Four Tickets to Paradise...

Did you all know that Hawaii is far away from the mainland? It is! It is something like 6 hours and 3 minutes away. But who's counting? Well I guess I was...especially when the dvd player battery died 2 hours into the flight. However, Lena and Annika entertained themselves and we all arrived safe and sound...albeit tired. It is a three hour time difference here. So by the time we landed, got our car, drove toward our condo, and found a restaurant it was 10:30pm Seattle time. As Lena's hot dog was placed in front of her she turned to me and said, "My tummy hurts. I think I am going to throw up." I hustled her outside and she proceeded to water the bushes. Nothing says spring break like blowin' chunks in the bushes outside the late night burger joint! The beach we are staying at is named Poipu, but after our first night we have renamed it Poipuke.

Did I mention the time change? Yeah...it is like 3 hours earlier than our bodies are used to. So that means we get up before the sun. BEFORE THE SUN!! I don't usually like to do that, but when you are able to watch the sun come up on the beach, I don't mind a bit. And you can wear a dress before the sun rises...
It is really green and lush here. And warm. Ahhh...I love the warmth. We are also staying at a really nice condo on a really nice piece of property. Our lanai (that is Hawaiian speak for patio) opens up to an expansive golf course-esque lawn (I just looked up from this and saw a rooster run by our door...there are chickens everywhere...it's quaint, not barnyard-y). The girls love playing on the lawn. It think it reminds them of home...

Since we now get up at the crack of dawn (or shall I say the crow of the rooster) we have plenty of time to do plenty of activities. One of Jason and my favorite activities is "go back to the condo after lunch and take a nap". Annika chose to read a book on the lanai instead...

All true Hawaiian girls wear plumeria flowers tucked behind their ears and these little Hawaiian beauties (don't let the Scandinavian skin fool you) are no different...

The one thing Annika wanted to do in Hawaii was to learn to hula dance. She even wrote about it at school. So when the opportunity presented itself to learn with the pros (they were actual former and current Miss Garden Isle/Miss Kauai/Miss Competing for Miss Hawaii) she hopped right on stage...

After the show Miss Competing for Miss Hawaii was selling leis to raise money for her trip. They went like hotcakes. Jason shelled out $20 for two leis but they only had one left...which was placed around Annika's neck. This left Lena lei-less and we all know what one child gets the other child better get too. I swiftly swapped out one neck lei for two ankle/wrist leis. I was like one of those crazy mothers the day after Thanksgiving who is elbowing and stampeding for the hottest Christmas gift. But I had two smiling girls on my hands instead of one smiling girl and one crying girl. Crisis averted...

Today we are heading to Waimea Canyon. The largest canyon in the Pacific. One might call it the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. OK...one did call it that...in fact I think it was in a guide book. We might also be forced to lay on the beach too. I hope A**cheek is there. A**cheek is the name of the girl who wears a thong bikini. She makes for some interesting people watching. I can't quite figure her and her crew out...who I have named T*ts Magee, Pocketman, and That Other Guy. They may or may not be European. Don't worry...I'll figure it all out and let you know. It's a tough life I lead. Aloha!