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Last night at 7:30pm, I got on a flight from HNL to DAL (via HOU).  I was so sad to leave my family and the relaxing island life that I've been living for the past 9 days, but SO excited to see my husband and my kids.  

I miss my family already, especially my mom and my auntie, but it was so great to come home to my own house and take a nap in my own bed.  The Scout Master has done an amazing job filling in for me while I've been gone.  He's made meals, driven kids to school, seminary and lessons.  He's cleaned, changed light bulbs, taken care of sick kids, taken cover during impending tornadoes, made sure everyone was happy and healthy, and not complained ONCE that I've been lounging around by pools and walking on beaches for the past 10 days.  I'm so grateful to have gone on this amazing trip and I can't wait to bring them all back with me in November.  But for now, I'm going to totally enjoy getting back into my routine and reconnecting with my kids.      

  

YM/YW Iron Chef

Our combined YM/YW activity this week was a cooking challenge (kind of like Iron Chef on the Food Network.)

The kids were split into four groups of 10.  Each group had 30 minutes to make an entree out of chicken and veggies, and a dessert out of pound cake and whipped cream.  They had a small "pantry" of extra food items and spices they could use, as well as a bag containing a mystery item.  The dishes were judged on taste and smell, creativity, presentation, and teamwork (and I might have walked around and told all the groups that they were also being judged on how clean their stations were.)

 

 

 

 deliberating judges

 Team 2

Team 3

Team 4

I can't remember which team won, and I'm sorry I don't have a picture of Team 1's food.  But I DO know that Team 3 scored the most points for CREATIVITY and PRESENTATION (but zero points for TASTE and SMELL)

 yep, their mystery ingredient was GREEN OLIVES and they chose to use them in their DESSERT, along with every sprinkle and candy in the pantry (we nicknamed this the CANDYLAND CAKE) 

and they made their chicken kabobs look like an ANT!

The activity was a HUGE success and the kids all loved it.  We worried a little that some of them kids might not be as "into" this activity as others, but they were all totally focused on their food prep and engaged in their groups.  It was so much fun to be involved in yet another awesome activity.  I love these kids!    

Hawaii (Last Day)

I spent my last day in Hawaii doing a little last minute shopping, more eating, and more site seeing...Lanikai Beach. 

 

 

 

It was another beautiful day and so nice to spend my last few hours in Hawaii with my family.  I'm going to miss them SO much! (sniff...)

Hawaii (Day 8)

The North Shore of Oahu is my new favorite place.  

 Chinaman's Hat

 Laie, HI Temple

 Baja grilled corn and Kahuku Shrimp at Giovanni's

 I liked it, so I wrote my name on the truck!

 ...and took a picture of the super cute Hawaiian guy singing and taking orders inside the truck

 Ko'olina Beach Club 

(had to check out some places for us to stay in November when we come back)

 Aulani Resort (by Disney)

 mountain view from the hotel

Hawaii (Day 5, 6 and 7)

Spent the weekend in Waikiki with my family.  We stayed in a beautiful hotel right on the beach!  and we had tons of fun shopping, eating, playing and hanging out in the hotel room.  I kept thinking all weekend how strange it was that in all the visits to Oahu when I was growing up, I don't think I ever went to Waikiki.  It's super tourist-y (which is probably why we never went there),  but SO beautiful.  And I finally got to put my feet in the sand and in the WATER!

 

  my sister Hulali, her baby Kolten, Mom, and Auntie Debbie

 my cousin Taylor, her boyfriend Clint, and Auntie Debbie

 (that's Duke Kahanamoku behind us.  He's a pretty famous surfer.)

 

  

 Clint, Taylor, Auntie Debbie and Uncle Moke waiting for the sunset

 

 this was the view from the balcony of our room!! 

 Breakfast = mango crepe with whipped cream 

(no gelato on mine...it was a little to early for ice cream)

Auntie Debbie, Auntie Roxanne, and Mom 

(sorry for the blurry picture!) 

 

Hawaii (Day 4)

I'm NOT writing anything about the food we ate today, although some of it was the best stuff I've ever eaten...EVER!  I'm beginning to become obsessed with the food here, I think.  So, tonight I'm just focusing on everything else we did today.    

This morning, we drove up the Pali Highway (Pali=cliff, in Hawaiian.)  It was an absolutely gorgeous day...the fourth one in a row.  So, we stopped at the Nuuanu Pali State Park to look at the view.   

Spectacular, isn't it?

The Nuʻuanu Pali was the site of the Battle of Nuʻuanu, one of the bloodiest battles in Hawaiian history, in which Kamehameha I conquered the island of Oʻahu, bringing it under his rule. In 1795 Kamehameha I sailed from his home island of Hawaiʻi with an army of 10,000 warriors, including a handful of non-Hawaiian foreigners. After conquering the islands of Maui and Molokaʻi, he moved on to Oʻahu. The pivotal battle for the island occurred in Nuʻuanu Valley, where the defenders of Oʻahu, led by Kalanikūpule, were driven back up into the valley where they were trapped above the cliff. More than 400 of Kalanikūpule's soldiers were driven off the edge of the cliff to their deaths 1,000 feet below.

In 1845 the first road was built over the Nuʻuanu Pali to connect Windward Oʻahu with Honolulu. In 1898 this road was developed into a highway which during construction 800 skulls were found believed to be the remains of the warriors that fell to their deaths from the cliff above.  This road was later replaced by the Pali Highway and the Nuʻuanu Pali Tunnels in 1959 which is the route used today. (copied from Wikipedia)

After the Pali, we went to lunch and then to the cemetery to visit all the relatives.

Another amazing day in Hawaii.  It's a good thing those five people are waiting for me at home, because otherwise, I might have a really hard time leaving this place.