2011, a year worthy of Gratitude

So I'm juggling writing out thank-you notes and blogging about my Hawaii trip (stay tuned), but I know everyone blogs and talks about their year on New Year's Eve, so I wanted to do the same.
2011 was probably the best year of my life. For some obvious reasons, I have the best friends and family around, and now I have the best husband ever! I could write for forever about all the mushy gushy feelings I have for Brandon, butttttt I'll spare everyone. I am just so grateful for everything that has happened this year, and have really tried to count my blessings this year. Just looking around my apartment has reminded me of how blessed I am. Out of all of our possessions in our apartment, we only owned probably 5% before we got married. That is why I'm trying so hard to keep up on the thank you notes (I have about 15 to send out when the post office decides to kindly open up and let me buy stamps); I really feel so blessed by all of our gifts that we received.
I am also so grateful for Brandon's job. I complain about it ALL THE TIME, but we would have had to take out major loans without him sacrificing his weekends to work for us. It's one of those jobs that in 15 years we will look at and think "Hmm, remember that one time...? Yeah thank goodness we don't have to deal with THAT anymore."
My trip to Hawaii made me so grateful for all that my parents do for me (and now Brandon). I remember telling my parents that they were SO CHEAP when Alyse and I were in high school, because I wanted a cell phone and a laptop and a new car like all of my friends. The thought of that now makes me cringe. As a newly married and slightly poor person, I know now why my parents saved so much and did not give us everything that we may have wanted as temperamental teenagers. I know my mom's laughing while reading this.......
Brandon and I have our futures mapped out (until graduation), and I am so grateful for our school that we go to. People complain about BYU-Idaho all the time, and it's a quirky little place. But for the price of tuition that we get, it is so great. I complain about the winter all the time, but I am so grateful for this school and I'm sure I will miss it when we leave. Not enough to come back though. I will definitely miss my friends that I've made, and hope to keep many of them throughout my life.
Pretty much, I just wanted to say that I am so grateful for my life that I have right now... it is such a blessed life, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Mele Kalikimaka 2011- December 26

Ok, last day in Hawaii. Saddest day of my life.

We said hi to our neighborhood Coast Guard:

And went out to go surfing.

Downtown Honolulu was amazing, I hadn't really seen it before when we were coming in.

The boys were excited.

Surfing was so fun! It's really hard... I only stood up like twice. Unfortunately, one of the instructors took it upon himself to make sure that we were pro surfers by the end of the day, and didn't appreciate that we didn't feel the same way. He wasn't very nice. But after I left him it was much more fun, and I only cut the bottom of my feet once while falling. PS that hurts.

With Duke, a famous surfer from Hawaii.

We then headed over to Waikiki and the International Market Place, which was beautiful.

While it's basically a tourist trap, with people trying to sell the most ridiculous things (like the REAL balance band for only 30 dollars!), we did manage to buy matching muumuus.

Cole found the local visitor's dog and played with him, like a good dog's best friend would.

We went to dinner with Dad's colleague and his wife to Buzz's... while we were there something unusual happened. We were waiting for a table when suddenly everyone started whispering, "That's Mr. Shuester from Glee!" I'm ashamed to say I absolutely FREAKED OUT. Let's just say there's a reason I would ever watch Glee, and it's not for the music. Well, it's kind of for the music. But ok. I was so star struck I didn't even know what to do with myself. Luckily he was nice when I came up and mumbled, "Umm, can I please get a picture with you?"

And luckily Brandon realized this is just what happens when I see celebrities. I'm not a stalker, I promise.

Oh yeah, and his name is Matthew Morrison, for posterity.

 The next morning we packed up and left early. It was a great trip, and one I will always remember. Unfortunately, it had to end all too soon.

Mele Kalikimaka 2011, December 24-25

So Christmas Eve, we went snorkeling in Hanauma Bay. Bethany and Cole enjoyed the morning's relaxed feeling:

First we said hi to our friends on the gun boats in the canal:

 Hanauma bay. Isn't it gorgeous??

 Thanks Brandon

 He wanted to pretend to be falling into the water.

 He was pretending to be a messenger from one of the cultural tribes.

 Coley was our model for the snorkeling gear.
The fish we saw underwater was so great. Unfortunately, I had to learn how to not hyperventilate while putting my face in the water first. However, once we got past that little molehill it was great. Unfortunately we didn't have an underwater camera that was just ours, so I don't have pictures. But we did see a sea turtle (which was illegal to harass or chase, according to Hawaiian laws) feeding just a few feet away from us. We also saw an eel, some "convict" fish (white with black stripes), and a fish that looks like it had an oil spill all over it. But it didn't, it was just fluorescent.

 I only have a gut here because I was sticking my back out... I swear.

 Afterwards, we went to a "shave ice" place, where Obama went one time he was visiting in Oahu.

 Nice, Tommy.

 Obama!

 It really was great!

I was way too excited.
Christmas Day was a nice and relaxed day. One of the nice things about going to Hawaii for Christmas was that we didn't have to worry about big gifts and stuff. Unfortunately, I didn't get pictures. But we gave our stocking stuffers and gifts, and we all got a book from Mom and Dad. It was great, I read my book in a day (see here).
Afterwards, we went on a hike to the battleplace of Nu'uanu. It was a beautiful place, but had a tragic history. This is where Kamehameha and his army sent the native armies over the edge of the cliff to unite all the Hawaiian islands. It was super windy up there, and pretty sobering to think about what happened there.

 Brandon wasn't feeling too well... probably carsick.

 Nice.

 The wind was insane here.

 Again.

 Austin likes to worry my mom sometimes...

 December 26 was our last day there... final post!!

Mele Kalikimaka 2011, December 23

We had a cultural day on December 23. Our first stop was to the Buddhist temple that was built during the early 20th century.

 Isn't it beautiful?

 We're not sure...

 Thanks Dallin

 We were only supposed to ring the bell once...

  We're so cute, doing it together.

 Freaking big koi.

 

We looked around BYU-Hawaii, and saw some of the sights.

 Next it was on to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
The PCC had to have been one of the highlights of our trip out there. Everyone loved it. So let's take a quick tour through it.

 For some reason I thought this was really cute and squealed when I saw it. Who knows.

Samoan exhibit.

Demonstrator... he was also a fire dancer.

Climbing a coconut tree.

 Parade of Nations (or whatever it was called)

These guys were CRAZY!

Austin and Tommy love Alyse.

If you look closely, you can see Cole is on the backswing of hitting Austin and Mom's chastising Austin for teasing Cole.

Brandon loves my frowns.

Tongan demonstration... I have some videos that I will try and upload they were pretty funny.

 Demonstration of a peace ceremony.

 Teaching us traditional dances

 Luau!

Matchie Matchie, we're super cute aren't we?

 Austin tried to kiss the roasted pig on a spit.

 Poi rolls, soooooo good. So much fat in there, but totally worth it!

 Pig!

 Sick.

 Bethany and Cole stole our camera...

 Nice guys.

 hahaha yeahhhhhhhh

 Just before we saw "Ha: Breath of Life".

Cool firedancing scene.

It was SUCH a cool experience! I'm not sure when I'm going to go back, but for now I have all of those great pictures. But don't worry, the sets of posts aren't done yet!