Christmas Day!

What a great Christmas morning we had.  Tanner and Mason were so patient with Tongtong's excitement.  Lucy and WuXi were so overwhelmed and so gracious with the simple gifts they received.  I think Tongtong ate more candy in the first 10 minutes after opening stockings than they rest of us combined the entire day.  That didn't do much to calm his excitement.

After Belgium waffles (Joe got a new waffle iron, yum yum), we loaded in the car and headed to Multonomah Falls.  We got there early enough there were hardly any crowds and enjoyed a hike to the top.  It was a beautiful day and a blessed diversion.

After some lunch we walked on the trails around out neighborhood and then the boys went to the church to play basketball (new bball).  

We enjoyed a cheesy Christmas movie as a perfect end to a perfect day.  Tomorrow we are headed to San Francisco for the BYU Bowl game!  Can't wait...

Posing before seeing if Santa came.

Yawning Joe, Curious Starr and Anxious Mason

It didn't take long for Tongtong to get the hang of things.  He tore right into his presents with no trouble.

Lucy and WuXi got into the action as well.

Tanner picked out the waffle iron...one of his favorite things to have for breakfast.

At the bottom of the falls.

Making our way to the top.

At the top of the falls.

How nice to have someone take a picture of the whole family that isn't a "selfy".

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful celebration with Lucy and her family and the sister missionaries.  Turkey dinner followed by traditional Christmas Eve presents (PJ's).  

After singing some holiday songs, we then watched "Joy to the World".  Although the church has more recent Christmas productions, this video brought an incredible spirit into our home and beautifully shared the whole story of Christ:  his birth, life, death, and miraculous resurrection.

Although far from our immediate family, it was so special to share this evening with others we love so dearly.

Yummy dinner!

Unwrapping presents

They made it!

Our company arrived tonight in time for hamburger soup and gingerbread houses.  We are so excited to have WuXi, Lucy, and Tong Tong for Christmas!

Tong Tong was so excited to see Starr!

Putting the train together requires a lot of concentration!

Tong Tong wanted to look like Rudolph:)

The final creations!

Welcome home

We had an uneventful trip until we arrived home.  Our plane landed around 11 pm and we opted to ride the Max to the stop near our house and then call a cab.  The train was uneventful and an adventure for all the boys who had never been on the Max.  We got to the station about 2 miles from our home and called a cab.  20 minutes later, no cab.  We called again.  15 minutes later, no cab.  We wandered to the street corner to call another cab and up drives a Portland police.  Ends up we were waiting in a not so nice area and he was concerned enough about our safety that he drove out of his area to deliver us safely home.  

In case you have never been in the back if a cop car, the seat is all metal, there are bars on the window, and you can't open the door from the inside.  Certainly an adventure for all of us!

The rest of Paradise

The rest of our trip was a lot of sun, surf and sand.  We kayaked (consequently right where the fishing kayaker was killed by a shark yesterday...the beach they closed is the beach we lived on!), surfed, snorkeled, swam, body surfed, watched movies, went shopping, drive the road to Hana and feasted on shave ice, Mexican food and macadamia nuts.

We had perfect weather, well behaved children and a wonderful week in paradise!  We can't wait to go back!

Church

Riding the waves 

Kayaking

Catching some rays

Underwater stunts

Ruth's Chris (thanks Lennar!)

Road to Hana hike

Lava tube on the road to Hana

Black sand beach (biggest waves if the trip)

Another Hana hike

Red sand beach

Seven sacred pools (you can't tell but all three boys swam to the waterfall)

The other side of the mountain...the contrast from lush to barren was amazing

Pre surf lessons

Catching waves

Thanksgiving luau!

A sea of clouds (flying home)

Paradise continued

After breakfast at McDonalds,we lathered up in sunscreen, checked out if the hotel, and headed to the beach.  The sun was shining and the temperature was perfect.  

The two hour time change resulted in us waking around 5 am.  I will say when you arrive at 9:30 am to the beach, you get a a primo piece of beach.

The kids were immediately delighted with the sand, sun, waves, and water temperature.  Joe and I sported our goggles and went right to fish watching.  

We stayed until we were starving and thirsty then headed to lunch and to our condo. We had Little Ceasar's for lunch.  The girl who helped us must have been new.  Apparently, 'hot and ready' is for the mainland only.  We got it hot, but we had to wait for it to be ready.  At $20 for a cheese pizza, one order of crazy bread and two Icee's, this was our best find for food in terms of price!

We were too early to check into our condo but they let us swim and hang out at the pool.  We also did some shopping for things we couldn't find in Portland in November (swim suits and shirts, giggles and swim shoes).

After check in we hit the grocery store and then took in the sunset.

Mason eating it in the churn.  This quickly becomes habit for him.

The proof is in the hair!

Could it be any more beautiful?!?

My three boys!

A beautiful end to a perfect start.