Aloha!

For a long time (since Matt's last deployment), I have wanted to go to Hawaii.  I think it is more of what the trip is, more than the location.  The trip to me is time as a family, someplace warm when it is snowing and cold at home, the ability for my kids to play in the sand, and again being with my family.

The AF thought it was necessary to send me on a business trip to Hawaii in January.  I didn't put up a fight.  The conference was not appealing to me upfront but ended up being fabulous.  After three days in a conference room, I am now an AHLTA Clinical Champion!! (AHLTA is our electronic medical record that never seems to work the way the developer envisioned.)

While I was at the conference, Matt and the kids spent time going to the beach, hanging out, napping, and spending time with friends.  He was nervous about having them all by himself.  I had faith in him!  No one drowned or had any major injuries.  I was impressed!!  He did great.  There are no pictures from those couple of days.  He had his hands full.  They spent time at the Hickam beach, went on walks around the ocean, and took great naps.

He was also able to meet up with Sandy Gold.  She was on a two week trip to Oahu to escape the cold weather.  Matt and the kids headed out to Bellows AFB - our favorite beach in Hawaii - for the day.  Eleanor had a hard time at the beach.  It was new territory which is hard for her.  Thank you Sandy for taking care of my family!

We took advantage of the wonderful sushi in Hawaii.  One evening we took the kids to a sushi restaurant.  It has a "conveyor belt" that runs travels around the restaurant.  When we first got there not much was coming out on the conveyor belt because we were there early.  Then, more and more yummy sushi started to appear.  Stephen had so much fun when he realized he could get food off the belt.  We had to hold him back.  Here is Stephen showing his mastery of taking salmon off the belt, then thanking his dad for letting him:

One of my favorite pictures from the trip on the way to dinner one night.  This is the first time Eleanor has really been able to walk around a lot.  She enjoyed being outside, running around, and feeling free.  This evening she wanted to walk while holding Matt's hand.

You saw the previous post about my friend.  This is us going down to the beach when we went to visit them.  They live about 400 yards from the beach.  It was fun seeing them and being able to catch up.  Friday nights they have pizza on the beach.  We were able to join them for pizza.  I think Stephen thought it was cool to eat on the beach.

The best day of the trip was spent at Hanauma Bay.  Sandy convinced us to head to the bay for the day - hooray! (Watch out Dr. Seuss.)  By this time Eleanor was more comfortable on the beach and enjoying the water.  It was my first day free from conference.  What a great day.  Thanks Sandy for getting up out there.  Eleanor even warmed up to Sandy that day (it did help that Sandy had Cheetos to share with her.)  We had fun pulling the kids on the boogie board, playing in the sand, swimming, snorkeling, and checking out the fish.

  

Eleanor definitely enjoyed Hawaii as I said before.  In addition to being outside and enjoying the sun,  she learned to climb.  Our lives have not been the same since.  She is a little monkey.  Here she is accomplishing her first climb - the beach chairs.

The last evening there I was able to capture some pictures of my family on the beach and the nearby park.  Aloha!

  

Stephen not only learned to say Aloha,  but also learned to hula!  Check out his form!