Part 5 Hawaii

Diamond head is an old volcano we stopped to explore it the last day.  It was pretty neat.  they had a trail to hike but we were all in flip flops  :(

Just Standin' in a volcano....This really is inactive right????

The outlook isn't it pretty!

Boy I thank Heavenly Father for these Four everyday!  I love you!

can you say cheese!  LOL

Around the corner from our hotel was an Aquarium it was so cool!  We spent a couple of hours there and B picked up a new friend like our children always do it was so funny they stuck together the entire time!

New friend, B listening to the aquarium info on phones, K.bug and Jedi Oh wait lets not forget the huge fishies in the back!

Wow this post was a long time coming sorry!  Ahhh and back home we headed sniffle sniffle....no really I'm okay  :)

Part 4 Hawaii

Waiting for the Snorkel training video

 Snorkeling in Hanuma Bay was. . Beautiful, relaxing, breath taking, unbelievable and memorable.  I think it is one of my favorite things we did. 
Jedi didn't want to try it, we figured he wouldn't he loves water and swimming just not creatures when he does  :).  
So Justin's Mom sat out with him while we all went in lookin' for anything but eels and sharks  hee hee.  We spent around 4 hours here playing in the water and enjoying every second of it.  When we took a break for some snacks we made some friends with the pigeons or at least Justin's Dad did.

Hanuma Bay

Jedi opting out  :P

K.bug showin B the ropes

AAHHH what kind of fish is that!

Justin and B

Can you say awesome Dad...Yep and he is mine

This is unreal I swear there were 10 on him!!!

 Pearl Harbor

 Wow Day 5 was Pearl Harbor.  I knew this would be an emotional day, I planned on it.  But it really did hit my heart it was hard to keep the tears at bay.  I don't think I could fully understand the emotions of that day those years.  
It is unreal to see those sunken ships, to see the names of the soldiers who died for us to fight for our freedom.  
I apparently slept through history class (yes of course I did I didn't like history)  Because it was the first time I remember hearing why Pearl Harbor happened, why we became part of WWII. 

This is in the Submarine that I refused to go in (not a fan of close quarters)

My future soldier ringing the bell, he loved this day (he is his Daddy's boy)

Can you say Titanic!

Boat ride to the Pearl Harbor Memorial and Missouri

did you know those who died after this ended can be buried with the other men in the Arizona?  They get cremated and a scuba diver takes them to their final resting place inside the Arizona.

The Missouri, they had Ipods for us to listen to the immense History of the ship (yep I picked and chose which I wanted to hear some of us never change)

Wiped out at the Aviation Museum (this was the only day she had a tummy ache we did so well)

Part 3

Day 3 was the Pineapple Plantation.  And a rainy day!  At one point the news showed the storm covering all of Honolulu.  But even then we still had fun.  The only thing we could do is snap a few pics at the Dole plantation and eat some icecream because all the tours were closed due to the weather.

Justin stealing a bite of icecream while K.bug tries to smother it in slobber first!

Yep still hammin' it up

yum

In front of the gift shop

Love my lil' hams!

This is at a place....hahah can't remember the name but it was beautiful Wiamea Valley!!!!!

Same place I think it starts with a W hmmm. Wiamea Valley!

The weather cleared so we were able to hit one of the beaches on the way back

Although they fought diligently there was no saving the castle

do you see that sand...Yeah it is all over her scalp this is what they looked like everytime they went to the beach!

The weather cleared enough after Dole that we were able to stop and walk up to the W falls  Hee hee.  The scenery was gorgeous.  At one point B went on an adventure with Grandpa and decided she was done so she tried to head back only got a few feet and got scared and stayed and cried.  Thank heavens Grandpa listed to the spirit and headed back her way for her.  (yep it is always her)
The kids really wanted to hit the beach so we drove and drove and drove then drove back across the same spots and finally decided on a beach then when we got there it was icy cold (to me) so I sat on the beach while the children and Justin tormented me and called me a wuss.
Another wonderful day!

Hawaii Part 2

Day 2:
We planned to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Hawaiin Temple.  Thank heavens it was a beautiful day.  The temple was beautiful and it was such a great experience to be able to take the children to have a spiritual experience while we were on vacation.  I loved being able to walk into the visitors center and see the Christus and feel "at home".  I loved feeling the spirit and knowing wherever I am that I am a daughter of God that he LOVES me and is there for me.

all of us in front of the temple

The flowers are always so beautiful on the temple grounds

This pic really isn't this way in my files but I can't get it to import right

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This is off of Jedi's Camera he said mom pose like me

We had great tour guides from the Poly Center they were lots of fun and Jedi immediately loved the Guy he talked to him about video games.  We got to try our hand at making a fire with sticks, weaving a fish out of leaves and learn a ton about the different cultures of each island.
Because I am slow I had no idea that the LDS church decided to start the Poly Center to help the college students get through school.  I thought that was so incredible there were so many things that just amazed me.  I also learned that faith can carry you a long way.  The prophet (forgive me I can't remember which one) had told the people to move closer to the water and that soon there would be plenty of water to sustain them and that their little Island would flourish and help sustain them through their lives.  Then they were able to build the college and get their citizens educated further and as it stands today because of their faith and diligence it has happened. 

again our personal photographer Jedi took this one at the Poly Center

Tonga Village this was hysterical!

In Samoa the men prepare all the food

The adults trying to weave with leaves in the Samoa Village

Yep still tryin'

I think this says it all! LOL

love it when they show their sisterly love (Jedi didn't want to try)

See Grandma not so hard  :)

Canoe Parade each village did a few dances on a canoe in the canal so fun

Everywhere we went B found a flower I mean EVERYWHERE so funny

Jedi

K.bug

Learning the Hula

on a potty break one of our guides took the kids to get their tribal tatoo

New Zealand was one of my favorite village I felt so much love there

Our dinner yep thats a real pig