The Hors d'oeuvre Party

Last week the newlyweds (how long can I call them that?) packed up their belongings and drove 1900 miles to Atlanta where David will start graduate school in the Fall. Before they left Rachel insisted on throwing us an Hors d'oeuvre party.

This gal loves to cook. She has made her own birthday cake every year since she was 12--not because I refused, but for the pure joy of it. The more complex the recipe, the better, in her eyes.

For three days Rachel toiled in my kitchen--heating up the house and producing mounds of dishes. The results were extraordinarily delicious.

Served warm:

(Leek and Ricotta Tart)

(Pigs in Blankets)

(Bacon and Onion Tartlets)

(Bruschetta)

Small bites:

(Cheddar Cornmeal Icebox Crackers)

(Gruyere Thyme Icebox Crackers)

(Crudites with Canelli Bean & Roasted Red Pepper Dip and Homemade Ranch Dip)

(Parmesan Puff Pastry Straws)

Crunch and munch:

For dessert:

(Chocolate Dipped Strawberries)

(Glazed Lemon Cakes)

(Chocolate Pretzels)

(We also had fruit kabobs with cheesecake cream dip, but for some reason I didn't get a picture of those.)

Abby made the signage, menu, and place tags. She had carefully painted clothespins to resemble each invited guest. 

We had an abundance of food that lasted for days.

It was fantastic!

Fledgling

The baby woodpeckers have left their nest. We miss them.

Beach Combing

One of my favorite mornings of our vacation was when Kellie, Travis, Abby, and I walked along the beach. Our destination was Kahuku Point. We started out in a light rain so the only camera I brought along was my iphone tucked safely into a plastic bag. It was low tide and the tide pools were teeming with life.

Abby found a crab.

Sea urchins were plentiful. A live one is on the left and a lifeless one is on the right.

We had never seen a sea cucumber before, but they were everywhere.

When we rounded a corner, a terrible stench greeted us. It only took a few seconds for us to discover this shark. Kellie and Travis poked at it a bit. They were disappointed it had no teeth.

We took our time reaching the Point and gathered treasures along the way.

(sea urchin shells)

(sea glass)

A Perfect Morning

We Did Eat

The best quote of our trip was offered up by Brian when he said,

"It's not fat. It's vacation swelling."

Our favorite restaurant on the North Shore is Haleiwa Joes. Brian and Travis ordered the Fresh Whole Hawaiian Fish (sea bass that night.) Kellie almost ordered it, but when she realized that whole fish was indeed the whole fish--head and all-- she passed. Travis and Brian thoroughly enjoyed it.

We also made a run (or two) to Giovanni's shrimp truck where we always order the shrimp scampi. Yum! We smelled like garlic for hours. 

(Our family right before the luau)

One night we enjoyed a traditional luau at the Polynesian Culture Center where we had the most amazing coconut pudding (haupia) which we must replicate. Does anyone have a good recipe?

One of the perks we had at Turtle Bay was having our bed turned down each night. A little package was always left on our pillow. These were by far the most delicious coconut macaroons I have ever tasted.

On our way to the airport the day we flew home we stopped at Leonard's in Honolulu for their famous malasadas. Oh my goodness! Melt-in-your-mouth bliss!  Even the birds found them an addiction. As we sat on the benches outside the bakery, the little things brazenly flew to our hands and attempted to snatch the delicacies away.

Yes, we did eat!

Playing in Hawaii

How did we play in Hawaii?

We practiced soccer.

We swam in the pool, relaxed in the hot tubs, and took a ride down the slide.

We sipped virgin pina coladas, worked on our tans, and perused our books of choice.

We brought kubb all the way from home and played in the sand.

We played volleyball, boogie-boarded, snorkeled, and built sand castles.

But, mostly we just relaxed.

Aloha!

Our family vacation this year was a week in Hawaii at the Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu's North Shore. It was only possible because Brian was the chairman of the Calorimetry Conference here, and, as a result, we were given the royal treatment. We love this location away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. It is billed as "True Hawaii" and is indeed beautiful.

(Abby and David)

(Kellie)

One of our favorite things to do is to hike through the nearby "jungle".

Our first stop is the old bunker with lots to discover along the way.

(Travis)

Next up is the Banyan Trees (where some LOST episodes were filmed.)

Finally, we make it to "our" private beach.

Eventually we were all out there treading water. And, I must say it was heavenly having everyone old enough to enjoy the ocean at the same time and in the same way. As luck would have it, though, both Kellie and Abby were stung by something as they neared the shore.

(Abby and Brian)

It's still a bit of paradise.

Vacationing

We've been vacationing this week, but we'll be home soon. Here are two iphone photos taken from our balcony for a clue as to where we've been:

A stormy morning

A sunny morning