It's Sunny in Mommyland: August 2010

Sunday, 8 August 2010

hawaii. part II

I think I just realized it's August! Where did July go?? It's a blur - a beautiful blur. Did we really go to Hawaii? It seems like a dream ...

Did I mention that we stayed on Pipeline? and were only a few doors down from a famous eco-conscious musician who also surfs? His initials are JJ. Unfortunately we didn't see him because he was touring Europe. Check out the beach. It was awesome! So big and we practically had it to ourselves.

happy hour on the beach

our view

like our matching sweatshirts? this was at 7 am before a morning snorkel

shaved ice in haleiwa

waimea bay

waimea falls

farewell dinner before ida & chris' honeymoon

july 4th

sadly I wasn't home when Kim & Tony (who just brought their baby girl, Bella, home from SK) stopped by - but at least they got to meet the Brians and the kids!

The photos below were taken on our last day on Oahu. They make me laugh because we were minutes away from leaving the house, which had to be vacated because the cleaning crew was coming in. The husbands were ready to get in the car and GO but of course we (I) just had to take a few last minute snaps of the whole crew including Ngaoi (Y) and Grandpa are Diana's (and Chris') parents. They are also surrogate grandparents to Ruby and Kaneu. Ruby fell in love with Grandpa and I'd like to think the feeling was mutual. Every now and again she'll ask me where Grandpa is and tell me how Y gave her gum.

all the kids with Y and Grandpa

There are hundreds more photos to sort through. The next post will be of Kona!! Though it may be up in a few days because tomorrow the kids and I are flying to Virigina. Wish us luck as this will be my first solo transAtlantic flight with both of the littles. Yikes!!

Friday, 6 August 2010

going back. hawaii, part 1

Here is my overdue post about Hawaii!

The first several days of the trip are a little hazy since we were waking up at 4, 4:30, and 5:00 in the morning! But getting up at the crack of dawn meant that the days were looooong which was perfect. We were there long enough (17 days!!) for our bodies to adjust to the 11 hour time difference and get on Hawaii time. This also meant that coming home to London was brutal ... the jet lag was terrible. Awful. But, back to Hawaii...

The first leg of the trip? The North Shore, Oahu. Otherwise know as the place I want to move to. The place where we saw multiple rainbows a day. Where I first tasted the most delicious pie (chocolate haupia) from Ted's bakery. Sigh ... The North Shore was just incredible - very little commercialism, beautiful beaches and so laid back AND everyone there seems so happy (how could they not be??) and genuinely sincere. It was refreshing coming from London. Perhaps it was so fabulous because we were surrounded by our best friends, their family and the warmest and most generous locals. Add it all up and it was the best vacation ever.

I think I said previously that the purpose of the trip was to attend my bff's brothers wedding. It was perhaps the most beautiful wedding I've been to. The bride, who is a local, was gorgeous and the venue and flowers (all 15,000 of them!) were stunning. It was such a beautiful day - check out the photos and see for yourself!