Kauai is Paradise

We LOVE Kauai! It was such a great place to relax and spend time with the family! The fam got back to town on Wednesday afternoon and my intention was to blog, but there has been so much organization going on!

Now...let me start by saying that traveling with a 2 yr old and a 9mo old are challenging. The kiddos did really well for their age. It was Randy and I that were exhausted. The flight to Kauai was 6 hours 40 min. from Phoenix to Lihue, Kauai. Crazy huh?! So I tried to think of everything we could possibly need.

Dylan learning how to use the crayola pen on the iPad. Very cool!

Can you believe all of that fit in these 2 bags?!

Dylan was soooo excited about going on the plane! This excitement wore off as the hours ticked away. After 3 hours, Randy and I look at eachother and just laughed... over 3 more left to go.

We broke out the gummy worms with 1.5 hours left. We're feeling ansy!

Ava just crawled back and forth between us.
If I had let her cruise down the aisle of the plane, she would have loved it!

Finally we landed at the Garden Island (it is so green!). We rent the mini van, stuff it full and off we head to the place where we will be spending the next week...the Waiohai at Poipu Beach. Let me just say that I never thought I'd love the mini van, but I may be a convert after driving it for over a week. So much space!!!

The Waiohai is a wonderful Marriott timeshare property!

It is right off the beach! You can sit and eat and drink while overlooking both the pool and the beach! We've been going for about 8 years now. This year my parents were able to get one unit for our family and a second unit for them, my brother and his girlfriend. It was perfect. We got up super early

Early morning activity

Ava wants to join so badly!

Morning walk with Daddy

and were nap central at about 2pm each day.

Ava didn't always nap in her crib though.

Instead of telling you about all of the fun we had. Let me show you!


Started the vacay out with morning workouts. This slowly faded.

Time for swim with the fam!

First time in the waves! She loved it!

Dancing in his new sweatshirt. He'll be wearing it for awhile!

The jacuz with Pa!

The family at happy hour. It's ok to bring the kiddos when the grandparents are there too. :)

Nick and Jenn

"How should we GET the chickens?!"



 The Waiohai does a tree lighting ceremony every year on the first Saturday of December. Santa even came!

Dylan wouldn't get near Santa without crying so he inspected the train instead. :)

After a wonderful 7 days at the Waiohai, we checked out and moved over to the Hyatt for 2 nights. We were so excited! Great pools, the spa and yummy food.

Cocktails in the lagoon.

This is how we roll. :)

Our last night in our Aloha wear!

Merry Christmas!

We had such a great time! No pics of the ride home, but I will say that a red-eye/all nighter is not the best way to get home with the kiddos. It was our only option so we took it. Needless to say by Wednesday afternoon we were home, but exhausted!

This trip reminded us of how much we love Hawaii! We are trying to move back to Oahu so hopefully all the Navy cards align. Until then, it will just have to be wonderful weeks. We'll take as many as we can get!