August 28, 2007
It has been a busy five months.  From Easter to Hawaii to Kindergarten, Autumn has found new ways to be the empress from China.  

Besides an Easter Egg hunt, Autumn also went to Seder, a Jewish celebration honoring the freedom of the Jews from Egypt.  It was a rather irreverent one put on by our friend Lori.  She arranges it as a play throughout her small home, and gets everyone to participate.  It was a lot of fun.  We put together one of the props, the Golden Calf.  I played Moses' brother Aaron, Lise was the Egyptian Taskmaster, and Autumn was the Taskmaster's assistant.  Last year she played Miriam, the sister of Moses.

In May, for our twentieth anniversary, we flew off to Hawaii for five days of fun in the sand, sun, and surf.  Not to mention the jungle!  We stayed at the Queen Kapiolani hotel on the south end of Waikiki.  It's an older place, with rather worn carpets and rusty bathroom fixtures, but only a block from the beach and at around hundred dollars a night, you can't beat it (get the upgrade to a room with a view: they have balconies).  We had fun visiting with Aunt Gail, who lives there, and gave us rides here and there.  Plus we used the bus service.  Besides the beach, which we went to several times, we made it out to Hanauma Bay, Manoa Falls, and the Pali Trail.  Autumn really loved the beach, but wasn't too keen on the snorkeling or boogie boarding.  Out at Hanauma Bay we had to watch a ten minute video on the coral reef before heading down to the water.  It talked so much about the fragility of the coral Autumn was afraid to go into the bay!  She was worried we'd hurt the poor coral.  

Back to the mainland we got a short visit from Lark, Libby (who now likes to be called Elizabeth), and Melanie before heading off on a big camping trip to the Arizona mountains.  Elizabeth is now a tall teenager, and Lark and Autumn had a lot of fun playing together.  

The big camping trip was comprised of six adults, three children, three vehicles, two pop-up camping trailers, and a dog.  We trekked across the California and Arizona deserts in 115 degree heat and made it to the mountain around Prescott.  We spent three days there, then went on up to Flagstaff, my hometown, for two more days.  Off again, we drove to Show Low in the White Mountains for three days.  Lastly, we spent one night at a resort in Phoenix before driving back home.  The best part was in Show Low.  We had a spot next to Fool Hollow Lake, and got to enjoy a summer monsoon thundershower.  The kids had a blast for the most part, swimming, hiking, climbing on rocks, and doing all those outdoor activities that can scare a parent half to death.  

Last week she started Kindergarten.  Our little boo is growing up!  *Waaahhh*  She really loves it so far, and is doing well.  Each morning the three kids troop up the three blocks to school accompanied by Rachel & Randal's grandmother.  At 2:45 Lise goes up and walks Autumn home (R&R stay in the after school program).

The teacher, Mrs. Sass, has started giving out color squares for behavior.  Green is good, yellow is a warning, red is we need to talk, and blue is outstanding.  Yesterday Autumn brought home a green.  She wants to get a blue, but the teacher says that blues are only for very special, above and beyond behavior.  Once she collects ten green or blue squares she gets to turn them in for a prize.  

The Photos