Monday, February 29, 2016

Aloha and Mahalo!

 Happy Times in Hawaii!
Aloha! Fresh off the plane.

Pork Look Fun (that's the real name of the dish) in Chinatown

Happy baby in her cage

Someone likes Waikiki!

Dole Pineapple gardens

The plantation as I remembered it had definitely changed (all downsized and touristed up)

Sailing past Waikiki

And Diamond Head

Gorgeous beaches and scenery

Love those cliffs between these two

And this is what our family would look like if we had waited longer to have kids!

The sand bore a passing resemblance to graham cracker crumbs, apparently


Cora was game for everything, and loved splashing her toes in Turtle Bay

Polynesian Cultural Center

 
River Parade

My sister worked here when she spent a semester at BYU Hawaii

Learning about Samoan culture

Luau!

Such delicious food

Live music and fire-dancing

A night we're not going to forget anytime soon!

Sunrise hike to Diamond Head

Aloha, Hawaii! If you hang your lei on a tree, you're sure to return one day.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Soaring Over Mexico . . . and Beyond!

Mexico!
The queen holds court

Gorgeous view from our hotel (and practically the only shot I got of Aaron during the whole trip--he was a camera hog)

Real Mexican tacos

And the mouths that devour them
Cruisin' through the clouds
Addy across the pond

Some of these were really high up!


It didn't worry these guys

The girls all emerged victorious

 Crossing bridges
It was like we were in our own Indiana Jones movie

Scary! But gorgeous views

Gutsy girls

Seriously gutsy

But steadier at every step


La Bufadora
North America's largest blowhole was awesome

Gorgeous views

And phenomenal baked clams--in my top ten foods ever, I think

Fantastic fish tacos at this joint

And the ultimate pina coladas after shopping this market where we got an adorable dress for Cora and the best jar of vanilla extract

Happy New Year!

New Year fireworks overlooking Legoland


Happy Birthdays!
I seriously can't believe how fast this nine-year-old has grown!


At least this one tries to hold it back a little (note the photo-bomber)


Sea World birthday celebration for Sera and Emer




Bayside Skyride


Taking over the "splash zone" at the dolphin show

Polar bears and belugas
Practically no wait for rides at Sea World





Love these sweet kids taking care of their little sis



And gorgeous sunset on the way home

2016 Theme

Butt-scooting boogie

Sunday Baby