“Laughter is an instant vacation.” – Milton Berle
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We recently took a family trip to Hawaii with Grandma and Grandpa Faiola. My Dad had a medical conference and invited us to tag along so I cashed in all of our air miles and we took off an adventure.It was our first time traveling with the kids so we were both a little nervous. The flights were just as bad as we expected (worse, actually) but once we got to Hawaii, memories of the bad flight quickly faded. It was Jamisen and Lily’s first time experiencing sand and they loved it! We had a good time exploring the waves, making sand castles, eating yummy food at the restaurants and laughing. Click to read more.
The kids played nicely on the beach together and Jamisen loved it all – until he got too dirty. He’s still quite fastidious (and has been since birth) but didn’t let that stop him from fully enjoying the beach. He did request to be showered off multiple times during our sand construction. My most funny part of sand castle construction was that he asked Chris for a “computer station” and then sat and “typed emails.” You can tell he sees far too much of both of us typing and working from home. Whoops.
I have been a scuba diver since I was 16 years old and scuba diving with the whales is on my Bucket List. Chris started diving seven years ago and loves breathing air underwater. My folks gracious agreed to watch the kids for the entire day (bless them) so Chris and I could go diving for the day. Though we heard the whales while we were underwater, we didn’t see any while we were diving. We were thrilled to see them many times from the boat however. It just means that we’ll have to go back to try to hit that Bucket List item.
The most kind gift my parents gave us on the trip was sleep (!). They took Lily in their room for the entire week and let us sleep in every morning. Since Lily is a very early riser, this was an amazing gift and sacrifice on their part. I think they both went home more tired than when they had arrived after a week with Miss Lily.
I am so thankful for technology. It allowed me to work seamlessly, anywhere, even the beach. So, even though there was a lot to catch up on from when we were gone, I was still able to do a lot of my work remotely. The team at Bramble Berry kept things running smoothly at the warehouse. It was great to get away for a few days – and I’m hoping I can convince Chris that the plane rides weren’t *that* bad so we can make the medical conference trip with my folks an annual thing. Fingers crossed! =)
Oooooh. So sweet. Next time come visit us in the Caribbean. Wonderful weather year-round, but especially now, it’s just cool enough and just warm enough. Fabulous!! Yaay!!!
Ooohhh. So sweet time. Come check us out in the Caribbean it’s beautiful most of the year, but this time is gorgeous just cool enough, just hot enough. Fabulous food. Yaay!!
Oh, what fun! I LOVED Baby Beach! Haiwaii is such a beautiful, relaxing place, especially when you get to sleep in. Did you have the macadamia pancakes at Charley’s in Paia?
Ooooh, we didn’t but now that I have your recommendation, we’ll do that next time. I’ll add that to the long list of reasons I’m trying to convince Chris to go back next year =) That might push him over the edge to going!
My folks went to Mama’s Fish House and loved it!
Thanks for sharing your vacation! LOOKS like you had a fabulous time especially being able to sleep in every morning 🙂
It was incredible to sleep a full 6ish hours a night, uninterrupted (!). Right now, I’m still up with Lily a couple times per night so a few days of straight sleep was blissful. My parents gave us a lovely gift with that.
Jamisen & the sand….hilarious! Love that photo of the 3 of you, with the low-setting sun. You have the best parents ever. When you’re not getting enough sleep, it becomes a precious commodity, doesn’t it? Happy Daylight Savings Time! You just lost another hour of sleep! 😉
Oh you know it! The kids both got up sooooo early on Sunday. =) I am sooooo lucky with my folks. I feel ridiculously blessed every time I get to spend with them.
Beautiful family ! Glad all of you could go together:)
Thank you. It was a really special time for our family and spending time with Grandma and Grandpa was absolutely a treat for our little ones.
Aww–so lovely! Looks like the family had a good time, and that’s what counts. Haha–I know all about those trips in the air! I will say that it can be hit or miss with a little one (or two!) in tow, but it gets better! 🙂
It was such a disaster – Jamisen puked on the way there, the plane couldn’t make it to Hawaii b/c the headwinds were so strong so we had to land, pick up more gas, and that took a 5 hour flight to a 10 hour flight. I double dosed him with Benadryl and he didn’t sleep at all on the way back. But even with that, it was so much fun and I am totally pressuring Chris already to agree to going with my folks again next year =)
Aww-poor little guy! I’m sure the extended flight (10 hours-oh boy!) did not help :(. You’ll laugh about it one day, when the kids grow up 😉
I have so enjoyed reading your Hawaiian story and looking the pictures. You’re so sweet family and the kids are gorgeous! I miss the sea and I can’t wait sunny days to come to this side of the world. Wish you happy week!
I can’t wait for sunny days to come to Washington State! It’s always so rainy and wet here – and pretty dark. That’s why so many of the people in Washington state are low vitamin D (because that’s produced by the sun). So you and I are in the same boat with wishing for sun at home. =) Thanks for reading the family blog post. It’s such a fun and full time in our lives.