This summer, the boys and I spent the month of June in Hawaii. Evan's parents rented a house in Kona and invited the whole family to join them whenever they could. Fortunately, the boys and I were able to stay for the whole month, but since Evan couldn't miss that much work, he came for two weeks, the first and last of the month so that he could help me fly the boys there and back. Evan's brother, sister, and their families and a couple of friends also came and stayed for 1 to 1 1/2 weeks. It took a while to sort through all the pictures from our month-long adventure! I didn't think I took that many, but apparently I did. Here are some of my favorites from the first week...
We were dreading flying 7+ hours with the boys! However, they did surprisingly well on all the flights. We decided to break up the long journey by staying one night in California on our way there and back, and I think that helped a lot. Of course, we brought two backpacks full of new toys, stickers, coloring books, and snacks to occupy them! Here we are at the Kona airport shortly after landing. We were waiting for daddy to gather our countless number of suitcases! The boys were wearing their new Hawaiian shirts made by oma "W" specially for the trip. :)
This is the view of the driveway leading up to the house that we'd call home for the next four weeks...
Quick family picture infront of the house before heading out to tour the island the next day...
Daddy and one of the boys enjoying a beautiful view of the ocean...
We stopped at a nearby Sheraton that we thought had an aquarium for the boys to enjoy. It didn't end up being the right place, but we still enjoyed walking around the resort...
Can you tell that Bryce did not want to be in this picture?!
He found some pretty flowers on the ground and was happy again...
We came upon a sand volleyball court and stopped to let the boys play in the sand...
Yay, we're in Hawaii!
The boys were still suffering from jet lag!
Later that afternoon, we suited up the boys and went to a nearby beach...
The boys did not want anything to do with the water and were quite content playing with lava rocks instead. We brought shovels and pails, but they preferred using their shoes...
We finally got them to stand near the water! Notice the black sand...the Big Island has many black sand beaches which evolved from lava.
We stopped for ice cream later that evening, and this was our view from where we sat!
Yummy!
All sugared up and hyper...
Back at the house, the boys used their high chairs as front row seats infront of the tv. They're both holding their new Buzz and Woody toys bought specifically for the trip...
The next day, we continued our tour of the island and found more beautiful views of the ocean...
Sight of a sacred temple...
Our next stop was to a national historical park known as the City of Refuge...
Mommy and Bryce...
Opa teasing Ben...
The boys stopped walking to play with the gravelly sand...
I love this picture of oma and opa!
Daddy and Ben...
As we started our walk back towards the entrance of the park, Benjamin decided to stop and sit...I guess he was tired.
On the way back to the house, we drove by a beautiful children's park. Of course, we had to stop to let the boys check it out...
Two very tired boys...
Later that evening, Aunt Beth and the kids arrived. After they got settled in, we walked to a nearby beach and everyone enjoyed some beach volleyball...including the boys! :)
Benjamin still playing with the big boys...
But, then, he and Gabrielle decided laying on the sand was much more relaxing...
Bryce got very upset when sand got inside his shoes!
The next day, we visited a different beach. Our two little city slickers were not adjusting well to beach life and refused to sit on the sand!
Mommy and an unhappy little boy...
Luckily, snacks always make them happy...
Beth's friend, April and her son Bo also joined us in Hawaii. The boys loved playing with Grant and Bo!
Opa was watching his daughter and April climb the rock and hoping they do not get washed off by the waves...
I love this picture of my three boys...
I think that's Benjamin playing soccer with opa and Grant...
Future surfers? Not if they don't like sand between their toes!
After the beach, we went for more ice cream, and this was the view from that ice cream shop. :) We ended up coming here a lot during our stay in Hawaii!
After ice cream, we sat by the water across from the ice cream shop...
The next day, we visited yet another beach! This one was great for snorkeling so I got to enjoy taking some underwater pictures of beautiful fish...
...and cousin Grant!
This beach was also good for seeing sea turtles...
By law, we had to stay at least 10 feet away from them...
Poor Benjamin was so exhausted...due to lack of naps and his body still being on Texas time!
While Ben slept in his daddy's arms, his cousins were enjoying the beach...
That evening, we all went to our first Hawaiian luau!
Getting ready to roast the pig...
All the guests were ready to eat!
The boys relaxing on the grass with daddy...
As the sun started to set, the show began...
Unfortunately, that was Evan's last night with us in Hawaii. He flew out the next morning to a business trip then headed home to enjoy a quiet empty house for the next two weeks!
Week 2 pictures coming soon...
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment