Fire, Sunsets, Injury, Jet car......Sunsets......

Now, if this picture doesn't get you here, nothing will.  We were driving home last weekend and had to pull over to take a picture of the sky.  I know, I know, you all want to come out, but due to this sluggish economy you can't.  I understand.  Maybe it will get better on Nov. 5, 2012.

I found a way to get home quickly and cheaply!  This has a get engine on the back of it and it just happens to be for sale. I enlarged it so you could see it better.  It was at the Waikoloa Village Car Show we went to last weekend.  (Feb. 18)

Yes, to the left, that is fire, yes that is a school playground directly in front of it.  Yes, those two don't mix well.  The Car Show was held in the Elementary school parking lot.  During the car show a fire started in the field.  (I don't know how)  It was evacuated early, but luckily, we got to see all of the cars first.  (that's all that mattered)  Well, we thought maybe we could try to get as close as we could to the flames.  (We are fire chasers).  We kept driving closer, closer, closer, expecting to be told to get the heck away but it never happened.  Ken even said, "they're telling us to leave" but they weren't actually.  It was all in his head because in Utah they make you get about a mile from the actual burn.  We got to watch the helicopters pick up buckets of water and spray them on the fire.  Well, after awhile they started telling people to leave. It burned 80 acres.

This was taken two weekends ago.

By the look of it, I think he's happy living here.

 

 Ken is practicing his photography here.  I guess this is as good a place as any.

 The sunsets never get old.  Ken and I are getting sick of saying "looks like today is a nice day"  LOL  (I know you feel sorry for us)

Somebody call an ambulance!  I had my first injury last Monday night, during family night.  Preston and I were nestled in front of a big rock close to the shore, thinking we were safe from being swept away.  A big wave came in and picked us up and moved us across the rocks.  Preston was pretty horrified that I got a scrape that was bleeding.  (I almost died from loss of blood)  :())  (This is just under my knee btw). I was quite proud of myself for getting a scrape, which I don't think has happened since I was a child.

 

 It's so hard living 2 minutes from the ocean!

Hawaiian punching bags.

Yesterday I was walking around in the Marriott looking at paintings, having a quite birthday moment, thanks to Ken, turned around and this is what greeted me. 

I'm going to leave you with.......another sunset!!!!!!!!!!  What do you know!  I'm going to go meet Ken at Costco for lunch now.  Please keep the spirit of Aloha in your daily life.  Until next time, Aloha Oe.  :())

More things we've done

I finally made it to the Kona, Temple last week.  The Sunday before last a lady in our Ward stood up and begged people to come to the Temple.  She does Temple work full time now because she is retired.  After I did the session I asked if they needed help with sealings.  Lo and behold they did and it just so happens that she was doing some of her family's names that day and I got to be the daughter.  It is such a teeny Temple, but I'm so GLAD it's here.  At Stake conference last Sunday the Kona Temple President and his wife spoke.  I kept thinking his wife looked an awful lot like Yolanda Thomas.  Well, talking to Mom a few days later she told me that Yolanda's brother in law is the Temple President so that would be Yolanda's sister.  (I think it's her sister, if not, his wife looks a lot like Yolanda) Yolanda's sister told of how her son almost died fighting a fire a few weeks ago on Maui.  Just as he was about to succumb to the flames and smoke his cell phone rang and he looked down to see who would be calling him at such at a time and it said, "Dad" on his phone.  He said that gave him the strength and will to find a way out because he was reminded that he was a Dad and needed to live for his family.  So, he quickly found a way out and lived.  Well, that brought tears to my eyes thinking of how many times "Dad" (and Mom) come to our rescue.  Elder Reynolds of the Seventy also gave a good talk on Fasting.  One neat thing he said, "When you die you will see The Savior, recognize Him, and know that you haven't been away from Him because He's always been with you." 

 You're going to get sick of seeing sunsets.  I have to keep adding them to entice you to come and stay with us!  This sunset was close to the bay where Captain Cook gave the funeral service for a seaman at a Temple in 1789.  The Temple is still standing and it is kapu. (Means no trespassing) It was the first Christian funeral service on the Island.

  On Vtines Day I went to the store and these ladies were having a fundraiser dancing and selling cookies. I bought Ken a nice, big brownie.  They are a retired dancing group that performs around the Island to spread Aloha.  (Mom, now you know what you can do when you retire)

Do you see something missing?  About two weeks ago I was brushing Preston's teeth and I noticed one was crooked.  I thought, braces already????  Did I not brush enough?  I had no idea he was old enough to have a loose tooth.  Well, it was stuck for a few days and then he ate an apple and out popped the tooth. The tooth fairy did visit him that night, leaving him $5.00, due to inflation. I'm surprised the tooth fairy hasn't gone bankrupt.  He is now very good at singing "All I want for Christmush....so I can wish a Merry Christmush"

  

Our Little Valentine

Ken never gets lonely here because he always finds lizard friends.

Will you please double check to make sure this doesn't say, "Alien" and not "Utah."  People see our license plate and STARE at us.  They don't even try to pretend not to be by looking away. I suppose for fun I should drive around with an alien mask on.  

  

 I think we're going to move here next.  We found this on our Sunday drive. Gives new meaning to the saying, "I'm up in the air."

Where we live and a few activities thus far

TV Room I didn't want to show a pic of our 10 inch Big Screen.  I didn't want to make you all jealous.

Living Room It's not as clean as I would have liked for the pic!

Patio (Lanai)

Little dining area.

View from backyard

Breathtaking view every time we drive down the road from our house.  That is the ocean under the sunset.  It looks like you're going to drive into it.

 This is our driveway where we park.  She has a two car garage next to us with 2 Mercedes parked in it.  So, now you have an idea where we reside.  It is a sacrifice to live here.  LOL

We were watching the most beautiful sunset on a patch of grass two Saturdays ago and up walked a little teeny mouse and sat right by us and watched it with us.  He looked so peaceful....until he realized he was sitting by three humans and then hid behind a rock.

 It was literally inches from us.  We could have touched it, but no thanks.

Last Saturday we went to my favorite and the biggest beach here.  Hapuna, Beach. (Andrea knows where that is) Since the biggest Iron-man competition is here I figured I might as well start training for it.  Preston wanted to join me.  He's actually a good little runner! We kept running past a skinny, white Santa Claus in a small, tight orange speedo.  The last time we ran past him he winked and did an ok sign and said you're beating me.  I wish I could have got his pic.  It was hilarious.

Run, Forrest-ina, Run!!!!!  (No, that isn't a big spider on Presti's back) Ken put a fake tatoo on him.  Yes, he got a lot of looks at the beach and Ken kept having to say, "it's fake." Preston loves tattoos. Not a good sign since most everyone here sports a tribal tattoo.  I want find out what my tribe sign is and get one. I have a feeling I'll be looking for a long time.  (Kidding Mom)

Ken took this pic.  I wonder if he was taking a pic of the wave or the girl in bikini.  LOL Yesterday Preston and I were going to go for a nice, calm ocean swim.  We had done it when we came out in July at this beach.  When we got there there were about 8 foot waves.  No swimming for us!  I can't believe these Hawaiians that swim right into these waves and ride them.  I didn't ever dare let Preston play near the shore.  At one point a big wave washed in.  It scares me too much.  So, we spent the day at the beach lying in the sand and me fighting Preston not to got to close to shore.  It was so fun to watch the boogy boarders ride the waves.  This pic is an example of a wave crashing into the rock and how strong they are.  We took this last Sat. when we were together.  Weekends here are almost like we're on vacation in Hawaii.  We do all of the free stuff.  Walking around the different resorts is amazing in itself.  Mauna Lani is my favorite so far.  I will get pics next time we go there.

This was taken last Sat. at Hapuna.  Ken has been gone since Monday to Oahu.  It has been kind of lonely without him.  Especially at night.  He will be home tomorrow afternoon.  This weekend I wonder what we'll do?  Beach?????  LOL  Preston started school Tuesday.  They go from 8-2 p.m.  It does give me 6 hours of silence, which is bliss.  He has been doing well with it so far.  He walks right into class.  He will be 6 soon. I CAN'T believe it.  I'm still looking for a Hawaiian baby to care for.  :())  No luck yet.  Lots of cute ones here!  I am looking for a part time job in the mornings and soon want to learn the ukelele and some Hawaiian songs.  Hope you are all well.  I will post some more pics next week!  I'm not homesick yet, (thank goodness) but it will hit probably in early Spring.   Aloha!!!!!