and finally updating this boring blog! Ten days in paradise - 5 in Kauai and 5 in Oahu. Here are some pictures and stories from our trip:
This is Chloe all dressed up to do the hula at our hotel. It was keiki hula night - we thought this meant the kids got to go up on the stage and do the hula. So Chloe got all dressed up and was so excited as she loves to dance the hula and is a total ham. It was actually a keiki show by professionals, so she was never called up and so sad! But Tom got called up and had to do it instead which was hysterical! Here she is waiting:
It is rare to get any photos with me in them - they are either fuzzy (Thane) or just my forehead (Sophie) or just my chest (Tom). But here is one I loved by Tom of me with a sweet Sophie kiss at dinner:
I have the hootspa in this family and put it to use in getting a room upgrade for free. Funny how if you complain enough about the view of the parking lot, they will upgrade you to this (and to think we might have had to PAY for it!). Sunsets...sweet HA sunsets...
We all talked about our favorite part of the trip and mine was watching Tom play with the girls in the pool. It was so fun to see them playing together - he is such a great dad! This picture demonstrates that perfectly!
This was taken on Sunset Beach on Oahu - a popular surf spot in the winter on the North Shore. I went to this beach when I was 22 and fell in love with it. I kept a post card of it on my desk at work for years saying some day I would go back. Finally did and it was worth it - pure beauty!
We stayed at the Hyatt in Poipu, the same hotel Tom and I stayed at on our honeymoon. Not quite as romantic of a trip with three kids in our room, but still in love!
Tom relaxing pool side (not too much time for that!). I told him to make sure the tube did not blow away - I think he found a way to hold it down!!!
Sophie took surfing lessons - I was so worried that she was too young, but the waves were small and Tom stayed right beside her to help. She did great - looks like a pro, huh?!
Chloe was SO EXCITED to get to hold this bird, but when she did, she didn't look very happy. I asked her why no smile and she said because the bird's foot was on top of her bad owie (see bandaid) - oooops!
Oh, so many more photos - I think I took over 1,000. But just to make sure I don't bore anyone, I will end with a nice family shot. Funny part of this photo - I did my usual, get the family all set up and start to take a picture and some nice lady will walk by and offer to take one with me in it too (works every time!). Well, I smiled big when she offered and I cracked my sun blistered lip - so I had blood all over my teeth in the photo - I tried to edit out, but it still looks a little red!
Great photos Suzy!!! I am so jealous . . . have I mentioned that before? =) I have seen photos of Kauai before and thought it looked beautiful. Love the photo of Sophie on the surfboard, how cool is that!?!?!? Way cool.
Wow, that photo with the 3 kids on the beach is beautiful. Chloe looks so cute in her little grass skirt. Where's the photos of Tom on stage???=) The photo of the two of you is very cute too. They are all great!
Glad Mr. Monkey went along. I bet he has lots of stories to tell!
Did I mention I was jealous??? =)
Posted by: Kristi Smith | September 04, 2007 at 05:51 PM
And the sunset is gorgeous too, and here I thought you had no hootspa, I think you have been fibbing to me!=)
Posted by: Kristi Smith | September 04, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Hi Kristi - always the first to give me some lovin'! Yes, I do have *****, but I hate confrontation. I am always very polite and nice, but I have a lot more guts than other family members (((Tom))). He makes me take care of everything that could be considered difficult. But seriously, our view was of a cement parking lot with people being able to see into our room. They were trying to sell us a time share, so I told them we were much more likely to buy one if we could actually see some of the resort (and we didn't anyways, but had a wonderful view!). I'll share more photos later - I do have a few of Tom doing the Hula that are quite funny! suzy
Posted by: Suzy Plantamura | September 04, 2007 at 05:57 PM
Suzy, Oh My Goodness..those are great photos! I'm so jealous!! The hula girl picture....sooooo cute, I can't wait to see that scrapped...wow, that's gonna be a cute layout!!!
Posted by: Katie | September 04, 2007 at 06:02 PM
Welcome Home Suzy!!! I'm so glad you are back I missed you!!! Glad you had a ton of fun. I knew you would. LOVEEEEE those pictures. Every last one is simply gorgeous! BUT I really love the first one of Chloe, she is so cute there. WOW can't wait to see more. You sure will have fun scrapbooking these!!! Hope the kids had a great first day of school. Talk to you more tomorrow! :)
Posted by: Janette | September 04, 2007 at 06:37 PM
Ahhhh! Glad you had a beautiful time here! :) Sorry we missed you, we were actually on Oahu on the 21st.
Gorgeous photos though, I can't wait to see you scrap them! :)
TFS!
Athena
Posted by: Athena Mejia | September 04, 2007 at 06:47 PM
AHHHH! I'm so jealous! Looks like you guys had a wonderful time! What fun! (And that sunset is to die for! omg!)
Posted by: Kelly | September 04, 2007 at 08:34 PM
hi~
just came across your blog. glad you and your family had a nice time in Hawaii. such beautiful pictures. that sunset...breathtaking!
~joanne
Posted by: joanne | September 04, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Great photos! Looks like you had an awesome vacation!
Posted by: Cindy Tobey | September 05, 2007 at 02:38 PM
WOW!!!! SOme great pictures!! I am sooooooooooooooooo jealous, and I missed chatting with you so much!
Looks like you all had so much fun, and tell Sophie that Zack is VERY impressed at Sophie's surfing!!
Posted by: jamieharper | September 05, 2007 at 04:37 PM
ok these are stunning photos... I so would love to visit hawaii one day.. my husband says it is fabulous!
maybe for our 15th anniversary! ;)
welcome back!
Posted by: Tawnya | September 05, 2007 at 06:25 PM
Glad you had a good time! The pics are stunning! We lived in Hawaii for the last 3 years.. have to say Texas is quite different! :)
Posted by: Amanda Fuentes | September 05, 2007 at 08:45 PM
Suzy! Awesome pictures. You make me miss Hawaii so much! You have such a gorgeous family. I can't wait to see all the amazing projects you do with these. Glad to have you back!
Posted by: Meredith Taylor | September 06, 2007 at 07:25 AM
Suzy, your photos are gorgeous and you look like you had a wonderful time. I'm so glad!
Posted by: susan lyons | September 06, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Oh crap, I didn't know you were in Hawaii. I'm stinkin' jealous too. I loooooved Kauai - and isn't that guidebook the BEST!?
By the way, it's Chutzpah you have, not hootspa - that makes me think you are going to some kind of hootenanny to enjoy the hick style spa day. Gimme a call and I'll even teach you the correct way to say it! ;)
Posted by: Ally | September 08, 2007 at 08:42 AM