I have been on exhausting vacations. Vacations that make you need another vacation as soon as you return home. Ted and I were determined not to let that happen! We have seen so much and done so much while we have been here but we have also spent a lot of time just chillin’. Just looking out at the ocean, taking long deep breaths and remembering what is most important. It is so crazy how the business of life can make very small things seem so big. My time here has reminded me to spend more time in nature. More time sitting on my roof deck looking at the stars. More time lying on a blanket in the backyard. More time remembering what is most important. As I have gotten a little older time really does fly. Do you remember being a kid and hearing adults say that and thinking it would never be true for you? When I was a kid the one school year seemed like an eternity! Now that I am that adult, I realize that time is flying because so many of us have our heads down, running full speed head. Take time today to lift your head up and take a deep breath and recharge your batteries a bit!

Even while we are on vacation I love checking facebook! I know, sad. ☺ But, I must say that it has helped me appreciate even more where we are right now! The many posts complaining of snow and cold has made the thought of returning to the Midwest even more difficult!! Even though it is so incredibly gorgeous here, I don’t think I could live here year round. I LOVE the beginning of fall. I love sitting in my house watching the snow fall while drinking hot chocolate. I love when spring comes around and everyone is in a good mood and those guys who wear shorts as soon as it hits 50 degrees! This family loves change! ☺

I have to say that Kona is AMAZING! For you bride and grooms out there wondering where to go for your honeymoon, I would totally suggest Kona. Downtown Kona has a cool funky feel and is not too over run with tourists. Upon arrival,  I instantly felt more like I was on vacation than in Waikiki. It’s so peaceful and the resorts are amazing. Also, with my sister being here, we have gotten a lot of great information from the locals and they all give Kona two thumbs up!

Since I had to end my post abruptly yesterday (those kids, always having to eat ) I will start off with a few more pics from our day in the North Shore! My sister Meg was super excited to go there as it is known for good surfing! We strolled into the beach a tad late so we had fun playing in the waves and watching the other surfers go at it! Micah, of course, was still cracking me up on the beach while trying to impress the ladies…..

Sundown on the North Shore….

Before heading to Kona we had several days left in Waikiki. Micah was loving every second of it!!!

Meg and I went to see Pearl Harbor while in Oahu. Getting there was pretty nuts though. We began the trip with Meg forgetting her license, so I drove. While driving, I was holding my GPS in my hand so I could hear it. Then I got pulled over and informed that you were not allowed to hold any electronic device while driving in Hawaii. That would have been nice to know. This is also my FIRST official “pull over” by the way. When asked for my license, I opened my wallet to find that I had left it in my hotel room. Yeah, first time that has ever happened either. He pretty much told me that since I was such a mess that it would be way too much work for him to ticket me so he let me go! WHEW! So we headed back to the hotel while totally freaking out about missing Pearl Harbor that when I got to the hotel room to get my license, I left my entire wallet. So between the two of us I had only a license and Meg had only her credit card! Thank goodness we look like twins. When we put the two together, it worked! ☺ I know we were totally meant to make it here! This is a photo of the memorial that sits over the sunken battleship USS Arizona. When looking out the windows, you can see the battleship below. Oil from the ship still rises to the top of the water.

While we were there they raised an American flag!

We also toured the Battleship USS Missouri that was used in World War 2. It was HUGE. I cannot imagine being on this huge ship in the middle of the ocean while people attempted to sink you!

It was so cool to see how they lived while on the ship.

The original newspapers that documented the war…

We have just a few more days in paradise before heading back! We have SO many more photos to post for you!! Ted and Micah are waiting very patiently for me to get off here and head to a super cool black sand beach today for a picnic… so I better head off! Thank you for stopping by! So much more to come!