A lot of you were curious as to how the trip to the Hugging State went. I had never been to Hawaii before and it was awesome. We flew in to Oahu and it was like staying in a very sunny version of Seattle. Nice. But busy.
Then we flew to Lanai and I loved it. WAY more laid back there and there's so much history! Aside from the two giant resorts that are there now, Lanai is vastly untouched by tourists. Everyone knows each other, there's not one stoplight on the whole island and it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been to. Hard to believe Pat ever wanted to leave.
His family refused to acknowledge any awkward vibes I was sending and embraced me with open arms. Hawaiian style. I did hesitate a couple times like...now??...wait, huuuuug now?? in a weird white girl sort of way, but they just come right at'ya. No stopping, no stuttering, no hesitations, they mover RIGHT in for the hug. And actually that's the way I prefer it...I can't have someone hesitating with me...then things just get really weird.
Honestly though, I have never felt more welcome somewhere. I was nervous about how they would receive their brother's tall, young, white girlfriend, but if they were surprised by my appearance they didn't let on.
They were extremely friendly and in true Kathy style I barely spoke and spent most of my time listening to them "talk story" and trying to figure out what they were saying.In fact...it's been six years and it's still like that when we go. I just sit and smile and laugh. They're hilarious. And they make fun of Pat constantly. And I like that. I think I talk a little more each time we go...but it's not easy for me. I'm sarcastic and dry and I don't think a lot of people "get that". I'm afraid I'll say something that no one will get and they'll all just stop and stare and be like "who told the white girl she could talk??" Have I mentioned I'm ridiculously shy? It's stupid.
But still. His family is wonderful and every time we leave I start planning our next trip...hugging and all.
ps Whenever I see these pre-baby pictures I think "man! I had it SO easy". Even now when I'm not with my kids, they are a constant thought. They never leave my mind. But in these pictures...back then...they didn't exist. What did I THINK about?? Just relaxing in the sun, having a good time with my boyfriend...kid-free = carefree. Now when we go on vacation my mind is in over drive. I pack for four people, my kids are always in need of something, constantly cleaning up after them...you can hardly call it a vacation. Boy if I knew then what I know now...I would have drank WAY more.
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36 comments:
It is SO hard to imagine YOU being shy...because you are such a blogstar!
I wonder what I thought about before kids too...I THOUGHT I was busy back then. HA!
Haha! Thank goodness for bloggy friends like you! Well, maybe. Either the rest of my kid free existence will be spent in rehab from drinking too much or with my skirt over my head from drinking too much. Either way, good blogging material-right?
Oh man, I hear you on the carefree-ness.
It's best not to think about such things, and just focus on the here and now, better and worse.
Before kids, I was better rested, but my life was much more boring. I'll just repeat that fact over and over until I get back to the place where I don't mind vomit quite so much.
Yes you're right, WHAT did I think about before my kids? I had just turned 21 when the first one arrived. I don't remember what it was like to not have kids. Panic - I'd better keep on having kids or I'll have nothing to think about in the future!
Ha, before I had my son, I DID drink WAY more! lol... It's true, it's like you can't even remember what life was like BK (before kids). Sure, you can remember where you went, etc, but I cannot remember what I felt like.
I wish I had family in Hawaii--lucky!
The first time my wife met my parents, my mom told her that she was too good looking for me ... which probably explains my high self esteem ...
LOL...I love fun loving families...I don't have one...well not a close one...and YES why can't we realize how good we have it before kids...when our thoughts are OURS not all focused on the little ones...
Your experience with your husband's family reminds me of mine with my husbands. I was always nervous the first few months and wondered what they thought of me. His younger brother who was about 7 or 8 at the time used to hide from me and ask who the white girl was...it made me slightly uncomfortable. Too funny! What I thought about before I had kids - what to do for the weekend, my hair, my clothes, planning the next party, etc. Now it's all Kenyon, Kenyon, Kenyon.
You just brought me to Hawaii...thank you cause that is as close as I am going to get for now.
When travelling with kids you need a vacation from the vacation just to recoop!
Sounds like a great trip. I so want to go to Hawaii one day :)
I LOVE Hawaii! I've traveled a lot and it was the friendliest, most welcoming place I've ever been.
Just reading these posts truly, truly make me homesick.. I felt the warm air of Hawaii just looking at your photos....
Aw I love this post:)
I haven't been reading your blog for long, but it is still hard for me to imagine you as being shy.
I remember part of my carefree, kid-free life. I don't remember how I felt, but I too thought I was busy then. I didn't drink more then because I was too young, and even though I don't drink now, sometimes I feel like I could use one. :P
I love that everyone's commenting on the shy part! lol
My first thought was, "She barely spoke?" Am I reading the right blog?
lol
Glad the family loved you. What's not to love?!
Amen to that one. I sometimes wish I could go back to my pre-kid self and say, "Enjoy it and stop wishing for kids. They will come."
Hawaii is gorgeous!!! We visited my sister when she lived in Pearl City (my BIL was in the Marines). My hubby actually was offered a job while we were there and he returned to Oahu a month after we came back home. I would have moved there in a heart beat but my sister & her family were moving back home the next month so I couldn't do it.
And of course they loved you!! Many of us may not personally know you but your writting/stories/photos show us you are Fabulous!!!
{HUGS}
I loved your last comment about how you would have drank WAY more. You are hilarious, and I love that your blog always makes me laugh.
really, though, you may have to think about your kids now but you don't have to worry about your cute little bikini you'll have to wear there. You're like the same size. ugh! beautiful.
Oh man, you're comments are cracking me up this morning.
Los and his self esteem.
Literal Dan and his vomit.
Lacey and her skirt (keep it down hon).
Nothing like a good laugh first thing in the morning. :)
And can I also say that I'm thinking a majority of you would be slighlty disappointed if you met me in person. Remind me not to let that happen.
You shy? But but... you're so open in your posts. I love it. I want to model my own after yours but not only am I shy in person, I can't even open up that well on the internet! Ah well. Thanks for making the world seem like a more welcoming place. :)
I often think about what did I do before I had kids, especially on the weekends when I wish we were sleeping in. I just think why didn't I sleep til noon.
We loved Hawaii when we went there, we saw Lanai from the plane and from far sides of the island (Oahu).
I loved how everyone was so very laid back and very nice (for the most part).
Our fav. part was walking the beaches at 5 in the morning. We were still on Texas time (body clock) and so we would get up super early and no one would be around. Nothing like it.
I miss Hawaii. I haven't been there in such a long time. My late grandparents used to live in Mililani on Oahu and my Uncle still lives there. I may have to plan a trip out that way sometime.
I loved your description of your sarcastic and dry sense of humor and worrying that people will take it the wrong way, because that's how I am too.
hee-hee...um, you kinda look nekkid under that hat!
love it!
Kat! you are soooo pretty!!! seriously look at you in those pictures miss supermodel!!!!
Thanks for the explanation and clarification on the visits. They sound like fun. Sorta the exact opposite of the visits with my in-laws, and I'll say no more on that.
And yeah... sometimes I think about those prekid days and have to pinch myself :)
I'm jealous - I want family in Hawaii to visit too! :)
Awww Katie Says So you are sweet...and not to disagree with you or anything, I mean shoot, think what you want to think right!?!
But I will say this...no picture goes up on my blog without serious consideration and a healthy dose of photoshop...just sayin.
mental note to self: be happy and selfish right, because that goes out the window when the kids arrive.
I love Hawaii!!
oh - i miss hawaii soo much! I love to just sit and "talk story"... pidgin english and all... glad you had fun!
I loved the McDonald's hate campaign from Suburban Turmoil!
thanks for stirring that pot some more!
-and Motrin sucks unless you take about 6 at a time for back pain. Whether or not it's from your kids.
that last paragraph hits home ...as we have been trying for a year with no baby bump, it makes me think logically instead of magically about kids and what goes into motherhood beyond a cute baby and sometimes I just want to say nope, not gonna do it ...but that just goes against everything I've ever believed in. but seriously, I get annoyed when my dogs don't listen to me, how am I going to handle a little person not listening to me?
also, you and Pat are adorable!
OMG I LOVE your video! LMAO And you were so serious, even if Motrin did see your video they would have NO clue that you were being sarcastic! You know, you are really good at that~
This video is great! I love your humor...Ellen definately needs you on her show as a guest!
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