Pearl Harbor

We went to the huge swap meet in the Aloha Stadium and Grandma and Grandpa got the kids some cute souvenirs. Afterward, we went over to Pearl Harbor to check it out with them and take the boat to the sunken USS Arizona and the memorial. We watched a very sad and sobering video too. I think it's good to expose the kids to our history, good and bad, especially when we live right where an event happened. 

Reading the names of the fallen soldiers, and seeing the ship just beneath the water, and knowing it is the final resting place for several soldiers, was very hard to see. The kids were very touched, and we have cried about the terrible things that happened to them. They are such sweet kids and they are very sensitive to others.

frozen yogurt!

Another frozen yogurt run! This one was at Yogurtland, which we went to specifically for the spoons! So silly, but we love them. Thanks for another treat Grandma and Grandpa!

beach day

The last beach we went to with Paul's parents was the baby beach. The kids loved showing them around this beautiful island we get to call home now. 

We walked up over the rocks that break the waves and hunted for hermit crabs. They are super tiny and friendly. The kids love to pick up as many as they can and then let them down to race.

Matix brought his fishing pole and tried to catch some fish with Paul. Nothing.

Matix and Hawken caught tons of hermit crabs and Matix tried his hardest to convince me to keep them as pets. We didn't.

We played until dark and loved our time there. Such a beautiful beach day.

sleepy

Our house turns into the napping house each day, and it's my favorite time of day. The kids are so sweet when they're sleepy. And when they wake up and snuggle. It's the best.  When Grandpa and Grandma come, they even take a nap or two. :)

huh?

Stacy took me shopping and we found this gem in H&M... I should have bought it. I love it. Ha ha ha ha... Why would they make this?!  This is an adult sweater.

Waimea Falls

Waimea Falls is a state park here and we had been wanting to go. It is a beautifully taken care of garden park. It's full of native Hawaiian plants, flowers, fruits and trees.  There are lots of plant pictures in this post, which I don't normally do, but it was too beautiful.  

This cannonball fruit turns green inside, just after opening. Very strange, and amazing. We didn't eat it.

The best way to travel on a hike.

The kids still call Auntie Colleen, "Auntie Coco" sometimes, and we found her garden!

More flowers and plants from the walk to the falls. It is so beautiful here!

We got to the falls! Since we got there just before the park closed, and the sun was setting, it wasn't very busy. But that sun going down also meant the water was CHILLY. It was hard to get in, but when you have the chance to swim in the pool of a waterfall, you can't turn it down! We had to wear the life vests they provided and there was a lifeguard on duty, but there was hardly a current that day. It must be more treacherous after a heavy rain.

After we were there a few minutes, the Flores family showed up! It's always fun with friends.  It's such a beautiful park. We sort of rushed through, in hopes of making it to Matsumoto's (we didn't), so we will definitely be going back at some point. There is so much to see. We loved it.