Hawaii 2014

Well as  you can tell we can't stay away.  One year at the Marriott Ko Olina Resort and we are hooked.  The Resort is in a nicer part of the island only grouped with a few of the finest Resorts, and the calming man made coves are a great place to relax.  Every year we consider a new island, but we always resort back to this one.  The Resort has become home, feeling like we had just left upon our return.  It's familiar, and our family likes familiar.  We like returning to things we enjoy and feeling comfortable wherever we go.  Traditions are big with us, and this place has become a tradition.  Of course, we fooled the kids into thinking this tradition would not happen this year.  We complained the tickets were too expensive, which they were on the airline we normally take to Hawaii, but I was able to find some reasonable prices with a competitor.  However, we didn't share that information with the kids.  We went with the story that Hawaii would not be happening.  Aubrie started cluing in the night before we left, when I was having everyone gather all their liquids in one Ziploc bag,  and she started putting two and two together as she noticed that we were taking the same amount of luggage we always take with us to Hawaii.  I tried throwing them off by having them only pack four outfits.  And when she insisted we were going I reminded her that we weren't packing enough, and that she was making us feel bad that we could only take them to California.  The next morning as we were driving under the tunnel by 7th street Aubrie knew we were going to the airport.  They were thrown off that our flight was on a different airline and the tickets destination was LA.  When we got to LA instead of going to baggage claim we ended up at the gate for Hawaii.  They were all very excited, but of course kept saying "Oh, I knew it all along!"  

This year was super relaxing.  The first year we wanted  to take the kids everywhere, the second time we felt like we needed to take the McGees everywhere.  This year we weren't slaves to schedules and didn't feel like we had to be anywhere.  We  just did things that seemed fun to us at the time. It was great!  It allowed for things like running early in the morning with Boston along the beach and seeing a seal,  exploring the Disney Resort,  Sophia being able to feed the fish and enjoy Resort activities like the Mermaid reading, and going up to the third floor for ping pong and pool.  My most favorite thing was just being able to relax in the lounge chair not feeling like we needed to be anywhere.  I also enjoyed our lazy nights playing card games and watching TV.  There were only a few things we were committed to.  We found out the day before we left that some friends of ours from the ward, the Snows, were there also.  We already planned on church, so we met  them for church, and we ended making a day of it..walking over to the temple after church and then hanging  at the house they rented on the north shore.  It was a nice relaxing way to spend the Sabbath.   We also were able to meet up with Megan.  She is finishing her schooling there.  It was great to see her.  We took her out to Dukes one night, and then took her with us to Hanauma  Bay another day.  She had never been and it was one of the things on her Hawaii bucket list, so we were happy to be able to take her along.  Because it was such a chill trip it seemed so long.  Usually when we leave I'm longing for a few extra days.  When it was time to go this year, we all felt ready to go.  Not because we wanted to, but because we felt satisfied with the time we had there.  Eight days is a great amount of time to spend in paradise!!  I'm grateful that we have had the opportunity to make it once again.  It really is something I look the most forward to doing with my family.     

My seat buddy for leg one....still thinks we are going to California!:)

 Ben told them we were celebrating 4 birthdays and an anniversary.  This was in our room, along with champagne glasses and champagne...which obviously was never opened.  The view from our room.  Ben surprised me with an Ocean View.  LOVED it!  

First Day Spent Relaxing at the resort, and making a trip up North for Giovanni's shrimp and a Teds Bakery Pie!

Never tried the roasted corn until now.  A definite must from now on!

Something you can always count on in Hawaii, Rainbows! 

Saturday night at Dukes.  My Favorite dish, besides the dessert.  The kids love the Buffet!

Sunday at Temple square.

Time with the Snows  at North Shore

Hanauma Bay.  Windy and Rainy at first, then perfect laying out weather.  Visibility and current too strong to go beyond the reef, but Sophias first time to snorkel and see the fish....she was so excited.

Resort Activities.   They were all looking forward to another shot at the hulu hooping title.  Also we added Tahitian dancing this year.  That was fun!  Aubrie wouldn't let a boot keep her down!

                                                     This kid does not work out! Jealous!

Boston Hawaii selfie!

Kumon goes with us everywhere!

Fish Feeding!  She also got to feed some in the coves...that was an early 7:30 wake up call!:)

Dole Plantation. A long trip just for ice cream.  Of course we didn't get out of there without opening a few oysters!

Haleiwa.  A little shopping this time.  They have the best Quicksilver store there!

Second to Last day spent at the resort!

Sophia getting a little cash for her singing in Waikiki.

Last snow cone on the last day in paradise.  The worker gave us each a free snow cone, since he knew us so well by the end of the trip.  All the workers new us by name between checking out basket and volleyballs for the pool, and ordering endless amounts of shaved ice...the only place we got them on the island this time. We all agree  Marriots are the best on the island! 

This is what I have to leave:(

Getting ready for our first Red Eye!

What our family does with a 4:30 am layover in San Francisco!  

Ethan is 10!?!?!

Ethan just turned 10. Wow!  It’s hard to believe that Ethan is double digits.  Since Ethan was our first Arizona baby, his age also dates how long we have lived here, plus 9 months;)  So besides having to accept how hold my little boy is getting I also come to a realization that Arizona has been my home longer than any place else.   But this post isn’t about being a California Girl trapped in  a Phoenician body.  It’s about my sweet Ethan who is slowly becoming a young man.  There are  several birthdays that are special, and turning 10 is one of them.   If you live 100 years only 10 percent of your life is in single digits.  And somehow that is translated to a kids mind in their own way.  They feel a little more grown up, and it shows almost immediately.   
Ethan has accomplished a lot in his first 10 years.  He has a lot to be proud of.   While Ethan has often been viewed as silly or a space case, he has a brilliant mind.  Ever since he was little he was a deep thinker and a problem solver.  From learning how to escape his crib early, to figuring out how to sneak ice cream using whatever object he could reach to scoop it out.  I really started to realize how creative he was the first time I gave him some scissors, paper and glue to keep him  busy one day while I was getting some tasks done around the house.  He was only three (they were child proof scissors)  and it was like he had been cutting and pasting his whole life.  That was the moment I realized the creative gift he was blessed with.  It has continued his whole life, from making contraptions, creating costumes, creating his own “life hacks”,  to becoming a great artist.  
Ethan loves to draw.  It’s one of his releases, along with reading.  Often times, especially in sacrament meeting, Ben and I will look over in amazement at what he has put on paper in such a short time, and without looking at something for reference.  He just pulls it from his brain.  This year he took first and second place in his school Art show.  Many of times, I actually have to redirect him from drawing or reading to get things done that are of more importance at the moment.    
Ethan’s love for reading is like no other child of mine.  Since Boston and Aubrie don’t like to read, Sophia is his only competition.  But he reads more than I ever did at his age.  He has to decompress every night with reading.  His favorite author is Rick Riorden.  He LOVES the classics, so he can’t get enough of his books.   He also enjoys comics, so the Big Nate series is a more casual read for him, because it appeals to his silly side, which we are all too familiar with.   His family sees most of that silliness, and sometimes it drives us a little batty, but when he gets around adults he becomes very shy.  Talking to an adult is like torture for him lately.  He is just too cute to ignore though, with his freckles and smiling eyes.  When he laughs he still has the smiling eyes he has had since he was a baby.  He is still that cute little boy, under his toughness.   And when we watch family videos, everyone loves watching him as a toddler.   He is just so cute and funny.   Right now he is trying to figure out how a  cute and funny 10 year old behaves, because he is realizing the cute silliness that worked when he was 5 and 6 just doesn’t cut it anymore.  I see him struggle with finding that balance.   But I see him growing up in many ways.   From actually taking an interest in doing his hair, to taking notice of girls(in the most innocent way possible) , and trying to be responsible, the best he can, and working hard at things that are important to him.   
Lately Ben and I have been impressed with his ability to be really good at just about anything that he tries.   He really has more focus on the things that are important to him, resulting in success.   His soccer game has been amazing this year, standing out as a phenomenal player, and helping his team to an undefeated second season.  Not just by being the star goal scorer, but learning how to work with him team, and help them to become better as well.   Ethan picked Karate back up and moved up a belt within a few months.   He just started a weapons class, and he is super focused and does well at learning the moves quickly.  Ethan just started his first season of flag football after many years of asking.   We weren’t sure how he would do, but he is fast and very good.   His new love the past year has been archery.  He asked for a bow last Christmas and though he doesn’t get to do it often, his accuracy is uncanny.   He is great with music, adapting his piano songs onto the recorder that he got at school.   I believe that he is so successful, because beyond the spacey forgetfulness that is like a cloud that follows Ethan everywhere, he also can be very intense when he really focuses on something that is important to him in the moment.  He is very smart, and that helps him.   But he has to want to do it.  If I tell him to do something, we don’t get the same results from him as when he wants to do it on his own.   It was like when he was a baby and took FOREVER to talk.  He was two and a half and he hardly spoke.  My Dad observed him and he said, “Rachel, I have been watching him, and I can tell he is very smart.  He is soaking in all the conversations and I can tell he knows exactly what is going on, and he can talk, but he has no need for it right now.   And when he does talk it will be in sentences.”  He was right.  When Ethan decided he was ready to talk, it was in sentences.  While the rest of our children sometimes often misunderstand Ethan and have a hard time relating to him because he is so intense, and also silly, I know that whatever he puts his mind to, he will be successful.   I look forward to seeing what kind a man he will be.  What kind of missionary, husband, father.  I’m thankful for Ethan...he tries my patience with his clothes and belongings all over the place, his continual hiding and sneaking of electronics, his forgetfulness of homework and things I have to remind him a million times to do, but he also lights up my heart with his endearing smile, and sensitive heart, and determined spirit to be the best at what he loves...which obviously isn’t a clean room or doing homework:) Hopefully he desires that eventually!

Here are some pics of his birthday party.  He had fun hanging out with friends from school and his soccer team.   They did some swimming, played soccer, tether ball, basketball, played video games, and whatever else they could come up with to do in the back yard.  Ethan had a great time.  He always has been blessed with many friends.    
 Scavenger Hunt to find his gift!

A Brand New Bow!

 Cake time! Which we turned into ice cream sandwiches (cake came later as a family.  He is always hamming it up...pretending to be all emotional about it!