The first day we were here we went on a nature walk and saw lots of different plants.
Here is Tripler Army Medical center
where Chris did his OB-GYN Rotation
where Chris did his OB-GYN Rotation
Here is the view from the hospital (it is up on a hill)
Here is our favorite lagoon, lagoon #2 and where we played and enjoyed the beautiful ocean!
Here is our adorable Katelynn bathing in the sun!
Her first nap on the beach
The boys made new friends every time!
Kasen loved playing in the sand and so did Katelynn
Katelynn enjoyed eating it too!
Here they are building a sand castle with Grandma
We also got to see Mongooses, they were brought to the island to eat the snakes.
Carter and Kasen playing in the ocean
Grandma and Katelynn feeding the birds, Katelynn loved the birds
There was awesome snorkeling right here and got to see lots of beautiful fish! It was Carter's, Becky's and Aprill's 1st time to snorkel and they loved it!
Grandma, Aprill and Carter having
fun on the golf cart
Our Sea turtle resting on the beach this looks like the one I got to swim with!
Aprill and Kasen
Carter and Kasen burying Becky and Aprill
Kasen and Carter
Kasen, Katelynn and Carter
Aprill
Tyler Sherman and Chris
(Tyler is a friend from Medical School and was rotating the same time they both are going for OB-GYN!)
The beautiful sunset from our beach
Here is golf course on our way to the lagoon
Our golf cart
Chris in his Class A uniform for Residency Interviews
Carter and Kasen with their Swords
I let them pick out souvenirs at the International Market in downtown Waikiki and this is what they chose! How does a sword remind you of Hawaii?! Oh well they are happy with them and
begged to get these.
Chris and I out for the night to Roy's one a delicious restaurant in Ko Olina, so close we could drive our golf cart to it!
Then we took a walk down to the beach and the "secret" lagoon and watched the waves and talked!
Then we saw a family on Lagoon #1 and we stopped and talked to them. They were catching sand crabs at night with their boys so the next night we took the boys and they had a lot of fun! You look for holes in the sand down by the beach with a
flashlight and then you carefully dig until you see it, but they blend in with the sand so they are sometimes
hard to see, here is one we caught.
Here are pictures of the
Dole Pineapple Plantation Gardens
The kids loved feeding the Koi fish which was their favorite part
Carter and Kasen
Carter was so proud he caught this gecko!
Kasen by the pineapple gardens
Then we brought my sisters back to enjoy the pineapple goodness!
This time in the smaller portions!
Aprill and Kasen
Kasen
Carter loved their music and was so intrigued with it! He sat and watched so intently. It is so smooth and relaxing, truly beautiful and it is all with handmade instruments!
Carter with his pearl, they had live clams that you could pick and they would break it open and it had a beautiful pearl in it. The boys were so fascinated with it! I kept asking what are you going to do with a pearl? He said it is a surprise!
The cutest thing ever was Carter saved it and gave it to me for my birthday!
It was a black pearl that means wisdom!
A brief slide show overview!
Chris, Katelynn, Janae', Carter and Kasen
Becky, Carter, Grandma, and Aprill
Inside the submarine.
Carter
Carter, Kasen and the Sailor who sailed us across to the USS Memorial
Diamond Head
Carter and Aprill overlooking Waikiki
Carter and Kasen
Well we so wanted to Hike Diamond Head, but once again if you don't get there be 7am you have to wait until 1 or 3pm, because once the parking lot is full, they close it, or you can park about 20 minutes away then hike, but it was really hot that day and we weren't sure the kids were going to make it!
So we took a scenic drive around the mountain and this is some of what we saw! This is the Windward side of the island along H-1
Here we are along H-3
Isn't this island so diverse!
Heading up the H-2
The pineapple fields and other farming
Coming down the H-3 overlook to the ocean
Matsumoto's has the best shaved ice ever!
We had to stop!
Aprill, Becky, Carter, Kasen, me, and Katelynn begging for more!
North Shore
Exploring the North Shore beaches
(Grandma, Carter, Kasen and Aprill)
Carter and Kasen
(there were tons of tadpoles in the water)
While we were there I wanted to see what military housing was like so here is Fort Shafter where they just built new officer housing.
Here we are at the clubhouse overlooking Fort Shafter and the fun pool below, not to mention the ocean in the back ground!
Housing
Chris and Mike
Me and Leslie
Carter, Kasen, Janae' and Katelynn
Aprill, Grandma and Katelynn
Then we went to the Paradise Cove Luau!
Kasen, Becky, and Carter
Aprill, Mom, and Katelynn
Carter and Kasen
Me with my kids (Chris was late because he is delivering a baby! My first taste of what it will probably be like rest of our lives!)
When you first arrive they serve you a yummy punch!
Aprill, Grandma, Carter, Janae', Katelynn, Kasen and Becky
Our family
Carter playing games
Chris finally makes it just before dinner and took the boys on the kayak ride!
Chris, Kasen and Carter
Kasen running on the beach
Our family
Grandma and Katelynn
Katelynn said "ma-ma" for the 1st time on my birthday! What a nice present!
Carter, Chris and Kasen
Carter and Kasen loved the fire dance and Kasen wants to be a fire dancer when he grows up!
Katelynn, Janae', Carter, Chris, and Kasen
Here the boys are making fire with sticks! Chris was actually strong enough to do it and impressed the Samoans (I guess white boys aren't good at those things!) We also learned in Samoa the men do all the cooking! They claim to so everything in their culture! Man would that be nice!
Below are pictures of us at the activities at the different islands, we didn't have enough time to explore all of them so here are just a few!
Here is Aprill, Becky, Kasen and Carter weaving coconut leaves into play fish. It was so cool!
Kasen with his fish he weaved out of
coconut leaves.
The lady found out it was his birthday the next day and made him a special birthday hat! He didn't want to wear it at first because he insisted "boys do not wear flowers, girls do, and I am not a girl!" We had to explain that in Hawaii it is part of the culture then he was ok with it!
More games from New Zealand
Kasen getting ready to throw a spear!
The boys getting their warrior tattoos
The stick game!
Kasen climbing a tree!
In front of the Luau, they gave us all the real live leis!
The roasting of the pig
Janae', Grandma Janet and Katelynn
Aprill and Becky
Chris and I
Katelynn in her lei
Kasen eating the purple rolls
their type of potato (taro)!
Carter and Chris drinking a yummy pina colada out of a fresh pineapple!
Here is the food they serve you at a typical luau.
After dinner we had some time before the show starts so we went to the Laie Temple it was gorgeous!
You get to tour the Visitor's Center and Kasen said Mommy will you take a picture of me with Jesus! He is so cute! I just love his excitement about life!
Grandma is so creative and tried to make his brownie look like a cake!
Happy Birthday Kasen! We love you!
Stadium Swap Meet
Here we are at the Stadium swap meet! A must if you want great stuff at the most affordable price!
So I bought a wind chime for Chris's aunt at a market downtown Honolulu, that is supposed to be well priced $15 was a deal they wanted $20. Becky got one at the Stadium Swap meet (same exact one) guess! $6! Boy did I get ripped off! All the locals shop at the Stadium swap meet it is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but so worth it! It is super busy, if you get a chance the local stands sell delicious fruits and baked goods too!
The boys had to try drinking out of the coconut! Kasen didn't like it at all, but Carter did!
Aprill
Also while we were there we got to meet up with the Zickgraf's that we were in Medical School with in Missouri!
It was so fun to see them and they were so helpful to share what they have learned thus far with the military! Our kids played so well together and had a lot of fun!
Here they are swimming in the Lagoon at Ko Olina
Roman and Katelynn had fun playing in the sand and eating crackers together!
Then Saturday they invited us over to Waikiki to go on a Catamaran ride with them
It was so much fun!
Here we are! Kasen, Katelynn, me,
Carter and Chris
Carter
Grandma, Katelynn and Kasen
Zickgraf Family
The view of downtown Honolulu from our Catamaran!
Carter
Kids swimming at Waikiki
Then we had lunch and went to their hotel to swim in their fun pool, man was it gorgeous views! This is from their hotel window!
Kasen used them on his tongue!
Carter did so well with them!
Then we got family pictures on the beach!
Carter and Kasen!
Carter and Kasen
Katelynn
Me and my Mom!
My Mom is the best! What an awesome summer we had in Hawaii! You are so good to me and my family! I am so lucky to have one of the Best Mom's in all the world and I love you so much!
Our last day at the beach.
Kasen and Katelynn
Carter and Kasen!
Grandma playing Frisbee with Carter and Kasen!
What a wonderful vacation we had, poor Chris worked a ton, but got to spend the weekends with us! We had so much fun, what a wonderful, peaceful feeling there is in Hawaii! I loved the many different cultures and people. Everyone was so nice and friendly!
Crazy to think we were there for 3 1/2 weeks and saw so much, but barely skimmed the surface of all Hawaii offers, there is so much to do!
We can't wait to return!
Katelynn crawling on the beach
fun on the golf cart
Aprill and Carter
Chris and I
(Tyler is a friend from Medical School and was rotating the same time they both are going for OB-GYN!)
I let them pick out souvenirs at the International Market in downtown Waikiki and this is what they chose! How does a sword remind you of Hawaii?! Oh well they are happy with them and
begged to get these.
Then we saw a family on Lagoon #1 and we stopped and talked to them. They were catching sand crabs at night with their boys so the next night we took the boys and they had a lot of fun! You look for holes in the sand down by the beach with a
flashlight and then you carefully dig until you see it, but they blend in with the sand so they are sometimes
hard to see, here is one we caught.
The Sand Crab
Chris got a car with a moon roof/sunroof so we would let the kids ride out the top of it in the neighborhood coming home from catching sand crabs, they loved it!
Dole Pineapple Plantation
We went to the Dole Pineapple Plantation! It was so interesting that it take 1 pineapple about 18-20 months to grow! They grow best in this rich red soil with pieces of black plastic material ground up in it to keep the soil at an even temperature! Plus each pineapple is hand picked. Pretty amazing fruit and DELICIOUS!
Kasen, Carter, Grandma and Katelynn
So everyone told us you have to try the Dole Whip ice cream, it is delicious and it is! Just no one told us how HUGE the servings were! So for a cup of it it is almost $5 so I thought well lets try a pineapple split it was $15, but I was going to spend that anyway and this way I can get fresh pineapple too! Holy Cow the pictures don't give it justice! So it took like 5 minutes to make and everything is slow in Hawaii cause everyone is so laid back! Well she brings it to me from the back room and I almost started laughing, it was literally a half gallon of ice cream piled on top of a half of a pineapple shell. People were laughing at us! Here just me and my Mom and my kids how are we going to eat all this ice cream! It was delicious, but so much!
Then we took the train ride
Kasen, Grandma and Katelynn
Carter and I
Dole Pineapple Plantation Gardens
The kids loved feeding the Koi fish which was their favorite part
Then we brought my sisters back to enjoy the pineapple goodness!
Aprill and Kasen
The cutest thing ever was Carter saved it and gave it to me for my birthday!
It was a black pearl that means wisdom!
Here are pictures on H2 to the North Shore Area
A brief slide show overview!
Here we are in front of the LDS church after sacrament meeting, notice how it overlooks the ocean!
Pearl Harbor
It was neat to see all the sites and remember those who died. We didn't get to see much the 1st time when we went with my sisters and Chris, we didn't realize you have to buy your tickets EARLY then wait sometimes even 3-4 hours! So beware if you go you must get your tickets in the morning!
Kasen, Carter and Katelynn
Our family
Grandma, Aprill and Katelynn
Grandma Janet, Aprill, Carter, Kasen, Becky, Katelynn, Janae' and Chris
(yes I did make everyone dress patriotic!)
When we came back here is Carter and Kasen playing on the equipment in the museum.
Here is the ship you can see, it is still there.
The memorial wall behind
Kasen, Carter, Grandma, and Katelynn
Us on the USS Memorial overlooking the navy base
Looking out to Honolulu from the USS Memorial
I had to take a picture of Katelynn's fan clubs!
At Pearl Harbor especially, the Asian people kept asking to take pictures of Katelynn and they wanted to hold her they just couldn't get enough of her! It was hilarious you would think she was a celebrity!
Diamond Head
Well we so wanted to Hike Diamond Head, but once again if you don't get there be 7am you have to wait until 1 or 3pm, because once the parking lot is full, they close it, or you can park about 20 minutes away then hike, but it was really hot that day and we weren't sure the kids were going to make it!
So we took a scenic drive around the mountain and this is some of what we saw! This is the Windward side of the island along H-1
Here we are along H-3
Heading up the H-2
Matsumoto's has the best shaved ice ever!
We had to stop!
North Shore
(Grandma, Carter, Kasen and Aprill)
(there were tons of tadpoles in the water)
While we were there I wanted to see what military housing was like so here is Fort Shafter where they just built new officer housing.
Here we are at the clubhouse overlooking Fort Shafter and the fun pool below, not to mention the ocean in the back ground!
(Officer Housing)
Also while we were there we got to meet another OB-GYN resident and his family they were so sweet to have us over and even took us out for yogurt! They told us lots of info regarding the military and what to expect for residency and showed us there home and Kailua!
Kasen with their kids (Carter had to stay home with Grandma because he was sick.)
My 28th Birthday!
I was so fortunate to spend my birthday in Hawaii! I got to do some fun things! We went to the beach and hung out most of the day we snorkeled and tanned. Even the sea turtle came ashore to say hi! This sea turtle is the one Carter and I got to snorkel with a few times in this lagoon!
Then we went to the Paradise Cove Luau!
Katelynn said "ma-ma" for the 1st time on my birthday! What a nice present!
Carter and Kasen loved the fire dance and Kasen wants to be a fire dancer when he grows up!
Aprill and Becky with some hot Hawaiians at the Luau!
Here I am with my hottie at the Luau!
Polynesian Cultural Center
What a blast we had at the PCC! It was a lot of fun to experience hands on, the many, many different cultures, each so different and unique! We loved it and the kids had a lot of fun too!
Below are pictures of us at the activities at the different islands, we didn't have enough time to explore all of them so here are just a few!
coconut leaves.
Here they are practicing a New Zealand dance, after seeing the show
Grandma and Katelynn on the canoe ride!
There was so much to do! We really had a blast! It was beautiful there!
their type of potato (taro)!
After dinner we had some time before the show starts so we went to the Laie Temple it was gorgeous!
Chris, Katelynn, Janae', Grandma Janet, Kasen, Becky, Carter and Aprill
Ha! The Breath of Life Show after dinner!
It was awesome!
I collect unique Nativities from around the world. The ladies at the PCC made a Nativity out of coconut leaves and its parts! It is so cool ! I love my new Nativity!
Both of the boys decided what they wanted to be when they "grow up"! Carter loved how everyone in Hawaii sells things. He loved the swap meet so much he wants to be a street vendor when he grows up! And Kasen loved the fire dancers and has now decided that is what he wants to be when he grows up! Here is Kasen:
Happy Birthday Kasen!
Kasen also got to celebrate his 4th birthday in Hawaii! We wanted to take him to the Hawaii aquarium where you can swim and play with the dolphins, but the military tickets were all sold out for the days we wanted to go, so instead we went to the water park. He had a lot of fun, but it was a very poorly operated water park and I wouldn't waste my time or $ going again! We didn't bring the cameras, so no pictures.
Here he is opening up his presents (he even wore his gift the nice Polynesian lady gave him!)
What nice presents he got! Kasen is the most expressive child and is so happy and thankful for his gifts! He is such a joy to have in our family and is always so thoughtful of others and their feelings! We are so grateful to have you in our family!
For his birthday, Kasen wanted bendaroos and silly string! He got them both and cute little Carter with Kasen's bendaroos did this on the wall (his very own idea)! Wasn't that sweet!
Stadium Swap Meet
Here we are at the Stadium swap meet! A must if you want great stuff at the most affordable price!
So I bought a wind chime for Chris's aunt at a market downtown Honolulu, that is supposed to be well priced $15 was a deal they wanted $20. Becky got one at the Stadium Swap meet (same exact one) guess! $6! Boy did I get ripped off! All the locals shop at the Stadium swap meet it is only open on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but so worth it! It is super busy, if you get a chance the local stands sell delicious fruits and baked goods too!
Also while we were there we got to meet up with the Zickgraf's that we were in Medical School with in Missouri!
It was so fun to see them and they were so helpful to share what they have learned thus far with the military! Our kids played so well together and had a lot of fun!
Here they are swimming in the Lagoon at Ko Olina
Then Saturday they invited us over to Waikiki to go on a Catamaran ride with them
Carter and Chris
Chris and Derek
We found a restaurant that we loved and wanted to treat my Mom to a nice dinner and so we took the kids too with us to Roy's! The kids behaved very well and loved the idea of being able to use chop sticks to eat!
Then we got family pictures on the beach!
My Mom is the best! What an awesome summer we had in Hawaii! You are so good to me and my family! I am so lucky to have one of the Best Mom's in all the world and I love you so much!
Our last day at the beach.
What a wonderful vacation we had, poor Chris worked a ton, but got to spend the weekends with us! We had so much fun, what a wonderful, peaceful feeling there is in Hawaii! I loved the many different cultures and people. Everyone was so nice and friendly!
Crazy to think we were there for 3 1/2 weeks and saw so much, but barely skimmed the surface of all Hawaii offers, there is so much to do!
We can't wait to return!
.jpg)
.jpg)
.JPG)
Janae,
ReplyDeleteWOW! I can't believe how amazing that trip to Hawaii looked. Your little family is so cute and such adventures for you guys.