The Aftermath

It's so depressing to unpack after vacation, don't you think? Especially five people's stuff. I'm taking my sweet time. Maybe the longer I take to unpack, the less real it is that we're home already. We're all still in vacation mode. Patrick didn't make it to the gym this morning and I think the boys woke up 20 minutes before we had to leave for school.

Hawaii this year was very relaxing. In trip's past, we've ventured out a little more - seen some sights, hiked some trails. We had so much family there, family we don't get to see very often, so we stuck close and enjoyed each other's company instead. It was perfect. We spent one afternoon at the beach and a day at the Hilton resort where you could swim in the many pools or rent a kayak and snorkels for the ocean lagoon. Jake and his cousin D.J. followed a honu (turtle in Hawaiian) around until he got tired of being followed.

We took lots of beautiful walks along the ocean checking out tidepools and looking for turtles or whales. This is the cousins and Pa at Buddha Point which is a great spot to watch for whales or see the sunset.

There was lots of golf for the boys and a spa day at the Mauna Lani for the girls. Best massage of my life - all by myself, outside in a little grass hut feeling the wind and hearing the birds. And an shower outside? Heavenly. After massages, it was lunch at the Tommy Bahama restaurant. The food is delicious and I'm totally excited there's a restaurant here in Scottsdale. I can go get me an island fix.

We also had a girl's only shopping trip and I got some lovely things that will remind me of Hawaii every time I wear them. And of course, lots and lots of pool time, pina colada smoothies (way too many!!) and staying up late talking and laughing.

Kim, Austin and Andrew are enjoying the pool at the Hilton. Our kids get along with their cousins so well and I loved seeing them together. They are old enough now that they really can do a lot of fun things together. I got a kick out of watching their games in the pool and seeing their impromtu football or baseball games they put together outside on the grass in back of our condo. It was also so nice to see Fay and Vince (Peg's cousins) and their daughter Tiffany and her family. We hadn't seen Tiffany and Arusha since their wedding and it was fun to get to know them better and play with their kids. My boys had fun playing nanny to their little "Reid-y" who is 18 months.

No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a luau. I love this picture of Patrick with his sisters Kim and Sara. Great food and great entertainment. And absolutely wonderful to take boys who are old enough to enjoy the food and entertainment as much as the grown-ups. Also, is it weird that I totally want to learn to do the hulu?

Grandma and Grandpa, thanks so much for everything. We had a wonderful vacation and so much wonderful together time. You are so generous and we love getting to go to Hawaii together. Until next time, we have lots of great memories to tide us over.