Pharmacy Family Reunion in Hawaii.



In May 2009, when Nick graduated from pharmacy school it was decided that we'd have a 5 year reunion with our "Pharmacy family" in Hawaii.

All of the planning that I put in to it nearly made me crazy.  But the end result was worth it.

 

At first, the plan was for everyone to bring their kids.  Then, the plan changed, and no one wanted to bring their kids.  In the end, Alex and Anna left their kids at home, and Garrett and Katie brought their kids along.

I swear, that roundtrip tickets from Salt Lake City to Honolulu never go below an $800 pricepoint.  I'm going to digress a bit here...  The "benefits" Nick gets at Walgreens get worse every year.  Our monthly insurance premium is a good chunk of change, and we still have to hit a deductible before our medical bills are covered at 80%.  Anyway, in 2014 a big "to-do" was made about this complimentary program that had been put in to place, called: MyPerks.  Essentially, if you engaged in activities to keep you healthy you could earn MyPerk Dollars toward travel, goods, food, etc...  Of course, a lot of marketing went in to this program; they made it seem like a great gift!

And I fell for it.  Hook, Line, and Sinker.

I made a spreadsheet, to organize all of the information about this program.  I spent a lot of time doing things to earn the MyPerks dollars. 

I was thrilled to see our MyPerk balance go to $750!  I was counting on using that money to purchase one of our airline tickets.  And I was planning on taking (if not just Reagan and Elsa) all three kids to Oahu.

I budgeted out all of the funds for the trip.  And the day came when I was ready to buy the airline tickets.

I logged in to my MyPerks account.  But try as I might... I couldn't get my balance to apply to the airline ticket.  I telephoned the company and was told that MyPerk dollars couldn't be applied to airline tickets.  ONLY travel packages.  Just out of curiosity, I looked up the price for a travel package.  In my case, I looked at a Disney Cruise.  And I compared the MyPerks website price (after applying my credit) to the Disney Cruiseline website.  Using MyPerks actually made it more expensive.  I shouldn't have been surprised.

There's no such thing as a free lunch.

 

It didn't help things to have Nick be very opposed to any sort of red-eye flight.  The red-eye's to HNL were plentiful, and affordable-ish.  For our flight home there was only ONE flight that wasn't a red-eye; and of course it was ridiculously expensive.

We opted to leave Elsa and Cohen with my sister, and we took Reagan to Hawaii with us.

I still don't know if it was the right call?

I mean, Elsa hasn't been the best traveler, of late.  And I can just imagine what that long plane flight would have been like...  Yikes.

And since Cohen is such a crummy sleeper, I'm not too sad about the fact that I didn't have to find out what he's like when he experiences jet-lag.

 

 

So, the day arrived!  We planned our trip around UEA.  Reagan only had to miss two days of school.

 

We were so, SO fortunate to be able to stay at the Hale Koa.  Garrett and Katie used their military connections; and got all of us rooms at the Hale Koa. 

It was $162/night for an oceanfront room on the top floor.  I've stayed in Honolulu before, at the Marriott.  So, I know the price we got at the Hale Koa was a steal!

Plus, we had access to the Exchange, which was cheaper than the ABC stores, and had better stuff!

 

Here are the views from our balcony:

As soon as we got to the hotel Reagan made a bee-line for Waikiki beach!

We were supposed to go to a Hula Show.  But there was no dragging Reagan away from the ocean.  Plus, McDonald's and Sims' were both at the beach; so we relaxed and played there until bedtime.

 

 

DAY 2: I was awake at 4AM.  It was like that for most of the trip.  I'd get up, and go watch Netflix on my phone, in the bathroom; so that Nick and Reagan could sleep.  :)

 

The early rise time wasn't all bad.  On this particular morning, we made it to Hanauma Bay at 6AM.

It didn't get crowded until it was time to leave. 

Reagan didn't really want to try snorkeling.  I have been snorkeling before, at Hanauma Bay- even.  But this time I put a snorkel mask on, and I started having, what can only be described as a panic attack.

I kept trying to submerge myself in the water.  But I was totally freaking myself out.  I couldn't stop thinking about jellyfish, and remembering how much it hurt to scrape up against the coral.  In the end, I was lame.  I didn't conquer my fear.  I sat on the beach with the kids.  While Nick went snorkeling with Garrett and Katie.

Nick DID get pretty scratched up, snorkeling.  It made me feel a tiny bit better about not doing it.



Crossing time zones finally caught up with Reagan.  She ended up sleeping in the car on several occasions throughout the trip.  Oh, and PS- our rental was a Honda Fit.  Nick and I were both excited to have that particular car, because we'd both been curious about seeing how they perform.  I suppose we'll always have a special place in our hearts for small hatchback cars, because of our beloved Toyota Echo (that I still regret selling).  My assessment of the Honda Fit?  I'd totally drive one!  It was so spacious, and it got fantastic gas mileage.

 

After snorkeling, we had lunch at Teddy's Bigger Burgers.  It was delicious.  Pricey (but what isn't? over there?).

 

We went back to the hotel, cleaned up, and headed to the Polynesian Cultural Center.  

Reagan might have looked happy, in these pictures.  But she was not.  The PCC was probably my favorite excursion.  But it was Reagan's least favorite.  I could have stayed a lot longer.  But Reagan was ready to go 5 minutes after we got there.

That being said, Reagan was actually very well-behaved on this trip.  She did so well on the long plane rides.  And I think she enjoyed having the undivided attention of her Mom and Dad.
Yes indeed, I believe that Hawaii is Reagan's "happy place".  My little Hula girl was in heaven,

When we finished at the PCC I begged Nick to take us to eat at Macky's Sweet Shrimp truck.  It wasn't as close as our GPS systems lead us to believe (our phone GPS's gave us problems the entire trip.  First world problems, I know). 

It ended up that we drove around the entire island that afternoon/evening.  Oh well.  At least the scenery is gorgeous.

The shrimp was fine.  Not good enough to make that long of a trip for, though.

 

 

DAY 3:  I had wanted to spend the day at Kailua beach.  But the company we were renting water toys from didn't deliver to that beach.  Instead, we ended up at Lanikai.  And that was the better choice!

Picture perfect!

We rented a stand-up paddle board, and a two-person kayak.

Here's a picture of Alex helping Reagan paddle board:

And here's one of me:

The islands in the background are the MoKulua islands.  Nick and Garret were brave, and they kayaked out to the islands with Lily and Reagan in tow.  After their trip, Alex and Anna went too.

In hindsight I wish I would have gone kayaking.  However, at the time, I was more concerned with preventing sunburn, and relaxing on the beach.  I thought I was doing pretty good at the sunburn prevention aspect.  We had a giant umbrella on the beach.  And I made sure to reapply sunscreen, every hour.  Nick used the Neutrogena sunscreen I packed.  He didn't get burned.  I used Western Family brand sunscreen on Reagan and Me.  It didn't work.  To say the least.  Some of the burns I got on my chest were so bad that they blistered, bled, and scabbed over.  It was awful.  Reagan burned too.

 

The ironic thing is that I have not set foot in an Associated Food store (they carry the Western Family brand), since before Elsa was born.  I loathe that chain of grocery stores.

Well, while we were on vacation at Wolf Creek, back in August; my only grocery store option carried the Western Family brand- so that's where I picked the sunscreen up from.  After that whole ordeal my opinion of Associated Foods has just been reinforced.  They are awful.

 

Oh, and just so that it doesn't seem like I was a blob the entire time we were there (because I didn't snorkel, or kayak) I do want to say that I went on a run one morning, and pulled in a rocket fast time!  I ran just over 3 miles and averaged a 7:22 minute mile.  Running at sea level is divine.  I never felt winded, an my heart rate stayed low.



Garrett and Katie's headed back to the hotel with grumpy kids before the rest of us were finished at Lanikai.  Reagan and Lily pleaded with us to let Lily stay.  It wasn't a tough decision.  We love Lily!  And it warms my heart to see Reagan interact with her BFF.

 

There's a cafeteria-style restaurant at the hotel, Happy's snack-bar.  We had several dinners there.  The fried chicken was amazing.

 

 

DAY 4: I mentioned to Nick that there was a zip-line park that was rated the #1 attraction on Oahu, by tripadvisor.  Nick got Reagan excited about it, before I could research more detail...  I actually found out that Reagan wasn't heavy enough, or old enough to go to that particular zip-line course.  Fortunately, I found a golf course that also had a zip-line attraction too, that Reagan could do.

 

Driving to the Golf Course that morning we were starting to see the beginnings of Hurricane Ana rolling in:

We got to the Bay View Zip Line as soon as it opened.  Reagan had to wear a 15 pound weight belt (and even then, she still wasn't quite heavy enough to make it all of the way to the end of the zip line!).  Every time, the guy working at the end of the zip line had to scramble to grab Reagan's feet, so that she didn't head backward.  Ha Ha.

I was very impressed that Reagan was able to hike around wearing all of the gear, in addition to the weight belt!  She rode the zip line three times, and never complained about climbing to the top of the zip line platform that was way up in a tree.

Like I said, Reagan rode 3 times.  So did Nick.  I did it once.  It was actually enjoyable.  And if the cost hadn't been so expensive, I would have done it more too.

 

 

That afternoon we planned to have some "adults only" time.  I found a reputable nanny service, and hired a sitter to come watch Reagan.

I had procured tickets for the USS Arizona.  No small feat.  We all headed to Pearl Harbor.  Anna and Alex got there first, and Anna called me to say that we needed to hurry!  Because of the impending storm, they were only doing one more trip out to the memorial, and it was leaving in 10 minutes.

Nick and I hustled, and made it by the skin of our teeth.  Garrett and Katie were too late.  Sad!

The boys (and Anna) took a tour of the submarine.  Katie and I had both done that on our prior trips to Hawaii.  I just wanted to sit in the shade.  My sunburn was really hurting me (through my clothes) that afternoon.

 

We went to dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.  It was so nice to be with people we love.  We talked a lot about Seattle.  And all agreed that, while we all miss it, returning now wouldn't be the same.

 

I was very impressed with Reagan's nanny.  She took Reagan to the pool, and did lots of fun activities with her.

 

 

DAY 5:  Hurrican Ana was at our doorstep.  There was a lot of rain.  And the swells from the ocean were really high.  I wasn't too disappointed with the fact that we wouldn't be able to have another beach day.





Despite the rain, this turned out to be my favorite day.  The sun wasn't beating down on my sensitive skin.  And most everyone was staying indoors.  So, there were no crowds.

This was the day Reagan had been waiting for too!

A visit to the Sea Life Park was in order.

At Sea World, a child has to be 8 years old to do the dolphin encounter.

At the Sea Life Park Hawaii, there is no age limit.  Reagan was going to be able to fulfill a dream, and interact with a dolphin!

 

Reagan eagerly waited!



The Sea Life park was far more run-down that Sea World.  And I've heard that it can get very crowded.  The bad weather worked in our favor.  The Sea Life Park wasn't busy, at all.

We purchased tickets for Nick and Reagan to do the Dolphin Encounter, but we had several hours before the next experience was scheduled to start.

So, we wandered around the Sea Life Park.  Reagan fed birds.  We saw some shows.  And looked at all of the exhibits.

We actually left the park, in search of lunch.  And found an amazing hole-in-the-wall restaurant called, Ono Steaks & Shrimp Shack.

It served the best fish taco's I've ever tasted!

 

Finally.  Finally!  It was time for Reagan to do the dolphin encounter. There had been a stead drizzle of rain the entire day.  And I had forgotten to bring towels, for after the dolphin encounter.  Oops!  But in the end it didn't matter.  And truly turned out to be a good thing.  In the reviews I read, people said that the Sea Life Park dolphin encounter usually crammed 30-40 individuals in to a session.

For Reagan's, there were 10 people.

It was awesome!

My girl was over-the-moon.  She was able to swim with a dolphin!

We spent the rest of the day hanging out with the Sims'.  I am crossing my fingers that their next move puts them in the Pocatello, ID area! ie-closer to us.
I also kept checking our flight status.  It ended up that we were the only ones that didn't have any sort of hiccup in our travel plans!  Thank goodness.

DAY 6:  We woke up to lots of rain.  We lounged around our hotel room until it was time to go to the airport.  As Nick was putting our luggage in the car he was stung by one of the mutant bee's that they have in Hawaii.   Seriously, those suckers were the size of fifty-cent-pieces!  Poor Nick.

And we started our long journey home.
On the flight there, we had a plane that had the personal touch-screen TV's in the headrests.  On the way home we were on an older plane, so we weren't so lucky.  Again, first world problems.  I shouldn't complain.
We were all exhausted by the time we touched down in Salt Lake.  Reagan looked like a walking zombie:

I was aching to see Elsa and Cohen! 

On our first day in Hawaii Nick mentioned that he wanted future family vacations to include ALL of our family.  I agreed.

Being away from my kids for 6 days wasn't fun.  I kept thinking about all of the things that Elsa and Cohen would have loved about Oahu.

That being said, I came to the realization that a big trip for our upcoming 10th wedding anniversary probably isn't in the cards, the way I had hoped it would be.  It was painful to scrap the plans I had already made to travel to Italy.  But I think being away from my kids for 10 days would be even more painful.

Oh, the disappointment.  But there's a time and season for everything, right?!  Maybe Italy will be back on the menu for our 15 year anniversary? 

 

And speaking of future trips, Anna requested that our ten-year reunion take place in Orlando!  Harry Potter land, here I come!

Golden October

The 31 days of October, we've had this year have been divine!  Gorgeous weather.

We took advantage of the perfect temperatures, and colorful leaves over LDS General Conference weekend.  We took a long drive through Ogden Canyon, Trappers Loop, and Parley's Canyon; while we listened to the Conference talks.  We stopped at Lamb's canyon, and went on a little hike.  Reagan and Elsa loved it!  Cohen just wanted to be carried the entire time.

I think we are going to make it an annual tradition.

BYU football has been the worst thing about this month.  Even though it's been disappointing, we haven't stayed away from the games.
We took Cohen and Elsa to a game.  Loud, busy football games are not Reagan's "scene".  She's had more fun going to Nick's parent's house, while we go cheer on the Cougars.
I snapped this picture on the way to a football game.  It doesn't do the face Cohen was making, justice.  Elsa requested music from Frozen.  Cohen has had enough of that soundtrack.  He rolled his eyes, and shook his head while Elsa belted out, Let It Go!

Here's a post-game picture.  Exhausted BYU fans.

My Dad gave us tickets to a fundraiser for "The Road Home" organization.  The event was a chili cook-off.  That's right up Elsa's alley.  She is such a good eater!   So, Nick took Elsa and his brother Nate.  And they made a night of it.  Elsa particularly liked the petting zoo.

It appears that writing utensils are going to become contraband in our house.  Again.  Reagan was a terror with markers/pens/pencils.  But she grew out of it.
Elsa should know better.  Right?
Man alive, that girl has been making me crazy.  That girl will write her name any time, anywhere.  I don't think there is a surface in Nick's entire office that doesn't say the word, "Elsa"  on it.  I've pretty much given up cleaning it off.  And once I have some free time I am just going to repaint the walls, and paint over Elsa's "art".  I've wanted to repaint that room anyway.
Elsa doesn't stick entirely to walls.  No, indeed.
Here's some more of her handiwork:

Elsa said she was making Cohen a football player.

Later in the month, it just so happened that Reagan and Elsa had field trips scheduled for the same day, and time!

I opted to go with Reagan.  Hers was a walking field trip to the fire station.

Elsa's excursion was a visit to Pack's pumpkin patch.

Nick' was a good sport, and he took Cohen to the pumpkin patch, and met Elsa's preschool class there.

Cohen is OBSESSED with pumpkins.  I bought him a mini-pumpkin to carry around, so that he'd put the full-size pumpkin down.

After both field trips were done, I took Elsa to the park; and we met up with her preschool/neighborhood friends, and their Mom's.  We had lunch.  It was delightful.

Like I said, I have thoroughly enjoyed this month.  My first choice would always be to live in a state of perpetual summer.  But a close runner up, would be to have every month be like this past October!