Week 1 of 150ish

Well, we have been in Hawaii for one whole week and it feels like one whole month.  Here is a recap of the last week.

Day 1:

We left Sunday, August 14th and let me tell you that was not an easy task to tell people that we love so much good-bye that weekend and that day.  Therefore, I will say no more on that subject until I can talk about it without getting choked up.  The 3 of us flew to Denver...short flight... and Gracie did great!  I think her excitement and curiosity helped her stay calm and interested.  We had lunch in Denver then quickly got to the next flight...the long 7 1/2  hour flight to Honolulu.  But of course, this wouldn't be a successful trip with at least one pitfall (and really the only).  Justin boarded the plane without us to get things situated so that we would not have to make Gracie sit for 20 minutes while everyone else boarded the plane.  So we stayed behind.  Well, right when they called the "last call for all passengers" I got a whiff of something almost deadly.  No, it wasn't a smelly person who doesn't know how to use deodorant, and no it wasn't me.  It was my sweet, snuggly, toddler.  Gracie dropped a deuce right before we had to board.  I knew we didn't have enough time to go to the bathroom so I nixed that plan as soon as I thought of it.  Then I thought maybe we could go on the plane and do it.  Quickly nixed that plan as  I knew I would already get the stares and glares when I walk past people on the plane with a 2 year old.  (Sidenote: You know, I thought those looks wouldn't bother me but they do!  Dangit people, you will all be there some day or maybe you already have!  Forgive me for moving 3000+ miles away from home, and I'm praying just as hard as you, I'm sure harder, that she is an angel!)  So I after deliberating for 5 seconds, I decided to change her right there on the floor next to the walking escalator thing.  Thank God that was broken and no one walked by.  I change her as fast I possible (which probably could have broken a record or something) and sprinted to the door to board.  I was seriously afraid of not making the flight.  We were one of the very last ones to board and it worked out great with boarding and such.  The plane took off and our Hawaiian adventure began.  My praying (and all the other prayers) definitely paid off because Gracie did AWESOME!!!  I couldn't believe it!  She played nice, slept a bit, watched movies, colored with her crayon rocks, played with her cars and stickers.  She was great, great, great!  I still can't believe it!  Now I am hoping this is an omen of some kinds so that maybe, just maybe, we will come to Omaha a little bit more often.  Once we landed, we got our luggage, got our rental car and headed to the hotel.

We are staying at the Ala Moana Hotel in a one room suite, which has been nice for the space and not feeling so cramped.  It is also next to a huge mall which has been extremely hard on me now that I don't have an income!  (I'm currently dreaming of a future job of some kind.)  So day 1 we walked around the mall, drove around Makakilo and Kapolei, both areas we are hoping to live.  Gracie went to bed with no problems as she didn't go to bed until 1 a.m. Omaha time, 8 p.m. Hawaii time.

Day 2:

Justin checked in at his job, met some people, and did some introductory work.  Gracie and I hung out at the hotel until he got back.  We then drove around in Kapolei and Makakilo again and called to check out a home in the Aeloa subdivision in Kapolei.  Success!  We checked out the house, LOVED it, turned in an application and waited for the rental manager to call us.

Day 3:

Gracie and I went swimming that morning at the hotel pool.  That was the excitement for the day.

Day 4:

On Wednesday, we went and checked out 2 more house near Kapolei in Ewa Beach.  A new email friend of mine got the numbers to the houses and we set up showings for that afternoon.  The first house a bit on the small side for being a 3 bedroom.  We liked the Monday house much better.  While we waited to see the 2nd house, we stopped at the Ewa Beach Park to show Gracie the ocean.  She loved having her toes in the water, toes in the sand (I also sing that song by the Zac Brown Band when I think of this day).  Once, Justin was trying to take a picture of her when a larger wave than normal came out of nowhere (literally, we are in the middle of nowhere) and soaked Gracie shorts and got Justin a bit too.  We laughed and Gracie just loved it.  After we left the beach park, we drove to the second showing for a 4 bedroom house. I loved it because it was spacier and I felt with the extra bedroom, we would have plenty of space for all of our stuff to fit in the house.  The living room did have a much weirder set up and I don't think our coaches would have fit right.  Ultimately, we decided that we loved the 1st house we saw on Monday.  Justin called the property manager and he said it was OURS!  YAY!

Here is what we saw on Monday...

Front of the house

Side patio...aka Workout Room

The neighborhood

Kitchen

Living Room

Day 5:

Nothing exciting.  Gracie and I went walking around the mall, we tried to go swimming again but unfortunately it took me longer to get her ready than it did for us to be at the pool.  I hate when that happens.  We are also looking for cars for Justin.  I hate going to dealerships here.  The dealers are very awkward and much more pushy than back home.  I haven't figured out why that is.

Day 6:

Saturday morning, we decided to go to Eggs-n Things which was recommended by a close friend.  She experienced this deliciousness while she did a short working stint here on the island as well.  We walked the mile or so to get there only to find a long waiting line.  We put in our name and got the dreaded "45 min. to an hour".  Now any regular person or couple with no children wouldn't mind the wait, but I was nervous.  But yet again, Gracie did great waiting!  She has surprised me with so many things in our short week here.  Eggs-n Things are notorious for their pancakes.  They. are. yummy. delicious. unforgettable. to die for! They are so thick and soft and fluffy!  I would definitely recommend it and take future visitors there.  Thanks for the recommendation Katy!  That night we drove around a bit and found an area with multiple restaurants and decided to eat at Buca di Beppo and ate some Italian food.  Largest portions ever by the way.

Day 7:

Sunday... While Justin went to the grocery store, Gracie and I stopped at Barnes and Noble until my girl threw a fit screaming and crying wildly after I told her no.  I left in complete embarrassment.  It kind feels like all the other kids out here are so quite and polite and reserved.  Gracie is definitely a great kiddo and I love her to death and would not change a thing about her, but she always finds the perfect spots to embarrass me with her tantrums.  I can't wait for this stage to pass.

So it's Monday, Gracie and I are in the hotel (she is napping).  I'm thinking of all things I can't wait to do when we are in a house and settled in, I'm also thinking how I really wish I would have packed my camera adaptor so I could upload pics to go along with the past week. Ugh, the things you learn when you travel.  Pictures will have to wait and so will you, until we get moved in.

Speaking of!  We are moving into our future home (which I hope to make it feel like home) around September 3rd.  We absolutely cannot wait!  This larger than normal hotel room is starting to feel smaller and smaller each day we are here.  And to all future visitors, after September you are all welcome to come and stay with us whenever you want (as long as we are on the island...well I guess you could stay at our house if we are in Otown) so long as you do 2 things, 1. give us the dates so we can plan and 2. plan one night of babysitting as Justin and I will need a night out...together...by ourselves.

I'll post pics here when we get that darned cord I should have brought along with me.