Broken Bums

Kaitlyn was jacking around today, playing with something she wasn't supposed to be playing with. I call to her, telling her if she breaks it I'm going to break her bum. Ryan, who is sitting next to me at the table doing some schoolwork, tells me I can't do that. I respond with, "Oh yes I can." While Kaity knew I was being silly and wouldn't really break her bum, Ryan obviously did not. Very seriously, with a worried look on his sweet little face, he tells me that I can't break her bum because then she can't go poop. I couldn't help but break into laughter.

Literal Thinking

We are getting ready to walk out the door for Girl Scouts. The kids are playing Hullabaloo and have already had baths and dinner. I tell them, "Hey guys we are leaving in less than 5 minutes." Then Kaitlyn says, "Ryan, we're leaving in 4 minutes. Hurry, get your pants and shoes on." Hope you got a little giggle. Gotta run, we're leaving in less than 2 minutes. ;)

Everything that Starts with Muffin

Today I am making zucchini muffins so we can have some healthy and yummy snacks. Ryan is sick and super crabby, so he is making a big fuss over the fact that I am grating zucchini and an even bigger fuss that I will be putting said zucchini in the muffins. Christy and Jeri, if you are reading this, I know what you are thinking! ;) I am also adding pineapple, golden and regular raisins, carrots, applesauce, yogurt and pecans. He doesn't know about that yet, but will when he helps make them. I know they will love them, but Ryan thinks he won't. Welcome to 3!

To get him out of my hair while I grate, I sat them each down at the table with a container of yogurt from the freezer. After a few minutes of calm, quiet eating, Ryan exclaims, "I'll just eat everything that starts with muffin!" Translation...he's not eating the zucchini. We'll see. I think he will change his tune when the house fills with the smell of muffins and they come out of the oven.

Laminating the Chicken

So, I am in the kitchen preparing dinner while the kids are eating snack. After combining all the ingredients in a very convenient, but not environmentally friendly, Ziplock bag, I start rolling the bag around in my hands to mix it all up and then through some chicken in it. Ryan comes over and asks what I am doing (certainly he was convinced that it was some great snack I was hiding from him). I told him that I was marinating the chicken. From the kitchen table I hear, "You're LAMINATING the chicken?!?!?!

Are you thinking we've been doing too much school? Don't let her fool you! I was just laminating some number cards this morning while she was working on her math. Funny that the laminating stuck, hopefully the word problems did too.

Here's another great recipe that I am making tonight. http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/07/grilled-chicken-with-lemon-basil-pasta/ (I love this woman!) Not exactly the healthiest one on the web, but Bill's PT test is done and we are celebrating this week! With burgers and margaritas at Chili's and recipes at home with heavy cream. Plus, I need to prepare my layer of blubber for winter. I was freezing yesterday without the sun and the high in the upper 60s. It's gonna be a long winter for this Florida girl.

Annie

My child is being naughty today and instead of charging her tickets (because she is out) I am making her do extra chores. Win, win...for me. I don't have to yell/nag/harp and my house gets clean. Yes, I realize I have to let go to accomplish this and her job is not going to be as good as mine, but hey, at least it is getting done. As I write this she is spraying down the cabinets and wiping them clean. She has been really into Annie lately and she just told me that this is really hard work and she is like Annie......except she isn't singing the song. Ha! So, either she will start to behave or my house will be really clean. The funniest thing about this is that I was making 5 buckets of margaritas for our show and my naming tomorrow and looking at all the empty bottles on the counter, I did remind myself a little of Mrs. Hannigan.

Big Island Adventure - Part 1

Our first day on the Big Island was spent hanging out in the condo, shopping, napping, and otherwise preparing for Bill's arrival the next day. After we woke up from naps, we took the kids to a beautiful place called The Place of Refuge near Captain Cook, south of Kona. We spent a couple hours or so exploring the wonderful tide pools there and was hoping to catch a beautiful sunset. While the clouds didn't cooperate with the sun setting as we had hoped, we had a great time and got a bunch (again, way too many) pictures of the kids enjoying the exploration that comes with a new world and the curiosity of being a child. I love the moments where we can just slow down and enjoy those youthful moments, instead of feeling rushed by the day to day hustle and bustle. Please enjoy the slideshow of the best pictures below.

The Car with the Horse

After being in Florida for 7 weeks, which went so fast I didn't get a chance to spend as much time with people as we wanted or see some of the people we wanted to, the kids and I boarded a plane for Kona, Hawaii. We had a 4 hour layover in LA and my sister and Rylee drove up from San Diego to spend a few hours with us. We were so happy to be able to steal some extra time with both of them and the visit was worth the tears shed from Kaitlyn when she had to say goodbye to her Aunt Sharon and baby Rylee again (mostly Aunt Sharon, as they have always had a special bond).

We arrived in Hawaii after a very long day of travel (we left at 5 am and finally settled into our condo at 8:30 Hawaii time, which was 2:30 am Florida time), caught a shuttle to pick up our rental car, and then went back to baggage claim to pick up our (many) bags. We did just a little bit of shopping while back in the States. ;) Fortunately, Kona is an open air airport and the baggage claim is outside 50 feet from the curb and the whole process went seamlessly.

While we were standing in line, Kaitlyn was asking where our car was. There were two cars out front that looked like they were ready to go, and I told her I thought that one of those were ours. She got very ePublish Postxcited and with wide eyes asked if the blue one with the horse on it was ours! My response, "No honey, that blue Mustang convertible is the car Mommy and Daddy would have if we were here without children. The one next to it is probably ours." Once we took the top off the 4-door Wrangler, she got a little bit more excited about the boring vehicle without the horse on it.

Motivation...or Complete Lack Thereof

I go through these phases where I get so far behind that I begin to feel overwhelmed and instead of just biting the bullet and getting it done, I shut down and don't want to do anything. That's kind-of how I am feeling about this blog and our pictures. We just take to darn many. This week I have been watching a dear friend's 3 sweet children in addition to my own, and while it is busy during the waking hours, nap time is pretty quiet as the four children who are home during the day are 6, 3 (2 of them), and 18 months. With the jet lag, today is the second day Kaitlyn has napped this week. Yet, nap time comes around and I jack around, not accomplishing much of anything besides keeping the house somewhat tidy and checking facebook. So, today I am biting the bullet and at least getting some of the stuff out of the way. I need to get over my all or nothing perfectionist mentality and get on with it already! I made myself a delicious cup of coffee with half and half and turbinado sugar, threw on my hoodie, lounge pants, and cozy Korean socks, and am enjoying my little sweet treat and quiet house with only the sound of the keys as I type. It may not be perfect, but at least it will be done. So here goes!

The Girl Who Played with Fire

I have been doing a lot of reading while here in Florida without the distractions of home and love that I am getting to do that. I also love that my kids are watching me read and that Kaitlyn and I are reading our own individual books together. I've read a couple James Patterson and Iris Johansen books and just started The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series. My mom gave them to me and I put them in the back seat.

The other day we were driving in the car and Kaitlyn starts the following conversation.

Kaitlyn: Mom, have you read that book The Girl Who Played with Fire?

Mommy: No, not yet.

K: Did she get hurt?

M: I don't know babe, I haven't read it yet.

K: Well, I think that seems kind-of dangerous.

Funny little story I thought I would share. I wish I could share the tone and inflections through the blog, but I can't, so you'll just have to take me at my word when I tell you how cute it was.

Shopping in Americaland

We got in late on Thursday night. The kids slept until maybe 5 or 6 on Friday morning. Saturday morning they were up somewhere near 3:30 am for the day. After keeping them quiet for a few hours while huddled in the back room of my in-laws' place (which is no small feat, by the way) we got dressed and headed to Wal-Mart to pick up a few things and kill some time. We arrived about 7, which is the perfect time, if there ever is a good time, to shop at Wal-Mart.

As we were turning into the parking lot (after the 10 minute ride where we were all giddy talking about how great the car is, how smooth it rides, how roomy it is, that it has a DVD player, and how it is definitely NOT the Korean Batmobile we left behind that we love to hate) Ryan asks, "What is this place?" I tell him that it's Wal-Mart. I guess his memory has faded after 6 months on the ROK. He then asks what this Wal-Mart place has. My response, "It's Wal-Mart, what doesn't it have?" I told him it has food, toys, bath stuff, books, clothes, etc. He replies in an awe-filled voice, "Wow, so it has everything that people need?" Yup. Pretty much kid.

We got out of the car and walked toward the store. I retrieved my military id and ration card from my wallet and approached the doors of the store I have vowed to never shop in again. Several times over. Yet I keep returning. Very quickly I tucked them both back in my purse in just enough time to spare myself the embarrassment of showing them to the greeter to gain access to the store. We are creatures of habit. I know those of you who have been stationed overseas have also done this and are laughing!

We grabbed the items we needed and checked out. We weren't sure where to go next, as it was only 7:45 and we knew the rest of the house would still be sleeping. We climbed into the Odyssey (which I have missed so much...and swore I would NEVER EVER drive, but thank God that I have it and that it is paid off) and arrived at Target when it opened at 8. The kids were ridiculously overtired and Ryan was a crying mess off and on the whole time, but it was so great to be back in America, shopping in Target, and in a place where people understood the language I was speaking. We checked out, got a muffin for the kids and a Starbucks for me, and headed back to attempt to reprogram our clocks and distract the kids from their overtired crankiness with a swim in Grandma and PaPaw's pool before nap.

Our Trip to the US and Some Travel Advice

If you have ever traveled great distances, I don't have to explain to you what a beast jet lag is. We are literally upside down when we come and go. Korea is 13 hours ahead of Florida and boy do our bodies get confused. We have made this journey four times now (three of them just me and the kids) and it still takes us a good week to adjust. In a way it does get easier because we know what to expect, even though we are still waking up at 3 am because our bodies think that we just woke from a nap. It was also easier this time because I could throw the kids in the pool. By far the best way to beat jet lag. Fresh air, sunshine, and lots of energy burning activity!

We took an evening flight and even though Delta completely sucks compared to Korean Air, our flight was pretty good. The only benefit of the near complete inattention of the flight attendants on our flight was that they didn't interrupt our sleep. Or more importantly the children's sleep. They woke me once to scold me for letting a child sleep in a bed I made on the floor, but Kaitlyn transitioned well and both kids slept with their heads on my lap while I dozed from my middle seat, straight up, but thrilled that the kids were sleeping. There is definitely a lot less leg room on the Delta flight and the seats barely recline, but the kids slept and that is all I care about. Good thing too because the only (almost) kid-friendly movie was the new Alice in Wonderland and the only thing animated was a few Cartoon Network cartoons, not really appropriate for young children. Not one G rated or animated movie. Or anything that would keep a toddler's attention. Let's face it. If the toddler isn't happy the whole plane isn't happy. This was a serious shocker after flying Korean Air, which caters to children's needs and makes a mom's life much easier. Fortunately, the little guys were awesome for yet another flight and I thanked God, once again, for blessing me with the children I have. While they aren't perfect, they are great kids and I am thankful.

Here are a few things that helped on this trip that I would like to share with my friends who also make the 24 hour trip. I swear, every trip I learn something new.

1. Take the night flight. This is the first time we have done an evening flight. Usually our plane takes off mid-morning and we have to wake the kids wicked early to get to the airport on time. Then they sit all day without expending any energy and Kaitlyn has been known to not even sleep a wink. This flight was scheduled for 5:30, but didn't take off until closer to 6:30. We were ready early and were able to spend an hour or so at the park before having lunch with Daddy and going to the bus station.

2. Beach balls. I usually try to make the children sit quietly with books or toys before we board our flight. This time I wanted to make sure they were properly worn out so that they would sleep. I figured it was way more important for them to behave on the flight than in the airport, so I let them run around. Many thanks to my friend Terese who gave me the beach ball idea that she uses during layovers with her four. We kicked, passed, blocked, and chased two big beach balls for an hour and a half. The kids were sweaty, I was sweaty, and we definitely had an audience. We also had a lot of fun. While we played where it wasn't crowded, we did have to utter some apologies to people walking through or when a ball went astray. Everyone smiled and said it wasn't a problem. A few loved that we were playing hard and blowing off steam before the long flight. It worked like a charm and when they called us for boarding, we deflated our toys and slipped them back into the bag, where they hardly took up any space.

3. Something to block/minimize light and sound. I have been doing a lot of sewing lately due this this awesome place to buy beautiful, fun, and inexpensive fabric. I let the kids pick out fabric and I made them each a two sided tent/sheet to go from the backs of their seats to the seat in front of them. I attached big safety pins in case we had cloth seats and brought sticky backed velcro in case of leather seats. I didn't have to use either, but was able to tuck the material into the crevices of the headrests. Bring it anyway cuz ya never know what you're gonna get. Then I put the airline blankets across the top of that in the other direction making a dark tent for the two of them. This kept out the light from the other passengers and the lights of the aircraft when the crew turned all the lights on and allowed the kids to sleep. I also brought ear plugs and put them in the kids' ears before they fell asleep. Kaity wanted to keep hers in, but Ryan took his out. I slipped them back in after he was asleep and they both got about 8 hours of sleep. Ryan may have even gotten 9. Praise God!!! Just that leg of the flight is 14+ hours and without movies geared towards children could have been heinous. I really didn't even have to bust into my arsenal of travel things until the flight from Detroit to Tampa. Did I mention how awesome these guys are?

I know there are more tips and many more to be learned, so if you have any fresh advice for traveling with little ones, please feel free to comment.

An Overdue Update

I know, it's been a while. We haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just slid on over to the other side of it. We are back in the land of the free and the home of the brave and it feels so good to be back in America where there are no (or few) language barriers. The land of Wal-Mart (which I have sworn, more than once, I wouldn't go back to, but can't seem to stay away from), Target, Costco (the America version), Chick-Fil-A, and all other things American. Most likely made in China. I haven't been able to do much shopping at all yet, but can't wait to do so. Especially since I brought so few clothes.

Upon arriving nearly 3 weeks ago, we kicked the jet-lag and went down to Naples to visit my grandparents. Just before we left, my Grandpa was diagnosed with esophageal cancer and was not given very much time left with us. After a very emotional roller coaster, we found out last week that though the power of prayer and the grace of the Good Lord, my Grandpa's cancer is not only contained in the esophagus, but with radiation and low doses of chemo and due to the location of the mass, he may have painless years with us instead of mere months. And, with just three radiation treatments, the stint they put in to keep his esophagus from closing on him as the cancer grew, fell out! The mass shrunk (at least enough to not be able to hold the stint in) and he can go back to eating whatever he wants and living life as he did before. Well, when he isn't wiped out by chemo and radiation anyway. The change in the spirit of my grandparents when they got the news from the PET scan was as noticeable as the difference between night and day. The relief that washed over them both was as visible as the car they stepped out of. Grandpa said that he almost dropped to his knees in praise in the middle of the hospital parking lot! What a relief. Many thanks to all of you who kept them in your prayers. Please continue to pray for them as they go through this process. While the news is good, the situation and the treatment still sucks and continues to take a toll on both of them.

We have also been spending the past two weeks with my sister and my nearly 14 month old cutie pie of a niece Rylee. While it has been anything but relaxing, we have been enjoying watching her warm up to the family and getting to know this cute little bundle of personality. I will be posting some very precious pictures of her and her visit soon. She took to Kaitlyn right away and it has been fun to watch them interact. Kaitlyn has such a kind and gentle spirit and it has been sweet to watch Rylee go to her for comfort when she is heartbroken that mommy left the room and didn't take her. When they leave tomorrow, I think it will be Kaity who will be heartbroken. We will miss them and it is so tough to be apart from the little sugar when she is changing and growing so fast. Especially when we don't know when we will see them again.

We've had a few funny stories since we've been back and I hope to get them blogged soon. I've been out of the technology loop while here, trying to entertain the kids quietly when home during the day and visiting with family at night and have been lucky to return e-mails, much less blog and check facebook. Maybe one day I will be able to find a happy medium between too much technology and too little, though I am not holding my breath. As with many things in my life, it seems to be all or nothing. I suppose it is the perfectionist in me. :)

Hale Koa Luau

Our last night on the island we attended a traditional luau at the Hale Koa, a military resort on Waikiki Beach. What a fun way to end the trip! We drank Mai Tai's (our first if you can believe that!), participated in some traditional Polynesian fun, watched an awesome Polynesian show, ate some fantastic food, and some not so fantastic food. Please see the slideshow of Kaitlyn's priceless Poi Face. It is worth it! Oh, and the pineapple we had throughout our stay was divine!

The show was pretty entertaining. The kids loved it, as did we. Kaitlyn even got recruited to go on stage to learn how to hula. Ryan had no interest in going. It was fun to sit back and watch her take it all in. Unfortunately, our video didn't turn out, but we did snap a few photos. There was also a little boy who was 8 years old and number one in his division of under 10, or something like that, for a sport they call flame throwing. If you have a minute, watch the video. It is amazing what he does with fire. I couldn't get over the fact that he was just a little bit older that Kaity. She's hardly allowed to look at fire. :)

Towards the end of the show, the emcee asked people who were currently serving in the military to stand up and be acknowledged. Bill always ignores this request. Especially at Sea World. I think he reluctantly stood up at the end after enough prompting from his little angel. Then they worked backwards through all of the significant periods of wartime our country has seen recently. By the time they had gotten to World War II, there was one man standing. He and his wife had been married for 65 or 67 years and I couldn't help but think of my own grandparents. What Tom Brokaw calls the greatest generation. I think of my grandparents and all of the friends they have known, loved, and lost. Sure they have made new friends, younger friends, but I know they struggle with seeing their closest friends leave them and being the ones left behind. Now in their mid-eighties, they are the few left standing of this greatest generation. I feel so blessed and honored that I have been able to spend so much time with them in my adult life, even though that life has taken me far away in miles. That my kids really know their great-grandparents and that the greatest generation gets to positively affect another generation. Eighty plus years their junior. My kids LOVE their GG and PopPop and talk of them often. When God takes away, he also gives. When He took away my husband for a year, He gave me time with my grandparents and with our other family. He made everything come together so that I could have that, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

Here I am digressing again. Two posts, not where I was planning on going, but where I was led. I know my grandparents are reading this, and to a great extent, one of the main reasons I keep it going. It makes them happy when I post. It shortens the distance between us. Between my little family and all of our extended family. So, since you are reading, I just wanted to take the opportunity to tell you (AGAIN) how much I love you, admire you, and are blessed by you. How much of a positive difference you have made in my life, in my children's lives, and the dynamic impact you leave on nearly everyone you encounter. How much I treasure the time we have been able to spend together. From the time we lived with you the first part of my second grade year, to that month on the beach every summer, to the family holidays, and to the visits we've had in our homes across the country and yours. The ordinary and the extraordinary. And how much I am looking forward to seeing you in just one month!

Back to the luau. At the end of this tribute to all veterans, they played I'm Proud to be an American. This song gets me every time and our last evening in Hawaii was no exception. Having spent the morning in Pearl Harbor it was impossible to choke back the tears and a few fat ones fell. Maybe it was that I was leaving paradise, but I think I would have had the same reaction had I been staying another night. It was a fun and moving night and we couldn't have asked for a better way to wrap up our trip.

Slideshow of the pictures from the luau.

Manoa Falls

We left Pearl Harbor and within minutes of getting in the car, Ryan was out. We had chosen lunch today to be one of our few dining out meals, but packed extra sandwiches just in case. We were really wanting some sushi while in Hawaii, so we decided to try another hole in the wall place that was highly rated in our guide book. Seriously, the revealed series is THE BEST! We were not disappointed with Irifune, a quintessential Hawaiian-Japanese fusion restaurant well known and frequented by Honolulu locals. The guide book told us that when you say Garlic Ahi, most Honolulu residents think Irifune, and since they hadn't let us down in the past recommendations, we stopped by and got a mixed plate with the garlic ahi and some sushi to go. We passed Kaitlyn a pb&j and drove up to the neighborhood where the Manoa Falls trail begins. Again, the food was great and the sushi was just what we were craving. After Ryan woke up and ate lunch, we started out for our hike.

While we sat in the car eating our lunch, we seriously thought about not doing this hike. It was raining, the trail was known for being a mess due to the rainforest-like climate, and we were going to the Hale Koa Luau at 5. Since it was our last day and we didn't know when or if we would ever get back here, we forged ahead and decided it would be worth the hike in the rain. We figured that if we didn't do it, we would regret it.

Again, the kids were awesome little hikers. The trail was slippery and definitely steep in some parts and there were lots of muddy falls and stumbling. The rain stopped, but the mud continued. Ryan was all laughs and in hog heaven with all this mud and climbing, until we got to the bamboo forest. Being the picture taker that I am, I wanted to get a picture of the kids in the bamboo forest. Ryan started crying and didn't want to go, so I thought if I went with him it would be better. Wrong! He was hysterical. He was so upset and we couldn't figure out why. I was a bit irritated that we only got pictures of his fit, but figured we would try again on the way back down. Now I am so glad we decided to take pictures of him in hysterics because it tells a really funny story.

About 10 more minutes into the hike, this time with a little boy who doesn't want to be put down, we find out why he was so upset. Turns out he thought I said BABOON forest. He thought there were baboons in there and all he could think about was the scary mandrill that hangs out with the baboons on the pages of one of his books. A baboon forest! Poor boy. After that we were able to explain to him what bamboo was and he was fine on the way back down. Still wanting to be held, just in case, but happy. We still laugh about this any time we think about baboons or bamboo. Take the time to check out the look on his face in the slideshow below.

Again, the view at the top of the trail was worth the trek. And the trashed shoes (we brought old ones that we ditched in Hawaii for the kids and for me, and Bill's were saved by the miracle of an OXY Clean bath). And the stained clothes, all of which came clean (except Ry's white shirt) with a couple soaks in the OXY Clean bath as well. Shocking! What a beautiful waterfall! In fact, the trek was quite rewarding as well. The vegetation changes as we climbed and was so lush and green. I couldn't help but take pictures. Pictures, that again, don't do this beautiful island justice. The sounds, the smells, the feel of the air. This place is truly paradise. On the walk back to the car, we were rewarded, yet again, with another beautiful Hawaiian rainbow.

Slideshow of Manoa Falls Pictures

Pearl Harbor

Our last morning in Hawaii we went to visit Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. We watched a movie that retold the history of the attack and then took a boat to the memorial site. What a somber experience. So many lives were lost. It was a beautiful, peaceful morning, just like the morning before the attack, and easy to picture ourselves in this area nearly 70 years ago. Beginning a normal Sunday, a "day off", a time to relax and reflect, enjoy God's beautiful handiwork, and then being caught completely off guard. The devastation that followed was incredible. And the lives lost. Oh, how heartbreaking.

We weren't expecting the effect this experience would have on Kaitlyn. I think for the first time, she really understood what her daddy does. What he protects. The risks involved. She was so sad being here. Very quiet, which is unlike her. You could see her thoughts through her eyes. She couldn't understand how a country could be so greedy and jealous as to create such a sneak attack and kill so many people. She kept asking how they could hate us so much as to want to kill so many people. To be honest, I can't understand it either. Ryan was oblivious, which is exactly how a 2 year old boy should be.

The site was pretty amazing and you could see parts of the ship above the water and below it. They had a diagram of the ship and the parts you can see above and below the water were labeled. See the slideshow of pictures at the end of this post. One of the things that was most surprising, as equally sad, was that oil still leaks from this ship. As a reminder of what was lost. It has been almost 70 years since this ship was sunk and oil STILL leaks from it. It isn't hard to imagine that this was a working vessel. Filled with sailors ready to set sail at a moment's notice. That notice never came.

On the far wall of the memorial were all the names of the sailors who called the Arizona their home and went down with her or trying to protect her and our great country. They paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. As Memorial Day just passed, I can't help but think about how many people take their freedom and the lives as they know them for granted. Freedom is not free. It may be free for some of us, but some of us pay a high cost. Friends we have known who have lost their lives to protect our freedom. Their families who were left behind to face indescribable sorrow and who will never forget the cost of their freedom. On a smaller (but no less important) scale, the families of the military heroes we know and those whom we will never meet, who continue to fight for our freedom and the pain, heartache, and uncertainty they experience with every deployment, every news story, every silence in a usually noisy airspace on days that are perfect for flying. The missed birthdays, holidays, anniversaries, births, deaths, graduations, dance recitals, and all-star games. Their children who are among few who don't have their mom or dad at school events honoring mom or dad. There is a cost for our freedom. One that many people don't see. I am filled with pride when I think about my husband's sacrifice for MY freedom. For our children's future. This wasn't were I was planning on going with this post, but it is where I was led. This morning when I woke up, I opened the house up on this beautiful, sunny day and went about my morning. While I was getting my second cup of coffee four F-16's flew over our apartment and the skies echoed with the sweet, sweet sound of jet noise. The oh so sweet sound of freedom. It made me smile and I was filled with pride, and thanksgiving, for what my husband, my hero, does and that I have the honor of being his wife, and of being an American. I pray that he never has to make the ultimate sacrifice those men did in 1941, but I know that he is doing what he loves and it is for the greater good. I also admit, that there are days that I take my life, and my freedom, for granted. But freedom is NOT free. The cost is so very high.

Hawaii - Day 3 Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Tantalus Drive, Waikiki Sunset

Our third day began with a hike up Diamond Head. We were a little concerned about how the kids might do with the hike, since it had been quite a while since we had been hiking together, but they were AWESOME! Ryan wanted to do the WHOLE hike "all by myself!" because he was smack dab in the middle of being two. Filled with independence and confidence, he forged ahead, all the way up the famous landmark. Both kids kept a really good pace and even climbed the stairs by themselves, even though we practically begged them to let us carry them. The stairs were so steep (there were 99 of them!) and Ryan did great, but every couple of minutes I asked him if I could carry him. Finally he caved about halfway up and allowed me to hold him, which may have been a bad idea. My legs where aching after climbing up those stairs with an extra 35lbs on my hip. With about a quarter of the way left, he insisted that I put him down and he do the rest by himself. I was secretly relieved, although the climb to the top took quite a bit longer with him climbing on his own. Kaitlyn did just as well and all the other hikers passing by couldn't believe how great they did! We made our way through a tunnel (the kids loved that!) and up a narrow spiral staircase to the top.

Once we made it to the summit (761 feet), we were rewarded with the most beautiful view! It was totally worth the effort and the kids were so proud of themselves for accomplishing such a feat on their own. They ate up all the compliments, as well as a snack, while we took some pictures and enjoyed the scenery. Then we headed back down the landmark, ready to cool off in the cold water of the Pacific.

Slideshow of pictures from Diamond Head

Next on our list of "must see" was Hanauma Bay, Oahu's most famous snorkeling spot. Once we were there it was easy to see why. This crescent shaped nature preserve is chock full of stony coral and the home to many, many species of fish. We have never been so close to fish in their natural environment before. It was an amazing experience. I could have literally held them in my hand. They had no fear! Unfortunately, we didn't see any sea turtles, but they are known to be in the area. We didn't get out too far because we took turns snorkeling since Ryan refused to go. Gotta use the buddy system. Bill took Kaity first and she really enjoyed seeing the fish up close, then it was my turn. I took the camera and ran down the battery. Check out the slideshow below and the video clip. Please excuse the Darth Vader soundtrack. I was out there for at least 45 minutes, maybe an hour, but it only felt like 5. I could have stayed out there all day. Bill finished off the Mac fam snorkel tour.

We had such a relaxing time time there. We swam, snorkeled, picnicked, and played. While the kids played in the sand with the beach toys left at the condo for guests, we layed out and soaked up the sun, knowing we would be arriving to snow in Korea. We laughed at the kids, watched them play in the sand and the surf, and enjoyed being together again, knowing we would stay that way.

Slideshow of pictures from Hanauma Bay.

When the kids looked like they were going to pass out, we left Hanauma Bay and went for another drive. If you decide to go to Hawaii (or anywhere, really) with young kids, I highly recommend doing your big stuff in the morning when they are fresh and then going on a driving tour during naptime. This way you can enjoy the island and they can nap while you drive. When you only have a short period of time, it is great to be able to meet their needs and still see the things you want to see. The best of both worlds.

This car tour of the island was to see the not to be missed Tantalus Drive just outside of Honolulu. It is absolutely amazing that this beauty is just a few minutes outside the hustle and bustle of the big city of Honolulu. Getting there took us through my dad's old stomping grounds nearly 40 years ago, when he was stationed there with his service in the Navy. I am sure it has changed in an enormous way since then. I can't put into words the beauty of this drive, so I will let the pictures do the talking. They don't do it justice, but you can see the beauty in them. Again, the view from the top is the best!

Slideshow of Tantalus Drive pictures

After the Tantalus Drive, we headed back to the condo to make dinner and then we walked down to the beach to watch the sunset. The kids played and we all enjoyed a really pretty Hawaiian sunset on Waikiki Beach. We had hoped to get some great pictures of the kids, but they weren't really cooperative on the picture taking front. We made the best of it and got a couple of good ones.

Slideshow of the Waikiki Beach pictures

The North Shore

After our whale watching adventure, we loaded up the rental car, ate our lunches, and explored the North Shore of Oahu.  We stopped at Turtle Beach where the kids got to get up close to a really big turtle, play in the sand, watch some surfers, and explore during a walk on the beach.

Slideshow of Turtle Beach Pictures

We got back in the car and continued the North Shore drive.  Kahuku on the North Shore is famous for its shrimp, so we stopped at Romy's Kahuku Shrimp Hut where they harvest their shrimp daily and are known for their freshness.  We got an order of the garlic butter shrimp, which were steaming hot and delicious!  They were so hot, that we couldn't even peel them without burning our fingers!  So, with the delicious smell of garlic butter filling the car, we drove to La'ie Point and ate our snack enjoying another beautiful view of the Pacific.

La'ie Point is made up entirely of sandstone and has several off shore islands.  The closest one tells an amazing story of mother nature's wrath.  This island is 432 feet off shore, but it seems a lot closer.  On April Fool's Day in 1946 a tsunami literally punched a hole right through the center of this island.  Amazing how much force must have been generated to have had that kind of effect.  The tsunami was devastating to the town of La'ie, but left an amazing piece of art off the coast.

Pictures from La'ie Point


After hanging out at La'ie Point, we got back in the car and headed back to Hale'iwa.  On the way back we took turns exploring the tide pools at Shark Cove while Ryan dozed in the car.

Ryan woke up just in time for shave ice at Aoki's in Hale'iwa.  We slurped down two heavenly shave ices with cream at the bottom between the four of us in no time flat.  We payed a little extra for the large yellow cone, and it was worth its weight in gold.  Those things were as messy as they were tasty!  We finished our drive back to Waikiki chasing rainbows and reflecting on the perfect day we shared as a family.

Whale Watching

Our second morning on the island we got to do something I have always wanted to do.  I know it sounds lame, but it has always been a dream of mine to go whale watching.  We decided to spend the morning on a catamaran, thinking it would be more intimate and relaxing than one of the bigger boats and we were so glad we did!  North Shore Catamaran is a wonderful company with a knowledgeable and friendly crew.  They also offer a fantastic military discount for our military friends.  We boarded in Hale'iwa and enjoyed a three hour cruise in the Pacific watching whales and taking in more of God's amazing creation.

Humpback whales are massive, and while we only saw ones breach from far away (and actually not even on this cruise, just a lookout point later that day) we did see a lot of whales during our visit, mostly on this cruise.  We were trianglated by them several times and with our zoom lens were able to get quite a few good shots.  By law you are not allowed to get less than 100 yards away from them, but every once in a while they would surface closer to us.  They are truly amazing creatures.  Check out the pictures in the slideshow below.

The kids loved the boat ride and we hung out in the hammock for much of the trip.  It was a great place to relax and take it all in.  Ryan was hilarious and was on a shark kick.  He didn't want the sharks to get him, so he would lay on my back, making sure that no part of his body would touch the net, and say, "Shark no eat my fingie!"  As he got more comfortable, he would put his finger through the net or his feet on the net and then pull them back up on me and say, "Shark no get me now!"  Oh how he made us laugh!  I love hearing his little voice and the way a 2 year old puts his own spin on the English language.  I love getting a little insight into that sweet little head of his.  We had a great ride, loving on our kids and having them love on us and just enjoying each other's company.  It was so nice to enjoy the gifts God has given us without the distractions of our daily lives getting in the way, all while appreciating the great beauty He created for us to enjoy.

East Oahu Afternoon

After we tore ourselves away from Portlock, we continued east to do a little driving tour of the island and found some fantastic lookout spots and some fun beaches to sink our feet into.

Our first stop was Lana'i Lookout, on Highway 72 about 3/4 of a mile past the entrance for Hanauma Bay. The funny thing about this lookout is that if you can see an island offshore, it is Moloka'i or even Maui, but not Lana'i.

Lana'i Lookout

Another 1/2 mile east is another narrow pullout. This is where you can see Halona Beach (where they filmed the 1950s movie From Here to Eternity) and the Halona Blowhole, where the ocean has undercut the lava and drilled a hole through to the top. Unfortunately, the surf wasn't high enough for us to see the blowhole erupting, but the view was incredible anyway.

Halona Beach

View of Sandy Beach from the lookout.

Our next stop was Sandy Beach, which is a pretty good stretch of, you guessed it, sandy beach. We told the kids they could get out and get their feet sandy and their toes wet. The water was chilly, but beautiful. Kaitlyn is our beach baby. She loves the water, no matter how cold it is or how big the waves are. She has always loved it, from the time we took her, just shy of a year old, to San Diego where the water was chilly and the waves were a bit bigger than the gulf. She loves to get in and wait for the next wave and then run as fast as she can away from them. Ah, the simple joys of being a child. And being around a child.

Soon to be sandy girl at Sandy Beach.

A testament to their very different personalities, Ryan does not like the ocean. When we took him to Myrtle Beach at 14 months and he was not happy. He clung to Mommy for dear life, refused to go near the water, and screamed when he put his toes in the sand. It takes him a long time to warm up and won't even think of going in if there are any waves. He loves the calm water of the pool and the Gulf beaches, but wants nothing to do with the surf.

Daddy's girls!

Ryan not happy that his girls are in the water.

The happy couple.

The next stop we made on our East Oahu drive was at the easternmost point of the island. From this scenic outlook you get a great view of Makapu'u Beach and two islands that are believed to have been formed by the last eruptions on the island. The shorter, and closer, island is Kaohi-ka-ipu and was made from a traditional lava flow when the ocean level was lower and that was all dry land. It looks dark and burnt because it is so young, relatively speaking. The larger island, Manana Island is a tuff cone and created by a steam explosion.

Makapu'u Beach as seen from the lookout point.

Manana and Kaohi-ka-ipu Islands

While at this lookout point we also saw whales!

After a snack and some whale watching, we went down to Makapu'u Beach and let the kids change into their suits and play in the water. We enjoyed the incredible scenery and got a few laughs at the expense of our son. Kaity was in hog heaven playing in the sand and surf (I won't even begin to tell you how long it took to get sand out of places I didn't think sand could get in!) and Ryan was beside himself with worry for his sister. Every time a wave would come up to meet her at the shore he would scream for her safety. We got his horror and her delight on the videos below.

Doesn't this look too pretty to be real?

Manana and Kaohi-ka-ipu Islands from Makapu'u Beach

Lighthouse from the Beach

Our Beach Baby

After playing at the beach, and cleaning up from the beach, we drove to the town of Kailua for some grub. We stopped by Pepper's Place, another hole in the wall rated excellent for its food. We chowed on some really great, really greasy sausage sandwiches. Think Philly cheesesteak, but with sausage, peppers, and onions and yummier than any cheesesteak we have EVER had. De-lish! We took an inland scenic route back south and, again, had we seen it in the movies, we would have thought it was too pretty to be real. Holy smokes! Talk about the most lush, greenest, and brightest drive. Everything was so vivid and beautiful! We took H-3 back to Honolulu and it dropped us at Costco (okay, so we had to take a few turns) where we got gas (the cheapest on the island if you ever need to fill up and have a membership) and some food for the rest of the week. We got back to the condo in just enough time to throw dinner together and watch the sunset from the balcony before packing lunches and bags for the next day and settling in for the night. It was an amazing first day in PARADISE!!!

Our First Morning in Paradise

Where, oh where, do I begin. I found the guide book tucked away in the kids' travel activities bag, sat down and started going through the pictures when I realized some where missing. After you see all of these pictures (and I am TRYING to weed them out) you will wonder HOW I could tell some were missing, but just trust me, they were. Anyway, I figured it out (a Picasa problem) and started to get to work. I am SO overwhelmed and don't even know where to start. Every moment of this trip was fabulous. The food, the sights, the company. And we both love to take pictures. So, needless to say, we have just shy of A TON of pictures. Kind-of the same reason we haven't blogged Thailand yet. Just too much! So, I thought there would be four posts, one for each day here, but that would leave impossibly long posts, so I think I am going to post the way I have them organized in Picasa. You may get two posts for a day or get to read about the whole day in just one post. Either way, you'll hear our story...finally.

Our first day in paradise had us waking right at sunrise since we were on Florida time. We got up, lathered on the sunscreen, got dressed, grabbed our bags for the day and headed to Bogart's for breakfast. Bogart's is on the east side of Waikiki and is one of the best cafe's on Oahu. We drove past it and had to turn around because it is a small hole in the wall place in the middle of a strip mall. You also bus your own tables and there is no bathroom, but they made up for it in food. What a great little place to grab a fantastic bite to eat! I wish I had taken pictures. Bill and I had amazing gourmet omelets and the kids shared a delicious Belgian waffle with nutella, strawberries, and fresh whipped cream. Of course, Mom and Dad had to do a bit of quality control on that one, but we shared our omelets too. The roasted potatoes where the best I have ever had. They were perfectly crispy on the outside with the most perfect blend of seasonings and we all chowed! If you are ever in Hawaii you MUST try this place for breakfast. De-lish! Okay, now that my mouth is watering and we don't have anything near as yummy in the house (well we do have nutella and strawberries ;D) I'll continue. We hopped back in the car and headed east to the small town of Portlock and Koko Head.

Koko Head is an amazing formation caused by a volcano's last eruptions after a long period of dormancy. The explosive eruptions usually take place near the shoreline and the result are cone shaped mountains of cemented ash (tuff) that forms when the water seeps into the magma underground that immediately turns it into steam and due to the enormous pressure causes a massive explosion. On Koko Head, which is pretty much all residential, there is a little known spot at the end of Lumahai Road that leads to a public access trail. Follow this steep trail for a few minutes and you walk out to an absolutely breathtaking sight. Layers upon layers upon layers of cemented ash, each representing a different explosion. AMAZING! This is why we have so many pictures of this spot. This is also the home of the Spitting Cave of Portlock, where the constant force of the ocean is eroding the rock and splitting the point in two. The waves crash into the cave and are pushed back out when they hit the back of the cave, causing the ground to shake under your feet and the water to explode out of the cave. I can't wait to see what this is like during the summer when the waves and tides are right because it was beautiful in the winter, even with the smaller waves.

Locals are the ones who frequent this area and are known for diving/jumping into the exceptionally clear and beautiful blue water. There are a number of memorial plaques here as well. You can see how dangerous this place can be from the pictures, but the pictures really don't do it justice. My heart is doing the heebie-jeebie thing just thinking back to when we were there. Walking along the layers with the kids kind-of freaked me out and I am not usually squeamish or afraid of heights. Kaity had a few moments where she got scared, mostly as we were climbing back up, but Ryan was fine for the most part. I kept making Bill take Kaity because he is so much stronger than I am and I took Ryan. Even though he is less stable on his feet, I felt so much more comfortable when I was walking with him than when I was walking with her. Whew! Just thinking about it is making my heart race. But it was so worth it the extra gray hairs we may have gotten! We'll call them our Hawaiian highlights. I know there are a lot of pictures, but please check them out. They really are amazing! This place was so mesmerizing and we could have explored all day...if we didn't have small kids and only 3 1/2 more days on the island.