The trip was really stress free. The hardest part for me was being pregnant on the flights. My legs were swollen by the end of the flights (which I don't typically do... ever... so it made me a tad anxious) and I was SO uncomfortable in my chair: long legs, no one to lean on... meant I didn't sleep. The way home was hard because we left at 10pm Hawaii time and flew in at 7am Vancouver time... then had to drive home. Which I ended up doing the bulk of, Chris couldn't sleep on the flight either, but I drive better when tired than he does. Anyways. That was the hard part of the trip. The kids fell asleep so effortlessly on the way home, Abigail and Isabelle were asleep before the plane even took off and Olivia fell asleep sucking her thumb during take off. We let them stay up on the way there and then they went to sleep when we asked them to. I mean does it get better than that? The one downside of them always having slept alone and in a bed... sleeping in a chair isn't really happening for a long time so we sprawled them out on the floors of the airplane! It was a sight. I don't think the flight attendants really liked it... but I didn't care :/
Our flight between Victoria and Vancouver, all grown up sitting alone!
She had a big cry in the bathroom before she fell asleep... I thought no one could hear... I was wrong :/
On the floor on the way home... until turbulence 45 min before we landed.
Aren't they cute?
We rented a suite 20 min out of Honolulu on the East side of the island. Seriously. Stay there. It was so reasonably priced. It was a studio suite like a Hotel, so if you need rooms... don't stay here. But if you can get away with a studio style... STAY here! It was the perfect location. Not busy. Beaches at close drives. City amenities close enough but not in your face. They let 8 people stay there and its got a great kitchen and bathroom, king size bed, queen bed, pull out couch, and they've got air mattresses etc if you need them! There is also a huge lawn right outside the patio doors and the kids loved running around out on it. But the best thing is the price, SUCH a reasonable price (hard to find in Hawaii, right?)
Yard
The girls sure felt the magic of being somewhere warm and different than home
The suite is through the patio doors on the lower level
If you need more space... the house in front is also managed by the same people. It also accommodates 8 but has bedrooms. Its SUPER cute. I took a photo of it too. (hah) I should get commission. The truth is I dream of going back to this rental with friends or family. That is why I took the photos.
Hammock, BBQ, tons of space, oceanfront!
Day 1 (May 17)
I think they woke up at 5am...
Abigail, looking pretty
Breakfast of Champions... right?
We weren't sure how the kids would handle the waves, so the first day after some maternity shopping we headed over to Ko' Olina to swim before we went to Costco. Beautiful beach, tents on the beach for shade, and no waves because of rock barriers. It was great. The kids had a blast. Every time Olivia went in the water she said, "this water is yuck!"
Day 2 (May 18)
Chris's birthday! We started at the beach at 8:30 after breakfast at home and the kids waking up at 6. It was raining. I was thinking what on earth are we doing.. but it was perfect. We hit 3 beaches that day... and I made dinner when we got home at 5 and after I ate and had birthday pie... I fell asleep. Before the kids even got to bed. I was SO exhausted. I didn't wake up until morning. Nice birthday presence right? I woke up feeling pretty bad the next day... but also alive again too. Chris didn't mind, he had fallen asleep at 8pm.
Beach 1: Chinaman's Hat Beach
Learning how to use boogie boards
This girl LOVED every minute in the water
I love the mountains on Oahu, even when its cloudy
Drive by shot of Chinaman's Hat on a gloriously sunny day
Beach 2: Hukilau Beach
My first two trips to Hawaii when I was a teenager I spent SO much time at this beach. I love it.
Lunch
Happy Isabelle
When we left this beach after Chris played in the waves by himself he said, "I didn't know playing in the water could be fun for adults..." I am slowly converting him to loving water! He wanted to make it back there again, but once we got to the hotel the kids never wanted to leave the pool again.
The waves were too big for the kids here but they had a blast playing in the break.
They got pushed around so much... and sand in every crevasse... thank goodness for showers at every beach
When we left Hukilau beach the kids were starving... and so were we. So the closest place was a McDonalds. They ate so much so fast.
If only they were both looking at the camera
Twin hearts
"Mom, now a silly one!"
Beach 3: Turtle Bay Resort. No pictures. Apparently I was starting to feel tired already. We got there and there was this beautiful cabana empty and so we went and sat down in it. Chris kept asking if we could be there. I said pretend we belong until someone kicks us out. Well about 7 minutes later a guy came and asked us if we wanted to rent it... we vacated to the sunny beach. After this beach we drove to Teds Bakery and Chris got two pies.
The Birthday Boy... errr Man. 34 years young!
Day 3 (May 19)
Believe it or not, I've never been to a Zoo... until now!
Welcome to the Zoo
This girl has her Daddy wrapped around her finger. I mean they all do. BUT she is 2.5 and was carried around by her Dad everywhere we went. Even though it was hot and I was having none of it, he carried her around without complaint. Love. I was actually blown away by Chris's kindness and service the whole trip (I always knew it...). I mean talk about me being a spoiled brat- I never buckled the kids into their seats because it annoyed me. Hidden buckles underneath Olivia's seat for Isabelle and Abigail's straps to go into drove me nuts... in the heat. He just did it. I didn't even have to ask. What a good man. It is the little things that really mean the most.
I felt so sad when I saw the Elephants. They looked sad. I never thought myself an animal activist... maybe I am.
They watched the African Penguins for at least 10 minutes...
After the Zoo, we went to Kailua Beach. It had the perfect sized waves for the kids.
The girls really dislike having to wear their life jackets... this beach was perfect for them!
Not Olivia so much, she took on too much water that day and ended up puking at night. However... she loved playing in the waves.
They loved diving through the waves
Both of them
Learning...
Failing...
Just getting right back up!
Dad... oblivious to Olivia about to be pounded...
Her first successful ride in to the shore
Then a successful ride for Abigail
They did this for hours...
My Little Olivia Jane
Isabelle taking a break
Kailua Beach
Day 4 (May 20)
I shopped my heart out at a nice slow pace while Chris took the kids to the movies and saw Angry Birds. They had fun. I had fun. Sears was stopping carrying maternity clothes so I spent $35 and got 2 tops and a pair of pants. Ross carries maternity clothes, 2 tops and earrings for $35. Motherhood Maternity... great stuff... no sales to really make me giddy about. Then we happily headed back to Kailua Beach. 
Day 5 (May 21)
Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium followed by checking into the Courtyard Marriot Hotel in Laie and the Night Show at the Polynesian Culture Center.
You have to get shave ice right? I don't actually know if they liked it. They seemed to leave a lot behind.
The drive up Highway 83 on the East Coast from Honolulu up to Laie
Isn't there just something magical about Palm Trees and the Ocean?
Funny story... not actually funny at ALL. From the moment we started our trip until the end Olivia would NOT pee in a public bathroom. She screamed "its too loud" every. single. time. we took her in one. EVEN if it was just for us or her sisters to use it. Chris had to carry Olivia back to the hotel (truly just down the parking lot... but still) because we forgot to put her in a diaper before we went to the PCC. So I had some time with just Abigail and Isabelle in the PCC and we took lots of pictures. They were loving all their necklaces and bracelets and hair clips from the swap meet that morning. They felt beautiful.
Picture of a picture... sorry. On entering dinner at the PCC.
Oh my baby girls. May you ever stay innocent and adore each other... Kindergarten starts so soon and I'm just savouring the days with them home with me.
Day 5 (May 22)
Church. was. a. disaster. I mean I do Sunday's alone at home each week. Getting ready and sitting reverently during sacrament meeting solo while Chris attends meetings and sits on the stand. I feel like most weeks we thrive. This Sunday was the worst ever in my history as a mother. We actually left. I took away previously mentioned necklaces, bracelets and hair clips as they were playing with them and talking and getting rowdy. Someone to remain nameless had an absolute melt down. "I don't want to listen to this old stuff"... "It is boring"... "Do you love me"... Chris had taken one child out (who we discovered at that moment hadn't put on panties that morning)... I gathered the other two... the one who was saying all these things and I walked out those doors and said we are leaving! Needless to say I was so embarrassed. We went back to the hotel and cooled down. Then out for lunch... swimming and... dinner at BYU.
All was forgiven...
GREAT pool for kids
27 weeks with our little boy... new bathing suit... one of two I found on the trip!
Power pose jump from Miss Olivia
Day 6 (May 23)
Once we got to the pool, we had a really hard time leaving. Even though there were better places for food short drives away, we just did not want to move. It was a great way to end the vacation. Truly relaxing. The kids were all safe in the pool without us having to be in the pool. It was perfect.
A little movie time poolside
The waterfall was so dreamy!
We showered outside after spending the day at the pool after we had checked out that morning.
Naps on the drive to Waikiki for Dinner
Almost there to Waikiki... PF Chang's for Chinese food for dinner... what a good choice! Such good food. Unfortunately I didn't want to be too full when I left... aka feel sick... but I was hungry by the time we took off 4 hours later... haha #pregnancyproblems
We had a BLAST and hope to be able to go back before the kids are all grown!!!
