2/25, 2/26 and 2/27

2/25

We spent the morning at a new beach. Getting there was an adventure, as we parked in an area where we had to walk across a knee deep wading pool / stream to get to the beach. That was because we took the 1st Kalihiwai road instead of the 2nd, and they no longer connect :). It was an amazing beach, and we were able to see spinner dolphins jumping out of the water. Brooks also saw his friends that he met at our pool the day before.

That afternoon we went back to the house for Brooks' nap. After that, Ashlee & Brooks went to the pool for the afternoon. Joe, Al & Debi went to the Princeville Ranch for an ATV Offroad Adventure. That was a lot of fun, and we went up to 45 mph on the ATV's. Al & Debi shared one, and Joe had his own. During the adventure, we hiked to a 60 ft. waterfall, and a lookout point. Tons of fun!

2/26

In the morning, Joe stayed back at the house to work and have a few meetings. The rest of the clan headed to the East Side of the island for shopping, lunch, and lookout points. They ate at a small food stand that we ate at during our honeymoon. Brooks even got to go "surfing" at one of the shops.

In the evening, after Brooks' nap, Al & Debi took Brooks to the pool. We went out to celebrate a late Valentine's Day / Early Birthday at the Makana Terrace at the St. Regis Resort. We sat outside, hand a wonderful meal, and saw the most amazing sunset over the mountains overlooking the ocean.

2/27

It was raining in Princeville, so we headed 20 minutes south to an East side beach called Kealia Beach. What a beautiful place to spend the morning. We hung out there for a few hours watching surfers, boogie boarding, and eating sandwiches we had packed.

In the afternoon, after nap time, Brooks and Daddy went to the pool. We ended the night with dinner at the Dolphin in Hanalei, one of our favorite spots. Brooks did some shopping while we waited for our table, and really liked a certain hat. He was upset when the "waiter" took his corn dog while he was in the bathroom. We capped the night off with Shaved Ice & Ice Cream (people got one or the other..haha) in Princeville.

2/23 and 2/24

2/23
     This was by far our most exciting day in Hawaii yet.  We got up very very early and set off for Port Allen which is on the south side of the island.  We signed up for a sailing tour of the Na Pali Coast.  We set off on a catamaran with 20ish other people.  We had three of the coolest captains on the ship.  They gave us so much history and inside scoop of the island.  Two of them were native to Hawaii and the other one was a transplant.  The tour was about 6 hours long.  We sailed right along the coast and stopped for a little snorkeling.  We saw lots of dolphins and baby dolphins and so many whales.  They dropped a special microphone in the water so we could hear the whales too.  Dori from Finding Nemo does in fact speak whale. :) The sounds sounded just like her.  They fed us breakfast pastries and gourmet sandwiches for lunch.  Brooks told me he wanted to sleep so he slept on me for about half the trip.  I had a thank you Jesus moment on that trip.  I was holding my sleeping son and felt sweet Lila in my belly while feeling the warm salt water and taking in the majestic scenery around me.  God is so good and we feel so very blessed.
      Here are a bunch of pictures from the trip.  I have to say we have seen a lot of whales on this trip but it doesn't get old.  Every time we see them we are just in awe!

     

     When we finally got back to the house we showered up and headed up to Hanalei for some shopping and dinner.  Hanalei is our favorite little beach town. 

2/24

     We were all a little slow getting going today...except Brooks of course.  We decided to stay at the pool all day since we were in the car so much the day before.  In the morning Grandpa and Brooks went to the park while my mom and I headed to the grocery store.  This is the first time I have driven our bus of a rental car.  May have been the last time too. :)  We came back and headed to the pool.  Brooks made friends with a family with 6 kids from Idaho.  We are going to try and convince them to move to Broadview Heights so they can babysit Brooks.  He LOVED them and they were so good with him.  Brooks crashed for 3 1/2 hours and we all joined him.  Tuesday night we headed back to the pool to grill some yummy chicken and swim a little more.  Sorry no pictures today! 

2/20, 2/21 and 2/22

Sorry for the delay in blogging we have been slacking! 

2/20

     We got up early and headed down to the east side of the island to check out a new beach.  We've been hearing and reading about a beach that has a swimming area thats great for kids.  The beach is called Lydgate Beach Park.  They created a rock wall to keep the large waves out so it's almost like a private swimming pool with sand.  The weather was super cloudy and drizzling a bit but we made the most of it.  The sky finally cleared up around lunch time and we all realized we were pretty burnt.  FYI you can still get a lot of sun in cloudy weather! We ordered pizza for dinner and headed up to Princeville shopping center for some after dinner ice cream.  My mom is hooked on shaved ice! 

2/21

     We decided to stay local and take my parents to the St. Regis Hotel beach.  It was a very clear day so you could see all the channels in the water.  Joe and my dad did a little snorkeling while Brooks made a new little buddy from California.  Brooks helped a lady look for itty bitty hermit crabs too.  They were the size of your pinky nail.  We ate lunch at the hotel grill and headed back to the house for naps.  

     Saturday evening we went to the Bistro in Kilauea for dinner.  Yummy!  The restaurant is pretty open so you feel like you're sitting outside.  

We ate Grasshopper Pie for dessert.  Mint chocolate chip ice cream with an Oreo crust.  It was topped off with homemade whipped cream and macadamia nuts.  Is your mouth watering yet? :) 

2/22

     We took a walk up to the park in the morning and then shopped around at the Princeville shopping center.  We went to the St. Regis for brunch.  Oh my goodness the buffet was every pregnant girls dream.  I take that back it's everyone dream.  There were gourmet meats, sushi, omelets, and a lot more.  Then, they had bite size desserts to finish you off.  It was well worth it! Not only was lunch amazing the view was even better.  We sat on the patio and over looked the ocean.  

     We played at the pool the rest of the day/evening.  Brooks finally decided that he wanted to jump in the pool by himself.  I'm pretty sure he jumped in and out of the pool for an hour straight.  Crazy kid!