December 2006 - Robert & Shana's visit

Robert, Shana, Cody and Chase came to see us for Christmas! They were here for 2 weeks and we had a great time! We had hundreds of pictures, but here are a few. This was first time visit for all of them, they were so excited when we told them we'd be living here.

Aloha! At the airport

We decided to buy a palm tree and let it be our Christmas tree. It's now outside, hopefully we can use it next year!

We put cookies out for Santa Claus! But Chase didn't quite understand this concept. The bottom cookie is the one that he decorated and left for Santa - the one he'd taken a bite out of! Santa understood though and left Chase lots of presents!

All the guys got a t-shirt, it's santa with a reindeer sunning on the beach - cute!

Christmas Day we went to the beach! Love this picture!

Love this picture, too, okay, I love them all!

At Bellows Beach. Chase, who's 3, just jumped the waves, didn't want to go in. He liked playing in the sand better, and chasing birds.

Cody loved the boogie board!

We had a picnic for Christmas dinner! Chase is cold, all wrapped up, eating his chips. His parents want them all to eat healthy, but he loves his chips!!

Dole, fun place to go, great gift shop & great Dole whip!
we did the maze, they say it's the world's largest!

Picture below taken after we'd climbed Diamond Head. Notice Chase has chips?Notice that we're smiling? We're on the way DOWN! This staircase has 99 steps!

Ko'olau Mountains

One day we went to the Polynesian Culture Center, where we 'visited' 7 islands, saw an IMAX movie, went to a luau and a show - a great day!

This is a traveler's palm, one of our favorites, though not technically a palm. Cool, isn't it?

The green sea turtles are awesome! They weigh up to 300 pounds and bask on the beach here. We always see at least one when we go. They can stay under water for almost 3 hours! Come to the shore and take a rest!
Kicking back at Sunset Beach
Robert & Cody discuss whether they should go in the water. They decided not to take the boogie board, it was dangerous swimming that day. They went in the water and got thrown around!
Shaved Ice!


This is a trunk from the Rainbow Eucalyptus. This one is at the Honolulu Zoo, isn't it amazing?

Chase hanging out in a banyan
Chase gets a kick out of Cody and the parrots!Mommy, do you want to buy this bathingsuit?

November 2006 - Hanauma Bay & Doris Duke's Shangrila

We took the tour of Doris Duke's Shangrila. If you don't know of her, she was a tobacco heiress who came to Hawaii on her honeymoon. She bought this property and built Shangri La in 1937. Shangri La houses an impressive collection of Islamic art and is considered one of Hawaii’s most architecturally significant homes. Shangri La is open to the public for tours, but can also be visited by virtual tour http://www.shangrilahawaii.org/

This is the view from the back yard. me in front of the playhouse. When she had visitors, they never stayed in the house, but went directly to the playhouse.

walkway that takes you to the playhouse from the front of the house

The entry of the home. The front is very very plain and unassuming, the inside is amazing. No pictures allowed, this is copied from their website.

Another view of the playhouse

Museum of Art in Honolulu. We started here and they took us to the house, which is in a neighborhood, in Kahala.

One day we went with our friend Ira to Haunauma Bay to go snorkeling. Ira posed for this picture, doesn't he remind you of Bond. . . . James Bond . . . . well that's what we were going for!
So beautiful!

October 2006 - Texas!

In October I spent 3 weeks in Texas! I had missed everyone so much and it was great to see them and not feel so far away. Below me with Elaine, Miles and Cindy (my namesake)

Miles, my great-nephew, isn't he the cutest?

Lunch with my work crowd - Lauren, Angela and Lisa (hey, it's Angela, my blogger friend! She helped me set up 5,000 miles away - too bad she couldn't come in person!!)

More co-workers, Julie, Rob and Annette. I have to go see them from time to time so that they don't forget I am still working!!

Me and Margeaux

I picked Faith up from school, below here she is in front of her classroom. Then we spent the afternoon with my dear friend Diane. Above, we took a picture of ourselves, we had SO much fun together. Faith adored Auntie Di!

My cutie grandson, Chase


We went to the zoo, where as you can tell, they were decorated for Halloween. These were all real pumpkins.


Eric and her daddy

Chase played soccer this year, well maybe he's a little young, but he seemed to have a good time. Here he is with coach Dad.Kick!

Big brother Cody leads the warm-up and everyone listens to him except Chase.Good game!

Mexican food for lunch after the game!

I had a fabulous time and it was hard to leave, but will be back!!