Christmas in Hawaii: Year 1

This post is a couple of weeks late, but here it is! LOL! My family was able to fly out to Hawaii and be with us this Christmas! It was an ENJOYABLE 2 1/2 week visit! Although Dallas was not here in person due to his deployment in Iraq, he was very much here in spirit! We enjoyed chatting with him via Skype Christmas morning and many other mornings last month...SKYPE OH HOW I LOVE THEE! 

I don't think I realized how much I trully missed my family until the day they departed back to the mainland. My brother Brian and his family were not scheduled to fly back until the following day and so we spent the remainder of our time taking them around to local shops. I did not want to go home. I love being home, but the thought of entering an EMPTY home, no longer filled with my extended family, saddened me.
My sister (AKA LALA) and I were the tour guides for our family. We scheduled everything. It was fun. We spent 2 1/2 weeks:
     * visiting Turtle Beach-dad kept his shoes on and they never dried!
     * attending Church- we took up an entire row!
     * Black Pearl from Pirates of the Carribean- I think this was the highlight for Spencer! JK
     * Giovanni's Shrimp- heard it was DELICIOUS! HATE SEAFOOD! Ask Dallas, Chelsea & Rocky
     * Laie Temple! Amazing
     * Polynesian Cultural Center-PCC -It rained on us the entire time, but it was amazing!
     * Pearl Harbor-USS Missouri
     * Being eaten alive by mosquito's at the park!
     * Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium- my mother's fav place to shop!
     * Driving around the Island- seeing the faces of family members admiring the AWESOMENESS!
     * Kaneohe Beach- Parents did not get into the water, but played with grandkids on the beach.
     * Surfin Taco's- A new family fav!
     * Ko Olina Beach- Perfect day at the Beach
     * Matsumoto Shave Ice- Need I say more...DELICIOUS!
     * China Town in Honolulu
     * Waikiki Beach New Years Eve

Turtle Beach with Grandparents

Ko Olina Beach

Laie, HI Temple

Overall we visited many places, but the most enjoyable moments were spent visiting and EATING! I love that I now know my niece EMMA! I hope she doesn't forget Aunt BJ. We had a wonderful and memorable time! Thanks mom for making breakfast EVERY morning and keeping the house spotless...I thank you as my house now is a complete disaster! LOL!