Off with John to Oahu

John found out a couple months ago that he would have to go back to Hawaii for a week for his project there.  This time he was quite determined that I go with him so he asked his mom to come watch the kids and we made plans.  This is the first time in our whole marriage that we have left the kids for more than one night so it was a surreal experience.  Two days before we left Wesley got sick and was diagnosed with RSV.  I was pretty stressed about it but Kathleen did everything in her power to make me feel at ease about still leaving.  The morning we were leaving Isaac woke up with a pink goopy eye.  We hurried and got him some drops and then took off with our fingers crossed.  It was so weird to be somewhere and not have to rush back to our kids any time soon.  We ate so much amazing food and had a pretty good time.  We arrived on a Friday and John was there for the weekend and we had so much fun together.  We went for a hike on Diamond Head, we snorkeled, we shopped the swap meet, we took a drive down memory lane (since we both did a stint at BYU Hawaii) and drove by the PCC, the temple, and BYU.  Then we headed toward the North Shore and stopped at a couple beaches on the way.  The waves were so big on the north shore I wouldn't even get in.  I've found I am a lot less brave (or maybe less ignorant) then I was when I was a college student.  The next day was Sunday and we visited Pearl Harbor, went to church, and walked around a beach.  Sunday I also came down with a cold (probably the adult version of Wesley's RSV).  Monday through Thursday John had to work but he got off early each day and we would go do something fun.  One day I walked a couple miles to the mall and then shopped for hours.  I actually enjoyed shopping probably because I was lacking a little person screaming at me.  Kathleen and Bob were so sweet to not only watch my kids but to give me some money to go shopping just for me-so that made shopping even better!  We had a couple rainy days but for the most part it was so nice to hang out at the beach and soak in the warm sunshine.  I thought about taking a scuba diving class but John told me that wouldn't work with my cold.  We did go back snorkeling to Hanauma Bay because we loved it so much and the second time we went we saw a sea turtle--that was AWESOME.  It was an amazing experience to have a week off from my kids and poor Kathleen and Bob had four sick kids to deal with while we were gone.  Kathleen even had to take Wesley to the hospital one day for a checkup on his lungs and to get his nose aspirated.  She was a trooper.  And the whole time I'm quite sure she down played everything so that I wouldn't worry and have a good time.  Wesley was a big fan of Grandpa Bob from the start so he got along just fine without me (besides the RSV symptoms).  I am so thankful that I got to go hang out with my husband for a week.   It was SO AWESOME.  I can't thank my in-laws enough!! 

 

 Just one of our amazing meals at a Japanese place in the hotel.

 

Can you tell we like food?  John has wanted to have Shabu Shabu since serving a mission in Japan so it was pretty fun to finally have it.  It's a bit like fondue--cooking meats and veggies in a miso broth.

 The view from our hotel.  I did not get sick of this view.

 

 The USS Arizona memorial--I didn't realize I had put my camera in a funky mode so here's a nice Sepia shot. 

 Hanauma Bay, our favorite!

 

 The Diamond Head hike.

 Also the Diamond Head hike--so pretty!