Da Hughes Ohana

Look who's 7!

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 21:34:00 +0000

This love is ours

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:58:00 +0000

Isla's birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 07:37:00 +0000

Isla had a princess themed little birthday party in the park! Simple and fun.

I love her expression here.

Trying to get all the princesses in one shot is very daunting.

Ho'omaluhia

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:23:00 +0000

Starting all over again, it's gonna be rough

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:17:00 +0000

Wow, I can't believe it's been months since I've had a blog post. I told myself I was just going to take a break for a couple weeks, and that turned into a month. Then I said I would start again in the new year. Now it's almost March. Yikes. I could use a million excuses. But to be honest I got lazy. I got lazy and expected too much of myself to keep the blog going. I felt like I HAD to write every week and I had to be witty and write interesting stuff. It really stressed me out, especially because I'm not witty and I can never think of interesting things to write about! Plus I was trying to keep up with other blogs, along with Facebook and Pinterest and I just got burned out. So now I'm starting over again. But this time I'm not going to stress about it, and I'm not going to force myself to post 2-3 times a week. I'll just post whenever I want. I've come to realize that I don't like to write and journal. ha! So why have a blog? I guess I just like having a way to express myself. And I express myself with pictures. I guess that's why I'm always saying my life lies in my photos.

Waimanalo Country Farms Pumpkin Patch

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:57:00 +0000

We went to another pumpkin patch this past weekend, this time at the Waimanalo Country farms. It had gorgeous views of the mountains and ocean and Manana Island. It was a bit cloudy and rainy, but it was all good. The main crop on this farm is corn, and they served fresh corn bread, corn chowder, pumpkin pie and a bunch of other goodies. The hay ride was also enjoyable and I learned about the history of the farm. It's great to be able to support these local farms.

Jamie and the kids checking out a parrot.

Fall break

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 05:56:00 +0000

We've had a busy and fun filled fall break so far. Last weekend Kainoa had a field trip to the Hawaii Plantation Village with the cub scouts. I didn't take my camera since we just went there a few weeks ago for Isla's field trip. But I did get a cute cell pic where they practiced teamwork and communication walking in geta.

We also went to the waterpark, Farrell's for a birthday party,

had preschool playdates and frozen yogurt outings, and chased the ice cream truck down,

all in between swim and soccer and ukulele and Japanese lessons. Whew! I'm so tired I could sleep for days! Yesterday we went with the mom's group to the Aloun Farms pumpkin patch for another educational field trip. It was super hot and dusty, but Kainoa and I had a blast. Isla, not so much. I'm not sure why, but she was just completely bratty the whole time. *sigh* 2 more days till school goes back in session and I'm soooo ready!

checking out the green horned caterpillar.

Isla did love the hayride!

Ukulele Performance

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 03:44:00 +0000

I'm way behind blogging again, argh! Well anyway, here are some pictures and a short video of Kainoa's ukulele performance at Windward mall. You can tell from the pictures he was extremely nervous. The mall was packed that day and we couldn't even find spots to view the show very good. But all the children did so well, it brought tears to my eyes.

Can you spot him in the front?

And here's a short video:

Top 5 of the quarter

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 23:40:00 +0000

I love this picture of Isla taken with my phone. It bugs me that her hand got cut off, but what can you do. :)

Kainoa at his soccer game. I'm officially a soccer mom and I love it.

Kainoa also started Cub Scouts. It's been such a great program for him and I love how cute he looks in his uniform.

At his ukulele concert a few weeks ago. (Which I still need to blog about!)

I just took this picture yesterday, but its definitely one of my favorites. She was taking some self portraits with her monkey using the photo booth app. It cracked me up to see her trying to pose herself and her monkey and try to snap. Most of the pictures were of her chest but a few of them came out really good.

It seems as if most of the pictures I've taken in that past few months have been more snapshots of our life rather than me practicing with my photography. I think I use my phone more than my Nikon to take pictures nowadays. It sometimes makes me worry that I'm starting to pull away from photography, but I know that can't be true. I take at least one picture a day, even if it's on my phone. I am still obsessed as ever to learn more and more. I just need to make the time to post more on the blog.

First Pack meeting

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:52:00 +0000

Kainoa joined the cub scouts a couple weeks ago and is a Tiger scout! He absolutely LOVES it, loves wearing the uniform, earning the badges and the friends he's made. It's been really great for him. And I just adore how he looks. :)

Equine 808 Horse Rescue Field Trip

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 06:06:00 +0000

Today Isla had a field trip to Equine 808 Horse Rescue. It was an awesome educational experience; we got to tour their land, learn about how they are helping neglected, unwanted and abused horses, feed the animals in the petting area, and even potted a sunflower seed to grow in their garden area.

Waiting to ride the horse.

Isla absolutely LOVED riding and wasn't scared at all.

In the garden to see what they had growing.

In the petting area petting a guinea pig.

Isla's favorite were the ducks.

Back to Basics

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 05:29:00 +0000

I've learned that going back to basics has really helped me to appreciate photography in a different way. It makes me think harder about composition, using available light, and experimenting with all the different editing apps out there. It really pushes me to be more creative using a cell phone as a point and shoot. I love the fact that I can edit, watermark and even make collages right on my phone. And even upload them to blogger if I want. I wish I hadn't cut off her arm here. And I totally didn't realize that I was holding the phone upside down. LOL.

Taken on Iphone, edited using the Instagram app, Nashville filter.

I shared what I learned on Click it up a Notch!

Labor Day Weekend

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 21:41:00 +0000

We had a lazy leisurely labor day weekend and celebrated my birthday on the north shore. Exactly just what I needed: time to relax, read magazines and books, let the kids play in the water, and eat shrimp and chocolate pie. Now that's my kind of birthday!

Kainoa is obsessed with catching sand crabs.

Isla just loves to frolic in the sand.

At night we went out with flashlights to catch more crabs, while trying not to step on any Portuguese Man-O-War.

First soccer game of the season. Go Sharks!

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 02:04:00 +0000

Kainoa had his first soccer game on Saturday. It was so cute to see him and all the other kids play. They didn't win, but did a great job. Kainoa almost got a goal. Jamie got to be a line referee too. The end score was 3-4, but all the kids had a great time.

There he is, Number 2!

Hawaii Plantation Village field trip

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 07:44:00 +0000

Isla had a field trip to the Hawaii Plantation Village yesterday with the Preschool group we are in. It was a great way for all of us to experience what it was like back in the plantation days of Hawaii. We toured all the different plantation homes, from the Chinese to Puerto Ricans, Filipino to Japanese. It was very educational and the kids got to do a craft and feed the fish.

Isla and her friend look so much alike. People kept asking if they were twins.

August favorite photo

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 00:07:00 +0000

I knew exactly which picture was going to be my favorite for August. Composition could be better, but I love his innocent expression here. He was so happy to go fishing late at night.

I have been so bad about blogging lately! I thought I would get all caught up after school started, but now with practices and homework and bike riding it's all been put on the backburner again. Now that Jamie is back I hope to be more consistent blogging again.

Soccer practice

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 06:52:00 +0000

Kainoa started AYSO soccer this week. He was nervous to start at first, but he loved it. Can't wait to see him play in a game soon!

Swim

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:18:00 +0000

Here are a few pictures of Kainoa in his swim lessons.

Mokuleia beach

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:45:00 +0000

Some pictures from Mokuleia beach. Went there on Saturday to go fishing with Jamie's friend Rob. The night before, Jamie and Kainoa went torching till midnight to get bait. They used nets and got fish for bait. Unfortunately they never caught anything this day with the bait.

Isla loves to be buried in the sand.

Kahuku Farms tour

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 06:10:00 +0000

This past Saturday we went to Kahuku farms. It was really neat to see all the different types of crops they are growing there: apple banana, papaya, japanese eggplant, cacao, among others. We got to sample some fruits and took a tractor through the farm. They had a cute little cafe there with panini's and smoothies and a big outdoor area for the kids to run around in, and the people working there were soo nice and friendly. We bought some lilikoi jelly (which is awesome!) and some fresh fruit. It was a great place to go and I would definitely do it again.

We went with the Central Oahu Families group.

a young apple banana bunch.

A cacao pod.

Isla Home Preschool

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 19:08:00 +0000

Yesterday was Isla's first day back at home preschool after summer. We go to a parent led preschool with circle time, snack time, fine motor activities and crafts. It was nice to be back and although she was a bit restless and wouldn't keep still, she had a good time. The theme was planets and space and they created glow in the dark space jars with stars and moons.

Night Photography

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:13:00 +0000

ISO 100 | f16 | 30 sec exposure

This week I learned that I really need to start practicing my night photography skills more. I also learned that I need to take my tripod with me when I do take my camera out at night! This was taken at around 9:30pm on a wobbly picnic table with squid guts all over it. gross.

Check out Click it up a notch and see what other photographers learned this week:

I just had to do it..

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 18:49:00 +0000

I saw this picture on a blog through pinterest and I had to take pics of my kids with the hubby's flight suit.

Night Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 06:04:00 +0000

Last night we went fishing with a few friends. We had a picnic style dinner in the back of the van, used some squid for bait, and just hung out waiting and waiting. We were there till almost midnight and nobody, not even all the other fishermen around us, caught anything! Finally Kainoa got a tiny little fish, you can barely even see it in the picture. But he was proud and it was worth the wait for him. LOL

Kainoa and his itty bitty fish.

Bicycle adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Janell) — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 07:24:00 +0000

Well we decided to try (again) to get Kainoa off his training wheels. I've been feeling a lot of pressure to do so, especially knowing other kids younger than him are riding their bikes without training wheels. It's been a slow process because he has short legs, and is happy just riding along with the training wheels. But hopefully it won't be a painful process like last time. Anybody got any tips on teaching a kid to ride a bike without training wheels? I seriously don't remember how I learned, ( and neither does Jamie) so we are at a loss on what to do.

And here's a couple pics of Isla trying to pedal on her own bike.

She never wants to keep her barrette in her hair!