Well hello, May...

We have been back to work and school and life normally for a few weeks now. It has felt SO GOOD to finally STOP COUGHING, which I did for nearly a month, thanks to a bad cold/a second COVID infection. So we are officially back to the grind this month of May! Lots of fun stuff to report!

Ryan is a college man. Well, sort of. He was accepted into a program after taking a placement test where he can attempt to take English 100 next semester. It'll be a 6th or 7th class for him, so I'm a little worried about the added workload, but I plan to make sure he can handle it. He's also taking Algebra II this summer in the school's summer advancement course, which he is anxious to do since he had to take Algebra I twice in middle school (since they didn't offer Geometry in middle school), and he's disappointed that he was held back.

The latest haul from the garden. It was not a healthy or happy looking bunch of eggplant, that's for sure. Lots of stress on the plants. I tried Googling the issue(s), but no such luck. i really wish I had a better connection to a Hawaii-focused ag farmer who is knowledgeable in all things pest/disease related. Contrary to what elementary school science classes teach you, the Earth and it's fungal diseases and pests are all out to try and kill your crops! Needless to sauy, Farmer Jolene is not going to be taking on Big Ag anytime soon. These were given to a friend to distribute to some coffee workers on a farm...much better than becoming compost (my usual plan when I have more than I can give away).

Last night we went out with Ry, our two nieces and Keni to celebrate Olivia's very belated 6th birthday dinner and let her do her present-selection. It was extra fun since she got to pick gifts from us, Uncle Joey AND cousin Keni. And Ana scored a gift from generous cousin Keni as well! These family nights are rare, but the best. Keni told me he remembered all the times we took him, Riki and Ryan out when they were kids, which was awesome to hear.

Ry and his friend Y hung out in Waikoloa one day killing time dining, shopping and playing lawn games until they could watch their friend A perform in a spring dance recital. It was Ryan's first dance performance and I'm glad he got to see the show.

Ryan inherited my terrible skin, and was taken to an aesthetician for the first time for a few skin treatments. I think he didn't hate it...and we'll be back as it appeared to help.

This weekend was a busy one for us, on Friday night, we had a fun Cinco de Mayo/Boys Day dinner after work with Ryan's karate teacher and his family (they are like family to us). We invited Keni to join us, as he knows their family well, too. During dinner, a plan was hatched where Keni and Ryan decided to impulsively fly out to Oahu that next morning to shop, help bring a document over to Riki, and bring back some of his school items back to Kona. While at the airport, he bumped into a few school friends who were headed back from the state tennis tournament. His other good friend Momo was also on island for a science event, so it was funny that all three were there for very different reasons.

Once the boys landed back on Big Island soil, they hustled back to Ryan's family birthday party (a week or so early) since he's busy the next two weekends. It was nice to have such a low key event, and a new enjoyable challenge coming up with a gluten-free, low-sugar event for the members of our family having to watch those areas. It's like a new era of celebration that is not food focused, but a welcomed one...as it's a change that will only help everyone. I had lots of healthier options- roasted asapargus, a vegan furikake tofu/avocado poke, kalua pig, grilled chicken, brown rice, musubi, etc.

Ryan finished off his weekend with a Sunday performance at a Japanese childrend's festival with a few of his taiko friends (followed by an exciting afternoon of yarwork to pay the bills), and Rich hosted an improv get together at our casa. It was Ryan's first performance in the happi coat issued to the performance group members, so although they are still considered 'junior performers,' they are slowly moving up in the world! And even more exciting, his cousin Arianna will be starting taiko lessons when they start a new class of young 'uns in June! He'll be able to help coach her and the other new kids...super cool.

May is always a busy month for us with Boys Day, Ryan's birthday celebrations (family/friends), my brother Joey's birthday, the end of school/start of summer programs, and our anniversary. I'm always girding up for the challenge since in a few short years, with Ryan away at school (we hope), it will become A LOT quieter. As tiring as it is hopping from one after school activity to the other each day, I keep reminding myself that we have only 3 more years of this, and likely much less, once he gets his driver's licence in a year! Gotta enjoy the chaos while it lasts!