Mele Kalikimaka

So, we moved into our house.  We feel really glad to have more room to get around than the hotel, and it made Christmas so much nicer to have a kitchen :).  The boys loved having toys back.  We are mostly moved in, minus a few wall decor things (we've been distracted by the fun things to do around here).  We just can't get enough of the beaches these days (especially since I don't feel like hiking at 39 weeks pregnant).
Here are some highlights:

Christmas in Hawaii was a new experience.  The weather made it a little hard for me to feel like Christmas was here, but the Aloha Spirit has so much in common with the Christmas Spirit.  It was so sweet to have so many great neighbors and friends think of us around Christmas.  We really love the people here.  We also had family spoil us with some really great gifts.  The boys are trying our new Jumparoo for the first time:

Another visit to Ko Olina Beach on Christmas Eve (we went to the 3rd Lagoon this time).

We always build sand castles

A visit to Hickam Beach New Years Eve.

We saw air force one on our way to Hickam Beach (unfortunately no pictures of the actual beach).

 We got to see the largest neighborhood firework show I have ever witnessed for New Years.  People all over were lighting off what seemed to be professional grade fireworks.  All we had to do was go out on our porch to enjoy.  And since we can see all the way to Honolulu from our upstairs windows, we got to see that it is definately an island tradition.  People here know how to celebrate :)

Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail, about all the hike I need at this point

We saw whales in the distance and a honu (Hawaiian for sea turtle) right near the coast.

Unfortunately the lighthouse was covered due to renovations or something

We went with our good friends who are about to leave this beautiful place

View from the top

The boys loved it

 Visited Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum with a stop off at the USS Utah Memorial

Actual bullet holes in the glass from the attack on one of the hangers

Caught Pace in the act ;)

Sometimes the signs are more fun

USS Utah Memorial

Pace actually cried at this point.  He was so sad that people would actually do something like that.  His sweet heat just couldn't understand why.  We agree, war is always a sad thing.

 Visited the Polynesian Cultural Center, enjoyed the luau and the night show.  The boys loved all of it.

With the shaka inventor himself :) (Pace is still working on it)

Almost has it down

 Sunset Beach with our friends for the sunset.  We all got soaked of course.

A crab that attached to one of our toys.

Beach fun

Beautiful (pictures just aren't as good on our camera)

Paradise cove for beach fun, swimming and snorkeling. (We see honus every time we go here).

Dinner Cruise on the Honolulu Star to celebrate for my birthday.

Honolulu

And then our camera died :(  We got to see fireworks as well.  The views were awesome.

 A visit to Pililaau Army Recreation Center.  Near Waianae.

Grant riding the waves (they don't look big, but they were pretty big, enough to scare the boys).

Making his mark

Grant and Jake

Daddy dug a hole

Louis and I floating (yep that's him sticking out).

Pace riding the waves

 Visited Yokohama Bay

This is a pretty rocky place, but so beautiful

Jumping fish all over in the tide pools

And waterfalls because of the huge waves

We are discovering more and more of our island and we are so happy to be here.