Ma and Pa Wilson Go to Hawaii
*Hey Dad,*
Thought I’d give you a little run down on what we’ll be doing and
At first we talked about making it a husband/wife mini-vacation, but the more we talked, we decided it was an opportunity to take the whole family. I know it sounds crazy to the average sane person to take 10 people (most of them children) on a 6,000 mile trip. But hey, that’s what having kids does to sane people. If we had wanted easy, we wouldn’t have had children to begin with.
So, after some resourceful hunting by my wife, we found “Malaekahana Campgrounds”:http://www.campingfriend.com/FriendsofMalaekahana/ on the beautiful North Shore of Oahu. Not only is it reasonably priced for a family of ten, but it offers rustic island housing (read not-hotel), also known as indoor camping. I mean, who wants to go to Hawaii and stay in a hotel that could just as easily be in Chicago…with palm trees?
Then after some plane ticket sleuthing, we found a great deal on Travelocity. That’s when we decided this was doable.
So now, we’re headed to Hawaii for ten days. Sounds like paradise…but I also know it only took one snake, a husband, and a wife…to ruin paradise.
I know there are going to be some exhauting, sleep-deprived days ahead of us. I know my wife is going to need me to be extra understanding. In fact, I know my husbanding skills will be put to the test. I know all this…so why is it that I’m afraid I’m going to blow it. I’d hate to turn this potentially great trip into a Hawaiian trip from hell.
I know I’m asking a lot, but could you pray for me during the next couple of weeks…and even after that as we hit the road in the RV. It’s all about me and my attitude.
Also, let me bring you up to speed on the Hawaiian players:
| Dad – Code name: The Big Kahuna – The succes and failure rests on my shoulders. If I keep my cool, it will go well. If I don’t…well, think Pearl Harbor all over again. | |
| Mom – Code name: Hawaiian Mama- Detail is her middle name. Very organized…easily stressed. Need I say more? | |
| Ben (15) – Code name: Moon Doggie – Great big brother. Very responsible…maybe even a little too responsible. Competitive game player. | |
| Sam (14) – Code name: Mr. Sunshine – Lot of fun…although may tease a tad much. Don’t sit next to MD. | |
| Kat (12) – Code name: Sissy- Great big sister to Maggie and younger ones. Never flown before. Make a point not to have her sit next to Sam who might talk abot how the plane wing looks loose. | |
| Ike (9+) – Code name: Blonde – Loves high adventure. Wants to do it all. Be careful when near edge of any volcanoes. | |
| Abe (7+) – Code name: Wrestlemania – Multiply Ike by 10. Likes to pile on people. Fierce Eucker competitor. | |
| Maggie Rose (4+) – Code name: Fireball – The name says it all. She’s about as fun as they come… and my dad thinks she’s really an adult midget. | |
| Cal (2+) – Code name: Slim – The family mascot. Just learned to go potty. Give aisle seat. | |
| Jed (1) – Code name: Big Boy – “Dear God, please let him sleep…please let him sleep.” | |
| Stephanie Cahill (19) – Code name: Mary Poppins – Stephanie is our niece and is going along to lend a helping hand. She was born in Hawaii but has few memories of the time there. Mental note: don’t make her the navigator. |
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Have an awesome time. My family moved to Oahu in the early 70’s. Dad took a transfer for three years.Turned into a two month stay before mom was ready to have a nervous break down from all of the strange bugs. She still flips out when she sees a cockroach. Make sure Ben keeps a magazine handy so he can swat them. Look forward to the trip tales.
Hey, you guys, have a fantastic time. We just came back from Kauai two weeks ago. We got another unbeatable deal from Travelocity and were able to take this trip even though we thought we’d never be able to afford it. It was sooooo wonderful. Buy bug spray and sunscreen (at the wholesale store)!
Have a nice and safe trip… question, do you have two boys named Jed??
Your children are cute. Good luck Mom, I have six children (four of them are boys), many grey hairs:) at 30. Hope you all have fun.
Wilsons…what an inspiration. When the kids wanted us to write “Kids Love Hawaii”, I told them they’d have to save some places to visit for their honeymoons. This is great! Have a blessed time!
Hope you have a blast! This reminds me of a Jeff Foxworthy bit called the Clampetts go to Maui…may want to listen to that for inspiration…
>Someone will throw up, forget to pack their shoes, or go to the bathroom in their pants.
Bro—I just hope it’s not you—unless it’s just the shoes! Seriously, I’ll be praying for a great, safe, Christ-filled family time!
I think Cal looks like Kent.
Have fun! Hope you see some humpback whales – they come down from Alaska to have their babies from December to April each year.
Sounds like fun. We went there on our honeymoon. Now the hubby wants to go back someday with our 5 kids. I’ll be reading your updates to see how it goes for you! Hopefully I will be inspired for our trip someday.
Take care,
Amy
Go ahead & let wife stress beforehand and do her thing with the organizing. You set your alarm for at least 45 mins early the day of the trip and have yourself ready so that you can help wife and all will run smoothly. God be with you, we love reading your snippets…it brightens my day. You are “da dad” and our Heavenly Father is “da dad” and He will guide you. Blessings!
I love the team bios. Stay steady and enjoy every minute!
Aloha Wilson family! We have been to Oahu many times…and have taken the kids too! Love that you are “camping”…the resorts are crowded anyway! We like to pretend we are locals. The best beach in the world is on Oahu in Kailua. We sit in front of Michelle Pfieffers house (though haven’t seen her yet). Kailua has no hotels so it is mostly abandoned during the week as the locals are all at work. busier on the wkds. Prob already heard that you should trek down to the swap meet at the aloha stadium. Great fun for the whole family, wed, sat and sun. more vendors on sat. wish I could impart all that we have learned about traveling in hawaii but that would be obnoxious and prob not all that helpful. Will pray that your family will be mesmerized by the beauty and in awe at Gods treasures there. Our children had a theme song from a tropical vbs we did a couple of years ago. Everything we did was a lesson on Gods treasures. Blessings to you! P.s. I am a totally organized psycho and I have learned that they have walmarts in hawaii!! We used to always over pack…literally, you only need two suits and flipflops, a cover up and hat and sunscreen.
Hope its a totally awesome time for you all!!!
Todd, If the “Brady Bunch” pulled it off, their is no doubt in my military mind that you can rally your troops and have a great time.“SEMPER FI”.
What a FANTASTIC memory-maker for the Wilson gang! So thrilled for you (and a little stressed too! It’s just the mommy-nature in me.)Can’t wait to live vicariously through the blog. Blessings to you all! Oh—and tell Debbie that our phone conversation last year continues to bless me again and again.
You wouldn’t remember me, but you were at the convention in OKC last Spring….My Dear Hubby and I were in Hawaii a few years ago for our anniversary for about 5 days. It was awesome, but we didn’t have kids along (grin). Do take in the Polynesian Culture Center and Pearl Harbor while you are there. Very interesting, you won’t be disappointed! We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Best place! Have fun in Hawaii, Aloha! Don’t forget the Pinacolodas and Leis!
Just don’t jump the shark
I will be praying for all of you. Have a great trip “walking the gospel” for Christ in Hawaii
Todd & Debbie,
Dawn and I wish you a great get-away. By the way how did you get Debbie to want to fly? I can’t even get my wife to consider flying!!
You now have past “the “Brady Bunch” and have moved on to “Eight is Enough.” Your kids have all grown up so fast, just in the short time we have known you.
You & Debbie need to make some time for your selves while you are there! Enjoy & God Bless You for a safe trip.
Claude & Dawn
From Ohio
Todd,
You and your family will have a super time. Just remember, your family is more important than the convention. Now go encourage a bunch of other dads and their families, and build some life-long good memories with your own. You da’ dad, bro!!!
Joey Watkins
FamilyDads.com
Todd, I am now convinced… You da’ dad!
Big Kahuna and Family,
Our family will be praying for you since we can’t wait to hear you speak at our conference and look forward in meeting you and your entire clan. Hope you all take surfing lessons and then become the real big kahuna on the North Shore.
Take a break from the conference and find music by HAPA – you’ll love it!
Just started enjoying your site and I’m already laughing. What a great family! Have fun!
Todd, Aloha!
You’re making me homesick! I was born and raised on O’ahu, but live in cold north China now. I think about my lovely home state every day.
Be sure to take in an L&L or Rainbow Drive-In plate lunch. (The best L&L, by the way, is near the WalMart in Pearl Highlands, not far from Pearl Harbor, and Rainbow is near the base of Diamond Head on Kapahulu Street.)
If you don’t mind risking your kids bouncing off the walls of your rental van, let them try genuine Hawaiian shave ice. There are at least two small shops in Haleiwa town, on the North Shore, where you can get them.
Enjoy my island for me, will you?
Mahalo!
Nathan
Will we see this “adventure” on TLC later this spring?
Have a great time!
Todd, Hope you guys enjoy your Hawaiian trip. I grew up there and my whole extended family would spend a week at Malaekahana every year for a family vacation. That would be so wild if you were in the same house. It’s a great beach. By the way, my grandpa and dad used to take us out after dark to go crab hunting with flashlights. We would collect them in buckets and them let them go after we got back to the house. Lots of fun. We also used to check out the tide pools early in the mornings. Great bonding time before breakfast. Two suggestions: 1. You have got to take the crew to Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, also on the North Shore. The best shave ice in the world. 2. If you get stung by Man-o-war urine works wonder to neutralize the sting. It’s usually readily available with little ones around. Kind of gross but it works. Enjoy your trip you’ll never forget it and the kids will hold those memories for life. Trust me, I do.
Been watching all day guys…waiting from the “the eagle has landed” message from Hawaii…definately has the makings of its own reality show. Don’t ‘cha just love the time change?
Jumpin’ catfish!
Hope all is well in “paradise” Todd.
My dh and I love your writings. Way to go!
Blessings from inland NW