Lois's Hawaiian Celebration

A couple of years ago, ideas started being batted around of how best to celebrate 

Roger's mom, Lois, turning 90 years old.

Yes, we would have a big party on her birthday, September 18, with all of the kids, grandkids and greats.

But her kids and spouses also wanted to take her away to somewhere special.

Several years ago, when Grandpa was still with us, 

we went on a Caribbean Cruise together and had so much fun.

Long story short, Lois actually treated us (so much better idea to enjoy future inheritance money WITH her). 

Roger booked a week over Thanksgiving at the Marriott Villas in Ko Olina, Hawaii. 

His travel agent chops kicked back in 

and he did a fabulous job of making all of the arrangements for this dream trip, 

and it worked great for our two school teachers, who had a couple of extra days off. 

Roger and I had spent a week on this gorgeous property with our friends, Jim and Kathy Jensen, in 2013.

View from our balcony

Roger and I drove to Ogden on November 20, and were able to join his brother, Scott's, family 

at Javier's for an early birthday celebration for Scott. 

Glynn thinks no dinner is complete without ice cream, so he treated us to some at our old Ogden hangout, Farr's.

 From SLC on Sunday, November 22, we were off!

On our direct flight, almost seven hours later we landed in Honolulu!

Roger arranged for two vehicles to get us around the island during the week, a mini-van and a BMW sedan.

We googled for a "nearby seafood restaurant" and discovered this little treasure!

We were starving and the fresh fish was delicious!

I think the favorite was the coconut shrimp!

Everywhere we ate together during the week, we would tell the waiter/waitress 

that it was our mom's 90th birthday, 

and the biggest fuss would be made over her, 

followed with a free dessert.

Every. time.

Scott's birthday was that day, so we sang to him, too.

We drove about a half an hour from the restaurant to our Marriott suites at Ko Olina.

We checked in at the open air veranda/lobby.

We stayed in three suites, each suite having a bedroom on each side

 and common area in the middle with a kitchen, 

large dining table and seating area. 

As you can see in the pic, Lois brought her handwork along.

Her talented hands are never still.

We enjoyed gorgeous Hawaiian sunsets each evening.

Next morning, we got a good look at our beautiful home-away-from-home for a week.

My favorite feature of this grand place is the large balcony that is out the living room's sliding door.

There is also a small balcony off one of the bedrooms.

Roger took a pic of me in the lounge chair, reading.

With the view, I would go back and forth, from iPad book to just gazing out at the beauty.

Every Monday on the property, there is a local Farmer's Market.

We selected local papayas, bananas and limes, as well as delicious baked goods 

for our breakfasts during the week.

Then we headed to Costco and to a local grocery store 

to stock up on food for breakfasts, some lunches and snacks. 

We had lunch in a strip mall, and, of course -

Happy Birthday to Lois dessert!

After lunch, we just hung out and enjoyed the day.

This truly is a gorgeous property!

That evening, we had a tasty dinner at Monkeypod Kitchen.

Lois's free dessert choice - coconut cream pie!

On Tuesday we took a day trip to the North Shore, 

with the Hawaiian Temple in Laie for a session together being our major destination. 

We stopped and checked out the Dole Pineapple Plantation.

So interesting to see how pineapples grow!

What a lush view out the front doors of the plantation!

Each couple posed for a pic.

The true highlight of the entire trip was doing a session together in this sweet temple.

There was a kind, laid-back atmosphere inside with all of the temple workers 

and the furnishings were homey and had the island flavor.

Tears of happiness and joy were shed in the Celestial Room,

especially by Lois, 

who had her kids all around her.

We shared a special moment in time together.

View out to the ocean from the temple front

Lois and her girls

Lois and her boys

The temple grounds, as is true of all LDS temples, are gorgeous!

I love this old banyan tree.

After we changed our clothes in the Visitor's Center, we all posed out front for a classic group pic.

Inside the Visitor's Center

We couldn't resist taking a pic of Glynn after changing his clothes, holding his cowboy boots 

that he had worn into the temple. 

This guy is a cowboy, through and through!

We next headed for the shrimp trucks for a delicious lunch.

There are large shrimp farms on the North Shore, 

and tourists line up for the fresh boiled shrimp, peel and eat!

After we ate, we drove to the North Shore, where the surfing championships had just been held.

The waves weren't big that day.

Some of us headed across the sand to the water.

We hadn't planned to swim that day and hadn't brought our swim suits,

so we just rolled up our pants.

In came the waves!

I love the ocean!

We stopped for the famous shave ice at Matsumoto's.

These guys also enjoyed a pizza with their shave ice.

This stuff is so yummy with ice cream on the bottom.

Another beautiful day in Paradise concluded with a sunset.

Stay tuned for Part 2!

Veteran's Day Max-Out and (Sniff) Farewell for Awhile, Hintons

Holy Mackerel, I am behind on my posting -

It's Catch Up Time!

I just had to report on our little Veterans Day food adventure.

Many restaurants graciously offer Vets a free meal on their day that honors their service to our country. 

Roger served for 5 1/2 years as an Instructor Pilot in the Air Force during the War in Vietnam, 

and, being the bargain-hunting foodies that we are, we decided to enjoy free food all day.

We had breakfast at Denny's (and were very impressed with their bend-over-backwards kind service 

and delicious breakfast, though they were swamped), 

lunch at Texas Roadhouse . . . 

. . . and dinner at Applebees, with a free Munchie yogurt for dessert.

So fun! (burp!)

There was this pic in Roger's iPhone of this map on the blackboard at our New Testament class, taught by Dean Marriott, which we enjoyed attending this fall.

We also love Wayne Brickey's Institute class on Wednesday nights.

Happy for them, sad for us - 

Kay and Ken left for their mission in Japan in December,

and we met them at Olive Garden for dinner and good wishes.

We were not able to attend their "farewell" at the end of November,

because we were in Hawaii with Roger's mom and family,

so I am glad we got to say goodbye. 

We love these guys, and cannot imagine better missionaries to spread the message of "Good News."

Okay, on to our trip to Ko Olina, Syd's wedding, Holiday Fun at Christmastime, New Year's . . . 

More Fall Doings

Every fall season, as it gets nearer to the Holiday Season, I feel the gears change. 

Kinda like a choo choo train, as it gradually pulls away from the station, 

then gathers momentum with every chug until it's in full steam, 

the fall, after laid-back summer, is soon racing into winter, full steam ahead. 

Roger and I enjoyed Halloween this year with his sister, Chyrrl, and her husband, Glynn, 

and they stayed with us a couple of nights. 

Their grandson played in a two-day baseball tournament in St. George, 

and they came with his family to watch.

After the ballgames, we enjoyed a Halloween dinner together at Player's Grill.

I'm tellin' ya, that wedge salad has become famous!

Chyrrl had it with us on a previous visit, and now it has won more fans!

Sunday, they attended church with us (where we took a quick pic, 'cause we hadn't remembered to take any), 

then they left for home Up North.

A couple of months ago, my friend, Anne, invited me to attend Time Out for Women, held at the Dixie Center . . . 

. . . with her and her daughter-in-law, Kristi, and Kristi's mother, Janine.

What uplifting messages and beautiful music we experienced!

Jenny Oaks Baker performed with her four children - 

one daughter on piano, one on cello, one on violin, as was she, and her son was on guitar.

The speakers, each with different personalities and messages, were inspiring.

Anne and I, Janine, Kristi, some of Kristi's girls, their friends and Beth Tolbert and her granddaughters 

all reserved a table at Players and walked there from the Dixie Center for a soup and wedge lunch.

While I was enjoying TOFW, our youngest daughter, Mindy, was running the Snow Canyon Half Marathon.

I am amazed, in a way, being the non-runner/not-so-great-at-sports/physical wimp that I am, 

that now each of my children and each of their spouses and my husband have run marathons, 

half-marathons, Ragnars, triathalons, etc. 

Good on them!

Roger was with Mindy's family to watch her cross the Finish Line.

That bright St. George sun is brutal on blue eyes!

(Well, Charlie's eyes are definitely brown!)

Sunday was a big day!

INSTA-CHOIR's rehearsal was at 8:10 AM.

But previous to that, so early in the morning to be singing, I rehearsed with a sextet 

for a special musical number in Relief Society. 

We then sang in Sacrament meeting.

Mindy's husband, Jeff, sang in our choir and we had over 40.

We sang a special tribute, "Each Life That Touches Ours For Good," 

to our three apostles who have recently passed away, 
Elders Boyd K. Packer, L. Tom Perry and Richard G. Scott. 

The choir sounded beautiful, feeling the love for these men and for all of our special friends.

After church, we all changed clothes, got comfortable and fixed this Sunday dinner.

(Charlie was asleep!)

This cute little thing will turn one-year's-old this month.

I'll say it again - how time flies!

Roger and I are really looking forward to our week-long trip to
 Ko Olina, Hawaii, 

at the end of this month, with his mom and sisters, brother, and spouses.

It will be kind of weird to not have our traditional home-cooked turkey dinner on Thanksgiving, 

but hey, we'll be with family

and that's the best part!