Aloha from Hawaii!

Megan & Erin at the beach in Haleiwa

Feeding the koi at the Pagoda Restaurant

Mermaid Erin

Standing in line for shaved ice at Matsumoto Store

Aloha! We arrived in Hawaii on Thursday, very tired from the 5 1/2 hour flight with two whining kids. Erin was the culprit, causing stress and frustration amongst all, except my dad who was up in First Class!

It took us two days to recuperate from jet lag and the time change. We've been doing pretty low-keyed things like shopping and hanging out by the pool. The hotel is definitely NOT up to par for me but it has two bedrooms and a kitchen and the all important TV for the kids. They are happy so I guess that's all that matters.

Darrall didn't make it on this trip because he used up all his vacation time with other trips and camping, so its just me, the kids and my parents.

Today we drove to Haleiwa to see where my dad was born. Things obviously have changed but there were still recognizable landmarks, including Matsumoto Store, famous for it's shaved ice. We stopped at the beach and the kids had fun playing, then enjoyed shaved ice. I'm a purest...went for the large Strawberry flavor. It was so "ono" (delicious).

Tomorrow we'll be going to Ala Moana beach so the kids can swim in the ocean.

This trip will also include a "Cousins 50 year reunion". All my cousins are now in their 50s and this is our last chance to celebrate that before the eldest turns 60. Yikes! I still can't believe we're all that old! That happens after my cousin Raynette arrives from California on Thursday.