Jaw-Dropping High Diving

August 16 was a monumental day in the adventures of Waddles and Hopper!

TDH had the day off and we wanted to plan a fun afternoon for the family. The activity of choice was inspired by watching the Summer Olympics this year, which we thoroughly enjoyed. In fact, this is the first year the kids have been interested in watching - or was it up late enough to watch, or had they missed it in the past because we didn't have cable TV - oh, details.

Either way, this year we were staying in hotels because we had just arrived in Hawaii. We would come in from dinner, climb into our beds (arrangements varied from me in a king-size bed with Hopper and TDH and Waddles in a cot, to TDH in a cot while I slept in the king with both kids, to phenomenal accommodations at the fabulous Ihilani (luxury!) in which the kids each had a cot and TDH and I shared a king (that's the way it's supposed to be!) to the kids on a pull-out sofa bed and TDH and me in a king..... Am I getting bogged down in details again?? Sorry. The point is, we moved around a lot in 10 days. No, the point is, we watched the Summer Olympics!

Several events captured the kids' attention, but when the diving competitions began, Waddles and Hopper were entranced. Since then, TDH and the kids have been talking incessantly about high dives and what it would be like and how fun it would be...TDH, as is his way, set out to find a pool with a high dive for the kids to try. He did not pause to wonder whether it would be worth the drive, whether we would get there and the kids would take one look at a high dive and turn the other way...

I, however, was a doubter. I didn't believe they would do it. I thought they'd get to a pool with real diving boards, and - well, yeah - wuss out. 

We arrived at Richardson Pool on Schofield Barracks to find a 15 ft deep pool having 2 10 foot springboard diving boards and 2 even higher diving platforms. My kids have never seen high dives. They have almost never been in water deeper then 5 feet. Alaska and Oregon are not where you go to become fish! 

The kids couldn't wait to get their sunscreen on so they could sprint to the top of the ladder. Waddles went first - also shocking! He usually sends Hopper in first to check things out. Well, this time his impulsivity affected only him. He began climbing the ladder - and the lifeguard yelled at him, "One at a time!", because there was another kid already on the board. Waddles paused as instructed, but he was not discouraged. When the board was clear, he began climbing again. No hesitation. He stepped onto the diving board and walked forward... Then, I'm guessing his belly leaped into his throat as the ground fell away and the board flexed with his steps out over the water, because he began moving back toward the ladder and preparing to climb down. Not so fast... The lifeguard yelled at him again, "You can't go down!" Apparently, once you're up, there's only one way to come down. 

So now I'm thinking I was right. I am also thinking this is it. Here it comes. Fear. Tears. Humiliation as we try to coax him to jump. And no chance Hopper will try after this scene. 

I was totally wrong. Waddles pinched his nose, walked forward and, with more courage than I ever expected nor could have mustered myself at a time like that, took the plunge. He jumped right off. He LOVED it!! Total, beautiful success!!

And the funny thing is, Hopper came forward with the same courage. She exhibited the same hesitation halfway along the board, and started to back up.... But then she gathered her courage, walked forward - nose in hand - and made her own giant leap. It was awesome! All on her own, she did it and I was so proud! They both continued to jump over and over again - and they swam their little hearts out!

Isn't it the best when your kids amaze you in a brand new and truly jaw-dropping way? I tell you what, when I got to the top of the ladder and walked out onto that platform (at Hopper's request) I had to gather all my courage. My nerves were tingling and I, too, wanted to turn around and climb back down that ladder. The only thing that got me over the edge was knowing that my daughter, sweet wonderful Hopper, was cheering me on and telling me, "You can do it!" I knew she deserved to feel the same joy I felt by watching her. The smile on her face was totally worth it despite the stinging foot-slap and power wedgie I received when I hit the water!!

Wow! They are growing up in a BIG way!!

Laying It All Out

18 years ago, I met a boy. We both went out on a limb that day, and we have been taking chances and creating adventures together ever since! 

11 1/2 years ago I married him. He is infinitely supportive of me. He is talented, inspiring, motivated and ingenious, at a minimum. Each of these qualities - and many more - will be showcased in future posts. He flexes his strengths and impresses me daily. He is my best friend, I trust him implicitly, and he is making all my dreams come true.

....I'm sorry, was that too sappy/fairy tale/Disney? Too bad, I'm leaving it in. It's true and it should be recorded here that way. But I get it, so I will try to keep elaboration in that sense to a minimum.

My fabulous husband is tall, dark and handsome - TDH - yeah, let's go with that! From here on out, that's how I will refer to him. Again with the sappy, I know and I'm sorry. I'm a lucky girl, what can I say??

I married TDH in Alaska (I expect details from those years spent living in Alaska to show up in my posts - I totally should have started this blog back then!).

8 years ago I had my first child - a bouncing, bouncing, bouncing, talking, moving, bouncing baby boy. For reasons to be shared in future posts, I will refer to him as Waddles. He has many gifts. The one that strikes TDH and me currently as most prominent and consistently astounding is his ability to make friends and orchestrate an entire playground-full of kids according to his vision. He has leadership skills coming out his ears. TDH and I are infinitely curious how this larger-than-life social exuberance will play out in time!

Almost 7 years ago, Hopper, as she will be known in these stories, was born. Hopper is my brave, brilliant and beautiful baby girl. Hopper never misses a step and always holds her own with her brother. She is always engaged in every situation, but rarely with the same, well, urgency or flare... Both children are dynamic and ready to take on the world at any turn. Their "can-do" attitudes and constant imaginative play keep them close. Hopper and Waddles truly are each other's best friends, for which I am immensely grateful.

20 days ago, the 4 of us embarked on a brand-new adventure: we relocated from Oregon to Hawaii. This blog will provide a means for me to share our discoveries as we explore the reality of living in paradise.

In combination with this relocation, I began homeschooling my children. I expect that this, too, will inspire posts regarding realities of this change to our way of life. I also found, as I contemplated this decision and considered our move "out loud" with friends and family over the last several months, that others who perhaps consider similar changes within their own families but who are not quite ready to make any jumps, might be interested in hearing how we endure our upheaval. Or perhaps there are those who consider no such thing but might still like to know what it's like to decorate for Christmas in the 80 degree heat!

I look forward to maintaining this record of our adventures. I am writing it for my sake - to help me remember and relive the highs and learn from the lows; for my kids' sakes - when they are ready to look back; for TDH - sometimes, when moving  at the speed of life, I don't take the time to share it all with him - yet he deserves to know how he contributes whether or not he is able to join in every moment; and, just perhaps, for the sake of a few others who might glean something meaningful - even if just a smile, a new idea, a short mental vacation - from reading about my crazy life.

After all, what is life if not an adventure??