Massive Post of Hawaii and Cali

THE BEGINNING

We just ended our two week adventure!

I'm sad it's over and just getting up some steam to go on another one to move to California.

This one began with Ben taking the CA boards.

THE JOB

We have known for a while that Ben would probably have a job at an equine clinic in San Juan Capistrano.

But it hinged on him passing these boards.

I didn't even look at the area until he passed.

Which was the day after we left for Hawaii.

He had to take them in California so he drove down (separately) with us and took them.

He called an hour later and said he passed. I was so relieved I almost cried.

I was more nervous about that than I was about this 14 hour drive to LAX and 5 (no, 6) hour plane ride with 3 little people.

Ben tests well and is smart, but you just never know what God has in store.

I'm so grateful for this opportunity to start a new chapter of our lives.

THE TRIP

We went to HAWAII!!!!

Ben had to work and we missed him terribly, but this could not be passed up.

Rex is Ben's dad's uncle, and more like a second dad. He owns a place there on the big island in Kona. Ben's mom has been there with each of her kids' families so we had the chance to go for a visit before he might sell it.

Kona has lots of lava and is the least green but has the best weather. It was perfect the whole time we were there.

My children behaved perfectly on the plane ride.

 Can't you tell?

We met some of the sweetest people who helped us get from point A to point B.

I learned something valuable about traveling alone with kids: get an ipad. Or even better get one for each kid. Maybe someday we will; I borrowed one for this trip and it saved me. The crayons and coloring books I brought are apparently so last century.

I also rented redbox movies along the way of the drive. It works.

The night we got in we got to see Blake, Callie, Amy and Luke. So fun to see them for a minute. Someday we are going to go on a vacation with you guys for real!

FIRST DAY

Beaches in Hawaii are all public, but the first beach we went to is a "pass" beach and they only give so many passes each day. It's in a pretty exclusive area in Kona.

 This beach had no waves because of the rocks blocking them. Perfect for babies.

 I think I took one hundred pictures of the palm trees. I love them. 

Reading books after a day at the beach.

We went to Quinn's for dinner and the kids were so tired and hungry they would fall asleep eating, wake up, take a bite, fall back to sleep, and repeat. 

THE HAIR

 This hair needs explanation because it is awesome. My sister in law Carly does this to her little girl's hair every time they go on vacation. It stays in the entire time. So I got instructions and did Macey's hair like this. Her hair doesn't hold anything, ever, but she still has these in. (The elastics have to be a certain kind.) I am sold! 

SECOND DAY

The Hilton.

This Hilton is more like a city. There's a train that takes you to your room that we rode first.

There were so many fun animals we got to see:

Macaws

Flamingos

Turtles

Dolphins

 This picture is from the train. That is the "ocean" of the Hilton. It is sea water and is where the turtles and a bunch of fish swim but it isn't connected to the actual ocean just beyond it.

My favorite fish: a moorish idol.  

 Cody lost a tooth while we were there and the tooth fairy found us!

 The pool is sand in one part. 

 THIRD DAY

We went to a Hawaiian farmer's market and got some fun fruits and veggies to try. I love fresh salsa.

 On Sunday we went to the local ward in Kona. 'Papa Jeff' also flew in that day.

We found some Mochi at a market made by a local family. It is a Hawaiian treat made from rice and is really good!

Another favorite treat is Shaved Ice!

 The Elevator made for some serious debates over who got to push what when.

FIFTH DAY

 My VERY FAVORITE DAY was our day at Hapuna Beach. It is a beach with perfect waves. Just as we walked onto the sand I pulled out my camera for my first picture and it died.

Papa Jeff taught Cody to boogie board and he did it half the day. Macey loved the waves too. They kind of scared me for the kids at first. Bonnie finally talked me into coming out with Mackayla and I realized it's not that bad or scary. However, just as we were getting out a huge set of waves came and pummeled us. I kind of forgot you are supposed to dive into the wave so we took a nice tumble through the waves and were good to come in.

SIXTH DAY

Baby beach is another nice beach with mild waves.

Grandma Bonnie and Papa Jeff were so nice to take the kids out in the water and swim with them. I know it's not quite as relaxing, but they had so much fun in the water. 

Cody did tons and tons of snorkeling.

And we did a lot of looking for seashells.

 And some swimming in the pool 

We had an amazing view of the ocean from the balcony of the place.

This sea pool is off to the side. It fills with water when the tide is high.

Some people stand at the edge and wait for a wave to pummel them into the pool.

 We took a swim but I don't think Mackayla would have loved to be pummeled. In another life I would totally do that.

 More palm trees:)

 

Matching dresses!

 Bubba Gumps

 Macey dropped off mid meal

 Even taking a simple picture is kind of complicated with three kids 

 But we managed one

 Can you find Cody and Macey's signatures?

 My usually completely independent won't hold my hand baby completely transformed into a clinging child. My arms were sore and I finally realized it's because I held her everywhere we went.

 We watched some turtles while we ate some more shaved ice.

 We went to the airport for our flight and found out it was delayed  FOUR hours. So we stopped off to see Rex's boat. Bonnie caught a fish last week that we had for lunch. Yummy!

We will miss Hawaii. It was quite an amazing experience!

Thank you Bonnie and Jeff!!!!!

 Mackayla didn't have a nap the day of the flight so I was hoping she would drop right off. Hahaha. She just gets more hyper. So she stayed awake until the plane touched down at midnight. (Remember the four hour delay? United is lame.)

As soon as I got my stroller from the plane and she sat in it she was out.

It made the transfer easier: 20 minutes to get luggage, 20 minutes to get the shuttle to our car, an hour drive to our hotel, transfer into the hotel room. The kids did awesome but I couldn't have done it without my parents help. They flew into LA that day to help us house hunt, which is why I drove to LA instead of flying. They had been up since 4 that morning, so it made for a very long day for them! Plus, they had just driven my sister to Seattle for their move!

 My mom watched the kids while my dad and I went with a realtor. I found the perfect house but it was already rented:)

My parents flew home and we started the journey to our home. 

We stopped...somewhere in the middle?...at a hotel. That little clock in the background says 10:00. What that means is I am tired from all that traveling and my kids are just getting their second wind from all that sleeping.

Phew! We made it home! Our luggage is still all sitting on the floor. This is so much more fun than unpacking.