Hawaii, Part 2

Rob and I on the top of Diamond Head crater. It is actually the top of a volcano from which you can get a 360 degree view of Oahu and on a clear day even see the island of Maui. We are standing in front of the view of Waikiki. The tall buildings are mostly hotels, though some might be condos. The hike took about 30 min up, but was pretty steep, comparable in difficulty to hiking bear's hump, though different terrain.

Waikiki from Diamond Head.

Rob on a surf board at Waikiki beach.

Rob, surfing at Waikiki beach.

Hawaii, Part 1

This is me going to Hanauma Bay. I took my book, but didn't read there. This is the place where we went snorkelling. I really enjoyed it, and even saw a huge sea turtle. In the water behind me, you can see some places where the water is darker in color. That's where the coral is, and all around the coral there are tropical fish of every size and color.

This is the USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the Arizona took a direct hit to its munitions which caused a series of huge explosions which destroyed and sunk the ship, burning and drowning over 1,100 of its crew. The memorial is built over the Arizona which you can see just below the surface. The dead from the Arizona are still entombed in their ship. You get to the memorial by boat.

This picture was taken at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I am taking a Hula lesson. I have a washable tattoo on my ankle from one of the other activities there.

This is our group, Darryl and Alyson Christensen, Rusty and Jackie Rollingson and Rob and I. Darryl and Rusty are Rob's Vice-Principals. This is taken in front of the temple. Unfortunately, the temple is undergoing major renovations and is closed. In total it will be closed for a year and a half. I believe it reopens this summer.

We stopped for a look around at this spot. I believe it is called Turtle Bay because a mountain island out in the ocean (not the one behind us) is shaped like a turtle.

Christmas Eve at Granny's, nativity and pinata

See the kids up between the bars, waiting for their turn at the pinata. Austin and Nathan each drew a face on the pinata. Nathan drew a nice Wal-Mart happy face and Austin drew a cross-eyed deranged face.

The cast of the 2009 Christmas Eve nativity. Preston declined to be in it.

Christmas Eve at Granny's, blankets and cousin gift exchange

All the counsins in a circle after opening their cousin gifts.

Three boys. Three bionicles.

Would you believe that Mark liked his music card that came with his gift from Hemsleys? Well, he did, ...for a minute....

Alyssa and Kaylene with their matching blankets from the pinata. Thank you, Granny. So cute.

Nathan, Austin and Preston with their matching blankets. Thanks, Granny.

Alyssa posing with her jewelry from Kaylene from the cousin gift exchange. Thank you, Kaylene.

Christmas morning at the Doigs

It was nice to have Christmas morning at our own house this year. We even opened presents at a civilized hour; the kids were allowed out of bed at 7:30. That way Mark could be part of Christmas morning. As usual it was neat to see the wonder and excitement in the kids' eyes as they first saw the tree and their presents. Mark was pretty cute. He got a few new music toys and he got a strange look on his face when the new toy was played. Then he hit the button and made the music, then stuck out his tongue, as if to say, "This is weird. I don't know this toy." After a little while he lost it and started crying, but he was pretty intrigued for a while.

Let it snow, let it snow.....no, please, really MAKE IT STOP SNOWING!

and since there's no place we can go......

Check out the results of the blizzard we've been having here! It started Friday afternoon and its still snowing. Also winds of 50-70 clicks at times! Good day to stay home by the fire in your pajamas.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Rob likes us to wait until December 1 to put up the Christmas decorations. This year I decided to jump the gun in the smallest way and set up the tree for Family Home Evening on Monday, November 30th. That day the weather had been very windy, and somewhere around the time we started decorating, it began to snow outside. That snow marked a drastic change in weather from very mild fall-like weather to a massive blast of winter.

At least it's warm and cozy and festive in the house (which is now clean, mostly) with a toasty warm fire going in the fireplace....now if I can just find some time to sit in on the couch by that fireplace and read a good book!