Hawaii

My sister Becky and her family moved to Hawaii last year and we decided it was time to visit! We had a great week. Well, as good as it could be traveling with a 21-month and 3-year-old. Carson was great, it was Luke that was hard. Luke ended up with the flu and didn't like the heat or sand involved with the trip. Poor boy. Carson and Luke also never adjusted to the time difference either and woke up every morning between 3:30am-4:30am, yuck! Seriously though, other than that the trip was great.

It was a very laid back trip. When you are staying in a house with a family verses a resort your Hawaii trip is very different. Ollie was in school so we would go to the gym, park, or the beach until we picked him up, then would do something different in the afternoon.

We spent one day on the North Shore. It really was only a half day. We spent a few hours on the beach at Waimea Bay and by the time we got to Haleiwa for shaved ice at Matsumoto's all the kids were asleep so ended up heading home. The undertoe was CRAZY. Steve would have to stand out in the water and catch the boys before they were ripped out to sea. (Check out the video below.) Carson loved it to say the least. 

My grandparents lived in Hawaii when I was a girl and I have fond memories all over Oahu. One of my favorites when I was little was the Byodo-In temple at Valley of the Temples. Beautiful. The kids loved feeding the Koi, ringing the giant bell, and playing in the bamboo forest. 

Our host family =)

This really was the Luke face for the whole week. "I don't feel great and they keep trying to make me have fun, yuck."

 

There are a lot of "Oahu snobs" as I like to call them. Those who think Oahu is too crowded and not Hawaiian enough. Personally, I love the variety of the Island where you can be middle of nowhere on the North Shore and then in the middle of everything in Wakiki. We spend two afternoons in Wakiki.

My sister lives in Kailua, only a few miles from where my grandparents lived. Going to the beaches by her house brought back a lot of memories of visiting Grandma and Grandpa's. Kalama Beach:

You can't tell here but Luke loved playing with Ollie all week. 

Becky took us to the tide pools just south of Hanauma Bay, across the street from Sealife Park. The kids loved them so we went two days in a row. There were tons of fish to catch and the perfect sized "cliffs" for little boy cliff jumping. =)

Another Luke face of the week

Becky and Ryan were wonderful enough to take our boys all day Saturday so we could have a date day. It was wonderful! We went snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, Da Kitchen for lunch, and Wakiki for shopping and beach relaxation. I don't know the last time I was able to read a book at the beach. Heaven! We were so busy not worrying about kids that we only took two pictures. 

Wakiki

Wakiki

Becky and Ryan were so wonderful letting us take over their house for the week. Carson and Luke loved being able to have sleepovers every night. Amelie had her 3rd birthday while we were there. The boys loved decorating and of course the pinata. 

Baby, the neighbor's dog. I think taking Baby for walks to the park was Luke and Carson's favorite part of the week.

Opening presents

It might be the only time he smiled all week =(

Texas Sheet Cake. Becky knows how to do it! 

Across the street from them is a Skate Park. Ollie has become quite the skateboarder. I think it's inspired Carson!

So,that was our trip. Becky and Ryan, thanks for living there and having us.We loved spending time with our family and enjoying the beauties of the island. It will be a while until we go with kids again though. Next time I think it will be just Steve and I. =)

Sorry for the longest post ever.