Hawaii Trip 2016: Post 4 of 7... Concert at the Arizona Memorial

Summer is my happy time when I get to breathe and catch up on a million blog posts!

Way back in March, when we were in HI, the honor band played at the USS Arizona Memorial.  That was the reason for the trip.  All the directors conducted beautiful pieces (these photos are a little Jon-specific, of course). It was a moving, amazing concert.

Unfortunately, the day was dreary and rainy (the rain started as soon as the concert ended, thank goodness) and no boats were going over to the Arizona because of that.  We were sad to miss that amazing experience, but enjoyed touring the Bowfin sub in lieu of it.

The last photo in this series says everything - it is a screen shot of facebook activity I posted the moment Jon conducted Eternal Father, Strong to Save.

love.

Hawaii Trip 2016: Post 3 of 7... Mopeds and Mai Tais OR Hogs and Hawaiian (as in ROYAL)

Jon encouraged me to go back to my little WV redneck girl motorbike roots and rent mopeds for the day so we could ride up the coast with James.  I almost abandoned the thought and let them have a boys day but I am so glad I didn't.  It was a BLAST.  We only got cussed out by a local motorist once, because our hogs would only go 20 MPH uphill.  And aren't the baskets super cool?  Our gang RULED Oahu that day.

We stopped briefly at Hanauma Bay, excited that we would be in that water in just a couple of days.

This fish taco and this beach were, combined, probably my favorite part of the entire 7-day trip.  We rode up to Waimanalo and purchased food from a local dive: Ono Steaks.  (One member of our party had an official "Oh no!" bathroom encounter later because of it, but I will spare you those details....
we, however, will NEVER let him live that one down.)
This was the BEST fish taco I have ever had in the BEST location.  

This was like something from a dream.  Waimanalo, I am a fan.  Big time.

Later that day, we were treated to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe and then ended up at the Royal Hawaiian Mai Tai bar. LOVE.

This day was the best.  That is all.  Next post: Concert at the Arizona

Hawaii Trip 2016: Post 2 of 7... Island Running

One day (yeah, I said just one), I went running.  Jon did, too.  I remember it being inspiring and fun 4 years ago, as well... miles just go by faster when you have these views.

Hawaii Trip 2016: Post 1 of 7... Travels

Jon and I just returned from a fabulous band trip to the island of Oahu!  This happens every 4 years and is a perk for not seeing my husband much during the marching band season.  The photos, as always, have taken me a while to go through, and I am still in the process, so...

This first post will focus on our travels to and from the island.  Wowzies.

I am a bad flyer.  Always have been.  We take our children's beloved toys with us as good luck.  So, here we are, posing on the flight from Charlotte to Salt Lake City with Mickey, Bob, Boba, and Stormtrooper.  Yeah, we're weird.

Salt Lake City!  This is one of the most beautiful airports I have ever visited.  I have made a note to actually spend some time in the city someday.  Mountainous.  Gorgeous.

Pretty sure this is us on the flight from Salt Lake City to Honolulu.  Remember, I am a bad flyer, hence the crazed eyes.  There were current movies and drinks and some sleeping and it wasn't too bad!

Everything on the trip out was smooth and perfect and this is us hanging loose in the Honolulu airport,
ready for a week of fun and relaxation.

Had to get a photo of our 4 good luck charms at the airport, while we awaited our hotel bus.

This view.  Doesn't suck, but there was no ocean involved (it was a little to the right).  Also, to get this view of Diamond Head, I had to crane my body waaaaay out on the 20th floor, so it only happened once.  Still not complaining.  We knew there was an ocean there.  And also, we were in Hawaii.

Now, we fast-forward to the melancholy last day, when we threw our leis into the sea (in the hopes they would drift back, which would mean we would one day return to the island).  It all started out smoothly.

We had fresh pineapple to take back.  No checked baggage fee.  Winning!

THIS is where is gets weird.

Our group, one of three, was the Papaya group.  Jon was in charge of getting us where we needed to go.  We were originally scheduled for 3 return flights (I wasn't happy, but hey.... perks....) from Honolulu to LAX then to Minneapolis then to Charlotte, where a bus would then bring us south to Columbia.

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!

We left 2 hours earlier than the other groups, to learn our 1st flight was delayed.  After a LOT of time in the Honolulu airport, Jon and the awesome travel company arranged a flight to Seattle instead.  Fine.

We then sat on the plane for 2 hours while they fixed a fuel pump issue.  This does not make the bad flyer happy.  We might die, and also, we will definitely miss our connection.

We got to Seattle and learned there would be THREE more flights: Seattle to Salt Lake City, Salt Lake City to Atlanta, and then Atlanta to Columbia.

It was a mess.  We spent the night in the Seattle airport, which really wasn't much, anyway, since we were losing 6 hours.....

Jon was an amazing leader throughout it all and I was, as I always am, proud to be associated with him.

Here's the super sweet Papaya group, who endured over 30 hours of travel.  Thanks, Delta, and spring break. Also, I spent about $1 million on that lovely Seattle sweatshirt because the Seattle airport was inhumanely COLD.

Us on the LAST FLIGHT from ATL to CAE!  I was on 6 planes during this trip (ridiculous!!!) and didn't die.
That's TWELVE take-offs and landings, by the way.  I know you did the math.  It is insane.

We ended up making it home by about 9:30 pm..... about 8 hours later than we had planned.  I have never been so exhausted or so glad to see the sweet faces of our crazy boys.

Stay tuned for chapter 2 of 7: Running on the island......

Light at the End of the Tunnel Haiku....

March will be insane.
We'll push through, ending with a
trip to Hawaii!

SC Snowstorm 2016. We will rebuild.

Wicked!

We took the boys to Charlotte on Saturday for their first major musical - Wicked!  It was really great and they did well, and enjoyed it, even though the first act was over two hours long.

Friday night, we prepped by watching The Wizard of Oz.

We checked out the orchestra pit before the show.  They found this really cool.

We can't wait to see another one.  Maybe Lion King?.......