Surprise 60th Birthday for Grandma Graf!

On our way back from our Hawaiian vacation, we went to pick up the girls in New Harmony, where they spent the week with Grandma Graf. Little did Grandma know that we had a surprise in store for her! As we were leaving town, Grampa Bob told Grandma that he was going to take her to her favorite Italian restaurant. When they showed up, we were already there with balloons and a big cake!  Happy 60th birthday!! Sean was also there for the party. Total surprise was achieved!

 

Hawaii Day 7- Hanauma Bay/ Snorkeling

Day 7 was and early start.  We headed to Hanauma Bay, a sight super famous for easy snorkeling. We had to get there early because it gets super busy super fast. We rented equipment and rode over to the bay with a somewhat shady tourism company, but it ended up working out well.  One problem with showing up early was that the tide was out for the first hour or so, so we all got stuck scooting along the coral to get to the deeper areas.  As in all parts of Hawaii, the water was perfectly warm and felt amazing!  We saw many types of fish and sea creatures of all varieties. Snorkeling takes some getting used to, and all of us spent time coughing up salt water or blowing it out of our noses. The birds know how to get food there.  They don't mess around.

 

Hawaii Day 6- Diamond Head/ PCC

We took advantage this morning to go climb the famous Diamond Head near Honolulu. It is a tall, angularly shaped mountain that peaks right near the edge of the island and was used during WW2 as a surveillance post for any incoming enemies.  It's quite the hike, too.  Stairs, stairs, and more stairs.  There is one part where you enter a tunnel with super steep stairs where they warn you it is not for the faint of heart. So Ryan bowed out.  Just kidding. The view from the top is just amazing. It gets a little windy up there too. We also returned to the Poly Cultural Center because once was just not enough to see it all!

 

Hawaii Day 5- Pearl Harbor

On day 5, we had the honor and privilege of visiting Pearl Harbor, the site of Japan's sneak attack on the USA that thrust us into World War 2.  There was a very reverent feel to that hallowed ground.  We met an actual survivor of that attack, a gentleman who helped rescue sailors from the water on that morning. After visiting the sight of the attack and the memorial, we visited the Mighty Mo, the battleship Missouri that was the site of Japan's surrender to the US at the end of the war.  It was an awesome and sobering day for all of us.  We ended it by visiting an Asian restaurant where you cook food at your table on a wok.