REUNITED

We have been so lucky lately with family and friends (that feel like family) coming to visit!

First we had Kat and Jeff.  Soo good to be wit my bestie again.

Highlights of the trip:
Kat's voice
Running for our lives away from waves
Camping in the FREEZING cold
Eating at classy restaurants like Taco Bell and Denny's everynight
  

I know we look a little too in love in this picture...I think we kind of are. 

Kat, Jeff, and Jared:
Thank you for letting us eat out at Denny's. I'm sorry I spent so long trying to convince all of you that Denny's isn't ghetto.  I stand corrected.  I may or may not have found a hair in my pancakes.   My ego just couldn't handle spilling the news until now. 





A week later the Nobles came to visit!! 

Highlights of the trip:
Teaching them the Hukilau song
Making sand castles with Ave
Gettin' in a pickle
Helping Janel cross surfing off her bucket list :)

 It was so much fun to have family here for the first time!  We had a great week and even got to stay in Ko'Olina with them.  I sure had missed my pipsqueak little Avery girl. 


Last, but not least, my mom and dad finally came!

Highlights of the Trip:
My dad bodyboarding
My mom's secret segway skills
Whale watching
Celebrating my dad's birthday
Picnic at Malaekahana

I was so impressed with my parents!  I kept telling Jared, "No, they won't want to do that".  I guess I thought they were getting old or something :), but I underestimated them.  We had such a good time.  We loved having them here and I was glad to finally show them where we live. 


We are so grateful for everyone coming to visit us and we made so many good memories with all of you.  WE LOVE YOU! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I was worried that a Hawaiian Christmas wasn't going to be very "Christmasy", but we loved it! Jared was even nice enough to get me a real Christmas tree. Our surf straps worked perfectly to tie it to our car. We had fun shopping for each other in the same store, at the same time, and still managing to keep most things a secret. I was so excited to open presents I could barely sleep. Finally, at 6:30am and after half an hour of trying to go back to sleep, we gave in and got up to celebrate! We had the best day with just the two of us and even got to go surfing together. We both agree it was one of our favorite Christmases ever.

We hope it was great for you too!

Polynesian Prophet

Cait and I were settling down for another weekend at home doing homework when we realized how lame we were being for not taking advantage of our season passes to the Polynesian Cultural Center on a night when President Monson would be in attendance.

After the show the performers took the stage again to sing "Teach Me to Walk in the Light" to the prophet. Also present were Elder Cook and President Eyring.

It was humbling to be in the presence of a living prophet in a setting other than General Conference. Our Friday night turned out to be a lot more memorable than learning about reductions in autonomous aggregate expenditures.

Island Fevah

TAKE A HIKE

My hard-workin' husband got to cut work on Saturday so we packed a lunch and set off on a nice, relaxing, 3-hour hike to Laie Falls.  The sign said it was an hour and a half hike...ahaha..apparently we're not cut out for this hiking business.  

We wanted to invite our friendly neighbors, but I guess they were having a bad day so we decided to go it alone.

Just some good old routine stretching before the hike.  I made fun of Jared for doing this and refused to participate, guess who ended up with the sprained ankle.  Him.  

The falls were kind of small, but we loved relaxing and re-fueling up there.  The view was so pretty, we couldn't believe how high we went! 

It was such a fun day together, and we'll do it again just as soon as we forget how miserably hard it was.