We had a fun weekend. It started with a nice late Thanksgiving brunch at the Oceanarium. It was really nice and very cool. The restaurant has a huge fish tank on one side of it. And we got FRONT ROW!! Seats to it. It was very cool. The kids kept saying "look there is Dorie, Nemo, Mr Ray" It was funny to hear them compare all the fish to the Finding Nemo cast. It was also really cool cause a "mermaid" came and fed the fish (a girl dressed as a mermaid). And it was all you can eat. Now as most of you probably know I am not a big fan of buffets mainly cause I can't special order the dish without this and that. So eating for me was a bit of a challenge. So when we got up to the buffet line there was this alfredo pasta thing, and I thought "OH YUMMY!" So I put some on my plate and got some other things and went back to my chair. I took a few bites of the pasta, and then noticed some shrimp. Now many of you might be thinking "score!!" Me I am thinking crap that has iodine in it. See when I was 16 I gave blood at a blood drive and found out I was allergic to iodine. Now I have never ingested iodine before, not a big fan of seafood, so I was really nervous. But a few second after I had my pasta noodles that had soaked in iodine sauce I started to cough, and my throat started to tickle and itch. Now we were with Whitney and Leland and Whitney is a nurse, but I begun to panic. I just drank alot of water, and some juice. Then sat there not really sure what do to. I just waited. Well nothing else happened my throat just tickled and itched the rest of the day. John nicely pointed out to read the cards that said what the dishes were. Those cards I had never even seen when I went up the first time. After that we went and looked at The Niu new house. WOW!! is it nice! I am so jealous. I told John that if we were not moving in May we would be moving next to Whitney. I am sad they are leaving Iroquois Point, not for them of course cause they got a killer house out of it. But sad for me, she will be by Tripler now, that is about 20 away with no traffic. After that John and I came home and prepared for a Black Friday shopping.'
Black Friday:
Oh it was so fun and exhilarating! But complete exhausting. See last year Whitney and I went and we got to walmart at 4:30 doors opened at 5am. We were thinking we will be fine. Well the line to get in was through the parking lot, wrapped around the next parking lot, out to the street, through the supermarket parking. And that is where we ended up. So this year I was going to get in early and get what I needed. We talked to others that were there earlier and they said they got there at 3:30 and they were still in the walmart parking lot, so I thought 2am would be fine. Well with all that is going on in the Niu's life right now Whitney could not go with me, so I asked John if he wanted to get a sitter and go with me. And that is exactly what we did. We got to walmart about 2:15 and we were in the next parking lot over. WHAT!! Yup that is the way it works I guess. By the time they started to let people in the line was through the supermarket parking lot, back to the street, curving around and back out to the main drag. It was crazy! But I did get my Cricut Expressions machine. FINALLY!! I have wanted one for a long time. But they are $435 normally. I got mine for $200 YEAH!! We hit 9 stores in 7 hrs and got all of our shopping done. Well except a few stocking stuffers for the boys, and our new tradition of PJs. But all the main big stuff is out of the way. After our naps and dinner we put up the Christmas Tree. So now we are all ready for Christmas.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Last Day
I know that it has been a long and exciting trip for everyone, but unfortunately it is coming to an end.
Since the first full day of our trip, when we ate breakfast at Jackie Rae's, and they told us all the things to see and do on the island, and they told us about this beach and that beach. I had wanted to go to the green sand beach. YES I said green sand beach. Now when you Google Green Sand Beach Hawaii, many people will in their blogs and posting will say it is the only one in the world. That is not true! There is only 2 in the whole world the other one is in Guam. Not really know if I will ever get to Guam I was determined to see that Green Sand. So we decided that we would get up at 6am to leave by 7 so we could drive back out to South Point take the 2.5 mile hike in and 2.5 mile hike back out, to then drive back the 1.5 hrs so we could get ready to leave and be at the airport at 2pm. So that was the plan...
We woke up on time, left within a fews mins of our scheduled departure, drive the 1.5 hr drive that took us 2 hrs due to traffic. It poured, I mean poured only could see a few feet in front of you poured right as we were getting to South Point. But I will still going to do this. We got there parked and got out of the car and the sun came out... See I am going to get to do this. We started the hike, once we found the trail head. It wasn't really a hike, it was a lava rock road, that many many people had drove on. Well we get not but 10 maybe 15 feet into the road and a lava rock moved as I was walking on it, and I fell. Twisting my right ankle and skinning my left knee up pretty good (Not tearing one hole in my pants though)
But I moved my ankle around a bit, making sure it still worked. It hurt but not bad, so I plugged onward. The "hike" was a fun one after rained so hard. Finding a place that we could step and not step in calf deep water was interesting. But we pressed onward, we were going to go and see that beach. Now about 30 mins into it. It was really muddy and my foot slipped and my ankle twisted again. This time instantly swelling...as seen here in a picture of my ankle at the airport
Ok my swollen ankle is on the left, and the one on the right is permanently scared from falling on the treadmill a few months ago...I know I am accident prone
At this point it hurts pretty bad. As we all stand around and I try to figure out what I am going to do, John makes the decision that we were going to head back and Whit and Leland could just take pictures for us. So we head back to the car, it takes us about 45 mins. Then we drive back to the resort, I sit on the couch with my feet up as John gets us ready to go to the airport. Come to find out we were only 15 mins from the Green Sand Beach. BUMMER!!!
But on the way back to Kona we did see this in the sky
I thought it was worth taking a picture of since it looks like a train to me.
I did wanted to make sure that I did comment on the Kona Airport. Now think back to what you thought Hawaii would be like. You had watched the Brady Bunch, they came to Hawaii, got leis, nice open breezey. Well the HNL airport not like that at all. Well the Kona Airport is all out doors. Its really cool and adds to the affect of landing on island. Once we landed I said now I feel like I am on island.
Taking Off Back to Reality
It was fun. We had a blast. And can't wait to do it again.
Since the first full day of our trip, when we ate breakfast at Jackie Rae's, and they told us all the things to see and do on the island, and they told us about this beach and that beach. I had wanted to go to the green sand beach. YES I said green sand beach. Now when you Google Green Sand Beach Hawaii, many people will in their blogs and posting will say it is the only one in the world. That is not true! There is only 2 in the whole world the other one is in Guam. Not really know if I will ever get to Guam I was determined to see that Green Sand. So we decided that we would get up at 6am to leave by 7 so we could drive back out to South Point take the 2.5 mile hike in and 2.5 mile hike back out, to then drive back the 1.5 hrs so we could get ready to leave and be at the airport at 2pm. So that was the plan...
We woke up on time, left within a fews mins of our scheduled departure, drive the 1.5 hr drive that took us 2 hrs due to traffic. It poured, I mean poured only could see a few feet in front of you poured right as we were getting to South Point. But I will still going to do this. We got there parked and got out of the car and the sun came out... See I am going to get to do this. We started the hike, once we found the trail head. It wasn't really a hike, it was a lava rock road, that many many people had drove on. Well we get not but 10 maybe 15 feet into the road and a lava rock moved as I was walking on it, and I fell. Twisting my right ankle and skinning my left knee up pretty good (Not tearing one hole in my pants though)
But I moved my ankle around a bit, making sure it still worked. It hurt but not bad, so I plugged onward. The "hike" was a fun one after rained so hard. Finding a place that we could step and not step in calf deep water was interesting. But we pressed onward, we were going to go and see that beach. Now about 30 mins into it. It was really muddy and my foot slipped and my ankle twisted again. This time instantly swelling...as seen here in a picture of my ankle at the airport
Ok my swollen ankle is on the left, and the one on the right is permanently scared from falling on the treadmill a few months ago...I know I am accident prone
At this point it hurts pretty bad. As we all stand around and I try to figure out what I am going to do, John makes the decision that we were going to head back and Whit and Leland could just take pictures for us. So we head back to the car, it takes us about 45 mins. Then we drive back to the resort, I sit on the couch with my feet up as John gets us ready to go to the airport. Come to find out we were only 15 mins from the Green Sand Beach. BUMMER!!!
But on the way back to Kona we did see this in the sky
I thought it was worth taking a picture of since it looks like a train to me.
I did wanted to make sure that I did comment on the Kona Airport. Now think back to what you thought Hawaii would be like. You had watched the Brady Bunch, they came to Hawaii, got leis, nice open breezey. Well the HNL airport not like that at all. Well the Kona Airport is all out doors. Its really cool and adds to the affect of landing on island. Once we landed I said now I feel like I am on island.
Taking Off Back to Reality
It was fun. We had a blast. And can't wait to do it again.
I Interrupt the Regularly Scheduled Blog...
Ok so maybe I am not as funny as I think I am. But either way this is out of the "vacay" context. This weekend was Stake Conference in our Stake. I am just rejuvenated after listening to our stake president. I truly love him and always enjoy him when he speaks he motivates me. Well our stake has this 7 F's.
1. Frequent Temple Attendance
2. Family Home Evenings
3. Family Scripture Study
4. Family Prayer
5. Family Council
6. Family Fun
7. Family Service
And President Walker talked about them again. But this time it really hit me! I already know that those things were important, and yah we try to do those things sometimes, but we just outright suck at some of them (FHE).
So yesterday after conference I came home rip, roaring and ready to turn a new page. To start a new tradition. To jump back on the "F" bandwagon. I was so pumped that I printed of hundreds and hundreds of FHE ideas for us, filed them according to topic and even told John that he is in charge of next weeks lesson. (I am doing today's). See we used to have FHE all the time when it was just John and I. And occasionally when Isaac was little, but once he became mobile FHE died, and fast. Then once he got to an age that he might understand what we are talking about, I never knew where to start, and how to make it interesting for a 2 yr old. Well ladies and gentleman I am here to tell you that the church has thought about us with little ones. And have made it really really easy to do.
Step 1. Make the commitment to change TODAY!!
Step 2. Go to Friends in PDF
Step 3. Pick any year between 2001-2008
Step 4. Select the November Issue
Step 5. Scroll through until you find something that will work for your family and kids. Pick something simple, and something that you can plan in a few mins.
Step 6. Assign someone next week
See it is simple.
Some other things that I took away from conference this weekend. Be prepare: food storage, debit, and family gardens. Anyone can be a missionary. A 15 yr old in our stake talked about a life changing sentence that his YM leader told him: Don't ask Heavenly Father to "help you find people that are ready to hear the gospel" but ask him instead "to help those that are looking for the gospel find you". So this teenage boy did just that. And when the new school year started he was in one of his classes, and was sitting next to this kid, which he describe as "someone that looked like they didn't like to talk alot" but boy was he wrong, he stated. He told how the boy and him became good friends. And one day the boy asked if he was LDS? Yes he responded. His new friend told him about how much he loved the church and how he always wanted that in his life. The teenager of course flabbergasted, listened intently as his new friend told of how he had taken the discussion awhile ago, and now he wanted to be baptized. WOW!! Hows that for your prayers being answered. See anyone can do it.
Just so you know THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!
1. Frequent Temple Attendance
2. Family Home Evenings
3. Family Scripture Study
4. Family Prayer
5. Family Council
6. Family Fun
7. Family Service
And President Walker talked about them again. But this time it really hit me! I already know that those things were important, and yah we try to do those things sometimes, but we just outright suck at some of them (FHE).
So yesterday after conference I came home rip, roaring and ready to turn a new page. To start a new tradition. To jump back on the "F" bandwagon. I was so pumped that I printed of hundreds and hundreds of FHE ideas for us, filed them according to topic and even told John that he is in charge of next weeks lesson. (I am doing today's). See we used to have FHE all the time when it was just John and I. And occasionally when Isaac was little, but once he became mobile FHE died, and fast. Then once he got to an age that he might understand what we are talking about, I never knew where to start, and how to make it interesting for a 2 yr old. Well ladies and gentleman I am here to tell you that the church has thought about us with little ones. And have made it really really easy to do.
Step 1. Make the commitment to change TODAY!!
Step 2. Go to Friends in PDF
Step 3. Pick any year between 2001-2008
Step 4. Select the November Issue
Step 5. Scroll through until you find something that will work for your family and kids. Pick something simple, and something that you can plan in a few mins.
Step 6. Assign someone next week
See it is simple.
Some other things that I took away from conference this weekend. Be prepare: food storage, debit, and family gardens. Anyone can be a missionary. A 15 yr old in our stake talked about a life changing sentence that his YM leader told him: Don't ask Heavenly Father to "help you find people that are ready to hear the gospel" but ask him instead "to help those that are looking for the gospel find you". So this teenage boy did just that. And when the new school year started he was in one of his classes, and was sitting next to this kid, which he describe as "someone that looked like they didn't like to talk alot" but boy was he wrong, he stated. He told how the boy and him became good friends. And one day the boy asked if he was LDS? Yes he responded. His new friend told him about how much he loved the church and how he always wanted that in his life. The teenager of course flabbergasted, listened intently as his new friend told of how he had taken the discussion awhile ago, and now he wanted to be baptized. WOW!! Hows that for your prayers being answered. See anyone can do it.
Just so you know THE CHURCH IS TRUE!!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Day 5
We got up early cause we had to go listen to a timeshare presentation for Wyndham. We both went in with the idea that we already have a timeshare and we don't need another. But Wyndham is RCI's (which is what we have now) parent company and way better and has more options. It is kinda like Toyota versus Lexus. Made by the same people, but one is just fancier by nature. Well we currently have a "Toyota" timeshare. And if I hadn't just spent 8 months away from John to become debt free, then I might have opted for the "Lexus" of timeshares. I really wanted to do it, it is such a better deal. But every "Lexus" as pimped out as they come has a hefty price tag that comes with them.
After our timeshare presentation we had our massages, this was greatly needed since I was still hurting from Billy. I did inform them that I had recently been thrown from a horse. They did what I can only imagine was some sorta spine alignment test, and they told me that I was good to get a massage. YES!! OH it was wonderful and relaxing and OMGoodness!!
After our 80 min massages we were feeling much much better. I was still sore, but 100% better. We meet with Leland and Whitney for lunch at Bubba Gumps, which is RIGHT on the water. As we waited for our lunches to arrive we watched the waves come in and go out, and every time a bigger wave came in you could see fish in the wave. It was pretty cool.
After lunch we went back to the resort to drop the car off, cause we wanted to walk through Kona. We really hadn't had the time to do "touristy" things. Since we had time before the Luau that night we decided to take that time to get out and see some sights
First we stopped and took some pictures of the resort we stayed in which was very very nice, thanks Whit and Leland
This hot tub was very cool. It has a sand bottom. And a nice shallow end that you could lounge in along with lava rock walls
We found out what The Niu's last name meant
Since I didn't have kids to be impatient I wanted to stop and take artsy pictures, but I did have one kid... Are you done yet?!
Another black crab for John
I also wanted to take pictures of weird signs and statues that were in Kona and other places on the island
OK Yes John is talking to a statue and yes he has a goatee, thanks for growing it out hun, for me
As I post these pictures for all to see, i think to myself "One might think that John didn't enjoy this vacation at all!!" He swears up and down that he did, and that he just DOESN'T smile!
Well he had a bat in the cave
As you walking down the street in Kona, suddenly in the middle of everything there was this sign
and behind the gate this is all there was
The Luau
They showed us the different was you could wear a lava-lava
The beautiful moon that night
John hates when people call him out in public, we talked about that at Bubba Gumps, when someone else was sung to for their birthday. So Whit decided that it would be funny to turn John's name in saying it was his birthday. He played it off cool. But to get back at Whit, when they needed volunteers for dancing on stage John helped point the way to Whit, which everyone in our group was calling out anyway. So he asked me to post this picture to continue to get his revenge. LOL
After our timeshare presentation we had our massages, this was greatly needed since I was still hurting from Billy. I did inform them that I had recently been thrown from a horse. They did what I can only imagine was some sorta spine alignment test, and they told me that I was good to get a massage. YES!! OH it was wonderful and relaxing and OMGoodness!!
After our 80 min massages we were feeling much much better. I was still sore, but 100% better. We meet with Leland and Whitney for lunch at Bubba Gumps, which is RIGHT on the water. As we waited for our lunches to arrive we watched the waves come in and go out, and every time a bigger wave came in you could see fish in the wave. It was pretty cool.
After lunch we went back to the resort to drop the car off, cause we wanted to walk through Kona. We really hadn't had the time to do "touristy" things. Since we had time before the Luau that night we decided to take that time to get out and see some sights
First we stopped and took some pictures of the resort we stayed in which was very very nice, thanks Whit and Leland
This hot tub was very cool. It has a sand bottom. And a nice shallow end that you could lounge in along with lava rock walls
We found out what The Niu's last name meant
Since I didn't have kids to be impatient I wanted to stop and take artsy pictures, but I did have one kid... Are you done yet?!
Another black crab for John
I also wanted to take pictures of weird signs and statues that were in Kona and other places on the island
OK Yes John is talking to a statue and yes he has a goatee, thanks for growing it out hun, for me
As I post these pictures for all to see, i think to myself "One might think that John didn't enjoy this vacation at all!!" He swears up and down that he did, and that he just DOESN'T smile!
Well he had a bat in the cave
As you walking down the street in Kona, suddenly in the middle of everything there was this sign
and behind the gate this is all there was
The Luau
They showed us the different was you could wear a lava-lava
The beautiful moon that night
John hates when people call him out in public, we talked about that at Bubba Gumps, when someone else was sung to for their birthday. So Whit decided that it would be funny to turn John's name in saying it was his birthday. He played it off cool. But to get back at Whit, when they needed volunteers for dancing on stage John helped point the way to Whit, which everyone in our group was calling out anyway. So he asked me to post this picture to continue to get his revenge. LOL
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