We are just about the luckiest family ever! We spent all last week in paradise with Josh’s whole family minus one (we missed you, Katie). We went to the Island of Kauai, and did all the fun things you can do on an island! And, incidentally, being in Hawaii makes 50 states for me! Thanks to Mom and Dad for making my life-long dream come true!
Take a look at what we did!
Fay and Carter were champs on the two flights there. They kept busy playing with little toys and coloring. Portia was also pretty good. And people could not get enough of her. Every time the flight attendants walked by they would each make some face or noise at her to solicit a smile.
On the airplane!
This picture was taken approximately 10 minutes after we arrived at our “Hawaii House.” Fay drew this picture and planned this outfit days before we left, and she said that she MUST have her picture taken in Hawaii with her picture of Hawaii.
So much joy in that little face!
Josh and I got to have some dates! It was a super-treat to have time to ourselves so many times in a single week. Thank you to all who watched our kids!
Josh and me getting our “selfie” on with the gorgeous scenery behind us! It was seriously magical how green everything was!
The beach was definitely the favorite destination of the kids. Fay took to the water from the second we got to our first beach. Carter was hesitant in the beginning; but he was just as enthusiastic about the water and waves as Fay by the end of the week.
Boys at the beach–this is after Carter decided beaches really are pretty fun.
All 5 of us!
Along with beaching, we got to do lots of other cool watery activities. We went snorkeling multiple times, and they were all amazing! We snorkeled on a reef and I felt like I was in Finding Nemo or something! There were so many different kinds of fish! Another time we went snorkeling in deeper water and because of a nearby boat throwing food into the water, there were TONS of fish! It was like swimming as part of the school. Josh and I each touched some fish! There were also sea-turtles. Mom said she followed one for several minutes, and the turtle wasn’t even concerned.
Another adventure we went on was a tour which included kayaking up a river (where we saw THE fake vine that Harrison Ford swung on in Raiders of the Lost Ark), hiking through the jungle, and then repelling down this beautiful waterfall!
That’s me being hard core!
Here’s Josh also being hard core!
It was such a cool tour! Even if all we did was the hiking through the jungle part it would have been amazing!
Love in the jungle!
The family that hangs out in a waterfall together stays together!
We went on a boat tour of the Na Pali coast. It was absolutely beautiful, and amazing to think of the forces that created the shapes in the landscape. The powers of lava rock and rain! We also learned a lot more interesting things about the island in general from our guides.
Sorry this picture doesn’t do the landscape justice; we were mostly so busy gawking at it that we forgot to take pictures except this one moment.
We also ate a lot of yummy things! There was island-fresh fruit, plate dinners, tacos, pizza, and fish, to name a few!
Fay and Carter hugging a tiki man at “Tiki Tacos.” You can see some more family in the background.
One other amazing thing we saw was on the “ugly side” of the island–which looks strikingly like much of Utah…. They call it “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific” and despite having seen many canyons in my days, I couldn’t help but be impressed by it. I found it especially cool that it was almost tucked away in the middle of the island. The island isn’t very large, and so to tuck something like this away is pretty impressive.
The Grand Canyon of the Pacific as the sun was setting
We also enjoyed hanging out at the “Hawaii house” (Carter’s name for it).
Fay and Portia in their matching Hawaiian clothes! Fay’s shorts have the same print as Portia’s romper! You gotta love Portia’s expression!
I couldn’t decide which of these two pictures to post, so I just posted them both. I like the first one because it has the sisters together. But Portia just looks so perfectly babyful in the second one.
She accepts cash or checks for snuggles.
With Carter, napping is part of the recreation.
After a beautiful, magical week of paradisiacal bliss and adventure, we were a little worn out. But nobody who saw us on the plane would have guessed we were the least bit tired. 😉
Why do I post such unflattering pictures of myself? I just couldn’t tell you.
It was seriously such a cool trip! We can’t express our gratitude to Mom and Dad enough for the amazing memories we made!
Portia does just look so babyful—that’s an excellent word! I’m glad you guys had a good time and I’m jealous that you made it to the last state! I’ll get there some day… 🙂
You WILL get there someday! And you are definitely getting to Australia before anybody else!