Beach Day

Today our plans were simplified.  
Spend the day at the beach....



Dave rented a paddle board.  Nate declared that he wanted nothing to do with it, but as soon as he saw his dad paddling nearby he went to get on.



We had tickets to the luau tonight.


David got picked for the fashion show and hula lessons.   I died laughing.

Memorial and Mo

Today we woke and went to breakfast before seven.  It was raining a bit, but we still got to eat outside at Happy's. Then we got a taxi to the Arizona Memorial.

We went out to the memorial then got on the bus to the USS Missouri.

We explored the ship and nate couldn't believe how many mess halls there were.

We continued on to the Pacific Air museum.

Part of the museum is in a hanger that was shot at during the attack on Pearl Harbor.   You can still see the bullet holes.

We came back to the hotel and did some pool time, then some beach time.  Nate's new swim shirt seemed to help a ton with his burn.

Considering it started off rainy, the day way beautiful!

Always warm

Nate told me a little bit ago as we were walking back to our room, "Mom, it always stays warm here".
I told him, "That is why we are here!"

After a bit of red cheeks and back from yesterday Nate was conflicted today by his need to play and swim vs the heat he was feeling.  Poor kiddo.  He's been getting lots of gel aloe, and we were super strick about sunscreen during the hours we were at the pool.
 

We did relax a lot today.  A morning walk along the beach, with nate already in trunks.

We walked out on walkway were we could see little fish and crabs.  We saw one bigger colorful fish that seemed to be trapped in the pools around the rocks

Then pool time.  Nate met a boy named max.

We didn't stay too long though.

After lunch we hoofed it to Walmart to get nate looser swim trunk... his were kinda snug and no fun.  It was worth the walk, but boy was it warm and muggy!

We cooled off in the room for a bit afterwards, then headed to dinner.



After we ate the boys threw a little football back and forth on the beach for awhile.  Then of course nate got a little wet again.

It was only a one shower day though, so we are getting better.

Our first full day

Today was eventful but so relaxed.  Really the only eventful thing was activities requiring Nate to take 3 showers today.

We were up early this morning thanks to jet-lag.  But we hung around and headed to a breakfast buffet at Kokos.

Afterwards it was only seven something!  So we walked the beach for a bit, where Nate got completely soaked.... we hurried him away to go get proper swimwear on.

We went for the pool first since Nate has been insisting he wouldn't swim in the ocean.  After a few hours of pool snorkeling and ring diving competitions, we decided to move to the beach.

We rented some chairs and an umbrella for a bit and soaked up some rays.  We also acquired sand in some uncomfortable places.

We had to spend ten minutes trying to get Nate out of the water so we could go get lunch.  

After lunch Nate was really feeling the sand in uncomfortable places and we had to run up to let him shower.

After a bit we decided to sunscreen up again and hit the pool for awhile.   Nate had some red cheeks, so we were just going to have him sit in the shade, but of course after awhile he demanded to go in the pool.  He swam happily for a couple hours  then his burnt cheeks stung when we went to add more sunscreen... I think just on the area where his goggles rub, but he was hurting and we returned to the room to let him shower again.

All clean and hungry we ordered a pizza to our room and scarfed the delicious Hawaiian pizza down.

We went to walk the beach again and watch the sunset and the Hilton's fireworks... but again Nate could not resist the waves.

Walking around in damp shorts had him ready for another shower after the fireworks.

It was a fantastic day enjoying the sun.  Luckily I got Nate's cheeks some aloe.

 

Arriving in paradise.

This morning I braved temps in the teens as we went to the airport before five am.  I was determined to wear capris and flip flops despite the wintery weather at home.

Our day of traveling was long.  Smooth but long.  Arriving at dinnertime here we went to get something to eat before we absolutely crashed from exhaustion.  

It started to pour!  When it let up a tiny bit we made a run for it.  Nate and I sloshing through deep puddles on purpose.  Dave hollered for Nate to avoid them, but we couldn't resist.  The water was so warm on our shins and feet... after months of layers, freezing cold and boot, the refreshing puddle walking was delightful!
It's warm and humid and its green and smells like flowers.  Just what we came for!

Our Busiest Month

With school, church, hockey,and karate this month sure has been a busy one! 

Dave decided to have Nate attend hockey practice with L2/3, so he has Monday and Wednesday practices, and Saturday games.  

Nate's birthday fell on our busiest night of the week this year.  I made a special breakfast, and I made him his requested dinner.  Then after church for me, and hockey for them, we had cake. 

No party this year.  We had a special evening, then a few days later Dave took Nate and his best buddy to a Rush hockey game with glass seats.  They had a great time.

We enjoyed a low key Valentine's day.

We had our tubing field trip.  It has been warm, and the hill was slick!

Dinner has been on the grill lately, and we made it out to Buzzard's Peak for a muddy hike.

Totally great weather and we have been enjoying it!

Only Olive has been cooped up inside.  We have tried taking her outside, but she gets really scared.

We are expecting a quick snowstorm this week, so winter isn't over yet!

Our Hundredth Day

Today was our 100th day of school!

We went to Panera Bread for lunch to celebrate.

Our new school set up with working great.  I really wish we could make time to paint that wall so I could hang the map... it looks so terrible.  But the area is functioning very nicely.

It's so nice to start a fresh month!  

Hopefully this one will be easier on us.  

We have Nate's birthday to celebrate.  

His hockey tournament.  

And at the beginning of next month we leave for Hawaii!  

Thank goodness February is so short!