A Hawaiian Thanksgiving!! Aloha!

This year for Thanksgiving, we headed down to Honolulu to visit our good friends, Danielle, Shawn, Tyler and Ryan.  A few days before we were scheduled to leave, Noah (and then me) came down with strep throat and we had to postpone our trip several days.  The thought of cancelling the trip altogether did cross our minds, but in the end we decided that after Anchorage's record setting rain over the summer and everything we went through this fall, we deserved to go on our Hawaiian vacation.  Three change fees, a fare upgrade and 14,500 miles later, we rescheduled our flights and headed down to paradise!

We had such an amazing time with our friends.  20 most memorable moments include:

1. Noah yelling "HAWAII!!" with great enthusiasm!
2. All of us walking down to Two Scoops ice cream parlor at night.  Noah said, "YUM!" after tasting the ice cream.  The three boys having the time of their lives running around with their daddies.
3. Noah copying Ryan and Tyler on everything and learning so much from playing with them every day.
4. Wes golfing his best game ever and getting excited to update his golf handicap chart.
5. Cynthia spending the boys' naptime at the pool with Danielle having a "read-off" and lounging in the sun.
6. Cribbage games between the boys.
7. Walking a mile to the waterfall with a three year old, two year old and one year old exploring everything along the way.  This was one slooooooow walk, but cute.
8. Mile-long clouds that kept shading us at the pool/beach, but disappearing when it was time to pack up or walk home.
9. Noah calling out for his beloved blue blanket, "Dank" at naptime/bedtime. 
10. Throwing balls and trucks in the pool with Ry Ry and Noah (this game was played for hours)
11. Noah saying, "Gain?" after hearing theme songs from Sid the Science Kid and Thomas so we would play them again.
12. Ryan softly singing with the Praise Baby DVD in the mini. Tyler pretending not to like it, but singing along too.
13. Killer Tacos and Shave Ice.
14. Spending all day at Waikiki and successfully getting the boys to nap in their strollers.
15. Trying to take photos of the boys when they were all standing in the lagoon not doing much... Danielle saying, "well, they are all in it, but it isn't very cute."
16. Date nights! Date with Danielle, Date with Wes and Date for the Dodges -- so fun!
17. Cracking up at the outtakes for the Oistad's and Dodge's "family photo shoot."
18. Noah pointing to daddy’s bare chest and saying “Buff!”
19. Tyler doing lunges while pushing his Ry-Bear (just like Stroller Strides).
20. Wes jumping off the cliff at North Shore and swimming a 1/4 mile out to the dolphins.  Best beach day ever!

On the first day, Noah and RyRy bonded over their shared love for throwing rocks in the water!

Smart lil Tyler showed Noah all the cool puzzles and games on the I-Touch.

Noah picked me a pretty red flower on our hike back to the waterfall!

The beautiful Hawaiian sunset at the lagoons.

Noah riding the boys' trike that was just like the one at Grandma's.

It took some coaxing to get Noah in the pool, but once he was in, he loved it!

WHEEE!!!

Our three putt putt golfers (getting a pic with all three boys looking at the camera was not easy!)

25 cents bought the three boys wonderful treasures.



Beach Bum



Everytime we went outside, Noah would race to the fourwheeler to take it out for a short spin!



Noah and Ryan became good buds on this trip!

Surf's up Mom



The trip to Hawaii would not have been complete without Wes jumping off a cliff!

Sun, sand and trucks .... what more can a boy ask for?

Bye-Bye Hawaii!  Hopefully we will be back again soon!