Surf's Up!

A year ago, Jonah was at RIC, deep into his treatment.  He had one more round of chemo before stem cell transplant in February and then the 30 rounds of radiation.  He was spending most of his time in bed or in the wheelchair, with his standing and walking confined to therapy.

Fastforward a year - and Jonah is surfing.  We had a magical time in Hawaii, but these moments were the pinnacle.  It was the blessing of sunglasses that prevented all those around me from witnessing the extend of my joy.

Prior to our departure, I had reached out to Uncle Bryan's Sunset Surrat Surf School (https://surfnorthshore.com) and explained our circumstances, hopeful that we could work something out.  Uncle Bryan was 100% on-board and promised that they could make it happen.  We also talked about the fact that Julia notoriously overestimates her swimming ability - and that would be no problem either, Uncle Bryan assured me.  When the day came, Uncle Bryan paired Jonah up with Cru, his son - and Cru worked his magic, getting Jonah up on the board over and over.  Julia was paired with Skylar, who fostered a confidence in her that ultimately allowed him to go "hands free" with her towards the end.  All the while, Cru and Stylar were coaching and encouraging Noah and Anna.

If you ever make it O'ahu, please give Uncle Bryan a call - you won't be disappointed!

Around the Island

All around the island, the kids sampled POG (pineapple, orange & guava) juice.  We found a pleasant restaurant across from the hotel, Monkeypods, that was awarded the "Best POG on the Island" award.  Here are Noah & Anna sampling their glasses.

Jonah had 2 hats on the trip - his swim hat and his around town hat.  At one point in our trip, while he was wearing his around town hat, someone referred to him as Bruno Mars.  I'm not sure he's ready to answer to Bruno yet, but he sure is cute.

At our surf beach on the north shore, a turtle came upon shore to sun itself.  The marine biologist in me could hardly stand it!  A few days later we were back at the same beach and we could see the turtle swimming around in the shallows and that really made my day!

Uncle Bryan owns Uncle Bryan's Sunset Suratt Surf School (https://surfnorthshore.com), and with his help, we made memories to last a lifetime.  He set us up with some of the best on his team, and they took all 4 kids out surfing.  Noah and Anna did as awesomely as expected, and with some one on one help, even Jonah and Julia got up on the board.  Given, a year ago Jonah was spending most of his time in a hospital bed, seeing him stand on a surfboard and ride the waves was enough to bring tears to all of our eyes!

After a day of surfing, we had to try out a Hawaii classic north shore style - Matsumoto Shave Ice.  Until that moment, I thought that shave ice was simply a glorified Snoopy Snow Cone, but let me tell you - a Hawaiian shave ice done right is a delightful summertime treat!

How fun is it to meet up with friends from home so far away?  The Cornelissens were on the island at the same time so we met up for some beach time together  I think from now on, I'd like all playdates to happen at the beach!

Julia caught a snail in a tidepool.

Julia, demonstrating her surfer girl stance while the older kids kept riding the waves.

Sheala, Jonah and Uncle Bryan

We went to Kualoa Ranch to check it out.  They did some of the filming of Jurassic Park there.  

While at Kualoa we also took a boat tour to see the beautiful sites.  It was during this tour that Noah and Anna learned that if you can manage to over-enunciate and slurry your speech at the same time while saying "boot and cats", it sounds like you're beat-boxing.

On the north shore in the winter there are some giant waves.  This is where they have big surf competing and waves can easily get to be 15-20 feet tall.  We checked them out a Waimea beach, and although they weren't 15-20 feet that day, they were big enough that we didn't swim and even splashing in the surf knocked Noah down.

As Julia didn't like to go into the water too deep with lapping waves, at Waimea she stayed safely on the dry land making a footprint circle.

The memorial wall on the site of the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.  It was a remarkable memorial and a chance to reflect back on American history.

We also toured the USS Missouri.  At that point, Julia was all ship and history-ed out so instead of listening to the tour, she kept finding shady spot to rest in.

There is a Monopoly game for everyone!  I have an unusual fascination with WWII, and have read many books with different perspectives on the war and wartime. If I was a Monopoly player, this would be the game for me.

Best friends.  They don't even try to be this cute!

Selfie time!

Aulani Adventures

The kids practicing paddle boarding before they took to the water.  I unceremoniously dumped the paddle board shortly after once Anna and I took it into the water.   Anna decided it was safer for her to do the paddling and for me to do the sitting! 

Julia testing out the water.  Even after all of her beach experience, she's only a fan of the shallows and was never interested in going much deeper.

Julia trying to see the flower tucked behind her ear.

After a long day of surfing, the kids were happy to chill out in PJs and watch a movie.

Jonah and Julia trying their hand at making poi.

A secret moment between sisters.  

They were supposed to be henna tattoos for the kids, but somehow they ended up being done with washable markers instead.  Anna and Julia got flowers, Noah got a surfboard and Jonah got a cool design.

Noah's surfboard tattoo and his artist.

After sometime at the luau, Jonah became more interested in the colorful flameless candle than the luau itself.

Although Julia never wanted to swim with it, she loved to try out her snorkel.

Chip and Dale were just roaming around the resort.

Julia got her finger stuck in a hole in the dinning table after a game of peekaboo with her fingers.  We had a momentary panic that we wouldn't be able to get it unstuck, but after a little bit of ice and mayo we were able to free it.  Minnie was so concerned once she heard of Julia's scare, that she sent her a special "feel better" dessert.

It had originally been planned for spring break of 2015, but none of us control how life unfolds, and so instead it was New Years 2016.  We took the kids to Disney Aulani in O'ahu Hawaii and made fantastic memories and had a wonderful time!  The weather was everything a Chicagoan could ask for in early January, the beaches were beautiful and our time was sweet.  Although it was a delayed trip, my heart bursts with joy from the time we had together as a family during this trip.