Nolan learned to surf

He had to show his mom how it was supposed to be done......

Nolan's instructor was great. There were only three in the class. Two kids and one adult. I should have tried it again. Pele (the Volcano Godess) had tested me once, I think we are okay now.

Duncan didn't want to try. That's okay - different things for different people.

Nolan loved it. And yes, he rode the waves...... He has ridden a wave, and met a girl, DU might have lost a goalie.... :-)

Clothing Optional

Shoes are optional around here too. We have been very lightly dressed this month. In fact, one pair of my "summer shoes" (flip flops) broke when we were all out dancing. I just left them there and walked to the car barefooted.

Around the house, also very lightly dressed. For me, that means swimsuit with a wrap on, or a summer dress. For the boys, shorts or swimsuit. And I can't tell you how many times I have walked to the front lanai and there are a pair of shorts and boxers on the steps - the boys have just changed into their swimsuits on the lanai.

The shower is even outside.

Carching the Wave!!`

\I get it. I have never gotten it. Ooooopppps. I missed it. :)

I didn't miss it. In fact, I hate to explain it to anyone whom doesn't understand it. Oops I got it...

Ooopss, I still miss you......

I think I caught the wave

I think we are in trouble......

Mai Tai

TOO many Mai Tai's..... :-)

Begining to wonder if my real clothes are going to fit. Mai Tai's, avocado's, fish tacos and pineapple. Even the celery taste better here. YUM!!!

The first couple of weeks here, I dropped five pounds. Can't say the same for the last few weeks....

I guess we will find out Monday when I have to put on pants for the plane ride home.....

Luau

For being on a "tourist" island, we haven't done too many "tourist" things. Don't get me wrong, we have SEEN and DONE TONS of things - just not with "tours".

Last night (Manta Ray Snorkel) was a tour. Tonight, TOURIST central. The ocean front Luau - fire dancers, hula girls. I don't know what they call the "hula guys", but they can dance for me anytime......

Buffet, watered down drinks, you get the drift.... Completely glad we went and enjoyed it. SO glad we have not spent this trip doing those things every day.

Oh, and this morning while at the beach (we tried out a new beach) - North of the airport by the State Park. There were two sharks in the water. Real CLOSE! They were about two feet long each. Needless to say, we didn't get back in the water. It was way cool.

Manta Ray Snorkel

Ever been on a sailboat, in the middle of the ocean, at night? If not, you should.

Then you have to take it one step further - you get off that sailboat, into a wetsuit, into the water and hang on to a surf board, with PVC pipe around it, and lights attached to the bottom (personally, it sounds kind of Redneck to me) - Did I mention it's DARK outside?

You float along - superman style. Just hanging out. In our group, there were only 8 of us and a "leader" - we all had blue glo-stick lights attached to our snorkels. There were lots of groups out there.

Duncan jumps of the boat first, and right there, just below the boat is a Manta Ray. Manta Ray's part of the Shark family, like a sting-ray, just harmless. Unless, well you get "knocked". :-) Imagine a VW bug, running into you going 3 miles an hour. You won't get hurt, but you still don't want it to happen.

There are scuba divers on the bottom of the ocean floor. Snorkelers on top. Beautiful.

They float, they flip and their white bellies shine against the light. The reflection is so bright, you think a spotlight has gone on.

Then you don't see any, but you look around and you are in the middle of a aquarium. You are literally in the middle of all these fish.

We are on way back to the Catamaran and everyone is loading up. Duncan looks down and there are TWO of them just under us. Doing flips. The boys didn't want to get out.

You take off your flippers, hand them up, then climb up the ladder. I'm still not sure if it was Duncan or the Manta Ray who brushed my leg.

WOW.

Island Time

There is a mysterious time warp here in Hawaii. Everything is in slow motion and then the time goes really fast. Mornings are slow and lazy. From when you wake up, until 11:30am, time crawls. Literally. I've never accomplished so much in mornings.

Afternoons - well, that's a different story. Not sure what happens. One minute you are waiting for it to be noon. Next second you are watching the sunset. Poof. Just like that.

My brain would seriously turn to mush living on this island. I did read a few pages of a really good book today.....