May 31: Hawaii Day 5

So we started out today with breakfast, an ocean swim and then we had to crack down to business and move out all our stuff by noon because that was checkout time. This included doing some bed swapping between the 2 houses so the bedrooms were back to the original layout. Once we finally left, we stopped at Subway for a quick lunch and then headed for the North Shore. Noah was exhausted.

And he continued to sleep even once we got to the Dole Plantation.

The pineapple bushes. I didn't realize that pineapples grew on bushes until I came here. I always thought they grew on trees.



Our fun pineapple family picture.

This is Andy's pineapple soda which consisted of pineapple juice and pineapple soft serve.

Corey and I shared a pineapple sundae which had pineapple soft serve, crushed pineapples, and strawberry topping. It was tasty!!

Leaving the Dole Plantation.

We had arrived at our second vacation home in La'ie and we are having a family picture moment in our bedroom. Our bedroom was huge; it had its own private bathroom and 2 queen size beds.

Our house wasn't beach front but the view was incredible.

Noah caught a gecko. I learned during this trip that geckos are nocturnal. So when Noah caught this gecko he was just waking up from his sleep and still grogy. This is the gecko's tail that broke off as its defense mechanism.

And the rest of him. He didn't run away after Noah caught him.

We had a nice day. A bit stressful at times but good. Settling into a new place with a 2 year old is very difficult especially since he had just adjusted to the other house.

May 30: Hawaii Day 4

Today was a day of rest and relaxation after all the wedding festivities. We played on the beach and in the ocean, but I never took my camera anywhere, so no pictures for today. Sorry!

May 29: Hawaii Day 3 Wedding Day!

Again we went down to the beach just to walk in the sand. Here is another family photo.

In another post, I said Noah didn't like the sand on his feet. Well this shows how much he didn't like it. Everytime I would try to put him down he would pull his legs up and curl his toes trying to stay as far away as possible from the sand.

If he had shoes on his feet, he didn't mind walking in the sand. But he was very careful when he touched it with his hands that he didn't get too much on his hands.



On the beach, there were crabs all over. They were always too quick either to run to the water or back into there holes to get pictures. This dog was trying to find the crabs and Noah thought it was hilarious watching the dog.

Grandma Becky helping Noah to experiment with the sand.

Andy trying to get Noah to dig in the hole with him. He was actually digging for a crab but never found one.

Walking farther down the beach.

Attempt #2 to get Noah in the sand. It is not going so well.

Finally success!!!

Noah walked for a couple minutes in the sand and water before...

He frantically tried to get out of the water and sand in any way possible. He started crying and we all laughed at him because it was really quite comical.





Finally I gave in and picked him up and we walked back to the house so we could start our day.

A lot of other things happened today like getting ready for the wedding, THE WEDDING, reception, but I never charged my camera after the first 2 days so the battery died. I will be using other peoples pictures for the scrapbook. The wedding was BEAUTIFUL and of course Mandie was the most beautiful bride. The wind slowed down long enough for the wedding and then picked back up. So in most pictures the girls hair is in their faces. The reception was so much fun!! Noah finally got to go to bed around 10:30pm, he was exhausted. The reception occurred right outside where he would be sleeping, so an earlier bedtime would have been pointless. Overall a great day was had by ALL.

May 28: Hawaii Day 2

Andy was up super early this morning for the sunrise.

When Noah and I woke up this morning we were going to go for a walk on the beach and then changed our mind and decided to go for a swim instead. The ocean was much calmer compared to the afternoon before. It was so warm even though we were swimming at 7am. Brittany and Mandie also came down. Brittany took pictures while Mandie swam with us.







The bridesmaids went to the mall for manicures and pedicures. We met Jen (Ryan's sister), Kim (Jen's friend), and Jasmin (Jen's daughter). We had a good time girl bonding and having our nails done. This picture was before we left for the mall.

My toes.

Here are the finished products! Beginning at the top going clockwise: Corey, Me, Annie, Mandie, and Brittany. Cute Toes.

Later in the evening we had the rehearsal and dinner and had more fun, but I apparently didn't take anymore pictures.

May 27: Hawaii Day 1

We flew out of Seattle because we could get cheaper tickets flying Hawaiian Air. Our flight to Hawaii was about 5 1/2 hours. It felt like an eternity but when we arrived in the hot, humid, and beautiful Hawaii, it was worth it. Noah insisted on pulling my moms luggage for her, and threw an enormous fit when it was taken away from him.

We drove to our first vacation home in Waimanalo, which is in the south east corner of Oahu. After we unloaded the cars we went to look at the beach. We had an amazing view of the ocean from the back gate of the property.

Our first family picture in Hawaii.

Andy is modeling our rental. The Dodge Charger. I have wanted a Dodge Charger since the ISP started changing all there cars to them, and we got to test drive it for 2 weeks. I am sold!!

We spent a hour or so playing on the beach before we had to get ready for dinner. The waves were so rough! We got dunked many times. I am not sure if I have ever eaten so much salt water. It was soooo nasty!!! Noah wasn't too fond of the waves because they were big and they scared him. He especially didn't like it when I got "wiped out" by the waves when he was in someone elses arms. He also didn't like the sand between his feet. So he spent time in somebodies arms the entire time at the beach. He and I eventually walked out into the waves to just stand in them and as long as I made a big deal that the waves were fun he started to enjoy the water a little more.

We ate dinner at Bob and Diana Souza's house. The boys played basketball out front. And Noah kept stealing the big balls. He didn't want the small basketball.

4 Sisters sitting in the prickly lawn.

Noah fell asleep on the car ride home from the Souzas house because it was 11:30 Noah time but only 8:30 HI time. So I just took him out of his car seat and laid him on his bed. I couldn't resist the sleeping picutres.

Our 1st day in Hawaii was exciting and exhausting all at the same time. But a good start to a great vacation!!

Home

We made it home from Hawaii on Wednesday night and then drove home from Seattle on Tuesday. Overall we had a wonderful vacation. I am uploading pictures at this very moment, but it is going to take a while as we took over 1000 pictures. I will sort through them as pick the best ones to share. In short, the wedding was BEAUTIFUL, the fish we saw snorkeling were AWESOME, the turtle I swam with was COOL, and the dolphins Andy and I swam with at Sea Life Park were SPECTACULAR. Pictures will start coming in the next couple days.

Leave of Absence

We are driving to Seattle Wednesday afternoon then catching a plane Thursday to take us to the beautiful and sunny Hawaii. We won't have any new posts until after we come home on June 10th. So check back after that for our Hawaii pictures.

Under the bed

Noah crawled under Andy and I's bed, I am guessing to follow the cat. And he got stuck! I was in the bathroom when I heard him whining/crying and went to find him and this is what I saw. After I first saw him I HAD to run for the camera. Then not too long after I had taken the pictures, he crawled out from under the bed.I was playing peek-a-boo. That is why he is smiling, not because he is impressed with his situation.He was ready to get out and I was taking too long.

Dad's hat

Noah found Andy's hat and decided it would be fun to wear it. He got it on great the first time, but then needed some help when I was ready with the camera.

Bad habit forming

I have found Noah sleeping like this in his rocking chair 3 times now. At least he stays asleep when I put him back in bed. That just doesn't look comfortable to me, but what do I know!