Tenth Anniversary--Trip to Hawaii

It has been rather difficult to decide how the layout of this post should go. Chronologically? Categorically? Haphazardly? I decided on a triple combination--a little of all three. With (literally) over a thousand photos to go through (we may have gone slightly overboard), it is no easy task selecting those that will make it to The Blog.

First, This was our 10 year Anniversary Trip. Of course, our Anniversary is in December, and we were gone the first week in September... But we hold to the philosophy: Celebrate long, and Celebrate often. Actually I just made that up, and it's terrible--I know. But I'm sure there is a philosophy somewhere regarding... this circumstance. We hold to it.

Let's get started. I will start by saying everything about our trip was wonderful. Everything was such a blessing from Heavenly Father. Everything good that I post was from Him, and I often (while there) felt like I was in the Garden of Eden....sigh... Alrighty. I'll first introduce you to "our cottage" on the North(ish) shore.

If you lay on the bed, like so...

This will be your view...

Yes. We were right on the beach--ocean waves lulling us into relaxation every moment we spent there. 

Some snippets from the inside of "our cottage"(paintings, lamps, the prop I call "Russ")...

And these are pictures of what we affectionately call, "our beach" (each photo was taken steps away from our patio door)...

To start the trip out on Saturday, Russ wanted to get an "overview" of the entire Island. We had read Oahu Revealed--which was fantastic--but that wouldn't cut it for Russ. He had something more... helicoptery in mind (the "ocean breeze" was not kind to my hair that day--or any day, really)...

Followed by lunch at Duke's on Waikiki Beach...

Sunday after church we took a scenic drive around the island...

We ended up (intentionally) at the Laie Temple. The sky was amazing. This is heaven on Earth...

Did I mention our mode of transportation?...

Pretty much we felt like a convertible was the icing on the cake we called "Hawaii" (permit me another sigh....)

And then we finished off our Sunday with Russ at the barbecue...

Where we met a little friend who dropped in on us--literally--barely missing the mashed potatoes...

I called him "Little Gecko." Actually, I called them all that. There were several. Although this one was the littlest and the cutest.

We spent Monday at the Polynesian Cultural Center. And, in fact, we loved it so much that we went a second day :)...

Which I'm glad we did, because we ran into our Idaho friends, the Grays (I love living in a small world)...

And then we went to Sunset Beach on the North Shore and plopped ourselves down for a view of the sunset...

If you will please note the sunglasses in the above pictures you will understand the next two photos. I had been going on and on about the sunset and the amazing colors. Russ wasn't feeling it (as much). Here is an unedited photo of the sunset...

Here is another unedited photo of the same exact same sunset... 

"What is the difference?" you may ask. Apparently I had been looking at life through rose-colored glasses--putting my shades in front of the camera lens did the trick.

Alrighty... here is where we get a little haphazard. I'm just going to throw in some Hawaii Fav's...

Us swimming at the beaches...

Some signage around the island...

The flowers that were everywhere...

Random Hawaii fav's...

(That McDonald's Haupia Pie you see me sportin'--the best--so don't be knockin')

Shark's Cove was a definite favorite (I didn't know I loved snorkeling so much) Here's the beach...

And Hanauma...

Shark's Cove vs Hanauma? Shark's Cove--hands down. I loved it.

Seeing sea turtles was pretty awesome...

Making one was cooler (eh. not really)...

Oh, and this was cool...

See my swollen lips? I asked Russ to throw me the chapstick--it landed just. like. this... awesome.

Okay. Now let me take you to my favorite day. It started before 5 o'clock in the morning (that's right--first digit on the alarm clock was 4--on vacation!)

It took over an hour to drive to our sunrise beach...

And, you'll indulge me, I couldn't decide on my favorite shot. So I'm posting two...

This was a very serene and stunning way to begin the day. Viewing Heavenly Father's divine creations in the quiet of the early morning was such a peaceful experience.

After the sunrise we stumbled upon Jack's Restaurant. I felt it was serendipitous--I was wearing my "Jack's" t-shirt. It was some of the best grubbbin' on the island...

And then we hiked Diamond Head. But only because everyone said, "You have to hike Diamond Head." And for the record, we won't be telling anyone that it's a must. Because it's not. But it was fun...

And then *sigh* we did go on the most beautiful hike ever. The pictures cannot capture it's awe-inspiring magnificence. But I'll post them anyway...

(Wow. Russ is better looking than the scenery.)

(still hike photos)...

Is there any felicity in the world superior to this?

And then--it was over. Things must return to their proper order. During our final drive in Hawaii, Waikiki bestowed upon us a farewell sunset...

Aloha, Hawaii.

 And of course, I have to mention that we could not have done it without this sweetness...

Taking care of these sweetnesses (photos taken during our trip--you know they were spoiled)...

Jack must have been napping, because, yes--she had all four. Thank you so much, Dest! You truly are angelic!!

Happy Ten Years, Russ. It's been perfect.

October and November Happenings...

I'm going to try to breeze through October and November. I'll  start with Jack's Birthday.

He Turned One! This is what I like to call, The Seven Phases of Cake-Eating

Phase One: Skeptical Analysis...

Phase 2: Satisfactory Approval (still in upright position)...

Phase 3: Relaxed Enjoyment (notice the reclined, at ease position)... 

Phase 4: Euphoric Giddiness (also known as Slap-Happy)...

Phase 5: The Slow Down...

Phase 6: The Crash...

Phase 7: Done (this face says, "Alright. Alright. I'm mustering up a wave for the camera, but...yeah. I'm done."...

Russ and I have been in love with Jack since birth. He has endeared us to him like we couldn't have imagined. This little tyke toddles around the house likes he owns the place. He'll pick up a ball, a toy, any object really, and chuck it, then do it again--just to prove his mannish potential. 

On the flip side he cuddles. Ooooh, how this boy cuddles. He jabbers--he will go on and on if you've got time for pretend conversations. Pretty much he melts me. I love him. 

Words he says now (meaning now, December--14 months old) in order of frequency:

Mama

Whoah

Hi

Wow

Dadda

Ma (meaning more)

Bye bye

Na Na (night night)

Ow

No

Ball

I have a feeling "no" is going to start moving its way up to the top of the list.

(wow. this isn't exactly "breezing")

And on Jack's birthday weekend we had General Conference. We got to go to the Conference Center with Brecken (you have to be eight to go). It was such a wonderful experience...

Sooo many good quotes to choose from. I'll pick one that I love, though:

"Meekness is vital for us to become more Christlike. . . Being meek does not mean weakness, but it does mean behaving with goodness and kindness, showing strength, serenity, healthy self-worth, and self-control."

          -Elder Ulisses Soares

After conference Brecken said, "I loved Elder Bednar's talk. I haven't paid my tithing in a while. I think I need to."  It was a sweet experience :)

Skipping to the end of October, Halloween!

Taylor truly got into the spirit of her costume (as you can see). The others did by default. Hallie (the chicken) was too afraid to say Trick-or-Treat aloud to anyone--except Grandpa (and then it was muttered under her breath). Brecken assumes to traits of a princess always. And Jack, like a true bumble bee, flitted and buzzed all over the place. Impossible to keep track of (the bottom left picture is Jack in Halloween pajamas--not his actual costume)...

And in November we had Thanksgiving I only took three pictures, Dest. I wasn't really trying to spotlight you and Spencer [the boy you brought home to meet the family (of whom we all approve)] It just so happened to be the most obvious collage format ;)...

We are so blessed!For my (nearly) perfect husband, I am grateful. For my beautiful children, I am grateful. For my parents, my brothers, my sisters, the love they have for me, the love I have for them, I am grateful. For Jesus Christ and His love for me, I am grateful. For my Heavenly Father and His guidance and care, I am grateful. For these and thousands of other blessings, I am grateful.

I have a wonderful life.