Hawaii: Day 2

We started off our day with a trip to the Laie Hawaii Temple... It was beautiful! We really enjoyed the experience...it's fun to see what is different...and what is the SAME no matter where we go in this great big world. After our session, we took a few pictures... we loved the view as you walk out of the temple. You can literally see all the way to the ocean. Beautiful!

While here on Oahu, we have stayed at the Turtle Bay Resort... it is just gorgeous! Only about a 10-15 minute drive from the temple and Polynesian Cultural Center...

When we bought our tickets for the "PCC" a few months ago, I had no idea that I was purchasing our tickets to be "rock stars." I thought a lot of people would buy the "Super Ambassador" tickets because it includes reserved seating for all the shows and a private tour guide...etc... but we were the ONLY ONES at the center today that had purchased these tickets. I think everyone was wondering who on earth we were...It was awesome and hilarious all in one! We even got to have a "part" in a ceremony on the "island of New Zealand." Dan played the part of a chief coming to visit the tribe. It was really amazing! I have now dubbed him the "Chief of the Land of Saratoga"...

Here is a guy who climbed a coconut tree...

Here is the "Chief" enjoying a shaved ice with our private tour guide...Alex from Guatemala...while watching the "parade of islands"...

The "parade of islands"...

Alex took this picture of us learning to "hula"... we are looking at each other like..."What?!"

Alex giving us a little history lesson in the school about the "Polynesian Triangle"... this is about the time my panic attack occured because I realized how far out in the middle of the ocean we are...

We attended the "luau" for dinner... front and center with our "rock star" tickets... Eating a purple roll...

Not often you watch your dinner get pulled out of a pit in front of you... delicious but a little gross if you really think about it...

This picture is for Courtney. I thought she looked like "Kanani"! She was so cute!

This picture is also in honor of Courtney! She is the one who usually pulls the hilarious faces in our family pictures on vacation! This was a pina colada smoothie! (Sorry Kenna... we couldn't bring one home to you!)

This is "Song" our waiter from South Korea! He was so cute and did such a great job! He just put in his mission papers and we promised to write to him!

What an amazing day... so many fun memories... tomorrow morning we will go to church and then head for the airport and a quick flight to the Big Island. We can't believe this vacation has just begun... we still have a full week left! Mahalo is our word of the day... Thank you Hawaii and all of our new best friends!

We Started With This...

This is how we started our day... snow... After Dan drove McKenna to school, he spent some time coloring with Courtney. This is the first time we have taken a "real" vacation without them...

Our first look at Hawaii when we came off the plane! It was so warm our jackets came off and our sunglasses went on...

After driving nearly half way to our resort, we got a call from Alamo car rental telling us we had left one of our bags there! Are you kidding me! How on earth did we do that?.... We went back, got our bag and headed back for the North Shore and Turtle Bay Resort! It is beautiful...we can't wait to explore more in the morning...

After a quick change of clothes we headed to a beautiful restraunt called "21 Degrees North". Expensive...just ask Dan what he paid for his "surf and turf"...and now it's time for bed! Only 8:40 pm here...but it feels like 12:30 am at home! Goodnight Kenna and Court! We love and miss you! Have fun and enjoy Grandma and Grandpa!

We can't wait to see what Day 2 will bring...

General Young Women Conference

McKenna and I had the opportunity to attend the General Young Women Conference at the Conference Center on Saturday evening..

Thanks to my younger sister Cheryl being married into the family she is... we have an "in" with a board member of the Young Women General Board. She called me a week ago to see if we wanted tickets... up FRONT! We were only 12 rows back and felt like we could literally reach out and touch the Prophet! It was such an amazing conference... and a wonderful evening with my beautiful daughter! Afterwards we went to dinner at the "Roof" and got to enjoy the incredible view of the Temple and have some great conversation! I love my girl!

Taylor Davis meets Steve Young!

Even before we knew for sure that Taylor had cancer, Dan began putting together something really special for him. We haven't met a bigger 49ers fan than Taylor... his whole bedroom is 49ers decor! Dan was able to get in touch with Steve Young's PR person, and got this meeting in the works! A week ago Saturday, Dan went and picked up Taylor and his parents and headed for Snowbird. Taylor had no idea where they were headed... just that Dan had something planned! Steve Young has a foundation called "Forever Young" and they were hosting an event that day. Although he had a busy day planned, Steve scheduled time just for Taylor that morning! I had picked up a Steve Young jersey a few days before that they took with them and Steve signed that and Taylor's 49ers hat.

Here he is posing with Shane, Taylor and Jennifer. It was a wonderful morning for all of them... and one that Taylor will never forget! We really appreciate Steve taking the time to make such a special young man in our lives feel like he was important to him too!

Mountain Man Rendezvous

Dan got to help this month with the "Mountain Man Rendezvous" at Courtney's school. It was for all of the 4th graders. He and another dad ran the "log sawing contest"... and had a blast! Courtney was so excited to have Dan come help... here they are ready to leave! This was as close as we could get to "mountain man and girl" outfits around our house!

Will You Be There?

I usually don't post unless I have a picture or event to blog about...but this was too funny!

Courtney: "Hey mom, I have a question. You know someday when Christ comes again, and then we all get judged?"

Me: "Yes."

Courtney: "Well, I was just wondering, are we going to ALL be there together. You know, like you and dad, and me and Kenna? All of us at the same time?"

Me: "I don't know. I think that would be nice, to be together as a family. What do you think?"

Courtney: "I don't know. I kind of hope not."

Me: (Very surprised!) "Why not? What are you afraid of?"

Courtney: (After some hesitation...) "Well.... you know I've lied a couple of times... I really don't want you there for that."

Me: (Laughing hysterically on the INSIDE!!!) "Sounds to me like you need to do some repenting! You know, if you repent and try really hard never to do it again, Heavenly Father has promised not to remember the sin. If you are embarassed about us knowing, you might want to think about how you will feel about our Father in Heaven and the Savior being there."

Courtney: "I am totally going to repent!"

Me: "I think that is a really good idea Courtney."

How hilarious is that? Now that I think about it like that... I think we all might want to do a little repenting!

Taffy for Taylor...

I haven't put anything on my blog about this yet... but we have a dear friend and neighbor... a 16 year old boy...who is suffering with Hodgkins Lymphoma. At the beginning of January they noticed a large lump on his neck and within weeks he was undergoing surgery, and began his chemo treatments. Today he will hopefully be able to have his 3rd treatment...

As friends and neighbors we have been trying to come up with ideas on how to help... and here is our first fund-raiser! The last two days I have been at our incredible school HARVEST elementary selling "TAFFY for TAYLOR". It was such an incredible success that I will be doing it again tomorrow, Friday, March 4th. So come by from 11-12:30 if you would like to help!
I am including a link to Taylors blog... taylorstrial@blogspot.com so you can check it out. His mom Jennifer gave me the ability to write on that blog... so I put more pictures of this event on there, and she writes updates on how he is doing and where he is currently with his treatments. We sure love the Davis family, and adore Taylor! Thank you to everyone that made this such a great event!