Where Heaven Meets Earth...

I gave the creation of this blog a bit of thought since you all may know that I feel like Facebook is a bit creepy that’s why I never respond to your invitations to join, sorry! But to tell you the truth, when we received the invitation to my nephew Chris's wedding in Hawaii I started to think this would really be fun to chronicle our trip in the form of a blog, the daily life, the parties, the beach trips, the shopping. the food...and of course the wedding. Hopefully I'll figure this blog thing out and the photos will be as entertaining as our stories. The invitation to the wedding said the reception would be held at an outdoor venue, it's a beach cove where heaven meets earth, that's what it said... Sounds awful nice doesn't it? I hope we keep you entertained and interested for the two weeks we're there.  

It Won't be Naked Night !!

I've been busying myself with things like my ensemble for the wedding in Hawaii. Finally after trying on way to many dresses I found the perfect one in Macy's the other day. Then I called my sister in law  Lisa to find out what Bill's should wear,  she explained to me her  father (Bob) could take the men to the commissary (he's retired Navy) to get Tommy Bahama Aloha shirts. Bill should just bring some nice slacks. What a relief, now we can go to the wedding with clothes on ( Bill's of course is disappointed it won't be naked night! )
I could now turn my attention to my brother Paul and his bacon. He loves that southern slab stuff with a zillion milligrams of sodium they sell in a sack so I'll got him a few slabs and contribute to the family blood pressure problems. All of you who know and love Paul will enjoy that he like the rest of us will retain water if he eats it, but he's still the same size; you heard me right...the same size! 
Me my needs run to the more practical, Valium and a good pillow to get me to Hawaii well rested, a well trained pilot to get me there in one piece and when i arrive there may be a cocktail in my future too!

Breaking the bank

OK, so it's been more than a few years since I've been to Hawaii to visit Paul and Lisa. Actually Heather was pregnant with  my grandson Adam last time we were there with the five kids and he's in middle school now.The family went about six years ago but Bill and I stayed home with Aunt Winnie.  But really guys the airlines are out of control with the fee's. First off, when you pick the seats on the plane, if you want more leg room you have to pay $59.00 for it; you are actually pay for air.  I was talking to Denise my sister in law in NY and she mentioned how she was checking her and Gerard's baggage but the kids were carrying on because of the fees on Delta. So I checked with United and they charge $35.00 per bag and I believe if you violate the 50 lb limit the hit you with a $100 fee. Believe me when I tell you we paid plenty for the tickets to begin with, talk about breaking the bank. But it got me to wondering when is it that they'll start charging the passengers to use the bathrooms on the planes?? Really.....

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

THERE WAS WAY TO MUCH CELEBRATING GOING ON……….

It's been a busy few days leading up to the wedding but I promise I’ll fill you in on all the details eventually. We attended  a cocktail party at Lisa’s friend Bonnie’s house, an Aloha party at Lisa’s friend Patti’s house and  we've been to the beach of course. Then we all spent a few days at a beautiful resort hotel and then attended the wedding on an adjoining property to that resort,WOW what a place! As you can imagine there was not time to post a blog entry…. there was way to much celebrating going on!

The ceremony site 

What are you doing today Chris?
"I'm getting married"

So here goes, I’ll start with the wedding first since that’s obviously the best part. It was wonderful, beautiful and a perfect day. I’m not going to say another word; I’ll just let the pictures tell the story.

Nan and Byung  (father)

Paul and Lisa

Chris  and Ogja ( mother in law)

Chris and Nan LeClair
Tim their pastor

David (best man) and brides sister PoPo (maid of honor)

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!