Final days of family visit!!

My step dad made a comment the other day that I would make a great tour guide for anyone traveling to Hawaii. Family friendly tours...me and my two year old.

It felt so normal to have someone familiar here. I really enjoyed the time we spent together. Jayden is still looking in the guest bedroom for Grandpa....with a smile on his face. Miss you guys!

On Sunday, Joe & Pete went to the bar to watch the Packer Game. We hung around the house for part of the day....needed to catch up on some sleep from the fun night before with the tsunami warning. Later that day we went to Cholos (a Mexican restaurant) on the North Shore. It is in a town named Haleiwa--a big surfer town.

I have never seen my mom and Pete this relaxed. So happy they could visit.

On Monday, the day started at the park across the street. Jayden had a lot of fun running with Grandpa.

Then they went for a walk and looked at Halloween Decor on the houses.

Next we traveled to the Dole Plantation and went on the train & walked through the botanical garden.

Dole Whip...so good!

After the Plantation we went further up the North Shore to Waimea Falls Park....so pretty. We walked through a botanical garden trail to get to the waterfall.

It has been a little dry here, so the waterfall was pretty small, still beautiful

There was a peacock in a tree ...

That night my mom and Pete offered to watch Jayden so Joe and I could go out to dinner. We haven't been out somewhere by ourselves since July....we sat overlooking the water at Chuck's Steakhouse....very good! We were home before 9 :)

The next day we went down to Waikiki to meet my mom's uncle for lunch. We walked a lot....but it was beautiful outside. It was great to see my mom's uncle, I haven't seen him since I was little. They were on a cruise and it just happened to be at the same time as their trip.

 

Later that day we went to Ko Olina to try and catch the sunset and we did! Jayden also had fun running around. We also enjoyed some adult beverages from Longboards.

I scheduled a sailboat just for this picture.

Wednesday was our last full day together. We decided to go back to Ko Olina.

Jayden had so much fun with Grandpa.

 

 

Then later that day we just played at home and got excited for our fun Halloween night!

 

Jayden in the house that Grandma & Grandpa got for him earlier this year :)

 

 

 

Time for Halloween!  So much fun! 

 

 

Thanks Mom & Pete for handing out the candy.

 

 

I started to prepare Jayden that Thursday was the last day that we would be waking up with Grandma & Grandpa at the house.  Every morning that he woke up he would get so excited to see them.  Good thing they are morning people too...Jayden gets up really early!

 

On our last day we just had lunch and got them packed up for their long flight home.

 

Later in the day it was time to say goodbye.  Very hard! We enjoyed the visit so much.  Thanks for making the trip Mom & Pete.  It means a lot to us.

 

I wanted to leave you with some pictures of from our snorkeling adventure earlier in the trip.

 

 

 

Enjoy your Sunday!

 

Halloween 2012

First I have to say that I love my new neighbors!  (I miss the old ones too :)  One neighbor plans a Halloween party every year at the party across the street at the park.  My mom and I kept thinking all week of what to bring, so we made witch hat cookies and mummy hot dogs.  Both were big hits with the kids...just one mummy hot dog left on the plate.  Jayden had so much fun running around the park with the kids.  We had fun meeting new people and visiting with those we have already gotten to know.  Then when the sun went down, it was time to go trick or treating.  My mom and step dad sat on our porch to hand out candy while we took Jayden around the block.  It was crazy...there were so many people.  Also, everyone is out on their porch handing out candy...not something you would see in Wisconsin.

One of my favorite moments of the night...I will never forget it. But first I have to give a little back story.  When Joe & I were trying for a baby for a while...we would talk about the things we were excited for when we would be lucky enough to become parents.  We talked about so many things like... hearing little footsteps running through the house, opening up presents on Christmas morning, hearing someone call you mommy or daddy and taking our children trick or treating...
So my favorite moment was when Joe & I were walking Jayden down the block and Joe said, with a huge grin on his face...."we are taking our son trick or treating"  It was a great moment.  This was the first year that we actually when out door to door and Jayden could say Trick or Treat.  It was the best.  I think I smiled the whole night.

Below are some pictures of the fun.

 

 Elmo was a hit!

 

 

 

 

Taking a break

 

 

 

Cutie Sophia from next door.

 

 

 

 

A devil elmo...

 

We ended the night dancing on the porch.  This music was from the birthday card Jayden got from the Zimmermans ...he loved it.  Grandpa Pete was dancing too...just not on video :)

 



so much fun!! Can't wait for next year!