Polar Opposites (ok not literally)

Before I forget, I want to write about our December travels. Dan and I were privileged to visit sunny Hawaii and snowy Utah. Both locations were beautiful in their own ways. In one place we were with Dan's family and in the other we were with mine. What a lucky way to spend the most wonderful time of the year.

A few weeks ago I mentioned how much I loved the Hawaiian atmosphere, but we didn't just sit on the beach all day and night. (I should mention that the 7 Hixons who came shared a "villa" which was basically a small 3 bedroom house with a kitchen and one bathroom. The back yard was the beach. The only hard part was the people-to-bathroom ratio.) We went to BYU Hawaii and saw a choir and orchestra concert which was just phenomenal. I love good music. We went to church and I saw my first skateboard rack where a bike rack would normally be. We went grocery shopping (and acted like children in the aisles) and visited Heather's family's hotel at Turtle Bay. My sister-in-law Amy and I worked out on the beach and I got a pedicure with Heather, compliments of her sweet mother. Then of course, there was the wedding day...

Dan took some amazing pictures of the beautiful bride and groom after the ceremony. We ate at a restaurant on the beach. I kinda wish I had ordered the butterfish, because I tried some off of someone's plate... and it was good! I normally don't like fish at all. I ordered the Mahi Mahi because people always say that is the least "fishy" fish. Note to future self: That is hogwash. Butterfish is the way to go.

We visited the Polynesian Cultural Center at some point. Our "villa" was across the street from the PCC, but we had a bunch of non-walkers in our party so we drove there. I thought it was a little silly, but I'm not the one with MS or bad knees. We were almost going to have to pay $8 for parking, but because my in-laws were wearing their missionary badges, they got to park for free. In fact, we got all kinds of discounts and free things because of them. And because of Amy. You know, with her magical discount powers.

When we were headed out we took the long way to the airport so we could see more of the Island. We drove by Pipeline, and we got some shaved ice from Matsumotos. Surprisingly, I think I was the only one that absolutely loved mine. We drove by the dole plantation, I had forgotten how huge it was. We dropped our rental car off, and then we went home. Amy figured out how to not pay for her humongous bag. Leave it to her.

Interestingly, all of the things I did in Hawaii I had done before. Of course it was about 10 years ago, but it was the same time of year and everything. I think I loved it all more the second time around. I would love to live there for a year.

Next up, my parent's new home in Mapleton Utah!

We drove through the night and got there the morning after Christmas. We had a few scares on the road (Our headlights started turning off randomly at the darkest part of Hoover Dam and Dan drove off a rocky hill while trying to switch freeways), but we somehow emerged unscathed. We went to church and visited with the family. The cousins played and had a ball. Asher was never bored and was often tired. Some of us went to Ikea together, but that was about the only "venturing out" we did. It was snowy and cold. I loved it! Dan and Asher made a snowman that is apparently still standing.

We got to have some sister time, and the boys went off and had some man time. It was really awesome to be together.

One last picture: this is from New Years. It was legal to light fireworks in Arizona this year.