January 19, 2015

As today was a holiday from public school we had the kids today also because it was Nathan's weekend.

Luckily we got to sleep in some because we did not have to be to the office early.  We woke about 7:45 a.m. and as the kids were still sleeping we read our scriptures and said our prayers together and then we began to fix breakfast.  The smell of bacon of course brought the kids awake.  We made pancakes and bacon and eggs.  Most of the kids wanted chocolate milk with their breakfast.  Some of them would not eat the eggs because we cooked them in bacon grease and they had brown spots in them.  They sure tasted good though.

The kids and Nathan watched a My Little Pony movie about the Equestrian Girls for a while after as Nathan tried to organize them into what they needed to do this morning.  He wanted to work with Isaac on his requirements for his Bear Badge and so he let the others watch the movie while he tried to work with Isaac.  They eventually finished the one on Famous Americans with help from Larry and I.  Isaac was having a hard time concentrating with the movie on.

Then he took all the kids out to his van and they helped him clean it on the inside.  They are getting pretty good at it as they have done it several times now.  That is when Larry and I took the time to get our showers and get dressed.

Maggie was hungry at about 11:30 a.m. because she didn't finish her breakfast so we had lunch.  Most of the kids wanted chocolate milk and popcorn but the rest of us had left over calazones from Saturday night and hamburgers from Sunday night.

When they came in they put another movie on and we watched it during lunch and Nathan was trying to work with them but it wasn't working very good.  Larry and I went in the bedroom until the Movie was over.  At that time Larry had to go to the mission office to get the vans and trailers that they use for transfers.

When the movie was over I suggested that we turn off the movies and work on the Pinewood Derby cars that the kids had been excited to make all weekend.  So we turned off the movie and Maggie, Sammy, and Isaac began to draw the picture of what they wanted their car to look like.  Sammy drew a picture on the paper and then got very upset when Nathan asked him to draw it on the car.  Nathan asked him to draw it with the wheel sites up and he was really upset because then the wheels wouldn't work.  Nathan has built many championship cars so he patiently explained that they could make new wheel sockets so then Sammy calmed down just to get upset because he did not know how to draw the picture on the block of wood.  When I offered to help him he calmed down again.

When it was time to cut them I realized that I would have to do the cutting and as I had never worked with the hand saw that Nathan had I was a little apprehensive.  I called Larry to see if he could come and help me but of course he couldn't so I went to the garage and got some clamps of Nathan's out and clamped the wood to the outside porch railing and started sawing.  Before that I had to say a prayer for courage but after about an hour of sawing I finally had all three cars cut out.  I got as many points on my active link as if I had walked a half hours so I guess it was worth it.

Nathan had the kids file the cars smoother and then they decided to stop for today.  Then they put on another movie.  I worked a little at uploading pictures for the blog and looking at Facebook on my phone but I was really tired.

It was really warm today in the 60's so I like San Antonio in the winter.  I remembered that the kids wanted to go to the hot tubs to swim  for a while so I asked Nathan if he wanted to do that but he thought that we did not have enough time.  So he paused the movie and had the kids clean up all their stuff from the living room and put it away in his bed room.  Then I started to make dinner.  I specifically asked the kids what they wanted and made what they wanted but Isaac decided his was not good and Maggie decided she didn't want hers either because I had put on a Yo Gabba Gabba for her to look at while I made it and the other meals.  It was a little frustrating.

Larry came home just as we were finishing fixing the dinner.  I felt like I was a chicken with it's head cut off running around to all the demands of Grandma fix this and Grandma fix that.  I was glad to see him.

We got the kids ready after dinner and then we took them home.  We thought that we had thought of everything and then when we got back there sat Maggies dance bag that her mother will need for next week.  So I put that and some papers from Primary on the snack bar and thought we would take it for Thursday when we had the kids.  Larry and I were really tired so we got ready and went to bed at 8:30 p.m.  Shortly after that I got a text from David saying that he had left his wallets with his military ID in them by the end of the table and so after thinking about it for a while I decided to take them to them tonight as I hate getting up earlier in the morning than we already do.  So I took all the things to Converse, a half hour trip one way, tonight so that they would have them in the morning.  Somewhere along the way I got the courage to write down what we did today for the blog.

When I got home Nathan had showered and wanted help getting in bed.  So I helped him and wrote this and now I am going to do the same.

January 18th and before

Maggie's dance class this week

We had Nathan's kids this weekend.  There have been some good moments but for the most part Maggie is upset about something and she has been telling me and Nathan and Larry that she hates us all weekend from time to time.  I guess she has finally figured out that the arrangement of going to dad's ever other weekend and on Thursday's is permanent.  She told Nathan last time they were here that he needed to come back to the house and not live with Grandma and Grandpa.  This time she just kept telling us that she wanted to go home.  Divorce is hard on kids.

We have a later church now that the new year has come.  We go at 11:00 a.m.  so you would think that we could get to church on time.  Today was one of the most embarrassing days of my life and it was mostly my fault.  We got up early and fixed breakfast for the kids.  Then we all showered and got ready for church.  I thought it was about 10:00 a.m. so I decided to get some hot dogs for the kids so they would not be hungry at church.  All of a sudden Nathan got upset and said we have to go and we looked at the clock and it was 10:58 a.m. and we have to drive 20 minutes to church.  David had to speak in church in Sacrament meeting and we were late!!!! We hurried and got in the van and drove there.  Nathan texted the Bishop that we were coming.  When we got there they were singing and I thought it might be the sacrament song but it turns out it was the intermediate hymn.  We walked in and David walked up to the stand.  I was proud of him.  Then the song ended and the Bishop got up and announced that David would be speaking.  He gave a good talk.  He did not act nervous and talked appropriately.  But I cannot remember ever being that late to Sacrament.  The High Counselor talked after him but I cannot remember what he talked about.  I have forgotten.  But I was so impressed with David.  He could have not wanted to go up and such but he just walked up and gave his talk.

Maggie on the Second row in the purple

We had a great lesson on the importance of Prayer in Relief Society.  The Spirit bore witness to me that we needed to have better Family Prayer together.  I was so excited but then we went home and everyone kind of went off and did their own thing and I couldn't seem to get myself to do anything about it.  Later it seemed that Satan was laughing at me.  I got a very dark feeling and had a hard time shaking it.

In the afternoon the kids and I played a game of Life and that was fun.  I feel like we need to do more of things together but for this week it seemed that Larry and Nathan were off wanting to do their own thing.

Saturday we slept in but we had to get Maggie to dance at 10:00 a.m. so we finally got going and she was actually a little early.  Sara met us there with her dance shoes because she had forgot them the night before when she brought the kids.

After going to dance with Maggie, Nathan wanted to go and get the kids bank accounts so we went to the Chase Bank close to us because Nathan is banking with Chase.  He worked with the guy and we just waited and tried to watch the kids.  It seemed like it took them forever.  At least an hour and a half.  I don't know what took so long but by the time we got out of there it was almost 1:00 p.m.  The kids and I were hungry and we were all tired.

But, Larry and Nathan decided to go get gas and go through the car wash.  That took another half hour at least.  But then we went to the Dairy Queen.  I love Dairy Queen but going there signals eat ice cream in my mind and heart so I had to get a blizzard.  When I looked up the points I found out that the one I got was 22 points and it was a small!!!!  I forgot that they have mini's and they are more economical for points.

Nathan worked with the kids on some scout things and we watched some movies in the evening on Saturday.

I don't remember what we did on Monday and Tuesday of the week.  We were working on getting caught up still.  We went to Weight Watchers and I lost a little but it was not as much as I gained the week before.

Wednesday we worked with the office again.  In the evening we went to take the kids to Scouts.  We have started picking up Sammy and Isaac and then going to get Maggie from school.  That way we can get Isaac to Bear's on time because it takes Sara so long to get all of them.  She picks up David at his school and then meets us at the church and we give her Sammy and Maggie and she gives us David.  Then we go help in the Family History Center while they are in Scouts.  Wednesday night no one showed up even though they said that they would.  So Larry and I worked on some things on our families.  I was frustrated because I went on Family Tree and someone had marked my Mom and Uncles Reed and Lynn and Aunt Hilda as deceased even though they are very much alive.  So I called Mom to make sure she was alive.  She was and she told me she would have told me if one of my Aunts and Uncles were dead.  I sent in a feedback on it for each of them and hopefully they are back alive but it was frustrating to me that someone would do that.

Thursday we went to Wounded Warriers Bingo Night with the kids.  We always have a good time.  Nathan was having a good time but then he won the Cow that they always have for one of the gifts and that seemed to give him a lift and help him feel better.

Thursday Nathan hired a lady from the ward to come and clean for us.  Then he had her take him to take the papers in to the base about his divorce.  He told Sara and she assumed that she had to take her ID into the office immediately and so they would not let her go get David so she was not able to pick up David from school because he goes to school on Randolph Air Force Base.  She was upset so it caused lots of problems getting the kids to Bingo night.  But we eventually got everyone there.  Sara had a rant on Facebook about it because she didn't see the things as Nathan did, so if you wondered what it was about that is that.

The next morning we had to get up at 5:30 and go out to take David to school because he had lost his ID.  Nathan got him an ID and then he bought him a wallet to keep it in with a clip and another wallet for other things.  Then we took him to school.

The kids came on Friday night and we had a home night David had wanted me to make a Cheesy Calazones recipe he found in a kids cookbook we have.  I made them and they tasted really good and some of the kids ate them but I have a feeling that they will not eat them again.  They are not real pizza even though they are made from the same ingredients.  But we love the kids and are so glad we have time to spend with them someday they will learn to like real food!!!

January 11th and before including Christmas with the kids

Nathan wearing the glasses the kids gave him as a gag gift

We arrived home on the 27th of December in the afternoon.  After flying all night we had no desire except to sleep.  So we spent some of the time resting but we had to go shopping for some things for the kids who were coming on Sunday.  Nathan had already flown in the night before from Utah and Reed Johnson picked him up from the airport and brought him home.

Maggie wearing the glasses

Isaac in the van

Sunday we went to church and then the kids were able to come after 1:00 p.m.  They had arrived home late with Sara from having Christmas with her Dad in Missouri.  We had a good time opening gifts and showing each other what we had got on our other trips and such.  Nathan bought the kids more of something on an online game called Roblox and he also got them season passes to Splashtown a local water park here.  Because we had seen what fun good snorkeling equipment can make snorkeling and they have the pool at our apartment to practice in we decided to get the kids some good snorkeling equipment.

David in the Van

The next day we took Maggie to get her Christmas Present.  Because Nathan knows how natural Maggie is for dancing he bought her all the equipment for dance lessons and then is paying for the Dance lessons every week on Saturday.  That way both Sara and we can take her to dance lessons.  She was so excited.  She wanted to go that day but they didn't start the lessons for two weeks.  I let her wear her dance leotard when she got home and that seemed to satisfy her.

We had the kids for the rest of Christmas Vacation until after the New Year when they went back to school.  Unfortunately we had to work at the mission.  Because Sara stipulated that she wanted and Nathan agreed to it that he had to have someone who was a responsible adult to be with the kids at all times or ourselves in the divorce agreement, we had to find someone to be with Nathan each of the days while we were at the mission office.  Woodlake ward was really good to provide someone each of the days that we needed it.  Although about 5 of the days were the Relief Society President or her family members.  I felt bad for all of the time it was taking her away from her family.

Maggie in a selfie

On Monday after we went to dance lesson signups James Johnson came to stay.  I felt bad because while he was there Maggie threw up all over her leotard and some of the floor and he was good to clean it up.  Maggie did not have the stomach flu but seemed to be throwing up with flem each time she got too congested.  Sara had brought her to us that way and so it continued on after.  That was actually the only time she threw up while with us but Isaac started getting it the night before he went home and had a high fever.

Maggie the first time wearing the leotard.

Pizza on New Year's Eve

I was proud of Nathan.  He did most of the stuff with the kids and took good care of them.  They were a little disgruntled that he took away their electronics during the day but it was amazing how much better they played together and especially David acted happier and more caring to his brothers and sister.  They went to the fitness center a lot.  He took them out to eat several times.  One time they went to meet other Mother's at a play group at a restaurant.  They watched movies and played games. Maren's family had Nathan's family name for Christmas and she bought them the game of life zapped edition and they have really liked that.  They got the Dr. Who edition of Yahtzee and we gave them Uno but the Life game was played the most.  The Yathzee game came with a Tardis to put everything in when you store it and so we now have a Tardis to decorate our dinning room lol
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Laughing at America's Funniest Home Videos on New Years Eve

On New Year's Eve we bought pizza and all the trimmings for dinner and decided to have a family game night.  We played several games ending up with Life.  The kids wanted to stay up for dinner but by 11:30 Maggie was so grouchy that I laid down with her and got her to sleep.  Sammy fell asleep also in his dad's bed before that.  David and Isaac said that they were going to stay up until Midnight but we turned on the TV to see if we could see the apple drop in New York like we do in Utah but it was full of San Antonio celebrations and we were able to see the fireworks that they had in San Antonio but David and Isaac were asleep before they came on,  together on the couch.  So I took some pictures of them and we all went to bed.

Maggie sleeping on New Years Eve

On the third we went to the Northstar Mall to do several things.  Nathan got him a new phone because he thought that his was broken but later we figured out that the booster that we have for Sprint at our apartment was not working properly.  Someone had put the antenna behind the TV to get it out of the way and so it was not working.  We had to call Sprint to learn this.  Not only is Nathan's service on Sprint but our mission phones are also on Sprint so we had a few days where getting phone calls was a chore.  One time I just had to call the missionaries on my own phone that is through AT&T.  I don't know why Sprint is so weak here but it is. 

Isaac and David asleep on the couch

Sammy asleep in his dad's bed.

Sammy's haircut.

The kids also had some gift certificates to Build a Bear and to Lego Store.  Unfortunately they only had $10.00 so Nathan ended up having to supplement them to help them get what they and we thought was economical.  The have a thing that you can build three figures for $10.00 but we did not think that was very economical so we steered them towards getting a set.  While we were there Maggie built about $70.00 worth of people 21 to be exact and so I took a picture of all the people she built.  Isaac was able to get some shoes for Monkey Toes, his monkey that he has had since he was born but Nathan had to buy the skates he wanted to go with them at Build a Bear.  Nathan and I thought Maggie had a card so we let her look for something.  She actually found a small pink bear for $10.00 that was cute but Nathan had to pay to put the Frozen song,"Let it go" inside.  Sammy found a dog that he wanted that was regular size but it was $20.00 so Nathan just let him get the Dog, stuff it and get a birth certificate but we did not buy clothes for it.

Maggie's pony all redone

We also took the kids to get hair cuts.  I guess Sara was afraid that we would make them cut it shorter than she likes so she asked that we text her their picture.  David went to a place in the mall that he likes but they were so expensive that we just took Isaac and Sammy to WalMart.  We ate at the mall in the food court and then went home.  It was a long day but I got lots of activity points!

Maggie with all the characters she built at Lego Store

Isaac with his Lego creation

David's Haircut

David went home that evening because he had school the next day but we had the other kids until the 4th because they did not go back to school until the next day. Nathan wanted to take them all out to dinner before they left so we went to Applebee's.  While we were there Isaac got really sad and meloncholy I thought that maybe he was sad because David got to go home to Mom and he didn't but when we got home he said he didn't feel good so I gave him so Children's Advil after that he brightened up and Isaac, Maggie and Sammy and I played a game of Life when we got home, while Larry and Nathan took David home.  Later however Isaac got a high fever again but claimed he was fine and we ended up taking him to Sara that way.

Isaac with Monkey Toes and his new shoes and skates

Nathan's birthday is on the 7th of January.  He is 41 this year.  Because we had just taken the kids back a few days before he decided to wait until we saw the kids on the 8th to celebrate it with them.  We took Nathan with us to the office in the afternoon and then we went to dinner for birthday on the 7th.  He wanted to go to an East Indian restaurant and so we found one that was recommended called the Bombay Hall.  We liked the food there.  They had a buffet or you could order.  Nathan ordered and Larry and I had the buffet.  We liked it because it was more chicken and fish than lamb like some of the Indian restaurants in Utah.

Isaac's hair cut

That evening we went to the church to help Brother Turnbaugh with his family history.  We would have picked up the boys for scouts but Isaac was still sick.  It was fun to get to know Bro. Turnbaugh.  He comes to church alone so I thought he was single but his wife is bipolar and she has decided not to come.  We had a great time introducing him to the Family Search website and seeing for ourselves the new things that have been added there.  We were able to find him about 5 names that can be taken to the temple.

The scarf the kids gave me for Christmas

Birthday boy with Sammy

On Thursday night, the 8th of January we had the kids to celebrate Nathan's birthday. We went to an Italian restaurant called Papa Dantes in Converse.  They had really good Italian food.  The kids seemed to enjoy the place but Maggie was pretty grumpy because she had just woke up until they brought the food.  We told them it was Nathan's birthday and they brought him a huge slice of chocolate cake which was enough for all the kids and him.  Larry and I ordered turtle cheesecake.  We didn't have any candles but we sang Happy Birthday to him and he seemed to enjoy the night.

Nathan with Maggie

Larry at Papa Dante's Restaurant

Nathan has had several examples of the fact that he is getting happier.  He is also taking charge of his own life.  He is taking more responsibility for the children when they are here and he is working to overcome the challenges that he has been given.  I think that his mind is clearer and he is not getting so angry now.  He is trying to deal with more issues in his life.  He was releaved to have his Divorce Decree Signed by the Judge on Dec. 29th.

Plenty of food

Larry and I were trying to get caught up during all of this at the mission.  I had about 100 referrals to get put in and several of the old referrals had to be caught up in the new referral system.  I also had almost a whole month of Baptism and Confirmation certificates to put it.  Also it was MLC the first week when we got back and so I had to get orders ready for that.  Luckily I ordered the supplies before I left for Hawaii and so I had what I needed to get the orders out.  I got lots of activity points that week.  Larry had several car accidents that he had to get caught up on and work through the system.

Nathan with his birthday cake

We didn't have the kids on the 10th but Sara sent some pictures of Maggie starting her dance lessons.  She really liked it but has already decided that she does not like tapping.  I didn't think I would like not being able to see the kids each weekend but It gives Larry and I a chance to catch our breath and get some paperwork and housecleaning done and rest a little more and that is much needed sometimes.

Sunday's Sacrament subject was on making new year's resolutions.  Two friend of ours Andrea and Erik Alonzo spoke on the importance of making goals at this time of year.  Erik really cut his talk short but then we learned that his brother who is the Bishop asked him to because he wanted to introduce the ward mission goals:

Maggie's first dance lesson

1. Every member pray for guidance to know who of their friends or relatives they can invite to church, an activity or to meet the missionaries.
2. Every member or family bring one non-member friend or relative to church and one non-member friend or relative to ward activity.
3. Have Eight (8) convert baptisms throughout the year.
4. Host TWO (2) gospel-sharing focused devotionals or activities throughout the year.

I was excited to see this as there are many people in the Woodlake area that still need to hear the Good News of Christ.  I get a lot of referrals from Woodlake and I hope that some of them will listen to the missionaries so that they can have a happier life.  I have seen so many people change their life for the better and become happier that I know that the Gospel that Jesus offers through his true church is something that comes from God and is the truth.

Our trip to Hawaii from December 18-27th 2014

The view from BJ's apartment at night

On the 18th of December we arose early at about 5:00 a.m. and went through our morning rituals and last minute packing.  About 6:00 p.m. we realized that we could not call a cab as we had planned and so we called the moving Elders to see if they could take us to the airport.  Luckily they were up early to speak to a seminary group near us and so they were able to come about 7:00 a.m. and we bought them and us breakfast at Taco Cabana and they dropped us off at the airport in time for check in and boarding and they also agreed to mail a package for us.  We love Elder Hendricks and Elder White.  They are such hard working Elders but they are also so fun to be with and it was fun to have them drop us off and see them before we left.

The view from BJ's apartment in the day looking at diamond Head

We were able to upgrade to first class for the flight from SAT to Phoenix and so that was fun plus our baggage was free.  We thought that we were going to be late for our transfer because the plane was about a half hour late in taking off in SAT but because of the time change we actually made it to our connection with time to get a snack for lunch.

The graduate

It took us about 7 hours from Phoenix to fly to Hawaii so we spent much of the day flying but when we got to Hawaii it was only 3:30 p.m. because of the 4 hour time change.  BJ met us at the airport with leis despite the fact that he had a final that afternoon at 4:00 p.m. but apparently it was a flexible time for the final so he was able to make it there with no problem after he took us to the apartment.  He was close to campus so he just rode the bus to campus.

The Hawaiian ceremony group

We relaxed and unpacked for the afternoon while he was at his final and Holly was still working.  I really liked their apartment even though it was small.  The bedroom had an opening on the lanai with a window wall and the living room also had an opening on to the lanai with a window wall.  The had little air conditioning but because they live on the 11th floor it had a breeze going through the open door most of the time and it was a great view for the most part although the view of Diamond Head was blocked by all the tall buildings that they have built in the last 25 years since I was there before and Larry was there before that.

After the diploma

BJ and Holly let us have their bedroom which I thought was very generous and they slept in the living room on an air mattress.  I was worried about this because Holly is 6 months pregnant but their air mattress was like a bed.  It even had a headboard type end and they had put their foam topper on it so I didn't feel so bad when I saw that.

The streaking Hawaiian

We slept in on the 19th.  Holly had to work and BJ had another final and needed to study for it so we told them not to worry about us as we needed to adjust to the later time schedule.  They thought that we would wake up at 4:00 a.m. and not be able to sleep but we didn't have that problem.  We did have the problem that the missionaries often called us at 6:00 a.m because that was 10:00 a.m. in San Antonio.  We considered that a miracle though because they often start calling at 7:00 a.m. in San Antonio.  I worked on getting the referrals updated that I needed to do before I could relax and Larry answered calls and watched Football most of the day.  It was fun to have the time to just work at our own pace.

BJ and Holly

Larry, June, BJ and Holly

Saturday morning began bright and early.  We had to be at the athletic center at 7:30 a.m for BJ to be there on time.  We were able to get a good seat that way.  We took a few pictures at the beginning because we got there before the doors opened.  It was so fun to be there and I was glad we had come because we were the only family BJ had at the graduation.

Part of the graduation party

The view from the overlook

It was a typical graduation but with a little Hawaiian flare thrown in.  I don't know what the ceremony that they had in old Hawaiian dress was for but it was interesting to see the costumes and watch.  I was a little shocked when three of the men turned to walk up the aisle and had nothing on except a breech cloth in back.  Later one of those who graduated in Hawaiian studies took off his cap and gown and marched off the platform with only his breech cloth on.  Fortunately he was good looking.  It caused quite a stir.

BJ bought himself a graduation present of an adjustable telephoto lense to attach to his phone so it made it easier for Holly to get some good pictures of him from where we were sitting.  It also made it easier for him to get pictures all week long.  It also made it possible to take pictures with BJ in the picture without another person.

After the ceremony we all went to one of the football fields to gather with others and take pictures.  Holly made sure that BJ had a few leis and we gave him back the leis he bought for us so he wouldn't look too neglected as some of the Polynesians had leis up to their chin and beyond.

In front of the church

At the overlook from the mountain

After graduation Holly had planned a party with several of their friends there.   They made hamburgers and had several salads at the pool.  BJ and several of his friend dressed to swim but no one ended up going swimming.  One of their friends was a lady originally from Bakersfield, California.  When Larry asked her if she knew James Slaughter, our Mission President, she said that her brother was the one that had taken over his dental practice while he was on the mission.  We concluded that it was a small world.

That evening we went to Waikiki and went to the Cheesecake factory for dinner.  As we had to wait for about an hour we walked around for awhile and saw the area.  As this was the area that we had stayed the last time I was in Hawaii about 25 years ago it was interesting to see how much it had changed.  It did not even look the same.  It had really been built up commercially and it was almost impossible to get to the beach unless you went through a hotel.  The hotels also were much bigger and finer it seemed and a lot more emphasis on designer shops.  It was all very nice but very expensive looking also.

Looking at the murals at the Punch Bowl

We had a great time at the cheesecake factory.  It is so fun in Hawaii because so many things are open air because the climate is so mild.  We also ended up sitting next to the live entertainment.  I don't know who they were but they were good at singing the songs that Larry and I grew up with and some other easy listening.

View from the deck at the Punch Bowl

Going Hawaiian on the North West Shore

Holly had to work on Sunday so we went to church with BJ.  I was thrilled that he attends church in the same building that we went to when I was there before.  Again it was fun because so many of the classrooms and the library and such are around an open courtyard.  BJ was excited to introduce us to the missionary couple in their ward because the Elder was also the Car Czar for their mission.  They had fun exchanging war stories for a few minutes.  His wife was a mission nurse so we did not have much in common with our jobs but she was fun to talk to.

Before church BJ took us on a short scenic drive that took us to the top of the mountain there in Honolulu.  It is a beautiful scenic drive and we took some pictures of the city down below.  It is very wooded with different types of greenery and a beautiful place to be.  It only took about 45 minutes for the complete drive including the overlooks that we got out and took pictures at.

At the Hawaiian Village

After we had lunch, BJ took us to the Punch Bowl Memorial Cemetary in Honolulu.  It as interesting to see all the plaques and different tributes that have been placed there.  It was particularly interesting because back in the Fall we had gone to the Museum of the Pacific War in Fredricksburg, Texas so this seemed to be a continuation of the story.  There are many murals that depict the battles of World War II and the Korean War.  There is even some memorials for the Vietnam War.  It was really interesting and it was a beautiful day to be there.  They had some construction going on so some places were torn up but on the whole it was very beautiful and informative.

Benihanas- Our Chef

On Monday BJ and Holly took us up to the North Shore on the West side of the island.  It was a rainy day and so the water was very rough but we got a few pictures of us on the shore.  We stopped at the Dole Pineapple Plantation and got some treats and looked at some of the information about the pineapple growing process and the founder of Dole.  We even shipped pineapple to Nathan for Christmas as that is what he wanted but by the time we got there it was not going to be shipped until New Year's. There was a little trailer off to the side of the road further up from Dole that sold "a great shrimp dinner," BJ and Holly said, and so we got our lunch there.  It was raining so hard that we had to  to eat it in the car but the food was great.

Holly and BJ for her birthday dinner

At the Visitor's Center with Maryn

At the temple visitor center

In front of the Hawaiian Temple in Laie

June with a warrior from Fiji for my Mother

As it was Holly's birthday we went to her favorite to eat that night, Benihanas.  It was really fun.  We walked around on Waikiki for a while and BJ took some pictures and then we went to the Benihanas in the Hawaiian Village by the Hilton there.  It was fun.  We got right in.  The people sitting with us at the table were from Denmark and they spoke English fortunately and so we talked to them for a while and spent a lot of time talking to them about the church.  This all started because I told them that my son BJ and all my children were of Danish ancestry and then we talked about BJ's mission to Italy.  They took a "He is the Gift" Pass along card and we told them that they could learn more at that website.  As usual the food was wonderful there and they brought Holly a special birthday treat in a little statue so it was a fun night all together.

On Tuesday BJ and Holly accommodated us and took us to the Polynesian Cultural Center on the Eastern side of the North Shore by Laie, Hawaii.  When we first got there we went to the Hawaiian Temple visitors center.  My niece Maryn Jenkins is serving a mission there and after a few minutes they found her and we were able to talk to her for a about 20 minutes and get some pictures with her.  While we were waiting we took some pictures and saw a movie about the beginnings of the Church in Laie.  It was a great experience.  We also met the brother of my sister Annette's roommate, Carolyn Priday, who was there on a mission.

One of the many groups dancing on the canal parade

A group from Samoa in the parade

After the temple we were able to get into the Cultural Center.  It is so amazing.  I was so glad that BJ and Holly went with us because it has changed quite a bit since I was there last.  We mapped out a plan and we were able to see just about all the villages  and then we went to the Luau.  It was a great luau.  Much more impressive entertainment than we had 25 years ago.  It has really gone to professional grade.  After that we had a few more minutes and we got pictures with the Christmas lights and then we went to the night program for the evening.  It seemed like the program was about the same but it was still amazing and the performers are so good.  It  was a late night by the time we drove home but it was a fun day and I was so excited that we were able to share it with BJ and Holly.

Tahitian Courting dance before the wedding

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay

On the 24th, Christmas Eve, is was still a little cool but BJ and Holly wanted to go to Hanama Bay and go snorkeling, so we went.  There was a really long line and we had to wait for the safety movie but once we got to the beach it was fun.  It was kind of cold but BJ wanted us to try the snorkeling first and he had new gear that Holly had bought him for Christmas.  We put the gear on but when we got in the water it was cold and I didn't want to get in but BJ just jumped into the water and said that you have to just go all in.  Larry was able to do that and he was off and swimming.  That was the motivating factor for me because the theme of the mission is to jump "all in" and I thought that President Slaughter would be disappointed if I didn't have the courage to go "all in" so I finally just dove in and tried to swim.  At first it was hard.  The fins were hard to use and I kept getting water in my air pipe.  I don't think we used fins 25 years ago.  But finally when I was having a hard time I said a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help me to relax.  I finally got into the frame of mind that when I felt like I was falling or I couldn't breath, I just relaxed and floated on my back and things were fine.  I really enjoyed it and it made me feel good when BJ said that he was proud of me and Larry for trying it because some people that had come to visit would not even try it.

Holly, BJ, June and Larry at the Hawaii Bowl

We had to hurry after snorkeling and we changed and made it to the Hawaii Bowl about a quarter late.  It was fun to be there and the game was interesting somewhat but it was not a game that several hundred people wanted to be to as the stands were very empty.  But we had a good time being with BJ and Holly and now I can say I have been to a bowl game!!

One of the many displays at the Honolulu City Grounds

We had dinner at the apartment and then Holly and BJ were excited to go and see the Christmas Lights in Honolulu at the city offices.  The have several big displays and the offices foyer is decorated with many different trees that the different departments in the city offices had made sort of like the festival of trees and they were all displayed.  It was fun to see all the different displays and I guess for Holly it fulfilled a tradition in her family of going to see the lights on Christmas Eve.  We went home and went to bed after reading the Christmas Story from the Scriptures.

Mele Kalikimaka at the Honolulu City Grounds

The Albatross nesting

Christmas Day Holly had to work.  We slept in as there were no children excited to open presents and when we got up BJ wanted to know if we would like to go on a hike along the West Shore to the tip.  Of course we were game and so we all got ready and started out.  I was thinking that this was going to be a 30 minute hike the way BJ talked so I was surprised when it took from about 10 to 3 p.m.  But it was fun.  It was a beautiful day! There was lots of the lava rocks along the shore and it was so beautiful looking at the ocean.  We saw a type of Albatross nesting and they were not even afraid and when we finally got to the shore on the end there was a mother seal with her baby resting in the sun.  They are a type of seal that lives alone not in communities and are often found there.  We ate the foods we had brought in an area away from them and then we went back and the Father was just returning from somewhere and trying to get onto the rock with them.  BJ got some good pictures of them and they did not seem to be afraid of humans at all.  The people were within 10 ft of them sometimes and they just laid there.  We took lots of pictures and then headed back.  I was really tired when we got back but I felt good because BJ had said that it was a 3 mile hike and we had completed it.  When we got in the car BJ said, Mom I lied, it was a 5 mile hike."  That made me feel good because Larry and I had completed it with no major problems.  We went home and slept for 2 hours but we made it.

Father Monk Seal climbing onto the rock by the baby in white

We all worked together to make dinner and then BJ went to pick up Holly at work.  When they finally made it home we had a great dinner and then we opened presents.  It was a fun evening.  We had a good time together.

Merry Christmas Hawaiian Style

Beautiful Beach day

On the Friday the 26th we were supposed to fly out at midnight so we spent the last day seeing a few things that we had not seen yet.  There was a beach that BJ and Holly wanted us to see and there was a place they liked to eat there so we went there for Breakfast.  It was called Boots and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen.  We waited in line for an hour or more to get in but the pancakes were worth it.  The had a macadamia nut pancake syrup that was to die for.  The also had interesting ometlets like spam and other canned meats.  Larry got an omlet, I got both and then could not eat it all.  I got one with jalapenos and salsa and it was way too hot!

On the deck of the Missouri

Symbol marking the spot where the agreement was signed at the end of WWII

Larry and I getting into the spirit of the 40's

After a wonderful breakfast they took us to the beach  I don't remember the name but we got a picture there and the day was beautiful.  It was a very picturesque spot but we did not have time to stay long.  We ran some errands to get ready for us and BJ and Holly to go.  We went to the USS Missouri for the last thing that we would see on Hawaii.  After talking to John Trolinger it was interesting to see the ship up close and interesting to get a glimpse of what ship life would have been like.  I also learned that their were more countries than the United States and Japan that signed the document for the end of World War II. I had never realized that.  Larry purchased a book there about the Arizona and Pearl Harbor and the Missouri and we have read it now we are home and we have learned much more about that incident in history.

What is left above water of the USS Utah

We all went home and packed and BJ took their suitcases to the airport with Holly and then he got their tickets while Holly came back and got us.  We were able to get there and check in and see each other for a few minutes and then they had to go one way on their trip to Utah and we went another way on our trip back to San Antonio.  Our flight went well and we made it home to Texas about 1:30 p.m. in the afternoon.  The moving Elders were able to pick us up again and took us home.  Nathan was there as he had arrived home the night before.  It felt good to be home but we felt like we had experienced a wonderful vacation.  Larry was saying it was the best vacation we have ever been on.  I think I agree.