'Tis the Season of Giving!

     I love Christmas! All of it! Lights, music, cookies, presents...you get the idea. I love putting on the annual Christmas Showcase with my students because it's like having Christmas twice. We set it up, we celebrate, we clean it up. Then it starts all over again at home. I love all of it...
     Last year...is a blur. I don't remember what presents my kids got, I don't remember setting up the tree or decorating. I don't remember looking at lights. There are bits and pieces that come back to me as I hear my kids talking about it. I had a hard year. Quite possibly one of the hardest I have ever had...and some have been rough. Friends and family know we found out in May of 2015 we were expecting a baby. Total surprise! It took us awhile to get used to the idea of having another baby. Just as we started to accept that the pregnancy was real (four tests later and doctor confirmation), we found out our baby boy had Trisomy 18 and wouldn't live. We made some very hard decisions and lost baby Michael on July 31, 2015. School started the next week and I was on autopilot for just about the whole school year. It was hard, it was scary, and I was really tested to my limits. Looking back now, that sweet little baby I never met saved my life in many ways. I have since been able to recognize and get help for diabetes and high blood pressure. I also appreciate my boys so much more after having lost one and I know how important it is to hold them close. My angel baby will forever hold a special place in my heart, but I have been able to move on and accept it for what it was.

     Fast forward to this year...we found out in July (one year after losing Michael) we were expecting ANOTHER baby! Again...a surprise! It was just as hard to accept it was happening but in some ways it was even harder. My baby is 7 years old. This is like starting over!  And after the last experience, I was/am terrified! So many things can go wrong. I fluctuated between excitement, fear, and outright panic in the first few months. I think it could be categorized as PTSD with the shaking and sweating I face every time I go to the doctor. I can't stand the thought of losing another baby. I've been working closely with a couple of doctors and a specialist. Fortunately, everything about this pregnancy has been perfect!

Until last week!

     I had a scare last week. I thought for sure I was losing the baby. The doctor instructed me to go to labor and delivery to be checked. They did an ultrasound and everything was fine with the baby. Strong heartbeat, good movement. They monitored for contractions and sent me home with the diagnosis of bedrest. Bedrest...the most important thing I can do for this baby. But SO hard for ME. Physically and mentally. I had issues when I was pregnant with J and was on bedrest for 3 1/2 half months. The exact same place in that pregnancy as this one. Bedrest at Christmastime. So much to do with school, family, all of my winter break projects...all on hold for now. The rallying my family and friends was overwhelming! The amazing Kaye Bair stepped in and completely took over my classes. I hate asking for help and I didn't have to. People just stepped in and took over at school and at home. Meals and gifts and encouraging notes! Definitely feeling the LOVE!

    That brings me to the point of this blog post.... the season of giving! I love reading stories about how giving and loving people are around this time of year. Of course, I wish we could always treat other this way, but at least people remember each other during the holiday season.

     Last night, we were surprised and blessed by a Secret Santa(s)! My son thought someone was at the door...we've been on high alert since someone ripped apart our inflatable Santa the other night. He looked out and then came to get me. "Mommy!! Baby stuff. At the door. You have to come see!" I went to the door and couldn't even move...or speak... one of my big concerns about this pregnancy is that we don't have any baby stuff and not much money to purchase things. We didn't keep any of it because we didn't know we had another child meant for us. For some reason, we kept our crib. I'm glad we did! And neighbors Wade and Sarah Stevens gave us a beautiful changing table. I had a couple of baby clothes pieces from Sarah and a couple of other friends. But that was it! So of course there were many tears of gratitude shed when I saw this at the door...

     I'm overwhelmed even now as I write this. Clothes, diapers, gift cards and more! It is amazing! I don't know who provided us with these amazing gifts but I hope they are rewarded, fulfilled, and blessed in all of the ways they deserve! I can't even express the magnitude of my gratitude today as I keep looking at all of this stuff! For someone to take the time and effort to do this for us is so incredible to me. And a wonderful example of giving for my children to see and learn from. Thank you so much for making this Christmas so special and for helping us in this time of need. Merry Christmas! 

Flexibility Brings Fun

We had a picnic with the ants yesterday! Yes...you read that right! We ate with the ants...not aunts.  It was an interesting day. Actually, it's been an interesting week! 

 

Those of you who know me well, know I struggle with change. And the unknown. I like a plan and a routine. I know change is good and often for a reason. And I can adapt...it just takes me some time to wrap my brain around the change that is happening. And I often pretend it isn't happening so I don't have to face it. Not always the best solution. 😜 

My need for details often frustrates me. I want to be flexible and spontaneous, but it is hard for me to feel out of control of the situation.  And I'm afraid of the unknown. I've noticed lately that this need for details has spread to my children. And I need to fix it! Starting now...why not today, right? 😉 (Eric) 

As many of you know, we were in Hawaii last week for a family vacation. It was so nice and relaxing! And SO hard to come back. We had a few things on our agenda while we there, but most of the time was unstructured free time. One of the days, Rob and I decided we wanted to explore the island. Just get in the car and go. The boys didn't like that idea one bit! The questions began. Where are we going? What are we going? What will we do there? Is there a beach? Can I get a toy???  I didn't have answers. We were just seeking an adventure! So I told them, "We are going to be flexible. You never know where we will end up or what we will see. Just go with it!" They didn't love the answer, but it was ok. And we had a great time! 

 

Yesterday, my parents "family-napped" us! I told the boys we were going on an adventure. Then came the questions! I told them they could stay home or see where we end up. A couple of them weren't thrilled but they did come with us! My parents took us for a drive and a picnic up on Kolob mountain. 

 

As we picnicked with the ants and ate our Lunchables, I noticed the beautiful Quaking Aspen trees all around us and the amazing wild flowers. The stillness of nature was occasionally interrupted with the sound of the"quaking" leaves. I LOVE those trees! I learned from my wise momma that the Quaking Aspens are the largest living organism and share one root system. Every tree is a sprout! Amazing! I also noticed my boys weren't enjoying nature like I was. One of them had to sit in a chair so he wouldn't get dirt on him. One wouldn't put his feet down because the ants or spiders would crawl on him. The other ate quickly so he could stand up. The short moment we were out in the beautiful mountains was so foreign to my kids, it wasn't fun for them. I have some work to do with these kids!  

 

 

 

 

Some of my favorite memories growing up include trips like this with my family. We would get our drink and treat and head somewhere to find a hike or a pretty spot. I loved those times and have often thought about visiting some of those places with my own children. Now that my kids are a little older, it is easier to travel. I am looking forward to creating memories we will talk about again sometime. Things like some of those we experienced yesterday. The 4-wheeler that crashed into the lake, the gross hole-in-the-floor campground toilet, and the non-stop comedy comments and voices coming from my hilarious child in the back seat. And I loved spending time with my parents. I don't get to to do that much anymore now I am a grown-up. 🙄 It was a great day!

A favorite thing about the day: On our way to Kolob, we saw a sign/marquis that read, "put on your positive pants". That is so great! There was one particular point in my life when I was struggling to be positive. My mom kept reminding me to make the choice to "get on the happy bus". The idea of riding the "happy bus" and kicking the negative people off our bus stuck with me and I still use that with my kids....and myself. 😊 

NOW, I can ask them if they are wearing their  "positive pants"! Ha! What a great reminder! Whatever it takes to turn the daily challenges into something manageable, right? I am so grateful for my parents for giving us this fun experience and for helping to lift my spirits! Love you mom and dad! 

 

 

 

The Last Day

Well....I'm actually writing this post the day after the last day of vacation.  I fell into bed so quickly last night, we didn't even unpack. Or eat. 

The night before our return trip, I couldn't sleep because I worried about D during the night and hoped he wasn't going to have any major reactions to the jellyfish sting. Of course, when I googled jellyfish sting symptoms I got the typical list of deadly symptoms. So I had to check his breathing multiple times! Sheesh!!  But he was just fine. Here is the sting mark 24 hours later...almost completely gone and no pain! 

 

Then I was worried and stressed out about packing and all of the airport nonsense waiting for us. And I was dreading the long flight. So I didn't get much sleep. 

 

The flight was uneventful and dull...fortunately! But the toilets were awful! Kind of made me never want to fly again! One was stuck on continuous flush and the other two filled up and wouldn't close. GROSS!! As one who doesn't do well with public bathrooms as it is,  let's just say I definitely tested my bladder control. TMI?!? Ha! On the flight over, we were in the same seats...near the front. And we pretty much had that bathroom to ourselves because it was used by the pilots and the flight attendants. On the flight back, the flight attendant kept locking it with a key so it stayed "occupied" and no one could use it. 😖 But we survived and we made it! Our snack backpack saved us! Rob made a bunch of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to take with us and they went quickly! However, T really wanted to try a snack from the plane. They were charging for everything, but Granny ordered him a little snack pack and he loved it! The flight was a little shorter than it was on the way over, so that was nice! It seems like we waited forever for our luggage to show up, but we were soon on the road. We stopped at Loves gas station just outside of Vegas to eat Subway breakfast samdwiches... one of our favorite things to eat! Interesting conversation with my boys while there. While we were waiting in line, a Hispanic man said something to the boys about their drinks. We couldn't understand him very well and the boys kind of looked away. He then made a remark about how its ok to not talk to strangers. We paid and headed over to a table. We were eating and J stood up on the leg rest of his stool to see his cousins, and he slipped. He bumped his elbow and scraped his back. He started to cry a little.  An older woman with scraggly hair and a walking cane was walking by. She came over and asked him if he was ok. She said it is ok to cry and that she cries all the time. It was an interesting scenario and I didn't think much of it. When she walked away, T commented on how people there were really nice. First the guy in line and then the lady. Neither of those people knew us but with just a couple of words, they connected with us. With everything going on in our world right now, and he hate that circulates so frequently, I'm happy my children noticed that we don't have to know people to be nice to them. I really hope they continue to find kindness and love in their world since they are growing up in such a scary time! 

We are happy to be home! We miss the ocean, the carefree schedule, the adventure. There is just something calm and relaxing about the ocean and I need to find a way to experience that in my daily life. We are tired...jet lagged... still on island time. Lots of unpacking and laundry to do. But it was a great vacation and I am grateful to my family for making it happen!! 

 

 

The Great Jellyfish Adventure

I've decided sand is beautiful! And sand is annoying! And sand has a mind of its own. No matter what you do, or how many times you rinse off, that sand sticks with you! It ends up in and on everything! And several beaches have different types of sand. Different colors. Different grain sizes. It's so beautiful and crazy! Oh, I'm sure we will be finding sand in our belongings for days and weeks to come, but it will be a welcome reminder of our wonderful family vacation! And even though I will miss it, I'm ready to be home.  I miss my kitties! And I miss air conditioning! 😂

 

We've been using Yelp a lot while on vacation. It is a great way to find out how others perceive a place you are thinking about visiting. The reviews have been helpful and Eric even left some of his own. Technology is great!

We had a family meeting this morning. We each got the chance to say what we wanted to do for our last full day in Hawaii. Most of the answers were about going to the beach or the ocean. T wanted to hit as many beaches as possible. Well, he did get his wish...but not on purpose. 

We started out at Kokolio beach because of a suggestion from a local lady. There was a small tide pool there but it wasn't quite what we had in mind for snorkeling. We knew there were better places down the road. So we kept moving. 

Our next stop was Hukilau beach. There were a bunch of firefighters there working out and they told us there were lots of jellyfish out because of the strong wind. So we moved on. 

Next, we pulled into Waimea Beach and there was no parking. We kept going. 

We ended up at a somewhat rocky beach with great snorkeling opportunities. And some nice shady trees! The boys and Granny were able to see and swim with a sea turtle! It was an awesome experience! Both T and D were able to work with Granny and the uncles to learn how to snorkel. They both really liked it after getting used to it. Rob killed time by harassing  the chickens again. He was trying to get hem to believe he had food for them so they would come close. That didn't happen! Smart chickens! 

 

After awhile, we headed back to rest and have lunch. I was able to get some packing done. I'm not sure how I fit all of this stuff in the suitcase in the first place! 

This afternoon, we ended up back at Hukilau. We saw a couple of jellies but there were tons of people out there swimming. We all went out and didn't have any problems. We started to see more and more up on the beach and I knew I should have the boys come in. I was having big issues breaking up the fun because Rob was out there boogie-boarding with the boys and I ignored the warnings in my head. 

 

 

I finally had to call them in. As D was walking out of the final wave, a jelly got him on the arm. I saw him hitting his arm and flailing around and I ran over to him.   It was so scary and upsetting! He had a big red tentacle mark on his arm. I remembered the local lady saying to rub sand into it and pee on it. Rob, bless his heart, took off to find somewhere to pee in a bottle and help his boy. Some of the uncles went and asked a local man  about what we should do. He said the pee thing was a myth. So we didn't do it. But thanks for he willingness, Rob! Both me and Nikell started Googling (Ah! Gotta love technology!) what to do. Some said don't rub sand. Some said use seawater. Some said cold water. Some said hot water. Some said vinegar. Others said no vinegar. I really was freaking out and I think D was going into shock! Calmly and coolly, Rob went into Longs Drugstore and asked the pharmacist. He said those other things would work, but he had a faster solution...

 

This stuff helped him. Then we used hot water and ice. He is completely fine now. The part I love the most about the whole thing...he actually said to me, "Well, the good thing is that now I don't need to wonder what a jellyfish sting feels like." Aw!! That boy of mine! 

 

 

You can see how it looked right after and how it looked later. The lines are where the tentacle made contact. Ouch!! I learned: While many types of jellyfish are relatively harmless to humans, some can cause severe pain and some might cause a serious allergic reaction. The common jellyfish here is the Portuguese man-of-war. Also called bluebottle jellyfish, Portuguese man-of-war jellyfish live mostly in warmer seas. This type has a blue or purplish gas-filled bubble that keeps it afloat on the water and acts as a sail. This is the type of jellyfish the lady on the beach told us they called  "blue bubbles". They are not my friends. Just ugly little blobs of venom floating in the ocean. 

This evening after things calmed a down, we ended up getting a sweet treat from Angie's. I had a Berry Blast smoothie. Some of us had shaved ice and some had ice cream. We were all happy and content! 

 

This has been a great trip! Full of so many firsts for me and my children! Even though I am mostly ready to go home (mostly!) I am grateful we had this opportunity to vacation as a family and I am grateful my family made it happen for us! 

 

Rain or Sun?

This post is late due to large amounts of fun! Sorry for the inconvenience!

I just can't get past the humidity on this island. Even when I'm not sweating, I feel sticky because of the moisture. At home, I use so much lotion! I only need lotion here when I get out of the ocean....and that's just because I'm annoyed with dry hands and feet. I haven't even used my facial moisturizer the whole vacation! My fingernails grow fast. My hair is soft. Why do I live in the desert??? I'm probably going to shrivel up when I get home! 

It is crazy how one side of the island can be rainy and we go through the tunnel and the other side is sunny. Or the sun is shining where we are but big raindrops are falling. Crazy weather. We've been very fortunate. One trip we came on several years ago, it rained the WHOLE time! It has only rained off and on and the storm usually passes quickly. 

So I'm told it's all my fault! I wanted to hike to the top of Diamondhead National Monument.  I knew it would be hard...my health hasn't been that great. I've wanted to hike it every time we've visited Oahu and I haven't had the chance. Today, we did it! The view from the top was amazing!

 

The hike is .7 of a mile from the bottom of the crater. That doesn't seem like very far...unless you see the switchbacks and stairs! Here is a link for more information about the crater and some interesting stories. 

http://m.gohawaii.com/oahu/regions-neighborhoods/honolulu/leahi-diamond-head/

The parking lot was completely full when we got there. So we parked across the street from the crater and started the long walk up the outside of the crater. When we got to the intersection, there were several police officers directing traffic. One cop started yelling at a couple of tourists to get back on the sidewalk. And I mean yelling! We couldn't figure out why he was so mad until he said there was a VIP traveling down. He told us it was Vice President Joe Biden. So the parking lot wasn't full...just closed. Then we saw him and his cavalcade. 

 Having never been so close to someone so important? I felt like we should applaud...or salute...or something...so we just waved. It was pretty exciting for this small town girl! 

 

We started back up the trail and Rob went to get the car now that there was parking. He took the littles...and me...up to the start of the trail that goes up the side of the crater. So let's just be honest here for a minute. It wasn't as easy and fun as some make it out to be. There were more than a few times I had to stop and catch my breath because I thought I was dying. Or going to throw up. Or both. I am so out of shape even though I've been training for this hike by setting the climb feature on my treadmill. Ha! Not even close to the same. There were switchbacks, a long lit claustrophobic tunnel. Ninety nine stairs one way and fifty the other, a bunker, and the most amazing view I've ever seen. My legs were shaking and threatened to give out on me more than once. No matter how long it took...I planned to finish. And Rob said he would do whatever it took to make it happen. I had a crew of 15 cheerleaders helping me do this and I really appreciated it. At one point Ashton yelled out, "Come on Emily! Don't give up on your dream!" That earned several chuckles from those climbing in our general area. They all beat me to the top...and they all beat me to the bottom but that was ok. I made it! When I got to the end of the trail they applauded me. It made me so happy and proud. Even though I tried to be funny and started looking around and applauding with them like I didn't know who the applause was for. 😂 It was SO worth it! Even though my leg muscles are still on fire! 

 

After the hike, we headed to the Ala Moana Shopping Center. For those of you who know the Stam family pretty well, you know we are obsessed with Legos. ALL of us! The parents are just as bad as the children and we knew there was a Lego store there. 

But lunch first! We ate at Bubba Gump Shrimp Factory. It you've been following our adventures, you know I don't like sea food. Fortunately they had other food. The kids had mini corn dogs and chicken tenders. I had a burger and fries (but my stomach was still not settled after the hike so I couldn't eat) and Rob ordered shrimp scampi. He has been raving about shrimp scampi for years as one of only a few seafood dishes he likes. I ate a bite. It was hard for me to eat it. Harder than I thought. I didn't like it. AT ALL! I don't know if it is a taste thing, or a texture thing. But the memories I have from earlier in my life that involve this aversion to sea food...still stand true today! But I gave it a shot! 

The decor was awesome! I loved the rustic touches to make it feel old and sea-worn. I loved the pictures and memorabilia from the movie Forrest Gump. And a cool thing out waitress did was ask is Forrest Gump trivia questions while we waited for our food. I was surprised at how many questions we were able to answer! 

 

 

 

We shopped for a bit then headed back to our side of the island. 

So I've been wanting a Coca-cola Slurpee from 7-11 since we got here. One of my favorite things from 7-11. I finally got it!

 

When we got back to the house, Soph wanted to surprise Granny for her birthday so we hid and when she came upstairs we jumped out and yelled "surprise"! It was really cute! AND it was Soph's favorite part of the day!

 

After a little rest time, we headed back to Hukilau Beach. The water felt so good after sweating all day. T was happy because there were waves. J was happy because the sticks he hid there in the bushes yesterday were still there. And D was with his best friend/cousin. It was a fun time. Even when Eric thought he was getting stung by a jellyfish. Turns out it was only a little crab. It pinched onto Eric's swimsuit and when he panicked, Andy saved the day by karate chopping it off of Eric's swim suit leg. That little crab guy thought he was going home with us! T and J both love Hukilau Beach the best. It really is beautiful!

 

We decided to head down to what we call Turtle Beach because the sea turtles swim around there and often come up on the beach. We weren't dissappointed! There were 3. The coolest thing happened right at sunset one of the turtles turned around as the waves hit him and he just took off swimming. It was so slow and beautiful! As we walked back to the car, T said, "I came. I saw.  I tried a lot of things I've never done." Wise boy!!! 

We once again went around to ask what everyone's favorite part of the day was. Everyone had good answers. Rob, Eric, and Granny said their favorite part was seeing me make it up Diamondhead. That was pretty awesome!!

Daegon had an interesting day. Many Japanese people kept filming and taking pictures of him. His pale skin, blue eyes, and bright red hair make him very unusual to the Japanese people. He said this evening, "Apparently I'm a supermodel in Japan". We had a good laugh about that!! It was a long, tiring, amazing day!

 

 

    

Food Glorious Food!

We didn't really have a plan this morning. That is a difficult idea for some of the Dodge family members...my own children included. I'm tired. My kids are tired. My husband is tired. Sunburn does NOT equal peaceful sleep! I just couldn't handle the morning routine of packing the cooler and the towels and the snacks and the chairs and the sunscreen and the boogie boards and the water shoes and on and on. I just couldn't! So my immediate family just got in the car and went. We started the day at Hukilau Cafe. The macadamia nut pancakes were delicious!! Ate WAY too much! D had banana pancakes. J had chocolate chip pancakes. T had a breakfast combo and Rob had ham and eggs. The portions were enough for five families!! It was awesome!

 

We drove some more and ended up in Miliani at Walmart. Water and aloe vera. Ha! It was fun to see the paintings/murals on the sides of the buildings as we drove by! I wonder what the story is behind them. 

After awhile, we ended up in Haleiwa for lunch and some shopping. We found some chocolate covered macadamia nuts. Yum!! Definitely my favorite treat! We had lunch at a place called Fatboy's Plate Lunch. 

 

Eric found it on Yelp. It has only been open for two days so he was able to give their first review. It was delicious! I had a teriyaki plate lunch and Rob had a katsu chicken plate lunch. For those of you who have not had the privilege of partaking in the famous (or infamous after eating the whole thing) plate lunch, it comes with sticky rice and macaroni salad. Yummy!! My mouth is watering just writing about it! The boys had a "hamboyger" with cheese. They didn't really like it because it was more like a meatball or meatloaf. A very BIG meatball. But all boys tried it and the teriyaki chicken! I was so proud of them for giving it a shot. We will most likely end up at McDonalds tomorrow to make sure they get something to eat. 😖

After lunch, we headed back for rest time while we waited for the rest of the family. On the way back, we drove by Ted's Bakery. I've heard it is really good! From the outside, it looks a little "sketchy" according to D. After we passed it, I told Rob they supposedly had really good cinnamon rolls. He immediately slammed on the brakes in the middle of the road, made a u-turn, and we ended up at Ted's. Rob's favorite sweet treat is cinnamon rolls. Maybe I should have told him sooner??? 

On their way back to the house, Eric, Andy, Ashton, and Nikell rented paddle boards while my parents tended the other kids. On a beach. In Haleiwa. With no planning or preparation. They are really great sports when it comes to tending the grandkids! I heard the beach was a pretty gross one but they still had fun. T doesn't care as long as there is water! 

When everyone came back, we packed it up again and went back to Hukilau Beach. So far, it is our favorite! T and D got more experience with the boogie board and the uncles taught them how to properly jump or dive into waves...if there is a proper way to do it. Ha! 

 We stayed until the tide came in and the jelly fish came out. We had grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner. 

 

 

 

We had our "favorite part of the day" sharing again. It is a great tradition that I always need to do with my own children. It is so fun to hear different perspectives and what the kids remember. Even though my mom started it, Ashton reminds us each night. It is great! 

Tomorrow is a very special day! My mother's birthday! She is such a special lady! There was a time when she went through some major struggles and I was afraid I would lose her. She pulled together all the strength she could find within her and turned things around. I am grateful that she is still in my life. She has helped me through so much in my own life and the lives of my children and my brother's lives and I love her so much! She is my support, my nurse, my cheerleader, my best friend! Thank you mom for everything! I'm so happy we can spend your birthday together as a family! It will be a great day!!

 

The Great Peanut Butter Debate

Rob made breakfast for the whole family this morning. It was awesome! Pancakes, eggs, bacon, juice. It was nice to wake up to the smell of bacon. Even at 5:30 am! 

Food here is expensive! Everything is expensive...supply and demand I guess. If you can only buy certain things at one place, they can charge whatever they want and you have to pay it or go without. The pillows in the house we are staying at are not great. Andy went down the road to buy a new one so he could get some decent sleep. No pillows for sale anywhere on this side of the island. Maybe we could open a pillow store and get rich?!? 

So back to the food and money issue...

We bought some bread, peanut butter, and jelly to make sandwiches and take them with us in case we were ready for lunch and there was nowhere to eat. And if you know the Stam family, you know one of our boys is the perfect model of the term "hangry". The worst part is that he doesn't feel hungry. He just growls at everyone and refuses to eat. So the solution is sandwiches at the ready! Well, the debate started with the peanut butter. I like to make the sandwiches with a little bit of peanut butter on each piece of bread and the jelly in the middle so the jelly doesn't soak into the bread and make it soggy. My kids like it that way, Rob likes it that way and my mom likes it that way. Eric and Ashton started making the sandwiches with a big pile of peanut butter on one side and jelly on the other side because the jelly soaks in and makes it soft. And thus ensued the great peanut butter debate. How do you make your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches???

My drink of choice is Diet Dr. Pepper. Last time we were here, there was no fountain choice for Diet Dr. P. The only other drink I like is Diet Coke but I don't love it. I managed to struggle through. Imagine my surprise and delight when we found out our favorite 7-11 now has Diet Dr. P in their fountain!! And Rob's choice...Coke Zero. Yay!! 🎉 It's the little things! Love a 7-11 stop on our way to the adventures! 

Our first adventure of the day was the Dole Plantation. Two words...Dole Whip!! Yum! Last time we went there J was 4. He tried the Dole Whip and did a little happy dance. He said, "This ice cream makes me dance!" So cute! The three littles went on the Pineapple Express. 

 

That was the main thing J wanted to do. And Soph had to sit on one side and Mav on the other. The train crew was amazing! They helped us recreate a family picture we took three years ago.

 

 T got an airbrush tatoo and J got a new addition to his hat collection. 

 

 

On the way to Dole, we stopped at Turtle Beach or...something like that. We saw several sea turtles swimming around but none on the beach. We did recreate another pic from our previous trip. One of just the kids.

 

On the way back to the house, we stopped at a beach near Sunset Beach. Chuns Reef, according to Google Earth. The waves weren't big as all so the kids were able to snorkel. D tried it but didn't really like it. T hated the tightness of the mask. J was too nervous to try. I tried it last time and felt way too claustrophobic! So I haven't tried it this trip and I don't know if I will. But I'm very happy my boys gave it a try.

I did try a new thing again today! The brothers rented a paddle board. They took turns trying out stand up paddling (SUP) and mom even tried it. A couple of the kids sat on it and went for a ride. With ten minutes left for the rental Eric asked me if I wanted to do it. I told him no. Then as he walked away I told myself (and those around me) that I was going to regret that decision. So I did it!! I sat on it and paddled! Eric, loving brother that he is, swam out with me and taught me how to steer with the paddle. I'm not sure how I felt about it. While I drifted farther out into the ocean, I was terrified. But when I was finished, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment. I don't feel the urgent need to do it again but I'm glad I did it. 

 

After the beach, we headed back to the house for a sun break. I sat and visited with mom for a bit and I was so hot and tired. She told me to go rest on her bed in front of the fan. I crashed out! I was so tired! 

After we all had a little rest and snack break, we headed out to find another beach. It was called Kokololio Beach Park. This trip was a perfect example of the water calling us. Even though we were burnt, we went anyway. There was one moment when our whole family was in the water at the same time. It was awesome! While in the water Eric came over to me...very  quickly...and told me to move. He yelled "watch out"! I panicked and started running. For a moment, I thought I was being chased by a shark! Eric used the boogie board to pull a jellyfish away from me and Ashton came running over with a coconut shell and scooped it up out onto the sand. I narrowly escaped with my life!! T was really scared to go back in so we asked a local lady what to do in case a jellyfish stings you. She said it was really weird but works...rub sand into it and then pee on it. Hmmm...I don't know about that. 🙄 We left shortly after that! 

As we all walked into the house moaning and groaning from itchy sand and sunburns, Andy asked D after he overheard him pointing out to me, "Do you know what a sunburn is?"  Pause and we looked at him. "A sure sign of a good time!" Love it!!

After dinner, we went around and asked each person's favorite part of the day. There were some really great answers! T brought up a conversation from earlier in the day. "Today I heard the weirdest thing I've ever heard Eric say. Eric asked "You want to touch my belly?" Eric was being so funny! Eric told us that T laughed the hardest he had ever heard him laugh and he loved how funny Trenton's reaction was. It was a tiring but fun day! Might be taking it easy tomorrow depending on our sunburn survival through the night!