Thanksgiving with the Nahinu Family

I am so thankful to have family here on the island! This Thanksgiving I stayed at my mom's cousin's house in Wainae, Hawaii. They are such an amazing family. Brandi is married and has three children - two gorgeous little girls and a baby boy in Heaven. They are always willing to take me in, despite the two hour drive around the island. I am so thankful for them!

Kapono, Brandi, Montana, and Ke'iwa

Ke'iwa loves wearing my glasses. She always wears them when I come! Hopefully they won't make her blind like me!!

In the backyard of Auntie Thell's house. It is absolutely gorgeous. 

Thanksgiving day began with a ward Turkey Bowl! Oh side note - in choir, when they announced "Turkey Bowl", the majority of the people had absolutely no idea what that meant. They asked, "oh...is that where you play football with a turkey or something?...Oh, that must be it. How strange." Ha! I laughed to myself. But I digress. We had to wake up very early to get to the game. Dallin and Kapono (Brandi's husband) were dropped off at the park with the kids and Brandi and I went to go get breakfast for the ward. It was a very busy day! After running around getting last minute things and then watching the men play football, we went back home to get ready to eat. (I also got to talk to my family in Colorado...probably the best part of the day :) I wanted so bad to be with them!!)
We went to eat at a million dollar house about 45 minutes from Brandi's house. It was Kapono's side of the family, so I didn't know anybody at all. The house was gorgeous (it's amazing, though, the difference between a million dollar house in Hawaii and a million dollar house on the mainland - you don't get nearly as much for your money here). There was a big patio in the backyard with a big gazebo type of covering and we all ate there. There were probably 40 people there! I met so many people but I don't remember anybody's name. I just call everyone 'auntie' ha. That's the Hawaiian way! The food was delicious and the people were so welcoming. I felt so thankful for all I have.
After we ate, Dallin and I went to a movie. While I loved being with a family, I just needed some calm time to myself that wasn't tense and where I didn't have to keep recognizing people I didn't know. We saw the Muppet's Movie! It was so funny! I needed that laugh. Dallin loooves the Muppets so that was probably his favorite part of the day! We had a great time. Then Brandi picked us up and we headed back to her house. It wasn't my normal Thanksgiving at home, but it was still something! It made me miss home more than ever because holidays away from home are just never the same. But Christmas is right around the corner. Only a few more weeks! I cannot wait :)