Comin back to the Island

It was so hard for me to get on the plane to come back to Hawaii because I had so much fun back home with friends and family..but I was ready to get back to Chandler...

My flight from Vegas back to the Island was not bad. Luckily it was not a packed flight and I had my whole row to myself to lay down all the way! I was able to sleep the WHOLE time. I never sleep on planes, so I was happy about that!
Flying always amazes me. Every single time I fly I am literally mesmerized looking out the window. I just love it. I am too, always so thankful for arriving safely with no problems. I make an effort to look my pilot in the eyes and tell him "thank you" sincerely as we all walk off the plane and pass him standing near the plane door! And plus they are always so nice from the cockpit when speaking to their passengers on Hawaiian Air!


Here we are arriving to Oahu and right over Diamond Head an extinct Volcano right East of Waikiki (called Diamond Head because diamonds were once discovered there)
As you can see too, the waves are a decent size in Waikiki (and our shadow;))



Here in Honolulu and Waikiki (we live in the middle of that pretty much!)


This is Ala Moana Beach and Park... Its a nice beach we like to go to near my work and our house that is clean! You can see that huge reef just out a ways from the shore line.. people walk over that to surf and paddle board on the other side (out deeper in the ocean)
My sweet husband was patiently waiting for me to get back to Hawaii- He had a beautiful bouquet of roses for me when I walked out of baggage claim. He is so great! Just knows how to get me every time with the kindest thoughts! I was happy to be home again with him! (our first time apart since we've been married) Its probably good for us but better for us to be together! ;)
Thanks hun!

Skiing

Kenneth and I got a wild hair the day before I was supposed to fly back to Hawaii-we went up to Brian Head to go skiing. It started out being a sunny day.. as the day went on it got a lil gray but it was a great day overall because NO one was at the resort- maybe every 15th chair on the lift had a person. I would say 30 people tops on the whole mountain. Its so much more fun when you dont have to wait. We came off the mountain and got right back on the lift again and again.

Here we are sitting on the lift


We had a lot of fun together




The view from the top of the mountain was surreal.. I loved it

My camera got a lil foggy towards the end of the day because it got dropped in the snow and then put back in my pocket..whoops ;)




I took this picture as we were leaving- I thought it looked cool because of the fog on my lens



Crazy how I go one day from being in Hawaii at sea level to....

Home in Utah skiing at 11,000 feet!

Wonderful!!

I have not had a facial in years! I am too busy at the spa to take time for myself- My sister Desiree is trying to get her Aesthetics room in her house all ready and arranged. I told her she can work on me to try to get used to the things she has in her room so far ;) it worked! She gave me the most AMAZING facial! it was and hour and a half long! I so needed it! I tend to forget how good facials feel- and its my job! No wonder people walk out loving me after their facials! LOL! I sure loved mine! Desi is a great Esthetician! She has the magic touch! Her room is so cute so far! And that bed was so cozy comfy fluffy warm!

Chaminade at Dixie

I think we all have been looking forward to this game! It was such a joy to have the love and support from friends and family to watch Chan play at Dixie State! I figured we had about 50 people there to just see Chandler play.

Here is Eva sharing her suckers..
My camers is not good for sports/action shots...
My cousins Kim and Curtis drove down from Provo! (Thank you guys so much ;))
Sister-Desi, and Zeke
Kelly and Gerie came from Vernal
Me, Grandma Bea and Kaylene
Darcee and I (Thank you Chase and Darc for coming!!)
The siblings!
after the game we thought it would be best to have dinner at our home so that we could all chat and enjoy each others company instead of at a restaurant... here we have Sabre-Star, Cousin Allen and Stacey
The whole gang in the dining room and kitchen- We had yummy Mexican bar.. Nachos, tacos, burritos, chips and salsa, Tamales etc and great company!

At the table L to R Zeke, Kaylene, Grandma, Gwen, Uncle DeeDee, and Spencer
Brielle and Curtis there as well

food Buffet..

Brooklyn was attached to Chan the WHOLE time! She would not let go of him! here he is eating with her she says they were on a date together! I love how Chan is swallowing her table with his legs!

BJ, handsome Kasen boy, Chan and I!
Jana, Tate, and us! It was so good to see you two- for real! I am so sad we really didn't get to sit down and catch up more! I cant wait until Chan and I are living close so we can double-date, just hang, and live a normal life with close friends that we sometime miss out on out here! Jana you are SO sweet! Thanks for the gorgeous compliment on your blog! You are one Gorgeous individual! I don't know what you are talking about -about not standing next to me! I think us two gals needed to be next to each other to try to out shine these two handsome men! Oh well next time! Thank you Tate and Jana for being there it meant alot to us! We loved seeing you all! Look forward to many more times!

Home sweet Home!

Well I was home for a week before I even snapped a photo- Life was CRAZY when I got home! But I managed to do a few fun things! My sisters and Nieces went Ice skating at the New Rink in St Geo. It was tonz of fun! Here is Brooklyn and Eva dying to get out there on that new smooth ice~!

Here is Dawn with Zeke, and Des. Dawn did so good she picked it right up! and didnt fall once! She was fun to skate hand in hand with!

Dawn, me, and Desiree
Dawn, Eva, ma, and Brooklyn-Eva could not stand up for the life of her... It was hilarious! She was so stinking FUNNY! I laughed so much I could hardly stand up myself!

She just sat on my skate as I slid around the rink!



Ahh I love it!
Then carried her some too...

I have some video of me spinning but Id rather not post ;) I fall pretty hard and just laugh on the ground afterwards so Ill just leave it at that! I missed my sweet husband there! He flew in the night before but was practicing with the team at Dixie state for their game later that night!

New Years!

Our New Years in Hawaii this Yr was not what we expected! New Years Eve day just kinda started out "like whatever" for us. Not knowing that the most celebrated holiday on the islands is new years. It was INSANE! Somebody at work told me something about not being able to breathe later that night cuz the smoke would be so bad from fireworks...

Chandler's basketball trainer Robyn who is Japanese invited us over to her families house for dinner and fireworks! Wow where to begin.... The food was amazing! It was no Caucasian party food that's for sure! We had Ahi, Calamari, Squid, sushi, ribs, noodles, lobster/Crab, and so much more- all home made! It was a very nice family to feed us!
I tried pretty much everything! It was a great experience. Chandler and I hadn't been in a normal home since we have lived here- it was just nice to be in a full kitchen, a living room, a dinning room, and a normal size bathroom (as apposed to our 400 Sq foot apartment)
Here we are relaxing waiting to do Fireworks!

Shane with the CUTEST kids! These two are twins they are 5.. Tyler, the little boy was so fun! He had the sweetest lil personality!

Tyler and his box of poppers.. He kept telling me to "ssshhh" as he snuck up behind Chandler to chuck a hand full of poppers at him. The Japanese don't mess around here with Fireworks. Tyler even has his ear plugs in!

Here they probably had $7,000 in fireworks between all the families that came to the house. Huge illegal ones too.
just ONE of the boxes of poppers they had...

Poppers everywhere on the driveway
The cute kids!

Ty and I with sparklers!

They had tall post to light the fireworks..
They started at least 7 fuses at once that it just was a big firecracker fire that started. I felt the heat from yards and yards away! We started doing fireworks at 10pm and kept going non stop til past midnight!
After we left Robyn's families house I really could not believe how smoky the whole island was. We got on the freeway and could not see the road! As we got closer to downtown Honolulu ans Waikiki area where we live it was straight smoke! It was really crazy to see that much smoke. I had no idea the locals here do that. The island was engulfed in smoke. It looked like a thick cold fog white out like what Utah might have sometimes but nope it was 80* degrees out and smoke!

The first video is a glimpse of all the illegal fireworks- every other house was doing illegal ones it was a competition with all the Japanese on the island.

The second video is a "poppers throwing fight" fists full of poppers being chucked between a father and son!

Golf Tourny!

The week before Christmas Jerrel (my bro) had his golf tourny here at Turtle Bay. My mom and I went to TB and stayed with him at the hotel as well. Here the hotel is below thru the trees...

The view right on the ocean and the pool!


Jerrel prob wouldnt be happy if he knew I posted this.. but I dont think he checks our blog! ;)

He made the cut- with these scores..On the third day he shot a 75. He was upset and not happy with himself at all.. but he still got paid money! In the end he just loved playing in 80* weather
His first shot from the Tee



My mom watching in silence.. we walked the whole course! All 18 holes to keep up with him! It was a lot of fun to actually get to watch him play a real 18 holes and in a tournament!

StorTo's

One of the best things about living here in HI is after awhile is learning of all the little best place to go and see and EAT! This is a lil sandwich place in Haleiwa we went to. We had a great lunch! On their sandwiches they put this papaya seed sauce-SO good!

Alaska

Just as my family arrives Chandler had to go to Alaska! The team gets hooked up big time from ADIDAS with new sweats, new shoes, new shirts, new heavy jackets, etc. Here Chan was packing for the trip. (oh and our cute little tree). He was so excited to go! it was in the negative there, snowing, and dark.

Matt and Chandler bundled up!
Right about now in this picture is when Chandler wishes he would have signed with Anchorage Alaska! HA! NOT! After going up there for a few days and playing a few games he was reassured and very happy he signed with Chaminade in Hawaii!

The team played Fairbanks first then played Anchorage- Unfortunately Chaminade lost both games in this Alaska tournament. They must have been too cold and well ready for Christmas they just wanted to get home! LOL!

I am so happy we are here living in Hawaii instead of Alaska! His trip there and back was good for now!

Inspiration

I have a weakness for designer furniture-or just simply beautiful furniture. There is this HUGE store here in Hawaii that is called Inspiration that is very expensive furniture. Chandler and I have gone to just walk around and admire the nice things they have. Well I knew my mom would enjoy it as well so I took her...

They carry FENDI- So expensive its not even funny. This table, the chairs, the carpet, the couch, the pillows, the mirror the lamp was all FENDI ( I think the pillow was around 5,000) What a JOKE!
More FENDI

I loved this coffee table!
My mom having a seat on the couch for a business call really quick!
Now these coffee tables were awesome as well- I love the low look! Love it! My house some day will look similar to this!


This couch is amazing! it will move any which way you want! Curve, turn, staight, loopy, etc.
and so comfy... but it only is $68,000 dollars! Stupid! (hey bro -in- Law- Zeke, ya you, Zeke! I am happy I have an interior designer in my family to get cost prices someday!)

Well its just fun to look at and see what the trends and styles are! I just cant believe people really pay the money for this stuff!

FaMiLiA....

My brother Jerrel (31) who lives in Sacramento had never been to Hawaii but he came out the week before Christmas to play in the Hawaii State Open Golf tournament held in North Shore at Turtle Bay ( for those of you that don't know- my bro plays golf for a living) So he flew out and my mom figured she would come visit me and watch him play too. It worked out nice! This is one of the first days they were here. We went to Shokudo's Japanese Restaurant! It was Yum! We had a great time catching up and laughing!

I don't like Sushi..I have tried and tried to like it... since its so trendy and popular and the social dinner life I have tried it many times...my bro made me try everything.... I am getting better and acquiring the taste

We went for a little drive over the Pali Highway to Kailua ( this is the town where Pres. Obama come to while he visits in Hawaii- so he currently is 11 miles from Chandler and I with his family)

Simply amazing!

BYU vs. CUH

Chandler had another great game againt BYU! Chaminade held a tournament at the school that included BYU, HPU, and Hilo. Chaminade won both games! YAY!
Here is the jump ball!

Close game but CUH owned it!
Me, Gayna, and Alicia watching the game (shhh...I realized I wore the wrong color BYUs... Coach wasnt happy at first to see me in red. Until we won! He then said I need to wear red everytime for good luck!)
We went to Planet Hollywood to eat after!

New Mexico vs. University of Hawaii

New Mexico came out to play UH and Darington plays for them now (Chan's good friend/teamate from last yr. who he played with at CEU)!

So we went to his game! of course they beat UH! It was so fun to watch D play! He did well as always! It was really good to see him- we enjoyed his time here to catch up and chill at his hotel!
I like this picture of the boys!

Chan and I watching the Game!


Darington running off court after the win!

DEcEmBer

Weird. Seriously. It is Decemeber and in Hawaii it is still an average of 85* during the day. It was always nice taking a Vacation to Hawaii in the winter when I lived in Utah though. I will say this- I sure do miss the seasons.. I miss the trees changing colors, I miss the leaves falling, the chill of winter to get to wear warm cute clothes, the first sight of snowfall, the beautiful first few white snow on trees, then the warm Spring and flowers blooming! I didnt think I would miss that out here- but I do. Why is it that we always want what we cant have? I miss the snow- But yet again, I will not complain about the warm weather, its only for a lil bit longer for us to live here to enjoy paradise year round. I have no problem loving this weather while it lasts! I just had to change our blog background to Winter Wonderland so everytime I log on I am reminded it is December! I forget sometimes.

Thanksgiving

Chandler and I had been so busy with his school, his homework, my work and with him going to Maui and being so busy the week of Thanksgiving. So we just wanted to do our own thing and be alone- a few people invited us over and people in the ward had a party but it was nice to finally be just us two!
We went and had a yummy dinner and just walked around and enjoyed ourselves!