And here it is! I promised to have this blog posted this weekend, and unless I have any East Coast readers (which I guess I shouldn't doubt), I got this finished just in time!
This is definitely the biggest update yet, but given the nature of the events, I felt it was appropriate. We were very lucky to have all my grandparents, and aunts and uncles join us on our trip and their inclusion made the whole week very special and memorable for us. Of course, we were thinking about those of you that weren't able to make it due to the nature of the locale the whole time we were there, and this blog will hopefully help!
I was good the WHOLE time, no matter what the 'rents say!
Watching some cartoons or listening to my iPod
We made it!
So, I have been planning the details of this trip for mommy and daddy for months, but it still snuck up on me. Just like normal, I was packing into the wee hours of the night on Sunday night so that we would be ready to go after school on Monday. -OR- I slept like a baby (heh, a baby) while mommy and daddy did lots of last minute packing. After school on Monday, we headed South to stay at Hotel Grammy. Grammy and Auntie Shanlee were coming to Hawaii on Wednesday, which was luckily conducive towards shuttling us to the airport Tuesday morning.
More sitting?!
Finally to the hotel!
Me + Pineapple = Love at first sight
After trekking through the airport, we enjoyed a nice 6 hour flight to the Aloha State. Well, mommy and daddy haven't actually admitted they enjoyed it, and actually, they have declared that we will not be traveling again anytime soon, but I thought it went well. I guess I could have slept a little more, whined a little less, and sat a little more still, but what do you expect out of a 10 month old boy? I wanted to play! Those 2 hour flights before were just fine - but this one was a little much for my tastes.
Can a baby have Jet Lag?
View of beach from Hotel #1
Again, View from Hotel #1
Once we got to Hawaii, I was ready to hit the beach, but we had some unfortunate details to work out , such as getting our luggage, finding our rental car, and getting checked into our hotel. The whole process went pretty well, although I am going to use this space to share that daddy says never to use Alamo Car Rentals - EVER. I'm not sure exactly what the deal was, but I heard him say on the phone that he was going to tell his family, so meh, I guess I'll be the messenger.
Anyways, we made our way to hotel #1 (the Marriott Waikiki) of our vacation in pretty reasonable time, and were surprised to hear that Gabby and Al Macon were already there! After checking in, we went straight up to the restaurant to have lunch with them. I don't know if any of you have ever heard of this stuff, but I tried this food called Pineapple, -and- FIREWORKS! THIS STUFF IS AMAZING!
Rocky shores of Oahu's Southern Coast
Oahu's North Shore - check out the natural framing in the genius photography!
After spending the remainder of our first day shopping, exploring, and swimming, we woke up nice and early (I woke mommy and daddy up at 4:30), and decided to drive up to the North Shore to get acquainted with Turtle Bay and the wedding location before Friday. Since we had so much time, we drove around the Southern coast of the island, and up the Windward coast - very very pretty, from what I hear anyways. I kind of slept a bit.
At Turtle Bay, we got to check out the different beaches (and ultimately move the wedding site to a more "beachy" location), talk to some parrots that say "Aloha" (although the red one might have wanted to attack me since I was squaking at it), and eat some banana pancakes for breakast (my favorite song).
This picture was taken from THAT camera - beleive it?
Dinner at Duke's
Your's truly, clapping about something
We got back down to Waikiki around noon on Wednesday, just in time to meet up with Mimi, Papa, Grammy, Auntie Shanlee, Auntie Jess, Emma, Eden, and Uncle Josh, who were all on the same flight as well as Great Auntie Laura who got in around the same time from California. Honestly - most events from that point until the big day on Friday all kind of blend together. I know that Uncle Jerrod and Gabe got there on Thursday, and that Grandpa, Grandma, Auntie Autumn and Auntie Maeggie all showed up from their pre-vacation on Maui on Thursday as well, and I had lots of fun with everyone that was there!
It's where "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" was filmed - in stores Tuesday!
View from our room at Hotel #2
View OF our room at Hotel #2
Grandpa playing golf at Turtle Bay - I didn't get to go
Dad, your swing could use some major work
After spending the night with Mimi and Papa on Thursday night, it was time to head north for the big day at Turtle Bay. Daddy woke up early to pack up and meet up with Grandpa (who was already staying at Turtle Bay) to play some wedding day golf. I really wanted to go, but I didn't take my clubs, and they didn't have any rentals my size, so I guess I'll have to go next time.
The remaining 16 people staying on Waikiki Beach crammed into two big cars that had different agendas for the day. Mommy got some good time in at the spa, I played by the pool with Auntie Tum Tum and Maeggie, and Papa and the boys ran some important last minute errands for us before driving the hour plus trip across the island.
View from the 7th Tee Box
Countdown : 45 minutes
Daddy writing a note to Mommy
After a tremendously chaotic last hour before the wedding, everything was ready, and we headed out to the beach. Unfortunately, the day had worn me out, so I needed to catch a last minute nap, and some of the details are a bit fuzzy to me. From what I can tell, everything went perfectly! Of course nothing ever goes exactly as planned, but I found it very exciting, and all the adults cried and talked about how beautiful it was - so I'll go with that. At the very end of the wedding, while the cool man was singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", a rainbow actually appeared in the sky!
Cat nap with Maeggie and Tum Tum
Flower Girl #1: Eden
Flower Girl #2: Emma
Papa walking Mommy down the aisle. She's so pretty!
Jovial Hawaiian Singing Man avec Guitar
After mommy and daddy were done getting married, we took some pictures with the family quickly because we were afraid of rain. That's right, in Hawaii for 8 days with no rain, except for the short period of time around the one pre-scheduled important event! That's ok though cause other than a couple baby rain drops, it stayed dry and beautiful!
After the pictures were done, we went straight back to the hotel lawn for a Luau that featured proper island fare, dancing, music, and good old fashioned commaraderie. AND THEN, we headed back to the beach cottage that mommy and daddy stayed in to have cake and champagne (none for me, thanks) and to visit with everyone that was there. It was a tremendously exhausting, so much so that I fell asleep on Grandpa's shoulders while he was walking me back to his hotel room to spend the night with he and Grandpa!
Mommy and Daddy - Duh!
Previously mentioned rainbow!
Previously mentioned cousin watching previously mentioned rainbow!
Making it official
The camera man's name was Steve Young - seriously!
Family picture - awwww....
Wedding Cake
View from Wedding reception site - same as view from room at Hotel #2 (hmmm)
All in all, the day turned out to be pretty perfect. We missed each and every one of you that weren't able to be there with us, and appreciate all of the kind thoughts you shared with us. I hate to get all sappy like this, but I know that while I may not remember this day when I reach my big kid days, I'll always think fondly of it when I see pictures, and hear it talked about.
Anyways, after spending that night with Grandpa and Grandma, we met back up with mommy and daddy for breakfast and I got to have banana pancakes AGAIN! Yummy! I spent the rest of the morning swimming and trolling for ladies in the pool while mommy and daddy packed up our room (including all the rental supplies from the wedding). Mommy and daddy did finally get to swim with us, but only for a short time, cause we had to get the rental stuff back to the store by 2pm, and it was on another part of the island. In the car once again.
Swimming makes me tired!
Got my surfer hair (and my forward facing carseat - 1 of 6 reason for daddy's alamo rant)
I think my binkie is in jeopardy - I wonder if they make alarms for that?
We got back down to Waikiki on Saturday afternoon, and overall, the rest of our trip was much less stressful. We checked into Hotel #3, the Westin Moana Surfrider, and while it was nice, our views and rooms weren't quite as great as other locations, but that's ok cause the swimming was WAY better which is how we spent the majority of the last few days.
Our family started flying our beginning on Sunday, so we didn't get to spend as much time as we wanted to with each and every person, but we did have a lot of fun with everybody.
Me and mommy at breakfast
Auntie Shanlee, you're silly!
Just 2 of the most 8 or so important ladies in my life!
I wanna ride a dolphin!
Dad - this is a bad picture!
Surfing is easy!
Paddle, Paddle, Kick Kick Kick!
I swear this is real!
Beach bum
On one of the last days I was there, mommy and daddy took me to the aquarium. I kept telling them that we could just go snorkeling or something, but daddy seems to think that the Sharks will target him as a meal, so we had to go see fish in a non-natural setting. I can't complain much though - I got to see Nemo, and Dory, and Gil! There was also some scary jellyfish, some fish that were bigger than me, and two baby sharks!
Don't mind if I do
Mmmmm
What's next?
Pool at Hotel #3
Ummm....Waikiki Aquarium?
Holy crap - thats a fish!
Nemo! and a Sea Aeonemememoeaimenmeo....
It's like I'm standing IN the tank
Mom - check this out!
Whoa!
Mom, daddy's right. Sharks are scary.
I prefer land to water I think...
So anyways, that's about the best I could do to share the memories from my vacation. My finners got a little tired, so I didn't type as much at the end, but I think I got some pretty good pictures for ya.
Hope everyone is doing well. It's fall - the best season of the year. Football season is in full swing, Hockey season is just getting started, the leaves are turning, and I get to start putting on my sweaters and jackets - I love it! We miss all of you!
