Here we are standing outside the Airport after picking Heather and Nicole up and surprising them with beautiful Hawaiian Lei's. They smelled SOOOOOOO good!

After our fun week in Hawaii with the guys and the kids, they all headed back to the main land while my mom invited Julie and I to stay an extra week with her. She also flew in my sister Heather and sister in law Nicole to enjoy in the fun! And oh, did we have FUN!!! I was a bit worried at first because Nicole is a girl who likes to get up and go, but mom, Heath, Ju and I are more the "lay by the pool and do nothing everyday" type. Would Nicole have fun? I wondered. You'll find the answer if you read her blog and you'll see that we've taught her a new trade: "Relax by doing nothing"! We all LOVED every second of our week of doing nothing but lay by the pool, shop, go to the spa and eat!

Thank you to Mom for an amazing week of girl bonding and relaxing for all of us. This is one vacation we need to turn into a tradition!!!!

Here are some pictures of our fun:
After picking the girls up at the airport we went up to the North Shore to watch the Surf Competition they had. The waves were 20-30 feet high. The picture doesn't even come close to doing them justice. I didn't get a good picture of a surfer but when you saw a guy surfing the wave, you REALLY saw how HUGE it actually was!
One day we drove up to the Temple and did a Session. Everytime I've been to Oahu we've gone to see the Temple but I've never been inside. It was really nice to be there with my mom and sisters!
One night we ventured out to watch the sunset and ended up sitting in the dark laughing and taking silly self portraits. I'll spare you the "worst" ones but here are a few!
Nice finger up the nose Ju!
Proof that we ate and ate....
and ate!!!
Oh, isn't she's so sweet!
Heath and Nic
Mom and Me
Uh, oh! We're busted! But, for the record, these bags were divided between 5 people so its really not that much!
My two crazy sisters in their matching, yes, I said matching, swim suits! (they weren't matching on purpose, so to speak. They live in separate places and like the same suit. When they bought the suits, who knew we'd all be in Hawaii together, right?)
Nicole wondering what she should do next? Get in the pool, keep reading, order a Virgin Lava Flow? Oh decisions decisions!! Life is so hard!
Momma enjoying her book!

Me. Not sure if the face is so sad because its my last day or if I'm devastated about my TERRIBLE hair. Seriously people, if they judged putting people on "Survivor" strictly by how their hair dries naturally, I'd NEVER get picked. It's TERRIBLE!!!!!!!

I can't end this post without giving a HUMOUNGOUS shout out and heart felt THANK YOU to my Hubby! He is THE BEST husband in the whole world to leave me in Hawaii while he flew home, on the red eye, with a layover, with all four kids (crying et al as they said good bye to their cousins, Hawaii and me). With the help of AMAZING friends and neighbors, Adam was able to man the fort doing homework, making dinner, packing lunches and all the stuff in between, while I enjoyed an extra week in Paradise! Thanks Babe! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!

We spent an absolutely FABULOUS week in Hawaii over Thanksgiving this year. With Julie, TJ and their kids, My parents, Adam's parents and Brigitte (Our Babysitter who is NOT for hire for anyone else to steel so don't ask :-), Just kidding-sort of!). The beach and pool were our main destinations each day and the kids didn't ever tire of either. The guys were able to Golf as well. On Thanksgiving day Julie and I, with help from Mom and MJ, were even able to create a fabulous Thanksgiving Feast using our minimally equipped kitchen. It was a grand time for everyone!!!!

PEARL HARBOR
Our first full day in Hawaii was a Sunday so after our faithful attempt to go to church (we got there and it was Stake Conference) we ended up back at the Hotel and sat around chatting and telling stories. We then headed off for Pearl Harbor where we visited the USS ARIZONA Memorial and The USS Missouri. The kids were fascinated by it all, even Garett, who I forced to come, loved it. Thank you to Granddad, Papa and Gramma who stayed home with Logan and Brady!

Garett reading the names of those who died on the USS ARIZONA
On the memorial
Mom standing in front of the flags as we walked to the USS MISSOURI
Brigitte and the kids ready to board the MISSOURI
All of us in front of the Harbor

BEACH
Papa and Logan swimming in the Ocean
Logan and Brady buried in the Sand. Brady is HILARIOUS here as he didn't want to get sand on his face.
Annie buried in the sand.
Brady, Brigitte and Logan
This was actually taken on Sunday night. We had a barbeque down by the pool/beach area and the kids wanted to go "look" at the water. Is this what happens when you "look" at water? Magically your shirt comes off and you get soaked from head to toe? I guess so when you are in Hawaii!
FUN NIGHT OUT
Adam and I after a YUMMY dinner at a place I can't remember the name of now!
Julie and Teej
Me and My Sis
Mom and Dad
Greg and MarJane

HANAMA BAY

We took everyone to Hanama Bay one day. After a ridiculous process to actually get into the bay (including a movie that Adam performed his "white man dance" for all those standing behind us), we finally got down to the beach. The kids were a bit skeptical at first but once they got their snorkeling gear on they were set. Even Pirate "G" who claimed he didn't want to see ANY fish was ecstatic after seeing his first one. He jumped out of the water, ripped out his snorkel and screamed "I saw a fish! I saw a fish!" After that we couldn't get him to take off the snorkel.

So cute in his snorkel gear.
Logan preferred watching from the beach.
Natalie was so brave and spent a long time snorkeling around the bay with Brigitte
My two Surfer dudes!
Annie, Spencer and Jackson ready to explore!

POOL

The pool at our resort was fabulous! The kids spent HOURS on end jumping around and playing in the water. They were exhausted every night from all the fun!

What a clown!
Annie and Spencer
Nana going for a float!
Logan and Adam
Julie and Jack
Logan catching a ride on my floatation device!

THANKSGIVING

Our dinner turned out to be absolutely fabulous. With Julie and I (mostly Julie) in charge and help from Nana, Gramma and even Teej, who whipped up some AWESOME mashed potatoes with ONLY a fork, this dinner was one for the ages!

The Chefs
Granddad gives his approval
Annie and Brig
Logan and his best buddy Jordan, my cousin who is in the Marine Corp and based in Hawaii. It was fun to see him, short, buzzed hair cut and all!
Adam and his Momma
Twins born to different mothers
After dinner we started looking up cool youtube videos. We found this one of a den of Lions attacking a herd of Water Buffalo. There is even a Crocadile involved. VERY COOL! Click HERE to watch it. The kids gathered round to take a look. You'll have to check it out. It's unbelievable.
Brady and Spencer
Natalie and G snuggled to watch a movie
GOLF
My one day out on the Golf Course with the boys!
The Boys! Can't get enough golf!

LAST NIGHT SUNSET

Our last afternoon/evening we spent hanging out at the beach. It was so so much fun! We took turns swimming across the Lagoon and jogging around on the beach to swim the Lagoon again, trading off goggles as we ran, watching the kids play in the sand and frolicking in the water. As the sun started to set we got a little Camera crazy and took tons of pictures. Here are a lot of them:
Papa, Gramma and Mom
Adam and I (this as tan as Adam gets after a week in Hawaii. His arms are evidence of what the rest of him could look like if he could get himself off the golf course. I think he's doomed for a life of farmer tans!)
Adam and G in the water
I wish the lighting was better but this is our family in the water!
Papa and Gramma with the kids!
Nana and Granddad with the kids. (they had JUST gotten out of the water, thus the oily look!)
The "Grand" Parental Units
The "Parental Units" TJ, Julie, Me and Adam
The sun starting to set. AWESOME picture, eh?
Annie and me
Logan watching the sunset and turning around every 5 seconds to say "Mom, the sun is sinking into the Ocean". He and Brady kept saying it over and over. They were amazed by how the sun was disappearing!
Watching the sunset.
BYE BYE SUN! BYE BYE HAWAII

It was such a fun vacation. One we'll all remember for a very very long time! We've been home a month now and Garett tells me at least once every two days that he misses Hawaii.

ALOHA OI... Until we meet again..... (except for me!hee, hee, hee!! SEE POST TITLED: "Hawaii- GIRLS WEEK")