Week 52

Here we are at the last full week before the new year!  2013 went by really fast.  I can't even believe it's almost over.  I'm going out with a bang meaning there will be pretty much 2 pictures for every day at least for the days on our trip.

Here is how our last week of 2013 went--spent mostly in Hawaii (I miss those warm temps!)

Day 357- Monday, 12/23/13

 In the morning we headed to the Dole Plantation and had fun working our way through their super huge maze.  After lunch we hit up a beach on the north shore. 

Day 358- Tuesday, 12/24/13

Happy Christmas Eve!  We spent a good part of the day at Pearl Harbor and toured this battleship with our travel companions the Wong family.  In the evening we met up with my parents who are on a cruise and docked in Honolulu for Christmas.  We all took a bus through the city on a Christmas lights tour.  Those are my parents in the wild Hawaiian shirts :0)

Day 359- Wednesday, 12/25/13

 Merry Christmas! The views on top of Diamond Head are amazing.  We did an early morning Christmas hike up this volcano and were happy my parents could join us.  They leave tonight to continue their cruise to more islands.  Later we took in another beach this time on the southern part of the island closer to where we're staying. Not a bad way to spend the holiday.

Day 360- Thursday, 12/26/13
A 5 am wake up call got us off to a snorkeling cruise which consumed most of our day.  We had a professional photographer on the boat as part of our package and she took some amazing shots of us above and under water.  I took the first shot of John and Brandon all suited up and ready to swim, and she took the second with Justin spying all those fish!  Such an amazing experience.  We saw fish, spinner dolphins, and sea turtles.

Day 361- Friday, 12/27/13

 Sunrise at Hanauma Bay--one last trip to the beach (those are my footprints in the sand) and then a quick trip to the aquarium on our way to the airport.  Sadly we had to fly home today.

Day 362- Saturday, 12/28/13

 We landed just after 2 am this morning after a few delays (one taking off and then one waiting for luggage).  We got home just after 3 am, slept for a few hours and then did Christmas at home.  Yawn!

Day 363- Sunday, 12/29/13

 The worst part about traveling is coming home and having to do all that laundry.  The cat can't even believe the size of our pile.  LOL!  After sleeping in, and hitting up the store to restock our home, my day was spent tackling this beast.

Day 364- Monday, 12/30/13

 John has the next few days off until after the New Year so we decided to take in a movie and see the 2nd Hobbit together.

Day 365- Tuesday, 12/31/13

Happy New Year's Eve!  I've had a pile of donations I've been meaning to drop off but haven't quite got around to it until today.  Yikes!  Nothing like waiting until the last minute, but it's done.  John is sick so we are staying home for a quiet New Year's Eve.

I had to squeeze in those last couple days.  This is the end.  How crazy is that?! Thanks so much for stopping by.  Have a safe and happy New Year and I'll hopefully see you in 2014!!