Hawaii {Part 1}!!!!

We've been back from Hawaii for a few days, and I'm so excited to document and share our adventure! We spent almost a week in Oahu with Brent's parents, specifically Honolulu in a resort on Waikiki Beach - we walked out of our hotel directly onto the beach! We had a lot of adventures and overall a vacation we'll never forget {okay, I'm not sure Paige will remember but the rest of us sure won't forget}!

We flew out at 9:00 AM on Sunday morning and with the time change, landed in Oahu at 1:30 after 8.5 hours on the plane. The plane ride wasn't that bad - we rotated between 1 hour of activities and 1 hour of screen time with a nap in the middle. The first thing we did once we got to the hotel was head down to the beach! What surprised me the most was HOW MUCH Trent loved it! I forgot to pack goggles so we bought some, and he had a BLAST seeing all the fish in the water.

We ate an early dinner at the hotel restaurant {which was outside overlooking the pool so the kids were able to swim and eat} and were in bed by 8:00 PM {midnight local time}.

Monday morning, our family went to Pearl Harbor and did a small tour of top sites in Honolulu - Punchbowl Cemetery, the Palace, and a statue of King Kamehameha {the first King of the united Hawaiian islands}. Our tour guide was a native Hawaiian and was so knowledgeable and fun. A great experience!!

Pearl Harbor was incredible, and I could have spent a lot more time there, but the kids hit their limit after about 90 minutes. It was so powerful and there is a self-guided audio tour that was super interesting. The memorial was very moving and impactful - no one was surprised that I teared up!

Headed to the USS Arizona

The Memorial over the USS Arizona

This list of the dead is overwhelming. Also, there's a Gurley on there!

Snack break!

Punchbowl Cemetery

I forget this statue's name, but I *think* it's a goddess of grieving mothers.

Yes, I teared up again thinking about that when I learned it!

King Kamehameha

In the afternoon...you guessed it...we headed back out to the beach! While we were at Pearl Harbor, Brent's parents did some walking around Honolulu {they had already been to Pearl Harbor} and got the kids snorkels and little tube floats, yay! Janet, my MIL rented 2 chairs and an umbrella - she LOVES the sound of the ocean. The kids had so much fun with the water stuff my in-laws bought, and I enjoyed sitting and visiting with her.

Monday night we had dinner at a restaurant within walking distance - there was a little outdoor mall with stores and restaurants {Waikiki is very touristy, but hey, we are tourists!}. We had another early night because we had an early morning expedition planned for Tuesday!

More ice cream? Sure!

We got up super early to meet our van about 7:00 AM for a snorkeling tour! It was supposed to be to find dolphins and sea turtles BUT...we freaking saw WHALES!!! IN THE WATER WHILE WE WERE IN THE WATER!!!! FIVE OF THEM!!! INCLUDING 2 BABIES!!!! I'm having trouble downloading the pictures from the photographer {stupid computer security I'm sure}, so I'll have to do a post of just those pics {you're welcome}, ha.

Sweeties

What a view to start your Tuesday off with!

Good morning, sunshine!

Happy kids - who thankfully didn't get sea sick!

Of course Paige made a friend! {grin}

I have no pictures of the dolphins or whales but will get them once my computer cooperates, but Brent got some great pictures of the turtles at the boat dock - how cool are these guys??

We all took a nap on the van ride back - it was a busy morning - but pepped up to get a giant Hawaiian snow cone. 

Paige's face cracks me up here.

I could not get enough of the sunset! Forgive all the pictures!

I love this picture with Diamond Head in the background!

With that, I'm going to end Part 1 - this is a lot of pictures and information ha. I feel like we did more in the first few days, so hopefully the next post isn't quite as long.

Currently: Island Time

**I wrote this post on Saturday night but published it Monday. We leave for Hawaii tomorrow {Sunday} morning, eek!!!**

Current Book

Current Song

Obsessed with this! Especially My Heart With You and I Just Called

Current TV Show

I caught the tail end of the first episode {Brent was watching it}.

It looks really good, so I want to watch it with him!

Current Audiobook/Podcast

This just launched, and y'all know I love Grimm!

Current Drink

I had a delicious Moscow Mule {okay 2} on Friday!

This is quickly become a go-to drink for me.

Current Food

I am not a seafood person, but I am actually really excited to try seafood in Hawaii!

Current Shame-Inducing Pleasure

I'm actually not ashamed about this at all, but I know others would be.

Since we will be gone Thanksgiving week, our house is fully decorated for Christmas.

And for the first time EVER in our marriage, I have lights on my house!!!

Current Outfit

It is COLD in TX today!

Current Celebrity Crush

I think I'm going to do a Grimm rewatch while listening to the podcast.

And I LOVE the Grimm cast!

Current Mood

EXCITED!!!

Current Anticipation

Leaving for Hawaii in 12 hours!!!!

Current Wishlist

To have a week off work and spend it with my family on an island.

OH WAIT, I'M DOING THAT!!!!!

Current Movie

There are a lot I want to see right now, so we'll have to see how it shakes out!

- Wakanda Forever

- Till

- Devotion

Current Picture

Did some Christmas shopping on Thursday with my best girls!

Broadway Across America: Chicago

Last week, I went to see the musical Chicago with my friend, Rhonda. Neither of us had seen the musical or movie and were very vague on details. {Allena-'Is she a prostitute? Or a showgirl?' Rhonda-'And somebody is in jail?'}

Plot: Two death row murderesses develop a fierce rivalry while competing for publicity, celebrity, and a sleazy lawyer's attention.

Review: Rhonda and I both really enjoyed it! The production itself was top notch {as expected}, and the story itself was a lot of fun. We laughed at parts, we got really into the music, overall, we both thought it was great. There was 1 scene we both agreed was about 5 minutes too long, but it didn't detract from the fun.

The rest of the season looks really great {Pretty Woman, Aladdin, Ain't Too Proud, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Hairspray}, and we have a group ready to go, so I'm really excited for 2023!

Monthly Musings: Thanksgiving Prep

 I never get these Monthly Musings done in time to link up, but I think they are so fun, so I do them anyway.

1. Do you host Thanksgiving or go elsewhere?

We go somewhere! On Thanksgiving day, we typically go to Brent's parents' house with his brother's family, and on the Saturday after Thanksgiving we go to my parents' house where we celebrate Thanksgiving with my mom's extended family {her siblings, their kids, and grandkids} and also celebrate my sister and dad's birthday!

Thanksgiving 2021 at Brent's parents' house

9/12 first cousins at my parents'

2. What dishes do you make or contribute?

For both places, I always bring something, but it varies. Whatever is needed! Appetizers, side dishes, desserts, whatever!

3. What is your favorite Thanksgiving recipe and will you share with us?

One dessert I LOVE is pumpkin roll. We used to go to Brent's Nannie's house and his Aunt Vicki would bring it every year. I sorely missed it when we switched to go to Brent's parents' house and last year his mom and I figured out how to make it.

She might not be pretty, but she is DELICIOUS.

4. What are your Thanksgiving traditions?

I would say besides being together on those days, we don't really have any?

5. Stuffing or dressing?

If I understand the definitions correctly {stuffing is inside the turkey}, we eat dressing. I would say I enjoy the dressing with Brent's family, but it isn't something I LOVE. The Thanksgiving day meal is Brent's favorite meal all year long and he LOVES dressing. We don't even make it at my parents'. I think we used to have it at my grandparents' as a kid {on my mom's side} but don't remember ever eating it, and we didn't eat it at my Granny's {dad's mom}. I literally never ate it until meeting Brent.

6. Pumpkin, pecan, or apple pie?

Curve ball - CHOCOLATE PIE!!!! If I had to pick, I'd choose apple pie, but I don't seek it out. But chocolate pie is MY JAM. Another thing I didn't have before meeting his Brent, but one of his other aunts, Sandy, used to always bring, and now my mother-in-law makes.

Last year's deliciousness of chocolate pie, pumpkin roll, and champagne!

7. Casual dining or set the table?

At Brent's parents' we set the table and eat together at a sit down meal but we don't dress fancy or anything like that. At my parents' it is 100% casual. There are too many people in my parents' pretty small house to ever try to sit together. But the same was true for my grandparents' house, so we all just eat wherever we can find a seat.

8. Favorite beverages to serve with Thanksgiving dinner?

I'm just going to say alcohol ha. I love a good cocktail with my Thanksgiving dinner, but what cocktail that is doesn't matter!

9. Do you shop Black Friday?

Nope! I've never gone shopping on Black Friday. I really hope to be pretty far into my shopping by then to where it's not necessary. For the 2nd week of November, I've got gifts for my parents, my goddaughter, and ideas for my niece/nephews. Still a long way to go, but I love that I've started!

10. Holiday movie or football games?

Football is king in Texas, so there is definitely football on, but I don't watch any of it. All of our families are Dallas Cowboys fans, and they have a Thanksgiving Day game, so that is the game of choice. Then at my parents', the Aggies will be on the TV - since we've left the Big 12 and don't play Texas, we now play LSU.