Hawaii with Family

Ok, get ready for a super sized post!  We took Brady to Hawaii in early March for a little family vacation with my folks & Dusty & Gina (EJ & Jenee were very much missed!)  Olivia got to spend her week with Grammy & Grampy in Cody & was a little princess & loved her time with them so much she cried when they left! :)  We have been so excited about this trip because it was the first time Brady was going to see the ocean among other things & that is something I have been anticipating since he was in my tummy! :)  We had an incredible time & Brady loved every single second of it!  There were new adventures every day & we all were just really glad to re-live those fun experiences through a 4-yr old's eyes.  Here are our pictures!!

As we were leaving Bozeman--as usual, he is just the easiest traveler!

Giving his pillow pet "Tommy Bil" (no clue where the name came from!) a view from above the clouds

Nana & Papa got there a few days before us & greeted us at the airport with Leis which Brady thought was really cool--in fact, everything about Hawaii was pretty amazing to him...the fact that we ate every meal outdoors, the palm trees, the geckos, even the moon looked different! He told me the first night when he saw the moon it looked like a smiley face because "everybody is happy to be in Hawaii!" :)

Our condo was beautiful!

The first morning we went to the beautiful private beach we had access to--we were going to just let Brady go at his own pace with the swimming in the ocean but about 30 seconds in he was bobbing in the waves, body surfing & putting his face under!  That was definitely a good sign that he was going to love this trip! :)

There were lots & LOTS of sandcastles built over the week!



He & Uncle Dust writing their names in the sand

...Always a must-do when on the beach with a 4 yr old! :)

Brady & Gina liked to find sea shells & coral together

The association's pool was amazing & only about 75 yards from our place so it was very convenient & we spent a lot of time just tooling around the pool & jumping in off the rocks!

We had a couple dinners at one of our favorite spots Tommy Bahamas

Brady looking to add to his "resort wear" wardrobe...

Now THIS, my friends, was a little dicey...we happened to be there during the tsunami in Japan & were under a tsunami watch our 2nd night.  We got lots & lots of texts & emails from our friends who knew we were over there & were worried which was very cute.  Although it was a very stressful night with little sleep, everything ended up fine & there was minimal damage in our area...we were a little embarrassed to find out the next day at the pool, however, that we actually were in a mandatory evacuation area & should have split...oh well, our naivety kept us from sleeping in our car in the grocery store parking lot so it all worked out & will be a good story! :)

The 3 girls were a little wired & went for a walk to check things out during the tsunami mahem...here's the self portrait at about 2 am...1 hr prior to the tsunami...we felt very lucky that nothing bad happened but terrible for the poor people in Japan who are still struggling...

Thanks to Nana watching the little man, Jeff & I got to play 3 rounds of golf while we were there & we had a blast!  Here's one of the rounds we played with Dusty & Gina & my dad.

Last year we stayed at the Hilton Waikoloa Village for a State Farm trip & we wanted to spend a day there this trip to show Brady all the fun stuff this place has to offer! :) 

He was getting a big kick out of the parrot saying hi & waving to him

The dolphins are so much fun to watch & Brady was infatuated!

Brady & Papa on the bouncy bridge over the pool

Jeff & I rented a little paddle boat to ride around the huge lagoon & check out the fish, waterfalls, & mostly the TURTLES!!! :)  This was a huge highlight for Brady.

We also loved the huge pool & exploring under the waterfalls!

At a fun local place for dinner

Watching the band--these two looked like it might be bed time!

Getting ready to board the boat for our whale watching trip!

This was a blast!  We got very close to a couple of whales & also a bunch of spinner dolphins who were playing in the wake of the boat...suffice to say Brady is now an expert on dolphins & whales now! :)

Oh my gosh how he loved swimming in the ocean!  He also did a little snorkeling but I didn't get a picture--the snorkeling was amazing at our beach! I also took him out on my paddleboard one day so he could see the fish from above which was fun.

Enjoying his first of MANY virgin tropical drinks of the trip!

Pretty fun that in Hawaii they even put umbrellas on your hot dog! :)

We went to the Fairmont Orchid a couple nights for happy hour--it's a beautiful hotel & Brady was really into the koi ponds! (Oh, and virgin strawberry daiquiris! :))

Oh man did he have fun with his Nana & Papa!

I think we each took about 5 trips to see the koi ponds with him--he was very into it!
Amped.

Double amped.

Brady & Papa reading on the lanai before bed

We all played the amazing Mauna Lani South course & Brady was loving cleaning everybody's clubs for a quarter! :)

Brady played with the boys for the front nine & girls the back nine

I love this one!  There were some pretty incredible holes on this course--Brady even hit a range ball into the ocean! :)

Our condo was very close to Hapuna Beach which was an awesome beach with big waves that Grammy & Grampy recommended--it was a huge hit! 

Brady & Daddy spent hours bobbing in the waves & trying to ride them (the waterwings were perfect for body surfing & we had a little boogeyboard for him too)

Brady "fighting" the waves



The last night was Nana & Papa's 37th wedding anniversary so we took them to a Luau at the Marriott--it was so fun & Brady loved to watch the dancers & the fire sticks!

Our view from dinner

My folks stayed for 3 weeks over there & my dad sent this picture text with the subject "Still lovebirds after 37 years!"  Needless to say it made my heart smile. :)



Brady & Dusty putting on a little show after the Luau on the last night!