Aloha Christmas

I have been absent for awhile, but for good reason.  We took a family vacation to Kauai, Hawaii!!!  Here are some highlights, in pictures.  ALOHA!!!

 Henry at Spouting Horn.  As he would wait for the waves to splash through the lava tube, he would tell me, "IT'S COMING MAMA, IT'S COMING SOON! WAIT!!!"

 One of my favorite aspects of the island are all the tropical flowers.  Here is me getting into the Aloha spirit.

 Henry is such a water baby.  He would stayed out here all day, everyday, if I would have let him.  I was worried about his pasty white complexion, but the SPF 60 waterproof sunscreen did the trick.  No sunburns!

 Henry loves to dig.  No exception here.

 Doing a little sightseeing, with garbage truck in tow.

 Family portrait while visiting Opaekaa Falls.

 I love that Santa has board shorts on in Old Koloa Town.  So did Henry.

 More digging!

 Henry likes Daddy to build "sand castles" so he can "stomp them down!"

 Visiting Waimea Canyon ("Grand Canyon of Hawaii").  Spectacular views!!!

 Henry liked the red coffee beans the best at Kauai Coffee plantation.

 RUN!!!  Lydgate Park is one of the coolest playgrounds I have ever been too.  Henry had a BLAST!

 Weeeeeeeee.  The big twisty tube slide was a big hit.

 "Higher, higher, higher!"

The local lifeguard was gracious and let Henry play with his ropes.  Henry kept trying to pull them, telling us all that "Henry's a strong boy!!!"  Much to his chagrin, the ropes didn't budge.

Getting a little sleepy.  All that sightseeing wears you out.

 Ryan paddled me up Wailua River on a kayaking trip.  Then we hiked to Secret Falls.  BEAUTIFUL!

 Daddy makes a great seat.

Visiting Kilauea Lighthouse. This is Henry's photo smile.  He was in no mood to pose. His expression cracks me up!

Taking the train at Kilohana, which is a working farm with over 80 species of edible plants.  It used to be a thriving sugarcane plantation, but farming sugarcane is not economical anymore on the island.  They have since moved on to hospitality and distilling rum.

 Henry loved feeding the goats at Kilohana. 

The beauty of Kauai is breathtaking.  I love it there.  I could totally get used to the island lifestyle, relaxed and casual.  Where no one is in a hurry, "stuff" isn't all that important, and family is everything.