Honestly, I don't even know where to start... this post will be long enough in a condensed version. If I told you every wonderful thing about Hawaii, it would be way too long! I guess I'll just start at the beginning....
We left on Christmas morning after all the festivities... in white-out conditions (which was perfect for Christmas, by the way... I'm a huge fan of white Christmases). We were worried that our flight might not even leave... but it did - and right on time.
Sidenote:
Although we think it's funny now... it was not so funny at the time... when we were going through airport security, the officer asked each of the kids their names, ages, etc to verify who they were. When she asked Trevor his name, he tilted his head and cooly said in his best french accent, rolled R's and all, "E-trev-air". It came out more like "Rafael".
The security guard looked at me, quickly thumbed back through the tickets in her hand, and looked back up at me. I was in such shock that I just gave her a blank stare... I had nothin. When reality set in, I turned to Mike, who looked just as shocked as I did. Silence. And then out of sheer reaction, I thumped Trevor on the back of his head. Yep, thumped him... and said, "Tell her your name... that's not funny!" Luckily, she had a sense of humor and let us through, with a little lecture for Trev... and Trevor used his real name for the rest of the flights. Oh, my silly little clown boy!
We took lots of snacks for the plane ride (thanks Miles Fam, for that tip... it saved us a grundle!) and the kids had all kinds of activity books and their ipods. It was fun to watch Trevor and Tessa when we took off, since it was the first plane ride they can remember. They actually held hands and I didn't get a picture!
When we landed just a few hours later on Oahu... ahhhh, sunshine and warmth! It was especially nice for me to feel the warmth, since I got a major head cold the day before. We only spent less than two days on Oahu... here are our highlights:
*Walking barefoot down Waikiki beach Christmas night
*Pearl Harbor
*Some of the most amazing trees we've ever seen (which I didn't get pics of - sorry!)
*Going to the National Cemetary
*Looking out over the city and breath-taking views
*Tessa's baptism into our church*Being part of a historical island-wide blackout: the power went out right as we parked in the LDS Temple parking lot and we were without power for 12 hours! Not a highlight because it was much fun, but because we can say we were there when it happened. Mike waited in line for an hour and a half at a little convenience store only letting two people in at a time to control the crowds... and we ate junk food for dinner. Ick. Then we packed our hotel room in the dark the next morning... only to have the power turn on right when we walked out of our room, all packed up. That would be our luck. Here are some pictures:
Next up: our Big Island adventures!
Wow, that looks amazing!! Eric and I have both been there, but not together. Maybe someday. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you guys had a good time, and shared some wonderful experiences as a family!!
We took our family there a year and a half ago, and our kids are STILL talking about it. You are right, there is no way to put into words the beauty of Hawaii! Can't wait to hear more! (Except that you are really making me want to go back!)
ReplyDeleteI guess it was worth quitting????
ReplyDeleteJill
Jill: That would be a resounding 'no!' - I miss you too much!
ReplyDeleteDani: Tessa cried the other day after playing in the snow... she came in all soggy and cold, and with tears in her eyes exclaimed, "I wanna go back to Hawaii!" I think once you go, you gotta go back again and again and again???? Okay, I guess if we have to....
I am so jealous!!! I want to go there so badly. I love the pictures. You look like you are all having a ball!
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