Hawaii Day 1 and 2

Flying from Los Angeles to Honolulu. We didn't catch what size of plane we were on. It had 7 seats across.
Make a Wish had ordered a lei greeting for us. The orchid leis were very beautiful. As soon as we got off the plane Devree said "Finally I am warm!" It is such a shock to breathe in that hot humid air. I feel like we are breathing in water.
Marriott upgraded our room so we had 2 balconies. This is Diamond Head.
A sliver of Waikiki below. Waikiki has a nickname that Todd and I nicknamed it years ago. We call it Wackiki! Oh the interesting people we have seen already. We are on the 27th floor. Marriott gave us 2 rooms and the hotel it so huge it takes up a city block with 2 saltwater pools and about 6 restaurants and many shops. We got in to the hotel the first night at about 9:30 at night. We were all starving and had supper by the pool. The water felt so good.
We walked to breakfast at Duke's. It is up Kalakaua Street about 1/2 a mile. It is a one way street and parking is non-existant and so the walk was good for us. Devree got 2 blisters though.
Standing by a "rubber band" tree. This is the nickname for this tree where the branch's send down roots to grow.
By the Duke statue. Surfing was invented by Duke and his longboard.
Finally at the famous restaurant inside the Royal Hawaiian, or the Pink Palace as it is called locally, for it's pink exterior.
The breakfast buffet was outstanding. I told my kids to be adventurous and eat different things that they are not used to. Coconut syrup, bread pudding made with banana, pineapple and coconut and POG (passion, orange and guava juice) are now our favorites. The table they gave us was right on the beach. Too bad you can't see it. It was the most wonderful breakfast.
The Pali lookout. The sun is starting to shine. This is a lookout that told the history of the Pali trail to go up over the mountain on a small path that eventually became a highway. One missionary's journal is printed about "what a harrowing experience it was" The new freeway goes through the mountain for it seems like a mile.
We ran into 3 friends that we knew from going to Brigham Young University Hawaii. This is Don Carey who actually lives in Texas. He published a book about growing up in Laie. He was there for his book tour. He actually was instrumental in getting Todd his job in the computer lab there on campus. They talked computers 24/7 when we were going to school.

Our other friends we met were the Mahoni's. William and Tania. William is the artist of our sketches of People of Polynesia that hang in our office. They came to Fernley and visited us about 15 years ago. We had a standing joke that their oldest girl Pare (you pronounce it Pa rrrrrrre with two short vowel sounds) would be an arranged marraige with Noble. We hope to see them again with all of their children. They have 6 kids.
This is Devree at Hukilau beach. This beach is right across the street from Todd and I's first apartment.
I got sand in my eyes!
Todd wanted to take the boys to Goat Island but the tide was too high.
We had lots of fun anyway.
1st on the old cement pier.
Two on the tower!
Three on the cement tower.
Nobody is on the beach except us!
Building a city with a piece of driftwood and some net that washed ashore.
Braving the waves. The water temperature is perfect.

We arranged Devree and Shay to do baptisms. They accompanied a singles, ward. Todd and Noble did a session and Dane and I went to see "Gnomio and Juliet". Don't ask if I liked the movie. I slept through most of it.
A nice gentleman took our whole family picture. Dane was fascinated by the beautiful huge flowers that dropped off the trees. He put one like a boutineer
HAVING A HAWAIIAN TIME!

Noble's farewell

Cousins, cousins everywhere. It is too bad that these boys were sick too.

Ready for church.

Grandpa was sick but the rest of us ready to hear Noble in Sacrament meeting.

Grandma holding Kylee, Skyla, on Grandma's right. Craig, Koe and Tammie looking on.

More lounging around and having fun relaxing.

Kylee snuggled up to Great Grandma while listening to a story from the Friend.

I got to hold Zachary alot. He is such a beautiful, happy little miracle.

Craig enjoying Grandma and Grandpa's 60th wedding book they got for Christmas.

Kylee giving loves to Great Grandpa.

Noble and Dane visiting with the rest of us.

Dane wanted a turn.

We had such a wonderful time with Koe, Craig, Kylee and Zachary. They came early Friday morning and then we had Ky, Tammie and the 5 kids come that night. It was a wonderful time with everyone. The adults had a dinner with Noble for his farewell on Saturday night. It was just great to talk to everyone. We did have some sickness and we are still recovering from it.

Farewell Dinner

United Healthcare sponsored Devree's Make a Wish and brought her a big bag of goodies plus a bag of stuff for each of the boys.

Devree modeling her hula stuff.

Sue is the representative that brought everything. We really appreciate the wonderful gifts.

Devree liked her portable DVD player for the plane ride to Hawaii.

Matt and Larry really helped Devree's wish come true with Make a Wish.

Matt asked if he could bring his family to the dinner. We were happy to meet such wonderful people that decorated for the dinner, brought many gifts and dessert. We had a wonderful time visiting with everyone.

Our family at the Spread Peace Cafe. The owner GAVE everyone dinner and put on all of the TV screens a beautiful DVD of Hawaiian scenes.

Lisa is the new Program Director of Make a Wish in Reno. We are glad she could stop by and see us.

Steve is the chef at Spread Peace Cafe. He was so friendly and kind and had Devree help make her own dinner. She grilled her own steak.

Steve gave her a chef's hat and jacket to keep. Devree is already to start cooking.

Here we are at the dinner. All of the food was very delicious. Shay raved to the chef about the pizza he ordered. The chef called Shay a "suck up".

Make a Wish gave Devree some wonderful things including a t-shirt that says "WISH KID" so the people with the leis can identify Devree when we get off the plane.

Matt's sister Allie, made up a wonderful gift bag for Devree too. Here is one of those fun pillows to squish different ways to be comfortable. There were so many wonderful things that Devree and Deree was excited to use the items on her trip. Mark, Allie's husband told us that Allie chose things she likes to have when she travels.

I was so excited to get the Packet from Larry and I can't believe the opportunity our family will experience by Make a Wish. This will be a trip of a lifetime and we are excited to leave tomorrow.

Thanks again for making this all possible, Larry, Matt and Matt's family and Make a Wish.

Devree being "Vanna" as she models the wonderful sun screen. Sorry folks. As you deal with the blizzards here in Northern Nevada we will be using our sun screen in HAWAII!

This and That

Do you recognize this young man? He surprised us last Saturday by coming in with his new short hair. You will no longer be mistaken as an Indian by Grandma. Manny we love you.

Shay was agonizing over the fact that I had signed him up for a writing workshop today at his school. He did not want to spend 2 hours of his Saturday at school. At the dinner table he complained "There are kings and pawns in this world. I am beneath a pawn. I am PAWN SCUM!" So this Saturday is going to be really busy. We started out with the Scout breakfast and then Shay's workshop. Still a birthday party and 2 different baptisms.

Here is Shay's essay.

When has something not been fair for me? Was it when my brother made a mess of my room and I had to clean it or when my sister had a friend over and I didn't? "NO!" I believe the irksome unequal thing for me is my bedtime.

First getting sent to bed at 9pm isn't bad right? "Wrong!" It's not fair! While I'm trying to get to sleep they're laughing like hyenas at the TV or each other's jokes.

Moving on to me. I was born to be a nocturnal child of the night and they have the audacity to send me to bed at 9 pm. of all times. Wouldn't you be dying on the inside too.?

To finish with, any readers out there if you have children, don't drain their souls like a demon from a dark demension with something like a curfew.

In conclusion bedtime, curfew, whatever you call it. Its just not fiar. So when you're about to plan a curfew, think of the children. (End of essay)

Isn't that funny? Shay is a good writer if he gets his spelling and mechanics in order. Time to go to the rest of the busy day.