Hawaii, October 2-8 2011 (part1)

So I have not been in a very picture taking mood and unfortunately this carried on to our trip, made worse by the fact that my favorite things to photograph were not there with me, my girls.

We had the opportunity to go to Hawaii for Brent's CME this year and it was so relaxing. I will be honest while Brent was in class from 8-5:30, monday, tuesday and thursday and 8-12 on Friday, I mostly shopped and laid by the pool reading.

The first two nights we stayed at the Resort where the conference was being held, the Sheraton Waikiki, it was right on the ocean and beautiful.

This was the family pool area

View of the ocean from the Hotel

This was the gorgeous infinity pool for those 16 and older, LOVED it. You're even served fresh fruit here twice a day.

Ocean again from the hotel, I couldn't believe how calm the waves were and how far out you could go and still touch. My kids would have loved this.

This was the Poi pond at our hotel and twice a day they bring around food so you can feed the fish.

Our hotel had stores on the main level and I had to laugh when I saw that you could actually by fabric by the yard, I knew I forgot something, my sewing machine!

Sadly this was the view from our balcony.

Monday night (second night) we ate at Duke's, pretty good and went for a walk.
Statue of Duke

These crazy trees they have there that look like the roots are hanging from the tree.

Starting on Tuesday night we were staying at the Hyatt Regency although it was across the street from the Ocean there was nothing in front of it to block your view. The beach was actually the Hyatt Beach. This is the view from the pool area looking out at the ocean.

This was our view at the second Hotel, better, but not great when you could have the ocean!

Our lei's

Wednesday we made a day of it. It was Brent's day off from class so we rented a car and headed out. First we had Malasada's at Leondard's Bakery, YUM. Then we went and rented snorkeling gear, they even have equipment you can rent for those with extremely poor vision like me, yeah!

Then we headed to Hanauma bay

I love watching waves crash against the rocks.

We took turns snorkeling and when we weren't snorkeling we were camped out under these palm trees, it was pretty darn hot. I took a great photo of Brent in his snorkeling gear, but I know he'd kill me if I posted it so I will refrain.

We then grabbed some lunch and headed to manoa falls for a hike. We sat in the convertible we'd rented listening to the sounds of the rainforest while we ate before heading out on the hike, it was awesome. Half way up the hike it began to pour, the rocks were already extremely slippery and it was made much worse by the rain.

The waterfall

I love how everything was covered in moss



To be continue...

September!

Ava's first tattoo, she was so excited!

So tired she fell asleep watching TV, this very rarely happens.

The two Halloween buntings I made this year. Katrena made my day when she told me "mom I love that you make these for us."

My first quilted anything, a Halloween table runner

And I made a new Halloween wreath for the door.

Brent turned another year older, 32!!!

That's all folks, definitely some slow months with the camera.

The rather boring August in a nutshell...

First day of school for Katrena, I CANNOT believe my baby is in 5th grade!!! Lucky her same school, same teacher, same classmates, same classroom, just a different grade.

August 11th,2011

Ava, she may or may not be practicing to be a pole dancer!

Our countdown to Grandma coming chain, Ava and I made this and it started out 44 chains long. Do you think we were excited?!

I made some felt throw pillows for Ava's bed.

And took the paper off of her name letters and decided to paint and stamp them instead, like them so much better. You have to excuse the ugly peach walls, unfortunately we rent.

Ava's determination to get in the fridge, and yes sometimes she is successful.

New throw pillow for the couch.

And a cute new hairdo, that both girls love.

Vacation Day 9, August 10th, North Carolina

Well our trip was through and we were headed home. I had seen all my great Aunts and Uncles and some of my cousins but had missed out on seeing so many too.

We decided to make a quick swing by my cousin Jenny's house (my Uncle Shelton's daughter), only her and her oldest son Landon were home so we took a few minutes to visit and then we were on our way.

I made the request that we make one more stop on our way to the airport and that was to go by the cemetery where some/most of our family is buried.

Thornton is my grandma's maiden name.

This is my Papa's grave he was my Grammy Ann's second husband, they married when my mom was a teenager so he was my grandpa in every way shape or form.

My great grandmother

My great grandfather

My Uncle Shelton

I also have three cousins buried at this cemetery. My Grandad (mom's dad) is buried in Rocky Mount North Carolina, and my Aunt Mary in Raleigh, NC.

We grabbed a late lunch and took a goodbye photo with Grandma and we were off to the airport.

We arrived in Vegas at 11pm, 2am to our bodies so we decided to rent a room and make the 2.5 hour drive home the next day.