Sunday

I had a GREAT time in Hawaii, who wouldn't to be in paradise where it's so pretty and with your eternal companion? However, Sunday was probably the hardest day for me. It started when we got to church and I sat down with no kids, no bag with snacks and toys and stickers (my kids' favorite!). I know, I should be in heaven, right, well, I missed my kids like crazy. But the ward was awesome, great speakers in sacrament meeting, gospel doctrine was awesome, and the spirit and love from the sisters in relief society was overwhelming. I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and that it doesn't matter where you go in the world, there is a ward there that teaches the same principles, the spirit is the same, and the love of the members is felt.

That being said, after church, we ate something, leftovers from a huge dinner at the Cheesecake Factory Saturday night, then we went on a drive to see more of the beauty of Hawaii.

This was one of our first stops. The waves are indescribable and the colors are just the right pop of color.

 Mike on the beach!

 There are birds EVERYWHERE in Hawaii...right next to you if you aren't watching closely, and they are interesting and some I have never seen before. I thought this one was pretty cool looking.

 I love the coral you can see in the water (all those dark shapes under the water). And just now, while looking at this picture, I can almost see the curve of the earth.

 I can't remember the name of this beach, same as above, H...... Bay, it was cool and almost closing time when we got there, 5 pm.

 Another shot of the ocean with rocks and not sandy beaches

 While beach hopping, we stopped and saw this. At this moment, I could feel an overwhelming feeling of love from my Heavenly Father and I truly knew, without a doubt, that my Heavenly Father knows me and loves me.

 The last beach we were able to see what Lanikai Beach, apparently a very famous beach, although not very busy, which is AWESOME! It's right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. We took a path between homes to get to it. It's a beautiful beach, white sand, and the picture of paradise!

These islands reminded me of the Twin Buttes I used to see every time we drove to Idaho to visit my grandparents so I had to take a picture of them for my own sake.

 Mike on Lanikai

 Me on Lanikai

 I had to get a shot of our feet in the water

 A SELFIE--many were taken, some were good

 The moon was up on our walk back to the car and I really wanted a picture of the moon and palm trees...this was the best one.

Saturday

Saturday we headed out to the Dole Pineapple Plantation. I heard it was fun, I heard it was so-so, but I LOVED it! I love pineapple and pineapples and I was really looking forward to going. I totally recommend going if you are on Oahu!

Ta-da! A GIANT pineapple that we got to climb into!

 We went on the Pineapple Express train tour of the plantation. Cool stuff. Did you know that pineapples are not native to Hawaii? They are imports from South America.

 I couldn't get a fun picture of us so Mike took this beaut!

 More pineapple fun

 Check out the tiny pineapple. I think it's cute!

 A random, pretty flower we came across-LOTS of them in Hawaii

 After the train ride, we went through the largest maze in the world! At the plantation. It was cool and fun.

After, we just had to get pineapple ice cream.

Delicious

 I got a pineapple float. Pineapple juice with pineapple ice cream.

(now I want more!)

 After the plantation, we headed to the North Shore to see it. It's beautiful!

 We got there just before sunset

 We also ran into sea turtles basking in the sun

 Sun setting behind the turtle

 There she goes

 It was very romantic and relaxing to walk the beach with Mike so we just HAD to have someone take our picture

 Another fun day in Hawaii!

Friday

This year Mike and I have been married 10 years! I can't believe it's been only 10 years, but at the same time, it feels like we have been together so long, in a good way. I love my life with Mike and can't imagine my life without him.

To celebrate our 10th anniversary we went away to Hawaii for a week.

I took a LOT of pictures so will post them a day at a time starting with Friday, the day after we arrived. (We landed in HI Thursday but only had time to get a car and head to the hotel in Waikiki before dinner and bed. It was a long day of travel and we were tired!!)

Friday!

We woke up at 3:30 am Friday morning, we thought it was 7:30 am. We dozed off and on then decided to get up just before 6 so we could watch the sun rise and eat breakfast on the balcony of our room.

The sun rising by Diamond Head, no we didn't hike it, we did a lot, but not Diamond Head. Next time for sure!

 After breakfast, we got ready and went to the temple.

Going to the temple was just what I needed that day.

The view right outside the temple doors looking towards the ocean.

 There were two fun couples from Minnesota that offered to take pictures of us in front of the temple. funny enough, they are in Mike's home stake!

 What a beautiful building, inside and out!

 10 years!!!

 After the temple, we headed to the PCC (Polynesian Cultural Center) where lots of BYU-Hawaii students work to help pay for their schooling.

 We ran into this ugly duckling!

 Mike and I took poi ball lessons and mike was pretty good!!

 It rained on us and it was fun!

We survived for a while, then we decided to buy ponchos. It rained pretty hard all day.

 Lots of cool stuff to see and do at the PCC!

 The luau we went to that night had purple rolls for dinner! They were good, just tasted like a potato roll.

 Some of the dancers on stage!

At the luau, they asked who was there celebrating an engagement, marriage (honeymoon), or anniversary. Everyone who was, were invited to go on stage and dance! Woohoo! There were couples celebrating from 12 days of marriage to 60 years!

It was a GREAT first day!

FHE

Tonight's FHE was great! I need to write these things down before I forget!

Mike taught that lesson on prophets to prepare our kids for conference this weekend.

When asked about where prophets get their council, Emma said, "Heavenly Father" like it was a "duh" question. Smart whippersnapper!

Ethan knew Cain was Adam's first born son...we didn't go into the details about how unrighteous Cain was...another day.

When Mike showed pictures of the latter-day prophets, Jackson said jibberish with every picture but in a way, it sounded like each prophet's name.

When we got to Gordon B. Hinckley, Jackson called him "Grandpa" and wouldn't quit calling him that. I'm not sure if he was talking about my dad or Mike's dad.

My kids are funny and retain a lot more information that I give them credit for. I guess when Emma is playing with Doc McStuffins, she really is listening to fhe, and I guess when Ethan is poking Emma during sacrament meeting, or when Jackson is poking Ethan, Ethan really is listening and getting what is being said.



Cub scout?

Ethan's a cub scout now!

And he looks great in the uniform!

Dressing up

My kids love to dress up. Emma in dresses, Ethan in his old Halloween costumes, Jackson in whatever he can find and get on!

One day, Emma was dancing around in her dance shoes, leg warmers, and a tutu. She took them off and Jackson grabbed them so I put them on him and he let me take his picture.

 I pulled out a few of the Halloween decorations the other day and leftover vampire teeth were in the bucket. The kids knew just what to do and they look AWESOME!

 Whenever Emma has a friend, or cousin, over, she wants to dress up in her princess dresses. One friend said, NO, the next was all for it and they look so pretty.

Jackson wore a super hero cape and mask.

 Then Jackson dressed up like the Lone Ranger and rode away in to the sunset!