Oahu Days One an Two

Our first full day was spent catching up on sleep, playing at the beach, and getting settled. We took a trip to Costco, bought some food for our apartment, and wandered the streets of Waikiki.

Hunter at Waikiki beach

Tralee dove right in!

 

Day two was Thursday and was Jim's last day before starting to work 18 days

in a row. We wanted to take full advantage of the weather and our time together as a family. The only problem was Hunter woke up with a bad fever. All he wanted to do was sleep. So Jim and I took shifts staying in the room while the other parent ventured to the streets and/or beach with Tralee.

 

Poor little dude was not feeling well.

Later in the afternoon Hunter woke up and seemed to be doing better, so we drove out to Makapu'u Beach where Jim's dad (I think) was married and where his lil' sis Cammi also said, "I do" not too long ago. It was a beautiful beach covered in wave-kissed lava rocks. We saw a light house, some pretty nice waves, and brave surfers ignoring the "no swimming" and "strong current" signs. Tralee would have dove in if we let her. We let her get her feet wet, but much to her dismay, that was it. Hunter started feeling sick while we were there, so we left soon after we arrived. Poor lil' dude fell asleep as soon as he was back in the car.

On the drive home, we stopped to check out a blowhole, and cool scenic overlook. Both were gorgeous. When we got back to our apartment, Hunter went right back to sleep while the rest of us watched Elf , and hoped and prayed that everyone would be healthy the rest of our time in paradise.

He just wanted his mommy to snuggle him.  I felt so bad for him.  I'm so happy he's better now!!

More to soon to come. . .

Our Elf on the Shelf arrived in Hawaii the same time we did.  The kids named him Teddy Kidbid Cool.  He goes by Kidbid or Teddy and his keeping his eye on us while in Hawaii.

 

 

Flying

On Tuesday, December 4th our little family woke up at too-freakishly-early-o'clock so we could catch our first flight of many to Honolulu, Hawaii.

This kids at the airport at 5:00 A.M.

We flew on three airplanes, and it took us all day long, but we finally made it to paradise! Now we have 30 days to play here. Well, the kids and I get to play. Jim has to work for the first few weeks. He'll get to play for a week-and-a-half when he's finished with work.

Our little studio apartment is quite nice and is equipped with all the comforts of home. . .just on a smaller scale. A really kid-friendly beach is across the street. There are shops and restaurants all around us, the zoo is across the other street, and there's an aquarium down the road. The bus stop is right around the corner, so if the kids and I need to go explore, and Jim has the rental van for work, we can still hitch a ride.

Hunty and me on flight number two:  The long one!

I included some pics of our day of flying. I'm not sure where they'll show up and in what order since I'm writing this on my phone. Just know that they were taken between 5am Idaho time and 5pm Hawaii time.

At the Maui airport.  Waiting to catch our plane to Honolulu.

I can't wait to see what adventures await us! Stay tuned!

Tralee with all our luggage in Honolulu

Disney on Ice

A few months ago Tralee came across an ad for Disney on Ice.  She watched over and over and over and over again getting more and more excited as she watched.  She wanted to go SO BAD!  We told her if it came to town, we would be sure to take her.  I checked online and didn't see any performances in our area, and got a little disappointed.  Then, miracle of miracles, I put on the TV (we just have regular free television and hardly ever watch it. . . we're Netflix people) and the first thing I saw was a commercial for Disney on Ice. . . COMING TO OUR TOWN!!!  I think I was just as excited as Tralee!

Here's a commercial for what we couldn't wait to see (one of our favorite parts of the show was the Tangled part. . . especially when her and Flynn Ryder flew through the air on her "hair"  AMAZING!!!):

I didn't wait, but went out the very next day and purchased our Disney on Ice: Dare to Dream tickets at the box office.  We got pretty good seats, and then we just had to wait for it to come to town!

This last Thursday was the day!  Jim and I took the kids out to dinner, and then made our way over to the performance.  The place was packed with lots of little princesses awaiting the magic.  We found our seats, and watched the magic unfold.  I actually had more fun watching Tralee than the show.  She giggled, smiled, clapped, and danced right along with the show.

Here's a video of Tralee at Disney on Ice:

After it was over, Tralee kept saying, "Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you for making sure I could go to this!!"  Thank you!!"  Jim and I beamed with how grateful and appreciative Tralee was.  Hunter was asleep at this point, but seemed to enjoy the show up until his snooze.

Overall our Disney on Ice experience was totally worth every penny!  I hope things like this keep heading in our direction!!

iphone photo plop

1. My friend Janessa and I trying hats on at an antique/vintage store.

2.  Tralee lost another tooth

3.  I voted!

4.  Tralee had playgroup at our house

5. The kids snuggling Corky

6. The wee ones got their hair cut

7.  Tralee keeps putting her stuffed animal by the dog food, because it's favorite food is dog food.

8.  Family bowling night

9.  Hunter working on his letters

10.  Tralee had to draw a certain number of any item she chose for her homework.  She chose body parts. . . eyes, mouths, hands. . . noses.  The number 18 were her noses.  Jim and I had a good laugh about how her noses look very similar to another body part.

11.  I was room mom during Tralee's Thanksgiving feast at school.  Lil' Turkey!

12.  Being goofy with Stinks

13.  Chihuly glass ceiling in Vegas

14.  Hunter and Brody. . . aren't they cute?

Our Big Vegas Sendoff

Turkey Day in Vegas was full of lots of cooking and lots of fun.  Cassi and I got everything we could get prepped done that morning.  Our plan was to put the Turkey in the oven, and take our families to Wreck-It Ralph whilst the bird was cooking.  We set the delayed start timer on the oven, and we were so worried with making sure it worked, that when we got back from the movie the oven was sure on, but the turkey was sitting on the counter!  That was kind of funny.  

Wreck-It Ralph was super cute!  I didn't think I'd like it all that much, as I've never been a huge fan of video games.  But the story was so cleverly written, and the characters were so likable  that I actually really enjoyed it.  I might have even gotten a little teary-eyed at the end.  I would definitely recommend it!

The rest of Thanksgiving went according to plan, and all the food turned out super yummy -- thanks to Cassi and my own excellent culinary skills.

Cassi and myself in front of all the food we prepared.

Friday was our last full day/night in V-town, so Cassi and I decided to do it up right!  We decided to get a sitter, and have a double-date night.  Our night began at the Rio where we ate lots and lots and lots and lots of crab legs.  They were oh-so-heavenly.  About 95% of my meal was crab.  I also ate shrimp, salmon, veggies, and sampled from the dessert selection.  Everything was good, the company included!

Jim and me on date night

After dinner we decided our big Vegas sendoff should include riding a roller coaster.  I've never done ANY of the rides in Vegas, so I was in charge of deciding which ride we would scream on.  I thought New York New York would be a lot of fun.  It was 10:45 when we finished dinner, and the coaster closed at 11:00, so we rushed on over.  On the drive we passed the Bellagio fountains which were dancing to the "I'm Proud to Be an American" song.  We rolled down all the windows and belted out the lyrics together.  The four of us made a pretty good quartet. . . even if there were two Canadians in the car.

We made it to the coaster just in time, and I started to get the pre-ride butterflies.  I haven't been on a non-Disney roller coaster in about ten years and two kids.  Let me tell you, getting older makes me a lot  more chicken!!  I was shaking, but excited. . . and a little worried I might need a depends.

Once we sat in the ride I started panicking, and double checking the seats to make sure they wouldn't malfunction and I would go flying out of my seat during the ride.  Luckily for me, the restraints did their job, and we all stayed secure.  

The ride was actually SUPER fun mixed with a bit of terrifying.  I screamed, "OH NOOOOOOOOOO" at every dip, loop, and turn, but when my feet where back on solid earth, I thought the overall ride was quite fun.

The best part of the ride was getting our souvenir pictures.  Jim and my picture made us giggle a little, but was pretty standard.  John and Cassi's picture had us all laughing so hard I thought I might need some depends again.  We joked around saying that since John has to work so early in the morning, every time he sits down he falls asleep. . . coaster included.  We joked that Cassi looked like a foreign lady (we had a Russian theme going that night, talking in accents for reasons I can't remember) who just got into town, and thought she was getting on a taxi ride, but to her horror she was actually on a roller coaster and was TERRIFIED!!  We had the giggles something fierce.

Our big Vegas send-off night was perfect.

Saturday, John and Cassi took us to a Swap Meet which was a lot of fun.  I found a cute vintage tea-set for $8.  The kids also picked out some toys.  When we got back to the Jacobs' abode, it was time to pack up and start our journey home.

We were sad to leave, but can't wait to go back! 

The Jacobs and the Chocolate Factory

We had a lot of fun the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  During the day we hung out, Cassi, my SIL, and I did some grocery shopping to get ready for Turkey Day.  Jim watched the kids while we cracked ourselves up at the grocery store.  There were some nice looking fireman also doing their shopping, and we were coming up with scenarios to get their attention.  I was doing a Monica (from Friends) inspired bit where I was rubbing a can of chili on my face saying, "Oooo, Mr. Fireman this can of chili is like fire on my face.  Maybe you should put it out."  You would have to be a Friends fan to truly appreciate my foolery.  Mid-bit a lady I hadn't noticed was trying to get by.  She eventually said, "EXCUSE ME!" in the middle of my bit.  She must have thought I was crazy.  That made me laugh even more.  Good times.  

After shopping, we got ready, and everyone headed out for a night on the town.  John, Jim's brother, suggested going to a local chocolate factory as they had just put up their Christmas light.  That sounded good to us, so off we went.

First was stopped for dinner at Jim and John's old family restaurant:  Jimmy Johns.  

Chowing down

The chocolate factory did not disappoint.  The lights were beautiful and chocolate yummy!

All the lights

I love all of Tralee's poses for pictures

I couldn't talk her out of wearing that shirt.  More on that later.  Crazy girl

Silly girls

The candy man can!

Lexi getting her chocolate sample

Sampling some chocolate

Cousins!!

Special brothers and cute Lexi-Jo

I love this picture of Tralee and Lexi

Family pic.

While looking at lights we had our first lost child scenario happen.  I told Jim I had to go to the bathroom, so as I was in the ladies' room Cassi came in and asked, "Is Tralee in here with you?"  She sure wasn't!  When I made it back outside, I noticed all the adults in our party looking around for Tralee.  I joined them.  I started to panic as it is NOT LIKE Tralee to just wander off.  I searched the gift shop, and I heard Jim doing our family whistle over and over again.  The whistle in a chickadee bird call, and whenever we do it, our kids come running.  We wanted Tralee to follow the sound, if she was lost.  

After a few more seconds of panic, searching, and whistling ensued I heard John go, "There she is!"  I watched as our little girl ran across the parking lot, tears streaming down her face, into Jim's arms.  I rushed over and heard her little voice tell us what happened.  She said, "I saw a lady walking away sniff sniff hiccup and I thought it was Mommy.  Her hair looked like Mommy's.  hiccup hiccup.  Then she turned around and she wasn't wearing hiccup sniff sniff any glasses and she was old and I knew it wasn't Mommy.  Then I didn't know hiccup hiccup how to find my way hiccup back." 

 Poor girl had followed a lady into the dark parking because she thought it was me!  Then when she realized it wasn't Mommy, she was lost in a maze of cars, all alone and scarred.  We asked her if she heard the family whistle, and she said she did, but sometimes it sounded like it was far away.  She finally decided to go towards the lights, and listened for the whistle, and finally she saw Jim.  I felt so bad for her, and so relieved that we found our little girl!  We love her a lot and kinda want to keep her around for awhile. 

After all the fun and drama at the chocolate factory, we drove to the Bellagio, walked around, and watched a water show at the fountains.   

Lexi and Tralee.  I couldn't talk Tralee out of wearing that t-shirt.  She had colored it oh-so-proudly with her cousin Lexi and wanted to show the world their talents.  I sighed and decided to loose that battle, even though I had a really cute shirt picked out for her to wear.  Oh well.

Chihuly glass ceiling!!

We called it night after all the wee ones started yawing and complaining about tired feet.  It was a fun night (minus loosing a child)!

We Made it to Las Vegas!

We drove to Vegas the Monday before Thanksgiving to visit Jim's brother, John and his family.  John and Cassi have three kids that are close to my kids' ages, so it's safe to say we all had a blast!  I don't even think I heard from Tralee the whole time we were there unless she needed something or if I was making her do something totally uncool, like take a bath or brush her teeth.  Other than that, she was off playing.

Tuesday was our first full day in Vegas.  We mostly hung out during the day, and went partying on Fremont Street that night.  We had a lot of fun with family.

Cute baby Brynli.  I can't believe this was the first time I met her!  Look at those eyes!  Adorable!

Brody and his new dog

Bryn

Tralee decided she wants a pogo stick after using her cousins.

Jim and John walking their babies.  They're such cool dads!  

Such a little ham

Trying on the crowns and beads.

Watching the show above.

Isn't Brody a cutiepie?

I don' t think Brynli was all that impressed with the show, but gosh she's a cutie!

Check out Hunter!  He didn't miss a thing!

Here's a video of Tralee dancing on Fremont Street.  She was feelin' it!

You can tell they're siblings, can't you?

SHARKS!

Watching a street magician.  Tralee called his floating cigarette a "smoking stick."   That made me smile!  Tralee was also AMAZED at everything the magician did.  She down right slapped both hands on her cheeks, and had a bugged out expression after several of his tricks.  I think I watched her more than the magic show.

Hunter had had enough of the Vegas shenanigans for one night, so he fell asleep looking like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.

It was good night.