missing "ke-ko-ka"

On our way home from the park this morning Ava was in her car seat and said "sometimes I miss ke-ko-ka and I wan to see him in da stroller". I was touched. Kekoa has been in Hawaii for a while now. We hadn't talked about him or been in his house for a few days and she brought it up on her own. I was surprised, and it solidified for me that she does love him. I put "does" in italics because lately, (since she's been 2), when he comes over she says "NO ke-ko-ka come in!" Of course we tell her how that's not a nice way to talk to friends and we don't like that, etc, but she still says it every time :(
It just goes to show how that's just part of the phase that she's in. Testing boundaries, threatened when someone else plays with her toys or takes her mommy's attention. She's trying to exert her independence in whatever way she can. Interesting, I think.
Anyway, as if these pictures I found couldn't have told me the same thing:

so sweet. such loves.

We miss you Kekoa. xx