Most of January was spent anticipating our trip to Hawaii at the end of the month. Chicago was particularly grey and dreary and with weather on Oahu looking like this:
we couldn't help it! A few notable things happened this month though and I need to get those in the record.
I got a Wordle on only two tries. That needs to be in the record, for sure!
Ireland was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. It's always interesting mingling with other parents at events like this versus other events. There's an air of cheering on each other's kids as well as understanding they likely got here because the parents put in some serious time and effort making sure school is a priority.
When the occasion requires nice dress, it is now trendy for girls to wear a short dress with some sort of high top like Converse or Vans. Ireland has a deep closet of church-appropriate clothes and has been wearing low heels for years. She stood up to accept her certificate and suddenly she looked so grown up and polished. My mama heart was bursting with pride over this one who works so hard in school.
There was a Primary pancake breakfast to meet new teachers for the year and the placemats were fantastic! The word search has all the kid's names in it- how cool is that?
We love our bishop! A man who is ready to get down and play with the kids and let them know they matter is just the one you want at the helm of the ship.
The girls absolutely adore him!
In Hawaii my phone wasn't holding a charge so I finally replaced it. Liesel was more excited to play with it than I was so I had to tease her a bit when she texted me.
Our bench at church has kind of become the babysitting bench. We welcome all children to come sit with us and one of them is Russell who is the sweetest little boy. Here he is singing and mimicking the director in leading the music. After the sacrament I was passing out Altoids to keep everyone's breath fresh and he insisted he wanted one. That was a bad idea! After 15 minutes he reappeared at our bench and said, "I'm baaaaack! And I had a drink so I'm not spicy anymore!"
Sydney stumbled into the office one morning and solemnly announced she is a Swifty. So of course I had to plait an Evermore braid into her hair and take a picture in the backyard even though I had work to do and she had a bus to catch. I mean I had to, right?
Saw this one and it made me laugh. I'm so grateful for my friend Annemarie who I walk with often. Those walks are a sacred time but also- sometimes we really need to vent and we can definitely get worked up about life.
Liesel was inducted into Tri-M which is a Music Honor Society. It was an insanely busy night so she's actually wearing a leotard from dance and I brought a skirt I thought would work. She wore her high top Vans- ha! Here she is pointing out her name to the announcer. Someone walked right in front of my camera when she actually walked across the stage to receive her certificate so this is the best I have from that moment.
Her high school has a really good group of kids and her teacher was a bit late. The kids all cheered when she arrived which was really heartwarming. It took a bit of convincing to get Liesel to take choir in the first place but she's really blooming there.
See? Some other stuff not related to Hawaii happened!
I've delayed working on this post I think because even though we said goodbye to Hawaii a while ago, if I didn't write it up then somehow it's still in my present, not in my past. I realize that makes no sense, but really, Hawaii was such an incredible adventure for our family and I will forever be grateful.
On our final day, Brent and I were up bright and early to meet family at the temple for Reagan and Doug's sealing. It was so beautiful and peaceful, I could scarce believe we were there.
We rushed back to the Vrbo to pack up and take one more longing look at that gorgeous ocean view we had enjoyed so much!
Everyone was meeting at the Polynesian Cultural Center which we had popped by before the sealing. I fell in LOVE with Hawaiian bread! This was just buttered but when we returned with the girls, the chef in the food truck offered to put peanut butter on it. That is was heaven tastes like. It was divine. The peanut butter must have had some honey in it because it was a bit on the sweet side and with that thick, buttered toast... I'm drooling just thinking about it.
We headed inside and man, if we could change one thing about our time in Hawaii it is that we would have spent much more time at the PCC. The demonstrations were so incredible and entertaining and we were blown away by all there was to see and do.
Somehow Joey got his hands on a Jazzy scooter for my dad and it became a THING! He guarded that little scooter with his life and had plenty of fun using it as well.
My dreams of the girls trying out some hula dancing came true!!!
The buffet was incredible! I'm glad we raised the girls to not be food fussies- here Ireland tried out a taro roll which is just as pleasantly purple as it appears in the photo! The braided crown was something we picked up at the gift shop along with a nice, big conch shell which I'd been wanting to snag before we left the island. Sydney and I also grabbed some cute frames for the house.
The fresh fruit was fantastic and the display was just stunning! You can see Ireland also loaded up on kiwi and I couldn't help but grab some as well.
Did I mention they also served Dole Whips? YUM! The grounds were beautiful and included a river where you could take a boat ride to see the various villages. These trees with roots growing over the rocks were super cool.
One of the things I loved the most is how the girls scattered to be with different friends and family. Natalie sent me this video and the thought that my daughter was showing off her ukulele skills to my BYU roommate just warmed the cockles of my heart.
Brititta and Bailey were two peas in a pod.
The performance Ha- Breath of Life was unbelievable. Liesel commented that there was so much to look at, her ADD was just on fire. Speaking of fire, there were fire effects and fire walks and fire dancers. The costumes and dances from so many beautiful parts of the world was just candy for the eyes. As soon as it was over, we had to rush to the airport and so we did a big group hug and said goodbye.
As reality set in, Gita's emotions did as well. She sobbed and sobbed and sobbed. Hawaii really made it's impression on her little soul.
When the airline attendants did their safety schpiel, Ireland obediently pulled out the pamphlet and studiously examined it. That endeared her to him and he was incredibly kind to her throughout the flight. He gave her fist bumps and treats which was really sweet.
Another layover in LAX and we were on our final leg to Sweet Home Chicago.
We descended from a bright sun against an azure sky into a thick soup of grey clouds that was never-ending. When it felt like we would finally emerge and catch a glimpse of the city below us, the plane abruptly accelerated back up, up, up. Ireland nearly hyperventilated and I grasped my arm rest so hard the whites of my knuckles showed. The captain said the control tower told them we were too close to a Southwest flight and we needed to get out of the way and circle the runway again.
Eventually we did land and as we taxied to our gate we passed an army of snow plows readying to clear the runway. I was already missing the warm sun but I have to say I was really proud to see that. Yes we have winters, but Chicago knows how to handle the winter!
Everyone was happy to sleep in their own bed again and we fell into them awash with so many incredible memories!
I was told the Diamondhead sunrise hike was not to be missed by several people who had actually done it. I've already mentioned the required reservation no one mentioned and this was our redemption day where we returned triumphant, reservation in hand.
Ironically, this sign is not visible for those who do the sunrise hike since it's still dark when you begin.
Initially the hike seemed like a nice, paved, slightly uphill bike path. Then the pavement soon gave way to the dirt trail and things got a little harder. There was a tunnel in which the echoes of everyone breathing hard could be heard. I'd been told there is an option to go to the right which leads to a very long stairway or to the left. There were still stairs when choosing the left, but there were also a couple of places to stop and take in the view. Well, as much of the view as the darkness of early morning would allow anyway.
Just before this we ran into a couple of people coming down- they'd arrived first and ran the entire thing! We finally made it to the top, top and that is where the reservation requirement suddenly made sense.
It was packed. I mean really packed and people jostled each other with a steady eye on the horizon and an unflinching refusal to make room for others. Brent overheard a little boy ask his mom over and over, "So there's no way it can explode? You're sure it can't explode?" Gave us a chuckle.
I heard another person comment, "Yeah there's the photos you see online and then there's reality." Sunrise was another 20 minutes off when I turned to Brent and suggested we catch that sunrise on the way back down. No matter how beautiful the sunrise was, I simply wasn't going to be able to enjoy it. He asked if I was sure and yeah- I was sure. We decided to go down using the other trail.
Here's a diagram of the Fire Control Station we would be using.
It was an awkward duck and kneel situation to get into it in the first place.
Luckily we had the tight, spiral staircase all to ourselves.
On the other side of this tunnel were the 99 stairs we'd heard so much about.
It's pretty narrow as you can see and there was a mom with her teenage son about to come up so I paused to give way. The son bounded up those steps and yelled, "C'mon Mom!" over his shoulder. I could see the trepidation so I pulled out my phone, opened my music and played the theme to Rocky. "You've got this!" I encouraged.
The mom smiled at me and as she made her way steadily up those stairs said, "Yes, ok, I can do this." Finally we both made it down to the bottom of those stairs but I let the music play.
It echoed through the steep tunnel and as we passed by people they gave me a wry smile. After that Brent pulled up The Climb by Miley Cyrus but that didn't get quite as positive a reaction. Regardless, we were really enjoying this time together. We aren't campers but we definitely enjoy a good hike! We were also relishing this new stage of life where our kids are grown up enough that we can sneak away to do this kind of thing. We were both slicked in sweat and having the time of our lives just being together on this little adventure.
Some nice tourists took our picture if we agreed to take theirs and we headed back to the resort invigorated.
I joked with Brent on the way home that maybe just being in Hawaii means you get spammed? My phone was lighting up all the time!
There's really no better way to cool off from a hike than to spend time in the pool. I'm a huge fan of Sigfried and Joy on TikTok and they agreed to help me make a video so I could tag them. Not gonna lie, I rewatched this a lot and laughed every time!
After a lot of hair and makeup, we headed to the wedding venue for the big day! I knew Reagan would look stunning, but it was so good to see my mom all fancied up too! Katrina had taken Mom and Dad to a salon for some TLC the day before and then Whitney did hair and makeup that morning.
I love a room with feminine energy! This is where I feel at home.
I barely saw my cousins growing up and I love it when the girls can get time with theirs.
They have some pretty fantastic cousins after all!
I'm getting ahead of myself. We were able to get a family photo before the official festivities.
There was a minor crisis with a grey eyebrow hair but aside from that, everything was running smoothly!
Liesel came in on the arm of Clayton
Ireland with Logan
Brigitta and Sydney came together.
It was a huge wedding party but I think Reagan and Doug did it right by involving so many of the cousins because you can see they were positively thrilled to be a part of it. Gita and Sydney in particular were strutting their stuff and they looked adorable in their yellow dresses. I'm told Noah and Eli decided exactly what they were going to do just 15 minutes prior. It was fantastic, so funny and by far the best flower men entrance I've ever seen!
As a fan of the movie 27 Dresses, when the bride made her entrance, I decided to watch the groom instead. His reaction made me tear up a bit. He loves my sister so much and after years of heartbreak, that's all I want for both of them.
The ceremony was amazing- so touching and heartfelt. The woman who officiated did the whole thing from memory and it was beautiful. The girls really enjoyed it too.
Everyone was brimming with joy for these two!
Mom and Dad looked so great!
Here they are with all their 17 grandchildren.
The wedding was at Kualoa Ranch and no matter where you aim your camera the view is stunning. Those lush mountains are almost unreal in this photos of these cute girls!
It was time to party and the girls had promised Reagan they would dance. Man alive, they made good on that promise! They danced until their feet hurt. The wedding party came down in their pairs and did a little dance to start things off.
For me this one was the money shot. Brigitta and Sydney don't actually get along very much. If there is fighting, 9 times out of 10 it is these two. Somehow the photographer caught them in their youthful joy dancing their hearts out. If you look closely, you can see neither of their feet are touching the ground. They are literally kicking up their heels!
This is my all-time favorite picture of Ireland on the trip. Again, so happy and doesn't that pineapple drink just look delicious?!
This is getting to be the longest post ever so I'll try to wrap this up!
Rockwell was having a hard time so my focus completely shifted to him for much of the evening. We left the crowd for a bit and he laid down and cried. Even though this was a happy change in his family dynamic, it was a change nonetheless. Once I was able to sneak him some dessert he perked up quite a bit. There was an absolutely incredible program with hula dancers and fire spinners. You can see how mesmerized Sydney was!
Whitney and Tim's gender reveal was done by changing the lights of the tent and when they turned pink my daughters screamed with utter delight. They passed out chocolate cigars for everyone. Whitney was told it's considered unlucky for a woman to wear a closed lei so they cut hers for her.
I adore this picture of Brent. It's not often that he completely lets go and thoroughly enjoys himself and the photographer captured it.
We danced and danced and danced. Dad even got up with his walker and bounced up and down and we all went wild.
