Saturday, February 23, 2013

Hawaii!

So I had to catch up on some other posts....before I could post this one...the BIG ONE...the one that I have been waiting for since October when Fred surprised me with the news that he (well sometimes I say WE....because I was his ever so supporting wife) won a trip to Hawaii through Pioneer....to say that I was floored was an understatement!   

After getting ready all week....packing for us, packing for the kids, planning for us, planning for the kids, getting pedicures, getting manicures, tanning, and lots and lots of organizing the trip was FINALLY here!

We left early Saturday morning from CR and flew to Dallas and then from Dallas to Honolulu!

Our view from our awesome hotel room!  We stayed at a Marriott. 
Fred....wondering around the hotel!

Our 1st night....we were exhausted from 8.5 hour flight but still managed to enjoy our night!
The night view from our balcony

Ending the night with a drink....and an Iowa State sweatshirt....what ;)

I did not do a good job of getting pictures of the dolphins....but they swam right next to our boat!



On our whale watching excursion....we got to see a few whales and LOTS of dolphins!

A WHALE!





2nd night out!
After our excursion we had to hurry hurry and get ready for supper....Pioneer rented out Missouri Battleship and we got to tour it and then have supper and listen to a band!
Missouri Battleship


A different angle!


A night out with some Pioneer Peeps!




We rented a car and drove to the North Shore....we upgraded and got the convertible!


And advice given from The Beyers....got shrimp from a truck....which they were right it was AMAZING!  And I got a single Blue Moon from the gas station...I love that!





In the lobby....getting ready for a night out!






 Fred and all the other men had to go on a tour of the Hawaii Pioneer Station....the wives could have went....but I thought it screamed boring and decided to enjoy some beach and relax time!

Pioneer did another great job of entertaining us with a Luau 



Teaching us how to cut a coconut....they taste way better in Hawaii

Making POI....which is tasteless if you ask me...but I guess the Hawaiians love it!

The entertainment!

They did a great job! 
They ended with a fire dance

And I of course got stuck going on stage....Fred made sure he got pictures!


Fred and I enjoying a "happy hour" and the hotel bar!

Ellen and I were lifeguards together way back when....we have not seen each other in many many years! But we got to catch up in Hawaii....small world!


Looking for sea turtles 

Right outside our hotel...we walked around for hours!

We hiked Diamond Head



We hiked all the way up!

So happy Fred shares my love of sushi!

The sushi came around on a conveyor belt!

So good!

The day we were leaving....we found out they had had happy hour at the only nice restaurant we were able to walk to...we were so mad it took us all week to find it!



After flying through the night and getting some good sleep we came home to this....the kids and Sissy and Brad made this for us!




The only thing Kreighton requested from us while we were gone....grass skirt and coconut bra!





And coming home to these 3 cuties made it excited to come home....but disappointed to see the cold weather!



IT was an amazing trip and one we will never forget and already want to start saving for another trip in 10 years or so....and visit some of the different islands!

And of course there is no way this trip would have happened without our amazing family that helped with the kiddos!

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Night Before we Left....

The night before we left we let the kids stay up extra late and play play play....they all got along perfectly and we had a fun night!!!

Horsey Rides from Daddy!
Hang on Tight!
Trying to get a picture of the 3....when I ask Kyle to smile he tells me he is "Naughty Batman"

And they they all 3 turned into SuperHeros!



Kael loved being included! 
"Wait for Me Guys"

Another attempt at the 3 of them!

Early Out Wednesdays!

Every Wednesday Kreighton asks if she gets to get out early....there are two reasons she LOVES to get out early on Wednesdays!

No naptime at preschool....for some reason she HATES naptime....however she falls asleep                everyday and the teachers have to wake her up!

The other reason that Kreighton LOVES early out Wednesdays is because most early outs Lauren and Lindsay get off the bus and spend the afternoon at our house!  Which in turn makes my life so much easier....the boys nap and the girls play!



The girls play so well together and I do not HAVE to come up with anything for them to do....however I do love having small projects for the girls to do!


Coming in for a quick snack and then went outside and played!

There is a our "science experiment" game....I just give them a bunch of ingredients  and let them mix!  They love to try and get Fred/Daddy to try their creations!

I told them if any of them ever become famous scientists they have to share their wealth with me!


This was from Pinterest idea filling plastics tubes with beads and making bracelets.....easy peasy right?

Well.....getting the bracelets to stick together not so easy....we had to call Fred to come in and help.....
I think this was after Fred mumbled to me "where do you come up with these things"

Fun on the IPAD

Art project day!


Kyle even joined in on the fun!


And Kael!


Until Kael decided to sit on Kyle!

At conferences this week Kreighton's teacher told us how Kreighton talks and talks about early outs and all the fun stuff she gets to do with the Beyer Girls.....