CHURCH EASTER EGG HUNT (APRIL 16)

EASTER SUNDAY (APRIL 17) 
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OAHU GETAWAY . DAY 1 . ARRIVAL AND WALK ON BEACH (APRIL 21) 

OAHU GETAWAY . DAY 2 . KOKOHEAD, MAKAPU'U TRAIL & SECRET BEACH (APRIL 22) 

OAHU GETAWAY . DAY 3 . KAYAK TO LANAKAI BEACH (APRIL 23) 

OAHU GETAWAY . DAY 4 . HANAUMA BAY (APRIL 24) - not yet posted

OAHU GETAWAY . DAY 5 . BIRTHDAY RUN UP DIAMONDHEAD (APRIL 25) - not yet posted

MIKE'S RESERVE DUTY (APRIL 17-30) - not yet posted​

GOOD TIMES WITH MYISHA (APRIL 22-MAY 2) - not yet posted

EXERCISE IN APRIL (APRIL 5-25) - not yet posted

SLICES OF LIFE - not yet posted

​The last time we were in Oahu together we kayaked to Lanikai beach in a double kayak and had the best time. This time we decided to do single kayaks and I soon realized that was a bad idea. This was the kayak trip that tested my strength and endurance. The headwind was so strong it seemed like I wasn’t moving at all. With my little T-Rex arms it was very hard to steer the single kayak. Mike got to the beach first and eventually I made it there also. Getting there was hard, but the reward was sitting at the most beautiful beach for the rest of the day. It was well worth it. The breeze was a little too strong and chilly for me to want to go snorkeling, so Mike went ahead and did some snorkeling on his own while I sat on the warm sand and enjoyed the warm sun. We relaxed for quite some time and snacked on crackers, cheese, and grapes. It was the perfect beach snack! The kayak trip on the way back was much easier since we were moving with the current and the wind was at our back. Once back at the car we put on some normal clothes and headed to the mall for some shopping. We found the older girls some clothes at Uni Qlo and some treats at the Aloha sugar shop. We aren’t big candy eaters, but it was still fun to browse around this ridiculous store filled with more candy than you think is possible. Since we were getting hungry, we headed back to Waikiki and ate dinner at the Udon restaurant. We waited in line outside for about 30 min before getting our fill of the most wonderful Udon outside of Japan. This famous Udon restaurant is always packed with a line of people anytime of the day. It is that good! 
 

​For today’s adventure we decided to head to Kokohead first to do the Hawaiian version of the Incline. It was just like hiking the Incline in Colorado except the views were more spectacular and there was so much oxygen. I kept thinking that it was amazing that I didn’t need to stop. Halfway up to the top there is a little side trail called Murphy's Bypass. We took that instead of continuing on the railroad ties since that little section is sketchy with no ground underneath the ties and there were too many people who didn't know what they were doing. After passing that we got right back onto the main trek. After we made it to the top, we ventured over to the crater rim and hiked along the ridge line. Up at the highest point of the ridge the wind was so strong that my visor blew away. It was so sad, and I felt so dumb for not holding onto it because it was actually Mike’s visor that he let me borrow since I forgot to bring a hat on this trip. We headed down into the brush to try and find it but it was long gone. We headed back along the crater rim and made our way down the railroad ties to the bottom of Kokohead. We were still up for some adventuring, so we drove to the Makapu’u Trail and decided to run/hike the paved trail to see the views and the lighthouse. Our legs were a bit tired from Kokohead hike and it was a bit hotter than earlier in the morning. The views at the top were amazing and well worth the run to get there. We stopped on the way back to Waikiki to get Leonard’s donuts which are some of the best donuts ever. We ate our donuts on the way back to the hotel where we showered and relaxed for a few hours before heading back out to Secret Beach to enjoy the ocean before eating dinner. Mike went snorkeling while I sat on the sand and had fun watching the seals that were sleeping in the cove. We eventually made our way on foot to eat dinner at Monkeypod at the request of some of our friends. The food was pretty good but the dessert not so much. We ate it anyways and then headed back to Secret beach to watch the sunset. It was a pretty perfect day!

​I wasn’t sure Mike’s reserve duty was going to happen this year in Hawaii. With all the holds on funding in the government, his approval kept getting pushed. So, we planned a Hawaii trip with the kids for spring break and had a marvelous time. Then the approval finally came through and I found myself preparing to go back to Hawaii for just a few days during my birthday weekend. I couldn’t have made this happen without the loving kindness of one of my best friends. Myisha didn’t hesitate when I asked her to come and stay with the kids. She always jumps at any chance to be with my kids.
 
To my surprise, when I checked into my flight, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Mike had upgraded my ticket to First Class. I was on a smaller plane, so we didn’t have separate pods, but the service and extra space was so incredibly nice. It was like flying on what used to be business class. I felt so spoiled and special and blessed all at the same time. When I got to Hawaii, I took an Uber to the hotel and headed up to our room. There was a fun bag full of Japanese candies and a note from Mike. He had booked me a massage at the adjoining hotel. So, I got on my comfortable clothes and headed out on a walk before indulging myself in an hour of bliss. I love a good massage and this one didn’t disappoint. My massage therapist was a native Hawaiian with the most incredible spirit about him. He started out with a prayer and placed his hands on my head. It was a spiritual experience and I immediately relaxed. I have never experienced anything like it before and I will never forget the feeling of gratitude I had for this stranger who I knew had a good soul. If every adventure could start out this way, then watch out world because that is pretty freaking awesome!

​Since Mike was already in route to Hawaii for his reserve duty, we had a very low-key Easter Sunday this year. I did make our traditional Easter dinner, albeit a lot simpler than usual, and we did do our traditional easter egg hunt for Madeline. I still enjoy putting together fun Easter baskets for all the kids, even the older ones. The boys got Easter boxes that I mailed to them this year. The older kids will never fully admit it, but they still love getting fun Easter treats. Our Easter Sunday was quiet and peaceful this year. I guess that is what happens when there are less people in the house. I am always grateful for this time of year and the reminder that our Savior lives and was resurrected for all mankind. It gives me peace to know that someday we will all be resurrected, along with our loved ones, free from all defects and trials that plague our bodies on earth. More than ever, I appreciate how wonderful it is to have a healthy body. 

Madeline was so excited to invite Easton to her church primary easter egg hunt. Those two were so cute together as they waited patiently for the easter egg hunt to begin. Their little eyes had already spotted a golden egg before the hunt even started and were a little dismayed when another little kid stood right on top of it so no one else could get it when the hunt began. Little did they know that there would be plenty of golden eggs in the park. As soon as they let the kids go, Kylee and I immediately found some golden eggs and stood near them so that our kids could happily pick them up. It was all happy smiles from then on. They ran together and found so many plastic eggs, gigging along the way. It was fun to be able to participate in this activity with our good friends. We are so grateful that Easton’s family moved into the neighborhood last year. They have been one of the greatest blessings in our life this past year!