ALOHA HAWAII part 2

This trip was a result of....
A) My parent's quick obsession with Hawaii after going there for the first time last February
B) Freestone's decision not to do ballroom and thus save the money that would fund the trip
C) Extremely cheap airfare
D) Altogether the Dopps' craziness and need to travel
E) Me getting a full ride scholarship ;)  I mean it did save a lot of money!!
Me getting to go was a result of my reminding the parents that "This will be the last big family trip I can go on before my mission!"    However, when my mom wrote on Instagram that it was *probably* the last before the mission, everyone mocked her   hahahaha. Well ya never know, I'm an adult, Ruby likes to travel and I have never been to St. Louis....

But this trip ended up being more than just a trip. It was a chance for me to rejuvenate, reconnect with my family, spend quality time with them, learn about other cultures, relax, talk, eat real+really yummy food, and be adventurous and carefree! Also, Ari's friend completed suicide about a week before, so it came at a really good time for her too. I really wanted to be with her during that time, phone calls just aren't enough and I didn't have time to drive down.  A week in paradise was exactly what we all needed!

North Shore

I literally gasped when I saw this beach entrance for the first time. Gateway to paradise!

Turtle Bay was AMAZING! I couldn't believe all the types of fish we saw in the bay and how easy and available it was. It was seriously like swimming in an aquarium.

Coco used to be a stewardess for PANAM, which was a competitive and prestigious job at that time. I think she interviewed against like a hundred girls to get the job. You had to be poised, smart, charming, good communicator, fit and beautiful...things Coco still is now!

Matsumoto shave ice! Not my fav, but it's famous. Maybe I just got a dumb flavor combo

At least they're pretty

I don't like shrimp, but the deep fried macadamia nut batter was tempting enough for me to try shrimp for the first time. I guess I'll eat shrimp, but only in Hawaii!

Teriyaki chicken from a friendly Hawaiin guy in a hat. What more could ya want.

So happy we were able to meet up with Cherie and Kiley!! We've missed her since she moved, and after experiencing Oahu, I'm a bit more jealous of her tropical lifestyle now! She told us all about high school on the island, what islanders think about "the mainland" and just plain good conversation!

Gorgeous Araceli

At school, Araceli and Freestone tell people they're twins.  Ari is training Freestone to be her best friend since she's had a little fall out with her peers she thought were her BFFs. You have to be so careful about who you hang out with at this age. I was so lucky to have the amazing group of friends and wardies I did, but I still had a pretty dramatic fight with some friends in seventh grade. They all of a sudden stopped talking to me and didn't save me a place at lunch. At the time I thought it was so tragic and wondered what had happened. Then in ninth grade, yearbook signing day, we admitted we didn't even know why it had happened and tearfully apologized. Now we're still great friends. Perspective, maturity and selflessness is definitely not abundant in junior high. I'm glad Freestone and Ari have each other. Over the years I have realized that the gospel and family are the only things you can truly rely on. 

Cherie told us there are 300,000 stray cats on Oahu. That is a lot of cats.

Freestone probably wishes he could adopt them all.

I will probably be dreaming about the Korean BBQ the rest of my life. Lots of flavorful, tender meat, macaroni salad, rice.....it was seriously divine

In Waikiki, there was beach time.  The beach is all man-made, but who's complaining?  It's pristine.

 I think my mom's hair belongs in Hawaii, everything about her belongs in Hawaii. At least once a year ;)

Ari the model

Those malasadas! Literally COATED in sugar, fluffy, filled with coconut cream....my mouth is watering as I type. Leonard's is definitely a must

Araceli probably thinking about Dalyn, and life, and who knows what else. Her mind would be quite an adventure to explore. I'm sure it's filled with questions, emotion, passion, genuine care, worry, beauty, color, ideas, people.....

Rain in Hawaii is pure magic. It felt like being enveloped in a warm mist and running under the sprinklers inside a rainbow. For real.

Freestone is such an interesting kid. I love that he has interests that are interesting, gives compliments freely and authentically, makes funny jokes and is following my dad's example in fashion (or at least honing it ;) )  He is not your average 12-year-old boy.

Is this the greatest picture of my mom or what??

The visitor's center at the temple was amazing. The movie we saw was very informational and I loved seeing the Book of Mormons in so many different languages. I just kept thinking that in a few short weeks I would know where on that massive globe I am going, and what Book of Mormon I'll use to bring people unto Christ. Spanish, French, English, Marathi, Urdu, Arabic?? 

Ruby and mom looking content and happy because Seven Brothers. I think I got the bacon guac burger three times. And the fries and fry sauce? Don't get me started.

Chillin' in the hotellllll