ALOHA

We arrived in Hawaii after what could only be described as a grueling trip. The Chicago to Honolulu leg is just minutes less than nine hours and it is not easy to say the least. Mom upgraded for extra leg room which was smart on her part, that left Bill and in the screaming children section of the 777. But who cares, we're in Hawaii!! Paul and Gerard met us at the airport and after the usual baggage, rental car nonsense we headed to the house.

Nan & Chris

I was greeted by my  loving family and "niece" Nan  the newest member of our family who is the best hugger and who has a wonderful smile. I was so pleased to get to bond with her over this very laptop as I introduced her 
to all of you thru the many photographs that I have saved in my picture files;
she was just thrilled. 

Some  pre -sister in law bonding
Alyssa & Nan

WE CLEAN UP NICELY DON'T WE?

Alyssa and I were just talking about what should be our next post, and being that great minds think alike we thought we'd just put some pictures of the wedding and show how we all looked.

Chris, Alyssa  and Paul

Mom wearing a beautiful ginger lei watching Chris and Nan get
married.

Nan, dancing in the rain, at the reception.

Jen, Bill and Matt

Family and friends gathering before the ceremony.

Gerard, Sydney,Matthew, me & Christian
enjoying the reception

,

Gerard, Denise, Sydney, Gerard and Alex

I make you lamb!!!

Gerard and the kids

funny cousins!

Paul and the Gerard's

Denise and Gerard

Bill and Mom being serenaded by Puamana
Hawaiian trio

That's not Grandma's boyfriend he's the best man!

CAN THERE EVER BE TO MUCH WEDDING?

The joining of two people who are in love, surrounded by the people who they love, who love them...in a setting like this; can there ever be to much wedding?                                                   

The beautiful view from the wedding site.


Thank goodness for Denise and her camera, since someone (that would be me) had a few to many Mai Tai's at the wedding. Here are some more pictures most of which she took at the wedding, enjoy.       

         Here they are......

                              

Chris & Nan's first dance

the happy couple

wedding cake

The traditional cake cutting



Now here's the rest of us!

Lisa dancing the night away!

Patti dancing with Gerard

Mom and Gerard

Wow, how good is the food!

Look no hands!

Denise & Jen

Denise & Gerard

Hello Kenneth

My beautiful nieces

Paul & Gerard

THE TRUE BEAUTY..THAT IS FAMILY

Alex standing in front of the truck that served us our plate lunch at the
Aloha party.

 Many of you know that my brothers and I live in three different states. What I think is the real beauty of family, the true blessing of love of family is no matter how often  or not we see each other when we're together it just feels natural, it's like we just saw each other yesterday. And our kids have and easy familiarity as do our spouses...

THAT IS FAMILY.

I've posted a lot of pictures and of course the common thread in them all is the family, showing us together...  I truly hope that somehow these pictures really convey to all of you who are reading this blog; those who weren't with us on the trip just how much we really enjoyed ourselves, and each other on our trip. Here are some pictures of just this and that, pictures I just felt like sharing today.

Syd & Alyssa

Bob, Bill and Matthew at the Aloha party.

                       

Amanda with Syd and Alex at the hotel.

What is better than enjoying a cold beer on the beach.
Lets ask Denise.

Mom drinking a shot of Soju

Hey, she didn't spit it out..she chased it with a cold one!
What a mom!

Both Gerard's taking a snooze

Someone is a little tired after the hike....that's the hike in Kahana Valley
not the hike to the mall!

Lorena, Denise & Lisa enjoying a bit of vino

Do we look like tourists or what?

Beach day!

Chris & Nan

Denise and the kids enjoying a float at Ko Olina

Looks like a winning hand to me!

Sydney & me

Gerard, Sydney and Alex

sibs

Lisa and Chibe, I think!