Thanksgiving in Hawaii and home for the holidays

Okay-I am sorry for the long delay, but its been a busy few weeks here with the Brownings. My family cam out to visit for the Thanksgiving Holiday. My mom, dad, sister and her boyfriend Bob were out for almost two weeks at the end of November. We got a lot accomplished while they were here. My dad installed a chainlink fence in my backyard so Trevor could have so run around room and so I could sit outside in peace with him. It's been a godsend. Thank you dad.
We ate the actual Thanksgiving dinner on my parents rental cabin on the ocean. It's military cottages, but theirs was right over the water and very private. ..so much so that my dad went snorkeling right off there patio. Pretty cool. It wasn't a very glamorous dinner, but how often do you get to have your Thanksgiving dinner right over the ocean.



So instead of hitting the Black friday shopping on the beautiful island of Hawaii we decided to go to Kauai as a family. My mom rented a really nice three bedroom condo in the princeville area of the island. They weren't kidding when they called this island the Garden Island. It really is a beautiful place to be. I am not sure that I could have fully appreciated it without the helicopter trip courtsey of my dad. I have never really seen anything like it and it was by far the best part of the trip. The NaPali coast line (for those who dont know you can only hike to it or boat into it when the weather in calm enough-ie not the winter season) is only something you would see on National Geopgraphic. It is truly amazing.

So anyway, the rest of my family went and saw it by boat too, but Trevor was too young so we stayed at the condo. So on another day my mom and I opted to take a dangerous hike to the Queen Bath hot spot on the island. It was a muddy, but short hike to a lava formation on the coast line. You walk about 200 yards on the lava until you reach a natural pool that is filled by waved splashing in and out. Again, not so safe during the winter, but a worth while hike/trip. I did work up enough courage to jump into the pool to snorkel, but when the waves started to crash in I jumped out. I love my mom, but I am not so sure that she would be able to rescue me had I been smashed against the rocks and taken out to sea. OKay so make the trip to Kauai sometime. Totally worth it!


Moving on-A few days after my family left Hawaii, Trevor and I followed them back to California. It's a lonely place at home without Matt so we decided to spend more time with family. The five hour flight with Trevor in my lap went smoother then expected. ..thanks to a vacant seat and friendly people. We have been in Sacramento for about a week now. We've gone to see both my family and Matt's. We made it up to Apple Hill to cut down a Christmas..of coarse Trevor helped. We saw snow when cutting down the Christmas. WE also discovered that Trevor and I are much better at being warm weather people. I dont ever think that we have enough warm clothes even if thought we were prepared. Nonetheless, we are happy to be around such loving friends and family. It helps make this time just a little bit easier.


So I am going to close this blog by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. I will be sure to update this with more photos after the holidays. Again, we love you all. And oh....if you do live in the Norcal area give me a call. I would love to see as many of you as possible before we head back to Hawaii. And for those of you that have not heard I did officially get accepted into Grad school and will be starting shortly after returning in January.
Okay I really have to go now. Merry Christmas!!!
-Monica