing, hiking, and cross country skiing. One large cabin was just the right size for three families of adults & children. The kids piled into one room with bunk beds. Families took turns preparing the evening meal. We all stayed up late playing games & talking.

This is a national program, so check for a location near you.
It promises to be a perfect air-conditioned activity for hot days.

Another great experience in Hawaii: Sea Kayaking!

      Our family loves a good canoe ride, but sea kayaking was a new adventure. Like a good hike, I wanted our outing to have a destination. A bit of research led me to Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks.  Just a few blocks from the beach, this outfit was able to supply everything we needed to hit the sea water safely.

      Kailua is located on the east side of Oahu and is a cutie of a beach town. We rented kayaks and then rolled them to the water’s edge with use of a handcart. I saw some folks complain about this process in online reviews, but we didn’t find it a problem. You can launch right on the beach or in a small, side stream. We chose the side stream so that we could ‘practice’ in the calm waters. This allowed my 8 year-old to get a feel for the boat and understand our plan for the day.

    Then, we headed out to Flat Island. The half-mile trip was quick and completely safe. The island is a bird sanctuary, so visitors need to purchase a day-permit to land. The $3 purchase was totally worth it, as my boys enjoyed exploring the rocky landscape all around the island. My youngest and I took photos of the nearby islands, beach, and waves, while my oldest son and husband paddled out a bit further to catch some waves and ride their kayak in the surf.

     Mokulua Island is nearby (an additional mile away), but we decided instead to head back to Kailua Beach Park to have lunch and then return to Flat Island a second time. The boys were more relaxed the second time, as the trip was familiar. Then, after returning the kayaks, we enjoyed the calm waters at Kailua for the rest of the day. Soft sand, calm waves, and shade. Hooray!

Our family had the great fortune of celebrating the end of 2013 in the great state of Hawaii. The amazing trip was filled with non-stop water sports and I was in constant amazement of how eager the boys were to take on each new challenge.  I’ll blog about some of our highlights over the next few weeks, but want to start here with one of our best experiences: Surfing!

The picture from above is of boogie boards that the boys enjoyed at Waimanalo Beach. We rented a home just down the block and so were able to ride the waves almost every day we were on Oahu. For bigger waves and bigger boards, we had the help of the Hawaiian Fire Surf School. 

In planning this trip, our whole family was eager to try surfing, but (as a mother) pretty much every fiber of my being was anxious. I expected my uber-athletic husband to excel. I was fairly certain I could catch-on with some practice. I was hopeful my eleven year old (a fairly good swimmer) would enjoy the challenge. I was terribly worried my eight year old (beginning swimmer) would be in danger.

While my husband teases me for having the uncanny ability to evaluate any situation and immediately find all the possible ways it could kill us, I just like to think of myself as being prepared. I mean... it’s not that I think the worst case scenario will happen. I just think it’s wise to be completely prepared for the worst case scenario. So... when it comes to surfing that means one thing: I need EMT, water-rescue, professionals in the water with my dear children at all times. Simple.

Luckily, my research led me to Noah and Peter of Hawaiian Fire. Surfing lessons with these pros brought the safety I craved. It also brought fun, good memories, and a morning that ended with me tearing-up at the beautiful sight of my babies catching a wave.

My eleven year-old did not only enjoy the challenge, he conquered it. I was grateful for Noah’s vigilant eyes and encouraging words. My son lists surfing as his #1 favorite Hawaii experience.

My eight year-old had a private lesson with Peter. On the same surf board, I saw the two paddle out past the crowd to the largest waves. Once positioned, Peter would help my son stand up on the board and the two would sail gently along the wave -- like a picture-perfect commercial spot for the Hawaii tourism board. My (sometimes) anxious boy looked incredibly relaxed and was grinning from ear to ear. After more than an hour on the waves, his first words when back on the beach: “That was awesome!” Peter also smiled, saying, “He didn’t even get his hair wet.” Right then and there I wanted to kiss Peter. I really did.

Without hesitation, I recommend Hawaiian Fire for moms, dads, kids, and families of all ages. I can’t possibly express how thrilled I was by this family experience. I’m not sure if we’ll ever return to Hawaii, but if we do, this activity is #1 on the to-do list. We will hit the waves again, but only with Hawaiian Fire.

          My oldest son studied Peru during the past school year. As part of an 'International Festival' he and his classmates chose nations from South America to research. For weeks, my son brought home books  and filled pages and page of notes. When the unit was over, he had produced this audio book to share with his peers:

       As an extension of this project, I decided we should enjoy a meal at a local Peruvian restaurant. A search of the web led me to Las Primas Peruvian Kitchen. In a bike friendly section of north Portland, this restaurant has a variety of moderately-priced items our family could sink our teeth into. Family friendly and great service - we'll be back to enjoy more soon!

Here are the highlights of our meal: