Returned

After a fabulous vacation in Hawaii, I'm starting to finally feel like I'm getting back into the swing of things. It has only been 2 weeks since we got home, so I think it's about time.

 Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial

 Trent & Josh buried at Makapu'u

We had such a great time, and I miss it, but it is nice to come back to a routine. Still...the vacation was nice. We loved going with Trent and Heidi and really had a blast. People keep asking me how my trip was with great excitement in their voices, expecting a report on all of the fabulous things we saw, the things we did, etc. We only ventured out of our little area a couple of times. We stayed on Oahu in Waimanalo (Southeast part of the island). We drove into Waikiki (about 20 minutes away), went to the USS Arizona Memorial (Pearl Harbor) and drove up to the North Shore to see the temple. Unfortunately, the temple has been closed for rennovations, so we weren't able to actually go in. Aside from the few trips, we went to Food Land, Costco, and the beach. I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect vacation! It was fabulous to wake up as I pleased, and meander down to the beach when we were all ready. I have to say - I was dang tired of slathering SPF 50 (and ensuing reapplications) followed later in the day by Aloe Vera/Lidocaine Spray.  One of the first few days we were there, I got pretty sunburned on my feet. I remembered the Aloe Vera spray with Lidocaine that my family had used the first time I went to Hawaii (my parents, my sister, and myself), so I sought after it and found it at Food Land. Not one for wasting time, I quickly shook, and sprayed (heavily) on my feet - which seemed to be burned the most. Later, as I was "letting it dry" I heard some snapping/popping, and wondered why the spray was doing that. Not thinking twice about it, I carried on with my {over}application of the spray through the next couple days. When the bottle of spray was gone in 3 days  Soon, I realized I was using too much, and my feet had blistered and were in serious pain. For the remainder of the trip, I did not slather my feet with anything, but preferred to cover them with my $7.99 Food Land Special sarong. Turns out, I chemical-burned my sunburn. I peeled the last few flakes of overexposed foot skin off Saturday night. The scars are still faintly present.

Happiness ensued anway.

Since I haven't really seen the light of Summer, or had cause to put sunblock on in what seems like forever (but really only been a year and a half?) I had forgotten just how tender sensitive my (shocking) white skin is. Needless to say, the Sun left it's mark on me. It's buring red mark. Nevertheless, it was amazing to be there.

The ocean was powerful, yet calming.

Loud, but soothing.

At times I was entranced by the rythmic pulse of the waves, and yes, even overpowered and eaten by a few.

 Turtle Bay

Makapu'u Beach



We had an amazing trip, and this post represents hardly a blink of an eye in 10 days of beachy bliss.

 Heid, Trent, Joshy, Katie:

Laie Hawaii Temple

Joshy & Katie: Waikiki Beach at Sunset

More to come...