Waimea Bay

Our plan for today was to get up early and head up to Laie and go to the PCC. I tried to get tickets, but waited a little too long and they were sold out, so we had to switch gears. We decided to go to the PCC on Monday and play on the beach today.

We headed to the North Shore via Pali Highway. Of course, the Pali Lookout was the first stop. The wind was howling which made taking a group photo a challenge!



After the lookout, we went to the Valley of the Temples and walked around the grounds.




Feeding the birds!


The temple in Laie is being remodeled so the best we could do is a photo in front of it. It is now gray rather than white. It will be interesting to see what it eventually looks like when done.

Kind of funny to see missionaries breaking into a car. The Director of the Visitor's Center was even getting in on the act!

Waimea Bay was really flat this time. The weather was a little nicer - no rain. Not many people around though so we were able to play in the water. Rachel, Cameron and I swam and snorkeled.





We even managed to get a few photos of fish.

Great Barracuda

Reef Lizardfish

Bandtail Goatfish

We had dinner at our favorite Mexican Restaurant and got some very disturbing news - they are closing! They lost their lease and have decided to throw in the towel. Very, very sad!

Rachel & Cameron in Hawaii

The first week in June was Rachel and Cameron's chance to come over to Honolulu for a week and play. Lauri and Rebecca were here as well.

Of course, they just had to come to my office and decorate it so we could celebrate my birthday (late). They made arrangements to get me out of the office for a few minutes and then surprise me when I came back. It was fun.

They even made me a cake out of Ho Hos.

They wrote with silly string on the wall. Funny thing is, even after cleaning it off and washing the wall, you can still read what they wrote!

I shocked Rebecca by getting her with the string.

Dinner at Teddy's Bigger Burgers.

Walking on the beach at sunset.

Rachel and Cameron spent a lot of time in the water at Waikiki. We even went swimming there a couple of evenings while they were here. It was fun!

Cameron and Rachel both got henna tattoos.


Photo op with a statue at Waikiki.

Overlooking the City from the Punchbowl. Always a good place to reflect.


Of course we got to the Dole Plantation to get Dole Whip and just had to get a few photos there as well.


They enjoyed the day and the evening at the PCC. It is always fun, but so exhausting!



Rachel and Cameron spent a day at the Arizona Memorial and all the other WWII historic sites.


Always a sobering reminder of the price that was paid.

Tepanyaki

This year we had my birthday dinner at the Tepanyaki in Lehi. Mostly so we could have some sushi with the normal Tepanyaki fare.

Jes had been anesthetized earlier in the day and was still not fully over the effects of that, so she looked pretty well exhausted when we first got there, but seemed to do better as dinner wore on.


It is fun to watch and interact with the chef, but by far, the best thing about this place is watching the boys and all there reactions to what is going on.



Both Caleb and Spencer plug their ears when the fire things are happening. I am not sure why, but I suppose there is some hissing and sizzling going on that is a little loader than normal.






It was a pretty good volcano this time!



I miss being home with everyone more than I am. It is one of the real struggles I have. I really like what I do, but really dislike how it takes me away so much.