Taro fields, sand, & boy drama

Every beach we have gone to has different sand.

Some is orange.
Other sand is more black.
Brown.

White.

Grainy.

Silky.

Sticky.

It's amazing.

i've been to hawaii before.
mainly kona and oahu.
kauai once before.
but i don't remember it ever being this lush and gorgeous.

It took me forever to figure out how to get the sand off of my skin.

It doesn't just wash off with water.
We went to hanalei to shop and meet some of the lds members at the branch there that my mom goes to church with on Sundays.


The taro fields are gorgeous.
Mom's friends own a chunk of the taro fields behind me.


We ate lunch, shave ice, and bought souvenirs for Sean and the kids.
I can't WAIT to give them what I found!
Hidden away in my bag:)


Mom's friend at the church showed us how to wrap pork in taro leaves and then in tea leaves to make a tasty little recipe.
"Lau Lau."


The younger girls were all talking about Bethany Hamilton. The girl from hanalei whose arm was bitten off by a shark.
There's a movie that just came out about it.
We are going to see it tomorrow.
The premiere was here last week.
So these girls are all friend's with her.
At least they said they were.
Whenever anyone becomes famous everyone seems to claim they know them.
Let's give these girls the benefit of the doubt.
It is hanalei.
Small town.
It's possible.
So they were talking about how the movie made all of this boy drama and that "Bethany is just not drama," so they didn't like that part of it.
And that it was really weird to see people they knew being played by actors on a big screen.
It was fun to see the girls light up when they talked about it all.
You could tell they felt really special.
Then the girls found bugs in the taro leaves so they went outside to throw the bugs out.
They were so calm about it.
I wouldn't be so calm.
They were big bugs.
So we went outside and there was the baptismal font.
Outside.
In the ground.
With big wood planks covering it for safety.
I loved it:)


They were such good people.
I loved meeting them all.
I am tired.
...
More pictures:
Hanalei bay.


Bali hai (basically just a really big rock).
think the movie "South Pacific."

Na Pali coast.

Crystal Clear Water.

AND I walked on water.

:) 

My muscles are getting sore.
The roosters made me think max was crying on the baby monitor this morning, but then I peeked open one eye and remembered I was in Hawaii.
I wish they'd roost somewhere else.
The Emily show bids you goodnight.
That is all.

Found: my happy place

My mom's backyard.

No joke.
I told her to never move.
This is it folks,
I'm selling the house,
We're moving to Kauai.

After an hour run,
I'm officially relaxed.

Everything is fresh off of the tree.
And honey from the hive down the street.


Absolutely no need to do your hair here.
My whispies are OUT of control.


I don't think I'll ever be able to stay at a hotel in Hawaii ever again.
I have officially found my happy place:)

Ribbons of glass

It's taking me time to unwind.

We spent the day laying on the beach.
For five hours.
That helped.
The water crashed onto the beach in ribbons of glass.
Breathtakingly beautiful.
I found a purple swirly shell to bring home to Brennan.
And made up a new sport.
Coconut surfing.
Who knew they were that buoyant?
Well, they are, and I held one out in front of me and body surfed in on a wave.
Fish tacos and ice cream for dinner.
Bananas are smaller and sweet.
Everyone grows them in their yard.
It is unheard of to have to buy them in the store.
Junky cars=special treatment.
I like it.
Kamaiana prices make me feel like we are flying first class everywhere we go.
There are roosters.
Lots.
They are loud.
You are supposed to take your slippers (not called flip flops) off before you go on the beach.
If you aren't alone on the beach it is "busy."
Tomorrow: shave ice.
Not shaved.
I have learned.

i feel like i'm looking at pictures in a magazine.

I wonder if it will take the entire trip to feel comfortable without my people.

Maybe that's not the goal.

I think my pop culture is lacking: ALOHA!!!

While on my flight I realized my pop culture knowledge is extremely lacking.

I did three crossword puzzles out of people magazine (none of which I was able to complete), ate pop chips (amazing), and drank my water faster than the stewardess could refill me up.
Can't wait for some guava juice.
Watched the in-flight movie AND sitcom.
With sound.
I know, amazing.
I analyzed the effectiveness of washing my hands in the lavatory.
There's no way to use that faucet without washing it too.
Or using your elbows.
And wrists.
Alternating.
Which I did.
I've never had time to think about this before, seeing as the last few times I've flown I've been awkwardly changing a baby's diaper in there or what felt like a large octopus whose arms and legs were longer and wider than the walls (unless I've shamefully just changed my child on the floor or seat in our row--I have no shame when traveling with children).
I played endless games of scrabble.
Ordered beverages for myself.
Ate.
In one sitting.
Several times.
While breathing between bites.
And I got bored and checked the time.
A lot.
And they just kept bringing more drinks and more food.
I'm not even sure if I was hungry, but you better believe I ate it.
Pineapple, strawberries, grapes.
Pop chips.
I mentioned those already.
You must try them.
Hawaiian Cookies.
Little butter toffee crunchy things.
The turkey wrap dad made me this morning.
With the spicey mustard.
I haven't been this well fed and watered in years!
I still feel like I'm forgetting something.
More like someone.
I wish I could kiss my little babies on their gushy cheeks.
Sean too.
Yum.
I wish you could smell this air.
Sweet, humid, flower.
Hits you right in the face when you step off of the plane.
Your eyes float up into the sky for a big blink,
Where your entire body releases EVERY worry you've ever had.
Oh happy day:)
I'm here!


Aloha:)

Delayed

Delayed flight left me standing in the airport bookstore.

Hoping that I would read a book jacket that would have me dying to read it.
I have two books in my bag, but nothing I'm too excited for.
I went from three books in my arms by emily griffin, to OK magazine and US weekly.
I'm sure they will be shamefully fulfilling.
Emily griffin can wait.
I fought back tears dropping my kids off today.
Brennan ran to the basement to play trains with Claire.
I was glad I gave him a kiss right out of the car.
Max looked up and gave me her classic open mouth kiss.
I hustled myself to the door after giving her one last smooch bc all of a sudden I could feel the tears coming.
I didn't want to sob!
But I was glad I felt like I needed to.
I just don't think I could have mastered the pretty cry in this situation.
Dannie and I chatted all the way to the airport.
I just can't shake this anxious feeling of feeling like I am running on my toes.
And that I'm forgetting something.
I did forget my coat.
It's laying on the floor by the back door.
My backpack is really light.
I'm not sure I really need anything in it, but for the first time in three years i get to bring something on the plane or myself,
so darn it, I'm bringing a bag!
With my two trash mags, my wallet, liquids, phone, and flip flops I can put on the minute I land tomorrow.
But first, i must deliver these...



Can't believe I'm actually going through with all of this.
I forgot to eat lunch.
These cookies may not make it.

twins: time to pinch

i have twins.

lots of them.

in almost every tomato square.

so my green thumbed cousin told me it was time to pinch.

it just feels so wrong!

so if you are growing with me,

and you have twins.

or triplets.

it's time to selectively pinch.

i don't like the idea myself,

but she assures me it is better this way.

more nutrients for the one plant you leave.

pinch them down by the dirt.

at a diagonal,

if possible.

with your fingernails.

i cannot say mine were diagonally pinched.

it was hard enough to pinch down by the dirt.

a diagonal pinch may have been only a wish.

so pinch.

pinch them down to the dirt.

and leave one plant growing.

i don't even want to talk about the fact that i only need three bushes to actually plant in my garden.

anyone want to adopt the rest i've started?!

i can't imagine just throwing them out.

i've watched them push their little stems right up through the dirt.

it's amazing.

that something so alive can come from a tiny little seed.

...

max walks like ET from behind.

and brennan is training for ultimate fighter.

i need to pack.

i think i might actually be going on this trip.

i haven't called my mom in two days.

i'm worried that if i talk about going too much i will get scared and not go.

i'm the seed.

and hawaii is the all grown up tomato plant.

i think i'm going to need a lot of watering.

t-minus 12 hours.