Vacation Time!!

Our vacation has started off pretty well. It took us longer than usual to pack everything. I think packing was the hardest part of the whole trip! We had to make sure that all the bags were under weight and that we had stuff for everyone too. Who knew that lotions and body sprays could weigh the whole bag down! but we were finally able to cram everything we thought we would need intno 4 bags and 5 carry ons.

I hadnt slept tha much the week leading up to the trip. My nerves were starting to ge the best of me. I was very newvous about meeting Kasala's family. Not that they aren't wonderful people but it's something about actulaly meeting that and not just seeing them on Skype that was making mhy stomach go into knots. We left the house around 5am or so to get to the airport and checked in. Our biggest fear was having to deal with the kids at the airport and checking in. We wanted to make sure that we had enough time in case something happened.... and of course something did. I left a bag in the car that Oli was driving and she had already left when I figured out that it was missing. So our trip didn't start off that great. I was redeemed though when we went to check in and found out that we didn't have to pay for our baggage! We had already budgeted or the baggage fee but because Honolulu wasn't our "Final destination" we didn't have to pay! So Thank you Hawaiian Airlines

The girls were great on the plane too. Just a little bit of much needed medicine for a cough and runny nose and Manamea was out like a light. I didn't feel bad about giving her medicine because this time she really needed it. She slept almost the whole way to Hawaii and woke up with about 90 minutes left. Terina on the other hand didn't go to sleep andkept asking when we would get there. Eventually we didget to Hawaii and as we were starting to land she yelled out, "We're home Mom" I know she misses Hawaii. I do too. I almost started crying when we landed. Driving around the islad really did make it feel like home. It was comfortable and welcoming. I know that we can't afford to live there but I think Hawaii will always have a small piece of my heart as home....and a HUGE piece of Terina's heart.

We didn't do much that first day. We walked to kahuku Elementary and saw a friend who was still at work. We tried to go to the tree lighting festivities at BYUH but I wasn't thinking about the time change and totally forgot to keed the kids. They made it know during the performances that they were hungary and tired so we took off and went back home.

Thursday we made our rounds. Rainbow School so Terina could see her old teachers adn then to Hauula Elementary so I could see my friends. It was so nice to be welcomed back to the school by so many people. I worked at Hauula for the longest time while we were on the isladn. The 3rd graders I started with were not in 6th grade and in my old classroom. I can't believe it's only been 1 year since we left. We saw Sandra nd Aljay and their kids for a few minutes and then it was time to head back home. But not before stopping to get Kasala and Junior a shrimp plate from Kahuku Shrimp Truck. He loves that place for some reason. We we go back I'm looking forward to eating somewhere I want to eat.

We stayed at a hotel Thursday night just to be close to the airpot which worked out because one of our suitcases broke and i wasn't far from Ross so I ran out and got a new one without having to take the kids or drive far. We made it to the airport before ticketing opened and were the first ones in line. Like before...we didn't want any trouble with the kids and baggage and stuff. And again... we didn't have to pay for our bags so that was nice because they were all over weight :) Things were good at the airport. The kids were good and by the time we boarded the plane they were ready to go back to bed. Kasala sat in the front of the plane with Terina nd I saw about 14 rows behind them with Manamea who slept most of the way again. My poor baby was so tired!! We made it in one piece and hopefully I'll have good reports from now on out.