The Christmas Season 2016

 December in Hawaii is just glorious when it is not raining. It is usually 75-80 and just the perfect hiking weather. I have some adventurous friends that show me some pretty picturesque hikes.

Madelyn was asked to join the Stake Children's Christmas Choir.  Starting in October they practiced once a week for two hours learning 3 songs for the Christmas Concert on December 17th & 18th.  They had matching costumes and everything! She did a fabulous job and wasn't at all hesitant about performing in front of hundreds of people. During the song, "Adore" Madelyn told me that she cried. I asked her if she was scared and she said, "no, I felt calm and peaceful."  I told her that what she felt was the Holy Ghost!  Ever since she was baptized and received the gift of the Holy Ghost in September we have been trying to explain to her what the spirit feels like, and how to recognize it. She was elated that she had felt the spirit while she was singing and I was happy to have had that spiritual moment with her.  I hope she remembers what the spirit feels like and that she will seek out that feeling for the rest of her life.


To get in the winter spirit, one night for FHE we drove around to look at Christmas lights with the AC blasting so that we would be cold enough for hot chocolate at Starbucks!
 Madelyn and Ian had their holiday concerts at their school, they were very proud of the songs they had been practicing.




When they got home from school that day they quickly brought their chairs out and waited outside for Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ira, Aunt Teralyn & their cousin/big sister M'Lynn!


They came!  We had a full house but we were so excited to have family with us for Christmas that we didn't even care! I took my mom on some walks and there was a lot of relaxing by the pool

 We took them to our favorite beach and my dad even tried body boarding!




I was pretty proud of him! They all body boarded for a long time and Teralyn even had an epic fall when the board impaled her under her ribs!  She had a wicked bruise afterwards.


 Ira let the kids bury him, which was the highlight for Madelyn, look at that smile!

 We took them to Sea Life park to see the dolphins, sharks, sea lions, turtles, and love birds


 and the Polynesian Cultural Center ; here they are learning a male Tahitian dance.
 During the Tonga show, which we have watched a couple times, Scott was picked out by his family (sorry Scott) to go dance and drum with the chief.  He was mortified, he hates to be put on the spot especially if it has to do with performing, or making a fool out of himself,  but he was such a good sport.
The chief briefly met each victim and asked where they were from, Scott said he was from Idaho, and so he called Scott "Idaho" for the rest of the time.  He then told them to follow him and he did a loud chant and dance where he slapped his chest, and yelled. Then he said it was their turn, and this is what Scot did:


Next up they did some drumming 


Ira, Teralyn, Jake, & M'Lynn stayed at the PCC for dinner and a show while we stopped at the legendary shrimp truck Giovanni's for our Christmas Eve feast.  We smelled like garlic for days after!

We got home just in time to unwrap Christmas Eve jammies, make cookies for Santa, and read "Twas the Night Before Christmas"






Christmas morning, we opened stockings, went to church where Scott gave a wonderful talk about finding inner peace in a world of turmoil, then we came home, got back in our jammies and opened up the rest of Christmas. 




 Uncle Ira let Ian use him as target practice for his new Nerf bow and arrow set.

We took them to Hanauma Bay and Ira's wish came true of seeing a turtle!  We also took them to our favorite free snorkel spot







We had two failed attempts at trying to go to Pearl Harbor (President Obama was on the island and it was closed from the public) but there was still plenty of things to do and see. Like this cool Hawaiian guy:
 We went on a new hike at the Lyon Arboretum




 and took them to the Byodo-In Temple to feed the koi fish and zebra doves, and we spotted a mama and baby turtle


 The kids had lots of snuggle time

 We took them to the temple visitors center
 and there was a lot of reading time with Grandma
 We love you, come back!!!!

We have had a wonderful year here in Hawaii and we can't believe that our time here is half way done!  We have so much more to explore.

Happy New Year

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