Well boys and girls it has been a crazy couple of weeks. We have planned a trip to see my parents in Hawaii about 6 months ago. It was a bit touch and go a few days before the visit wether or not we were going to have to cancel, but I'm happy to say we went. Nothing like a little drama moments before a 10hr flight, you know what I'm saying??
It has been 3 years since I was last in Hawaii. Budgie and I lived there while Dennis was stationed abroad. I went to high school in Hawaii, my sister still lives there and my parents returned about 10 years ago to "retire." (I am using those quotations because although my father "retired" he now has a second career, so I'm not sure you can really say he's fully "retired." Let's just say he has the skills to pay the bills; and when a gallon of milk will set you back $6 thats a good thing.) Needless to say I was excited to be returning home. I was a bit nervous about a 10hr flight with two small children, one whom is in the throws of potty training, but actually they proved to be very good.
We arrived in Hawaii at about 7PM (12 AM east cost time). Budgie hadn't slept at all and Tball was about to get his second wind. (While getting our bags, Tball kept dancing around and singing "I like to move it, move it!") We loaded up in my dad's truck and headed to Kaneohe, where my parents live. Both kids were asleep before we hit the H-3 tunnel.
First night was pretty tame. Kids slept, well they slept on east coast time. They were up at 2, then 4, then 430. I had them out in the backyard playing at 430 in the morning with the back porch lights on. Somehow kids don't understand time zones! It took a day or two before the adjusted.
Here are some pictures of our first morning. Budgie was completely enamored with Mily (my mom's cockatiel). She would talk to her every morning and read her stories. It was pretty cute. Funny thing is that the word "budgie" is also another word for parrot (cockatiels are also known as companion parrots).
While adjusting to the new time zone, we decided to take our first day pretty easy. We spent some time just hanging out my parents house. Dennis picked up the rental car, our fabulous Dodge Avenger. Or not so fabulous as the case may be, the car is a terrible design. If you have ever tried to put car seats in it you will learn just how irritating it truly is. In the evening my sister came over for dinner.
Wednesday we finally took the kids out to the beach. Well first we hit the flea market, a Hawaii vacation must! Picked up some Li Hing Mui mango, Hawaiian sweet bread and some hats for us whities. Next we headed for lunch, mmm Korean BBQ. My mouth is watering! Sure Yummy's serves the fast food version of Korean BBQ, but it is awesome!! They serve it with some green leafy stuff (not sure what it is or what it is called, but I don't care) that is off the hook. Finally after a lot of heckling from Budgie we headed to Hickam Beach. It isn't a place where the tourist go and there surely isn't anything special about it, but it is a great beach for little kids. The water is calm and not very deep. I use to teach sailing at there and that is the only reason I know the place even exists.
The kids loved the beach, or I should say the sand really. They didn't spend a whole lot of time in the water, except to get buckets for their various concoctions of sea soup. I haven't seen them enjoy the outdoors like this in a long time!
Tball enjoyed the bucket with the water spout and Budgie enjoyed making "sand angels." They were truly disappointed when it was time to go.
On Thursday we headed down to the temple. I bet you didn't know there was a temple in Hawaii, I didn't either until about 4 years ago (I first moved to Hawaii in 1993, so I feel kind of dumb for being so late to the game.) Anyways the Byodo-In Temple is a small scale replica of a temple in Japan and commemorates 100 years of Japanese immigration into Hawaii (thank you wikipedia!). I like to go to see feed the koi fish and see the black swan. The kids also like to ring the giant bell for good luck.
Tball didn't get into the feeding of the fish, he preferred to run around and act crazy. Love that boy!
Ring my Beeelllll, ring my bell! How long will that chorus line be stuck in your head!
Friday, things went a bit awry. We were all headed over to my sister's place in Honolulu. Budgie was riding with my parents and Tball was with us. Dennis and I decided to stop for gas, then we left the station headed down Kamehameha Hwy. We were in the left hand lane, and Dennis was getting ready to get into a turn only lane on the next block when all of a sudden someone from a strip mall pulled out right in front of us. There was nothing we could do and we ended up T-boning her, hitting her at the driver side door. It was like slow-mo as I watched the air bags deploy and the windshield crack. I felt like I was hyperventilating. After doing a momentary mental check and realizing I wasn't hurt I looked at Dennis and Tball, both were ok. Tball was crying, but mostly because he was terrified. Within minutes of the crash fire, EMT and the police arrived on scene. By some miracle all parties walked away with nothing more than a few bruises. I wish I could share with you some of the pictures from the wreck, but I wasn't in a with it enough to take any. It was the first real wreck I have ever been in and I hope it was also the last.
Budgie and my sister
Wow, this is running a bit long! It may just have to be a two parter. I wonder if I write back to back entries if it makes up for my lack of earlier entries. Works for me!!
