I cannot believe that the year 2009 is coming to an end and the last time I wrote a "new post" was in April. P-A-T-H-E-T-I-C! Well as you can imagine sooo much has happened between now and then, too much I can't even remember it all. Hence, the reason why I started this blog in the first place, to document my life so I would remember. Who am I kidding? The idea of a blog is great and I have enjoyed the posts that I have written, but it really is a lofty aspiration. There is no point in backtracking now so I will begin to blog right here, right now! Starting with our fabulous trip to Hawaii......if there is time to back track at a later time, then so be it...otherwise here I go.

Mark and I took our 3rd honeymoon to Heaven on Earth, Hawaii! There is a reason it is called a honeymoon, because it was sweet! Our first honeymoon in 1996 was to Maui. Our second in May of 2006 was to Kauai. And this time, Dec.1-8 of 2009 we visited the Big Island and stayed in Kona. Our resort was called the Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village. It was a 2 bedroom condo with many great amenities. The resort had 7 pools, 4 of which we visited. It was bright and beautiful (very yellow and lime green). The first night we arrived, there was a welcome reception. We watched the cutest little girls hula, as young as 5 and listened to a Hawaiian band. There was lots of yummy food. Who would have thought that corned beef from a can was good on taro sweet bread? Not me but it was yummy. The shrimp and pineapple were delish too. It was a nice start to our holiday. We hot tubbed later that starry evening then went to bed early. That is the nice thing about Hawaii. Early to bed early to rise! If you're not up when the sun rises and don't stay out until it sets, then you feel like you are missing out. The next day we ventured out to the local Wollymart. Same store different crap! The groceries tend to be a bit cheaper there so we thought. Until we went to Costco and found out that they were even cheaper. Oh well we stocked up at both. Our plan was to eat in most of the time. So steaks and fries and more fries was a staple. Charred turkey dogs was one of Mark's specialties served with fries. We even had fries one morning with eggs and beans. We had bought an 8 lb. bag of fries and couldn't waste a single one. Ok, so we left half of a bag in the freezer but holy smokes I started to smell like a chippy towards the end of our stay. I had the most delicious chicken burger topped with pineapple one night at a place called Bongo Ben's. Mmmmm! Our hostess was very friendly and had lots of cute freckles. I think we bonded because of our freckle power. Freckles unite! She even gave me a hug as we left. That really is the Hawaiian spirit. Friendly, happy go lucky! I think that is why I feel so at home when I am there. If only we could make a living there or be rich enough to have a house I'd be all over it! It truly is paradise. One day we were in our car for 11 hours touring the whole island. We drove all the way around, visiting many wonderful and beautiful places along the way. We went to South Point which is a location that is the furthest southern point on the world map. It was quite a drop off into the ocean and the waves were crashing against the rock walls. We drove out to South Point in hopes to see the Green Sands Beach which wasn't far away but ended up not going because we were not prepared for the 2 hour walk. That and Mark was not prepared to go 4 wheeling in a rental car and get stuck. It would have been nice to see but as Mark always reminds me, "just look at a picture." Not quite the same in my book. I have to see it to believe it or I want to see it to say I saw it. Once I get the idea to see something it's hard for me to settle with seeing it in a picture book. It's just the way I roll. Sooo, if we ever visit Kona again, we will be prepared for the 2 hour walk. We saw a gorgeous turtle on Black Sands Beach. That was a neat place to see. It really is black sand. (Volcanic rock that has been beaten by the ocean). While we were there a local overheard me saying that I wanted to see dolphins. She mentioned 3 bays where I might see them, so I tried to remember their names. All Hawaiian names are difficult to pronounce, but I made sure to look at a map immediately to find one and made a mental note. We went on to see the volcano but didn't actually see the lava flow. Another place I will make an attempt see when we visit again. This time Mark told me to "just watch it on TV." Then we were off to Hilo. This is the city where my dad lived from 1969-1971. He was 15 when they moved there. We visited the home where he used to live on Keo Kea Loop Road. And walked through the public shoreline path to see where my dad would make out with the chicks. He didn't tell me that but I am sure he did. It was a babe lair. A nice cove with lots of coconut trees and places to lay by the beach. After that we went to see Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls. It's strange how they are both just dead smack in the middle of the city. Our GPS was scallywampos but we eventually got there. Very scenic and picturesque. My favorite was Akaka. I have to say that it is probably my favorite of all the waterfalls I have seen in Hawaii. It was a nice walk and the waterfalls were really close. The scenery was very lush and green. If only I could have jumped in. My dad did tell me later that he used to dive near the waterfalls. It was really cool to see the place where my dad called home for a coupe of years. The place where he learned to surf and broke both of his legs in a motorcycle accident. (Side note, he was actually in a body cast when he moved back to Utah and met my mom). After Hilo, we drove back home stopping at Tex's Diner to get hot malasadas. They are donut like pastries (very stodgy dough) filled with cream or filling and coated with sugar. To die for. My parents made sure we knew to stop there and I was happy that they were still open. Apparently they may start a franchise so one day you may see a Tex's on your corner. Hot malasadas for everyone! We arrived home pretty late and crashed. I don't think 11 hours in the car was any excuse to crash but goodnight anyway. The next days ahead we visited Hapuna Beach where we walked down the beach to find a private cove that wasn't so private. Spencers Beach where we watched a sunset and drew in the sand, Mark snorkeled. Another local beach where we both snorkeled until it started to rain. We walked around the farmers market and other shops. We visited the pools and made sure every time we were the only ones there, if not we'd get up and go find another empty one. We brought out floating mats and just floated like little boats upon the sea. We were Scandinavian Ice groupies, visiting it at least 4 or 5 times. Their snow cones are the mother of all snow cones. The small was almost as big as my head, huge! Have you seen the size of my head, my chubby cheeks? And the large weighed 10 lbs. and that is even before the syrup. So they are Snowies on steroids. With a little added toasted coconut or macadamia ice-cream and a snow cap they are to die for too. What is a snow cap you might ask? It is sweeten condensed milk poured over the top! The best part! As a matter of fact one night I asked for a "double snow cap". Even the girl working questioned it but I had requested that after she put the ice-cream on she needed to cover it with a little more ice, then pour condensed milk, then more ice, then top it with more milk. Whala! "Double snow cap" baby. When it comes to food I am all about the experience so bring it on. Not the weight but the taste please. (If only it worked that way). My dad did warn Mark when he married me that I will always order an appetizer, ask for many things on the side and substitute others and top the whole meal off with a dessert, plus order a fancy drink in between. Hey, if my man is taking me out for a night on the town he is wining and dining me minus the wine. "Good buds bro?" While Mark was standing outside of a store waiting for me, eating his snow capped ice, a hooligan walked by and said, "good buds bro?" Mark thought he was asking if his snow cone was good when really he caught on that he was asking if Mark wanted some doobage, Maryjane, weed, dope, some good buds bro! He just kept on walking. Sadly enough we would see him and all of his hooligan, hippy friends wandering the same corners of the same streets every night we were walking around down town. What a sad existence to have no ambition. Say no! As our holiday was coming to an end we had one full day to play. I still wanted to see dolphins so I set the alarm for 5:30 since I was told they come into the bays in the morning. We drove to the area where I had made a mental note of on the map. It was in the same area as the City of Refuge. Another must see on the island. We got there around 7:00. before the park was even open. We were able to still go in and walk around and it was nice and peaceful. It is a place where kings used to live and people who were seeking freedom from death would come. If they were able to swim to a certain spot and make it without being caught then they would be saved and their slate would be wiped clean. So as we were walking around admiring these ancient and sacred grounds, we were looking out at the ocean in hopes to see dolphins. Not one was found. We saw more turtles and that did excite me but I was disappointed that the dolphins were MIA. The waves were crashing and the tide was high, another beautiful sight. But it was time to leave. Just as we were walking away I asked a park ranger where the dolphins were and he said to go look again because they were probably coming in now. So we went to the edge of the wall, watched for a moment but still no sign. I could see people at the bay right next door to where we were and I told Mark that we needed to drive over there so I could get out and ask if they had any luck in seeing them. So we drove, parked and looked out again. Just as I was about to ask someone I thought I saw one myself but soon realized that it was a snorkler. Just then Mark told me it was a dolphin. I kept looking and finally saw my rubbery friend. Yippee! I debated back and forth after I read the sign that said: PLEASE DON'T SWIM WITH THE DOLPHINS, THEY ARE RESTING. But my hesitation didn't last long and I went to the car to get my snorkel gear. I really really wanted Mark to get in with me but he was set and wasn't going to break the rules. Goody two shoes! Because the tide was high and the waves were crashing I was a little nervous to get in as it was very rocky. The last thing I wanted to do on our last day was to get shredded by the water and rocks. So I had asked these two ladies if they would help me and stick with me. The Hawaiian spirit was strong that day and they helped me and stuck with me. It was a little swim to get out to the dolphins, but once I was away from the rocks and in the water I couldn't even tell that the tide was high. After minutes of fidgeting with my mask I put my face back in the water and saw the most amazing sight. 9 dolphins swimming together. Amazing! Breathless! I gave a thumbs up to the shore in hopes that Mark would see me. I was in Heaven in Water! It was a dream come true. The only thing is that I was sad that Mark was not out there to share that moment with me and that I didn't bring the underwater camera with me. I was out there for about 40 mins. when I started to come in to ask Mark for the camera. I was still wishing that he was out there but he was sitting on the shore. I couldn't see him because I didn't have my glasses on. I was actually waving to a complete stranger who I thought was Mark. I though to myself, oh well I'll just go back out and enjoy it fot just a moment longer. And as I turned around, Mark was right there. He did get in the water and was able to enjoy the moment. He said that once he saw the boats coming in and people were getting off he knew it couldn't be too bad to break the rules. People were paying $150 to do what we were doing for free. I was so happy and so delighted! I was on cloud 9. (Awww! 9 dolphins, cloud 9). They were so sweet and so cute! They were just swimming all around us. Close enough to touch but I didn't dare. I was content just being in the water watching them. Someone pinch me! Mark had forgotten the camera too but I took a mental picture, click! Besides he did get me on video while I was out on my own. Up close shots too, so I do have more than just the mental pic to see. The two ladies were so sweet and told me they were going in but I let them know I was ok to stay out because my hubby had joined me. They had showed me where and how to get out of the rocky water and when it came time to, we did just fine. It was a perfect day in every way! The icing on the cake, the snow cap on my snow cone! I made sure to find the ladies who were so gracious to help me so i could thank them and one of them even gave me a hug and was really thrilled for me! (She was from Colorado. She lives there 5 months out of the year and the rest in Kona. That's the life I'm talking about). Mahalo! The rest of our last day we spent at the pool. Soaking in those last rays of Hawaiian sun. We had already checked out of our room, but when it was time to go were able to shower and get ready at the clubhouse. We finished up a little shopping, had a nice dinner (roasted pork and mashed potatoes enough to feed an army), visitied the Kona Temple grounds where we saw huge cockroaches. Talked to some missionaries from Ogden and Vegas, drove around and looked at some houses with Christmas lights. Got one more ice-cream, I was snowed out, then drove to the airport. We did not want to leave. As much as we missed our children we wanted to bask in the sun and enjoy the Big Island just a little bit longer. Each part of the island is beautiful in it's own way. It has lots of lava rock. Lush tropical forests. Winding country roads and hillsides. "Amost paradise. We're looking on heaven's doors, almost paradise, how could we ask for more?" (Sing along) "Paradise." If Heaven is anything like Hawaii then I want to be there! Heavenly Father created a masterpiece. We are blessed to be a part of it! Thanks Mom and Dad! We loved every moment of every day. We loved how we were in love and enjoyed being together! We love Hawaii. Until we meet again, Melekalikeemaka! (It's Hawaii's way to say Merry Christmas to you!)