1 Sammy is cleaning the bathroom for Tito Pig and Tita Bear!
2 Looking at the Christmas tree decorations on base as mom and I provision...
3 Buying plants for the planters to replace the ones that didn't survive my six-week absence.
4 Doug was the first to arrive! Long flight from New York City...
5 Sam and I were so excited!
6 Our first adventure was to a surfing competition up at the North Shore. This was at Ali'i Beach, the first of the triple crown.
7 Big waves! The swell was 10'-15' so not as big as they will get this winter but certainly a good start for the pros!
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10 Wow!
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12 Lounging and watching :) There is some audio on this one so you can get a feel for the announcer's style...we heard some real surfing vernacular while watching!
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14 The surfers were interviewed after their rides and then swarmed with kids looking for autographs.
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16 Somebody cracked a board.
17 Sam got a kick out of using the binoculars.
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20 He checked out the waves first then started scanning the beach...
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23 Like Doug's shades??? ;)
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29 Not the cleanest waves but it was really exciting to watch.
30 The waves seemed to pile up one on top of another.
31 All done for today...
32 We stopped at Laniakea to see Brutus :)
33 Then to Pipeline to see the big big waves.
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35 The sound was incredible.
36 Wow!
37 Big barrel forming.
38 Doug decides to give Pipeline a go...NOT! This is Kailua Beach.
39 See the rainbow?
40 Whew! He lost a contact on that one!
41 Tita Bear arrived late that night and was up reading stories to Sam the next morning. This is a book Doug brought from the MoMA gift shop.
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43 Belly scratches!
44 This little guy likes scratchies, too!
45 Beautiful :)
46 As Doug was fixing his hair one evening, Sam walked in and looked up then exclaimed "You have troll hair!" So Doug wanted to see his likeness in Sam's book. This is his reaction to seeing what Sam was thinking of!
47 Hot malasadas at the tide pools! A great way to welcome Mary to the islands for her first visit.
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50 Mom and Pete came for the fun, too!
51 Doug is getting his board ready for another outing to the beach...well, this is my board that he bought me for Christmas last year. Too cool that it was here for him to ride!
52 Here we go!
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55 The waves never were really big enough to get a good ride but Doug gave it his best!
56 I went for a jog on the beach while Sammy napped at home. This is Thanksgiving day, I should mention. We're making a few sides to complement the main courses which I purchased from a restaurant on base. This is the first year we "outsourced" but I have to say it made for a very relaxing Thanksgiving and freed up more time to spend outside with family. Very nice! Dave made some very fancy sweet potatoes with pineapple in them. Delicious!
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58 Mary boogie-boarding!
59 They both like belly scratchies!
60 Sam played the ukulele for us before dinner!
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63 Getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner!
64 We had a huge spread :)
65 Bathtime :)
66 Total Dave face :)
67 The next morning at Moke's for breakfast before heading to the North Shore for even bigger waves and the last day of the competition.
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69 Lots of crowds for the good surf!
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74 There we are in the front row :)
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77 The Shark's Cove tide pools were way too rough for snorkeling...pretty, though.
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79 Pipeline...
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81 See Mary? Look at that wave forming! (Behind us some local guys yelled "DON'T GET TOO CLOSE!")
82 A quick shot, then I bolted outta there.
83 The sand was engulfed seconds later.
84 Turtle Bay for lunch...
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86 Somehow we mustered the energy to go out for dinner in town that night.
87 Mom and Pete hung out with Sammy - thank you, guys!
88 This isn't a double, is it?
89 Whoa!
90 They had a fun ride, but short :)
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94 Out for a jog with Bear. This is how you stretch!
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96 And back for breakfast of "Gramma eggs" and sweet potato pancakes. Yum!
97 More beach fun in the afternoon...
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99 Poor Doug :)
100 Sam wants to get in on the surfing stuff...
101 Here he goes!
102 Changing like a model into his gear...
103 And he's all set!
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105 Really strutting after riding the waves. He says "Maybe I can be a big surfer now!"
106 Doug and I apparently share the same fascination with guacamole. We made about 8 avocadoes worth...and stuffed ourselves!
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108 Presents from Tita Bear!
109 This is such a cute book!
110 Puff the Magic Dragon, too!
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113 Then we got into pirate stuff after reading some Peter Pan!
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117 Last day on the beach...
118 Clouds in the sunnies...nice life he has....
119 Doug is determined to find a wave to ride...
120 Mary is determined to finish her book...
121 Mom watched carefully the whole time he was out to grab the best shots.
122 Sea cucumber poses for a holiday shot...
123 Doug is just about up!
124 Sam watches admiringly...as he "cooks" plate lunch for us :)
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126 Little buddy...hydrating before hitting the boogie board :)
127 Here we go!
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130 I want to do it again!
131 Doug helped to spot him so we could go faster :)
132 Then gave him a fast ride!
133 He loved it!
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135 Plate lunch at Keneke's in Waimanalo - the best!
136 And shave ice. Then we took them to the airport. So sad to say goodbye but it was a wonderful, relaxing visit. Love you Pig and Bear!
